ThirstyReader's Profile
Sonoma Gravenstein Apples' Precarious Future
Thanks for posting. The Gravenstein is part of Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste, along with lots of other great heritage foods that are currently in danger.
http://www.slowfoodusa.org/index.php/programs/details/ark_of_taste/
http://www.slowfoodnapavalley.com/
Bar menus in Yountville area???
I covered the bar menu at Redd last week with some other local chefs. Definitely the strongest bar menu in Yountville. Hamachi, pork buns and chicken wings are all staples.
Squirt imported from Mexico - where to buy?
"Sed" is thirst, so I take it to mean something like "thirst-quenching"...
www.accidentalwino.com
RIP Martini House
Worked there in the restaurant's Michelin-starred heyday, a few years ago. It will shutter at the end of the month.
www.accidentalwino.com
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Martini House
1245 Spring St., St. Helena, CA 94574
Tasting rooms in downtown Napa or nearby?
Robert Craig has a tasting room in Napa. Hope & Grace is nice in Yountville.
www.accidentalwino.com
La Mixteca, Napa, no more
I tried to stop by a couple weeks ago and they were closed by 7pm. The place has never been busy, so I was wondering if it was falling on hard times. Too bad, they once had a menu that was very unique to Napa.
www.pigsaredelicious.com
Recommendation for lunch in Napa!
I used to cook at Auberge. Nothing against it at all, but it's California-Mediterranean. Bistro Jeanty is true-school French, and one of my regular spots.
www.accidentalwino.com
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Bistro Jeanty
6510 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Napa Valley Wine Train...please comment
Here's the Napa Valley's Top 3 Tourist Traps:
1. Castello di Amorosa
2. The Wine Train
3. The Oakville Grocery
www.accidentalwino.com
Napa taco trucks for a party - any advice or recommendations?
For one of their events, Plumpjack Winery hired Tacos Esperanza, which typically parks down on Soscol near Lincoln. It's a pretty good truck, with a fish taco specialty. My favorite taco truck is Tacos Garcia, which now parks behind the legendary Pancha's. However, I know that Garcia must also cater because when I tried to stop by there last week, the truck was just driving away to a private event. Anyhow, I know that Esperanza was parked at Plumpjack for about three hours (knowing whom I know, I believe the cost was about $1000 flat).
www.accidentalwino.com
Coming from Australia and need help with good Napa recommendations
I'd start over, quite frankly. Especially if you want great wine. I guess this could sound like a lot of noise, all of these varying recommendations, but here's my two cents to get you started: Chappellet, Ehlers, Schramsberg, Turnbull, Heitz, Pride, Terra Valentine, Failla. I live in the Napa Valley, and I only care about what's in the bottle.
www.accidentalwino.com
What's missing in SF?
I had Versailles on my recent trip to Los Angeles. It was actually one of the reasons I went.
www.accidentalwino.com
Ubuntu 7/3/10
From all that I have heard from local chefs, Ubuntu has not missed a beat since Fox left.
www.accidentalwino.com
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Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558
Napa and Sonoma Recommendations for July 4 Weekend
These suggestions are definitely on the right track, especially for a non-drinker. Turnbull also has some very nice photography exhibits that they rotate throughout the year (usually heavy on Ansel Adams, which is always a treat).
www.thirstyreader.com
Napa and Sonoma Recommendations for July 4 Weekend
Winiarski sold out to Antinori and Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2007 (for $185M). Although the property and label do have history, they are fast becoming a footnote and nothing more. Their reputation for friendliness is on the poor side, which someone else has also mentioned. Frankly, if I was going to go wine tasting on the July 4th Weekend, I would go to Mendocino.
www.thirstyreader.com
Wine country ideas for a 1st timer
Wow, for as thorough as the above post was, I ditto just about every single comment. Spot on. I will double ditto that Castello di Amoroso is a tourist trap.
I do feel okay about Bottega, though -- the food has always been great when I've gone.
www.thirstyreader.com
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Bottega
6525 Washington Street Suite A9, Yountville, CA 94599
Wine country ideas for a 1st timer
I think you've discovered some nice ideas so far. Personally, I wouldn't really bother with Celedon -- I think you would find Terra or Martini House more interesting and memorable.
In terms of wineries, you can definitely visit more than two per day, even at the slowest pace. With six days in the Napa Valley, here's what I would do if I was a first-timer: Spend the first two days visiting wineries that don't require appointments, but as you see or hear of something that might be interesting, book some appointments for later in the week.
