The Jazins and OJeffsos are heading to wine country May 30-June 4 and we need your help! We are staying at Silverado in Napa.
1. Wineries:
First day is Pride and the Behrens and Hitchcock BBQ. Then we have 2 days in Napa (appts already at White Cottage and Clark-Claudon) and one day in Sonoma (appts already at Rafanelli and Siduri) We don't have a lot of time, so please suggest your TOP favorite BY APPT wineries we should not miss.
2. Dining:
We have dinner reservations at Mustards, Meadowwood and Celadon set up so far- what other one rest. would you reccommend? (we are also on the wait list for all days we are there for French Laundry, but not holding our breath on getting in)
I was thinking French Bistro perhaps, but which one- Bistro Jeanty, Bouchon or the new Angele in Napa? Any suggestions on these or others would be appreciated!(it would be for a Monday night)
Thanks Vinocellar!

jazin: I would HIGHLY recommend David Arthur and (of course) Del Dotto. You will kick yourselves if you do NOT plan stops at either one of these places. Not to mention, we need to have an offline!

You need suggestions? Please, who are you kiddin', there are very few wineries that ojeffso does not know about.

Seriously, do some searching, we talked about this many times (vineyards & restaurants). I remember that Bressler mentioned just about every restaurant in the area.

we could use some winery suggestions. i have not been to the area since 1999. alot of new stuff i know little about.

If you do go to David Arthur leave yourselves lots of time. The winery is pretty far out and David tends to gets carried away with things. When I went we were there for three hours and things were still going strong. I'd bet some of the folks were there another hour or two after we left.

Del Dotto is a kick-ass tour. Different that most. Call Cave Girl at there. She will take extra-good care of you. It is an absolute MUST!

Restaurants. Why doesn't anyone ever mention Martini House? It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in the world. And you can't get a better wine list.

well, the Laundry has a better list, but in the spirit of what David means, it is a good list. I also think that the food has gotten better over time. I still prefer the downstairs bar area, but it is a nice visit. not cheap, though.

I dislike Martini House. They have a nice fairly priced wine list but the food is undistinguished and overpriced. It feels like a little bit of Westwood dropped in to the middle of St. Helena. I really want to like the place because of the fair wine prices but I just can't.

None of the restaurants you have reservations at are on my list of must stops in the Valley. I know the city of Napa is improving but I still don't find it worth the drive to go down there. Terra, Bouchon, La Toque (it can be variable however but when it hits its highs it is very fine), TFL, Roux, Wappo, and Bistro Jeanty (to a lesser extent) are all better choices imo. Enough people have told me that Auberge has turned itself around that it is probably worth going to as well. Prior experiences at Auberge were dismal.

Thanks Jones, unfortunately some of these are closed while we are there in prep for the Wine Auction. Could not get a res at FL, despite days of trying to get through. So you reccommend Bouchon over Bistro Jeanty?

Yes definitely. Bouchon is considerably better imo. Don't miss the preserved salmon rilletes if you go. They also often have some cult wines available for fair prices if you ask about them (they don't all make it to the wine list). Marcassin Estate Pinot was available for $210 the last time I was there in February. It is tough to be in the Valley and not stop in at some time to Bouchon for a glass of Araujo Sauvignon Blanc and some fruits de mers.

I used to like Bouchon and Jeanty equally but Jeanty's service has deteriorated IMO. Bouchon has wonderful food, service, and the wine list is great. I remember it being on the pricey side though. They do offer a selection by the carafe or half carafe, which is very nice. My only minus for Bouchon is that the tables are to close together IMO. It makes it a little less intimate and more noisy.

I like the food at Martini House very much. The chef may not be as creative as Thomas K. but it still is special IMO. Never had anything I didnt't like. I have always really enjoyed the experience but the "kinda" know me there. I like it to because you can choose where you want to sit; in the main dining room (as Jones says a bit "Hollywood", downstaires in a cozy, quaint bar, or outside on a comfortable patio with a nice fountain (albiet very close to the restrooms which can be good or bad).

Has Pinot Blanc been mentioned. The food is very good and here you can dine dressy inside or casual out on the back patio. I understand they have a new no-corkage policy on BYO. That's hard to believe but that is what I've been told.

My poor experiences at Martini House have occurred when I have dined there under reservations made by me (i.e. just your typical joe/nobody) and when I have dined there with vips. For the same price one can dine at Terra. I don't believe there is any comparison between the two.

I do admit to having a bias against loud, cramped, aggressively priced restaurants especially when they are in wine country. Perhaps I have just been inordinately unlucky whenever I have dined there.

re: Pinot Blanc, new chef - it is too early to tell.
In this transition period, there have been a lot of
bad meals served there. Many of the wait staff have
changed employers.

Thanks- just got a res. on Monday of our trip at Bouchon.

re: bouchon, just remember your mantra
walk in, sit down, order the pomme frites...
walk in, sit down, order the pomme frites...
walk in, sit down, order the pomme frites...

and then ask for them to bring some fresh mayonnaise for the frites.

OK, JWN1, we need an offline there!

Mayo with fries...ICK! To each his own I guess...

How come they just brought us ketchup when we were there on Sunday Bressler?

Agreed Bressler.

I used to think that mayo with fries was nuts. However, the last time I was in France a number of locals finally convinced me that the French tradition of having pommes frites with mayo not catsup was the way forward. Bouchon makes spectacular fresh mayonaise. Nothing at all like the usual stuff from the supermarket.