Summer of Tillery Love

Wow, this past Summer was amazing!

Over the 4th of July, my husband and I got to travel to San Francisco & Napa Valley.  Though our flight could’ve been better, Frontier’s legroom and seating were way too tight; our time in both cities was amazing.

Highlights from San Fran included:

The Japenese Tea Gardens, pizza at Tony’s, shopping in Clarion Alley, Irish Coffees at Buena Vista, admiring the murals and the view from Coit Tower, an amazing stay at Chateau Tivoli, stunning views of the Painted Ladies from Alamo Square and dancing/singing the night away at John Foley’s basement dueling piano bar.  Hands down the best bar in San Fran!

From there we took the scenic route over the Golden Gate Bridge to Napa. Oxbow Market provided lots to taste and Rarecat Winery stood out as a rising star with the most sensational rose in the Valley.  The Napa Wine Train on the 4th of July was a memorable occasion with terrific fellow passengers that embodied the patriotic spirit; plus the food was amazing! Caymus Winery was beautiful and very relaxing and Cindy’s Back Street Kitchen lives up to its reputation.  It is clear, Michael and I have a knack for finding “hole in the wall” bars and Ana’s Cantina stood out as a favorite in Napa. Chase Cellars provided the only tour that allowed us to touch the grapes and provided a nice air conditioned space to taste their wines; we couldn’t leave without that Syrah!  Yet, it was Silver Trident in Yountville that had the most chic decor and super tasty little bites that accented the flavors of each of their wines.  R& D Kitchen was a great place for lunch and so was Gotts Roadside. Redd Wood with our bartender Charlie was a highlight for sure! Redmond Winery offered the most informative tasting whereas Brasswood shined as our favorite dining because of the cave tour and incredible service/presentation at their new restaurant. And last but not least, big thanks to Van Dyk Family Wines for helping put together such great recommendations for our Napa visit. It is an experience that will last a lifetime!