
Separate from the fact that our cousins and hosts had a major involvement in the development of this food emporium, I just loved it. It reminded me very much of the Ferry Building in downtown San Francisco with all the fun eateries. Had THE MOST AMAZING pizza margherita at Ca’ Momi; could have closed my eyes and been right back in Italy!
Making our way up Highway 29, we made a brief stop at the newly reopened Oakville Grocery, which has great picnic tables outside. We continued with a stop at Dean & Deluca and finally for cookies and coffee at the wonderful Model Bakery in St.Helena. Love browsing in the shops.
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Fruit tarts – yum! |
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Barely a cookie crumb was left! |
Dinner was at Mustards Grill, a Napa go-to for 27 years. Many of these great restaurants have their own kitchen gardens so it’s literally straight-to-your-plate goodness.
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Pole beans at Mustards |
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Dave Rabb, our other host ~~ |
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French Laundry hothouse tomatoes … |
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and strawberries |
After dinner we made a stop by the world-class French Laundry to pick up tips at their amazing garden that feeds the various Yountville kitchens of Chef Thomas Keller. Have eaten there a few times and it is incomparable.
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Holly and Bob in Petaluma |
On to Petaluma the next day, a wonderful smallish town about an hour from Napa, to visit another cousin and catch up over lunch.
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From another table — amazing charcuterie, etc. |
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Our lamb sausage pizza |
For dinner that night, it was downtown Napa for patio dining at Oenotri.
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Chocolate panna cotta and olive oil cake with cherries and lemon gelato |
Alas, home the next day to savor the great food and special company of this fun trip… now I must go to the gym!