Provence & NorCal Coalesce in “La Vie Rustic”

Over the past year or so, we’ve been fortunate to have convinced a long line of “A List” writers to cooperate with Carpe Vino in creating a series of prix-fixe dinners and book signings.  We are truly blessed, however, with our next Sunday Evening Series event when James Beard award winning cookbook author Georgeanne Brennan joins us for a prix-fixe dinner and book-signing celebrating publication of her French lifestyle tome, “La Vie Rustic.”

Georgeanne has written upwards of 30 cookbooks and memoirs, most famously “A Pig in Provence,” a soul-baring recollection of her formative life in Provence dating back to 1970.  These days, Georgeanne divides her time between her original homestead in Provence and a small farm in Winters, CA.  She maintains an incredibly hectic schedule of writing, photo shoots and personal appearances, so we’re delighted she’ll alight for an evening in Old Town Auburn.

Join us for what will surely be a landmark experience on Sunday, September 24 starting at 5:30 p.m.  During the all-inclusive program, you will be inundated with tables laden with taste-tempting delights, followed by a family-style, three-course, prix-fixe dinner conceived and prepared by Chef Eric Alexander that exploits elements of Georgeanne’s latest cookbook and his personal take on a Provence/NorCal mash-up.

Included are three French wine options, tax, tip and a copy of La Vie Rustic (one per couple or single guest; retail price is $35 or $22.48 on Amazon). All reservations must be pre-paid online and because this is an event limited to 65 guests, there will be no refunds.

We’ll start the evening by rallying in the bar with a welcome glass of wine and a conversation with Georgeanne. We’ll discuss her career, her approach to developing cookbooks and, of course, her process for maintaining life on two continents. We’ll adjourn to the dining room and Georgeanne will circulate through the buildings to sign your books with a personal message.

Chef Alexander is finalizing the menu soon, taking advantage of in-season at the farm he operates with Pastry Chef (and wife) Courtney McDonald. There is some magic in the fact that Eric and Courtney share the farm and exploit the potager approach to sourcing food for the table right from the family plot and orchard.

Smart money says make your ressies stat!