As I blogged about in yesterdays Grilled Portabella Mushrooms post, my husband and I just returned from a vacation in Napa where we had an amazing time. After dropping the boys off at my parents house, then catching up on sleep for the first 3 days of our trip, we stepped out to some of the valley’s fabulous restaurants.
First we went to a restaurant in St. Helena called Press. It was easy to get into and they handled the gluten free thing really well. My husband had steak and I had salmon which was delectable. We also ordered sides of broccoli and mushrooms which were fantastic. That was Press, I highly recommend it.
Next we went to Dry Creek Kitchen, Charlie Palmer’s restaurant. I was feeling a little sentimental about this venue as Palmer’s New York City restaurant Aureole, was one of my first clients back in the day, when I had my environmental consulting company Ecosav, or rather back when I was 25. I met directly with Charlie in those days, before he was a superstar and he used to tell me about his farm in upstate New York –he was doing farm to table before there was actually a name for it. Being in his kitchen was great fun and he always had a tight knit crew in there. So going to Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsberg was a thrill in many ways.
I started with a salad and then had the fish (sorry, can’t recall which kind) and both were outstanding. The gluten free aspect of the meal was very well handled, though a word of caution, the maitre de told us that a wheat thickener is used in all of the ice creams.
After Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg, we went to Bardessano in Yountville. The food there was fantastic and we must have been fairly well rested by that point as it is when we were awake enough to start thinking about taking pictures of our food. I confess, photographing my meal in a restaurant is not something I’ve ever done before, though it was fun.
I had the tomato salad to start, then the outrageously good scallops and for dessert a meringue type dessert with strawberry sorbet. Amazing. All of it!
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Oh, and at Bardessano they also served this incredible little amuse-bouche of raw melon basil soup. Delicious!
That day, we also took a tour of Silver Oak Cellars which was gorgeous and state of the art. If you’re in Napa, I highly recommend a visit there.
On our last night of vacation, we went to Redd in Yountville, which was also amazing.
I had a fabulous salad to start with local goat cheese, then scallops with cauliflower which were absolutely amazing. My husband had the pork chops, which he said were the best he’d ever had.
Next it was off to Davis to see the boys and do two book signings. The first one was at the Avid Reader and the second one was through the Celiac Sprue Association. Both went very well and it was so great to meet new faces.
Finally, my sweetie and I went to my 25th high school reunion, the next day, the 4 of us traveled home. It was a wonderful vacation full of sleep, fun and friends and couldn’t have been better!
Andrea L. says
Hi Elana,
I love reading your blog. As far as health and natural living are concerned, you are an inspiration for me. I have not purchased your current cookbook because I can’t tolerate almonds. But some of your posts, such as the pickles, are mouthwatering!! We’ve also enjoyed some of your salad dressings and other recipes. I would like to know, do you plan on writing a cookbook with recipes that are more like salads, meats, lunch, breakfast, and dinner type meals? If this has been previously mentioned by you in a post, please forgive me, I must’ve missed it.
Thank you!
Sarah Schatz - Allergy-Free & GAPS Menu Planners says
The picture of the salad is beautiful and looks delicious!
Jessica says
Next time you’re that way … you must stop in Geyserville and try Diovola’s. Fabulous gluten free pizza and many other gluten free foods. Also, in Healdsburg, Willi’s Seafood and Raw Bar has an excellent GF menu. A bit spendy, but well worth it!
Diana Keough says
Your blog is GORGEOUS. I love all the pictures and recipes! I have a website, http://www.shareWIK.com, and would love to hear from you! ShareWIK (share What I Know) is a website devoted to bringing together women from all different situations and backgrounds (as well as a few men!) to talk about their experiences and learn from each other. We are taking about Celiac Disease this week on ShareWIK, and I would love your intake. Just sign up to get started. Hope to hear from you!
– Diana Keough
P.S. And keep up the great work!
meredith ellman says
Looks fantastic. Its always nice and helpful when they honor and appreciate food sensitivities. I’ve been a few places where they haven’t and its very frustrating. Its nice to hear so many restaurants were helpful!
ellen says
Glad you had a few days to visit our neck of the woods!! Yes, you can’t go wrong with so many of the amazing restaurants in the Bay Area. We live in Oakland and are constantly in awe of how well we eat when we venture out.
Diane-The WHOLE Gang says
What a great time for the two of you. My husband and I were just out there but stayed in San Fran. I just love the fresh food available in CA. Thank you for sharing these. Maybe at BlogHer Food we’ll head out of town for a bite to eat.
Karen@Cook4Seasons says
If you do, I’d love to play tour guide!
LaLa says
Elana,
Please tell me, what camera did you use, while you were traveling, to take those pictures?
elana says
My husband’s iphone 4 –you can’t take a bad picture with it.
Tracy Haughton says
My husband and I ate at Bardessano in July. Fantastic and they were knowledgeable re gluten free. There were no good options for me on their dessert menu but I decided to have the fig and prosciutto appetizer –for dessert! It was delicious, sweet and salty. Sometimes it is good to break out of the menu box. A super sweet dessert can be too much at the end of a good meal.
Also, for the uber-high end meal in Napa County, Cyrus does a wonderful and thoughtful gluten free menu. It is a once-in-a-lifetime restaurant experience to dine there.
Karen@Cook4Seasons says
Just a note from a Napa local, Cyrus is in Healdsburg which is Sonoma County. It’s right around the corner from Charlie Palmer’s. Almost as good as French Laundry!
Julie (Bananas for Bourbon) says
I had brunch at Redd when I was there last Christmas, and it was so amazing. They definitely know how to make some mean scallop and duck dishes.