Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

January 2, marked the 14th year in Playa Del Rey for this well known neighborhood hotspot. You can tell from the clientele that they know a good thing because they keep coming back for more.

The décor is lovely and fun, with murals of the Italian coastline on the wall; even the place mats have the map of Italy on them. I was told that until a little while ago they had Christmas lights up all year round. The dining room is a narrow configuration, which makes it all the more cozy. It has lots of fun things to look at and even more fun things to taste!

Here are my favorites:

Garlic Shrimp Antipasto, shrimp sautéed with butter, garlic and olive oil. The flavor is steeped in garlic with bright lemon accents. The shrimp are huge and beautifully butterflied, a big winner.

Calamari Fritti, deep fried calamari served with marinara, done just right, with nice crispy breading and a great sauce.

Caesar Salad Hearts of romaine with shaved Parmesan and croutons. This salad was fantastic; it has a delicious over all taste, and killer dressing.

Eggplant Parmigiana, lightly breaded topped with mozzarella and marinara. The actual eggplant is not smothered in marinara sauce, so you really get to enjoy the goodness of this straight-forward dish.

Home Made Ravioli, portobello mushroom, with porcini cream. Rich, smooth, and luscious is the only way of describing this perfect ensemble.

Gnocchi Salerno, prosciutto, peas, mushrooms in garlic cream sauce, this homemade, and though very rich, it had a way of making me a fan.

Veal Piccata, white wine, capers, and lemon with side of fettuccine Alfredo. The combination of these two together is what I liked most about this dish. This was my favorite, I would order this every time. I would love to know how they made the very inspired mushroom sauce.

Sausage Pizza, great crust, a good easy choice.

My fantastic waiter Roger gave me 4 bottles of wine to try, which my guests and I drank happily.

Hayman & Hill Monterey County 2012, kind of fruity with nice notes of Vanilla, went great with the shrimp appetizer.

Rodney Strong Chardonnay 2012, this wine has a little more caramel, vanilla, tones in it. I would pair this with Calamari or the Caesar salad. It’s a good balance with the tangy vinegar in the salad, and worked great with the batter on the calamari.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Pedroncelli, Dry Creek Sonoma 2011. This wine has cherry and woodsy nuances, got to do this with the mushroom sauce in the Veal Picatta.

Rodney Strong Merlot, Sonoma, 2011, hands down pair this with the sausage and tomatoes in the pizza.

Owner Lisetta Maria – AKA Lisa, is rich in family tradition and culture, and likes to keep the family memories alive through this restaurant and her grandmother’s recipes. His family came from Abruzzi, Italy, her grandmother and grandfather came to America through Ellis Island, and settled in Newton, Massachusetts.

As a child she watched her Grandma Anna Cantalini make wonderful specialties in the kitchen while her grand father Giovanni DiGregorio played the accordion. The same one she has on display near the front of the restaurant. The ravioli and gnocchi are the same recipe that her grandma made many years ago. On Sundays they have live music, which Lisa says she pays tribute to her Grandfather.

The atmosphere is very authentic, and the food will make your taste buds sing. This is definitely a fantastic place for a Sunday night family dinner. Another one of the many great finds during my Staycation here in Playa Del Rey.

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Cantalini’s Salerno Beach
183 Culver Blvd · Playa Del Rey
(310) 821-0018
salernobeach.net

Only 30 to 40 minutes from my home in West Hollywood, lies an oasis of peace and relaxation. Honestly you feel like you’re in another part of California. With nature preserve the Ballona Wetlands providing your view, and all of the beautiful egret and squirrel activity, the Inn at Playa Del Rey is a stellar choice for a quick romantic getaway. And it’s so close to Los Angeles that you can see downtown in the distance off of your balcony.

Next time I want to getaway to Santa Barbara or Palm Springs I will just book a couple nights stay here instead. It is tranquil and 4 blocks from the beach. They have bicycles for your site seeing enjoyment as well as good old-fashioned walking. Either way you are very close to the beach and Marina Del Rey. They give a bike path map, so you can bike to the Marina or The Manhattan Beach pier in no time.

