knoxymama's Profile
V. Sattui Winery - Napa Valley
Feels like Disneyland in that joint. Vile. Unless you go with a member of the wine club and can get around those crowds. Some of their wine is actually okay - the family red is the worst thing since thunderbird.
Gateway Dinner to Wine Country
If you are open to waiting until you hit Napa, I love, love, love "Redd" in Yountville. Excellent restaurant. I bet Ad Hoc is good too - if your dad loves food, the style of Ad Hoc might be a real treat for him...
Work Dinner by Convention Center
I go to the Oracle convention at Moscone every year - we usually do Lulu on the first night. I've always liked that place. :)
AD HOC-please advise
I second the Redd suggestion. Nice for an older crowd too. I loved it there.
Press looks nice, although I've heard mixed reviews. It's further up 29 in St. Helena (next to Dean and Deluca). I'm going there at the end of March - I'll let you know how it is.
Favorite Food Network Chef
Well, given my history in boyfriends, that would make perfect sense. My taste in cooking is much better. HA HA HA!
Favorite Food Network Chef
I adore Michael. Most of his recipes turn out great and I love his entertaining ideas. I love Ina too. She rocks the house.
I think Bobby is hot. Don't know about his cooking - but HE cooks. :)
Seeking Advice ~ First time trip to Sonoma/Napa
1. As you can tell, there is a bit of rivalry going on between Napa and Sonoma. I find it silly, really. Both are excellent and frankly, Sonoma seems much bigger (especially given the coast and such - it's really beautiful), but there are GREAT wines in both regions. If you are there to dedicate your time purely to wine, I would go for Napa - seems like a smaller area to navigate and you can have some lovely wines within a few miles of eachother. If you have a lot of down time for a nice drive, Sonoma is gorgeous - especially through Sepastapol to the coast - Spring couldn't be a better time of year! Both areas are tourist heavy, so you can be fairly casual in either location.
2. My favorite place to stay in Napa, hands down, is "Cottages of Napa Valley." No restaurant onsite, however, they have wine and cheese Friday/Saturday and a FULL basket of Bouchon for you every morning. It's not a traditional hotel - little individual cottages with extra touches. I've already been there 2x in 2007 and going again at the end of March.
3. Hardly anyone smokes in California anymore. All bars and restaurants are smoke free.
4. My favorite restaurant in Napa right now is Redd. I love it. I would also try Ad Hoc in Yountville - I have heard incredible things. Cook in St. Helena is easy and pretty good. I didn't like Etoile much (Chandon's restaurant). It depends on your budget and what you like! (BTW - I had a bad experience at Cindy's. But her Go Fish (at least I think its hers) is supposed to be divine).
BTW - One of my favorite places to taste in Napa is Spring Mountain. Gotta make a reservation for Pride Mountain Winery. Beautiful drive up and one of the BEST picnic areas in all of Napa.
Edited to add, Silver Oak is now tasting out of a trailer. They are renovating their tasting room. The environment is vile and for $20 a taste, I suggest you go elsewhere (or combine your tasting dollars together for a nice bottle and purchase something to go).
Have fun!
Anyone been to Blue velvet?
I just went to Blue Velvet - it was very good. I think they may have fixed the service issues - we had great luck. The Maitre d' visited our table about four times - even brought the chef out for an introduction. The waitress was a little green (didn't pronounce quince right... etc.), but she was very nice.
Monkfish is to die for. Venison as well. Great menu and nice choice of wine. Altogether, a great experience.
I would go back. I worked in Downtown for years and wish I would have had a place like this to grab a drink at. I recommend it.
Downtown L.A. - Dinner Ideas?
These are great!
I used to dine at Pinot when I worked downtown - Water Grill & Ciudad as well (I also had a bad experience there, but it's a fun place to go). I've been to Roy's several times (Pebble Beach, Newport Beach, Maui), so I'd like to try something new.
Thank you so much for your ideas. I'm going to discuss these with my client and decide today.
Thanks again!!!
Downtown L.A. - Dinner Ideas?
I have a client who is staying in Downtown L.A. this weekend and wants to do dinner. We are friends as well - we've been out a few times before. I took her to A.O.C. last time she was here and she loved it.
I'd like to find a restaurant in Downtown L.A. - any suggestions? It's been years since I've eaten down there - I used to do Pinot quite often... this Blue Velvet sounds interesting...
Any other ideas? Thanks!
Long Napa Weekend
I read the below reply - how disappointing! I actually had one of the best meals I have EVER had at Redd. It was awesome!
Suggestions for a birthday dinner in Los Angeles?
I will check that out - I haven't ever heard of that restaurant before - thank you so much.
Suggestions for a birthday dinner in Los Angeles?
I have heard of Hungry Cat, but I don't do fish (I wish I did, just can't get myself to go there!). I will check out the other options - thank you so much for the ideas!!!
Suggestions for a birthday dinner in Los Angeles?
I've poked around on the site - I'm thinking:
The Lodge
Cut
Nic's (because I've been there and the food is good, but it's also fun!)
