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

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 Staycation

Twice is Not Enough... It’s always fun to renew tasting experiences you’ve enjoyed before. So it was a kick to drive down the 29 recently and have a Merlot tasting at Duckhorn Winery and a whole bunch of different wines at Castello di Amorosa. After turning off on to Lodi Lane we wound up the [...]

By | August 3rd, 2019|Napa Stays, Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Napa Staycation

Yountville Live Returns

Rain Didn't Dampen Yountville Live ... Had a soggy but fun time at Yountville Live’s 2018 edition. At the opening night reception under the main tent it poured as we lined up and kept raining for an hour or so while the crowd sampled the excellent cocktails and wines that were on offer for the guests. Gotta love [...]

By | April 16th, 2018|Napa Eateries, Napa Stays, Napa Wineries, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Yountville Live Returns

Bardessono

Bardessono Welcomes Yountville Live ... Since 2018 is whipping by, the Insider thought it’d be a timely reminder to let readers know that tickets for Yountville Live Luxury event are on sale now for the March 15th- 18th weekend. Since Yountville’s Bardessono hotel is right across from the park where most of the Live event takes place, the Insider checked in with [...]

By | January 28th, 2018|Napa Stays|Comments Off on Bardessono

Day for the Queen Tennis Tournament

Did You Say Tennis at the Silverado... To the Day for the Queen Tennis Tournament at the Silverado Resort and Spa where I get to quiz their Director of Tennis, Katie Dellich, between sets of their round robin tournament where I was the lone guy amongst many women.  I hadn't played in a long while [...]

By | July 29th, 2017|Napa Stays, Play in Napa|Comments Off on Day for the Queen Tennis Tournament

Paul Hobbs Wine Dinner

Meritage Resort Wine Cave Dinner ... “You got to be in shape if you’re going to be a food and wine writer.” A squawk of laughter from Napa’s Meritage Resort’s Marketing Director Andrew Bradley, catching my humor and irony, as I climbed the final steps to the reception  for their Paul Hobbs Winery dinner.  And [...]

By | July 24th, 2017|Napa Stays, Napa Wineries|Comments Off on Paul Hobbs Wine Dinner