Napa, Fried Chicken, and Heated Blankets
Napa was an indulgence in many ways. We were able to sit outside, drink our wine, and dine indoors just weeks after California opened it up in the pandemic climate. It was a resuscitation of old ways, even if not fully. We got to eat with friends and with faith; drink to companions and to hope. In our own little way, Saba and Ruth coming to visit us was a breath of life following a year that gasped for kinship and a perfect way to celebrate Saba’s birthday!
It turned out to be a flawless weekend, and we felt flawless. Beyonce flawless, as Jamie would sing. Saturday we drove into Napa from SF, and Saba reminisced of her days in Tuscany. Our Italian friend felt at home, and we admired the rolling hills of vineyards beside her. That day we visited two wineries: Inglenook and Darioush Winery. The first winery included us walking around Inglenook as we sipped their flagship wine, and at Darioush we sampled appetizers as we indulged in their Cabernet Sauvignon.
The second day we visited Piazza Del Dotto after getting english muffins at Model Bakery (a to do), and were instantly charmed with the winery’s lavish chandeliers and intricate gardens. Here we tasted the difference of American oak barrel to French oak barrel Cab Savs, and enjoyed their buttery Chardonnay. Ruth even found two red wines, a Cave Blend and a Sangiovese, that she took home for herself. The second winery was Stag's Leap Wine Cellar and got to look onto the vast grounds as we sampled their reds. Napa Valley bleeds Cabernet Sauvignon, and Stag’s Leap was a perfect way to end our trip with another tasting of deep reds. It is a winery that was only singed by the recent fires, losing only one plot. Most grapes at the vineyards had to be tossed or sold at low cost due to the fires a couple years back. We ended our wine tasting in the fanciest of ways… we ordered the famous fried chicken by Thomas Keller at Ad Hoc, and ate it piece by piece from the bucket on the roadside in Yountville.
Back in SF, we collectively cooked paella, drank limoncello, and played a game or two of Mysterium. I take credit for introducing these ladies to the absolute luxury living, by having a heated blanket on 30min before crawling into bed. Since being back home, I can safely assume that they have one for themselves!!
