Rodeo (1)

Laytonville, California, August 22, 2009 —

WE WERE UP IN Laytonville, a couple of hours north of us in Mendocino county, to visit Paolo and his family and to see the rodeo. Then my friend Jim and I would stay the night and watch more rodeo next day and then maybe head out for the rough country to hike and camp.
Eating at the rodeo isn't exactly eating at Chez Panisse. Take the decor, for example:

(that's my 6-year-old grandson under the hat)

big tables, high stools outside the bar; long picnic tables in front of the booths selling Indian tacos and cold hamburgers.

So we gratefully accepted an invitation to Joe's for dinner. Joe lives near the rodeo grounds, and like every Laytonviller I've ever met loves to eat and drink, make friends, and share. A grill was set up on the driveway apron, a picnic table or two was spread with oilcloth. Bowls of chips; barbecued oysters; platters of delicious local lamb; loaves of bread. We took a bottle of wine along with us; most others seemed to prefer beer.

Redwood Creek Pinot noir (“vin de pays de l’ile de beauté"), Frei Brothers, 2008
no doubt a Corsican wine, modest but very fruity