We've already been to Mastro's (went for my birthday) - I'm not much into Spago.
Any feedback or additional suggestions will be very much appreciated. ;)
Suggestions for a birthday dinner in Los Angeles?
Hiya!
I'm looking for suggestions for a special birthday dinner in the Los Angeles area. I prefer something downtown, in West Hollywood or Westside. It's my boyfriend's birthday and I would like to take him somewhere special.
We love food - our favorite restaurant experiences include A.O.C. in Los Angeles, Redd in Yountville, Stonehill at St. Regis Orange County... I'd like something special.
Any ideas?
Wine Bars
No, but I have to be honest... I'm not a Gaslamp fan. I had one of the worst meals there. :( The bar looks interesting though!!!
L.A. Chowers Looking for Napa Lunch Recommendations
I am glad you had such a great time!
If you are going back, please do check out Redd for lunch - it's expensive... but one of the best dining experiences I have EVER had. Located in Yountville - a little hard to find - not very well marked!
I also recommend Press for dinner. Man, that place rocks my world. Right next to Dean and Deluca in St. Helena.
I usually use opentable.com everytime I go to Napa - really helpful for making reservations. I'm going again in both September AND October!
I hope you have a great time!!!
Are there any fun, inventive restaurants in Long Beach?
I second the "Biggs" suggestion.
Also check out my favorite, Fora, in Naples on 2nd Street.
Frigale ROCKS - french food - $25 per head for a prix fixe menue. Also located in Naples on 2nd.
Been to the new Cafe Sevilla downtown yet? Pretty fun - food is fair - worth a trip for the Sangria.
How about steak? Just outside of LBC in Seal Beach is my favorite steakhouse - Patty's Place on Main and PCH. Excellent menu, friendly crowd.
Also outside of LBC in Sunset Beach is Daimon Sushi and Teppan - they have a d.j. on weekends spinning old school tunes. I love that place. It's on PCH and Mariner.
Best Mexican in all of LBC can be found at Enriques. Located in a strip mall on PCH & Loynes. Weekend evenings can be a long wait - I suggest a lunch for first try. I live at this place!
For something fun - or for date night - you may want to try La Traviata on a weekend evening. The restaurant has a roaming oprah singer with dinner - really fun. Food is mostly Cal-Italian. Located on Cedar and 3rd downtown.
Cafe Piccolo is fun and generally good Italian. Great patio dining. Located on Broadway and Coronado.
Morry's in Naples is awesome for a glass of wine and dinner.
If you have time, please stop by Casa Vino on Pine and Ocean (on the beachside of Pine). I really hope that place sticks around - friendly service, great appetizers, good wine choices.
:) Welcome to LBC, my friend!
A Farewell to Long Beach! Favorites You'd Miss!
By far, the best restuarant in all of Long Beach (imho) is Fora in Naples. Excellent menu - food ROCKS - wine list is awesome. Comfortable environment - it's the BEST!
I also love the new Fringale in Naples - took over the old Bacchus restaurant. $25 a person for a prix fixe menu. Awesome french food by the folks who brought you Mistral in CDM. Getting the kinks out service-wise, but the food makes the trip worthwhile.
I also adore the new restaurant behind Morry's in Naples. Expensive, but worth the trip.
For Mexican, I think it would be really hard to beat Enrique's on PCH & Loynes. Their pork shank is heaven on earth.
I second the recommendation for Biggs in the Shore - I go there often and you can't beat the $10 bottle of wine. I do wish they had wines by the glass - it would probably help their business.
I also love Cafe Gazelle in the Shore. Hidden away on La Verne. Only has about 5-6 tables - but it rocks - I love the home-like feel of the place and you can't get much better Italian food.
For sandwiches or a quick lunch on the go, Angelo's Deli is awesome. Best meatball sandwich EVER. Located in the shore on LaVerne (across from Gazelle).
I frankly stay away from La Creperie - their crepes are more like pancakes - just icky. Too crowded - I just won't wait an hour for a Belmont Shore eatery. Silly. But there is a great ambience there and it is a fun place to hang out.
I also WILL NEVER DINE AT BONO'S AGAIN. The place is vile - service is horrid - I never complain at a restaurant and when I finally did, the manager basically said "I can't really control what our employees do..." ?!?!?!? Horrified. I spent a pretty penny there over the last year - but never again.
Finally, if you are looking for breakfast, the Coffee Cup on 4th is the BEST EVER! I love that place! :)
lunch spots
Don't know if this is too far for you - but I would definitely venture out to Enrique's on PCH and Loynes. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles County. AMAZING food and definitely has a "hole in the wall" environment.
Wine Bars
Casa Vino rocks - strange location, but the people are friendly and they offer a good amount of boutique wines to choose from. The croustade w/ onion confit is to die for.
I also love the new back room at Morry's in Naples (Long Beach). They have renovated the store and created a wine bar/restaurant in the back - really great stuff there.
Casa Vino is cheaper though - I prefer hanging out there for a nice glass and good conversation with the owner there.
