This past spring was my first real trip to China.  I say real because the first time was to Hong Kong and to me that really didn’t count, lol. This time I went to the mainland.  Beijing and Shanghai.  When two of my loves come together – food & travel – it’s always delights me!  I love to savor the moment and capture it with my camera.  The above dishes were all at an obscure restaurant that a local friend took me to (aren’t those always the best?)  The textures and colors are so vibrant you can almost taste the food.  Delicious!

Here are more beautiful grapes that were still on the vine.  Anyone who sees these grapes in their natural surroundings is sure to fall in love with the whole winemaking process.  From the rolling hills with lush greenery, to the rows of vines all neatly manicured and displaying its fruit ready for picking.  It adds a very romantic backstory that all leads up to the enjoyment one has as he is holding a glass ready to savor the rich reward of all this work.

It’s harvest season in Napa Valley!  During our recent visit to Napa Valley in late October, the grapes were ripe for the picking and will soon start their process into becoming wine.  As we learned, it’s an arduous process that has been honed throughout the centuries to produce a product that satifies an ever-increasingly sophisticated palate.