The world around, where grapes grow you will also find mustard growing beneath the vines in late winter. On these beautiful days when a shy sun sheds its thin light, giving promise of greater things to come, a carpet of golden mustard rolls out between the bare and gnarled vines. Driving through the vineyards of Sonoma County and the Valley of the Moon on a late winter’s sun drenched day can gladden any heart.
Mustard and wine grapes enjoy a symbiotic relationship. Growing during the part of the year when the vines are dormant, mustard actually nurtures and conditions the soil. It replenishes the vital nitrogen, breaks up and conditions the earth and of course when tilled in, adds much needed organic material. But wait, beyond that, mustard plants, through a process filled with unpronounceable technical terms, can actually detoxify polluted soil. And of course it provides a profitable additional crop during the time of year when the vines are not producing.
Here in Sonoma County, just like in Burgundy and other renowned wine producing wine regions of the world, the production of specialty mustards represent a significant portion of the local economy.
Dijon Mustard is at least as famous as the prestigious Burundian vintages of the Côte d'Or, and no less important is the burgeoning mustard industry of Sonoma and Napa counties.
And for the novice, there is a lot more to mustard than the yellow goo that is traditionally spread on hot dogs. Try using mustards as an ingredient as well as a condiment. It will open a whole new culinary world to you.
Use Mustards in sauces, dressings and vinaigrettes. For a quick and easy, yet elegant lunch or light dinner make an omelet and enhance it with a sauce that is simply a bit of butter swirled in a skillet with a spoon full of Sweet and Hot Brown Mustard, and inexpensive cream Sherry.
Enhance delicate little springtime new potatoes by first steaming them, then finish them in a skillet to which you have added a spoon full of butter, a spoon full of olive oil, a spoon full of the Sweet and Hot Brown Mustard and some chopped parsley. It also will make an excellent enhancement for pasta. And hey, it happens to be great on a kielbasa and San Francisco Sourdough sandwich.
Now, if you intend to try your hand at making mustards, you’ll have to take out a second mortgage or sell the kids to afford to buy enough little cans of yellow powdered mustard in a traditional store. However, if you go to The San Francisco Herb Co. you will find the prices staggeringly low. You do have to buy in bulk. Can’t ever use up a pound of any on herb or spice you say? Consider going in on an order with a friend.
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