The Napa Valley Wine Train Experience

 

 

Are you a wine aficionado or  an enthusiast  that appreciates a glass of the simple yet complex aroma and taste of fermented grapes? If you're like me, the only 2 things I know about wine are... RED and WHITE. 

 

 

Connoisseur or not The Napa Valley Wine Train is an experience worth the  travel especially if you live in the Bay Area. The United States ranks within the top 10 most popular regions and grapes. And aren't we fortunate to live in California - home to Wine Country.  Napa is about 55 miles north of SFO International Airport. As a resident of Napa county  we are at the gateway to this whole experience. But since relocating here from San Jose in 2011 I haven't traveled the area much or been to our favorite wineries (V.Sattui in St. Helena and Castello Di Amorosa in Calistoga) as often as I'd like. Maybe because it is just beyond our backyard and we know we could  easily get up and go, which we realized isn't always the case.  Yet when we have guests over and bring them around to see the sites of wine country we zoom past these lush plantations that we don't take a moment to enjoy how fertile the land is up here that Napa Valley is a top producer of world class wines. For me this trip was like getting reacquainted with home, why we decided to move to Napa County and being a tourist in our own place, all the more reason to explore right? What better way to experience this and make it special than by going here on an occasion.

appetizer

Our reservation was set for Jan. 23, Gourmet Express Lunch in celebration of my husband's birthday. The journey starts at McKinstry St. in Napa and is a 3 hour trip through the cities of Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. When seated you are greeted with a welcome message and a glass of wine, choice of Chardonnay or Merlot.

Love Lock Bridge at the train station

Upon reaching St. Helena the train then heads back to the station while lunch is being served and you will enjoy the encore sites of the various wineries and panoramic views of the vineyards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Random photos (sorry for the reflection and blurriness)

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

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 Lunch is served...

  



Menu

First Course: Soup du Jour Tomato Bisque

 

Entrée: Fresh Fish of the Day Mahi Mahi

Dessert with coffee

 

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This mini get away for me and my husband was truly a wonderful experience!  I whole heartedly recommend this trip especially to couples, I found this so romantic though this is also a fun excursion for a group of friends or family who love wine or just want to try something different. The whole travel and experience was a feast for the senses - food, wine, scenery and the ambiance as a whole. The crew and staff were tremendously courteous and so friendly, as you pass each winery your assigned guide tells you a little history of the place and the owner. I wish I jotted down notes because we found out that one of the owners wine story was made into a Hollywood film - and for the life of me I cannot remember his name. The building of one of the wineries was made out of grapevines, how awesome is that! And one of the wine owners was an architect and is said that you cannot wine taste unless you were an architect too... exclusive! Just so much information you would have never guessed about these businessman that is so impressing.

 

Thank you Wine Train we will definitely be back!

 

 

 

 

For more information about The Wine Train click here:

http://winetrain.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banana Peanut Butter Oat Smoothie

Craving a banana-peanut butter fix?

 

 

 

Here's a yummy, nutritious, chilled, fiber packed drink you can prepare out of your favorite fruit-nutty combo.

 

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 banana

a little less than 1/4 cup peanut butter of choice
1/3 cup  whole grain oats (not instant)
1 tbsp Nutella
1.5 cups Almond milk
Agave nectar or honey for sweetness, desired amount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combine everything in a NutriBullet or regular blender and spin till frothy. Transfer to a plastic container if you're using a blender and cover with a lid, chill in the freezer for 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Pour in your favorite glass or mug and ...

 

 

ENJOY!

 

  

Food and Fitness Journal | January 17-23, 2015

Saturday, Jan. 17

Breakfast:   cup of decaf coffee, 1 toasted pan de sal with Nutella and strawberry jelly

Ran 3.01 miles with hubby

Post workout drink:   1 cup DOLE Ready Cut Fruit smoothie (strawberries, peaches & banana)

Lunch:   7 pieces of sushi combo
               1 cup rice + sautéed veggies, Sisig

Dinner:   The Kickin Crab  Combo #3, Cajun Fish tacos, Garlic Noodles, Coconut Sea snails
                (my brother's family dinner get together) ... plus Caramel cake from Cabalen :(

MY THOUGHTS ~  drank lots of water throughout the day. I don't like soft drinks and I can certainly manage without it. The day did start out right but since I was anticipating a pig out I'm just glad I was able to go 3 miles this morning. Choice of food wasn't healthy today but will do better tomorrow!

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Sunday, Jan. 18

Breakfast:   cup of decaf coffee, 1 toasted pan del sal with Nutella and strawberry jelly

Ran errands - went out to buy groceries

Lunch:   leftover Garlic Noodles + 4 pieces of Cajun Shrimp

Snack:   4 Oreo cookies

Napped for 2 hours
Woke up and worked out for an hour = 30 minutes jogged on the treadmill + 30 minutes functional training.