The Del Dotto location in Rutherford/St. Helena is newer than the Atlas Peak location, though I probably wouldn't bother with them, either (they earn the name "Del Blotto" because of their heavy pours, but the place is like a garish Italian circus). Maybe try Grgich, Turnbull, Heitz and/or Plumpjack on your first day.
www.thirstyreader.com
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Martini House
1245 Spring St., St. Helena, CA 94574
Tastings in Napa Valley on Monday
If I was going to deal with wine tasting on a three-day weekend, I would pack a picnic lunch to eat after tasting at Pride, then schedule afternoon tastings at Terra Valentine and some other wineries on Spring Mountain. That way, maybe it wouldn't seem as crowded and touristy as it will be on the valley floor. Also, Terra Valentine is miles ahead of either Frog's Leap, Sinskey or Silver Oak.
www.thirstyreader.com
Dry Creek Valley Wineries
The Dry Creek conversation begins with Ridge, Unti and Papapietro Perry.
www.thirstyreader.com
Schafer, Trefethen, or Cakebread
I'm going to ditto your sentiments again. Tasting Hillside Select was one of the few times I've ever considered spending $200 for a current-release Napa Cab. What a wine.
www.thirstyreader.com
Schafer, Trefethen, or Cakebread
Ditto. Shafer is one of the very best producers in Napa, while Trefethen and Cakebread are sometimes admirable, but are most often middle-of-the-road.
www.thirstyreader.com
Please help me chose which Sonoma and Napa wineries to visit
Chappellet will be there, and it's best to pick and choose. Many people often attempt way too much in Napa, especially the first time out. They end up feeling either sheepish or shameless as they fall behind schedule and begin showing up late to their appointments (or worse, not showing up at all).
www.thirstyreader.com
Fried chicken in Oakland?
Thank you for saying what we were all thinking. That place disappoints considering the length of the line. I think most people don't want to admit their true feelings after investing so much time for so little.
www.thirstyreader.com
Please help me chose which Sonoma and Napa wineries to visit
Will be epic. Those are all first rate.
www.thirstyreader.com
lunch in Napa / winery suggestions
Jeanty is one of my favorites, and I feel that Bauer is full of it. I like Cindy's, too, and think of it more of a lunch spot than a dinner spot (which is what you're looking for anyhow).
I also feel that Cakebread and Silver Oak trade on their name these days. Both are popular, but very middle-of-the-road. Pride, however, makes great wine and has a view from Spring Mountain that is an added bonus.
www.thirstyreader.com
Cyrus versus Meadowood?
It's a win-win. Flip a coin, or else just take the one that gives you the best reservation time. Comparing the two restaurants is like splitting hairs on one hand, or comparing apples to oranges on another. Enjoy!
www.thirstyreader.com
La Luna Market - Rutherford
La Luna Market is my local lunch spot, and I've covered the menu thoroughly during my visits. When I'm outside Napa City Limits, the simple rule of thumb is: La Luna Market for carnitas burritos and al pastor tacos. Azteca Market for carne asada tacos.
www.thirstyreader.com
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Azteca Market
789 Main St St, Helena, CA
Casual Napa Dinner and SFO Sunday Brunch
Lots of good advice above. As a fellow Napkin, I'll jump on the Hurley's bashwagon all day long. For SFO, I like Cinnabon -- the aroma draws me in every time.
www.thirstyreader.com
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Cinnabon
174 Great Mall Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035
One cool meal in SF and one mind blower in Napa
If you want a certified "mind blower" and you can't go to TFL (but you tried), then the obvious Plan B is Meadowood in Napa (or Cyrus in Healdsburg).
www.thirstyreader.com
Napa Valley/ San Francisco Recommendations
Napa-related:
When I think architecture, the first winery that comes to mind is Quixote. The second is probably Palmaz. Both are exceptional, and for amazingly different reasons. For Quixote, it's the only Hundertwasser-designed building in North America. Meanwhile, Palmaz features the most amazing gravity flow operation I have ever seen. And then there are the classics: Schramsberg's caves, or the 1880's stonework of Far Niente, Rubicon (formerly Inglenook) or the CIA at Greystone (formerly Christian Brothers).
www.thirstyreader.com
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Greystone Restaurant
2555 Main St St, Helena, CA
Far Niente
1350 Acacia Drive, Oakville, CA
Brunch = leftovers?
Restaurants are always trying to use up left-overs, and not just for brunch. The nightly "special" is often an attempt to sell through an excess of one particular item, before it goes to waste. The well-run places anticipate the need, and offer these specials at their prime. The lesser places may be more last-minute in this approach. I've cooked in both kinds. I would trust Ad Hoc in terms of freshness and quality of ingredients.
The real question regarding whether you were right or wrong about skipping Ad Hoc is: Where did you go instead?
www.thirstyreader.com
