Get the Latest Food & Wine Trends in Napa Valley

If you love food and wine, then you know that Napa Valley is an epicenter for both. Between the vast acres of vineyards and the great selections of restaurants, it’s a place where new trends constantly emerge.

We’ve asked experts Chef Barbara Alexander and Karen Rowley what they see as some of the upcoming ones.

Karen and Chef Alexander, what are some of the current culinary trends in Wine Country?

  • Quality products with local ingredients keeps trending from the best restaurants to the food trucks that line Soscal Avenue Here in Napa Valley the trend has become much more inclusive with hyper local ingredients frequently grown at the restaurant’s or chef’s own garden and prepared as it is harvested.
  • Plant forward food that emphasizes fruits and vegetables in traditional and new cuisine. Sneak in those veggies!
  • The big emphasis on food at wineries with new kitchens opening up at a brisk pace and wineries like B Cellar that are completely focused on pairing food and wine
  • A resurgence in quality restaurants in downtown Napa
  • The Oxbow area has become a culinary haven
  • New hotel builds with celebrity chefs like Las Alcobas in Saint Helena with Chris Cosentino’s acclaimed Acacia.

 

When it comes to wine, what do you see as trending in Napa Valley appellations?

  • Preservation of heritage vineyards,
  • 1-2 acre single clone vineyards planted in different appellations by the same estate for blending or single vineyard tastings
  • The emergence of Coombsville as a major appellation because of its micro climates and ability to grow valley, mountain and coastal grapes
  • The way winemakers are letting the terroir of an appellation speak in their wines
  • The influx of billionaires purchasing wineries in all appellations
  • The explosion of labels touting appellations that do not own any vineyards or have a winery in that appellation

 

More about Karen and Barbara of Curated Journeys

Karen Rowley

Karen Rowley owns a travel company completely focused on creating wine and culinary adventures all over the world on land and sea. She works with wineries, culinary experts, and chefs to curate the most amazing experiences imaginable. Travel has been her life for 30 years, and she is part of the prestigious Virtuoso Travel Network of the best luxury travel advisors on the planet.

Chef Barbara Alexander

For over 30 years, Chef B. has worked as a professional executive chef, running pedigree hotel kitchens and Michelin-level restaurants in Vancouver, Canada and Sydney, Australia. She has been a culinary educator with The Dubrulle French Culinary School in Vancouver, Canada, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Napa Valley, and had a 16-year stint as Culinary Director at the lauded Napa Valley Cooking School. Currently, Chef B. is a consultant for the Culinary Institute of America.

Curated Journeys

Karen Rowley, the co-founder of Curated Journeys, which provides elevated private experiences, discovering what the locals and insiders love about Napa Valley. Food and wine produced by award-winning chefs and winemakers, served in stunning settings.

Curated Journeys wants their guests to know the secret enclaves that lie behind closed gates, in hidden caves, and private estates. Committed to quality, local food, and small production, outstanding wines in their personal lives, they have created unparalleled, immersive experiences for small groups of people to enjoy.

For more information, please visit https://www.manymoretravels.com/product/napa-valley-curated-journeys

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If you like Lisa Vanderpump‘s style and taste at her bars & restaurants in Los Angeles, or on  Bravo TV’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and “Vanderpump Rules,” then you’re going to love her new place in Las Vegas.

Lisa Vanderpump and Caesars Palace have partnered to open Vanderpump Cocktail Garden, to bring a taste of Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

THE CONCEPT

The cocktail garden takes a page from Vanderpump’s highly successful restaurants and lounges, Villa Blanca, SUR, Pump and Tom Tom. “I have always loved Las Vegas –it has always been a dream of mine to see our brand in lights at the iconic Caesars Palace,” said Lisa Vanderpump. “Vanderpump Cocktail Garden combines the sexy atmosphere of our other establishments injected with the Vegas energy that brings millions of guests who visit year after year.”

