Napa Valley B B

Napa Chef Ken Frank: "I like anything with a throttle!" (Interview)

Recently, I dropped by his relatively new (2008) Napa restaurant, La Toque, to get the latest scoop. The place was bustling. No surprises there. So was his swanky bar located in the Westin lobby. Quick tip: meet your friends here for a cocktail, enjoy a stunning Napa sunset out back, then head over to La Toque (located in the hotel) for a dinner you won’t soon forget. If you’re lucky you might even find a truffle-based dish or two — surely decadent, but life is short, right?

“This is the nicest kitchen I’ve ever had,” he says about La Toque’s new location inside the Napa Westin.

Most will know that his restaurant is Michelin star rated, meaning it is among the cream of the crop when it comes to fine dining here on the west coast… and across the country for that matter.

“I’m a French chef in a California body.”

What I enjoy about Chef Frank’s style is the layes of flavor and delicate approach to plating and balance. I recently had the opportunity to enjoy his work, along with other star chefs including David Kinch (Manresa) and Nancy Oakes (Boulevard) as part of the Napa Valley Truffle Festival ( Lustworthy: 13 Michelin Star Truffle Dinner ).

But why Napa then? Why not, say, Las Vegas or New York, where as he tells me “there’s great money”? Find out as we chat about the restaurant business, big name musicians (??), and — yes that wild side — fast boats, fast cars. I’m guessing he doesn’t drive a Prius.

Wine Connoisseurs Delight in San Francisco's Napa Valley Tours ...

The town of San Francisco, nestled on the hills overlooking San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, is close to some of the finest wineries the West Coast – and the entire world – has to supply. The metropolis lies within simple driving distance of each the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, and presents wine lovers the chance to learn delightful vintages they may possibly not discover exterior San Francisco. High end hotel accommodations in the heart of the town supply a sensual respite in which you can relax and recharge at the stop of the working day. The Metropolis by the Bay is a truly the best trip spot for wine aficionados.

Wine Nation Tours

Sonoma Valley is the greatest and oldest of the area’s wine-making counties. In 1823, Father Jose Altimira planted mission grapes in his church’s vineyard, and there started the globe-class winemaking that continues today. A tour of the place yields a feast for the senses, with spectacular views of miles of vineyards, a sampling of the most well-known wine kinds, and a spectacular local weather that rivals that of the south of France.

Perhaps greater recognized, if smaller, is Napa Valley. This 40-mile stretch of paradise follows the meandering Napa River from the town of Napa to the San Pablo Bay. The river wanders between the rolling hills and mountains of a single of the most breathtaking landscapes located wherever in the entire world. This fertile river valley is property to some of the finest wine grapes ever grown, with 45,000 acres devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

For a diverse watch of the wine region, you may well decide on to tour the valley through boat. Two-hour tours aboard luxurious, environmentally helpful electrical boats are a delightful way to devote the afternoon. Limousine-fashion, wrap-around seating guarantees breathtaking views of the countryside from every single seat. In addition to sightseeing, you are going to be entertained with tales of the area’s background while drifting leisurely by way of Napa and previous the hills for which this location is well-known.

Food and Wine Go Hand in Hand

If you prefer foods with your wine, you can book a 48-hour Town and Wine Region Tour. You may get to sample all the tasty delights this metropolis has to supply as properly as enjoy a guided tour of in the area Sonoma Valley.

You’ll devote the early morning casually wandering amid the neighborhoods of San Francisco, nibbling on gourmet chocolate in Ghirardelli Square or feasting on authentic Asian cuisine in Chinatown. Right after lunch, a climate-controlled coach will whisk you off for a wine tour and tasting you will not likely shortly overlook. This peaceful, do-it-oneself tour affords you the opportunity to see the sights you want, while skipping people you do not.

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