Mustards Grill’s Gracious Chef

And Napa’s Finest Diner... Cindy & David Words like legend and classic get a bit bandied about too much, but I always wanted to have a chat with Napa resident, 40-year legend chef Cindy Pawlcyn at her classic diner Mustards Grill right on the Hwy 29 across from Piazza Del Dotto Winery & Caves. But [...]

By | November 30th, 2023|Napa Eateries|Comments Off on Mustards Grill’s Gracious Chef

Auberge Restaurant

What a View .... David & Robert Any seasoned restaurant goer has no doubt heard or read the cliché the better the view, the worse the food. While no doubt there’s a reason why this cliché exists, it’s been my experience that it is largely a thing of the past. Let’s face it, even if [...]

By | February 28th, 2023|Napa Eateries, Napa Stays|Comments Off on Auberge Restaurant

Folio Fine Wine Partners & Brasswood Combine

For a Tasty Experience... Tom I’m always up for a good tasting. But if you combine it with good food then I’m definitely there. So when I got an invite from Tom Markakis, the hospitality manager, of the Folio Fine Wine Partners, I was excited with the “Heritage Tasting” which explores the current release wines [...]

By | February 28th, 2022|Napa Eateries, Napa Wineries, Sonoma Wineries|Comments Off on Folio Fine Wine Partners & Brasswood Combine

Carneros Resort & Spa

A Top Down Drive to Napa... I always like an invite in my email. Not too cynical or busy to hit delete without opening. Now, I won't go to the opening of a car door, but anything that sounds fun, tasty and interesting.. hell, yeah.. I'll try and make it. So it was when I [...]

By | May 9th, 2021|Napa Eateries, Napa Stays, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Carneros Resort & Spa

Lucy Restaurant & Bar

Valentines can't buy her… I've never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. Seems you just get over spending a lot on Christmas when you got to turn around and blow a bunch on a silly, made up holiday like Valentine's Day. Not that I'm against romance, not at all. If you asked any of [...]

By | February 4th, 2021|Napa Eateries, Napa Stays|Comments Off on Lucy Restaurant & Bar

Auberge du Soleil

Inspires Loyalty... Sommeliers are notorious for not staying with an establishment for no more than five years at the most. Even if they're wildly happy with a place, it just seems to be the nature of the beast that wine people move on. So it was a pleasant surprise when recently conversing with Elizabeth Cahill, [...]

By | October 31st, 2020|Napa Eateries, Napa Stays|Comments Off on Auberge du Soleil

Napa Truffle Festival

10 Years of Truffle and More... Had me some kicks at the recent 10th annual Truffle Festival in Napa. Great to run into my fav Napa chef, Del Dotto’s Josh Schwartz, who wasn’t in his customary chef whites, but was quarterbacking the truffle lunch courses along with Chef Juan José Cuevas and Chef Ken Frank [...]

By | February 4th, 2020|Napa Eateries, Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Napa Truffle Festival

Chef Frank Draws Fab Talent

Try Not to Drool… It takes a lot for the Insider to lust after or drool for a dinner. Not that I’m jaded or anything. I can lust after a perfectly grilled hot dog as easily as a nice steak or seven course tasting menu. Saying all that, there’s one upcoming dinner that would knock [...]

By | December 18th, 2019|Napa Eateries|Comments Off on Chef Frank Draws Fab Talent