Before this cold totally took me out last weekend and put me on the train to Sniffles-ville (achoo!), I squeezed in one fun afternoon with my in-laws while they were visiting. We drove up to the Napa County town of Yountville in Wine Country to have dinner at one of my mom-in-law’s favorite places to eat. It was for her birthday, so it was kind of a special treat. The place is called Bistro Jeanty, and they serve fancy French comfort food (pricey but delicious). She’s all about their beef stew.
We had some time before our reservation, so we walked around Yountville a bit, and that’s when I bumped into these interesting pumpkins and this HUGE zucchini.
No, seriously, the thing was half my size!
Because it was about 100 degrees that day, I got a very sour, lemony Italian tonic water from the deli in the Napa Style store. I, of course, loved it (pregnancy does funny things to your taste buds, I swear), but El Hub said it was just about the absolute worst thing he’d ever tasted…
Right across the street from the Napa Style style is a place called Bouchon Bakery, which I always try to visit when we go to Yountville because I love their macarons.
There’s almost always a line out the door, but because this was a slow Thursday afternoon, I walked right in and straight to the maracons. I got four — pistachio, hazelnut, fig and salted caramel, my favorite macaron flavor in the world.
Honestly, I don’t even know why I bother with the others. I should just cut the B.S. next time and get an entire box of the salted caramels.
After I got my cookies, it was time for dinner! My father-in-law and I ordered the scallops with pasta, while El Hub and my mom-in-law got the beef stew…
Not shown: the massive amount of bread and butter we also had.
All and all, it was a great afternoon!
And now, of course, I’m craving more of those macarons…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’d recognize that awning anyway – you’re standing right next to Bottega! I spent many many weekends out there before I left the bay area. Redd still has my heart and Bottega is a close second. Those Bouchon Bakery…I die for those macarons – caramel and birthday cake are my faves! I can’t take a trip out there either without visiting the bar downstairs at Goose & Gander in St. Helena, or having some Campfire Pie at Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen…or Sol Bar in Calistoga. I should come back out there and hang out with you 😉 Thanks for the memories Karen 🙂
GIRL, I love me some Bottega. I think I want El Hub to take me there for my Christmas present. I dream about their pasta!
Where other places do you like in the area? I’m always looking for new spots to try!
I love!! the Bottega’s polenta under glass, and their porkchop? So so good.
I have tons of recommendations – I love to stay at Wydown Hotel in downtown St. Helena – It’s right across from Archetype at the end of where all the shops are on Main Street. It’s small and the people are really nice, walkable to the shops in the daytime, and the rates are reasonable in the winter time (which is when I like to stay there and then walk on over to Goose and Gander!)
Let’s see what else… The Restaurant at Meadowood is like $$$$$ and I’m not ready to eat there yet (lol) but! the more affordable and more relaxed The Grill at Meadowood is fantastic for brunch. Except the fresh squeezed juice is like outrageously expensive. Still it’s a very chic little brunch and you have dine on the patio overlooking the lawns. It’s to die for and you’d never guess that whole resort is tucked away in those mountains. I also love Robert Sinsky Vineyards on The Silverado Trail – very approachable place, sweet vineyard pup, and you can take one of the long roads that crosses from Hwy 29 over to the Silverado Trail for some secluded vineyard views on the way over (after the baby of course!) I also love Oakville Grocer right off Hwy 29 in Oakville for a little outdooor picnicking with some deli food from them. They’re a little pricey for what they are, it’s a really sweet casual setting with you’re not looking for a overly glam afternoon with a price tag to match. Redd Wood (pizza) in Yountville is also nice, and I love Napa Valley Soap in St. Helena for something nice to take home. They make the soap right in the back! I use their men’s shave soap 🙂 And lastly, I love”Juicy” juice and smoothie bar at Oxbow market – their Cacao Frenzy smoothie is bomb (sadly pricy but you know, Napa)
🙂
I forgot – I also like that little hardware store at the end of Main Street’s shopping area – Steve’s Hardware and Homeware. There’s so many cool little finds in there!
