When I first moved to Napa Valley I wanted to know one thing: Where
do the locals eat? But I wasn't talking about the group of longtimers
in my Napa neighborhood that regularly headed to the nearby classic chain
restaurants for the early-bird specials. I meant the top toques. They
were the serious foodies who on their nights off would travel half way
across the valley for the best sashimi or a perfect batch of French fries.
I knew if I followed them to the nooks and crannies between the destination
restaurants I'd find the best everyday eats with prices to match. It was
this tactic that led me to Napa's hidden restaurant Villa Corona (3614Bel
Aire Plaza, Napa, 707-257-8685) —and a serious hard-shell chicken
taco addiction. Never one to tire of seeking out the next great meal,
I recently asked some of the region's famed culinary talents where they
go to grub. As always, they served up spectacularly tasty advice. Follow
it and you may end up savoring Napa Valley's secret eats while seated
next to them—or me.
When chef Hiro Sone and his wife pastry chef Lissa Doumani of Terra restaurant
in St. Helena have a hankering for breakfast, they head to Miguel's Restaurant
(1437 LincolnAve., Calistoga, 707-942-6868). The draw is their
chilaquiles (a Mexican dish of scrambled eggs, fried tortilla strips, cheese,
and other savory ingredients), which they say is good enough to counterbalance
less-than-savory service.
Napa resident David Gingrass, who is also proprietor of San Francisco's Two
Restaurant(previously of Hawthorne Lane), says his favorite
back-road meal can be found at Calistoga's Vallarta Market (1009
Foothill Boulevard, Calistoga, 707-942-8664). "It's a real taqueria
with a total lack of pretense. It's not gussied up, made for Hollywood,
or made for tourists. I get a plate full of tacos and eat them
in my car," he
professes. Another of his favorites is Red Rock Cafe (1010
Lincoln Ave.,Napa, 707-252-9250, www.backdoorbbq.com),
which he swears has the best cheeseburgers in the valley. I'll
second the notion. The casual Napa diner that serves bottomless
sodas, pulled pork, and big pieces of pie is where I regularly lunch when
not downing the aforementioned tacos.
Robert Curry of Auberge du Soleil says he looks for places that
are not fussy and have are plenty of choices. His prime pick is downtown
Napa's relaxed-chic no-reservations Vietnamese restaurant Annalien (1142
MainSt., Napa, 707-224-8319). "I go there and get a bowl
of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) or green papaya salad, summer rolls, and
the eggplant dish they make. It's easy, quick, and I like the food," he
divulges.
Thomas Keller doesn't have to stray far to find his favorite food when
he's not creating culinary masterpieces at The French Laundry. He
heads straight down the road to his sister restaurant Bouchon (6534
Washington Street, Yountville, 707-944-8037,www.frenchlaundry.com) and orders
roasted chicken, which also happens to be one of his—and my—very favorite
foods.
