This and that around the Bay Area

Aside from planning out reservations for new restaurants, nostalgic bites, spontaneous eats and recommendations from locals and friends fill the rest of my eating and drinking time in the Bay Area.

My trips back to the San Francisco area always satisfy my cravings for contemporary American bar food, Mexican fare, and Northern Californian wines and beers.  From dishes I used to have as a grade school kid to new discoveries, it all tastes like home away from home these days.

Fish and Chips at Bourbon Pub
Petrale sole, salt and vinegar tots, tartar sauce

Dining at The Commissary in San Francisco

Trips back to San Francisco always mean nostalgic eats of old favorites, that sometimes date back to my grade school days, and discoveries of newly opened restaurants around the bay and particularly in the city.

Nostalgic eats in my next post.  First, a discovery of a newer restaurant I've been wanting to try out since it opened.  The Commissary over in the Presidio is a destination spot that's perfect on a gorgeous day or night in the city.  Traci Des Jardins adds Spanish influence to her Californian cuisine - tapas to share and entrees for bigger appetites.

There are multiple dining areas - outdoor for those special nice days in the city, a spacious main dining area with large tables to order many tapas, and a bar area with an open kitchen in the back.  The restaurant has noticeable Californian influence with local ingredients and entrees, but the heart of the restaurant honors Spanish cuisine and culture.  Respect of fresh ingredients, simplicity with flavor, and social dining.  Good food and good company all the way.

Salt cod fritters, lemon aioli

Tasting our way around Napa Valley

Before leaving for the states, my parents gave me a list of things to buy.  When they said, "Wine," I didn't understand that as going to BevMo to buy a few bottles.  Of course not!  That clearly meant that I had to take a day trip up to the Napa Valley.

On a sunny Sunday, my friends and I made our way up Highway 29.  Our first stop was Yountville (or as I like to call it, "Michelin row" where four restaurants on one road have Michelin stars) for a necessary macaron start at Bouchon Bakery.  Thomas Keller makes some of the best macarons in the Bay Area.  If you're in area, you have to stop by.

With sweets coating our stomachs, we made our wine tasting stops.  We took our time through three wineries in the course of the afternoon.  Robert Mondavi Winery, St. Supery, and, my favorite winery, Peju.  I love that every pourer is friendly and informative.  Some more so than others, which is definitely the case at Peju.

By the time we got to our third winery, we had alcohol-hunger.  We found Rutherford Grill thanks to Yelp (4.5 out of 5 stars from 800+ reviews had to guarantee a great place).  Local Californian cuisine with a friendly neighborhood/tourist restaurant and bar vibe.  I definitely recommend this if you want a food stop before, during, or after your wine tasting day.

I never tire of trips up to Napa.  With great company, it's always a relaxing and memorable adventure full of great sips of several wines.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slideshow, check out my Flickr album: Napa