samgiovese

Wow...That's like asking what restaurant is most representative of NYC...but I get your drift. Truthfully, of the restaurants you've mentioned, and IN MY OPINION...Redd is the place you want to go...especially if you've never been. We've eaten there for both lunch & dinner 6+ times since they've opened, and they are consistently good. Dave's suggestion of Martini House is also good, but I tend to think Richard is a bit more cutting edge than Todd is. I love Cindy's, Bistro Jeanty, and have been twice now to Go Fish, and am going again this Friday. Thay are all very good, but I know you've dined at The Laundry in the past and are doing so again, and, again IN MY OPINION, Richard Reddington is doing some of the most original food this side of The Laundry in the entire Napa Valley. I'd support Carrie's recommendation of Pilar, also, but her best dishes are "off the menu", and if you're bringing a friend, I'm not sure you want to do that. I think Redd is a brilliant choice.

Eaten there many times on the way to LA or Vegas. Have to agree...not worth an hour's drive to redeem a $24.00 coupon. If you're on I-5, it is THE place to dine between SAC & Buttonwillow. Sometimes the smell alone from the feed lot can queer your appetite!

Menu from last night's Tomato Modernista dinner at Manresa.

Not entirely accurate. The farm is in Ben Lomond, and has been leased by Chef Kinch, rather than purchased. This works out well, as the owner tends the farm, and plants according to Chef Kinch's specifications. For more information, check out Manresa's blog here.

It depends on what you're lookling for. Napa Valley is the "granddaddy" of wine regions in California. 30 years ago, Anderson Valley used to be known for it apples and sheep, but since then has been transformed into a premium winegrowing region. It is definitely more laid-back than Napa, and still maintains alot of it's counter-culture roots (Mendocino County was one of the main marijuana growing regions in the country in the 70's & 80's...some would say it still is!). Anderson Valley itself does not have the amenities of the Napa Valley as far as choices of places to stay and eat. Mendocino, however, is charming with many B&B's and restaurants Here is a link to the Anderson Valley Winegrower's Association.

Robyn: Yes, we've been there a few times. I think you'd like it, and you know what kind of food we like! It's a small, chef-driven place with a GREAT wine list. If you have time during your visit, I think it would be a great choice.

Thought folks would like to see the progress with Chef Keller's new restaurant. It was supposed to be open by now, but there were some permitting SNAFUS at the last minute. I understand late August or early September is now the time-frame. Here are some shots of Cabernet grapes directly across Washington St. from Ad Hoc. It's a 3 acre vineyard owned by the Villagio Inn. It's amazing to see the verasion that has occurred wiithin the last 2 - 3 weeks. These are probably 4 - 6 weeks away from harvest.

As promised, more pictures of the French Laundry garden: These will be ready for HALLOWEEN! It really is "as high as an elephant's eye"!

I thought those of you that follow this thread might like to see some of Chef Keller's garden produce. These heirlooms are planted in his garden directly across from the French Laundry on Washington St. in Yountville. This is the parcel that he wants to turn into an up-scale inn.

Great...just like to warn people who aren't aware of the distances involved, but you certainly know what's up! I don't have any SF recs for you, but are your Sonoma meals already planned? I could help out there, if you need anything.

Another wonderful, simple dinner at Pilar last night. My wife started with heirloom tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil salad, with a little fleur de sel for crunch, while I opted for the Serrano ham with two different fresh, sweet melons and a nice, peppery portion of arugula. We both had the same entree of pan roasted chicken breast served on a bed of rosemary-infused rissoto. The flavor and freshness of everything we had was simply wonderful. Pilar and Dedier do not try to pretend to be other than what they are: superb chefs, using the freshest ingredients, serving up wonderful, tasty fare in a neighborhood venue. Whether local or tourist, I can't feature anyone being disappointed with a lunch or dinner at Pilar.

Wow, that's quite an ambitious tour of California real estate! I'm sure you are aware that Amador is in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Russian River Valley is in Sonoma County, not too far away from the Pacific. They are not at all contiguous and are, in fact, a good 6 hours drive apart. (I know Mapquest says +/- 3 hours but, believe me, with Bay Area traffic, it's gonna take you the better part of 6!)

Neil: Check out Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley. Their Marinus Restaurant is an award-winner. The restaurant at the Post Ranch Inn, Sierra Mar, has recently changed management, and I am not aware of the quality of food. All 3 properties are lovely. We've stayed at Bernardus many times, and I can vouch for the quality of the property and the food.

Not to be a wet blanket, but this might explain why things were better than previous years.

FWIW, in my opinion, Alana has given you some of the best advice so far. If you try to cram too much in, you're not going to be happy. California is a BIG, CROWDED state, with the two areas you're visiting being the most crowded and having the worst traffic. I wouldn't want to spend the entire day in the car and then sit down and try to enjoy a 4+ hour 18 course gourmet meal, and unless you leave Pasadena around 4:00 AM on Tuesday, that's what's going to happen. I would definitely go I-5...boring, but it's the only way you're going to make your 6:30 PM res, unless you drive all night on Monday. Other thoughts: If you make Napa, there is an In-N-Out on Imola in the South Napa Center; you could kill 2 birds with one stone. If you can extend to Sunday night, the weekend would be the time to experience the wine country, otherwise, I think you're again trying to cram too much into too little time. Agree on the Terra comments and TFL comments; you'd be better served going to Redd, Martini House, Bouchon or Bistro Jeanty.

