Engagement February 19, 2006 - Andy Chou and Emily Hsueh

20060221 - Gillwood, Sterling Vineyards, Culinary Institute of America, Great China

Brunch at Gillwood, a homestyle breakfast place in the Napa Shopping Center. Here are my corned beef hash with poached eggs. I've even gotten an Thomas English Muffin. I can't eat those without thinking about eating them when I was a kid. LOVED them with butter in the middle.

Emily got the Sausage Omelette which wasn't that great until Emily noticed the salsa pot on the table. She poured it over both of our dishes and they became tastier. Hmmm...salsa.

Emily holds aloft the Muffin of Destiny. Someone must have forgotten the ratio of batter/pan hole.

After lunch, we went up north past St. Helena to visit Sterling Vineyards. They have a gondola that takes people up to the vineyard. Other vineyards accuse them of Mickey Mousing the Napa Valley.

Up we go...

...to the summit.

As probably a homage to the monks who first started cultivating grapes to product wine, Sterling has a bell tower much like the ones you see in Missions around California.

Emily thinks about how Italy would be so nice this time of the year...

Septic tanks, I mean Stainless Steel Vats...every winery has them.

Emily Fashion...I thought about using the word couture...but to be specific, couture must be hand made.

And the pipes go round and round...

More vats...red wines typically end up in the wood ones while white wines are in the stainless steel ones.

Clean vats are so nice to look at under soft lighting

Enjoying the view, the sun, and each other!

"How does one strangle oneself?..." Emily doesn't know how to tie a tie.

A grape crusher. 'Nuf said.

"I want more wine!!!"

The server who brought us our wine told us this was the proper way to smell it. You gotta stick it all the way in.

Danger!!! Doing so with a full glass will cause you to snort wine up your nose. Not good at dinner parties.

This was the wine selection. Liked the Pinot Gris Rose which had an interesting pink tint. Loved the Malvasia Bianca...oh that was so fruity and good! Like alcoholic passion fruit.

Here it is...doesn't look like much but...

I look redder at this point. 5 half-glasses. Good thing they were all spaced apart except for the last 3.

Monks sure now how to party.

I know what kind of books I'll be keeping in my bookcase now!

The store had quite a few wines available including some that isn't sold outside...like my favorite Malvasia Bianca.

Oooh...I like this flower setup.

Emily thinks it's ok to drink in a moving vehicle. I almost died when I found out that she had placed an open bottle of Meyer's Pear Cider (4% alcohol by volume) in my car. Trying to get me thrown in jail!!!

I believe the curvature of the pole is from barrel distortion but I can't be sure...

Yeah, it's probably barrel distortion.

The vineyard's driveway seemed pretty bleak but that's probably because it's winter time.

Goodbye Sterling...onto the CIA.

The Culinary Institute of America that is...

The building that the CIA campus uses now was built in 1889. CIA started operating a school here in 1995.

Ahhh...maybe in a future life.

THe lobby was large and very Hogwarts-ish.

Some monks took the building over at one point to make brandy and such. One of them had a huge corkscrew collection.

Oooo...the inside of a classroom at the CIA...similar stabbing techniques are probably taught. :-P

Sugoi!!!

Emily demonstrates her pouring technique.

Corkscrews...corkscrews...corkscrews...

Ooooh...a RASCIST corkscrew. Wow!

I wanna build models all day!

No asian countries represented. Maybe they disdain stirfry. hahaha

Wow...what a surprise...more vats!

This is where they have classes that are available to the public (for a fee).

Emily is thinking about changing careers...hehe

The original printing plates used to make "Joy of Cooking". I first heard about "Joy" from Margaret where her roommate had a newer version.

The editor of one of the new editions gave his copy of the original version. He's written all over it!

I hardly ever write in my books...

Even the CIA could only get their hands on a reprint of the first edition.

Through the years...

What Napa looks like in the winter...

We drove down to Berkeley to have dinner with Angela...the wait at Great China was so long that Angela got a little desperate.