“Caesars Palace has a long history of working with notable names; from renowned chefs to legendary music icons—we’re proud to now partner with Lisa Vanderpump to bring her first venture to Las Vegas,” said Caesars Palace regional president, Gary Selesner. “We look forward to Vanderpump bringing Los Angeles flair combined with the extravagance of the Strip.”

THE DESIGN

Marrying natural elements with industrial touches, Vanderpump Cocktail Garden has an indoor patio welcoming guests upon arrival, transporting them to an al fresco-style garden with towering trees and romantic lighting. Inside, the romantic elements continue, including Lisa’s signature touches of pink, with contrasting masculine details. The lounge area will feature booths as well as a full bar that focuses on craft cocktails, Vanderpump branded Sangria and Rosé as well as a carefully selected wine list. Small bites will be available to be shared or perfectly paired with libations.

Vanderpump Cocktail Garden‘s design inspiration for the space comes from Lisa, husband Ken Todd and creative director Nick Alain, who collaborated on their newest LA hit, Tom Tom. Vanderpump is located in between The Colosseum and the entrance to The Forum Shops (starting in 2019).

ABOUT LISA VANDERPUMP

Businesswoman, TV personality, author, and philanthropist, Lisa Vanderpump hails from London, England. Lisa and her husband Ken Todd have been entrenched in the restaurant and nightclub industry since they started their partnership over 30 years ago. Their four very successful restaurants and bars in Los Angeles (SUR, Villa Blanca, PUMP and Tom Tom Restaurant and Bar) are just a peek into their joint ventures; Vanderpump Cocktail Garden will mark their 35th restaurant and bar. Vanderpump has most recently become known for the hit Bravo TV series, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as well as her spinoff show Vanderpump Rules, of which she is an Executive Producer. Her unique mix of sparkling glamour and down-to-earth style has appealed to thousands of viewers. Additional endeavors include: “Vanderpump Beverly Hills” tabletop collection, the “Vanderpump Estate Jewelry” Collection, a pet accessories line at VanderpumpPets.com and a soon to be released fine jewelry collection. Vanderpump also has her family’s signature Vanderpump Vodka, Vanderpump Rosé and LVP Sangria. In 2017, Lisa and Ken launched The Vanderpump Dog Foundation to help end animal abuse on both an international and domestic level, which opened the doors to its first rescue and adoption center last year.

2 Things You have to Eat in Barcelona

Barcelona is a great place to visit. It is a wonderful city, and most people love it. And even if they don’t love it, they still like it quite a bit more than other places.

Of course there is great food and great drink in this town on the edge of the Mediterranean in northern Spain. The selections range from seafood, cheese, rice, and wine, to beer, cocktails, meats, and breads.

This means that you have a lot of options on the menu to enjoy. But we say that when you are in Barcelona, unless you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you must always have these two dishes at least once.

Patatas Bravas

The first is a delicious serving of patatas bravas, a local potato diced dish in a red sauce. Most people look at it and think it might be quite hot and spicy, but when eaten they realize that it is actually quite flavorful and savory, as the basic ingredients are olive oil, red pepper, paprika, chili, and vinegar.

Patatas bravas are one of the traditional tapas of the Catalan region.

The Cone of Meat (Cono Mixto)

The other item is what we like to call, the Cone of Meat. Often it is composed different of meats, but it can also include a mix of seafood such fried fish or calamari as well. The basic concept is that it is a paper cone filled with slices and dices of a selection of tasty morsels. If it’s made of meat then this could be a combination of sliced sausages, Serrano ham, manchego cheese, or chorizo.

It could be anything really, even just a mix of local artisan cheeses. It’s essentially a cone of mixed delights: “cono mixto” (aka cono de mini fuets, cono de jamon y queso, etc.). In addition, what bumps this particular dish up to a higher level of desire is that it is mobile friendly.  The choice is up to you. You can either stroll the streets or markets while munching on this, or sit at a table and enjoy it with a delicious glass of red vino or a taste of cava.

Ah, Barcelona!

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