Wood Fired Oven, Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast

Gayle and I took a trip to San Franciso and did a lot of poking around kitchen stores. We came back with four more cookbooks including several on wood fired grilling and wood fired ovens. We're looking to expand the cuisine baked in the wood fired oven at Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast near Placerville.

We stoked wood in the oven for about seven hours raising the temperature to about 700 degrees. The remaining coals were gathered into a pile and Gayle placed a whole Kabocha squash right in the coals. Meanwhile, slices of Delicata squash coated with olive oil were sizzling on a cast iron skillet placed in the oven. She picked some mustard greens out of the garden and tossed them on top. Once the Kabocha squash reached 150 degrees internally it was pulled out of the coals and split in half horizontally. The seeds were scooped out and the Delicata squash, mustard greens and some goat cheese were put in the cavity and the meat of the squash was pulled away from the sides. The top was drizzled with a mint-infused red wine vinaigrette. The verdict? Fabulous!

Buffalo Ducks, Eden Vale Inn Placerville

It's a crispy cold quiet morning this Christmas Day at Eden Vale Inn near Placerville. Yes, we are below the snow! We're running a winter special discount if you call. Today two Buffalo Ducks are working the pond fishing for whatever it is that the eat. They are beautiful. Their coats are black and white. They are a cute pair, diving together and bobbing back up. Mark

Sunset at Eden Vale Inn 12/19/2009

Yesterday a particularly beautiful sunset appeared at Eden Vale Inn near Placerville, CA.  We're above the Sacramento Valley fog and below the Lake Tahoe snow.  The pond mirrored the sky.  Mark

Wine Tasting Sierra Foothills, Crystal Basin Cellars

If you like big Sierra Reds you'll like Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino just off Hwy 50 east of Placerville.   The drive from Eden Vale Inn, on the other side of Placerville, is about 25 minutes.   Many other Carson Road Wineries and Vinyards are nearby.  Mike Owen and Peter, the wine maker, make a wide variety of wines owning in part to the fact that they buy their grapes from other local Sierra Foothill vinyards.  This allows more flexibility in trying new varities and blends. 

There is lots to like in the extensive selection at this El Dorado County winery.  I came home with a mixed case that included Viognier, Zinfandel, Sarah, Barbara, and Mouvedre.   They also make a five varietal Bordeaux Blend named Triumphant.  Their Triumphant Blending party is coming up February 13th at the Cameron Park Country club.  Crystal Basin Cellars

Wine Eden Vale Inn Placerville

Lava Cap Winery in the Sierra Foothills Wine Region near Placerville, CA has a big sale on their 2005.  Cases are 50% Off on their 2005 wines until sold.  If I remember right these were available: Malbec, Grenach, Zinfandel, Syhra and a few others.  I took home a case of Zinfandel.  Mark

Snow Eden Vale Inn Placerville, CA Sierra Foothills low snow

A freak snowstorm December 6 and 7, 2009 brought snow all the way down to Sacramento, CA.  Placerville got about 18" at their 1800' elevation.  Eden Vale Inn at 1100' got about 6".  The snow was wet and heavy and broke tree limbs all over these low eleveations.  The limbs fell on the power and phone lines causing many El Dorado County residents to be without power for up to four days.  Many, over a week later are still without phone service.  Then the weather turned very cold and kept the frozen snow for five days until it rained and washed it all way.  There were broken water pipes all over the Sierra Foothills in California.  In 25 years here we've never seen anything like this.  Mark

Winter retreat at Eden Vale Inn, B&B

As the weather turns cold today in the Sierra Foothills, the fireplace is blazing here at Eden Vale Inn B&B, Placerville.  Our guests are warm & cozy as they enjoy our signature breakfast of Spinach/Feta Quiche, Roasted Red Rosemary Potatoes and Orange Pecan Scones.  Everything is made fresh daily at Eden Vale Inn Bed & Breakfast.  Plan your next getaway-call us to get the Winter Discount and find a little bit of heaven in Placerville.  Come discover Eden Vale Inn. 

Great Blue Heron, Birdwatching Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast Placerville

A Great Blue Heron was fishing in the pond today at Eden Vale Inn B&B near Placerville in the Sierra Foothills.  Fall is still to be found as many of the native oaks have not yet dropped their leaves.   I went hiking today at Wildman near Chile Bar on the South Fork of the American River maybe 7 miles above Coloma.  This December 5th was a beautiful day, cool even cold but the sun was out.  A great day to scarmble down the mountain through the Blue Oaks to the American River in the Sierra Foothills winter.  And, free of snow.
Mark

Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast Placerville Garden Tomatoes in December

For breakfast at Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast near Placerville, we cook with fresh whole foods as much as possible.  How can you beat adding a few First Prize Sun Gold tomatoes from your own garden in December?   This morning we served them with the Eggs and roasted Potatoes.  Yes, peppers are still in the garden too!  Temperatures are moderate in the Sierra Nevada Foothills near Placerville and Coloma most of November, December and January.  No snow and above the Tule fog.  The tomatoes do come out of our Eden Vale Inn B&B greenhouse which protects them from the frost.  Mark