Tagine Seller

We decided to take a break from garden and house chores and be tourists, so we went to the city of Sonoma. It is extremely picturesque with an early adobe fort, the last mission in the chain (built by the Franciscans a day's walk apart down the length of California) and some territorial style buildings with second story balconies running their length--all built around a shady central plaza. We ventured into a candle shop and out with a huge candle lantern to hang from our new arbor

There were lots of blipping opportunities, but we opted first for lunch at the Girl and the Fig restaurant. OilMan had a Pliny the Elder IPA and I had a glass of Marsanne along with our arugula and fig salad and chicken livers with onion confit.

I had a ulterior motive for choosing this Sonoma other than an excellent lunch. My friend Kim, whose partner, Bruce Hill is a chef with several restaurants in the Bay Area, told me months ago about a shop on the Sonoma square called Bram, where they sell beautiful handmade tagines from Egypt, as well as clay pots from many other countries that use them. I fell in love with the pots as soon as I saw them in the window and I fell in love with the owner, an Egyptian man named Ash, as soon as we ventured into the store. The fact that he was keeping up with news from Egypt on his Mac did nothing to distract from his classic features and his friendly, dignified manner. We bought a tagine that says enjoy in arabic in the bottom, a huge fruit bowl with intricately carved cutouts around it and an Italian earthenware pot. Ash invited us to choose a rustic Egyptian casserole as a gift from him.

The last time I suggested a trip to Sonoma, OilMan acted as if I had invited him to cut off his right hand. Today he was in a much more expansive mood and, buoyed by his favorite brew, which is rarely seen in restaurants, I believe he enjoyed himself. Timing is everything, apparently.