The rooms are quite and serene, and when darkness falls, you can see the big dipper from your room. The view at night is all of the cities of Angels twinkling evening lights. Amenities at Inn at Playa Del Rey Include: full hot buffet breakfast featuring market fresh fruits, home baked breads and egg soufflés. Complimentary California wines, hors d’oeuvres every evening, afternoon tea, lemonade and cookies.

The Inn provides bicycles for a glorious ride along the nearby beach. There is a private sunbathing garden, birding guides, classic movies, and massages can be arranged, guest business center with computer and high-speed internet connection, meeting facilities, wireless internet, complimentary parking, and convenient access to all of Los Angeles. There are so many pluses to this incredible property you just have to see it to believe.

The staff is extremely helpful, but they won’t overwhelm you with their presence. They are around when you need them, and are invisible when you don’t.

The décor is just lovely, lots of shabby chic type furniture, with birds neatly placed all over the hotel. Fireplaces and Jacuzzi’s in lots of the rooms, with large flat screen TV’s.

The quiet and calm will stick with you long after you stay. What a gem in our great city, another one of Playa Del Rey’s hidden treasures!

Inn at Playa Del Rey
435 Culver Blvd.
Playa Del Rey, CA. 90293
310-574-1920
www.innatplayadelrey.com

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I love a good dive bar! One with great ambiance and interesting characters, and a real solid bar-keep, Prince O’ Whales has all that and more.

Steven Mayer is the owner, and his fantastic right hand man Rocky, makes a really stiff drink. Rocky moonlights as an actor, what a concept, oh yeah were in Los Angeles, I almost forgot. He has been a very successful commercial actor for a long time. As divey as this bar is on the outside Rocky makes up for it on the inside, with his charm and sweet demeanor, he gives Prince O’ Whales lots of credibility.
When I spoke to Steven Meyer on the phone, he made me laugh. Rocky said that Steven bought the Prince O’ Whales because he got kicked out of every bar in the area.

Here are the wines and drinks that I tried:

Proper Martini, done in a proper Martini glass with 2 olive, nice proportions, good chilled experience.

William Hill Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, both the white and the red were very drinkable and really terrific. Of course the Cabernet paired great with the meaty Whale burger, and the Chardonnay was excellent with the Fish and Chips.

Oh and then there’s the food…
The food I loved:

Whale Burger, you can’t quite describe this burger, it is very simple, but when you bite into it its pretty much in a burger category of its own, truly a delight to behold.

Cobb Salad, I love a good Cobb salad and this one is right up there with the great ones I have tasted throughout the years.

BBQ Chicken Salad, it had lots of tortilla strips with BBQ sauce dripped on top, this salad has loads of chicken and had nice BBQ sauce flavors.

Fish and Chips, how could you go wrong ordering this dish at a bar with a British name, well you can’t! The chips were large and crispy and the fish was battered to perfection with the fish still being moist inside.

Hot Wings, great spicy flavor with plump wings, just basic and good.

Chili, gotta love this chili, with a slight kick it blew my head off.

Club Sandwich, better then your average club, very hearty meat and good bread make this a staple in my Playa Del Rey adventure.

There are lots of nooks and crannies at this joint. An outside patio to play games and watch sports on large flat screen TV’s as well as 2 inside bars, and a small covered patio in the front of the property. One of their modern amenities is a digital/internet juke box, I have never seen anything like it.

My friend Lupe, who lives around the corner, joined me that night and says that Playa Del Rey is a hidden treasure and a sleepy little town, and that most people just drive by and don’t stop to enjoy its charm. Lupe believes in supporting her local businesses here in PDR, so she has quite a few of her favorite spots.

Location, location, location, right down the street is the beach that they call the jungle, complete with a shipwrecked drug boat (as of this writing). Prince O’ Whales is very convenient smack in the middle of everything. So next time you want a drink and a killer burger stop here!!!

