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Health & Fitness

Utopia

My honey and I just returned from a wonderful vacation in Napa Valley.   This was a trip we had been anticipating for a while and when the time came to start planning it, we got tons of advice from friends and family.  Stay at a Fairmont Hotel they said.  Yountville Inn is the best there is … and so on.  With so much development and commercialization in Napa Valley in the recent years – bigger is generally perceived to be better.   Me?  I did not want a high-end ostentatious spot swarming with people.  I just wanted to find a cozy comfortable Bed and Breakfast, preferably on a small Vineyard (it is Napa Valley after all).  Is that too much to ask? 

Fingers crossed, I started the internet search for my dream spot.  And I came across this little gem in Calistoga.  Chateau De Vie!   Like a responsible trip-planner I proceeded to read some online reviews, and I could not believe my eyes.  I seemed to have hit the jackpot.  Not only is Chateau De Vie a Bed and Breakfast on a small Vineyard, it is also renowned for its fabulously delicious breakfasts.  This foodie was in heaven! :-) 

A serene, calm and utterly gorgeous setting where the owners have taken every care to make guests feel relaxed and totally at home.   Bowls of fruits and chocolate are always laid out for guests.  So is a selection of wines – for any time of day or night you may have a craving.  Soft music plays both inside and out and gentle sounds of water fountains completed the ambiance.  There were tons of spots outdoors to settle down with a good book or a drink under the shade of mature trees overlooking the vineyard as gentle breeze reminds you of how lucky you are to have discovered this Utopia. 

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Chateau De Vie’s motto is to exceed expectations.  And it did. Owned and run by a delightful couple, Phillip and Peter – whose only goal is to make sure guests have the most memorable stay possible.  Peter was a wonderful host and each morning he would be sure to chat with us to make sure that we had a great itinerary planned for the day.  He immediately understood what type of things we like to do and gave us awesome suggestions with a very accurate timetable.  We followed pretty much all of those suggestions and each day we could not wait to return and thank him for it.  He is quite a food-savant and knew the entire Napa and Sonoma culinary scene quite well.   We will be eternally grateful for his suggestion to try French Dip Sandwich at Rutherford Grill in Rutherford.  I have never had a sandwich with bread so tender, the prime rib so deliciously juicy, the “au jus” so deeply flavorful that we needed every morsel of bread to sop it up!  I am still dreaming of those moist delicious bites.  Mmm…. 

Now where do I begin to talk about Phillip.  A gourmand, an exceptional chef, a lover of food and a humble creator who delights in guests loving his daily culinary creations.  The first morning I was blown away by breakfast.  Phillip had something special planned for his guests that morning.  He served us a traditional breakfast enjoyed by vineyard owners in the good old days – a decadent yet simple pairing of scrambled eggs, sauteed shitake mushrooms and a glass of chardonnay.  This meal started with a tantalizing apple galette with spicy chutney and dollop of crème fraiche on top.  It immediately brought me and my palette to attention.  I was bummed that I forgot to bring my camera to the breakfast table – a mistake I corrected every morning thereafter. 

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Morning after morning, we savored Phillip’s phenomenal creations and I was struck by his deep understanding of balance of flavors and the wonderful harmony created on a plate with main course always getting accompanied by touch of fresh herbs, perfectly ripe fruit and clever use of citrus.  Breakfast was always two courses.  First course was usually a generous sampling of Phillip’s morning baking adventure.  Decadent lemon raisin scones, moist berry and cornmeal muffins, apple galette, or the perfect composition of yogurt of granola!   Main course was hearty and unique in flavor.  I loved the eggs benedict with the most divinely light and citrusy hollandaise.  It was amazing how that citrus played such a key role in lightening my palate.  On another morning the egg strata with artichokes, sundried tomatoes and parmesan was bursting with flavor.  The chicken and apple sausage with it was the perfect companion. 

I could go on and about Phillip’s highly evolved culinary expertise and Peter’s knowledge of the area.  But I think its best that you go and try this gem called Chateau De Vie as well as it’s wonderful, welcoming and generous hosts yourselves. 

A few times we slept in and were late for breakfast.  I loved Phillip, our generous host, reminding us that we are on vacation-not him and that breakfast will be ready when we are.   

Chateau De Vie, Calistoga Napa Valley | http://cdvnapavalley.com/

For this and other articles by Fairfield County Foodie visit, http://fairfieldcountyfoodie.me

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