I don't know if I've written previously about this restaurant, but it is truly an "undiscovered" gem in the Napa Valley. The location is a tad funky...in the old section of downtown Napa, right next to the Napa River (no, it doesn't ALWAYS flood like it did on New Years!). My wife & I are part-time "locals" in the Napa Valley, and started going to Pilar about 2 1/2 years ago. We've never been disappointed in anything we've had there. It is a small place, with the husband and wife team doing all the cooking (on the weekends, Pilar comes to the front of the house to meet & greet). The food is exceptional...perhaps some of the best in the entire valley, yet there are many nights that they go begging for covers. This is a place that all Napa locals should patronize without a second thought. Tourists as well, if they knew about it, would be blown away. I have no connection whatsoever with the restaurant...it simply frustrates me to see an establishment with such high standards and high caliber food go begging for patrons, when they should be turning them away. Anyone on this board that is planning a trip to Napa, or is within driving distance, REALLY needs to give Pilar a try! Here's the link to their website. You won't be sorry that you gave them a try.

Harris Ranch near Coalinga in I-5 is probably the best food on the entire route. Once you get past Bakersfield, you're in a virtual culinary wasteland until Vegas. All you'll really find is the typical interstate fast food joints, and they are even below-par. We do this run quite often from the San Jose area, and usually have a good breakfast at Harris Ranch, and then grab some fast food in Barstow or Baker. Edited to add: I think Bakersfield may have some decent Basque restaurants, but none that I've ever been to. Perhaps someone else can address that subject.

You're a good sport!

Gee, I heard from a reliable source that Valley Fair is a short walk from The Cypress and downtown Cupertino!!!

Palo Alto has some great shopping at Stanford Mall, but nowhere nice to stay that is close. Downtown San Jose also lacks any upscale shopping...in fact, a massive subsidized effort several years ago called The Pavillion went B/K not too many years after it opened, and was converted into mixed use...so there is really no shopping per se in downtown. Santana Row & The Valencia Hotel have everything you want...upscale shopping right in Santana Row and across the street at Westfield Valley Fair Mall; a nice pool for hubby to relax at while you spend some money, 18 restaurants on-site, and close access to hwy 880/17 and Hwy 280. I don't think you can go wrong here. There are several wineries near Cupertino, Saratoga & Los Gatos: Ridge Winery is on Montebello Rd. in Cupertino, as is the historic Picchetti Winery. In the Saratoga hills, you'll find the Cooper-Garrod Winery, and in Los Gatos, there's the Jensen's Testarossa Winery. Also, in the Santa Cruz mountains just south of Los Gatos are David Bruce Winery and Byington Winery, both on Bear Creek Rd. off Hwy 17. For a more complete list, check out this link.

Since ludja quoted my post before I deleted it, I am reposting in the interest of thread continuity: Is there a particular reason you're staying in Palo Alto? If not, you might want to re-think the Four Seasons. It is in one of the "sketchier" areas of the Bay Area, East Palo Alto. Check out this link for further information, and also this article from the San Francisco Chronicle. Again, unless you have reasons to stay in Palo Alto, you might want to consider something else. The Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose is very upscale and quite nice; The Cypress Hotel in Cupertino is a lovely botique hotel operated by the Kimpton Group. I can make further recs if you'd like. As far as restaurants in San Jose, it isn't San Francisco by any means, but it also isn't the wasteland that previous posters have intimated. Le Papillon on Saratoga Ave. near I 280 is quite upscale and good, as is its sister property, La Foret in the Almaden Valley. Manresa is a must, as other posters have indicated. Also quite good are Emile's in downtown San Jose, Parcel 104, a Bradley Ogden restaurant at the Marriott Hotel in Santa Clara, and The Plumed Horse in Saratoga. These are all fairly high-end places. As Melkor points out, there are a number of ethnic places too numerous to mention...good Asian and Indian cuisine all over the South Bay. Anothr place you might want to check out is Santana Row in West San Jose. It has a myriad of choices, from pizza to Asian to French bistro. If you do get to Palo Alto, Alana is correct on the number of good places. Two of our favorites are Evvia (if you go you HAVE to try the grilled octopus!) and Lavanda. Hope these help, and that you have a nice time in the Bay Area. Be aware that our traffic STINKS!!!, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destinations. Enjoy! PS Hapacooking's suggestion of the Valencia Hotel is a good one!

It was reported in last week's Yountville Sun that Keller will be putting some affordable housing units in the back of the large Wine Garden parcel, to help mitigate the requirements the Town of Yountville put on his upscale Country Inn project. Now, this purchase is making more sense!

Post deleted by samgiovese.

No...not yet!. We were up there 2 weeks ago, and construction is still on-going. I think weather has been a big hold-up this year. This is truly a boutique winery experience, but I'm wondering if pastramionrye would have the time to make the trek up Spring Mountain, if they only have one day in the valley. Also, I don't think they are open on weekends, and I don't know if pastramionrye will be in the valley during the week or the weekend. Their '03 Merlot is absolutely wonderful. They're sold out of the 750's at the winery, but the have magnums available The 750's can still be found in retail shops.