Attendance is officially closed for this event. I will start a waiting list, though I don't anticipate too many cancellations.
You can find the list of attendees and what they are bringing/contributing here.
Now is the time to start thinking about what you'd like to bring, especially if you have something specific in mind. We had way too much food this year, so I am going to try to manage the menu a bit differently so we don't go overboard. (I can hear Palma laughing right now.)
The events so far:
Friday night, there will be a gathering at the house. Some people will be going to Artisan restaurant and some will not have even arrived yet. As we get closer, it would be great if everyone could give me a heads up if you are coming to the house so we can be prepared.
Saturday - I am still working on the day's events but at this stage it looks like a simple breakfast at the house, then we will start at Castoro (where we went last year) and then split up into three groups - two at wineries (Tablas Creek and Halter Ranch) and one at the Pasolivo Olive Oil farm. Everyone can pick where they want to go until we've got too many people going there. I can assure you though, that all three places are great. Then, of course, our evening gathering at the house which will start at about 6PM.
We're too big a group to travel together unless we want to go to some "bus tour" type places and I know everyone is not going to be too hep to that.
Sunday is a free day and there are lots of things to do - more winetasting, shopping, eating (Artisan for Brunch, Cowgirl Cafe, etc) or maybe drives out to Cambria. There will be a tasting at Justin Winery at about 1:00 P.M. for those that are interested (wine and snacks, $10 per person.) Then whoever wants to can meet at the Paso Robles Inn at 3:30 for the Super Bowl. There is a balcony there, so by heading to the Inn doesn't mean you will actually have to subject yourself to football, but for the football enthusiasts it will be nice. And Sunday evening maybe Thai food is in order for whoever is still standing.
HERE IS WHAT I NEED FROM YOU, FINE SLOWTRAVELERS.
Please send me a PT or an email with the following, when you know it:
1) If you are planning to come to the house for dinner on Friday. We will be serving some baked pasta dishes with cheese and salad, and maybe a sandwich and antipasti spread.
2) If you have an idea of what you would like to bring Saturday (main, appetizer, salad, dessert, whatever.) If you don't that is fine, there will be gaps to fill in later (coffee, water, etc.)
3) Your choice of second stops on Saturday - Tablas Creek, Halter Ranch, or Pasolivo. A bit more info about these: Tablas Creek is a fine winery that produces high end Rhone varietals and blends. Halter Ranch is another great winery with a fantastic picnic area. Pasolivo Olive Oil is a wonderful oil producer who will give our group a tour and they also have a picnic area where you can bring your own food and wine! (We will also arrange for some cheese and bread to be served at the Castoro stop.)
4) If you think you will be going to Justin on Sunday.
5) If you would like me to look into renting a driver to take us around, or if you'd like to be a designated driver (and if you will be drinking at all that day, I'd advise not driving. The roads up there are not like Hwy. 46 East.)
Sorry I have to collect so much info - but with a big group I have to. Castoro has that big extra room and they love us. So no worries there.
It goes without saying, that everyone should bring wine the evening festivities, but based on this years event and other slowtrav GTGs, this seems to be the last thing I need to worry about. Winos unite!
Please let me know if you have any questions, of if I have missed anything obvious.
Thanks to all.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shannon,
I am also booked at the Melody Ranch, now. It pays to be persistent . I was told it was full when I first called but I called again and lo and behold, there was room at the inn!!!
Miss Shannon- Would you like me to talk to Ryan about setting something up at Justin? He will be working that afternoon. Let me know! I am looking forward to this!
-Kate
Posts: 54 | Location: Paso Robles, CA | Registered: 05 January 2007
I will bring an appetizer and whatever else you might need. My sister and I will be at our folks' home in Paso, so we will have refrigerator space or can cook something that is needed.
I haven't been to any of the wineries except Castoro, but if you have space on the Pasolivo Olive Oil list, I think my sister would like that.
I would be interested in going to Justin, but only if we have a driver. So, sign us up if you have enough people to hire a car.
I am bumping this for Wendy and others who did not see it before. The GTG is two months away, so if you have not made decisions (especially about the second stop) please let me know soon...
I think we are good to go for food on Friday, so at this point we only need food for Saturday. If you would rather not bring food for Saturday, I am looking for people to help with the cleaning fee (otherwise everyone will chip in for it like last year.)
