Small World

I recently had the opportunity to eat at a new restaurant in Yountville, California called Bottega. The restaurant has created some buzz in the culinary community as the newest venture of Chef Michael Chiarello. But the buzz by the locals is more about the novelty of an Italian restaurant, upending the dearth of options to the French fare available in the little town with the most Michelin Stars per capita than any other place on Earth.

The couple at the table next to mine was indulging in dessert when my companion and I opened our dinner menus. I took a few moments to observe as they indulged in their flourless sabbia cake with strawberries lightly dressed in 20 year aged balsamic, with mascarpone cream--a lovely interpretation of Strawberry Shortcake. From their conversation, their clothing and their accent I could tell they were from out of town.

The lady saw me eyeing her dessert. "Be sure to save room!" she admonished. "It's decadent, but hey, you don't get to indulge every day...or maybe you do. Are you from here?"

I smiled in reply.

She and her husband had just arrived from Atlanta. "Oh," I exclaimed, "I was just there visiting my sister. We ate some of the most delicious food."

We spoke of all sorts of restaurants in the greater Atlanta area: Watershed, Flip, La Petite Maison. I forgot to mention The Flying Biscuit, Highland Bakery, and Sugo. And I couldn't remember the name "Rathbun's," trying instead to explain a restaurant with a lot of meat on the menu, named after the chef, with really good food. We both laughed.

With a wistful look I mentioned all the delicious barbecue I had eaten in Atlanta, though I couldn't remember the name of my favorite one. "Slopes?" the gentleman offered. "YES! I exclaimed, "Slopes! So it wasn't just me, it really is that good!" His face broke into a huge grin, "We live across the street, on the other side of the fire house. I had lunch there yesterday."

Small world.

It occurred to me later, as the waiter brought out their second dessert--a chocolate souffle cooked in a parchment paper chimney, unwrapped at the table by the server, then drizzled with anglaise and sprinkled with hazelnut brittle--that these folks may have the better deal. Yes, it is exceptional to have the option to regularly indulge in wood-grilled octopus and house made pastas. But the ribs at Slopes I could eat every day and want for nothing more.

The couple were in town for another five days, and I sure hope they enjoyed themselves in the lovely Napa Valley. I'll keep an eye out for them the next time I make it to Atlanta.

Sidebar:

Laura Cunningham, longtime girlfriend and now fiance of Chef Thomas Keller, has plans to open an Italian restaurant in Yountville on the north end of Washington Street in the former location of the short lived P. J. Steak (previous owner of the building was Chef Philippe Jeanty). Although plans for the new restaurant were announced about a year ago, few official details have followed in recent months. The restaurant will be named Vita in honor of Cunningham's Sicilian grandmother.