What is the difference between 2021 and 2013? Back in 2013 we had the whole Kenny crew together for a picnic in Napa Valley. In 2021 we were thrilled to get a group together for a Virtual Napa Valley Picnic via Zoom.

Note: The feature picture  shows both a Zoom session 2021 and the real thing with Kenny crew in the Napa Valley back in 2013

While Zoom is great, we have found that having a lot of people on a call can be difficult. We heard one horror story from a friend that had a holiday Zoom call with 10 family members around the country. His dad took the lead and went around the Zoom asking participants what was going on in their lives. That led to all sorts of tales of woe…job losses, business failures, health issues. Our friend made sure to make his piece positive.

With that caveat in my head, I decided to keep my invite list for our Virtual Napa Valley picnic short and focused on the upbeat. The result was a lot of fun and the call that lasted over 2 hours as we all enjoyed the:

• Chance to reconnect
• Good food
• Great wine

Taking the lead in the food department, I decided to make up a picnic basket for the 3 participants. With the theme of a Napa Valley Picnic, I had a vision of a trip we took to the Napa Valley a few years ago. There is a little gourmet grocery store where we loaded up on a few things for our picnic at the Joseph Phelps Vineyard. The memory inspired the menu of:

• Baguettes (I have been making a bunch lately)
• Salami and Mortadella wraps with pesto
• Carrots Chips and dips:
  • Tuvi’s Hummus* (Check out the recipe)
  • Artichoke and Bean with Horseradish (Not worth a recipe)
  • Pesto with Olive Oil *(Check out the recipe)
  • Caramelized Shallot and Blue Cheese*(Check out the recipe)
• Indulgent Chocolate Secret Recipe Brownies* (Check out the recipe)

The beauty of Tuvi’s Hummus is that it comes with stories:

Tuvi is a friend of mine in Israel.. Tuvi and I have been friends since 1985. He is one of those people that brings amazing insight and wonderful humor to just about everything. His wife Mona is more than special. She is:

• A professor of Molecular Neuroscience at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem..
• A world renown expert on brain chemistry
• And, she was on the Nobel Prize selection committee.

I talked to Tuvi a few months ago and asked how Mona was doing and he said: Ahh just google her.

(Tuvi and I discussing peace in the middle east or more likely the punch line of one Tuvi’s better jokes. Remember when people told jokes?)

Back in 1996 it was the year after my father had passed away and my mother spent month in Israel as part of an Elder Hostel. I was in Israel on business. We met up in Jerusalem and Tuvi hosted us for dinner. That night in Jerusalem with Tuvi and Mona, my mother was the center of attention and I came away with an understanding of why dad referred to her as the “Brains of the Operation”. She was just interested and interesting. Me I just sat back and watched. At the end of the evening Tuvi gave mom a recipe book and we have been making the hummus recipe from it for years.

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

(Brian and  Lauren Kenny, Jenn and  Ethan Begun, Jess and Mike Schuler at Jospeh Phelps

Check out our itinerary for the 2013 trip: