Archive for August, 2008

BREAKFAST: The second B

Thursday, August 14th, 2008

Just like Rodney Dangerfield, the second “B” as in Bed and Breakfast, gets no respect.

It could be because we are only human and as the “sexiest” primates we are much more interested in the Bed part of the pairing. Maybe you don’t normally eat breakfast. Who has TIME these days!!?? Or it could be because you haven’t had Breakfast at the Beazley House.

Breakfast is where you will be not only refueled, but inspired. First is the FOOD itself, nothing but the best for our guests. I get microwaved oatmeal with dried fruit at home but YOU get a groaning board of goodies.

First “course” is fruit, glorious fruit. However it’s presented it will be locally grown, when available and organic most frequently, but always ripe and delicious. No sour grapes here! They all have had to pass Carol Beazley’s muster. Just “looks good” doesn’t cut it.

Next to the fuit will be a fresh baked bundt coffee cake or muffins or sweet bread. Many are Mrs. Beazley’s original recipes and are low fat and heart healthy. The main dish might be a fiesta cheese bake, steaming herbed breakfast potatoes or our famous crème caramel French toast.

There will always be protein to balance the sugars. Perhaps there will be deviled eggs or sausages, maybe warm brie with an apricot jam glaze or baby goudas or mozzarella cheese sticks.

We know old habits die hard, so you’ll be offered three different types of cold cereal, with low fat milk, of course. Or soy with if you, like me, are lactose intolerant.

What’s breakfast without orange juice and coffee? Ours is O.J. like you wish your mother used to make. And the coffee is our own private Beazley Blend from the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company. The java equivalent of fine cabernet, it is a blend of 2/3s French roast and 1/3 Columbian.

Too tired to tread in for breakfast? No worries! We’ll happily deliver a tray to your room so you can have Breakfast in Bed.

Who knew breakfast could be so sexy!

Napa Town: It’s ALIVE!

Friday, August 1st, 2008

My friend Paul Franson writes a weekly column for our paper the Napa Register.

He also “publishes” a very much expanded version online at www.Napalife.com.

His July 28 communiqué ( http://www.napalife.com/5544.htm) features a FULL list of all of the places offering nighttime entertainment in old town Napa under the heading: “Downtown Napa Rocks.”

It’s not my intention to infringe on Paul’s good work, but to underline his message that there are now MANY venues offering musical entertainment in Napa. Everything from Accordion to Jazz to Latin Salsa to Opera can be heard in a growing abundance of Napa’s restaurants and theaters. And it is not the canned crap, but LIVE music!

And we’re talk’in UNIQUE here!

The circa 1879 Napa Valley Opera House is one of only a handful of second story theaters west of the Mississippi. It has featured the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, George Winston and John Bayless. Marsalis said the newly re-built theater has “perfect acoustics.”

The Jarvis Conservatory is located in a 19th century former stone Sherry distillery. It has a jewel box of a theater with “Opera Night” the first Saturday of each month. It’s home to a unique theatrical presentation, known as Zarzuela, which is version of a Spanish opera.

During the summer Copia, the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, features outdoor concerts under the summer stars, along the banks of the beautiful Napa River. On Thursday nights assorted fun-filled music is accompanied by gourmet picnic fare. A Napa Valley tradition since 2002, the 2008 season offers a kaleidoscope of musical diversity from blues, rock, flamenco, Cajun and tributes to Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash – something for almost every musical taste.

Many of our restaurants now feature live music and not just on Friday and Saturday nights. Now you’ll find Jazz at Uve Trattoria Wednesday through Sunday; Downtown Joe’s a favorite locals brew pub also rocks five nights each week. The new Oxbow Public Market hosts music Tuesday nights as well as Sunday afternoons. Now, remember, this is just a partial list. See Paul Franson’s link above for the FULL list.

Not satisfied to just LISTEN? Ceja Vineyards Tasting Salon & Lounge has SALSA lessons every Saturday night.

Napa will never sit still after this!