Travels to Sonoma Valley, California

 Sonoma Valley is a major wine-producing region north of San Francisco. Hundreds of vineyards, ranging from small, family-run estates to international wineries, are set amid its rolling hills and valleys.  We had been to Napa Valley back in 2014, so after our visit to Willamette Valley, we flew to California to check out this wine region which is more expansive, spread out, and laid-back than Napa. 

La Salette

La Salette located in Sonoma's historic plaza offers New Portuguese cuisine celebrates the varied and complex flavors of Chef Manuel Azevedo's native Portuguese homeland while adapting them to the immense offerings of top-quality ingredients from his current home in California.

Santé

Santé at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is best described as “California fusion with a Sonoma passion.” With a reverence to fresh, simple preparation and the use of local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible, the culinary team presents an approachable menu that includes flavors, techniques and recipes from several cultures. Seasonal ingredients from regional producers (which include wineries, breweries, ranches, fisheries and farmers) are always center stage. After a full day of visiting wineries, we decided to dine out at our hotel this evening.

The Girl & The Fig

The Girl & The Fig features a wonderful antique bar with French aperitifs, unique and traditional cocktails, an award-winning Rhône-Alone wine list, a seasonal menu, cheese & charcuterie platters, and outdoor garden patio seating.  Located in the "downtown" area of Sonoma, we dined here for our first night out.

Schooners Monterey

Suspended over the waves of Monterey Bay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, Schooners Monterey serves contemporary American cuisine with a focus on carefully sourced seafood. A bustling exhibition kitchen and heated waterfront terrace provide a welcoming and lively atmosphere for travelers and locals alike.  We stopped here for dinner after our day long tour along the coast.

Hapa J's

Hapa J's serves traditional Hawaiian food as well as other Asian cuisines in a laid back sports bar atmosphere.  Located in San Clemente, CA we stopped here for lunch with Lucinda and James before heading to Dana Point for a music festival.

Javier's

Located along Pacific Coast Highway, just North of Laguna Beach with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, Javier's  presents a rich heritage of elevated Mexican cuisine in a friendly, captivating ambiance. The Mexican specialties on the menu are created with the highest quality seafood, beef, pork and chicken as well as gourmet vegetarian offerings.

Travels to Napa Valley, California (Part 3)

Some charms in Napa Valley are the same year-round: a bucolic setting, stellar hospitality, world-class wine and food.  The summer months in wine country promise the most temperate weather, with rain a rare intruder, although temperatures are known to soar north of 100 degrees every once in awhile (pack accordingly!). Thanks to the characteristically cool nights, however, hot days are tempered by comfortable evenings.  We visited in early September when most of the wineries were just starting their harvest.  Continuing from Part 1 and Part 2 of our travels to Napa Valley, we started out our second day of tours...

Travels to Napa Valley, California (Part 2)

Most of the wineries in Napa Valley are easily accessible from the main road (29) and the Silverado Trail.  We appreciated the intimate feel of the wineries, and were able to chat with the actual wine makers rather than shuffle through a self-guided tour with 100 other tourists. Many wineries request that you make a reservation. Don’t be scared; go ahead and make a reservation. Chances are that you will have the place to yourself.  Continuing from Part 1 of our travels to Napa Valley, we headed to our second winery of the day...

Travels to Napa Valley, California (Part 1)

Whether you are wine tasting or dining at renowned restaurants Napa Valley is one of the premier travel destinations in the world.  Breathtaking views abound at every turn with picturesque rolling hills planted with vineyards year-round and wineries of every stature dot the landscape.  Located just north of San Francisco, the Napa Valley has a history dating back to the early 19th century. Today Napa features more than 400 wineries and grows many different grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, and other popular varietals.

Bottega

Bottega showcases Chef Michael Chiarello's signature bold Italian flavors with a refined twist. Bottega's menu highlights the bounty of artisanal and house made ingredients, as well as local produce. Bottega is part of the historic Vintage Estates, located in one of the oldest wineries in the Napa Valley. Chef Chiarello has created a menu of micro-regional Italian cuisine, selecting the best dishes from across Italy and anchoring them with artisanal, heritage, or house-made ingredients.

