Daniel's 30th Birthday

 Daniel...Surprised, well sort of!

 All the friends

 Party people!

 Volt menu!!!

 Our starter...which i can't remember exactly what it was but it was GOOD!

 Beets, walnuts, blue cheese, watercress, sherry vinegar (1st course Robin)

 Jonah crab, cucumber, green mango, coriander (1st course Daniel)

 Ravioli, Oyster mushroom, ash, celery root (2nd course both Robin & Daniel)

 Cauliflower, golden raisin, chickpea, piquill pepper, eggplant (3rd course Robin)

 Halibut, smoked tomato, yellow corn polenta, fava beans (3rd course Daniel)

 Foie Gras, strawberry (4th course Daniel)

 Hen egg rye, asparagus, shiitake mushroom (4th course Robin)

 Jerusalem artichoke, maroon carrot, fennel, chickweed (5th course Robin)

Sweetbreads, sunchoke, black kale, bacon (5th Course Daniel)

 Maitake steel cut oats, sea greens, yeast (6th Course Robin)

 Beef, english pea, kennebeck potatoes, rutabaga, green garlic (6th Course Daniel)

 Chocolate, marshmallow, caramel, peanut (7th course Robin)

 Caramel crumb bread (7th course Daniel)

 Parting gift...Volt cakes!

 Daniel and Robin in front of Volt

 Next Day...Wine tasting at Black Ankle

 Daniel among the vines

 soaking in the day

relaxing after all the partying

Some of our closest friends in Baltimore came to the house Saturday morning to surprise Daniel for his 30th birthday.  He was almost surprised until he looked out the window and saw the gang gathering on the lawn...SO CLOSE!  We had a great brunch and it was so good to see everyone.  We have such great friends here!  After brunch we left for the night for Frederick Maryland.  If any of you watch Top Chef you will know Bryan Voltaggio.  You will also know that he was robbed from the title and should have beat his bother for the win. His restaurant VOLT is located in Frederick and we have been talking about going for a long time.  The meal was breathtaking, truly a once in a life time experience.  The next day we made our way back to Baltimore, stopping a Black Ankle for a tasting.  What a way to bring in the Thirties!!!

Italy: Il Bricco

 Gary driving Daniel navigating

 view from Il Bricco

 Our Room

 Inside our room

 The vines on the Il Bricco property

Some of Il Bricco's fabulous wine

We arrived in Milan, grabbed our car, and headed for Il Bricco; located in Treiso.  We spent 5 breathtaking nights in the wonderful place.  It's called an Agriturismo, which is sort of a cross between a B&B and a farm house.  The family who run's Il Bricco couldn't have been more nice and welcoming.  Anything we needed they were happy to help us.  They make their own wine which was amazing.  They food day after day was delicious.  We couldn't have been happier.  Even better, the location was perfect to hit all the little towns in the area, including Barolo.  If you every have the chance to go you should.  We plan to go back some day!

Italy: Cooking Class

 We started by making the dessert

 Gary filling the dessert cups 

 Senecal's cooking in Italy

 Rabbit simmering on the stove

 The family matriarch teaching us how to make real Italian pasta

 Oh that looks good

 view from our dinner table

 First course: Celery, chicken, cheese, and pecan salad

 Enjoying the second course of pasta that we made

 Third course: rabbit with carrots

 and the best for last: strawberry mousse

sun setting behind the Alps

Our first night in Italy we took advantage of the opportunity to take a cooking lesson with the family who ran Il Bricco.  What an opportunity it was.  Not only were we able to learn more about Italian cooking but we were able to talk with our hostess and learn so much about the region and the regional wines.  Fantastic!!!

Italy: Wine Tasting

Ahhhh yes, wine tasting!  There's nothing like going to a wine region, talking to the wine makers and tasting the sweet sweet juice.  The Piedmont region is bursting with amazing wine.  Even more wonderful were the people and stories of how and why the wine is what it is.  It doesn't get better than that!

Italy: Treasure Hunt

 The abandoned house we decided to stop and look at

 The wine Cellar

 Robin and the Cellar

 Gary and Daniel inspecting one of the glass jugs full of wine

 The Treasure

 Robin

 Daniel

Daniel entering the Cellar

As we were driving from one picturesque town to another, Sand says from the back seat "I wish we could stop so I could take a picture of the abandoned house we just past".  One U turn later we were sitting in front of the house with no idea what we were about to experience.  We all sort of went in our own direction until Gary pushed the fence door opened and discovered we could get in.  It's interesting how an abandoned house in Europe is amazing but one in your neighborhood in the states is an eye sore.  We had fun exploring and taking pictures.  Just as we were about to move on Gary and Daniel found the cellar.  What a find!  We found things that we had just seen in the wine museum in Barolo.  We got some great pictures and it's definitely something we will remember forever.  A true highlight!