The Accidental Wino » Sonoma Carneros

Breakfast @ The Fremont Diner

The Accidental Wino — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:43:31 +0000

Breakfast Sandwich @ The Fremont Diner.

Working nights in the kitchen can have its perks, such as being able to go out for breakfast any day of the week. With an old college buddy visiting the Napa Valley recently, a morning session at the Fremont Diner presented the obvious choice. Personally, I’ve already covered most of the Fremont Diner’s menu over the past couple of years, but it’s always fun to see someone marvel at all of the restaurant’s great, down-home selections. Besides that, I hadn’t been to the Fremont Diner in a while, so I was actually long overdue. Here are a few snapshots from Saturday (click photos for super-sized images).

Grits with Bacon @ The Fremont Diner.

• • •

Sausage Biscuit @ The Fremont Diner.

• • •

Salted Caramel Milkshake @ The Fremont Diner.

Sharing is caring...

Chicken and Waffles, Napa Valley

The Accidental Wino — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:31:04 +0000

Chicken & Waffles @ the Boon Fly Cafe (blue plate) and the Fremont Diner (white plate): It's always nice too see an upward trend in the Southern-fried sector. Images can be super-sized with a click.

Unless I’m missing something, the Napa Valley offers just two reliable versions of chicken and waffles, both of which are located at the very southern end of the valley, along the scenic Carneros Highway, separated by just a few miles of rolling hills and perhaps one or two stoplights. Of course, the Boon Fly Cafe and the Fremont Diner are the two restaurants in question, the latter residing in Sonoma County, but certainly close enough to Napa to warrant consideration. Of the two, my preferred version of chicken and waffles is the Boon Fly Cafe’s version, a natural choice since I’ve long argued that Boon Fly offers the best fried chicken in the area, hands down (Ad Hoc included). The Boon Fly Cafe’s waffle, billed on the menu as a “malt” waffle, neither hinders nor helps the dish, and although the bacon-cheddar waffle at the Fremont Diner does make up some ground in this contest, the heavy breading on the Fremont fried chicken proves a bit much for my tastes — I’m more interested in the bird than the batter.

Sharing is caring...

10 Things I’ll Eat Again in 2011:

The Accidental Wino — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 07:10:26 +0000

End-of-the-year recaps present a great opportunity to “re-purpose” some old content (I learned this valuable euphemism during the dot-com era). Here are 10 dishes that I really enjoyed this year, in no particular order. I’m not saying this list comprises my top 10 dishes for the year, but some of them could definitely qualify. Clicking the photos will transport you back to the original article — and perhaps, a much simpler time and place.

Crispy shrimp with ginger and onions @ Huong Tra, Richmond.

• • •

Flounder special @ Yuet Lee, San Francisco.

• • •

The #6 Banh Mi @ Viet Nam, San Francisco.

• • •

Black pepper brisket hash @ Fremont Diner, Sonoma Carneros.

• • •

Chilaquiles @ Miguel's, Calistoga.

• • •

Señorita bread @ Star Bread Bakery, Vallejo.

• • •

Sake-marinated black cod @ Terra, St. Helena.

• • •

Oyster po-boy with macaroni and cheese @ Brown Sugar Kitchen, West Oakland

• • •

Pad See Iew @ Sa Wad Dee, Richmond.

• • •

Garlic pork broth ramen @ Ramen Dojo, San Mateo.

Sharing is caring...

The Chicken & Dumplings @ Fremont Diner, Sonoma Carneros

The Accidental Wino — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:49:31 +0000

Up front: Chicken and nettle dumplings; In back: Biscuit with ham, mustard, and blueberry preserves.

I’ve been an early adopter of the Fremont Diner, having made my first visit there sometime in the summer of 2009, on the way out to a wine-tasting excursion in the Russian River Valley. Since then, I’ve covered their menu extensively within these pages, and my favorite dish remains the black-pepper brisket hash. My recent lunch of chicken and dumplings, pictured above, ranks somewhere in the middle of the pack, which is good indication of the Fremont Diner’s overall consistency. It’s a nice dish for winter — plenty of chicken, well-seasoned broth, with nettle dumplings that are dense and slightly herbaceous. Still, I must admit that I was secretly hoping for light and pillowy dumplings, something more ethereal than earth-bound. Given the circumstances, I assume that any true Southerner would probably feel the same way.

Sharing is caring...