SQUATS w/ 15lbs. wts in each hand, 3 sets of 15 reps;
DONKEY KICKS using FT at #4 using foot attachment,
 3 sets of 16 reps

FT Pull Downs at #7, 3 sets of 16-18 reps



HOOKED LEG CRUNCHES using workout bench + 15 lb wts in each hand, 3 sets of 16-18

 

 

Dinner:   1.5 cups Kale Strawberry Pecan salad with
                 baked herb salmon
                 hot tea with Agave nectar and a little Almond milk.

 

 

 

MY THOUGHTS ~ today was indeed much better as far as caloric intake.  Good thing I wasn't hungry much throughout the day and I was able to nap. I love naps! Tomorrow's gonna be an early day at work so I'm happy I got additional rest. I will now prepare tomorrow's breakfast for work :) 100% whole grain old fashion Oatmeal with brown sugar, cinnamon, almond milk and butter. Will include a piece of fruit or fruit smoothie.
 





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 Monday, Jan.19

 

Breakfast:   cup of decaf coffee, 1 toasted pan del sal with Nutella and strawberry jelly

                    Oatmeal, fruit smoothie, water (during first break 7:30am)

 

                                          

 

 

Lunch:   Trail mix

 

Snack:   2 square pieces Ghirardelli Chocolate Intense Dark 60%

 

Dinner:   1 slice pizza + 1 cup Mac n' Cheese

 

 

 

MY THOUGHTS ~ I had a feeling I might not be able to workout because I lack sleep, I was running on 2 hours of shut eye, labored through work today and the drive back home got me drowsy. I will just have to make today my rest day and go to bed early tonight. But before that I gotta prep the ingredients for my smoothie I'm bringing to work tomorrow. I still have some more oatmeal in the refrigerator, gonna bring that for my breakfast as well.

 

 

 

strawberries, blueberries, orange slices and banana

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Tuesday, Jan. 20

Breakfast:   cup of decaf coffee, 1 toasted pan del sal with Nutella and strawberry jelly
                    Fruit smoothie (frozen blueberries, strawberries, orange slices, banana + almond milk)

Lunch:   Chicken bacon ranch wrap = 290 cal.

Snack:   1 old fashion donut

Ugghhh... why were you in our break room Mr. Donut?!

Dinner: Santa Fe style salad = 280 cal.

Jogged almost 30 minutes this evening, I thought I wouldn't be able to squeeze in a workout. I was also able to do some functional strength training and glut and floor exercises for around 40 minutes.

MY THOUGHTS ~ by the time I arrived home it was almost 5pm and I honestly thought that this would end up being another rest day. Fortunately 2 hours after having dinner I wasn't sleepy yet so I turned on the treadmill and jogged. Midway through I realized that I could go on and put in some strength training exercises. I'm so glad before bedtime I got another workout session done today! 

 

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 Wednesday, Jan. 21

 

 

Breakfast: cup of decaf coffee, 1 toasted pan del sal with Nutella and strawberry jelly

                    Oatmeal, fruit smoothie, water (during first break 7:30am)

 

Snack:   6 pieces chocolate truffles

 

Lunch:   finished the rest of my fruit smoothie

 

Dinner:   Caesar salad + 1 piece over roast (leftover from 2 nights ago)

 

 

 

MY THOUGHTS ~ today is the 2nd rest day for the week. I will aim to go to work earlier in order to get back home sooner and storm through another cardio + strength training session.


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Thursday, Jan. 22

 

 Breakfast: cup of decaf coffee, 1 toasted pan del sal with Nutella and strawberry jelly
                   Oatmeal-Fruit smoothie
 



 

 

 

 Lunch:   finished the rest of my smoothie 

  

Dinner:   1 cup Adobo Fried rice + 3 pieces of roast beef + broiled Milk fish belly                   

 

Brisk walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes after mealtime  

 

 

 

 



 

 

 MY THOUGHTS ~ definitely not the day I wanted, had another bad drive and arrived home tired as heck and HUNGRY too :( The oatmeal fruit shake didn't last as long as I thought. I ate dinner fairly early, rest a bit then hit the treadmill for an indoor walk. Will workout for sure tomorrow morning before celebrating hubby's birthday at The Napa Valley Wine Train.

 

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Friday, Jan. 23

 

Breakfast: half up of decaf + 1 pan de sal

 

Worked out for 1 hour alternating between strength training (3 different exercises) on our functional trainer and cardio bursts, jogging on the treadmill on level 5.