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Prince O’ Whales
335 Culver Blvd · Playa Del Rey
(310) 823-9826
princeowhales.com

My new Napa friend Tiffany gave me a mini tasting at this very popular dinner spot in Downtown Napa for my last night. As you can see it was very limited, but gave me a little slice of heaven.

Small Plates

Crispy spring rolls with soy-braised pork belly, shaved carrots, fresh herbs. So simple, but delicate, with a super punch of Asian flavors.

Dungeness crab cake with baby tatsoi, watermelon daikon and srirachia aioli. I just wish I would have had 10 of these, they are that good.

Flash fried calamari with a spice chipotle chili and orange honey glaze, pickled ginger. The calamari is very crispy, with the orange honey glaze you mouth is set on a really great far away journey.

Celadon is right on the Napa River, in a very historic Old Mill building. It deserves all of the hype, and maybe next time I can do a larger menu tasting.

CELADON
500 Main St.
Napa, California 94559
(707) 254-9690
www.celadonnapa.com

You could call it a sports bar, or a neighborhood cheers bar, but Downtown Joe’s has a whole other thing going on. The staff is so friendly and the food well it’s just plain good, not you’re typical bar food, this place has it all.

After all is said and done, I realized there is a secret component to all of this goodness, it is owners Joe’s daughter. She is getting a jump-start on all of the operations needed to be a successful business in Downtown Napa.

Here’s what I tried:

Appetizers

Winter Cheese Board
Smoked Gouda and Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese paired with Kalamata and black olives, Bartlett pears, kiwi fruit, sliced apples and an assortment of crackers. A great menu item to pair with Hidden Crush Monterey Chardonnay.

Buffalo Wings, served with celery and their house blue cheese dressing. I am not the biggest fan of wings, but these were pretty tasty, and from what I heard from my neighbor’s table they gave them A++++.

House Made New England Clam Chowder. This is the best clam chowder you will ever have, it hits the spot.

Point Reyes Blue Cheese Burger with Niman Ranch beef, smoked beacon with their house made Stout BBQ sauce and house fried onions. This is a very hearty burger with some nice fixings, come prepared.

Roasted Garlic Caesar Salad, with their Meyer lemon creamy dressing. They don’t cut the romaine lettuce up, so you can pick up the lettuce and eat with your hands, which is a nice feature. The dressing is very pungent, but makes for a great salad.

Surf and Turf, 10 oz. sirloin cooked to order with garlic scampi jasmine rice and steamed vegetables. This was my favorite out of everything I tried. The steak is very tender, and huge. The shrimp pop in your mouth and have great garlic nuances. The vegetables are cooked to perfection, and add the healthy quotient in the meal.

Tasting of House brewed Beer List:

Lazy Summer American Wheat
This light and refreshing ale is 45% British wheat. It is lightly hopped making it an ideal beer for a hot summer day.

Tail Waggin’ Amber Ale
This classic American amber is made with Marris Otter malt and British crystal malts. It is malt forward with caramel and raisin notes. It is our best selling beer with the locals.

Tantric IPA
Our single IPA is well balanced between malt and hops. The floral and citrus hop flavors are delicately balanced with a slight malty sweetness.

Thistle Very Bitter
This overly hopped amber ale was first brewed by accident. It features grapefruit notes from the hops and caramel notes from the malts.

Drop Your Swartz
A German style black lager.

Overdue Porter
The classic British Porter uses Marris Otter malt with a touch of Pilsner malt and gets its roast and chocolate characters from Briess dark malts. 100% East Kent Golding hops rounds this beer into a great example of this porter style.

Worthy’s Leprechaun Stout
This light and creamy Irish Style stout is pushed with nitrogen. It has roast and chocolate notes.

Double Secret Probation
A strong and aggressive IPA with lots of citrus, pine and apricot notes and a slight residual maltiness.

I am not the beer drinker, but my guest drank all of them and said they were very well crafted, and each had its very distinct flavors.

