Hey Y’all
March 30th, 2010
Bobby and I just landed back home after a week away and I'm so happy to be back.
We spent a week in Napa Valley California and it was such a pretty place and we had a great time.....and got to call it work. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Beringer wine on a new contest this summer.
It's the first annual Great Steak Challenge. Go to Beringer.com for all the details but basically all you need is a great steak idea and then pair it up with your favorite Beringer wine and you can win $15,000! Plus a four day stay in Napa Valley California. The finale will be televised on The Cooking Channel and you can tell all your friends that you are the best griller in the country!
How's that sound?
Y'all know I am a far cry from a wine expert so we went out to learn about the process and what makes a wine the right fit for your meal. We had the opportunity to meet so many awesome people and great goodness, the wine and food we had!
I almost caught the gout!
The first night we walked over to Michael Chiarello's newest restaurant, y'all know Michael from his show on the Food Network, NapaStyle, and it was an easy top five food experience in my life.
Top Five!
Y'all know how much time I have spent around food? Plus at my momma's table? No kidding, it was a night Bobby and I will never forget. Michael found us at the bar and said he would love to cook for us and just bring food until we fell off the table and he was not joking. I am still full. We had too much to list but let me say I would step over mom to get back to those short ribs! Thank you Michael, he is a super nice guy and a chef chef. People like him is the reason we are quick to tell people that we are cooks, not chefs. He is the real deal!
The second night we had dinner at Meadowood and Christopher Kostow is the celebrated chef, he put true art on the plate. The appetizer was smaller than a postage stamp and he had somehow managed to garnish it in the very center. Tiny accents of color and texture....all the way through dinner we were surprised by his dishes and flavors. After you win the contest I recommend you visit during your trip.
The third night was prepared by Chef Maurine at Beringer and it was as good as the first two! She prepared a soup for our lunch at the property and it was the first time I ever asked a chef at a restaurant for seconds. I have no shame and that soup was so damn good! It was a lemon and crab soup and I will never forget it.
On and on it went! Five wine glasses set out for every meal, course after course. I could'nt take any more!
All I wanted when we got home was a sack of Krystal burgers and a Diet Coke.
So, I'm glad to be back and hope one of my blog friends submits the winning recipe. Get outside, fire up that grill and click through at Beringer.com to win!
Thanks for checking back in, I am working on a HUGE new project and have been really busy. I have 2 new home movies I'm trying to edit and on and on and on. Stay tuned.....
Do good things.
-jamie
Krystal burgers? Dude…. White Castle.
Laurie on March 30 2010
Wow you guys have the life! Im glad I just finished dinner because reading this blog would have put me in the kitchen for sure. All sounds like a good time. I will have to check out the Beringer website. Counting down the days to Momma’s house in May for dinner. See you soon!
Jennifer J.
Baltimore
Jennifer on March 30 2010
Well my goodness, how I wish I knew you were going to be in Napa. It’s a mere 2 1/2 hour drive and I would have driven to see you in a heartbeat! Napa is so beautiful, one of my best friends (and my youngest sons godmother) lives in Sonoma - we love to visit and go as often as we can! It’s great you had such a good time and wonderful experience. Please tell me when you’ll be back, I would love to see you!
I won’t get too upset about you being so close and me not being able to see you since my daughter and I are coming to your neck of the woods in May. Not only will we get to see you at your Moms while supporting a good cause, but I get to officially check something of my “life to do” list, that would be eating at the Lady and Sons restaurant 
We get in on a Thursday night and will get up and go straight to the restaurant to secure a place in line. That’s our entire plans for Friday - Saturday will be sightseeing and primping for the fundraiser of course.
Back to Napa - It’s nice you had a good time and learned about wine. I will have my husband do the contest, he is a master bbq chef and he knows wine!
Always,
Tracey
Tracey Lopez on March 30 2010
Wow Jamie! It sounds like you two had a great time! Any pictures?
It is finally spring here in So. Ill so we have fired up the grill maybe I can get my Hubby to submitt a recipe or two for the contest, a trip to Napa Valley sounds ideal.
THANK YOU for your friendship..
“hugs and best of kisses” from me to you
Andrea Lepinske
andrea lepinske on March 31 2010
Jamie…
You are quite the busy guy!
I tasted every bite of food and flavor of every type of wine as you were describing it….. I wish I was there to experience it with you both! I did ,however,get to share a few rum drinks with Bobby on the cruise!!!! Your job is the BEST!!!!! I hope Miss Paula does not get wind of you stepping over her to get to a rib!!!!!! I just know she would stick out her lower lip and give you just the biggest pout!!!!! Then look out for a low flying pig or two!!!! haha!!!
I know you were ready to get home to your diet coke, burgers, Brooke and that sweet baby Jack! Not much news on him lately…...can we expect an Easter photo or two?
I still believe you should be writing a few pieces for your new magazine. You have a great gift ,with writing your words and thoughts, and I for one would enjoy reading more of what you have to say about life, family, food and fun!!!!
Hope you and yours have a Happy Easter!
Much love to my favorite blogger!!! And a big Hello to my favorite cruiser!!!!
Deb M
Deb M on March 31 2010
Wow, what a trip! I know you all had a great time. But let me tell you, be careful about stepping over your mom to get back to those ribs. The next time you sit down to eat at her table, she might pull the chair out from under you. You know there ain’t nobody who can cook like Mama!! LOL I have never eaten your mom’s cooking, but I have eaten at The Lady and Son’s and Uncle Bubba’s and cooked lots of her receipes. Love them all!!!
