The First of Many Trips to Napa

Steve and I went to Napa to celebrate our first anniversary and it was AMAZING. We've already discussed going back. Wonderful people, great food and fantastic wine. And best company ever!

Whole Spice at Oxbow Market was incredible. I'm already planning my first online order.

Steve kept going from table to table smelling the different rubs, curries, salts and spices. Spice overload.

Oxbow: home to C Casa and some of the most delicious and inventive tacos EVER. Can't wait to go back! C Casa - come to DC!

 

Our tasting at Cardinale was a perfect way to start the trip...fabulous wine and beautiful views of the valley.

We had dinner at Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc Restaurant and sat next to this cute little piggy. I wanted to take him home!

For dinner at Ad Hoc: hanger steak with a mushroom ragu, fingerling potatoes and buttermilk onion rings. Food was good but sadly not as good as expected. Steak needed seasoning and salad was standard. Standouts: milk chocolate panna cotta, mushroom ragu and buttermilk onion rings.

Delicious pizzas (margherita and sausage/lemon/arugula) for dinner at Oenotri, right across the street from our hotel. Would love to go back and try more options there!

Amazing tomatillo and roasted poblano soup with creme fraiche and cilantro at Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen.

Famed duck burger at Cindy's. So amazing I would fly back right now to eat one. Pretty please.

Beautiful bathroom at Darioush (most ridiculously overdone winery in Napa but so fun). Gorgeous turquoise tiles and beautiful mirrors!

The debate rages on about whether Thomas Keller's Bouchon was the best meal of the trip. We were so wrapped up in the meal (and talking with our neighboring table) that I forgot to to take pictures.

I DID snap a picture of the profiteroles at Bouchon. Steve decided that we'd have profiteroles there before we even left for Napa. SO worth it. Decadent, rich and absolutely dreamy.

Anniversary night in San Francisco!

Probably the single best dish of the trip (at the other best dinner) - Steve's braised black cod on foie gras-shiitake rice with charred bok choy at Baker and Banker. Heaven on a plate. We both agreed we could have eaten a plate of just the rice. (Side note: I got the braised duck with gnocchi, spring vegetables and ricotta salata. Quite delicious but definitely no foie gras rice.)

AMAZING trip. Can't wait to head back to Napa. Next time: The French Laundry.