Shorter Days + Savory Apps
Plus, a mini wine country travel guide
Hi friends! The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. Between bouncing from NYC to Upstate, diving into recipe development for my third cookbook, and celebrating an early Thanksgiving with family in Sonoma County. It’s been nonstop, but all good things! With election season in full swing, I hope you’re finding some time to care of yourself and soak in the early holiday magic. Although it’s getting darker earlier, it’s more of an excuse to cozy up and make some savory snacks. Plus, now that Halloween is over, we’ve officially entered entertaining season (aka, my superbowl.) I’m here to bring you all the delicious simple yet fancy apps for celebrating with friends and family.
RECIPE ROUNDUP
Here are some festive bites for Thanksgiving, small enough to not ruin your appetite, but savory enough to fulfill that decadent craving. Click each title for the recipe!
I loved this combo of jammy caramelized onions with garlic and beef broth, melted Gruyère and a crispy baguette.
My favorite savory pairings for one of the most popular cheeses, sharp cheddar!
Super easy to make for holiday parties and the perfect combination of creamy, fruity and flaky.
I had to create a recipe with an all time classic cheese pairing - apples and Brie. Such a simple and festive app to serve.
Potato chips with prosciutto and fig jam, or a “chippetizer” is a great way to serve a savory snack!
CHEESE OF THE MONTH
It’s a new month with a new cheese to feature! Since I just spend the last week in Northern California, I wanted to highlight a favorite artisanal brie. Marin French Cheese Co.’s Petite Suprême Brie is a 4oz wheel of luscious texture and rich taste. The cheese has flavors of sweet milk from local North Bay California cows, coupled with notes of fresh grass from the pasture they feed on. It’s the perfect lush cheese for the winter months.
Quick Facts:
Type: bloomy rind, soft cheese
Intensity: light
Milk: cow
Flavor Notes: creamy, decadent, buttery
Where To Buy: store finder
Winter pairings: fresh baguette, prosciutto, honey, fig jam, fruit preserves, candied pecans, nutty crackers
MINI TRAVEL GUIDE - HEALDSBURG, CA
My brother, his wife, and my baby niece all live out in San Francisco, so we decided to do an early family Thanksgiving about an hour north in Healdsburg. It’s such a charming town, filled with amazing restaurants and cute shops. The best part is that vineyards and wineries surround the town as far as the eye can see. I definitely recommend spending a few days here.
WHERE WE ATE
There are so many great restaurants and bakeries in the area. I also wish we had more time to shop, you can get lost in the plethora of adorable boutiques downtown!
Troubador Bread and Bistro: Delicious sandwiches and bread, we went back multiple times. Plus they have an amazing pre-fixe menu for dinner.
Quail and Condor: This bakery was a 10/10. Same owners as Troubador and truly some of the best pastries I’ve ever had.
Little Saint: Cutest hang spot for a coffee or glass of wine. The menu is all plant based and the cocktails are creative and delicious.
Bloodroot: Nice spot to pop in for a glass of wine and bite.
Montage Healdsburg: Stunning hotel set on a vineyard 10 minutes north of town. Grab a drink by the firepits outside.
KINSmoke: We got BBQ here for takeout during the last night and the quality was incredible.
LIOCO Wine Tasting Room: Another cute spot for wine tasting! So many places for wine if you bop around.
WINE TASTINGS
Because we only had one day to taste wines, we only stopped by two vineyards. Both spots were incredible, and I could spend another week checking out the countless other vineyards nearby!
Reeve Wines: Set back on a beautiful property, Reeve is a small winery that partner with the best farmers across Northern California, working together to cultivate the perfect grapes for the wines. Every vineyard is carefully chosen for its unique terroir, sustainable practices, and commitment to going beyond organic standards. I loved their sparkling wine paired with the fontina and mushroom pizza!
Arista Winery: This tasting room is stunning, set amongst Japanese gardens with craftfully curated seating. Arista believes that the finest examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced in small lots. This belief has always led to an emphasis on quality over quantity and a determination to discover and develop unique vineyard sites that reflect the distinct characteristics of the Russian River Valley. My favorite was the pinot noir.
Definitely need to go back and check out more of Sonoma County! Have you been? Drop your favorite spots in the comments.
That’s all for now :)
xo Marissa
The chipettizer is a novel idea for pre-gaming and a non-bread or doughy snack before a big Holiday dinner. More options needed on the chips please and thank you!
Love Healdsburg and Arista wine :) You should also check out Pellegrini Wine and Williams Selyem next time you are out there!