Napa: Phase Three (The foodie details)

The French Laundry, Yountville, California

No, we didn't eat at the French Laundry.  But we did wander around the incredible gardens across the street, and we did some lurking and snooping to see if we could make a Thomas Keller sighting at the afternoon event in the courtyard.  Some say we were unsuccessful, but I think the guy in the blue shirt might have been him.

The next night we made our way back to Yountville, no thanks to the bizarre road construction stops ("No more than fifteen minute wait") at several seemingly random locations on the back roads.  Thanks to clever changing techniques in the back seat, we arrived only ten minutes late for our much-anticipated culinary treat at

- for temporary relief of hunger -

Thomas Keller's family style restaurant is at the other end of Washington Street.  I can't imagine creating the masterpieces that are served so perfectly at The French Laundry, but the food at ad hoc is incredible AND home menu worthy. Highly recommended:  Ad Hoc at Home.  The melted onions are worth the price of the tome.

It was good to have a food enthusiast friend with me.  John loves food, don't get me wrong.  Fortunately for me he considers a timely delivered grilled cheese sandwich to be heaven sent, but the subtleties of pixie mandarins and carnaroli risotto are a little lost on him (although, if the word "garlic" is included, his ears perk up.)   

A four course meal, ad hoc style:


First course:  Salad.

Really tasty roasted garlic (John:  "Garlic?") vinaigrette, and the toasted almonds were perfect.  I wish I knew what was different about them. A piece of tuna (yum!)  There were anchovies.  I ate one.  For the first time in my life (and maybe the last.)  I thought they looked like lizards.  This is not a compliment.  The dressing and the almonds made this a win.







Second course:  Main dish.

Veal with carnaroli risotto, peas and carrots.  Risotto is on my short list of things to learn to cook well.


An extra main dish:  Pork Belly.  The mustardy sauce and pine nuts, combined with such flavorful meat, were the best. 




Third course:  The cheese course.

Leonora ("From the dry, arid hills northwest of Madrid comes this large brick of soft, cakey goat’s milk cheese that will dazzle your palate with bright grass and lemon flavors. The crusty, natural rind makes a beautiful contrast with the pure white interior.")  Served with with cherry compote and crostini, but also with honey that we drizzled on the cheese.

If you are at my next dinner party, expect a cheese course.  It was lovely.






Fourth course:  Dessert.

Slices of chocolate cake and scoops of cinnamon walnut ice cream.  I'm not a great fan of cake or ice cream, but they were good.







An espresso for the driving home garlic lover, and the long-awaited meal was over.  It was a generous gift from dear friends, it was a night to remember.








Lessons learned:
Napa Valley Casual = wear whatever you want.
Anchovies = no thanks.
Cheese course = as often as possible.
ad hoc = temporary relief of hunger and so much more.

"When we eat together, when we set out to do so deliberately, life is better, no matter your circumstances.  Whether it's a sad or difficult time, whether it's an ordinary-seeming day, or whether it's a time of celebration, our lives are enriched when we share meals together."                                                       Thomas Keller, from ad hoc at home. 

Napa: Phase Two

There's no longer any doubt in my mind about the beauty of Napa in the spring.  The vines are bright green, straight and endless and everywhere.  The stone buildings, the dark wood barn doors, the roses lined up at the edge of the fields, the mounds of blooming lavender...it is one gasp of beauty after another.

Wineries are beautiful places, too.  Comfortable seating, gorgeous landscape, friendly smiles and good wine. 

Little did we know when we arrived in Yountville on Thursday that our first stop would be the highlight, the standard to meet, the "you won the lottery" winery of the trip.  Hope and Grace lived up to its name:  Matthew was a gifted tasting guru, the cafe table in the courtyard provided us with seating for long conversation and a selection of unbelievably good wine.  We even enjoyed the companionship of a beautiful winery dog:  Romeo.

 Romeo, waiting for Juliet?

We walked, we sat, we solved problems, we told stories, we commiserated, we rejoiced, we wondered, and we laughed a lot. 

And that is the best kind of beautiful.

We savored the fellowship, down to the very last drop.

Napa: Phase One

Napa was heavenly.  It was blue sky after the rain, marriage retreat, fellowship binge and wine/foodie tasting all folded into two contented days.

I never seem to remember how good it is for us to drive away together.  We should probably get in the car and drive more often.  Destination is unimportant...time in the car is priceless.  And so we drove as the sun rose, leaving everyone sleeping at home.  We listened to David Sanborn, we talked and listened, we even talked about really hard things that we disagree about; it was time we needed and we are the better for taking it.

Oxbow Public Market, specifically Ritual Coffee Roasters, provided the perfect cup of espresso, twice.

Cup number one was outside by the river and under the shimmering canopy of bright blue sky.  We were serenaded by an extremely extroverted song bird, it was a little chilly (just the right amount of chilly) and we were all by ourselves.  Occasionally an obviously-on-their-way-to-work person would march purposefully by with their game face on, and we were the smirking, shirking, no-job-to-race-to couple that just kept staring at the blue sky and sipping and talking as long as we wanted to.

We weren't done talking when the chill soaked into our bones, so we moved inside.  I loved the golden walls, the unusual light fixtures, the open feel of the marketplace.  The smells of spices and pastries and coffee and tea mingled together to make the perfect ambiance.  

I expected Napa to make me uncomfortable.  The high prices, the celebrity status of the place, the glamour of it all isn't really my style.  Yes, we are Fairplay Wine Snobs.  But on this Thursday morning, a work day with regulars chatting over cups of coffee and pastries, the feeling was of a beautiful, normal neighborhood.  I felt very much at home.

 

Americano:  $2.95

Worth every penny.

We could have strolled back to the car, hand-in-hand, and headed back to Placerville to face life again.  It was that good.  But we didn't.  Well, we strolled back to the car hand-in-hand, but instead of going home we went up the hill, above downtown Napa, and we found the cottage that was the vacation place for friends.

It was time for the feast of fellowship, wine and food, games and laughter.  More on that tomorrow.

Leaving at dawn

Sometimes, in the midst of the hard and the tedious, there's a break.

We're skipping town as the sun rises this morning, meandering down to the valley and across the western hills to the Napa Valley.

We plan to linger over coffee and take it slow.  I am looking forward to the chance to think and speak and listen, all without being interrupted by the swirl of home life.

But once the day gets going, we're heading to see some out of town friends who are in Napa for a 50th birthday celebration.  It's hard to get time together when you live on opposite coasts, but we'll make up for lost time with wine tasting, speed scrabble and dinner at Thomas Keller's ad hoc restaurant. Excited? Oh, just a bit.

A break.  Just what the doctor ordered.

Phew.