Bottega, Napa Valley                                                                                                            6525 Washington Street, Yountville, CA

I expected it to be good. But it was better than that. It was great! So great in fact, i considered going back a second night in a row. Take two will have to wait until next time, however.  In the meantime, I will dream about the amazing food, the beautiful setting, the equally beautiful presentation, but mostly the food — the comfort-style selection, the big bold flavors starting with the parmigiano spread for the bread right through to the candied hazelnuts atop the molten chocolate cakes for dessert. It all seemed so simple. The sign of a true master.

We shared: Crusty Bread with Parmigiano Spread, Bacon & Eggs, Truffle-Parmigiano Fries, Caprese Salad.  Others ate: Risotto, Potato Dough Raviolo with Spinach, Ricotta, Black Truffles & Farm Fresh Egg Yolk, Wood-Oven Roasted Whole Fish, Pancetta Wrapped Sockeye Salmon.  I ate: Smoked & Braised Short Ribs, Molten Chocolate Cake and Walnut Ice Cream. I would eat it all again!