Robert Hunter Winery - Sonoma, CA

This weekend we visited Robert Hunter Winery. Now this is not a child friendly destination, but we had such a great time I had to share! (By the way, if you are visiting Sonoma with little ones and find yourself needing a babysitter, I have some well tested recommendations and am happy to share!!)

Robert Hunter Winery was started in the 1973 by Robert Hunter and is located on a piece of property once owned by Alma Spreckles, a 1920's socialite who coined the phrase "Sugar Daddy" and apparently gave 'sassy' a run for it's money. The gardens were officially designed by the late and renowned Thomas Church, but Ann Hunter has also added over three semi-truck flatbeds of rare plants-I have a black thumb and I was impressed!

Beyond the impressive gardens, amazing views, and fun history, Robert Hunter offers amazing wines and a very special experience. Like many boutique wineries, tastings are by appointment only, but Hunter does not have a tasting room. When you arrive at the winery, you are greeted at the small office and guided to the Hunter's living room to taste and talk wine! Everyone plops down on the sofa or pulls up a chair, while 88yr old Robert and Ann Hunter act as hosts. As wine is poured, vintages discussed, and histories outlines, a guest can't help to notice the dash marks on the door frame marking the current winemaker's, Robert Hunter III, childhood growth pattern. 

Anyway, it was wonderful. Please go if the opportunity arises.

This picture does not do justice to the beauty of the grounds and I was having too much fun to take pictures!

Below is my personal rating system:
1 (NOT ok) to 5(Woop woop)  & other important details...
Wine: 5
Service: 5
Child friendliness: 0
Best time to visit: Anytime
Baby changing station: No
Stroller access: No
Winery website: http://www.roberthunterwinery.com/RHW/Welcome.html
Tripadvisor loves them too: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33107-d735963-r70978762-Robert_Hunter_Winery-Sonoma_Sonoma_County_California.html

How to cultivate an infant palate....

Also known as, how to avoid creating the dreaded picky eater.

I really love food. But not only great food, also amazing and interesting dining experiences. So I am determined to create the toddler version of myself, who gets pumped to stroll into an Ethiopian joint, can't wait for the next sushi roll, and hopes Osso Bucco is on the menu at home. I realize that this is a lofty ambition so I scoured the Internet and my baby books for some guidance. Here is what I found, am now trying, and thought I would share*:

1. Eat what you love and a variety while pregnant (obviously within the constraints of what's acceptable during pregnancy). The thought being that the flavors will permeate the amniotic fluid and your baby will arrive preprogrammed for the good stuff.

I tried my best to do this and I don't know if I buy it. I ate Italian almost every night and when Jack was recently given Earth's Best Organic Pasta meal for beginners, this is what happened:

Jack can't get these pasta Elmo faces off his tray fast enough! Please note the happy Lab near by...

While pregnant I never even thought about Mac n' Cheese, especially made out of rice pasta, but Jack definitely shows signs of preconditioning-

2. Present a variety of fresh whole foods in different ways daily. A child who hates raw tomatoes may like them cooked.

Since the eating thing is completely new, textures as well as flavors are something to get used to. Even different colors may seem weird to them. And according to research, it can also take up to 30 times before a child will actually develop a taste for something.

3. Avoid the kid's menu. They are generally nutritionally void and promote the chicken nugget, grilled cheese, butter and noddles ONLY mentality. 

Jack is still too little for most items on that menu anyway, but whenever I've ended up at a restaurant with no Jack treats, the kitchen has been really good about making me a plain baked potato, or plain steamed veggies, etc.

4. Be sensitive to how your baby is feeling. If you introduce a new food to a baby and they become sick soon after, even if it has nothing to do with the food, they will develop an aversion to that food. 

I've definitely noticed that if Jack is having a particularly hard day teething he will generally dislike everything I feed him. 

5. Allow a few dislikes. If you've tried carrots raw, baked, steamed, blended, hidden in frosting etc a hundred times and still no luck, your baby simply does not like carrots. Even the biggest foodie has a couple of items on their yucky list!

Good luck-May you never be a shortorder cook and always receive applause in your kitchen!!

*All of this information came with the common sense disclaimers-no allergens or honey & check with your Pediatrician.

References:
http://www.home-ec101.com/
thehealthyapron.com
www.parentingscience.com
www.whattoexpect.com
http://www.parenting.com/