The wines I tasted:

Hidden Crush Monterey Chardonnay, this wine went well with the shrimp and the Caeser salad.

Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Co. Blend, I would drink this wine with the meaty burger.

Midsummer Atlas Peak Cabernet, I liked this wine with the surf and turf, hit the spot with the steak.

Godspeed NV Cab/Malbec/Syrah, I would drink this wine with the steak and the burger, it’s perfect combination.

I tried a signature cocktail:
Cazadores Raz-Peach Margarita
Fresh limejuice shaken and floated with Raz-Peach Grand Marnier. I liked this cocktail, it was a thirst quencher, and had some bang for your buck.

They have an on site macro brewery with Colin Kaminski as the Brew master. Colin learned to brew on the job and has an extensive collection of brewing textbooks. For those beginning to brew he recommends “Brewing for Dummies”. For those who want to learn more technically what is going on he recommends George Fix’s books “An Analysis of Brewing Techniques” and “Principals of Brewing Science”. Trying his beer will make you a believer what ever the source was.

Bernabe Leon and Gaspar Montoya have been a part of the creative kitchen team at Downtown Joe’s since its inception in 1994. Featuring a fantastic all-natural menu, Downtown Joe’s is committed to finding vendors that care as much about our environment as they do. An emphasis on sustainably harvested, wild caught and farmed seafood, meats and poultry, there are no added hormones, no antibiotics fed or administered to any animal served from their kitchen. All are fed a 100% vegetarian diet that is grown in dirt that has been free of pesticides for at least three years.

Downtown Joe’s received the corporate sector outstanding committee service award in 2006 as well as the eco-smart business award from the Napa Valley Environmental Awareness Team

Owners Joe Ruffino and Nancye Peatman established Downtown Joes’s in 1993. Their family has owned a few other restaurants in the Napa area dating back to 1927. They maintain the Old Napa Italian tradition of operating a friendly, down to earth business, where all staff are valued and respected and all guests are welcome, whether indigenous or migratory to the Napa Valley. Unpretentious, friendly and fun, Downtown Joe’s holds true to its roots, caring for every guest as a valued human spirit and not as a credit card.

It’s a main stay here in downtown Napa, got to come here relax, watch your favorite sports show, have a drink, and take in this very welcoming bar.

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Downtown Joe’s
902 Main St, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 258-2337
http://downtownjoes.com

All you hear are crickets and birds on this secluded one and a half acres, just minutes away from Highway 29. A serene setting of shady trees and a trickling creek creates the perfect ambiance for a relaxing stay. Walking the lovely gardens and grounds will heighten your senses.

My room had a nice Jacuzzi tub with a big fireplace and an HD flat screen TV. There is also a secluded patio with a table and chairs. It had loads of nice amenities, reminding me of all the comforts of home.
They have received some great awards: Awards: “Best B & B Inn for Catering to Traveler’s Needs” Bed & Breakfast Journal, 2. “Best Honeymoon/ Anniversary” Inn Traveler, 3. “Best Breakfast in the Southwest” Inn Traveler.

The Stahlecker House bed and breakfast inn was built in the late 1940’s on the grounds of an existing apple orchard. The first building constructed was a family run bakery noted for their fine birthday, wedding, and fruit cakes. The home was constructed for the baker and his family. A three story barn/workshop was later built on the property.

Today, Stahlecker House Bed & Breakfast is a beautifully decorated Inn belonging to vintage race car driver and pilot Ron and local artist and wife Ethel Stahlecker. Ron is so accommodating, he has been doing this for a long time. His wife Elaine will greet you at breakfast and she is an added treasure.
Talking to Ron is a real pleasure, he has some much knowledge about the history of Napa and the Bay Area in general. He can tell you so much about everything. Part historian, part world traveler, if there’s anything you need to know talk to Ron.

This is just a down home BNB with the utmost integrity. You really feel like you are in someone’s home, I highly recommend this place!

