Five Days in Napa

Grapes at Barnett Winery

Our little getaway, without children of any kind, has a dubious beginning. Still at the airport in Toronto, I receive a distress call from the Daughter. On her way home from dropping us at the airport she gets a speeding ticket. Her first! And under pressure to quickly produce the car's ownership papers for the police officer, her locating skills devolve to those of her father's and she can't find it, so gets a second ticket for that! Sympathy and reassurances are provided and soon we are sitting on the plane ready for our adventure to begin. And it does, in the form of spilling my Starbucks coffee on my white jeans. The only pants I have brought with me! This really is not going as I had envisioned!

The Hubby at Cakebread Winery

The Hubby is very surprised that he is getting to go to Napa and drink wine for 5 days. This is one of his favourite things to do but not something that he ever thought I'd agree to for this rare getaway. One glass of wine is my absolute limit. He recognizes this as a loving sacrifice from me and one he accepts appreciatively. I'm surprised at my selfless act too. But I guess that's just the people-pleasing self-sacrificing kind of person I am.

Our menu at Chez Panisse

We are each in our own little heaven. His in Wine, mine in Food. Every meal we have is amazing. I'm excited to be eating the food of chefs that I have been reading about for years. Alice Waters is arguably one of the first chefs to honor locally grown and sustainable eating. Her cookbook was one of the first I ever bought! Her restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley is our first stop and I'm beside myself with pleasure.

Dessert at Bouchon

We have lunch in Yountville at Bouchon, one of Thomas Keller's restaurants. His most famous is French Laundry. I have the cookbook but have never made anything from it as it's very high level cooking. To get a reservation at French Laundry you must call precisely at 10am two months to the day of your desired dinner date and be prepared to hit redial many times. Bouchon provides French bistro cooking. I have the Laitue salad which is simply Bibb lettuce, fresh herbs, and the house vinaigrette. Then onto roasted chicken and a side order of frites. The waiter steers me away from profiteroles for dessert and instead recommends Iles Flottantes: cloud-like meringue sitting in a vanilla creme anglaise with a salted caramel sauce poured on top.

Amuse bouche at the Restaurant at Meadowood

Dinner at the Restaurant at Meadowood is an experience. The only thing offered is the chef's tasting menu. We don't order anything. We don't even see the menu. We are at the mercy of the chef Christopher Kostow. Bring it on! 9 courses of jaw dropping creativity and artistry. There must be 5-10 elements in every dish and they all combine to exquisite perfection.

Bacon Mary

We have brunch at Redd in Yountville. The Hubby has a Bacon Mary that uses bacon-infused vodka. I have exquisite French Toast made from brioche stuffed with mascarpone mousse topped with fresh local blackberries. The dish is light but rich and is delicious!

Blackberry French Toast stuffed with mascarpone mousse

In the caves at Pride Mountain Winery

We visit 9 wineries over 3 days: Cakebread, Pride, Barnett, Chateau Montelena (watch the movie Bottleshock!), Opus One, Schramsberg Vineyards, Merryvale, Quintessa, and one more I can't remember. My strategy is to just take one taste of each wine offered. I'm proud that I'm keeping up. However on the last day we cram in 5 wineries and as we walk to the last one of the day I confide to the Hubby that I can't feel my legs. Or, more accurately, I can't feel my thighs. I have been beaten.

Avoiding mountain lions

Our hotel in St. Helena has 250 acres nestled in the mountains surrounding Napa Valley. Our room feels like a treehouse. We decide or, more accurately, I decide and the Hubby agrees, to do an early morning hike to counterbalance all the food and wine we're consuming. At the trailhead there is a sign warning us that there have been mountain lion sightings in the area. Mountain lions?!! After some debate we decide to brave it anyway. Because that's the kind of fearless adventurer I am. Off we go, climbing higher and higher. The peace I feel in nature is marred only by my certainty that there is a mountain lion lurking behind every tree. We spot a lone bench strategically placed for the most breathtaking view of the valley below. There couldn't be mountain lions where there's a very civilized bench...could there?! Halfway through our hike the Hubby proclaims that he has figured out what to do if we are attacked. Yes?! Please tell me because I do best with a plan. If a mountain lion attacks us the Hubby will grab it around its throat and choke it into submission. Seriously. The 5 minutes I spend laughing takes my mind off the imminent danger. This definitely gets added to the list of Cute Things Men Say!

Too soon it's time to go. We have enjoyed every minute of our mini vacation. We're still full and still just a tiny bit inebriated but feeling relaxed, refreshed and looking forward to Home.