Adulting at the Chef’s Table in Napa Valley
Napa Valley is an adulting-fun place to be.
Fancy cars roam the roads, people come dressed for the experience, women look to see how well dressed you are (this happened to me!).
There are delightful surprises, like the gardens chefs pull vegetables from to create their dishes. Then there are the wine drinkers, who bring positive vibes because they’re there to enjoy life to the fullest and not get hammered.
It was our first trip to Napa Valley and we picked a pack Presidents Weekend to visit. Visitors were everywhere but we found parking and where we had to go easily.
Farmstead inside Long Meadow Ranch in Napa Valley
We weaved through Farmstead’s crowded restaurant then entered into a quiet room with a communal table. It was Mr. Sweet’s parents, us and a friendly wine-loving couple from NYC.
Chef Aaron explained each plate of our four-course meal and Samantha curated our wine pairings. I felt like I was a guest on Top Chef!
What stands out about Chef Aaron’s approach to food is how he thinks about the vegetables first then plans proteins around them. You don’t see that too often.
The vegetables are all locally sourced, so planning on what to create happens the day of for the chefs.
The sunflower porridge with broccoli was my favorite. It was creamy but not heavy. The toasted seeds on top of the soft boiled farm egg made simple porridge seem sophisticated.
After our Chef’s Table experience, we kept passing pretty mustard flower fields but finally stopped at the one where everyone was taking selfies.
Here are some photos from our day in Napa Valley. May they inspire your next wine-tasting trip and wherever it may be, may you be well-fed, drink well, and enjoy the sweet moments of your adult years.
