Wanderlust: A Jaunt to Yountville

There are just definitely those times when a quick trip to somewhere new becomes a wonderful surprise leaving you in awe and excitement at the same time. Times when you thought you were going to one place then you suddenly changed the plans and went somewhere else for practicality’s sake but then wondered why that place wasn’t on your list to begin with. Times when you meant to have a casual lunch at a popular Greek deli then you end up in a Michelin-starred celebrity-chef owned French bistro.

That definitely was my wonderful surprise on Memorial Day as we originally planned to visit the upscale town of Los Gatos but ended up in the equally trendy yet only 20-minute drive town of Yountville. Los Gatos is a two hour drive from our house but Chef has been meaning to take me there because it is a beautiful town that he described as a mix between Santa Barbara and La Jolla. But, as we woke up late and I felt that a long drive would not make the trip worth it, I asked him to find something else to do in Napa. We’ve been to Napa several times but there’s so many celebrated restaurants there that surely, we would find something, even sans reservations. Chef suggested we can go check out the little town of Yountville, situated between Napa and St. Helena. We thought, it’s a small town, we’ll eat there, and then drive along the vineyards, stop at Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon Estate, do a little bit of wine tasting and all that hoopla.

To me, I only know Yountville as the Land of Thomas Keller, aka The Best Chef in America, who owns Ad Hoc, Bouchon (1 Michelin Star), and the most celebrated The French Laundry (3 Michelin Stars). Yes perhaps to me, it will kind of still be like that, as the Land of Thomas Keller, but perhaps now after a quick jaunt to Yountville, it’s become a little bit more as I found that this famous trio is among other distinguished restaurants such as Redd, Bistro Jeanty, and Bottega. We parked at the furthest parking space we could find so that we will walk the whole way of Washington Street. Walking down, the street was lined with gourmet restaurants and spa resorts, and that’s when I realized this would probably be my heaven, good food and pampered relaxation. Most of the facades were French in style, whether it’s been inspired by a French villa, bistro, cafe or the countryside. Some sustainable buildings popped out to my Tyler- and Chef-influenced designer eyes, and these were the post office, the library, and Bardessono Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, the first and only LEED Platinum Certified hotel in California (because there are only 3 hotels in the world that have achieved that distinction). Whenever I go to a street that ends up impressing me so much, I remember when my mother took us to a new restaurant every time on the busy boulevard of Tomas Morato in the Philippines that at one point, we’ve eaten at every single establishment in the area. This Washington Street in Yountville warrants that challenge.

Along we went and we found Bouchon. We didn’t have reservations but we decided to drop our name just in case someone cancels. We decided to check out the Bouchon Bakery because it seemed every tourist walking by was carrying a bag of goodies, and goodies I must devour. The line is insanely long and it never gets short. It reminded me a bit of the ice cream shop, Berthillon, in Paris and the coffee shop, Tazza D’Oro in Rome. It’s a small bakery but everything inside is mighty in and of itself. From the epi baguettes, to the brioches, everything was to die for. But, what else do you buy in a French bakery other than French macarons?! I bought one of each flavor with no regrets regardless of the cost as I knew every bite I take will be a lesson as I continue to perfect the ones I make.

We did not expect to be seated at Bouchon because who in the world cancels a reservation there, and because I also heard that locals are always on the wait list. Right after we made our purchase at the bakery, we got a seat, and we got a seat outside! Perfect! C’est très français! I will save our dining experience at Bouchon for a Hole in the Wall post but I will share that we met a couple from Nevada who drove to Napa for the weekend as an impromptu getaway. They were a delight to talk to but it was their secret to a successful marriage that made me grateful of the acquaintance. They said most definitely communication is the key, but with that, they said, always always always treat yourselves to getaways from the normalcy and the banality that the responsibilities that marriage can bring. The lady said, “tell your husband when it’s getting boring,” and the gentleman gave a side note to Chef, “it is her smile, man, her smile that is priceless”. Noted.

We continued on down the street as Chef and I reflected on our marriage, what we want and need from each other, as we rested in a beautiful rose garden. Further down was The French Laundry, with roses creeping up its walls. Chef walks in, gets a card, and we’ve already made plans to make reservations for our 2nd anniversary / my 28th birthday celebration. In front of The French Laundry is a vegetable garden / farm and beyond it, the picturesque hills of Napa Valley, with rows upon rows of grapes that will teleport you to Bordeaux or Reims.

It is in times like these when Chef and I allow ourselves to lose our way to stumble upon something more than amazing. It is far from our normal sources of awe such as the ancient world of Rome, or the aesthetics heavy Barcelona, or the fast paced yet organic living of San Francisco. Yet there we were, leaving Yountville and driving on the Silverado Trail, with not only our stomachs satisfied, but also our spirits.