If wine is the elixir of life, perhaps it also is a
restorative with magical powers. A visit to Sonoma and
Napa inspires a personal sense of rejuvenation and
possibility, and once again offers the sensory delights.
October/November 2018 93
to Charlie Palmer Steak for Tomahawk bone-on steak and pig-ear
Pad Thai. If you can consume the entire 18-ounce, Cowboy-cut rib
eye, consider yourself a Carnivore of Carnivores. An assortment of
side dishes such as asparagus and mashed potatoes come a la carte.
Extraordinary desserts are plated with artisan flair.
Since March, Gran Electrica has been taking Mexican cuisine
and beverages to a whole new level with locally sourced ingredients.
All the rage are the homemade corn tortillas, guacamole and salsa,
and 12-hour braised beef. Patrons wax poetic over the 20/20 carrot
and ginger margarita. This renovated restaurant is abuzz with hip
design elements such as the black-and-white, Day of the Dead
wallpaper with Napa Valley motifs. Skylights and exposed wood
beams keep design mavens hankering for more. Feast your eyes
on the patio with a custom mural and organic garden. Consider
joining the Agave Aficionado club, which gives members a key
and access to a cubby filled with a bottle of hard-to-find agave liquor.
Yountville serves up two new eateries, one for breakfast, and
the other for lunch and whenever. Located at Stewart Cellars,
Southside Café is small and ideal for breakfast and brunch. It’s
about the coffee, the avocado toast, and the superfood bowl, and
being a gathering spot for foodies and locals. Platform 8 opened
in January with a trendy burger bar on a train platform. The latest
brainchild of entrepreneur Michael Chiarelli, Platform 8 features
an assortment of burgers and nitro ice cream.
The abundance of irresistible choices in both counties is a testament
to the can-do spirit that even the most horrific destruction
did not diminish. If wine is the elixir of life, perhaps it also is a
restorative with magical powers. A visit to Sonoma and Napa
inspires a personal sense of rejuvenation and possibility, and once
again offers the sensory delights that also inspire gratitude. n
STONE BREWING Napa