LOL, of course I had to read this when I’m hungry and have to make dinner. 🙂
I’m making notes of all these places and especially your St. Helena recs. I want to go on one last mini vacay with El Hub before Baby Girl comes so maybe we’ll stay at Wydown Hotel.
And HELLO — that brunch place. I want to go there like right now.
Thank you for all these recs, Amanda!
#sorrynotsorry You’re welcome, enjoy!
Sour, lemony Italian tonic water sounds good to me and my non-pregnant taste buds too! 🙂 And the food looks delicious…
Me, too! I like that stuff 🙂
Those scallops look amazing! It’s so hard to find the bigger ones anywhere!
That is one holy hell of a zucchini!! 😮
Wow those scallops… oh yums
Bistro Jeanty is a favorite of mine! The Pot Roast is out of this world and I’ve never had a bad meal there. I also love their tomato soup with the puff pastry and their lemon sorbet.
One of the best days of my life included Bistro Jeanty. I’d come down from Portland to spend time with my family, we drove to SF to see the Monet exhibit at the POTLOH, and then we drove to Yountville, walked around and had dinner there. My siblings never had fine french food before and my mother hadn’t in years, so it was a joyous night of Pinot Noir and all things tasty!
I also love Bouchon of course but there is egg in everything they make at the bakery last I was there as well as the bistro.
I love Laurisia products, they are some of my favorites. I bet that drink was delish!
Even though I know macaroons are an egg bomb and I have to eat Benedryl like Pez to have some I love them. I miss the ones in Germany and France. I split one I got my husband from whole foods and it was terrible. Plus it was $2! The ones I used to get from this French bakery in my hometown in Germany were TDF.
I’m constantly driving through the Napa valley, but I usually stop to eat in St. Helena or Rutherford. I’m going to try these places. Those scallops look so yummy!
Hi Tatiana,
Where do you like to eat in St. Helena and Rutherford? I’m looking for new places to explore!
Oh, and next time you swing through Yountville, try Bottega Napa, Redd or Bistro Jeanty, and Bouchon Bakery of course. 🙂
In St. Helena we’ve eaten at Archetype, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, and Market. One of the women at the ranch also recommended Tra Vigne and Pizzeria Tra Vigne. My husband loves the ribs at Rutherford Grill.
It’s almost time for my lunch and the photos of the entrees look SO yummy!
I had the best scallops four days ago when we went out for dinner in France. Mr. Loca ordered them, but I kept going on about how great they looked when they arrived until he switched plates with me.
I love Napa Valley. It is one of my favorite vacations my husband and I ever had. It was about 14 years ago. I ate and drank did some spaing. I don’t remember all the retaurants, but we had some of the best meals ever! and I lived in NYC for 20 plus years. Your photos are bringing it all back.
BTW, we were there in June, 2000. My son was born in March, 2001. Must be something in the water, Ha! Ha!Ha!
You have to come back, Jane! And when you do hit me up. I live pretty close to Napa — about 30 minutes away when there’s no traffic.
What’s your son’s name? And is he your only child?
Yum, love Napa! Bistro Jeanty is FAB! My fave is Ad Hoc. Bouchon Bakery makes me swoon. I love their macarons and the TKO’s and the pain du chocolat!
But…..no pics of the macarons?! Did you snarf them down before you got pics?! ?
GAH! I can’t believe I left that pic up. Updating the post right meow!
This is one of the things I love about you, Karen. You know good food! Those scallops…umm! If I ever find my way back to NoCa (i.e., when the boys are in college) I will ask you for restaurant recommendations.
Bistro Jeanty is one of our favorite restaurants – it’s even got my hub’s official French seal of approval. I love Ad Hoc too, but if you’re up there during the week and feeling like an even more casual lunch experience, their “addendum” section behind the restaurant is pretty great. And if you haven’t checked out Oxbow Market yet…that’s just a Napa must see. So much yum packed under one roof!
Karen, you make me hungry!!!