Yountville Sharpens Culinary Edge with Six Michelin Stars

NAPA VALLEY'S 'CULINARY CRUSHPAD' TURNS UP THE HEAT AS MICHELIN GUIDE/2011 AWARDS TOWN'S TOP TOQUES SIX STARS

- Largest Concentration of Michelin Stars Per Capita on the Planet -

YOUNTVILLE, NAPA VALLEY, Calif., Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The toque of the town is Michelin Guide's 2011 awards, sharpening Yountville's culinary edge with six coveted stars within six walking blocks.  Mix in 12 top restaurants a fork's throw apart and foodies on a fast track have another reason to visit this classic grape-clad escape.  Sequestered within four square miles, Yountville's prowess as a culinary powerhouse is unmatched; the town boasts the largest concentration of Michelin stars per capita on the planet.  

Recipients include the French Laundry (3), Bouchon (1), Redd (1) and etoile at Domaine Chandon (1).  Also new in this year's Michelin lineup are two recipients in the "Bib Gourmand" category, also known as inspector's favorites for good value: Bottega restaurant (Food Network's Michael Chiarello) and Bistro Jeanty, a valley institution serving classic French bistro fare.

Thomas Keller, a fixture since opening French Laundry in 1994, lit the fire for a procession of top toques who now call Yountville home.  Veterans Philippe Jeanty of Bistro Jeanty and Bob Hurley of Hurley's Restaurant and Bar followed suit, stoking the stoves since 1998 and 1988 respectively.   Today, the seasoned line-up of chefs includes Perry Hoffman/etoile at Domaine Chandon, Nick Ritchie/Bottega, Sean O'Toole/Bardessono, David Cruz/ad hoc, Philip Tessier/Bouchon,  Anne Gingrass/Brix, Cindy Pawlcyn/Mustard's Grill, Craig DiFonzo/Cantinetta Piero and Richard Reddington/Redd.  Hillstone Restaurant Group – mother ship of Houston's, Gulfstream and R&D restaurants – will add a new restaurant to the mix in the 20,000 sq. ft., shopping center formerly housing Napa Valley Grille in 2011.

CULINARY KUDOS

Zagat and OpenTable also sliced and diced Yountville's culinary scene, stating:

Zagat/2011 – In the "extraordinary to perfection category of 26 to 30 points" wine country restaurants earning top marks for food:  French Laundry (29), Redd (27), ad hoc (27), Bouchon (26), Bottega (26).

Open Table/2010 Diner's Choice Awards "Most Booked Restaurants/Wine Country" category:  Bottega (#1), Bouchon (#2), Mustards Grill (#6), ad hoc (#7), Redd (#8), Brix (#9) and Bistro Jeanty (#10).

OpenTable/2010 Diner's Choice Awards "Fit for Foodies" category:  ad hoc, French Laundry.

WALK ON THE WINE SIDE

Yountville is the ideal green getaway linking visitors to 12 restaurants, 11 hotels and 10+ wine tasting venues  along Washington Street.  Branch out on a bike to swirl at 24+ regional wineries tucked within the town's own AVA or combine a day of play with boutique shopping at V Marketplace, a round of golf at Vintner's Golf Club or live performance at Lincoln Theatre.  

MOVEABLE FEAST

Sporting a chef line-up worthy of a world tour, Yountville's 2nd Annual Moveable Feast program hits town January 1 – February 28, 2011 with value-season hotel/dining packages and a roux of seasonal prix-fixe meals.  Reservations can be made via www.yountville.com.

Visitor Information

Site of Napa Valley's first planted vines (1838), Yountville sits at the epicenter of the region's culinary scene sporting the Valley's top-ranked restaurants (six Michelin stars), 24+ wineries and/or producers and 11 lodging properties.  An ideal base for the avid oenophile, Yountville offers the county's only hot air ballooning launch, five National Register of Historic Places sites, a microclimate pedigree with its own AVA, world-class shopping and performing arts.  Located 55 mi./88 km. north of San Francisco, travelers can arrive via scenic Highway 29 or via Napa County Airport, Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK) or San Francisco (SFO) international airports.  For more information and travel inquiries, contact the Yountville Chamber of Commerce at 707.944.0904 or www.yountville.com.

 

SOURCE Yountville Chamber of Commerce