May 27, 2021 5:45 pm
After two days of comparing Michelin-starred restaurants, Oyen picked Auberge du Soleil, a less-formal French restaurant in Rutherford, Napa Valley, for my birthday dinner.
The road to Auberge reminded me of the South of France and Tuscany too.
As soon as we entered their compound, I knew already that Oyen made the right choice.
There’s free valet parking but be ready with a generous tip.  Not one dollar!   Depending on the kind of car you drive,  you have to walk the talk.  I see some fancy cars so their tips must be fancy too. Their  parking area is limited so having valet is really helpful.
Auberge du Soleil opened in 1981 and was the first fine dining restaurant in Napa Valley. It was founded by Claude Roxas, a French restaurateur.
The view from The Terrace is decompressing. It relaxes my eyes and mind.
The place is classy but not pretentious.  The menu choices  are also easy to comprehend.  I don’t need a culinary dictionary to understand the names of the dishes.
Executive Chef Robert Curry has maintained Auberge’s four decades of legacy as a culinary destination in this wine region.
We are not dressed formally so the casual vibe makes us feel relaxed, not stiff.
To happiness, good health, safety, prosperity.
Bravo a une vie prospere et longue.
Among the dishes, the foie gras single-handedly took my breath away. The way this fat liver was cooked and seasoned was perfect for me. If only my bad cholesterol is not as high as a steeple, I would come here again and again just for this. Delicieuse!
I forgot to take pictures of the other dishes.
Dining in restaurants is only a means to gather the family together. The meals must not be centered on the food and venue but on the relatuonships, the bonding, the time that we spend interacting not texting, while all of us sit at the table. The moments must be made memorable not by how delicious the food is but by how much we love and care for each other.
I thank God for another year of life that is filled with love and blessings. I thank God for giving me strength to deal with life’s challenges.
Life could be a lot happier without bad-meaning people who are not sincere in their dealings with us. My stresses the past year and at present are caused by individuals who take advantage of my generosity and are testing my patience. At my age right now, I have come to realize that there could be as many bad people as the good ones here on earth.
I pray that everyday will be a day of content and satisfaction not only for myself but for all.
My birthday wishes are imbedded in my heart and soul and God knows them too well.
I am truly grateful. Happy birthday dear me.
