A Taste of France in Napa Valley

Dine at a Michelin three star restaurant on Christmas Eve in Napa? If I must... ;)

Loved the quaint, unpretentious decor of Bistro Jeanty in Yountville that was welcoming and comforting. It felt genuine and authentic. We nestled up to the bar, as we typically do, and poured over the menu.

All of the Yelp! reviews raved about the Creamy Tomato Soup with Puff Pastry. I'm not typically a tomato soup fan, but I had to try it after reading all the reviews.

Wow. Oh. Wow. Yelp! does not lie. Once you pierce the engorged puff pastry, the creamy tomato soup scent envelopes you and pulls you in. The soup was so silky and rich. I fell in love.

I had a very difficult time picking an entree as they all sounded scrumptious. The Daube de Boeuf or the Coq au Vin or the Bœuf Bourguignon?!?! I decided on Bœuf Bourguignon with roasted carrots and onions. The beef was tender and cooked to perfection.

The steak tartare was simply divine.

Bistro Jeanty. Yountville, CA.

Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant

The Oxbow Public Market in Napa is reminiscent of The Ferry Building in San Francisco, overflowing with luscious delicacies, intoxicating aromas and an incredible wine and cheese bar/shop - Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant (location in The Ferry Building too)! We picked out a local wine from the wine shop, selected fresh cheeses for our cheese plate and nestled up to the bar for a fantastic time!

Shot of the Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant from within The Oxbow Public Market!

I loved the energy in the bar and the opportunity to pick out my own wine, and cheese, to be served! Felt like a kid in a candy store!

 My all-time favorite cheese, Époisses, a cows' milk cheese from France. Perfection.

Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant. Napa, CA.

Wine Tasting at Duckhorn

While I don't like ducks when it comes to college football, I am a big fan when it comes to wine! Duckhorn does such a fabulous job with their tasting. I fell in love with Duckhorn's sister vineyard, Paraduxx, on my last Napa trip so I'm a fan of the family. We met one of their wine consultants at the Oxbow Wine & Cheese Merchant earlier in the week, and he invited us for a tasting, so of course we had to go! I love the grounds, love the the robust tasting where you can sit down, love the service and love the wine!

Duckhorn. St. Helena, CA.

Now This Laundry I Could Get Excited To Do!

We didn't dine at The French Laundry this trip (but we did eat at Ad Hoc!), but we did drive by to check it out and strolled around in their garden across the street, where they grow all their own herbs and a lot of the vegetables used! Was fun to see where the magic happens!

The French Laundry. Yountville, CA.

Hello, I Love You, Won't You Tell Me Your Name

First stop during my Napa trip at the end of 2011 was to Dean & Deluca! Ahhh... heaven. Such a gorgeous market. I could live here.

Smmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmokin'!

We were reading Napa Valley Life Magazine’s “10th Annual Intriguing Napa Valley People & Places” article and Eiko’s was featured as an intriguing business who brings “modern Japanese cuisine” to Downtown Napa with a twist. 

General Manager, Fellippe Esteves, wants to bring back entertainment to the restaurant scene. And boy, he did! The article mentioned Fellippe’s Dragon’s Breath popcorn and liquid nitrogen lollipops, both prepared tableside. Intrigued! We added Eiko’s to our “must hit” list.

It may be a bit "gimmicky" but guilty... I like a good gimmick! Especially if it has to do with food AND molecular gastronomy! Definitely an experience and definitely worth a stop at Eiko's. Especially since the experience only costs $12!

Check me out!

Eiko. Napa, CA.