Napa, California: The weather turned a bit overnight and I am no longer able to wear my uniform (sleeveless tank dress). It is still a bit warm though and rain wasn’t expected until Friday.
While at Oxbow Market the other day, we didn’t get over to the Culinary Institute of America next door, so we walked there today. The gardens there (vegetables and fruits) are outstanding and it is always fun to see what is growing. These foods are used in the on-site restaurant and also in the cooking classes.
I have posed before at this fork statue made of forks. So clever, and so appropriate at a culinary institute.
Then we walked next door to the Oxbow Market to buy a few gifts for our favorite daughter. Oxbow is really decorated for fall/Halloween. This squash is just magnificent:
After unloading our purchases from Oxbow into our RV, we again drove north on the Silverado Trail in our rental car for our lunch reservation… but the views were not as lovely as yesterday. Dear Reader, it began raining. It was 62°. Cloudy. The brilliant yellow and orange leaves on the vines seemed drab without the sun. Dave knew a side road, so we headed down this unknown lane and found a vineyard with grapes still hanging on their vines:
Today we were going to Grandma’s favorite spot, Mustard’s Grill for lunch. The place was packed, but we were seated at a very nice table where we had a view of all the action. They offer house-made potato chips, so we ordered this as our appetizer, while looking over the menu and the wine list (I kid you not, the wine list was 14x18”, printed double-sided, with bottles from $45 to over $3000!) (I ordered a glass of Sonoma pinot noir and My Driver had iced tea.)
The daily lamb special was a lamb burger today, so DT ordered the lamb. I asked about the contents of the meatloaf and when our server said it was all-beef, went ahead and placed my order. When it arrived it was served with Brussels sprouts (no mention of a vegetable side on the menu), but they were covered in bacon. I just pushed them aside, pretended they were not there - but the meatloaf was kinda cold.
I would have complained, though my mind was racing inventing cocktail appetizers I could make with the leftover meatloaf, but suddenly we just wanted to get out of this restaurant as quickly as possible. Why? Because the most annoying, loud, obnoxious and self-centered patron was seated at the table next to us. (He was Rodney Dangerfield’s character from Caddy Shack, except 40-ish and slim - and not funny.) He loudly told the server (and the entire restaurant) he wanted a bottle of the best white and bottle of the best red for their table of four. (Dear Lord, please let the waiter bring them a $3000 bottle!) He was with a woman and another couple, but I can’t imagine a man like this had a wife. (Ex-wives, yes.) I can’t decide if I felt worse for the server or for the two other people at his table… or the rest of the patrons in the establishment. It would have been funny if the guy wasn’t such a jerk. Maybe a hidden camera TV show? We fled ASAP.
A restful afternoon in the RV. Needlepointing may have happened, and much later went out to Azzurro Pizza Enoteca - a great place we have been to many times with friends. Simple delicious pizzas and salads, with friendly service, and pizzas from a zillion-degree oven.
We came back to the campsite after dinner, and had a fun conversation with our neighbors of three days and called it a late night. It was quite chilly outside tonight and our little portable heater is at the ready for tomorrow morning.
Until my next update, I remain, your chilly correspondent.
Campground Information: Napa Valley Expo RV Park.