Portugal to Nepal

Orland, then Petaluma, February 14, 2010—

BREAKFAST, YES, back at City Gates (see last night's dinner): steak Azores style: nicely salted; marinated in oil, red wine, & garlic; served with red onions, toast, hash browns, & three eggs over easy. Yes. And a decent cappuccino, if a teeny bit sweet.

Then a leisurely drive through Sacramento River country, and up a number of miles to one ford too deep to attempt, and a long backtrack, and then dinner in Petaluma with a couple of old friends at a Nepalese place they fancy. And I can see why: clean complex flavors, pleasant service, interesting cuisine — the things that also attact us to that Portuguese place up in Orland.

We had somosas and pakora as appetizers; I reqquested the lamb mushroom curry afterward — lamb and mushroom cubes cooked with olive oil, spices, onion, and tomato sauce: the Mediterranean floats up to the Himalayas. Naan, of course.

Two family-owned and -run restaurants, each cooking what they know best, with lots of heart. You can't go wrong.

Sauvignon blanc, Kenwood, 2007; Zinfandel, Old Vines, (delicious: and I didn't record the name!)

City Gates Restaurant (Portas da Cidade), 1165 Hoff Way, Orland CA, tel. 530.865.5552