Tag Archives: napa

Ubuntu – Napa, Ca

In the restaurant world, the fact that you are noticed by Michelin is quite an honor. A 1 star Michelin restaurant is a pretty big deal considering that they awarded sparingly. Ubuntu was awarded a 1 star rating for 2010 and I can see why after having an amazing, experimental and absolutely delicious meal emphasizing vegetables as the main ingredient. This place should not be recognized as a vegetarian restaurant – it is a celebration of vegetables and focuses on a beautiful range of fresh vegetables. It is suggested that when you dine there that you eat family style, ordering 2-3 items per person. Like most of Napa Valley restaurants, there is a corking fee, which is waived if ordering an additional bottle of their own impressive, moderately-priced wine list.

Ubuntu
1140 Main Street
Napa, CA 94559-2639
(707) 251-5656

Braised Fennel with Crème Fraiche, dressed with micro-cilantro

carta da musica, homemade crispy sardinian flatbread
today’s LEAVES barely dressed, truffled pecorino, orielles

marinated ‘ruby queen’ BEETS with goat/almond horchata
fork crushed avocado, pickled rhubarb and quinoa

a warm gremolatta crusted zeppola stuffed with cool burrata
‘surry’ ARUGULA, kumquat agrodolce, AGRETTI

‘greenstring’ farms potatoes baked in spring GARLIC ash *
green GARLIC emulsion, LEGUME & black mushroom salad

Fresh made noodles with a sauerkraut broth

arbuckle grits, slowly cooked with goats whey, salsa MARO spezzato
fresh ricotta, blackened & braised FAVAS, lavender MINT

Chocolate cake with smoked cherries

Putting on The Ritz – Catering in Napa Valley, Ca

The on-set catering for our shoot was provided by a wonderful caterer Chery Corshen of Puttin’ on The Ritz. I thought she was absolutely wonderful and really went the extra mile in getting feedback and adjusting the menu according to our tastes.

Falafel

Couscous

Muhammara, a Turkish and Syrian red pepper spread thickened with bread crumbs and walnuts

Dolma’s – Stuffed Grape Leaves

Brownies

Caprese Salad

Pork Loin with a Creamy Tuna Sauce

Braised Artichokes

Breakfast at Bardessono

Every morning while in Napa, I started out by having breakfast at the Bardessono, a green resort who holds the distinct certification of LEEDS Platinum (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) for having a very high credit for energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. At this resort you will have to specify if you want to have your sheets changed daily as they will not do this automatically like in most hotels. They use solar paneling and recycle their water.

But enough about that, lets move on to the food:

Croque Madame

Croque Madame, inside view. This was so amazing, I ordered it twice (not in the same day, though)

Classic American Brekkie – Eggs, Bacon, Potatoes and Fresh Bread

Pancakes with Strawberry Compote

Pacific Blues Cafe: Yountville, Ca

The food at Pacific Blue Cafe is kind of meh, but they get points for having a very cute exterior and a great patio seating. I will say that I loved their garlic mashed potatoes!

6525 Washington Street
Yountville, CA 94599-1300
(707) 944-4455

Exterior of Pacific Blues Cafe in downtown Yountville

Calamari

A very strange Tortilla soup. Not bad, just different.

Ceasar Salad with Steak

Fried Chicken

Indian Food in Napa: Neela’s

One would expect that when stepping into a small town, you would not find an Indian Restaurant and even if you did it would be like walking into a chinese restaurant in a small town – westernized crap. Not Neela’s. It steps away from the mainstream by offering a diverse selection of Indian food with more of a fine dining approach to the menu.

Beet Mint Salad- beets, red onions, mint and cumin with goat cheese

Karari Bhindi- crisp okra “strands” seasoned with dried green mango powder

Shrimp Samosas- turnovers filled with shrimp and mango pickle

Sindhi Lamb Chops- two lamb chops poached with whole spices then seared with coriander,
cayenne and mango powder

Lasoon Jhinga – shrimp with garlic, green chilis and mustard seeds

Tandoori Chicken- half a chicken marinated with yogurt, ginger, garlic, coriander and garam masala

Lamb Vindaloo- Goan curry with tamarind and black pepper

Poriyal- Hyderabadi green beans with kari leaves and coconut

British Raj Bread Pudding, warm bread, butter and marmalade pudding

Flourless cayennechocolate cake with apricot cream

Gajjar ka Halwa, carrot pudding with almonds raisins and whipped cream

Pistachio Ice Cream

Burgers in Cali: In N’ Out

When I arrive anywhere in California, I quickly head for the car rental place, request a GPS and immediately search for the closest In N’ Out Burger. If I am there for 2 weeks I will not require another In N’ Out burger, but I must have one upon landing in Cali. Anyone who has been to In N’ Out knows what I am talking about. For this trip, I took along the two assistants from the job, Anderson and Megan. Anderson had never been so this was a very special trip. He ordered a Double, Double – great choice as an intro to the burger. The other ordered a burger animal style, protein style. For those not in the know, animal style is a mustard cooked patty, extra pickles, extra sauce and grilled onions. Protein style means you drop the bun and wrap it in lettuce. I had a 2 x 4 – 2 slices of beef, 4 slices of cheese.

In N’ Out Burger in Napa, Ca