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Stahlecker House
1045 Easum Dr.
Napa
(707) 257-3717
http://stahleckerhouse.com/

Every once in a while you get the treat of a lifetime, having lunch at Ca’Momi is just that. Getting to know the chefs and co-owners gave me a deeper insight as to why there is food that makes you feel like you just landed in Italy. Ca’Momi has everything, great food,  authentic ingredients, and all that is Napa California. This place is a joy to behold.

It was a preplanned lunch menu which gave me a taste of their most authentic menu items. I would not have wanted it any other way!

The wines I tried:

Bianco di Napa – Napa Valley 2012

Rosso di Napa – Napa Valley 2012

Reserve
Ca’Momi Chardonnay Reserve – Napa Valley 2012

Each wine went perfect with each pairing, every wine was spectacular and worth buying them in full bottles!

The Food I tried:

Arancini with Fried saffron Arborio rice balls filled with organic beef and pork ragu, mozzarella and sweet peas. Pretty much a staple in Italian cooking, but this one had a little something extra. The best ingredients cooked with experienced hands!

Baccala alla Veneziana with A classic recipe from Venice: creamy whipped salt cod with crispy polenta crostini. What a treat, you never get this in California, wow I was amazed.

Insalata d’inverno with Treviso radicchio and fennel with organic toasted beets, fresh oranges, red onions, and orange vinaigrette. This dish went great with the ribs, the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.

Linguine al pesto Genovese with Linguine with organic basil pesto, potatoes and green beans. Made so simple, and yet a full explosion of flavors in your mouth, I am speechless.

Spatzle allo speck with Organic flour dumplings sautéed with speck, organic cream and parmigiano reggiano. This is a novel idea for an Italian based restaurant, but who cares, once again, genius!

Costine con verze soffegae with Wood fire roasted baby back ribs with sautéed organic cabbage and organic onions. Who would have thought that you could get baby ribs at an Italian Restaurant, but these are done very special, and not what you’re used to. They were perfect with the salad.

Vera Pizza Napoletana – Margherita with San Marzano DOP tomato sauce, mozzarella di bufala Campania DOP and fresh basil. This pizza is an amazing accomplishment, period end of story.

Ca’ Momi is Michelin Guide Recommended and offers guests a selection of dining experiences including an Enoteca (or wine bar), a full service restaurant with indoor and patio seating, a VPN Certified Pizzeria Napoletana, and a traditional Italian Pasticceria (pastry shop). Ca’ Momi prides itself on its commitment to authenticity, organic sourcing, sustainability, and practicing the rich tradition of Italian cooking.

Because they are Italian, every dish is an expression of their identity, which is “Obsessively Authentic Italian”. They celebrate the preservation of their culinary traditions, preparing straightforward Italian dishes from traditional recipes that feature the pure, natural flavors of the ingredients themselves. They rely heavily on the quality of organic produce, most of which comes from their own gardens.

Ca’ Momi’s dedication to excellence and authenticity has allowed it to become one of only four pizzeria in the Bay Area certified as Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN). This coveted status means that their pizzas meet strict regulations governing every aspect of the creation process, from the tomatoes they use to how they stretch the dough.

Owners Valentina Guolo –Migotto, Dario De Conti and Stefano Migotto, have between them a wealth of knowledge about Italian Cuisine, and all the things it takes to make this Enoteca wildly successful. You can taste their passion in every bite!

The restaurant is in the Oxbow Public Market, and is very unassuming, but it’s just got to be the best Italian food ever. I went to Italy in 2007 and traveled for a month, eating my way through the Italian countryside and Ca’ Momi is no different than being there. They have mastered the art of Italian cuisine and we are so fortunate to be able to taste it here in Napa Valley. It is just worth a trip to Napa to taste this enormously good food, forget the wine tasting! Here you get great wines (that they make as well) and inspired regional cuisine, what more could you want? I will be gushing about this place for a very long time!

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Ca’Momi
610 1st Street
Napa, CA 94558
(707) 257-4992
www.camomienoteca.com

There are lots and lots of wine tours in Napa Valley but Platypus came highly recommended. I think what sets them apart is a no nonsense approach as well as the friendly treatment toward their riders. My tour guide Michelle was no exception; she made us feel so comfortable, and introduced every one on the shuttle to each other.

