Sunday Funday in Napa County

Today I took a trip to Napa County with friends. We weren’t going wine tasting, but had planned to hike Mount Saint Helena. Hiking up five miles on the Stevenson Memorial Trail would take us over 4,000 feet to St. Helena’s peak.  
With so much rain and lack of exercise lately, the hike was much needed. It was a gorgeous day for this ten mile roundtrip hike. The views were beautiful. I admit that I felt out of shape as my muscles were really sore as we descended.  
Before heading back home, we stopped at Oxbow Public Market for an early dinner. I felt that I deserved a nice piece of steak. Five Dot Ranch Cookhouse is where you can get local and sustainably raised beef. I was attracted to the menu item “you pick it, we grill it.” The butcher shop meat case had some amazing pieces of meat. I then noticed the special of the day which was a 7 oz skirt steak with potato puree, roasted Brussels sprouts, and a bone marrow glace for $20. I was sold.  
My skirt steak was cooked a medium rare as I requested, and was tender and full of flavor. The potatoes were buttery and creamy, while the Brussels sprouts were roasted to perfection. As much as I deserved a steak dinner, this dinner plate deserved to be eaten. I was completely satisfied.  
Before the long ride home, I wanted to have some coffee. I stopped for a cappuccino at San Francisco based Ritual Coffee.  

 I guess it’s no secret I was also going to use the loo too. The barista sure has a good sense of humor.