What do you do with a friend who has never been to Napa? Here's my dummy guide for a one day Napa 101.
1. Educate them between big and boutique wineries- bring them to the big guns first. My favorites are Domaine Carneros and the newer Castello di Amorosa due to its photogenic outdoors and uncrowded tasting rooms.
2. Pick a dinner/lunch spot between downtown Napa or Yountville- the usual suspects are the Oxbow Public Market for lunch and Bouchon for a nice meal. Since I was with a vegan friend, I picked Ubuntu in downtown Napa for an all vegan dinner. For local eats, try Mustard Grill.
3. And if they are not from New York, stop by Dean and Deluca. While at it, do some people watching across the street (I forget the name of this place) where they have a big wine shop/grocery and picnic area. If you're lucky, you can also crash a wedding.
1. Educate them between big and boutique wineries- bring them to the big guns first. My favorites are Domaine Carneros and the newer Castello di Amorosa due to its photogenic outdoors and uncrowded tasting rooms.
bubbly tasting at Domaine |
3. And if they are not from New York, stop by Dean and Deluca. While at it, do some people watching across the street (I forget the name of this place) where they have a big wine shop/grocery and picnic area. If you're lucky, you can also crash a wedding.
It was pure luck I bumped into Good Luck Dimsum after perusing the web, specifically, yelp for cheap dimsum grub. It is a real gem/hole in the wall place decorated with pink takeout boxes. I was really amazed how long the line was with a mix of Chinese and non-Chinese. Unlike other fancier, sit-down dimsum, the har gow shrimps are very plump and the cilantro steam dumplings are huge. A bang for the buck indeed.
The ber months are coming which means one thing, Christmas in the Philippines. Yehey!!! Can't wait to be reunited with my Cebu mangoes.
xoxo
xoxo
Always good to hang out with people who have similar hobbies. Here goes my food blogger friend, sssourabh, doing his thing getting up close and personal with the purple glazed carrots.
There was an older couple beside our table. The guy started asking the woman why people take photos of their food. I rolled my eyes. Luckily, no one saw me doing it. Ha!
There was an older couple beside our table. The guy started asking the woman why people take photos of their food. I rolled my eyes. Luckily, no one saw me doing it. Ha!
What's the stats of people who tried to become vegan but failed? If one can cook as good as the chefs at Ubuntu, I bet that percentage would lower dramatically. The food at Ubuntu definitely made me think twice of how vegetables should be savored and devoured.
amuse |
gazpacho salad |
close up of the beautiful herbs and leaves |
dessert wine |
pearl pasta delicious! |
bruschetta with glazed carrots |
celery float for dessert! |
ginger cake for dessert round 2!! |
I purchased my first watermelon in the US after living here for the past 8 yrs (shame on me!). I was really amazed how the watermelon I got from trader joe's turned out to be so mouthwatering finger licking good.
If this is the result of a genetically modified watermelon - seedless and so sweet- then so be it! I'm so addicted to it now. I've been eating a quarter size per meal as appetizer and dessert which makes me full very fast. My throat glands are not too happy though.
If this is the result of a genetically modified watermelon - seedless and so sweet- then so be it! I'm so addicted to it now. I've been eating a quarter size per meal as appetizer and dessert which makes me full very fast. My throat glands are not too happy though.
Not bad. I've been here for the first time during happy hour at the bar and another time for a dinner. Atmosphere is always nice and they do have an outdoor area which reminds me very much of Europe.
Are leftovers (and free). Ok fine. This is not a really appetizing picture but I kid you not- leftover pasta is the best!
I added freshly cooked eggs at the bottom to give some pizzazz to my meal and of course make me reach my goal of adding more lbs by yearend.
DeLise partners up with Tcho, the only artisan chocolate maker in the city of San Francisco. After a round of experiments and tasting, you can now savor Tcho chocolate in a decadent chocolate mousse. Delisetchoso!
Fun fact: The only Tcho shop on Embarcadero is an easy less than 10 minute walk to DeLise.
up close - topped with fleur de sel |
Fun fact: The only Tcho shop on Embarcadero is an easy less than 10 minute walk to DeLise.
Bloodbath worldwide in the stock market. It is time to chill. Chillax with a pint of Ciao Bella. Life is good again.
I was starving by the time I got to Gilroy Garlic Festival grounds (blame it on the traffic!). Alas, only two photos made it after the cut.
I was dumbfounded to learn that most food stalls were similar to the ones I always see in post-marathons and other food festivals- the usual grub of stir fried chicken and noodles. There were specialty garlic items, such as stuffed mushrooms, calamari, pasta with pesto sauce, steak sandwich, etc. by the Gourmet Alley but it could have been better. I expected it to be more gourmet-ish.
The long drive back to the city didn't really help despite the mouthful mints everyone in the car ate. They were giving out free Scope mouthwash and garlic ice cream in a cone though. Can't complain with free stuff.
garlic fries |
stuffed mushroom |
The long drive back to the city didn't really help despite the mouthful mints everyone in the car ate. They were giving out free Scope mouthwash and garlic ice cream in a cone though. Can't complain with free stuff.