Living in Walnut Creek, CA, is a dream come true for me, especially as a second home. Born and raised in Osaka, Japan, I was a total city girl. Before moving to the U.S., I traveled the world and indulged in culinary delights wherever I went. My passion for fine dining and cooking for loved ones has made me a go-to resource for restaurant and winery recommendations among my local friends and clients. Inspired by my mom, who is also a designer and foodie, I decided to start a blog about my food and wine experiences. This blog serves as my journal and a way to share my adventures with you.
My husband and I love visiting wine country for celebrations, special occasions, or just a spontaneous day trip. It’s only an hour’s drive from our house, offering world-class food and wine.
Yoko’s Practical Trip Tips
- Sunday Adventures: Plan your trip for a Sunday and book an early dinner around 4:30 or 5:00 pm. Most travelers are heading home by then, so there’s no traffic either way.
- Budget-Friendly Wine Tasting: Winery tastings can be pricey, often $50+ per person. Instead of splurging on a full tasting menu, visit a winery tasting room near your dinner spot. Many offer walk-in service and wine by the glass, making it a short and sweet visit. Plus, you won’t overindulge before driving!
Our Spring Celebration
This May, we visited Hill Family Estate Winery and Bistro Jeanty in Yountville to celebrate my husband’s belated birthday. He was sick on his actual birthday, so this was a much-anticipated treat. I chose Bistro Jeanty for its authentic French cuisine. French dining was all the rage in Japan during the eighties and nineties before other international restaurants started to pop up. Hill Family Estate Winery’s tasting room is conveniently located next to Bistro Jeanty in downtown Yountville. We often visit their tasting room before dinner. The wine is exquisite and reasonably priced. We discovered Hill Family Estate Winery a few years ago during a visit to Bottega in Yountville, and their rosé of Pinot Noir has become a favorite, especially on warm days.
Bistro Jeanty was an absolute delight. For appetizers, we savored a twice-baked crab and cheese soufflé with lobster whiskey sauce and country-style pâté with cornichons. Our mains included pan-seared scallops with sweet pea purée, served with corn, mashed potatoes, and onion rings, and a double-cut veal chop with shiitake mushrooms and camembert sauce. To finish, my husband enjoyed a creamy rice pudding with brandied cherries.
Cheers to more fabulous dining adventures!
*Featured images by Yoko Oda of Yoko Oda Interior Design.