 

1) Kettle Bell Side Lifts on 1 Leg, using 20 lb. wts 20 reps/3 sets = obliques + stability
2) Shoulder workout,  refer to @boksantos on Instagram used 5 lb. wts each hand 13 to 15 reps/3 sets
3) Standing Hip Abduction, using functional training at 40 lb. setting 16 to 20 reps/3 sets each leg

 

10 minute jogs in between strength training on the functional trainer x 3 = 30 min.

 

1) Hooked leg Crunches on workout bench, holding 15 lb. dumbbell 16-20 reps/3 sets = Abs
2) Pull Downs using functional trainer at 70 lb. setting 16-20 reps/3 sets = Abs
3) Leg Extensions/Donkey kicks, functional trainer set at 50 lbs. 14-16 reps/3 sets

 

Post workout drink:

 



 



Green Juice

http://cathyelpedes.blogspot.com/2015/01/green-juice-post-workout-drink.html

Lunch:   Hubby's birthday date on the Napa Valley Wine Train





Soup du Jour ~ Tomato Bisque topped with Croutons

 

Fresh Fish of the Day ~ Pan Seared Mahi Mahi in Coconut Curry reduction with baby spinach & sweet potatoes

 

Dessert ~ Tiramisu, Crème Brulee and coffee 

 

 

Dinner:  1 piece of Naan, a scoop of Saag Paneer and a piece of Lengua (beef tongue)

                 Hubby's dinner at home with the family 

 

 

 

 

MY THOUGHTS ~ I knew ahead of time that today would be a pig-out day, good thing I was able to workout in the morning and had a light dinner since I was still full from our trip... and by light I mean "no rice" on my plate.

 

Ending this blog post the only thing I have to say is it is a struggle at times to stay disciplined and I would love to go back to the weight I had in 2011 (115 lbs.)  prior to slowly gaining weight within the past 3 years (currently 126-128 lbs.) due to the lack of time and me feeling fatigue. For me it is a struggle for time to put in a decent workout because my days are wasted on my commute to and from work and I am extremely tired when I get home. I'm on the road for about 4 hours a day and finding a job closer to home has been very difficult the past year. It is taking a toll on my body - the lack sleep, not exercising diligently or not exercising at all and waking up at the wee hours of the night (2:45 am) to get ready for work which is 75 miles away from home. Which is why during my days off I really try my best to get in some exercise. Health is wealth ...

 

Love yourself by eating right and being active.

 

As you can see my past week was nowhere near perfect but I am determined to be a healthier and fit ME this 2015. 

Green Juice | Post Workout Drink

Ingredients:


1 whole apple, chopped
around 8 pieces frozen pineapple tidbits, fresh not canned
1 whole orange, frozen wedges
a hand full of organic baby spinach
equal hand full of organic kale
1 cup Arizona Green Tea - don't worry this is 0 calories

Combine everything together in a blender or NutriBullet, spin till frothy. Serve in your favorite mug or glass. Keep excess in an airtight container and refrigerate till next use.

Bottoms up!

Oven Chuck Roast

 

Ingredients:

3.5 lbs. Beef chuck roast
seasoning (salt, pepper and Italian herbs)
5 large cloves garlic, minced
1 white onion, chopped
baby carrots
1 large Yukon potato, chopped
ground black pepper
1.5 cup beef broth
1/2 - 3/4 cup red wine, Merlot







 

 

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Season the meat with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning and let sit  - I let mine sit overnight. When ready heat skillet to seer both sides of the beef in canola or olive oil  till well caramelized and  develops a  toasted brown crust. Remove from the heat, set aside and ready the aromatic ingredients.

 

 

 

Sauté garlic and carrots with a dash of salt, stir and let cook for a few minutes then add the onions. Cover and let simmer till onions become translucent then add red wine, let alcohol evaporate then add the beef broth and bring to a boil. Let simmer for a few minutes on low-medium heat.

  

 

 

I just placed the meat in a Pyrex dish since I do not have a Dutch oven. Anyhow at this point remove the veggies from the heat and pour over the roast including the liquid.

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, when ready place meat inside and let roast for 2 hours. Add in the potatoes and continue to roast covered for another 30 minutes. This totals 2.5 hours where every 30 minutes I suggest basting the meat with the liquid. When cooking time is up, turn OFF the heat and let it sit covered with foil in the oven for half an hour.  

 

OPTIONAL: blender veggies and basting liquid to serve as gravy over the roast

 

 

 

Slice the roast thinly or however you like. Pour the liquid over the meat to retain moisture and arrange the veggies around it.  

PLATE. SERVE. ENJOY!