We went to 4 different wineries, each one had their specialties, and all were pretty much off the beaten path. Hill Wine Company, Rutherford Ranch Winery, David Fulton Winery, and Hopper Creek Winery were our stops and we were treated like royalty at each one. This is the special treatment you get when you go on a known wine tour. Another advantage of going with a tour is, you don’t have to worry about driving. So you can sit back and enjoy without being concerned about drinking too much, nice right!

The only thing I can say that needs improvement from my perspective is their picnic lunch. I felt it could have been a touch more gourmet then just turkey, salami, and roast beef sandwiches on croissants. After all, we are in Napa Valley. There was just one accompanying salad of quinoa; they could have given us more of a variety, especially because we taste wines with out lunch.

All in all, this is a fantastic tour. They took Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail which provided a great cross section of the valley, and seeing all the glorious sites. The wineries chosen were places that I would not have found on my own, boutique wineries with small production.

This is the way to go, no worries just good clean fun, and lots of great wines!

http://www.platypustours.com/

When I was a kid my Mom would take my brother and I out to dinner with her best friend and their kids. We used to go to Micelli’s pizza on La Cienaga in Los Angeles, for their spaghetti special night. Filippi’s is an upscale version of this memory. It really is an old fashion pizza joint, but has some added bonuses; really great Italian food at a very minimal price. I just stumbled in here one afternoon and asked owner Tom if I could do a tasting. He said all I have to do is feed you, well then come on down.

You’ve got your classic red and white checkered table clothes, café chairs, and Chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling, what more could you ask for?

Here are my favorites:

Pizza – Pepperoni and Sausage, I have tried lots and lots of pizza, but this one stole my heart. It’s all about the crust done the right way, crispy and on the thicker side. The sausage is really outstanding, but don’t get me wrong, this is pizza done in the American way, or old school Italian. Truly one of my favorite pizzas ever!

Ravioli – Marinara Sauce, this is not your fluffy high-end Italian style ravioli, it’s the kind you would find in your local pizza joint. It’s done the right way and has all the great marinara sauce flavors.

Meatballs the size of California, the biggest I have ever eaten! Our waitress swears that this is her favorite thing on the menu; I can see why, they are not only big but delicious too.

Lasagna, this is old fashion lasagna at its best. With rich ripe tomatoes marinara sauce, lots of creamy layers and great juicy flavors, a real winner.

Salad – Antipasto with Garden fresh Vegetables plus Assorted Meats & Cheese, with Homemade Italian Dressing. The same kind of antipasto salad I remember when I was a kid at Michelli’s, but this one has a little more raw vegetables, still an excellent choice.

Sourdough Garlic Bread With Melted Mozzarella, the cheese is oozing off of the bread and it has the most amazing flavor, this one is a must have.

Linguini with Baby Clams, Olive Oil, Garlic, Clam juice and Spices. I like the fresh clams on this the best with all its hidden sauce on the inside of the shell, I would ask for more fresh then the mass amount of canned ones.

Fettuccini with Chicken, Artichokes, and Mushrooms in Alfredo Sauce. It’s kind of a tart flavor from the artichokes, but wonderful just the same. Try this instead of a typical Alfredo, it has a little more flavor as well as protein.

With their rich history, these restaurants do not get any more Italian. Vincent DePhilippis and Madeleine Stefani came to America in 1922, Vincent from Italy and Madeleine from France. They met in New York and married in 1925 and settled in Philadelphia. In 1950 they moved to San Diego where they opened a deli grocery on India Street, which was called Filippi’s Cash and Carry. Filippi’s has become a successful line of family owned restaurants. Today Filippi’s Pizza Grottos have many locations, and are owned and operated by family members of the original founders.

Come for the childhood memories of what a simple pizza joint used to be like, and for the true excitement of finding a rare treasure like this.

