Santa Rosa, California: The rain started overnight. Big fat drops falling over the tree limbs hanging over our motorhome roof, and landing in loud plops to awaken us from our dreams. The weather has changed so dramatically, it was necessary to turn-on the radiant floor heaters last evening. I’m thinking it is time to dig the duvet out from its summer storage bin? The high today was 59 degrees.
Our only appointment for the entire day was lunch in Yountville with Gina and Steve, at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon.
Knowing it was going to be a tough drive to Yountville in the rain storm, we left for Yountville 20 minutes early. Alas, again, we found ourselves in a choo-choo line behind someone driving a Suburban 12 mph over the 12-mile-long Oakville Grade. At least this vehicle was not flashing a constant turn signal, but obviously their rear view mirrors were not functioning. How can you not notice an ever-increasing line of cars building-up behind you, and not pull-over to let them pass? We arrived to find Gina and Steve already seated.
One of our favorite spots, it was Gina and Steve’s first time to dine at Bouchon. We ordered a good selections of dishes – salmon rillettes, escargot, French onion soup, roast chicken, goat cheese salad, and duck confit. Champagne, of course.
Duck Confit at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in Yountville, California
Roast Chicken at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon in Yountville
The chicken is served with a wondful savory jus, and peas with lardons (mine was served without the lardon, by request). The skin was crispy, the chicken was super moist and so flavorful. Good thing too, because a lot of it came home with us.
After lunch, we all went to the next-door Bouchon Bakery and stocked-up on breads and pastries… walked over to NapaStyle in the rain, which is no longer NapaStyle, but now the space is called Ottimo. Michael Chiarello’s miniature nod to Eataly? There are no longer gorgeous items for your kitchen and home. No matter, we did find sweets at Kollar Chocolates.
After saying goodbye to Steve and Gina, with the weather not improving, we drove north through St. Helena and took the much-better-to-traverse Calistoga Grade back to Santa Rosa. No dinner for us tonight. We popped corn and watched TV, while listening to the rain pelt our roof and the mud puddle outside our bus turn into a small pond.
Until my next update, I remain, your soggy correspondent.
RV PARK: Sonoma County Fair RV Park. It is a gravel parking lot with not even one single pull-through site. Full-service 50 amp. We are paying $40.50 per night, after Good Sam discount.