étoile Restaurant at Domaine Chandon

As the only fine dining restaurant within a winery in Napa Valley, étoile Restaurant at Domaine Chandon epitomizes the very best that wine country dining has to offer.  étoile’s unique position within a winery allows daily collaboration between the culinary team and Domaine Chandon’s winemakers, resulting in innovative, wine-inspired cuisine.

Mustards Grill

Mustards Grill was named for the wild mustard flowers that bloom in the vineyards every spring, which help to nourish the soil. Mustard is an integral part of Napa Valley's wine growing diversity. After 30 years of feeding Napa Valley and its visitors, Mustards Grill is still the hub of the food and wine community where winemakers lunch with truckers and chefs come to dine on their night off.

Addendum

True to its name Addendum is an addition or footnote to the Thomas Keller family, serving boxed lunches to go Thursdays through Saturdays. Tucked behind his restaurant Adhoc is a small shack serving two items for $16.50 each: buttermilk fried chicken and bbq pork ribs or pulled pork. Orders can be picked up from 11:00am-2:00pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday only.  Each selection comes with potato salad, cole slaw and corn bread, the perfect sides for these picnic favorites. You can enjoy your lunch at one of the many tables available in the sun and the shade or take your meal to go and create your own picnic and any number of wineries in Napa Valley.

Bouchon

Bouchon offers traditional French bistro fare with a menu that showcases the best products available each day. Bouchon, located in Yountville, CA - the heart of Napa Valley - also features a raw bar with select oysters on the half shell and many other Fruits de Mer. Seasonal offerings change throughout the year and are complemented by Vin de Carafe, a unique wine program that brings recognition to local wine producers.

Local Yolk

The Local Yolk is a "beach café" that serves breakfast and lunch in a casual diner-like atmosphere.  Located along Highland Avenue in Manhattan Beach, simply walk in and seat yourself at any of the open booths or at the main bar area.  The staff is very friendly, so don't be shy!  Check out the white board for the fresh daily specials.  The menu consists of American and Mexican fare favorites and the portions are super generous.

Manhattan Beach Post

Manhattan Beach Post is a soulful restaurant under Michelin-star Chef David LeFevre offering a more rustic menu of playful, artisanal dishes designed to be shared, and complemented by artfully crafted cocktails and small production wines.  When you dine at MB Post, you’ll find a carefully edited selection of seasonal dishes. Categorized by Breads; Charcuterie, Cheese and Larders; Vegetable dishes; Seafood dishes; and Meat dishes, all are meant to stand on their own as a dish, not sides, for the table. The goal is to encourage guests to sample their way through the menu and enjoy an array of new ingredients, flavors, and textures.

Philippe The Original

Philippe The Original is one of the oldest and best known restaurants in Southern California. Philippe's was established in 1908 by Philippe Mathieu, who claimed the distinction of having created the "French Dipped Sandwich." One day in 1918, while making a sandwich, Mathieu inadvertently dropped the sliced french roll into the roasting pan filled with juice still hot from the oven. The patron, a policeman, said he would take the sandwich anyway and returned the next day with some friends asking for more dipped sandwiches. And so was born the "French Dipped Sandwich," so called either because of Mathieu's French heritage, the French roll the sandwich is made on, or because the officer's name was French. The answer is lost to history.

Tito's Tacos

Tito's Tacos has provided their loyal customers with appetizing Mexican food prepared fresh daily from treasured top secret recipes since 1959.  Everything is made fresh to order, so be prepared to wait in a long line, but is definitely worth it!  With a simple straight forward menu of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas as well as classic sides likes refried beans and rice, you will satisfy your Mexican craving with money to spare.

Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya

The Katsu-Ya group has 5 locations in Southern California and continues to grow. Under Chef Katsuya Uechi, Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya opened in Manhattan Beach, CA in January 2010.  Chef Uechi analyzed eating habits of the American public and stepped outside of what is considered to be Japanese cuisine, mixed with California-style cuisine. He is responsible for setting a fire to a new sushi trend which many other restaurant followed suit and now has a growing empire.