Wines by the Glass to Last a Lifetime

For over 25 years, Cindy Pawlcyn has been serving up terrific American food in the Napa Valley.  When Mustard's Grill opened in 1983, it was among the first of the really good restaurants in wine country.  Mustard's and Cindy's second restaurant, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, have been among my recommended wine country restaurants since Blue Heron opened in 2003.

Recently, I had the opportunity to lunch at Cindy's newest restaurant:  Brassica.  This restaurant is different from the other two in that it features Mediterranean cuisine.  On our visit, we decided to share a variety of small plates; however, full entrees are also available.  Among our favorites were the grilled Monterey Bay sardine; eggplant fries; Monterey squid, red bell pepper, and black olive pizza; and pizzichi di farro with pancetta, porcini, and cremini.

What really made the restaurant special for me was the wine list. Over 50 different wines are available by the glass.  I love to try new wines and having both 2 and 5 ounce pours available enabled me to enjoy four small tastes without worrying about drinking too much.

I'll be including Brassica on the list of lunch options I give to guests touring with me in the Napa Valley.  If you would like to take a private tour of the Napa Valley that includes lunch (or dinner) at Brassica, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.