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Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
645 First Street
Napa, California 94559
707-254-9700
www.realcheesepizza.com

Vintage Sweet Shop Chocolate tasting – Sat. Feb 8, 2014

A very small store located in Downtown Napa in the historic Napa Mill, it will be something that you should do when you visit Napa. Tasting rich beautiful wines with exquisite artisan chocolate, it’s a great way to experience a party in your mouth.

One of their signature products are chocolate covered wine bottles, so you can drink the wine and eat the chocolate right off the bottle at the same time.

It’s worth the tasting fee; you will get a once in a lifetime chance to know about the pleasures of chocolate and wine.

I am not going to tell you everything you will experience, I’m just saying go to this wonderful tasting and be fully surprised!

Vintage Sweet Shop
530 Main St. Napa CA 94559
707-224-2986
http://vintagesweetshoppe.com

St. Claire Brown Winery and Lunch – Sat. Feb. 8, 2014

The day I went for my tasting it was pouring rain and their glass greenhouse was not available for my tasting. Instead, they had me in their warehouse and did a nice organic inspired lunch.

The wines are truly one of a kind, each with great local fruit and lovely inspired winemaking.

There was so much attention on my tasting with both the owners, then in pops a surprise celebrity guest, California Attorney General, Kamala Harris. She is as inquisitive as she is smart and beautiful; we had fun comparing wine and social notes.

Here are the wine tasting of the day:
2010 Chardonnay, Coombsville, Napa Valley

2010 Rose of Syrah, Napa Valley

2010 Zinfandel, Napa Valley

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Every wine is really got a story, but I don’t want to give you too much information on all of this, just go there and taste for yourself. There are so many different characteristics in each wine, and some much love in each bottle, this is one of my best wine tasting experiences.

The food was great too:

Roasted Almonds with cumin and Meyer’s lemon. I just could not stop eating this great combination of flavors.

Hummus with organic chickpeas, peanut, lemon zest and Meyer lemon olive oil, served with Model Bakery demi-baguette. The hummus was very soothing, not with a lot of garlic or lemon flavors, just real good chickpeas.

Farro and Rancho Gordo Red Quinoa Salad with ose pickled radish, pinot grigio soaked raisins, garden greens, and carrot ginger vinaigrette. Talk about your super food, this salad has it all, I felt like super woman after I ate it.

Pork Rillette with fig, apricot compote. The flavors are very subtle, but paired with the Zinfandel it rocked my world. Chef Norma Whitt really knows her stuff!

If you’re looking for something a little bit different and not too much out of town, then St. Clair Brown Winery is the place for you. They are in the process of building a restaurant out of their warehouse space as we speak, so expansion will be happening very soon. For now, I liked the peacefulness of this boutique winery and the two women who run it; Elaine St. Clair and Laina Brown. Oh did I mention that the real star of this show is their killer wine!

St. Clair Brown Winery
1601 Action Ave, Napa ·
(707) 255-5591
www.stclairbrownwinery.com

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Uncorked Tasting – Sat. Feb. 8, 2014

Celeste Parducci and her husband Bruce also own this. As a hotel guest they give you a free pass for two people to taste their spectacular wines, and well as a bottle of wine for you to take home, nice right!

Their wine is exquisite; the wine bar is unpretentious, which makes for a comfy experience. The best price point is the Carducci Rose, which is only $20.00, so you can easy drink this elegant affordable wine.

The interior is a great place to have an event; it is light and airy, with a long tasting bar. You could schedule a girl’s day out and make this apart of your adventure, toasting with Carducci, Ahnfedt, and Provacative, nice assortment of wine. It I located right across the street from the Oxbow Public Market, which has some fantastic wines and artisan food shops. So my advice, make a lunch out of the yummy foods at the Oxbow Public Market, walk across the street to Uncorked, purchase a bottle of wine and then go have a picnic!

Uncorked at Oxbow
605 First St., Napa, CA,
94559
707-927-5864
http://www.uncorked-at-oxbow.com