Sonoma, Napa, Wine: Oh My!

Just got back with my parental unit from a little wine tasting extravaganza. Let me tell you, it was awesome and a much needed change of pace on my day off. They kidnapped me after the Sunday matinee. Side note: Jackie and I immediately spotted my parents standing and dancing BEFORE the finale reprise started. This was their eighth and fourth time seeing the show. I, of course, got tears in my eyes! They really should just hire my mom to be tour resident mother. She’d go around whistling and hugging everyone while making sure we’ve all had our daily dose of iron. And my father would wash everyone's luggage, polish their shoes and negotiate the best room rates. End side note. We started our journey in a big red van. Oh dear...my father’s golf clubs are big. We headed straight up the 101 to the little town square of Sonoma. I like history and antiques so this was a perfect little town completed by an old city hall and a mission. Diane, my Jersey Boys dresser suggested we hit one of the best eateries in town called THE GIRL AND THE FIG. This place turned out to be our favorite restaurant! We had wine, mussels, hare pasta ( don’t judge me) lamb shank and skirt steak with homemade couscous. And for dessert, ladies and gentleman, a puff pastry filled with vanilla bean ice cream in chocolate ganache. Needless to say, I have not digested so much food since Thanksgiving.
We then headed to MAC ARTHUR INN, my home away from home...at least for one night. I’ll skip the part when my dad drove up a curvy two lane pitch black road, convinced we would stumble across the inn. “For the love of God, it’s time to turn around dad.” A friendly kitty greeted us when we arrived. There was a pool, hot tub and lots of gardens filled with blooming flowers. The people were friendly and in the morning they had breakfast ready and waiting.


I guilted my parents into letting me sleep in and by noon we were crossing the mountains that divide the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. I was surprised at how narrow the valley was, how the grapes grow right up to the two lane highway and how warm the weather was compared to wet San Francisco. Our first stop consisted of touring the Berringer Vineyard. We had a great lady tour guide that gave off a fabulous local “I know Napa” vibe. We went into the cellar, into the Berringer house (stained glass windows, all the way from Europe, both stores and the grounds. The tour ended with the wine tasting upstairs in the bedroom. Dude, I got carded. It was the ponytail, I guess? I liked it all because I was starving!
Half a second north from the vineyard, My father insisted we stop in at THE CULINARY INSTITUTE Of AMERICA. This is where serious cooks or chefs study. My mother was like, “Richard, people make reservations a year in advance to eat here.” Oh papa! Before I knew it we were tasting the “Chef’s Daily Special.” Hors d'oeuvres sized portions of culinary taste explosions, if you will. Party in the mouth, people, wow. Our waiter, a Napa resident for over fifteen years told us all the top restaurants that we should try to experience during our stay!
We drove around for a bit, backtracked, found a beaten up road, a cop, almost ran over a grape farmer...you get the idea. We then quite literally drove into the YOUNTSVILLE INN. I’m really into these smaller towns. Charming. And guess what... the best restaurant in Napa was right next door. REDD was a nice place to eat. I had the roasted chicken with a polenta puree. A tasty treat after a long day of wine tasting! I fell into bed with a happy tummy and heart. The next morning we had breakfast at the Inn. I swam in the pool that I had all to myself and hot tubbed. The Inn was nice enough to make reservations at a hot Napa lunchery called MUSTARDS GRILL. Absolutely fabulous. I was thrilled with my Coke, my tuna tare tare and my salad. I love candied pecans in salad. We drove back to SF and I did the show that night. Our family friends, the Crombies from Dallas and my brother in law Travioso (Travis) came all the way from Colorado Springs to see yours truly in Jersey Boys! Family, friends, cast and crew celebrated at Mason Cafe. Thanks Mom. Thanks Dad. A day off I will never forget.
PS I wanted to thank COURTNEY and MIKE MARTIN for gifting me “Real Chocolate” (the best cook book ever) to me after the Sunday matinee on April 22, 2007. I met them in the lobby after the show while I was searching for my parents. And yes there is a combo of my two favorite things...drumroll please...Chocolate Sushi! In this hard back book complete with beautiful pictures, we’ve got the history of chocolate, chocolate roast chicken, chocolate desserts, chocolate drinks and chocolate mollding. Oh man, I can’t wait to get into my kitchen and go choco crazy. Really one of the most wonderful gifts I have ever received from such a lovely pair of thoughtful fans. Thank you!

PSS I also wanted to thank, ANDREA KIM, for my hot pink monogrammed hand towel. It says my character name “Francine” in white on it. How perfect is that! I will bust it out in every city!...a great show memento that I will always keep!

I will greatly miss the Jersey Boy SF fans who have supported our show by clapping, laughing, standing and dancing since we opened in this great city on December 10, 2006. Miss you already.