Renee Lawhorn on March 31 2010
Do you ever come in the store anymore ?
kelly Taylor on March 31 2010
burgers and a diet coke.. *thats* real eatings..lol Wow, cant imagine waking each morning and wondering what fabulous plates will be set before me! sounds like a grand time out west. i lived out there for a few yrs, way back in the ‘80s, did a winery tour once in Napa. very nice place and people. nothing like what y’all just did tho! such curses of the job..lol
welcome home to glorious weather. looking fwd to the movies, and all the other projects that lie ahead from DB.
Hope you and all the family have a Glorious Easter. im sure the food will be wonderful as will the time together. hope Mr Jack finds tons of eggs in a hunt!
take care, thanks for the blog
Donna S on March 31 2010
Hey Jamie,
I love to read your blogs and hear about the fun trips you and Bobby take. I am from Louisiana and I enjoy y’alls kind of food. I try not to miss an episode of your mommas and I love to try out y’alls good southern recipes.
My husband and I travel all over the US working and we love to try all the different kinds food. Not to be rude but southern cooking just beats all the rest.
I have wanted to visit The Lady and Sons in Savannah for years and I finally have the chance. We are working in South Carolina and we will be coming to Savannah this weekend. Since we can’t go home to be with our families for Easter due to the long trip we are going to come eat some of The Lady and Sons home cooked food. I have been hoping that you guys would be at the restaurant whenever we got the chance to come visit; it sure would be a treat. I know y’all are so busy these days it must be hard to spend much time at the restaurant though.
Well I hope y’all have a great Easter!
Heather on April 01 2010
Has your mom lost weight? She looks great. Also, what happened to her dog Gertie? I loved the way she would laugh, talk to and feed the big dogs when she cooked. I felt right at home.
Marie Tyre on April 01 2010
Hey Jamie,
I’m from Ohio and my sister and her family traveled to Savannah for a week. They ate at the resturant. I guess they were in there on March 31st and she asked the waiter if your mother or you and Bobby were there. She was hoping to get a pic! ha! Anyway..she said the food was amazing and Savannah was Incredible. Can’t wait to make a stop there myself one day!
Amber~
amber on April 01 2010
Hey Jamie,
I’m glad you and Bobby are back. It was good to see a blog this week. It sounds like you had a great time and a lot of great food.
Question, when are they going to run the Chef vs City episode with you and Bobby?
Happy Easter!
Sonya
Sonya on April 02 2010
I live about one hour East of Napa in Roseville, CA. Weekend getaways are AMAZING….Monterey, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and Napa. It is truly a beautiful state, if you don’t mind masive budget defecit the state is in. LOL! Wondering how Bobby enjoys L.A.? It is quiet the difference from Savannah I’m sure. Keep up the good work! 
Kiersten Klessig on April 02 2010
Welcome home guys! Sounds like you drank and ate your way through Napa, which is always a good way to spend a vacation!
Judi on April 06 2010
What a great trip!! So much good food and wine!! It’s a good thing I read your blog after lent! LOL It would’ve been so hard for me to read this during it! LOL
Looking forward to more home movies/podcasts and hearing about your project. The’milking the cow’ picture is funny and the story/blog that went with it!
Can’t wait ‘til May!!
Take care!!!
Marina on April 06 2010
Hey Jamie!
Good to see you and Bobby traveled together again. Seems like he has been hiding in L.A…It’s OK to be a wino every now and then! Glad y’all made it home safely.
Still hoping to make a trip down next month..hoping to catch y’all, but, it looks like it will be a slim chance that will happen..
Have a great week!
Sherri
SC
Sherri on April 07 2010
Hi Jamie,
Good to hear you both had a great time in California. Such a beautiful place. The contest sounds like a lot of fun.
Sounds like you are keeping very busy. Good luck with your new project, hope it’s going well.
I made your Key Lime Mousse Pie for Easter that you and Paula made on Best Dishes a few weeks back. Oh my gosh, was that good! I don’t think there was a crumb left on the dish after the family got a hold of it! (sorry Deb!! xoxo) I have a request to ship one to Chicago…any idea’s how I would do that???
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Rose
Rose on April 09 2010
How about it Jamie….
can you help get that Key lime pie from AZ to Chicago?????
love ya!
Deb M
deb m on April 11 2010
Jamie,
Have you forgotten that you have a website that needs updating every now and then? Sorry to bust your chops
but we Deen fans like some new info every now and then.
Jennifer J.
Jennifer on April 13 2010
Hi Jamie and Bobby,
I am glad I can get your recipes here. Thanks!
It is good to hear that you guys are on the road again!
I like Michael Chiarello and I agree, he is a chef chef!
I love to see you and Bobby cooking with your mom and telling stories about the restaurant and your childhood. You have a terrific mom. She is just a joy to see, fun lady!
Jose Garces is the new Iron Chef and he is from Ecuadorian roots like me, I would love to see him on the show cooking with your mom or with you guys, our food is not so well-known in spite of being very delicious. Just a thought!
Thanks again for sharing your recipes with all of us.
hugs,
Cristina
Cristina Davenport on April 15 2010
So…are you guys going to be at all the Great Steak Challenge Regional Grill-offs this summer?
In other words, are you actually coming up to Newport, RI in August?
Inquiring minds…....
Kate from MA on April 16 2010
welcome back!!LOL
gout pain treatment on July 28 2010
Jamie's blog is where you'll find all the latest news and thoughts from Jamie Deen. He blogs a lot like he talks, kinda hard to follow at times. Feel free to leave a comment and join in on the discussion!
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Hi Jamie,
Glad to hear you enjoyed Napa!! Living in the Bay Area, Napa is a short drive away and we go often. Michael’s restaurant is super, we have always enjoyed it. Will check out the contest.
Can’t wait to hear about your new huge project and the two home movies. Take care and HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!!!!!
Diane on March 30 2010