Monday, May 24, 2010
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | FRENCH
PRO: Best Tomato Soup in the world CON: The Jeanty in SF closed last year:( OK, kittens this one’s gonna be short & sweet. Y’know that ‘Best Thing I Ever Ate’ show on Food Network? First off, I will not rest until VdV is invited as a guest. If not on that show, I wanna be on....more
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
So ya like to eat, do ya? Maybe enjoy the occasional glass of vino as well? Do you have a pulse? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then attending Sense Yountville on Saturday May 1st is a must-do event. Hell, the fact you love VinDivine (ok, ok, I’ll settle for ’sometimes find....more
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
PRO: Great rustic atmosphere & bar, solid food CON: A couple dishes were just average First off, I want to move in to Martini House. Yep, kick everyone out and make it my Napa pied a terré, as those douche bags say in places like the society pages and on soap operas. Wait. I’d keep the chef.....more
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | ZINFANDEL
Yee Haw, Ride ‘em Cowboy! You want a rip roarin’, bang you between the eyes with a ball peen hammer, you’ll-need-Brightsmile-when-it’s-done-with-you wine?* Oh yeah, and one that tastes awesome to boot? Well pardner, you just mosied into the right saloon. Meet my pal. First name Biale, last name Zinfandel. For all of you who know VdV,....more
Thursday, January 14, 2010
PRO: Nice suites, modern, tasteful and relaxing, and green. Excellent location CON: In-room wine list could be a little better. Rooms aren’t cheap! Bardessono, ya rocked us last weekend. We’re hooked. Between you and the lush lifestyle that was at our fingertips in Yountville, J&J had one of the most fun weekends for awhile. And the bar....more
Monday, January 11, 2010
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | ITALIAN
Dear Mike (I can call you Mike, right?), I don’t know you. Never even met ya. I did see you @ Bottega Saturday pm. Found it weird you didn’t flirt with my wife, she’s hot. But you looked preoccupied, so that’s OK. I didn’t take offense. Ya see Mike, all I know about you is Napa....more
Sunday, January 10, 2010
PRO: Excellent food, cool space CON: Not for people that get cheap attacks Hey, Redd! That’s one of my pet names for my lovely wife J. So right off the bat I’ve gotta give it some extra points. So we’re up here in Napa rollin’ like serious ballers. We were gonna have din din at Thomas Keller’s Ad....more
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | SPANISH/TAPAS | CASUAL
PRO: Nice atmosphere, good selection of small plates, great steak dish CON: No croquettas! Some dishes could use more spice Yes, another business meal, another blog post. That’s how we roll over here at VdV. The secret to happiness is mixing pleasure with biz any time possible. So, ZuZu is located right in the historic downtown area of....more
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | FRENCH
Bouchon. Fun to say, right? You are instantly French. Bouchon! Try it. Well, talk about a chef and restauranteur that nails it. Thomas Keller (French Laundry, Per Se, yada yada) opened this cute number in Yountville in the late 90’s. Very French bistro, super well done. Says it is named after a style of café....more
Saturday, October 1, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | SPANISH/TAPAS
We love Willi’s, it’s a great small plate restaurant with a casual wine-country feel and good style. They have indoor and outdoor seating too. Willi’s offers 30 or so small plates that run the gamut, including categories like Asian, Local, Mediterranean and French, and they rotate it seasonally. This is perfect for grazing, and is ....more
Saturday, October 1, 2005
This is a pretty new place (in the El Dorado Hotel) located on the Sonoma Plaza. Mediterranean, laid-back but not too wine country-ish. Has a certain modern urban vibe. We had lunch here this past summer with Janine’s mom Flo, and had a pretty good time and meal. We’d put a link to the website,....more
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
Nothing too fancy here really, but a nice spot with excellent wines. Kinda modest, but very comfortable, tasteful and inviting. Rudd offer tours and tastings ‘by prior appointment only’. Note: they mean it. This is a hour and a half or so tour + tasting. You can’t just go in, skip the tour and belly....more
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
You know the realtor’s term ‘curb appeal’? This place has GOT IT. $25 for a tasting (for just two vintages – ouch!) plus some artisinal cheese. If you don’t like Cabernet blends, don’t pay for it. It’s still worth a wander around. Like I was saying, it is a tad spendy, but go for it.....more
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
Come here for both history & great wines. And who knows maybe you’ll bump into Francis or Sophia. Hell, maybe Nick Cage will even be wandering around since he’s a nephew and all. But you don’t need a star sighting to make it worth a visit to N-C . This winery had a long history,....more
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
Monty has been around. The old girl has seen it all. This is a pretty historic winery, dating back to the late 1890’s. Then that pesky Prohibition thing happened, which really screwed things up. Took several years – no, more like an ice age, to the ‘70s I think – for things to come back....more
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
A little ways (but not too far) off the beaten path of Sonoma is Gary Farrell Winery. It’s in the Russian River area, and the winery and surroundings are beautiful. We love this area. Very bucolic. Anyway enough chit chat. The winery, nestled in a grove of ancient redwoods, is on a hilltop giving it....more
Monday, August 22, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
This winery is owned by Benziger and they produce a pretty interesting array of wines – Pinot Blanc, White Burgundy, Barbera, Petit Verdot, and more. It’s worth it just to taste some varietals you might not otherwise, who knows you may find a new flavor to catch a buzz with. Don’t miss the Ash Creek Cabernet....more
Monday, August 22, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
Hey if it’s good enough for Snoop Dog, it should be good enough for us. Who needs Crystal?! Well, if they had a tasting room here I’d be a regular. Anyway, Chandon is a really beautiful place right off of busy Hwy 29 and is definitely worth a stop. And a pop! Great grounds, one of....more
Monday, August 22, 2005
If you’ve ever been to the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, Calistoga Ranch is the wine country equivalent. Which means…it is awesome. Great story behind this place – the land was zoned for a trailer park, which limited the amount of coverage that could be constructed on the lot (think lots of trailer homes). So....more
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Hotel H could be at home in the West Village. Tre’ chic. Trendy, minimalist, ultra hip. But hey, you get all this plus access to boatloads of wineries, and it’s situated right on H-burg square, a happenin’ little quadrant of cool shops and cafes. We stayed there because two of our best friends Josh and....more
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
Betcha never heard of this place. Darioush is a new winery located on the Silverado Trail in Napa. As our friend Tucker would say, it is both Fancy and Shmancy. It’s ornate and OTT so it’s worth a visit, especially if you like Bordeaux style wines and decor. They have a nice line-up and the wines....more
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
Located on the Silverado Trail (the best part of Napa) this place is sweet. Cool grounds and perched up on a hillside so the views are great. Excellent tasting room and really nice people. The winery dates back to the 1890’s, and was restructured in the 1990’s so there is a great blend of history....more
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
As with a lot of our other recos, a lot of it is for the experience, as much as the wine. I mean, you’re up here so we lead you to cool places. And Artesa rocks. Don’t miss this place! Great artwork and sculptures, and once you ascend a long staircase with a waterfall in the....more
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Hittin the Road | Napa/Sonoma | Wine | WINERY
What a great place. Architecturally modern and one of the best wineries along Hwy 128. Can’t remember who designed this place, but they did it right. Great old Vine Zin, called ‘Oz’ if you’re into that stuff. We love it the more jam taste the better. Tons of other wines as well – solid Cabs, and....more