Dining deliciously alone

While I was in Napa with my colleagues from Martha Stewart Radio, there wasn't a ton of downtime. Exactly, well, none. Until one night when I deftly evaded all plans and snuck out for a much-needed dinner alone--and I was so glad I did.

Not a few hundred yards down the street from the Villagio Inn & Spa where I was staying was the much-lauded Bistro Jeanty, which has been awarded the Michelin star for the past three years, and known for its cozy, homey, regional French cuisine, owned and operated by the famous Philippe Jeanty.

I took a seat at the bar where I was warmly welcomed by Bob the bartender. You would have thought we were having dinner together--that's how personable and friendly the dining experience was. He suggested different dishes, and when I asked about what wine to pair them with, he said, "Let's taste some wines!" and proceeded to pour a few different whites for me to try. I went with the crisp, fruity Sancerre. "Ah, you have a palate," said Bob.

Flattery will get you everywhere.

So I went with my gut and with Bob's recommendations. Though I knew my gut was right, as it often is, it was also fairly furious at me later for going with the cream soup, given my sordid history with dairy.

"But you simply HAVE to do the tomato soup," said Bob. "It's Philippe's specialty." And for those of you who think of tomato soup as just a little something to wash down your grilled cheese, think again.

I mean, look at this thing. It's a creamy tomato soup topped by a puff pastry that you mush down into it. I'm not one for soggy bread, usually, but this was a dream.

Then, I went with another appetizer, the smoked trout, which was deliciously sweet and smoky, layered with yukon gold potatoes and onions and capers, vinegar, frisee, olive oil. So, so good.

I was just digging in when the couple next to me at the bar said "We know you!" Now, how I ask would i know anyone; I'd been there all of four days. "We're Bonnie and Tom! From the cab!" Indeed it was--the friendly married pair who'd been kind enough to share a cab with me the night I arrived. I don't even think
I had my eyes open at the time. "So good to see you!" they chimed. Tom
sprung up and said, "I want you to meet someone."

And before I knew it, I was shaking hands with none other than Philippe
Jeanty himself! "This is my friend Terri, from Martha Stewart!" said
Tom. Then Bonnie struck up a convo with Bob, whom they knew, and it was really like one big party. I never would have thought that, walking in alone to a restaurant in a faraway city, I'd end up talking to three-fourths of the people in the bar!

"You big city types miss out on this small-town feel," said Bob, grinning. And he was right.


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