Napa Valley Attractions - Things to Do

Culinary Institute of America. For 60 years, the Culinary Institute of America has received widespread recognition in culinary education throughout the foodservice and hospitality industry. There are six professional cooking and baking suites as well as a fine dining establishment, the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant. Enjoy a sterling variety of soups, salads and pastas, not to mention sparkling Querenica Brut Rose, a Greystone exclusive. For more information, visit www.ciachef.edu.  [Top]

The French Laundry. The French Laundry serves dinner seven days a week and features two menus that change on a daily basis. The 9-course Chef’s Tasting Menu and the 9-course Vegetable Tasting Menu which are designed by Chef Thomas Keller and his staff to showcase the best seasonal products available. Lunch is served on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. For more information, visit www.frenchlaundry.com/tfl/frenchlaundry.htm.

Bouchon. Bouchon, which opened in 1998, offers authentic French bistro fare of a quality not to be found anywhere in the United States. Located in downtown Yountville in a historic Wells Fargo stagecoach stop from the late 1800s, Bouchon features a magnificent French zinc bar, antique light fixtures and an outdoor patio for those warm summer nights. For more information, visit www.frenchlaundry.com/bouchon/bouchon.htm.  [Top]

Brix Restaurant. Brix prepares what it simply calls seasonal California cuisine. Whenever possible, local produce is used, some of which comes from their vegetable and herb garden. Healthful and flavorful cooking is the hallmark of the chefs who believe in challenging the palate without overwhelming it. Almost every seat in the casually elegant dining room offers a panoramic view of the restaurant’s olive groves, sweeping vineyards and gardens. For more information, visit www.brix.com.

Redd. Redd is ready to serve you a meal you won’t soon forget. The Asparagus Salad, Carmelized Diver Scallops or Yellowfin Tuna Tartare. And that’s just the first course. The second course beckons with Alaskan Halibut Saltimbocca, Liberty Farms Duck Breast or Lamb Loin. It’s all deliscious and hard to resist. For more information, visit www.reddnapavalley.com.  [Top]

Hurley’s Restaurant. Variety is the spice of life at Hurley’s Restaurant, serving fresh, seasonal Wine Country cuisine with a Mediterranean flair in a cozy dining room with a fireplace. The popular two-course prix fixe lunch is served daily 11:30 am to 4:00 pm while the late night menu is available from 9:00 pm to midnight on the heated patio. A bustling bar is frequently frequented by local winemakers. For more information, visit www.hurleysrestaurant.com.

Bistro Jeanty. Fresh quality ingredients. Exacting and demanding preparation. Consistent service. Comfortable and informal surroundings. That is what you will find at Philippe Jeanty’s Bistro. Much like “Cheers”—the bar where everybody knows your name—the Bistro is the neighborhood restaurant where they know who you are, greet you with a smile, and serve you satisfying foods that change with the seasons. For more information, visit www.bistrojeanty.com.  [Top]

Napa Valley Grille. Begin with the Parsnip-Maple Soup. Then move on to the Berkshire Proscuitto & Persimmon Salad. For the main course, the Pan Roasted Wild Sea Bass. Whatever you choose, your palate will be duly impressed with the seasonal, rustic, Wine Country cuisine at the Napa Valley Grille—not to mention the extensive collection of hard-to-find, highly-regarded local varietals. For more information, visit www.napavalleygrille.com.

Infineon Raceway. Located 30 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Infineon Raceway is a year-round motorsports complex. The track hosts several nationally televised events, including NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) drag racing, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) Superbike tour, and the IRL IndyCar Series. For more information, visit www.infineonraceway.com.  [Top]