Valentine's Weekend Trip Report
Feb 18th, 2004, 01:49 PM
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Valentine's Weekend Trip Report
We stayed rather close to home for our Valentine's Day getaway weekend, but had a great time exploring this area.
We checked into the Chuchanski Gold Resort & Casino which was just completed in June of last year. I was anxious to see how the rooms turned out. The property is just gorgeous with fountains, beautiful artwork, and lots of glass and wood.
The rooms were very elegant and I was very impressed with attention to detail. The color scheme was olive green and gold. The rooms are large and there is a nice TV, no VCR or DVD. Each room has a sunrise-sunset view which is very nice.
My favorite part of the room was the nice bathtub-vanity area. Granite countertops, very spacious soaking tub with beautiful tile backsplash and a nice granite vanity to sit and do your hair and makeup.
Even the coffeemaker had it's own little granite shelf which I thought was a nice feature. For $119/night (no room tax) this is a wonderful deal. I hope to return again just to relax and enjoy the beauty of the resort.
We headed to Erna's Elderberry House for a private wine tasting that afternoon. This is done in their wine cellar. www.elderberryhouse.com We were very surprised to see that the four wines offered were local. Two whites, two reds from vineyards of Madera, Sanger, and Fresno. The sommelier was Chris Shackerford who is also their dining room director.
His knowledge of wines and dining was just overwhelming. We spent an hour and a half tasting four wines and listening to him speak of different places he has been. This is a five-star dining establishment. Erna and Executive Chef James Overbraugh stopped in to say hi which was nice.
A chef walked by with a tray of truffles that was being served to "all the ladies" that night which smelled delicious. He said he would offer us one, but had made "just enough." There was a cancellation, but we had previous resevations at Ducey's on the Lake.
We were interested in the Bistro that has recently opened there for casual meals, served Fri.-Sun. from 5:30-8:30. The menu consists of a fish dish, linguine, a short-rib entree and various salads and desserts. We hope to try this in the next month or so.
It's a nice alternative to the $90/pp in the fine dining area. We looked around and I had the same feeling as I did when we looked in the French Laundry last Spring. Just amazing.
My husband has informed me that he is interested in taking the cooking classes offered at the Elderberry House. Specifics are mentioned on their website for anyone interested. What an experience that would be!
We went back to the resort and hubby played the blackjack tables (broke even) while I got ready for dinner. We drove to Ducey's on the Lake were immediately seated.
We started with the brie wellington appetizer and brought a bottle of Blackstone Merlot (Reserve) that I had purchased for him for Christmas. Very nice, since I knew we would be having the Filet Mignon.
Steaks were cooked to perfection, served with a baked potato and steamed vegetables. For dessert we shared the flourless chocolate torte which was excellent. A very nice evening. All ladies were given carnations at the end of the meal.
We went back to the resort and relaxed. Ordered room service for breakfast the next am which was nice.
Then checked out and went back to Ducey's to lay by the lake and read for a few hours. We had lunch at their Bar & Grill outside which was very nice. Then drove back home. It was a very nice relaxing weekend.
I would highly recommend The Chuchanski Gold Resort for anyone on their way to Yosemite and also Ducey's on the Lake. The Elderberry House has the wine tasting from 1-4 on weekends, which I would also highly recommend for anyone interested in tasting the local wines in this area. ***kim***
We checked into the Chuchanski Gold Resort & Casino which was just completed in June of last year. I was anxious to see how the rooms turned out. The property is just gorgeous with fountains, beautiful artwork, and lots of glass and wood.
The rooms were very elegant and I was very impressed with attention to detail. The color scheme was olive green and gold. The rooms are large and there is a nice TV, no VCR or DVD. Each room has a sunrise-sunset view which is very nice.
My favorite part of the room was the nice bathtub-vanity area. Granite countertops, very spacious soaking tub with beautiful tile backsplash and a nice granite vanity to sit and do your hair and makeup.
Even the coffeemaker had it's own little granite shelf which I thought was a nice feature. For $119/night (no room tax) this is a wonderful deal. I hope to return again just to relax and enjoy the beauty of the resort.
We headed to Erna's Elderberry House for a private wine tasting that afternoon. This is done in their wine cellar. www.elderberryhouse.com We were very surprised to see that the four wines offered were local. Two whites, two reds from vineyards of Madera, Sanger, and Fresno. The sommelier was Chris Shackerford who is also their dining room director.
His knowledge of wines and dining was just overwhelming. We spent an hour and a half tasting four wines and listening to him speak of different places he has been. This is a five-star dining establishment. Erna and Executive Chef James Overbraugh stopped in to say hi which was nice.
A chef walked by with a tray of truffles that was being served to "all the ladies" that night which smelled delicious. He said he would offer us one, but had made "just enough." There was a cancellation, but we had previous resevations at Ducey's on the Lake.
We were interested in the Bistro that has recently opened there for casual meals, served Fri.-Sun. from 5:30-8:30. The menu consists of a fish dish, linguine, a short-rib entree and various salads and desserts. We hope to try this in the next month or so.
It's a nice alternative to the $90/pp in the fine dining area. We looked around and I had the same feeling as I did when we looked in the French Laundry last Spring. Just amazing.
My husband has informed me that he is interested in taking the cooking classes offered at the Elderberry House. Specifics are mentioned on their website for anyone interested. What an experience that would be!
We went back to the resort and hubby played the blackjack tables (broke even) while I got ready for dinner. We drove to Ducey's on the Lake were immediately seated.
We started with the brie wellington appetizer and brought a bottle of Blackstone Merlot (Reserve) that I had purchased for him for Christmas. Very nice, since I knew we would be having the Filet Mignon.
Steaks were cooked to perfection, served with a baked potato and steamed vegetables. For dessert we shared the flourless chocolate torte which was excellent. A very nice evening. All ladies were given carnations at the end of the meal.
We went back to the resort and relaxed. Ordered room service for breakfast the next am which was nice.
Then checked out and went back to Ducey's to lay by the lake and read for a few hours. We had lunch at their Bar & Grill outside which was very nice. Then drove back home. It was a very nice relaxing weekend.
I would highly recommend The Chuchanski Gold Resort for anyone on their way to Yosemite and also Ducey's on the Lake. The Elderberry House has the wine tasting from 1-4 on weekends, which I would also highly recommend for anyone interested in tasting the local wines in this area. ***kim***
Feb 18th, 2004, 02:28 PM
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The Resort & Casino is located in Coarsegold, CA. Ducey's is in Bass Lake and Erna's Elderberry house is in Oakhurst, CA. All close to one another!! Oh, this is in California! ***kim*** www.basslake.com and www.chukchansigold.com are the web address!! Sorry about that!!
that is ok, I enjoyed reading it anyway!
