Cooking with JulieA Celebration of Wine Country Flavors

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Beets Eggplant and Melons Garden

"The most exciting part of my trip to Napa all week." ~Brittany B.

Favorite Places and Things in Napa

Favorite Links

Foodie Favorites

Atlas Peak Olive Oil -This is one of my favorite olive oils. This 100% extra virgin olive oil is made in small batches to retain its fruity fresh flavor. The olive trees on their farm have been producing since 1882. Today, the 5th generation Hammond family (Jeff, Cathy and J.J.) still farms figs, apples, and olives.

Fatted Calf-Charcuterie sausage, pate and salumi. The tastiest confit of duck this side of Bordeaux. Hurray they are now open at Oxbow Public Market.

Five Dot Ranch-It's been ages since I've seen meat this beautifully marbled. And the taste is pure natural beef as it should be sweet, earthy, savory and rich. You can find them at Oxbow Public Market.

Long Meadow Ranch-They produce wonderful red wine, olive oil, grass fed beef, eggs, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. You can visit them at the St. Helena farmers market, at their garden center in Rutherford or in the Mayacamas mountains above Rutherford.

Oxbow Public Market- Napa's newest market place for all things culinary. Located next to Copia it has a wonderful cheese shop the Oxbow Cheese Merchant. Plus spice shop plus some of my favorite places to browse the Kitchen Library, and Heritage Culinary Artifacts.

Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Company-All things Italian can be found at Napa's "little Italy". You'll find this store at the end of Charter Oak Street in St. Helena.

Raymond Cheese Mongers- John Raymond has almost as much character as the cheeses he sells. He knows all of his cheeses intimately and is passionate about sharing what he knows with you. He has a wonderful selection of California cheeses. Goats Leap, Pleasant Ridge Reserve and anything from Sally Jackson are my personal favorites. Oh and he has a wonderful source for Burrata.

Regina Olive Oil -The Dicksons have been making this award winning olive oil for only a few years. Taggiasca, Maurino, and Pendolino olives are blended into an exceptional extra virgin oil. Fruity and bright with a clean smooth finish, Regina olive oil develops on the palate......use it as a finishing oil to fully appreciate it. In 2009, Regina Extra Virgin Olive Oil won the prestigious ALMA Trophy in the third International Olive Oil Competition, “ARMONIA” held in Spoleto, Italy. Regina Extra Virgin Olive Oil placed second - the first time a California company has won this award.

Whole Spice Company- Spices, salts, peppers, chilies, herbs and more. I'm there at least once a week as Shuli always has something new...Black Cypress Sea Salt , beet powder or the wonderful Urfa chili from Turkey.

Favorite Wineries

Back Room Wines-Dan has an excellent selection of wines from California and Europe. He is does a terrific job pairing food and wine.

Bourassa Vineyards - One of Napa's most distinguished boutique wineries welcomes you! Born from a family tradition of wine making, our wines are lovingly hand-crafted in small lots.

Chanticleer Estate Wines - this boutique winery, produces the best Super Tuscan wines in the valley. These coveted award winning wines sell out quickly year after year.

Groth Vineyards - This family owned and operated winery was established in 1982 and produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from Napa Valley's Oakville AVA. While I adore there Cabernet Sauvignon I'm never with out their Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay in the summer. In special years they make a "Reserve" bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon from a small lot in their 121 acre Oakcross Estate this wine is pure velvet and perfectly balanced.

Restaurants

  • Annalien, Napa - Vietnamese Restaurant-this small restaurant is big on flavor. Modern and classic vibrantly fresh. The usual suspects spring rolls, pho and etc are great but so are her other offerings. And a great wine list to match the food.
  • Angele, Napa -Nestled along the Napa river this French bistro cooks up French food with California accents.
  • Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford - Great views and wonderful chefs tasting menu. Michelin one-star.
  • Bistro Don Giovanni, Napa -My favorite Italian restaurant.
  • Bistro Jeanty, Yountville -The food here will transport you to France. It is my favorite French food in the valley. Michelin one-star.
  • Boone Fly Cafe, Carneros -Great for breakfast or lunch.
  • Bottega Restaurant -Yountvilles newest restaurant and it is Michael Chiarello's latest restaurant. The food and service are impeccable and the wine list and service match. I loved the brussel sprout and asparagus salad with sieved eggs and the burrata with fried and stewed artichokes. We shared several small plates and didn't order any meat, I'll save it for next time.
  • Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, St. Helena -Enjoy comfort food with Cindy's personal twist to your favorites.
  • French Laundry-You need to indulge yourself at least once in a life time. Michelin three-star.
  • Martini House, St. Helena - Show casing the seasons best from Napa, he has a knack for finding rare ingredients and a wonderful way with wild mushrooms.
  • Market, St. Helena - Homemade comfort food.
  • Meadowood-The Restaurant, St. Helena - Chef Kostow's food in brilliant and inspiring. Don't miss this 2 star gem.
  • Mustards Grill, Yountville-A local favorite lots of local ingredients.
  • Oenotri-Southern Italian food: artisan pizza from a wood fired oven the best I've eaten since Italy. They have wonderful house made salumi, and the grilled stuffed squid with ceci beans made me want to lick my plate.
  • Pizza Azzuro, Napa- Good pizza, salads and pastas.
  • Redd, Yountville - Contemporary food using global flavors, the menu changes daily and has an elegant and sophisticated air.
  • Silverado Brewing Company,St. Helena-Organic local ingredients and great beer.
  • Ubuntu Restaurant, Napa-The Chef prepares dishes using bright sparkling produce from local farms and Ubuntu's biodynamic gardens. Creative dishes with clear delicious flavors. that sing.

    Other Favorites

    INGREDIENTS Local Food Movement Takes Root- INGREDIENTS is a journey that reveals the people behind the movement to bring good food back to the table and health back to our communities.

    L'Academie de Cuisine My favorite cooking school, also my alma mater. You will find professional and recreational classes here. They have 2 locations in Maryland.

    Anissas.com- Cooking classes in London and wonderful culinary tours of Syria, Morroco and Damascus.

    LocalHarvest.org- locate CSA's, real farmers and real food!

    CulinaryForum.com- for great food ideas and information.

    ChefsLine.com- for all of your culinary questions.

    The Vanilla Company- for all things vanilla.

    Penzeys Spices- delicious and fragrant spices.

    LocalWineEvents.com- calendar of food and drink events is where all the world's food, wine, beer and spirits events are listed in one place.

    Nat Decants FREE Wine E-Newsletter - Wine picks, articles and humor from Natalie MacLean, named the World's Best Drink Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia. Natalie is also the author of Red, White and Drunk All Over: A Wine Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass. For more details on this book and to sign up for the newsletter, visit www.nataliemaclean.com.

    Culinary Thymes Free E-Newsletter - Lists cooking schools, culinary travel and food festivals.

    Energy Saved by 1 - A website dedicated to making America a greener space one person at a time.

    COOKING with JULIE
    (707) 227-5036
    julie@cookingwithjulie.com