Mixing it Up with Mixtress Gina Chersevani of PS7's at the 2011 RAMMY's!

Step out on the town with Mixtress Gina Chersevani and the DC Dining Scene at this year's RAMMY Awards!

The "Promised Land"

It has been a long time since I visited my blog and almost eight years since I last stepped foot in the “promised land” of wine & great food.  I finally made it back to Napa, California this past week for a little bit of work—and lucky enough for me—a little bit of play!

My first stop was San Francisco, where I made a quick visit to good friend, Randy Lewis’ newest Restaurant, Criolla Kitchen.  I took a looksie around and it gave me a feeling of being home in New Orleans.  Bright orange accents enhance the raw and simple lines of the décor.  Vibrant, large photos of memorable New Orleans visuals grace the walls, like Mardi Gras indians or jazz musicians.  Unfortunately Randy wasn’t there for us to catch up as he was out of town for the day. Drag, no lunch as it was only 10:30 AM!  But I was glad to see the restaurant for myself.  The place serves up everything with a traditional Louisiana flare—New Orleans and Southern cuisine mixed with Northern California ingredients for the purest results. 

I cannot pass up the noon hour without thinking lunch.  I had already made contact with pastry chef Emily Luchetti to visit Waterbar on the waterfront, where I slurped down two dozen California oysters and the cleanser was a beautiful glass of Rosé from the Sonoma region.  Briny goodness topped with just a squirt of lemon.  Emily joined me for some desserts.  Every single one I sampled.  And who has a sweet tooth?  I do and usually control it, but not with a pastry chef sitting right there.  You didn’t have to twist my arm!  Oh my mouth was salivating over the Lemon Roulade as it had the citrus twang you want so your tastebuds start dancing.  The Cherry Pie came neck-in-neck with getting my sweet tooth rockin’ with just the perfect topping of Almond Ice Cream. 

And guess what?  It was Emily’s birthday!  Now that made my lunch even more of a treat! 

Then I was off to Napa, where I was fortunate enough to visit the Culinary Institute of America for the very first time.  David (chef David Guas of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery) has been going there for years as a presenter for several lectures and events, and I was so glad to be able see it for myself finally!  I had a special moment thinking of Michael Batterberry, my dear friend who passed away and I felt his presence there the entire time.  He gave so much to the culinary world and I was one of the fortunate ones to be a part of his world.  While at the CIA I met with the wonderfully “sweet” folks at the National Honey Board, there for “Honey Summit 2011: Inspiration, Ideation, Innovation” with a number of chefs to discuss the importance of preserving the honey bee and using honey in a variety of cooking, from savory to sweet!

Now, you all know how important work is to me, but being back in Napa I couldn’t help myself but play a little as well!  As the conversation on honey continued at the CIA, I thought I would take a personal break and see what I could squeeze out of Napa for the day.  Though many of my familiar haunts were still around, I decided to make it a day of new experiences see what new restaurants Napa had to offer! Top of my list was Farmstead Restaurant, one of the coolest restaurants I have visited in quite some time.  There I met Executive Sous Chef, Michael Markoff, who I started talking about New Orleans with happily!  Though Michael is not from New Orleans, Executive Chef Sheamus Feeley had spent some time working in New Orleans and we found plenty to talk about between bites of Caramelized Beets, Local Goat Cheese, and Brick Cooked Chicken. 

And finally, with only a half day left in the trip, I realized I had almost forgotten the most important part of any Napa excursion: the wine!  I high-tailed it right away to the beautiful Merryvale Vineyards on Highway 29, where I tasted spicy, full-bodied Petite Syrahs.  Already proven lucky twice that day with my New Orleans connections, I took a leap of faith and mentioned to my server my roots in Louisiana.  Well, he did ask where I was born, because I have an accent.  Wouldn’t you know it, his best friend not only lives in New Orleans, but is the one of the head police officers!  My girls in the office always tease me, but I can find a New Orleans connection no matter where I go!  As he poured me tastings of some of the best wine I have ever had, we talked about Mardi Gras and the Bacchus parade, until it came time for the Profile wine of the vineyard.  Knowing full well the hefty price tag of such a bottle, I respectfully declined a taste and was ready to head out with my purchases, when my server quietly poured a glass and said “it must be your lucky day!”  Only a true New Orleans gal can get away with that!

Here are a few of my artsy fartsy shots of some vineyards.