Wine Country Restaurant/Food Highlights

I can't say enough good things about Uva Trattoria. Yes, it's Italian, which may be passé to you if you prefer restaurants where they play with your food before you eat it. What I love about Uva, besides the unpretentious but well-made food, is the wine list, with plenty of interesting Italian white wines for summer, and the service, which has that friendly spark that is missing from a lot of restaurants. The staff, for the most part, is perky and knowledgeable. They care. They move through the room swiftly and with purpose. We have been there three times in the last two months, and the food and the service have been excellent. Live jazz plays in their lounge next door almost every night of the week. **Uva has had a change of ownership. Though the food is mostly the same, the service is no longer as attentive and perky. We have stopped going.

A short list of some other favorites to try while you're here:

Buster's Barbecue, Calistoga- Super-casual, the best barbecued tri-tip sandwich ever. Avoid the hot sauce unless you like your head to spin and your lips to throb with pain. We get a side of the hot sauce to dip in so we can flirt with danger.

Zuzu- A tapas restaurant. Vibrant, interesting seasonal flavors in a Spanish style. Small plates for lots of sharing. Eclectic wine list.

Pearl- Unboring comfort food. Well-edited menu, gorgeous fresh oysters. Service is attentive, warm but not fawning. Always a good experience.

Bistro Jeanty- (Watch out-- site has loud French accordion music!) Traditional French bistro, some favorites include the Foie Blonde, Escarole Salad with Poached Egg, Croque Monsieur with a glass of rosé at the bar. Tomato Soup en Croute in wintertime. Don't let the Lamb's Tongue Salad scare you away. The large table in the front room is a community table, so even if you haven't made a reservation, you can sometimes still find a spot in this cozy little restaurant.

Celadon- The sometimes quirky menu has a definite global flair, with lots of intriguing choices. Fun cocktails. I do not, however, recommend having a martini here as the gin is shaken within an inch of its life. The arctic ice pack could be revived with the bergs floating past the olives. Owned by the same people that own the underwhelming and overpriced Cole's Chop House.

Bouchon Bakery- I don't want to love it, but I do. Beautiful, rich, quality pastries and breads. The cheese danish is out of this world. If you have that and a double espresso for breakfast, you'll be fueled through dinner time and then some. Except for the sugar crash.

Napa Valley Olive Oil Company- Skip the touristy place across the street from Rutherford Grill that stores perishable products in the front windows and go all the way into St. Helena, down to the end of Charter Oak Ave. to the little white barn. Don't let the screen door slam as you breathe in the aromas of cheese, olives and dry salami. If you speak Italian, you can practice here.

Jimtown Store- On the way to Geyserville and Healdsburg, this is one of our favorite stops. Lots of neat little toys to poke around in, old-fashioned candies, hip linens and kitchen stuff, great picnic food, espresso and more things than I can name. At least one thing that will make you laugh. If you are feeling decadent, go straight to the refrigerators on the right and get yourself a container of their homemade chocolate pudding and a spoon. And then find someplace to sit while you slip into a pudding-induced reverie.

The Chronicle had a good article about picnicking in the wine country. This link is to the article about Sonoma, but there are links to Napa and even San Francisco picnic spots, with information about a bunch of good places to pick up a picnic.

In Sonoma, on the square, we often go to The Wine Exchange. (Update: what a loss! This shop is now closed!) This cool, quiet spot is a good break from the crowds, even on a weekend. We head straight for the little bar in the back and try one of the five unusual beers on tap, but they pour wines as well. Huge imported beer selection. They know what they are talking about, so this is a good place to ask wine questions and pick up a bottle or two. Cold whites, pinks and bubbles in the fridge for your lunch in the park. The tasty Basque Bakery is just a few doors down, unfortunately it's usually crowded. Nothing like a cold glass of chablis and a potato tart, though...