JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts:8568
 | | 05/05/2006 5:51 PM |
| | As of June 1 they are changing the name to Etoiles. I'd avoid the place if I were you - over the last few years its been a revolving turnstile. | | | |
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DdB
Barrel Filler
Posts:1444
| | 05/10/2006 3:22 AM |
| | Thanks Jones. Will look at other options. | | | |
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Randy Wigginton
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5365
| | 05/10/2006 3:19 PM |
| From the SJ Mercury:
PLANS GONE AWRY: Plans by chef Thomas Keller of the French Laundry in Yountville to collaborate with nearby Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa on a new catering company, Bouchon Private Dining, have fallen through. Publicists declined to say why. Keller's planned gourmet butcher shop in the Vintage 1870 shopping complex, which shares the Vintage Estate with the inns, also is on hold. A new vineyard pavilion for special events still will be built by the end of spring. Catering will be handled now, though, by the Vintage Estate. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 05/11/2006 7:15 PM |
| I saw that also Randy. I guess the sea-food restaurant at the south end of Yountville is still on the schedule though.
I wonder where the "pavilion" will be. I'd guess that will be accross from Bouchon in the 1870 center. | | | |
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GATC
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2420
| | 06/01/2006 2:40 AM |
| | Had a great lunch at Martini House last weekend. They have a pretty good riesling selection and I got their last bottle of the 2001 Karlsmuhle Kaseler Nies'chen kabinett. I generally buy spatlesen and auslesen but kabinetts is better with food. I may start changing my strategy. Lunch for 3 was $197 (including the $40 wine) so it was a little pricey, but great. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Destemmer
Posts:56
| | 06/03/2006 3:49 PM |
| Got to spend the day yesterday at the barrel auction part of Auction Napa Valley - a true delight of great food and wine! Cindy Pawlcyn was there passing out sushi roll-ups at her food stand advertising her new place, called "Go Fish." They hope to open the end of July. Thomas Keller was there passing out salmon cones, Greg Cole making some great sandwiches. I tried them all, and then some!
Plus, the many wineries with their tables of various wines to pour at your whim.
Think of going into your favorite high-end deli market and walking around eating anything and everything you want.
Of course, making sure you have the correct wine for each dish! | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 06/04/2006 9:10 PM |
| Quote:
Got to spend the day yesterday at the barrel auction part of Auction Napa Valley
envy gremlin
It must have been the perfect sunny, spring afternoon.
What was the "hot" wine? | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Destemmer
Posts:56
| | 06/06/2006 3:38 PM |
| "the hot wines?"
Well, I got to spend some of my time working next to Shafer's barrel and I seemed to keep asking Elias for another pour.
As Bressler said in his report on the whole Auction, DR Stephens seemed to be very popular, though some I spoke to said they thought the "resiney" oak was not a good thing.
As Bressler also said, and I can attest to with my own eyes, Shafer's spit bucket was continually full - they often had to go track someone down to come dump it before it overflowed.
And, from what I noticed, it was not full from Shafer's wine being dumped, but wines from other barrels being being dumped at Shafer's barrel so they could replace it with Shafer!
I also liked the Hartwell and Rocca syrah. | | | |
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AlexRed
Northern VA
Barrel Filler
Posts:1336
| | 06/07/2006 7:35 PM |
| Monday the 12th is Julie and my 2nd anniversary... Trip to NorCal whoo hoo.
Saturday the 10th day trip to Napa, i think we are going to try to hit Bouchon for lunch and then Taylor's Refresher for dinner. Never been to either... reservations for Bouchon were looking tight the other day (don't know if my sister-in-law was able to get an early lunch or not) so we might have a change in that part...
Maybe some wine drinking in between as well.
staying in Palo Alto with my wife's sister and her husband, returning to VA on monday night. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 06/09/2006 1:14 AM |
| Just for fun... here's an email from the wife of a big bidder. I've taken out the names.
Quote:
We had a very full and exciting weekend. We started at the Cakebread family home and had a lovely lunch prepared by Gary Danko. Thursday night was spent with the Heitz family. On Saturday the gang went to the barrel tasting and e-auction. All of the local restaurants and purveyors had stands outside (including the French Laundry, Dean and Deluca, Bouchon etc) and served wonderful tapas with lovely wines while live music played in the background. It was a great people watching venue as everyone was dressed for the garden fete. The weather was pretty warm, but we really didn't feel it until the night of the auction. There were 800 people in a tent with no air conditioning. Our friends are physicians and were both on alert for potential heart attacks because it was so warm. Brian Seacrest and Geena Davis were the two celebrities leading the event and ET's Mary Hart was also there celebrating with the Mondavi's. We were in the pit because **** bought quite a lot last year. Once again, he didn't refrain. We secured some nice wines (a Duckhorn selection of which I am particularly fond) and a smattering of trips and wine packages to NY, Cabo San Lucas, and a return to Napa for another Bond event. The evening ended in a private catered tent with our own sommelier and some dancing. It was a memorable evening. Suffice it to say we are on the wagon again. There was too much food, wine and fun. Now, I am back to reality...paying bills and picking up the yard after some strong winds. It looks like there were gales while we were gone.
