While the Midwest was in a deep freeze, I hightailed it to California for a quick weekend trip to the Bay Area and Napa Valley. Although the weather was rainy and overcast in Cali, I’m totally not complaining since it was about 50°F warmer than the polar ice cap in the Midwest… yikes! Being that it is the off-season, we pretty much had the place to ourselves and were able to explore the area without all the crowds which was awesome!
We spent some time wandering the vineyards and getting tipsy in tasting rooms, but we had the most fun hunting down the best restaurants in town. So, I’ll leave the wine up to the professionals and give you a peek into some of our favorite places to stay, explore and of course, eat!
Berkeley:
On our way up to Napa we spent a day romping around the Berkeley and San Francisco area. Besides In-and-Out Burger, which is always a must, we found Bakesale Betty, probably the best fried chicken sandwich in the area! A little unmarked hole-in-the-wall counter serving up a crispy and delicious chicken sandwich stuffed with spicy coleslaw. Get there early to avoid the crowds because this place quickly ends up with a line around the block!
While in the area, you have got to check out Berkeley Bowl, a super cool grocery store with two locations in the Berkeley area. I know what you’re thinking, you’re on vacation, why would you go to the grocery store? Because it’s amazing. That’s why. It’s also a great place to pick up snacks for an afternoon out on the town.
We were lucky enough to get in at one of my bucket list restaurants, Chez Panisse! Call about a month ahead and make a reservation. Do it. Yes, it’s pricey but the exquisitely executed simple plates were totally worth it. We snagged a table by the kitchen and were able to watch the hustle and bustle in the back of the house during the dinner rush. So fun!
Napa Valley:
Stay:
We spent a night at The Carneros Inn. It’s a bit over the top, but it was beautiful. We also spent a few nights in an Airbnb and that was much more reasonable, and still a really great way to experience Napa. Usually, I prefer to skimp on the lodging in favor of spending a bit more on food and drink, we spend most of our time out on the town anyway. Luckily, there are a lot of great options for airbnb’s in the area.
Explore and Eat:
While at the Carneros, we enjoyed lunch at the Boon Fly Cafe and dinner at The Farm. Both are located on the grounds of the resort and totally worth checking out.
A must-see while in Napa is the Oxbow Public Market, with bakeries, ice cream shops, restaurants and smaller specialty vendors, it’s a great place to explore and find some locally made goodies.
We were on the hunt for a bakery and some strong coffee, we found both! All of the cake pops, cookies, pastries and sweets at Sweetie Pies Bakery were tempting, making it hard to decide so we picked up a yummy raspberry hand pie and were not disappointed!
The smell of chocolate and fudge was drifting out to the sidewalk from Vintage Sweet Shoppe, a little candy shop next next-door. We nibbled on some treats and stashed a few chocolate covered goodies for later. Because chocolate and wine, yes please!
So much food, so little time! We were pretty full when we stopped in at Gott’s Roadside, the burgers looked delicious but we only had room for a milkshake and yes, it was totally worth it!
We popped over to the CIA at Greystone for a cooking demo and a tour. I had high hopes on this one – I was so excited to visit a culinary school in a castle! But, I was a little underwhelmed. So, don’t go with super high expectations, keep an open mind. The grounds are beautiful so take advantage and poke around a bit.
Off to Yountville, a cute little town with a laid back vibe and great food! We loved Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery, it was hard to leave without one of everything! Be sure to get a few of the little (super indulgent) brownie bites called Bouchons.
Just next door is Bouchon Bistro, the real deal, crazy delicious Thomas Keller restaurant. Ahhh you guys it was so good! Everything was delicious and you really can’t go wrong!
A bakery that has been around for almost 90 years has to be good right? Um.. yeah! The Model Bakery is known for their really delicious english muffins. Be sure to get there early with the locals to avoid the crowd. We ordered an english muffin breakfast sandwich topped with egg, avocado, cheese and hot sauce. Paired with a cup of coffee and a cookie to-go, and your day is off to a delicious start.
Ok, this one is a little divey but totally worth checking out. La Luna Market and Taqueria has some of the best tacos around. Be sure to order the Carne Al Pastor, it is amazing! A bit messy but we loved every bite, especially for under $15!
Bottega is Michael Chiarello’s restaurant in the Yountville area. It’s usually pretty busy so call ahead for a reservation. Otherwise, they have a great patio for bar snacks and drinks. Rumor is, Michael is often at the restaurant so keep an eye out for him!
Another place for the food obsessed to explore is Dean and Deluca’s a great spot to find local goodies or tasty gifts to bring home for the awesome friends keeping your puppy entertained while you’re away.
Before you go, drive up to have a drink on the deck and watch the sunset (as long as it’s not too foggy!) over the vineyards at Auberge de Soleil. The perfect ending to a lovely food filled trip!
On your way back to the bay area, make a point to cross over the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s worth going a few miles out of your way to check out. Here’s a guide to find the best places to view the bridge in all of its glory.
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