Fine wines from Gary Farrell Winery
And a visit to a chocolate factory and a century-old ice cream parlor
Sipping snazzy
I keep low priced wines around my home—bottles in the $10 to $15 range. They are the right beverage when my mind is busy figuring out what to make for dinner for the kids, what lingering work emails need answered in the evening, and myriad other mundane matters.
But when I can get an hour to myself and can focus completely on what I am drinking—that is the time to go something upscale. Last month, I had two nights where I was kid-free and work was well under control. So each of those nights I tasted a wine by Gary Farrell Winery of Healdsburg, California.
They were stellar.
The Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2022 ($40) was miles away from the gooey vanilla bombs that are all too typical at the $10 to $20 range. This Farrell Chardonnay was delicate and nuanced and showed honeydew and nectarine notes. Wow.
The Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2021 ($50) is a medium-bodied wine that was terrific to sip while noshing on crackers and cheeses (dill havarti and smoked cheddar). It nicely balanced orange and berry notes against an earthy flavor.
You can view and order the many Gary Farrell wines here.
Food and fun in Canton, Ohio
We took a family trip to Canton this summer. Actually, we went twice. We had already seen the city’s best known attraction, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, some years back. So we got our kicks in other places.
We first stopped by the Hartville Sod Farm, where I showed the kids that, yes, people really do grow yard and field grass and sell it. The folks there were very nice. I purchased maybe 40 square feet, which I rolled onto the backyard later that day. It flourished!
Then we visited the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, which also includes a small planetarium, Stark County history museum, and a recreated “Street of Shops” from 1900. Here’s a photograph of the saloon.
After that, we headed for a late lunch at the marvelous Taggart’s, a century-old icecream parlor. Sure, they have a full menu, but we decided to live it up and eat nothng but banana splits, shakes, and sundaes.
Taggart’s specialty is the Bittner, which it describes as “a secret mixture of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and pecans from a special supplier in Georgia. The end result is a dessert which has the consistency of a milkshake but is too thick to drink.” I will return one day to try it!
The next day we returned to Canton to tour the Fannie May factory. The tour was a mixture of history (Yay!) and corporate propaganda (Yawn.). The highlight was viewing the factory floor. Thousands upon thousands of gallons of chocolate flowing through myriad pipes leading to fabulous machines popping out glorious confections.
Go ahead and laugh
I love the Bailey Road Tavern in Cuyahoga Falls. Nice folks behind the bar. Great burgers. Great prices. And the laughs are free!