Thai Steak Noodle Salad

My humble plating.

R+D Kitchen's version.

Ran across ingredient list from a wonderful salad we had earlier this year in Napa at R+D Kitchen in Yountville. Needed an appropriate vinaigrette recipe, and finally settled on one from Sara Foster's Fresh Every Day cookbook. I made a few adjustments, but have included the original measurements in parentheses. You could easily halve the recipe, as it made closer to 1-1/2 cups. Sara Foster's Spicy Pad Thai Salad (on the same page) sounds great, too.

Pad Thai Vinaigrette
Makes Approximately 1-1/2 cups

2 T. Rice wine vinegar
2 T. Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
2 T. Tamarind paste
2 T. Light soy sauce or Tamari
3 (2) T. Extra-virgin olive oil
1 T. Ketchup
1-1/2 T. (1 T.) Sugar
1 T. Fresh ginger, grated
2 Garlic cloves, minced
Grated zest and juice of 1 orange
Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp. (1 tsp.) Chili paste

Whisk together. Can be refrigerated in sealed container for one week.

Thai Steak (or Chicken) Noodle Salad
4 servings

1/2 cup Pad Thai Vinaigrette
2 12-oz. Steaks (New York Strip), grilled to medium rare
2 cups Vermicelli noodles, cooked; slightly al dente
1/3 cup Fresh cilantro, julienned
1/3 cup Fresh basil, julienned
1/3 cup Green onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup Grape tomatoes, halved
1-2 Avocados, rough cut
3/4 cup Fresh mango
2 med. Carrots, julienned
1 head Romaine, finely chopped
2 Limes, halved
3/4+ cup Peanuts

1. Prepare vinaigrette. Set aside.
2. Grill steaks (seasoned with salt + pepper) to medium rare. Let rest for 10 minutes. Thinly slice. Set aside. While steaks are grilling, cook Vermicelli to al dente in salted water. Rinse thoroughly in cold water. Drain well and dry with paper towels.
3. Chop Romaine, julienne carrots, halve grape tomatoes, thinly slice green onions (white part and equal amount of green). Toss together in large bowl. Dry thoroughly with paper towels.
4. Top salad with avocado, mango, and peanuts. Gently toss together using hands.
5. In a large bowl--add vinaigrette to cold noodles. Toss thoroughly. Pour salad mixture on top. Gently toss using hands. Add more vinaigrette.
6. Plate salads. Squeeze lime juice on top.
7. Sprinkle on my peanuts, if desired.
8. Distribute steak pieces evenly between 4 servings.

Tiny House

The area we stayed in had no landscaping.

I get big ideas. I convince myself of the logic, the practicality, the potential of something. Some of my big ideas die a quick and riskless death. Some get filed away for later or for someone else. Some stay on my front burner for months and years, waiting for timing, opportunity, a lightening strike. Some move forward, cost a few dollars, then fizzle. Most don't soar. O.K., none have soared because by nature and by nurture I am not a risk taker. This tiny house thing has intrigued me for years. I'd almost convinced myself and had begun drawing others into conversation about the ingenuity, the practicality, the beauty of living small.

We don't live small nor do we live large. We live medium in a 2,000 sq.ft. 2-story townhouse, with full basement. We have stuff. I've spent years as a hunter-gatherer. First primitive antiques and kitchen gadgets; then dinnerware and French Country accents. Oh, I've sorted and passed on many treasures--to family, to friends, and even to strangers. Yet, the elephants(s) are in every room and our basement--I'm no minimalist. I'm someone who draws comfort and creative energy from my stuff.

I digress... We had the opportunity to live small this week; very small. Well, of course it'd work well!

Guess what? I hate it. Hate it. It's been claustrophobic and boring. The necessities are here, but there's nothing lovely to feed my hungry soul. The house's amenities are fine. Just o.k. The setting is not. It could be. The Napa River is right here, but no one has made any attempt to make the river bank inviting. The owners of this community have fallen apart when it comes to curb appeal. We won't come back.

Our weather this week has been phenomenal. Much better than we ever expected. Sunshine and 60s. All week. The area of and surrounding Napa and Sonoma are lovely. Natural beauty is everywhere in the undulating hills and valley; in the forrested Calistoga area; in Muir County Baylands. At these sights my soul is happy.

I am not an extrovert. I need solitude and quiet activity to exist. My filters are wacky; too much gets through. My brain drains; my energy wanes. Beauty is required. (As well as a decent Internet connection, or at least more than 2 lousy Cellular bars.)

Napa General Store.

We had a lovely brunch today--patio seating with umbrellas, sunshine, and lovely food. At one point a cool breeze drifted though. CA laughed when I told him I'd be oh-so-happy to pay extra for that breeze. If it'd been on my brunch menu this morning:

Filtered sunlight with intermittent gentle breezes ....................... $20.00

I would have asked our waitress to add it to our check. Hands down. Zero hesitation. Soul food.

Almost Grey in Napa

The sun was missing this morning, but our day brightened as we entered Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery in Yountville for our morning coffee. This is a combination patisserie-boulangerie, and the products are as beautiful as any we've seen in France. I immediately tell CA that I want breakfast here every day we're in the Napa Valley. And, I am not kidding.

 

We somehow manage to poke about all morning into the early afternoon, with a second coffee at Model Bakery in St. Helena, and then lunch back in Yountville at Mustard's. A delightful ambience and well-prepared and presented food.

We're easily at Cardinale for a 3:00pm tasting. Cardinale's winemaker is Chris Carpenter, and we're privileged to spend almost two hours tasting 4 Cabernet Sauvignons and being absolutely drawn into the Napa culture by Chris' enthusiasm, experience, and knowledge. My Chris is ecstatic, although his low-key demeanor rarely gives a hint.

Today with Chris Carpenter at Cardinale is a pinnacle point for CA. Those points are all too rare in any life, but I recall another one in London when a World Soccer Official CA met at the Marble Arch Marriott arranged tickets for Chris to attend an Arsenal-Chelsea match.

Thank you Chris Carpenter for spending so much of your valuable time making your high school freshman football coach so happy.

Spring-like Napa

Gorgeous sunny day--68° in the Napa River Valley. This is a dream trip. CA's, not mine, but I will find plenty to enjoy. I've already expressed contentment in driving up and down the valley, everyday will be fine. Beautiful views of mountainsides and blue, blue skies. My soul drinks it in. And, I will write and take photos--interspersed with great coffee and meals.

We visit our first tasting room this trip--Miner Family Winery--eventually choosing a white wine, The Iliad, 2012. CA has plans to transport 4 bottles in his checked bag, a carefully selected 4 bottles. I'm guessing a couple more will end up in my bag...

Tomorrow is our big treat--a tasting at Cardinale Vineyards, arranged by a former student of CA's. Actually, a man whom CA coached in freshman football in the years before Northern Illinous embraced soccer, and CA never looked back. He is still coaching high school soccer, to great success. 

Fine coffee today at Napa Valley Coffee Roasters--the Grapevine Blend is outstanding. And, lunch at R+D Restaurant in Yountville was excellent. My buttons got pushed, and CA exclaimed superlatively over his Thai Steak and Noodle Salad. 

Dinner is almost beside the point, but we go late to Oxbow Market and enjoy small plates.

Travel

Soon. We'll be visiting the Colorado Fun Kids. Yea! Then not too much later, a trip to Napa. We'll get a chance to experience tiny house living firsthand.