vacationing

[EPICURUS]

Nancy,

I've been several times to this particular Mustard Festival event. I find it appealing because it is so non chi-chi (if the Napa Wine Auction is at one end of the spectrum, this is close to the other end). It's an event for the people, mostly because of the pricing format. Instead of a $40,$50 or $75 admission price which allows virtually unlimited tastes, the admission price is kept low with samples going for 1 to 4 dollar tickets.

Yet there are some wonderful munchies and wines. Some 25 wineries pour, from, if memory serves, Pahlmeyer, Jarvis, and Diamond Creek...no just kidding; more like Raymond Franciscan, Clos du Val, Rombauer, St. Clement, ZD, and Truchard to Whitford, Praeger Port Works, and Livingston. But don't hold me to this. As we get closer to the event I will be contacting the organizers to get a final list and can make sure you get the poop.

The finger food comes from a mix of Valley restaurants most calling for mustard as an appropriate condiment. Last year, we tasted some remarkable mustards, sweet and sour, some combining fruits like raspberries in their recipes.

Decent cooking demonstrations and musical (jazz and rock) performances. Since it takes place in what was the Napa County Fairgrounds (which now takes place in Calistoga) the event seems like a more stylish and smaller version of a wine country fair.

I do a ~What's On~ guide to SF and the region and I would be happy to add you to our email list.

Tom Merle
Epicurean Programs International