Moo Shu Pork!!! So good just by itself. I should be able to make it no problem.

Steamed Talapia...saltier than I remembered it. I guess the chef was over-zealous with the salt shaker this time.

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Comment #1286: Jook said:
"Thanks Thanks Thanks!!! I've been looking at the videos and I know that I'm going to have to put them up soon."
(Wednesday May 17, 06 at 02:45:16 AM)

Comment #1285: Victor said:
"Congrats Mr. Andy!!! Hot air ballonn - very cool. Way to sweep a girl off their feet man!"
(Tuesday May 16, 06 at 11:37:04 PM)

Comment #1189: Jook said:
"Thanks!!! And yes, the manicure is an incredibly important part of the picture!"
(Tuesday Mar 28, 06 at 12:28:16 PM)

Comment #1188: chiblits said:
"Yay for Andy!!! Jasmine just messaged me about your engagement. You guys look sooo cute together!!! Jasmine's mom"
(Wednesday Mar 22, 06 at 12:00:44 PM)

Comment #1187: Jasmine said:
"LOL...its good Emily had gotten a manicure b/c her hands look especially pretty in the background picture :-D."
(Wednesday Mar 22, 06 at 11:49:49 AM)

Comment #1186: Jasmine said:
"Its been a while since I've checked this site; what a good surprise to see you guys are engaged!! Congratulations...you guys are a great couple!"
(Wednesday Mar 22, 06 at 11:45:09 AM)

Comment #1185: Wei said:
"Congrats!! Wish you guys all the best!"
(Sunday Mar 19, 06 at 07:25:37 AM)

Comment #1184: Jook said:
"Thanks Simon!!! And of course I will!"
(Tuesday Mar 14, 06 at 10:12:24 PM)

Comment #1183: Simon said:
"Belated congrats -- be sure to invite me to the bachelor party!!"
(Tuesday Mar 14, 06 at 03:24:14 PM)

Comment #1181: Jook said:
"hahahaha...you both are too funny! :-P"
(Monday Mar 13, 06 at 06:59:39 PM)

Comment #1178: Uncle said:
"Hmm, I think your Aunt is making a hint to someone..."
(Friday Mar 10, 06 at 05:45:09 PM)

Comment #1176: Aunt said:
"I never know you are such a romantic person. I am happy for you two."
(Thursday Mar 9, 06 at 11:13:40 PM)

Comment #1175: Jook said:
"why? can't a guy take his gf to get a manicure just because? :-P"
(Wednesday Mar 8, 06 at 01:14:14 PM)

Comment #1172: Hoo said:
"Nice pic! I didn't know about your engagement pic. until now. Woudlnt' she get suspicious when you take her to the manicure?"
(Wednesday Mar 8, 06 at 12:02:46 PM)

Comment #1171: little miss said:
"kept yelling "abacadabra" and waving my magic wand while in CIA...it sooo reminds me of Harry Potter...no food appeared magically though..."
(Wednesday Mar 8, 06 at 12:41:36 AM)

Comment #1170: wowzers said:
"fod looks so good...seems all the pics are about food and wine!! lol...makes me hungry. but congrats....ur a needle in a haystack"
(Tuesday Mar 7, 06 at 08:09:57 PM)

Comment #1169: sanghyup moon said:
"congrats guys! you a lucky guy, your bride to be is very pretty. i wish you guys the best in your new life together! god bless."
(Monday Mar 6, 06 at 11:24:02 PM)

Comment #1167: usrbin said:
"congratultaions !!!"
(Monday Mar 6, 06 at 12:52:32 PM)

Comment #1164: MY-T-MAX said:
"(sniff, sniff) I'm so proud of you! This is going to be a SOOOOO Chinese wedding!"
(Monday Mar 6, 06 at 09:56:48 AM)

Comment #1163: Jook said:
"Enjoy the album!"
(Monday Mar 6, 06 at 09:56:42 AM)