Italy = Napa. Part II

Thursday, July 31, 2014
Very fancy tasting with my sis' FIL at Hall

Incredible tartare at Farmstead

Can't beat the arties out here

Ahhhhh

I was enchanted by the musty smell of the caves

Pride Vineyards barrels



Flora & Fauna abound

Sherwin Family's delicious rose

Sherwin property

Lunch from the Oakville Grocery


Barnett has the best view





Gorgeous farmhouse chic at The Reserve




Hall had incredible artwork in the fermenting room and the caves!



This chandelier of aupsidedown vine was like a winter wonderland


Cocktails at L'Auberge

Perhaps the best grain free paleo bread I've ever had. I begged them to ship to me!


So the journey through Napa and SF continues and so does the eating and drinking. Highlights were the following;
  • Enjoying a lengthy tour and knockout wine taste at The Reserve, thanks for our friends, The Cravatt's!
  • A beautiful bottle of bubbly and a touching note from my friends waiting for us after dinner
  • Hills and mountains and countryside...the air just smells better
  • A private tasting at Hall under twinkling crystals
  • A leisurely picnic lunch at Sherwin family while we tasted
  • Our punchy tasting host at Barnett
  • Dogs everywhere Dogs
  • 5 course tasting menu at Redd in scenic Yountville
  • Discovering the coolest decanter ever at Michael Chiarello's Bottega
  • The most incredible Gluten free bread, cinnamon rolls, brownies & grain-free bread bakery at The Oxbow market
  • Discovering a nifty artisanal cocktail joint in random downtown Napa
  • Wine with lunch every day
  • Learning that life is an adventure is you just let go and trust

Napa/Botched Italy Vacation Part 1!

Monday, July 21, 2014

 
Leaving for what we thought was Italy...


Amazing hamachi shooter at Alexander steakhouse in SF.  We were too numb to enjoy it.

Blue bottle coffee in SF, I dream about you.

Eggs with tomato sauce, thick Acme bakery bread and ham and parm.

Eggs on cornbread, sausage and salad. Nice.

Oysters and Sancerre at Hog Island.  The best.




A manhattan and a Fernet and cherry cola.

Our new fave store; Napa Distillery in the Oxbow market.  Took home lots of goodies.

This restaurant was hip but the sush didn't cut it

Morimoto's artsy tartare


Our friends sent us bubble to heal our wounds.


Sooooo...Hi!
Its been about a year since I've documented some food and memories and I'm ready to catch up.  So why don't I just dive into this story?  We were supposed to go to Italy for one of my best friend's wedding.  Got turned down at the airport because my passport was expiring in July and you can't travel overseas without your passport being within 90 days of expiry. (@#$%^&!!) Anywho, we flew by the seat of our pants and got on a plane to SF, then spent 3 days in Napa then back to SF.  We bonded, had amazing dinners, drank delicious wines and learned a great lesson about spontaneity. I have no regrets.  Some things are meant to be and out of your control, right? So just go with the flow, people.  You just might find a great gift at the end of that long dark tunnel. 
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