Bently Heritage Estate Distillery - Minden, NV

Someone put a lot of thought into this place. 

From the gorgeous copper Carlos to the sensible layout and streamlined distilling process, Bently is exactly what happens when family money goes toward a worthy cause.

One of few truly estate breweries in the country, Bently is a special place. 

The tour is worth taking more than once, and the tasting is heavy but enlightening. There's a Juniper Gin that tastes like a forest of evergreens, and the Vodka finishes like marshmallow cream. Their variation vodka is rested in sherry oak casks, and it channels the darker notes of whiskey with a much lighter ending. It tastes good, but it messes with your mind in a way that is most delightful. 

You should visit, and you kind of have to visit. Their reasonably-priced spirits make a spirited mixer and a fantastic gift, and they only sell in three states. Pick up a bottle next time you're near Minden, and try to stop by their downstairs bar. A lot of creativity is mixing with their cocktails, and my goal is to make it back for their whiskey. 

The Pink House - Genoa, NV

It’s the perfect day for the Pink House. Or is it the Pink House that makes it the perfect day? The shade of pink is sweet, and it channels Victorian charm with its intimate parlours and wrap-around porch.

It's a house that feels like home, channeling dolls and tea parties as well as adult lunches with family and friends. The ambiance is one of quiet content, the cozy warm and fuzziness you seek as the snow falls in a thin veil all around. 

Push against the cold with a steaming bowl of Cauliflower Soup. The soup is creamy, but the cauliflower is light. There's an inherent sweetness to this versatile vegetable that gives it a lighter lilt. Sip it up and slip it on like a warm coat.

Salmon Poke sticks out like a sore thumb on a menu of soups and sandwiches, and it certain doesn't fit in with the charcuterie and cheese counter either. Bite into some fresh salmon, and you'll have nothing to be sore about. The avocado mousse is thick like a spreadable creme fraiche, and the salmon is coated to make it more buttery and warm. The fresh-ground ginger adds some spunk and a pop of garlic adds the funk.

They serve a hearty Steak Sandwich if you're more hungry than poke and soup. Thick slices of medium ribeye splay across a chewy ciabatta, and veggies balance a hearty aioli and creamy cheese. 

They also have an enticing cheese counter and meat market if you can see past the apple tarts that beckon under a covering glass. The Apple Tart is fabulous. They serve it lukewarm like it cooled from the oven, and the apples are just baked enough to be soft but not too long to lose their firmness. They float in a rich creme anglaise and work well with a whippped cream that tastes like pure, fluffy sugar. 

Try some of the Flourless Chocolate Cake too, if you have room. It's decadent and moist, and the heavy sugar is the perfect offset for the fruit.

The Pink House is perfect for a small group on almost any occasion. It's a small house with close quarters so take the bottomless-brunch committee somewhere else, but if you're looking for an inviting peace or a buzzing quiet and a fantastic lunch in Genoa, look no further.