We are ready to land, as the wind shifts yet again in Calistoga, California, where we are fortunate to have our pilot, Bob Allen, also the owner of Calistoga Balloons, guide us down into a field next to Envy Winery and its vineyards. It’s a tricky landing, but we’re in good hands that deliver us gently on the ground. Even after an hour in the air, it’s still chilly, but thoughts of a Champagne brunch warm me up as we head over to the Calistoga Inn.
My visit continues with a walk along the Silverado Trail to burn off the fabulous brunch after the balloon ride, and to make room for a snack at All Seasons, where I enjoyed a taste of the lobster bisque with a drizzle of truffle oil ($8 and best bang for your buck with gourmet ingredients, olive oil with Italian truffle infusion), and house-made ricotta/sage/brown butter lightly rolled gnocchi with a touch of celery root/blue cheese sauce.
Dessert sent me swooning back in the clouds: A Meyer lemon and almond brioche bread pudding with candied kumquat ice cream with vanilla made in the back “ice-cream room.”
How would I ever want dinner later? Alas, I endured at Barolo on Lincoln Ave., one of four restaurants owned by Mark and Ron of Left Coast Restaurants. What spoke to my palate best was the homemade papardelle and shrimp dish, the pancetta wrapped dates with parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar, and the lasagna, a perfectly balanced portion of pasta, Bolognese, four cheeses and meat.
Sleep came easily at the Pink Mansion, where I stayed for what seemed a minute. But the suite I had the pleasure to slumber in made me want to come back for more – another time, at least. Maybe it was the homemade breakfast of baked apple with blueberries, followed by a Mexican frittata with chicken sausage, accompanied by blueberry scones – all delicious and filling me up for my next stop: Lavender Hill Spa and then lunch at Brannan’s Grill, where I discover the best beet Carpaccio salad I’ve ever had the pleasure to taste. The presentation of this dish was superb: yellow beets sliced around the plate with goat cheese hiding underneath, and mandarin orange slices to accompany the taste explosion.
It’s a beautiful afternoon for a walk along the shops of Calistoga, but I should be running instead of walking, especially after the dessert I indulged in at Brannan’s Grill --- a chocolate lava torte to which I believe no chocolate was left behind.
Want to learn more about Calistoga? Visit calistogavisitors.com.
This is a series of three articles on Calistoga, California. To start at the beginning, click here.
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