Slouching Towards Calistoga, Pt. 4: The Food

Let's wrap this up with a brief word in praise of Napa's food, shall we? The combination of vast agricultural land and world-class wine production makes the Napa region a mecca for excellent dining. Much of it is on the pricey side (see below), but deals abound and the quality and variety is fantastic. We all did our best to institute a "Napa Diet" before our trip. Now that we're home, we're having to institute the diet once again.

Bistro Jeanty is the operation of Chef Philippe Jeanty, and offers hearty, traditional French countryside food. While some members of our party found the food almost a little too rich, I tucked in with gusto. Creamy risotto, fresh mussels, succulent pate, cool tartare - all wonderfully presented and affordable.

Through a mix-up at Mumm Napa, we were given a comped meal at Auberge de Soleil, a restaurant tucked up into the hills, boasting one of the finer menus and finest views of the entire valley. Our salads were exquisite, and my green garlic soup a rich and chilly blend of flavors.

The French Laundry needs little introduction. Thomas Keller's fine dining establishment has made the Top 5 in nearly every Best Restaurant Survey for the entire country since first opening its doors, and checking the place out (2-month-in-advance reservations, please) is more a ritual than a meal. With nine courses and over 4 hours of splurging, this is not a restaurant for the faint-hearted or the budget conscious. But what an experience! The craft and attention that went into each dish is enough to dazzle anybody with experience in the kitchen, and the fact that the chef's tasting menu changes nightly (aside from a few staples) means that innovation in guaranteed. A delight for the food fanatic.

The espresso was world-class, too.

Much lighter on the pocketbook was Terra, an Italian-fusion restaurant that we enjoyed as much as the French Laundry (it helped that our wine sommelier was infinitely more approachable and humorous). Jane's soft-shell crab was a revelation. Melissa was introduced to rhubarb. We cleaned our plates.