The Vancouverite in San Francisco & Napa - A Photo Journal
Here's the complete collection of photos from my recent San Fran/Napa trip! While I've been to the Bay Area numerous times over the years, I can always find something new and fresh to discover while revisiting the tried and true. This part of the world never disappoints.
SAN FRANCISCO
I was out and about in San Francisco this trip, busy meeting with retailers and promoting the Joue brand. I did get a chance to nab a bite here and there, do a bit of shopping plus grab coffee at one of my favorite joints.
Oysters and tuna poke at The Trident in Sausalito. If you can, dine outside on the back deck to enjoy the stunning waterfront view of San Francisco.
One of my favorite coffee joints in SF, on Polk.
The inside of Saint Frank's is almost Scandinavian in design, and soaring ceilings to allow creative thoughts to freely roam. The free wifi also helps. :)
Their Flat White was perfection. The pain au chocolat pastry, on the other hand, was too tight and lacked the light flakiness that I've come to expect - I've been permanently spoiled by Vancouver's Beaucoup Bakery - no one outside of Paris can hold a candle to their viennoise pastries.
I got to fit in a little retail therapy... :)
I will never get tired of this view.
NAPA VALLEY
I was in Napa Valley over the weekend to attend a charity wine and food event and decided to also hit a few wineries while I was in the area - and do some shopping at Dean & DeLuca. :)
Colourful chocolates in Napa's Dean & DeLuca. My fav? The reddish-orange passionfruit chocolates in the upper right shelf. Absolute heaven.
Nice to see Butter Baked Goods in Napa's Dean & DeLuca. I'm such a proud Vancouverite! :)
Stag's Leap
This is one of my favourite wineries in Napa; their Artemis is exquisite.
Their outdoor tasting area, overlooking the property.
CHIMNEY ROCK
Fans of cabernet sauvignon will love Chimney Rock, an old favourite of mine. Their 2009 vintage was juicy and delicious, bold but smooth and elegant.
CAYMUS
Although I had had their wines before, it was my first time visiting their winery in Napa - and it's quite a stunning property. Gardens are beautifully manicured and there is ample seating outside, should you wish to sample wines surrounded by trees and majestic palms. And this is no ordinary winery that plays on people's senses (i.e., not all marketing) - their wine is pretty phenomenal too. I know for sure my pocket book was much lighter leaving Caymus than when I entered!
What a way to greet and welcome your guests.
A packed tasting room, of course.
I think I should be sitting there where she is and sipping my wine instead of taking pictures.
Frank Family Vineyards
This family-run vineyard has a ton of stories to tell over the years. The staff there are wonderful people, the wine is fantastic and the grounds? Breathtaking.
HALL Winery Annual Cab Cookoff
The food and wine event I was attending on the weekend was held at Hall Winery, run by a lovely couple. Fifteen chefs from around the valley were competing for the crowd's tastebuds and to raise money for their favourite charities. Each chef selected a charity of choice and all we had to do was sample amazing food.
Several hundred people participated in the annual Hall Winery Cab Cookoff in Napa. Such a fun event under sunny skies.
Beef short rib. And yes, the flowers were also delicious.
Oxtail risotto, anyone?
Duck confit on a Belgian waffle.
The chefs finishing the oxtail risotto.
These macarons had a cabernet sauvignon filling. Seriously, now.
The Hall Winery tasting room. Very sleek and modern.
One of several exclusive tasting rooms for small groups.
This is a pretty cool sculpture and viewing scope to observe the vineyard below.
If you look closely, you can see that some people got seriously dressed up for this occasion!
One of the most unique things I saw on the Hall Winery property were these little caves made of grape vines. You could sit inside and chill out or simply walk in and out of them. I felt like a little kid.