I am still looking for drivers, or perhaps we should look into the bus thing. I will do that.
Kate's husband Ryan is chef at Justin and you may remember he came to dinner with her last year - they have set us up to taste in the Isosocles Center at Justin, which is beautiful! Thanks Kate and Ryan!
Don't post here - contact me directly and I will put you down for the right stuff in the right spot.
Wow, I need to get our rental car - I can't believe it's in a month! CO changed our return flight (haven't told Chris yet), so we're not leaving SF until 4:00 on Monday which I guess means we don't have to kill ourselves getting up at some ungodly hour but it also means we won't get home until very, very late.
I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a cookbook exchange, in addition to the travel book exchange, at the Slow Bowl?
While trying to get my house a little more organized over the holidays, I found a few cookbooks that I think would be happier in a new home. In fact, a few of them are duplicates of cookbooks I really like, that were given to me as gifts.
If anyone is interested, let me know, and I'll bring them with me to Paso.
Sharon
Posts: 283 | Location: Silicon Valley, California | Registered: 08 November 2003
CO changed our return flight (haven't told Chris yet), so we're not leaving SF until 4:00 on Monday
I'm due to go out of SF Tuesday at 1pm on CO, and my flight hasn't changed ---- I just looked at my itinerary. Uh oh, I should look at the CO schedule. OK, I did and it's ok.
1. Dishes & silverware - need some? are we using china or paper & plastic? Are we washing dishes or throwing away (I have trouble even writing that word--"reuse and recycle" is my mantra.)
2. Coffee - shall I bring my 12-cup coffeemaker? do we need ground coffee?
3. Is it a useful idea for me to bring an ice chest to help with refrigeration needs at the cottage?
4. I'm bringing a folding camp chair. Do we need others to bring chairs?
Any other logistical needs that I can help with?
Anyone who knows the answers to questions (or thinks she does ) is welcome to answer!
Charity
Posts: 1716 | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: 11 May 2003
I think everything is under control, Charity. Shannon may not be online again this week, but I quizzed her this morning about whether there was ANYTHING more needed, and she's confident it's all covered.
Wendy - sorry - I posted without checking the last upload. You deserve another prize for photographer extraordinaire! Love your pictures of the sunset, the photos of Halter Ranch and the vineyard with windmill! I also didn't remember you taking all the book swap pictures - I did get one, but it is not well focused so I didn't post it. Judy
Posts: 3721 | Location: Berkeley, CA | Registered: 22 March 2005
As some of you might have realized, I have made some name mistakes. (So many names and faces .) I am slowly correcting them as they come to my attention.
Darci, I owe you an apology as I titled you Stephanie, I have made the correction.
Angie, could you please let me know what your gentlemans/husband? name is. I thought it was Dave/David, but I saw somewhere that it might be Sig???? I would like to get it right with your help. Or anybodyelse who would like to help this photographer.
I would also like to thank Deborah not only for the 'hootch', but the travel journal - which was my pick - and your kindness. Grazie mille.
Okay, I think I have uploaded all my pictures. I had many more than Rob and I want to apologize for sticking the camera in your faces, flashing you to the point you were seeing stars, but hey you all are and you are in the photo album for all times.
Just wait till next year when I get to do it all over again.
Posts: 3770 | Location: Monterey Peninsula, California, USA | Registered: 07 September 2003
Oh, to give credit where it belongs, I did shoot the sunset, but the buildings, truck shots and landscapes are all Rob's. I mainly did the people shots. Thank you Judy for the complement. Wendy
Posts: 3770 | Location: Monterey Peninsula, California, USA | Registered: 07 September 2003
I put together a little Slow Bowl 'souvenir book' for Deborah, as a thank you for all the great B&N goodies she brought for us ... and her famous homemade hootch!
I made a few tweaks to the book after these pictures were taken, but not many. Thanks to Wendy & Rob for use of their fabulous photos! Any out-of-focus shots are strictly my fault.
Slow Travel Talk 
and salad, and maybe a sandwich and antipasti spread.
Winos unite!
. I was told it was full when I first called but I called again and lo and behold, there was room at the inn!!!
.) I am slowly correcting them as they come to my attention. 