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Elkiholic
New Hampshire
Grape Fermenter
Posts:457
| | 06/09/2006 1:56 PM |
| Quote:
Just for fun... here's an email from the wife of a big bidder. I've taken out the names.
Quote:
We had a very full and exciting weekend. We started at the Cakebread family home and had a lovely lunch prepared by Gary Danko. Thursday night was spent with the Heitz family. On Saturday the gang went to the barrel tasting and e-auction. All of the local restaurants and purveyors had stands outside (including the French Laundry, Dean and Deluca, Bouchon etc) and served wonderful tapas with lovely wines while live music played in the background. It was a great people watching venue as everyone was dressed for the garden fete. The weather was pretty warm, but we really didn't feel it until the night of the auction. There were 800 people in a tent with no air conditioning. Our friends are physicians and were both on alert for potential heart attacks because it was so warm. Brian Seacrest and Geena Davis were the two celebrities leading the event and ET's Mary Hart was also there celebrating with the Mondavi's. We were in the pit because **** bought quite a lot last year. Once again, he didn't refrain. We secured some nice wines (a Duckhorn selection of which I am particularly fond) and a smattering of trips and wine packages to NY, Cabo San Lucas, and a return to Napa for another Bond event. The evening ended in a private catered tent with our own sommelier and some dancing. It was a memorable evening. Suffice it to say we are on the wagon again. There was too much food, wine and fun. Now, I am back to reality...paying bills and picking up the yard after some strong winds. It looks like there were gales while we were gone.
Its as if she lives in a completely different universe than I do..... All I get is the yard clean up work without any of the food and dancing.... | |
Mike Coutu
Addicted to Wine | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Lover
Posts:4985
| | 06/09/2006 2:25 PM |
| | Were I the author, I would hire someone to pick up the debris on my lawn. Better yet. I'd have a conversation with God and tell Him not to smite my yard with gales. | |
Beta testing a new signature. | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4771
| | 06/11/2006 4:05 AM |
| This from Paul Franson'sNapa Life . This is a weekly electronic publication telling all about what is happening in the Valley. Definitely worth subscribing to.
"Keller leaks more about restaurant.
There’s more to Thomas Keller’s opening temporary Ad Hoc restaurant in Yountville than he first announced. He told a reporter for the Los Angeles Times that the site will eventually become Burgers and Bottles featuring upscale hamburgers – and wine.
It should open later this year after Keller gets all the arrangements completed."
Let's see, burgers and wine -- I think he may be on to something! | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4771
| | 06/11/2006 4:08 AM |
| Also from Paul Franson:
Foothill Café re-opens with new chef
In May, the Foothill Café’s long-time owner Jerry Shafer retired, and the hidden gem has since re-opened under new owner Mari Jennings, former executive chef at Gordon’s Café in Yountville.
For years, local winemakers and others have made it a favorite, and San Francisco Chronicle food editor Michael Bauer used to regularly rate it one of the 100 best restaurants in the Bay Area, though competition has had its impact of late.
New owner Jennings is keeping the items that have made it a favorite for locals for so long, such as ribs and prime rib on Friday and Saturday, but adding some new items, too. Foothill Café is open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner, plus Sunday morning from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast/brunch. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4771
| | 06/11/2006 4:11 AM |
| A new sushi place has finally opened on Main St in St Helena. Stacey and I stopped in for dinner this evening. The food was remarkably good! And yes, I drank beer. Prices are reasonable - for sushi.
One of the nice parts is that they are open for lunch and stay open through 10:30pm. | | | |
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kpak
Alaska
Wine Thief
Posts:2843
| | 06/11/2006 6:08 AM |
| Which beer?
Kirin or Sapporo? | |
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits...
ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4771
| | 06/11/2006 5:36 PM |
| | Asahi 'Super Dry' | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 06/14/2006 12:08 AM |
| Quote:
Let's see, burgers and wine -- I think he may be on to something!
ROTFLMAO! That's funny. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15701
| | 06/14/2006 12:11 AM |
| Quote:
Also from Paul Franson:
Foothill Café re-opens with new chef
In May, the Foothill Café’s long-time owner Jerry Shafer retired, and the hidden gem has since re-opened under new owner Mari Jennings, former executive chef at Gordon’s Café in Yountville.
For years, local winemakers and others have made it a favorite, and San Francisco Chronicle food editor Michael Bauer used to regularly rate it one of the 100 best restaurants in the Bay Area, though competition has had its impact of late.
New owner Jennings is keeping the items that have made it a favorite for locals for so long, such as ribs and prime rib on Friday and Saturday, but adding some new items, too. Foothill Café is open Wednesday through Sunday for dinner, plus Sunday morning from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for breakfast/brunch.
So are we going to stand in line to order and then pounce on a table when one becomes available?
Is the ex's joint still going strong. Someday I gotta remember the name of the place and try it out. | | | |
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Skippy
Grape Destemmer
Posts:65
| | 06/23/2006 4:36 PM |
| I read today that Stomp (Calistoga) is moving to St. Helena where Keller's Market used to be. Until the move, Stomp will be open, with a new wine and tapas bar moving into the bar area (run by Ron Goldin and Mark Young - owners of Checkers, Brannan's and Flatiron Grill)
Bressler - do you know the timing of this move? Also, guess a report on the Tapas & wine bar is in order! | |
Skippy | |
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