Breakfast & Lunch: Photos from Napa Valley Wine Country

The Accidental Wino — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:48:06 +0000

Cachapas Pernil, Pica Pica Maize Kitchen, Oxbow Market, Napa

Though I had been to Pica Pica Maize Kitchen before, I hadn’t actually tasted the cachapas pernil (#7) until I attended the Napa Valley Chefs’ Market a few weeks ago. The yellow corn pancake is just sturdy enough to provide the exterior, with a flavor profile that’s slightly sweet. The cachapas pabellon (#3), which is shredded skirt steak with plantains, is also a tasty alternative.

• • •

Market Burger, Market Restaurant, St. Helena

As far as cheeseburgers are concerned, the Market Burger is an adequate choice, although the shredded Fiscalini cheese in the photo above reminds me of McDonald’s diced onions. This shredded cheese aesthetic has never really appealed to me, especially since a well-melted slice of cheese features so much more panache.

• • •

Chicken and Waffles, Fremont Diner, Sonoma Carneros

I had assumed that the chicken and waffles at the Fremont Diner would be based upon their Nashville spicy fried chicken, which they offer at lunch. As it is, I’m not a big fan of the boneless chicken paillard; these pieces typically lack character, and they seem to dry out easily. The buttermilk waffle, which easily out-shined the fried chicken, was airy and light, yet delicately crisp.

Sharing is caring...

Breakfast & Lunch: The Black-Pepper Brisket Hash @ The Fremont Diner, Sonoma Carneros

The Accidental Wino — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:03:23 +0000

Yolk so shiny, it picks up the ceiling fan.

One of my favorite breakfasts in wine country is the black-pepper brisket hash at the Fremont Diner in Sonoma Carneros. Earlier this week, I made a specific point of ordering this dish on my way out to Mendocino County, a road trip that usually pushes lunch back to the late afternoon. This brisket hash is a 100-mile breakfast if there ever was one. The potatoes are crispy, yet tender, and cooked with fresh herbs, while the brisket features a smoke-and-black-pepper pungency that I would best describe as addictive. Of course, the simple sunny-side up egg is the crowning garnish of any great breakfast dish. I have to admit that, for many years, I was not a proponent of sunny-side up eggs, but the croque madame at RN74 really encouraged me to reconsider this opinion. I have now seen the light.

Sharing is caring...

There Will Be Pastries: Scouting Napa Valley’s Breakfast Options

The Accidental Wino — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:01:12 +0000

As I’ve continued to explore the culture of breakfast and lunch here in the Napa Valley, I felt that it was certainly worthwhile to mention a few of the better pastry options out there. After all, even if you’ve enjoyed a large breakfast in the morning, pastries remain a great take-away item, especially if you plan to spend the day wine tasting, when lunch can often get pushed back, or pushed aside altogether. Without a proper lunch, that same cheese danish that may seem gluttonous in the early morning can actually become your salvation in the early afternoon (and maybe help prevent you from drooling at the dinner table, as well). I speak only from personal experience: Don’t fear indulgence. Embrace it. So with that caveat in mind, I have seven pastries to consider below — many hailing from very different walks of life — but each noteworthy in its own right.

• • •

The Cream Cheese Danish @ Bouchon Bakery, Yountville

It’s no secret that I’m tepid on Ad Hoc (even their fried chicken dinner) and that I’m also somewhat ambivalent about Bouchon. I have long-standing reasons for both opinions, but at the same time, I certainly don’t blame anyone who might choose to dine at either restaurant. Both places can definitely have their moments — especially Bouchon — but I just don’t find myself making regular visits to either restaurant these days (and just to set the record straight, these humble opinions aren’t meant as any sort of Thomas Keller “backlash” — I acknowledge that TK is the greatest chef in American history, as well as at the present moment). For me, it’s just one of those things: With limited time and limited resources, some places are bound to be passed over in lieu of other favorites. But before I come across as a complete Negative Nancy, I’ll gladly go on record that Bouchon Bakery rates as the very best bakery in the Napa Valley, hands down. Among the many wonderful selections at Bouchon, my favorite is probably the cream cheese Danish pictured above, while my friend Marissa swears by the chocolate-almond croissant pictured below. Despite their apparent differences, both pastries fit safely and squarely within the “buttery-flaky” category, and either one could double as a dessert. Who doesn’t want to eat dessert for breakfast?

