Napa Valley Adventures (& a little bit of SF)

I first got to experience California's breathtaking wine country when I traveled there three years ago to cover the S. Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef Competition. I've been so lucky to be able to go back every year since that first time, and every time, I discover something new.

This past March, between the craziness of covering the Mystery Basket Competition and the Finals, Bryan and I had some time to get away and enjoy some other parts of Napa Valley.

We tried some fantastic meals (there seems to be an endless supply of really good food in this area!), visited some awe-inspiring vineyards, and even tried our hands at making our own wine blends.

Here's a sneak preview of upcoming posts from our next trip series on Napa Valley.

After landing in San Francisco and before heading up to Napa Valley, we enjoyed a lovely tasting of seasonal, local, freshly foraged ingredients at a two-Michelin star restaurant in the city.
In Yountville, we finally got to try brunch at Thomas Keller's more casual restaurant, sampling some of the best biscuits I've ever had.
A delightful sampling of dishes from a French-trained Japanese chef (alumnus of Spago) at a one-Star Michelin restaurant in St. Helena.

Food is art at this French one-star Michelin restaurant, the only restaurant in Napa Valley inside of a winery!

A solid Italian experience from a celebrity chef who has hosted several shows on the Food Network and was second place in Top Chef Masters.

I had a chance to make my own "Insignia" blend by pipetting various ratios of component wines.<a="" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyurbankitchen/7086511317/" title="Untitled by tinyurbankitchen, on Flickr"></a="">
One of the coolest wineries we visited - it's housed entirely inside a cave in a mountainside and has its own waterfall to keep the humidity constant!