The Chocolate-Almond Croissant @ Bouchon Bakery, Yountville

• • •

One Order of Donuts @ The Boonfly Cafe, Napa Carneros

It’s important to point out that the Boonfly donuts pictured above are quite close to actual size (they’re akin to a Hostess “Donette,” just for another comparison). As a result, most people could easily eat a Boonfly donut in one single bite, and I suspect that many people do, myself included. Other than their dainty proportions, there’s really no need to discuss much: The Boonfly donuts are fried to order and dusted with cinnamon and sugar — a simple approach, to be sure, but one that also trades on its a la minute freshness.

• • •

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin @ The Fremont Diner, Sonoma Carneros

Established late last year, the Fremont Diner has quickly proven a strong addition to Napa wine country, and I’ve included it here, even though it’s technically located in Sonoma County (but within minutes of the Boonfly Cafe, for what it’s worth). The lemon poppy seed muffin pictured above features the consistency and crumb of a top-quality cake donut. It’s honest, and if you enjoy lemon poppy seed muffins, it’s also delicious.

• • •

English Muffin @ The Model Bakery, St. Helena

For most people from the United States, the thought of an English muffin might recall something similar to a Thomas’ English muffin. However, this notion is way off-base, especially if you have ever been across the Atlantic. In terms of its design, the English muffin from the Model Bakery is relatively unassuming, except that it is twice the height as a Thomas’ muffin, and probably twice as buttery, to boot. The packets of preserves are somewhat small for the task, so I recommend ordering two.

• • •

Cinnamon Roll @ 7-Eleven, Napa

I’m definitely not recommending a trip to 7-Eleven in lieu of something more local, especially for those people who might be visiting the Napa Valley. I present the 7-Eleven cinnamon roll only as a late night option, since I used to sometimes stop there for cinnamon rolls on my way home from Auberge du Soleil. I can tell you from experience that the pastry vendor delivers the goods at about 11pm each night, so when I was rolling through 7-Eleven around midnight after a night of cooking on the line, these cinnamon rolls were usually still warm from the bakery. Even average pastries, when consumed so quickly after baking, can be transcendent. Timing is everything.

• • •

Señoritra Bread @ Starbread Bakery, Vallejo

Again, some gerrymandering of Napa County lines for the sake of discussion: Vallejo is actually located in Solano County. However, anyone who journeys to Napa Valley from the Bay Area has the option of a quick trip to Starbread Bakery (take the 29 exit right after the Carquinez Bridge). I’ve mentioned Starbread here before — I think I called their señorita bread the love-child of a freshly-baked croissant and a Hawaiian dinner roll. I continue to stand behind that remark. What more do you need to know?

• • •

Sharing is caring...

Breakfast & Lunch: Black Pepper Brisket @ The Fremont Diner, Sonoma Carneros

The Accidental Wino — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:13:05 +0000

Knife optional.

I first became acquainted with the Fremont Diner’s smoked black pepper brisket when I ordered their breakfast hash a few weeks ago. That particular plate of hash was just heavenly and it’s definitely in the running for the best breakfast in the Napa Valley, although I’m not ready to bestow any lofty titles just yet. I have many more breakfasts to consider in the meantime, and I’ll delve into the specific greatness of the Fremont Diner’s brisket hash when the time is right. For now, I submit the lunch version of their smoked black pepper brisket, which is pictured above with a bowl of cheese grits and a bullet of shaved and pickled fennel. The brisket is fork tender, pungently smokey, and peppery enough to live up to its name. To my tastes, this lunch plate doesn’t have the star power of the breakfast hash, however, but it’s still worth considering, especially if you’ve slept through the 11am cut-off for the breakfast menu.

Sharing is caring...

Breakfast & Lunch: Biscuits with Sausage Gravy @ the Fremont Diner, Sonoma Carneros

The Accidental Wino — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:45:38 +0000

Southern style.

There’s not much of a breakfast culture here in the Napa Valley, at least compared to the dinner scene. I think that mornings tend to be reserved for sleeping it off from the night before, or else having a little “hair of the dog” at a Napa Valley tasting room at 10am. Bouchon Bakery does a brisk morning business, of course, but I don’t consider that breakfast. For one, there’s no bacon at Bouchon Bakery, and eggs are merely an ingredient, not a main course. But there is breakfast out there, and I’m going to cover all of the best options this summer. As an early teaser, I submit the biscuits and sausage gravy from the Fremont Diner in Sonoma Carneros, which also uses its terrific cream biscuit recipe for a few other applications, including the biscuit with country ham option. This is breakfast.

Sharing is caring...