8 minute read
Food & Drink
Sippin on Staycation
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Maura Sullivan
As we approach the last few weeks of consistently fantastic summer weather, we all have vacation on our minds. Don’t get me wrong, Benicia’s bay breeze isn’t too shabby, but why neglect our Northern California neighbors? My staycation/day trip choice is where they make the good juice: Napa Valley.
Lucky for you, I’m a Benician who has recently converted into a Napkin, and I’ve got the intel.
As we’re all aware, California is restricted when it comes to indulging in some luxury activities, but wine tasting has some advantages. Outdoor seating with a great view is already offered around the valley. The only change up is reservations are a must and party size is limited. You’ll find this request is not difficult once you’re sitting on a terrace admiring your gem-color filled glass, glistening in the warm summer sun.
A month or so ago, a colleague and I were invited to an industry visit to a beautiful boutique winery named Young Inglewood Vineyards. We turned off the 29 and headed down a small St. Helena road. Gated homes that only got bigger the further we drove. As we parked and crossed the driveway down a gravel path surrounded by lavender and grape vines, I felt the normalcy and comfort I’ve been looking for, for months. Reading “surrounded by vines” is obviously a common description in the valley, but there is a different atmosphere to small-producing wineries. It feels as if someone is inviting you into their extravagant home to share their recent craftsmanship. At each tasting visit, I’m always in awe of the room, right down to the tasting table. Young Inglewood’s table did not disappoint. As we passed the collected artwork to the tasting room, the light changed. The wall had lifted and opened to greet the vineyard. The wine was perfectly poured into 7 glasses. Placed in a perfect crescent shape. The table looked like it had jumped out of a Restoration Hardware magazine, but with a homemade feel. The glassware was delicate but made a statement as it caught the light of the sun and reflected colors onto our tasting sheets. The reds were complex and robust. They almost confused me for a higher elevation red. The whites were refreshing and gave you a hint of that Napa Valley Chardonnay warmth. The rose … well let’s just say it’s unsweetened, drinkable candy to dry rose connoisseurs.
This experience is not hard to obtain, even in these strange times. VisitNapaValley.com offers a list of open wineries and can even categorize them by wine varietal. This way you can jump straight to your favorites or try what you’re most curious about. For example, if wine tasting is not in your budget or not what you’re interested in, Yountville offers great spots for picnicking. BYOB (bring your own booze) is not frowned upon there. Especially at the Veteran’s Park. You can hop over to JCB, grab a bottle of bubbles and skip next door for some great to-go cheese options. Cupcakes from Fox & Fawn Bakehouse always pack well. Of course, you can’t forget to grab some savory goodies from One House Bakery for take away.
Get out to the valley! We all deserve an outdoor, relaxing experience. Stay safe and sip out of a fancy glass!
Java Point Café
Jeannine Mendoza Ed.D
This Socrates quote is particularly apt for the restaurant industry during the current COVID-19 pandemic, both nationally, throughout our country’s fifty states, and locally, here in Benicia. One unique restaurant that has transformed itself is Java Point Cafe, run by the Alberto family and their partners, Casey and J.P. De La Cruz.
Java Point Café opened in 2006 as a family catering business that morphed into a family café. The Alberto clan came from the Philippines. All four kids worked at the restaurant while in high school, and stayed on after graduation to develop the vision of their restaurant. Over the years, Java Point Café expanded their menu beyond basic coffee shop fare to include paninis, crab and avocado melts, and specialty egg dishes like the ultra-popular crab benedict and, my favorite, tapsilog. A Filipino breakfast dish, tapsilog features marinated tri-tip steak pieces that have been cooked and placed on a bed of garlic rice with two softly fried eggs on top. The sharp flavor of the accompanying pickled green papaya, and the fresh tomatoes and cucumber contrast nicely with the meat, rice and eggs, creating a taste treat trifecta. Unbelievably yummy!
Java Point Cafe is no slouch when it comes to coffee, offering coffee specialties that rival any ubiquitous coffeehouse chain. They boast a great selection that includes chai latte, hot chocolate, espresso, café mocha and even a cold honey lavender latte. Their superlative raspberry scones are to die for and the house-made banana walnut bread is delicious, as is the blueberry walnut coffee cake.
Dinner menu items include chicken satay with peanut curry dipping sauce, cracked beef with onions (another Filipino dish), and garlic butter jumbo shrimp. Also available are shrimp and pork lumpia, the traditional Filipino version of eggrolls, served with a sweet chili dipping sauce. Sides include a delicious Hawaiian-style macaroni salad — Socrates that is both creamy and luscious, fruit salad, a cucumber salad, and a savory Java rice .
The restaurant’s management is committed to the health and safety of both customers and staff and is offering to-go menu items only, for the time being. But recently, Java Point Café partnered with The Chill, a wine bar two doors down and began offering menu items at The Chill’s outdoor seating. This means you can enjoy Java Point Café’s delicious menu items while drinking wine or beer in an outdoor setting. It is heartening to see two Benicia businesses work together to provide a relaxing and delicious alternative to purchasing food for takeout only. These two businesses should be lauded for thinking outside the box and creating an opportunity for the public to enjoy food and drink in a safe outdoor location.
Java Point
366 1st St, Benicia, CA 94510 707.745.1449
Join us for a Benicia mystery series. There will be clues as the story unfolds each month leading to an unexpected and terrifying conclusion. Welcome to “Picket Fences.” Picket Fences
Continued from August Darrell Mcelvane
Angela arrives at the office where her friend and colleague is waiting for his daily coffee fix. As soon as she walks through the door of the Wingate Real Estate agency, she is met by Mark Chambers, a man in his early 40s with jet black hair and a penchant for overdressing.
“As requested,” Angela says, handing him his order from Farm & Flour. “What’s on your agenda today?” Taking a sip of his coffee he answers, “I have a listing appointment at 2pm on Cove Way.” Angela’s face lights up with interest, “That’s a beautiful property! It’s the house with a view of the Carquinez Straits that overlooks that lovely little beach… that’s waterfront living at its finest. That house is worth 2.0 million at least, how did you…? Never mind, I don’t want to know, just make it happen.”
“Of course! That’s what I do, you know” he says, preening a bit…”and I have a date tonight,” Mark boasts. Looking at her watch, Angela says, “I have a showing at 4 today and then I have to run home and change to meet Bruce at Bella Siena for dinner.” At that moment, Angela notices a black sports car slowing almost to a stop in front of her office, then quickly accelerating down the street.
“Angela? Hey, Angela! You okay?” Mark asks, concerned. “I’m not sure,” she answers, “let me ask you something. Have you heard who’s buying the Baxter house? I already poked around on the MLS and found nothing.” Mark replies, “No... but I’ll see what I can find. It could be a private sale.” “Yeah… maybe,” Angela murmurs with a somewhat worried tone.
Later, Angela heads home to change for dinner with Bruce. She pulls into the driveway and heads into the house, only stopping to grab water from the fridge. Angela slips into a green vintage strapless dress she picked up from Rags to Riches and gold heels to match her gold accessories, one of which is the bracelet Bruce gifted her for her birthday earlier that year. Angela hears the door close downstairs. Apprehensively, she calls out, “Payton, honey…. Payton, is that you?” She slowly creeps downstairs and looks around the corner into the dining room. “Hi, Mom.” Startled, Angela reels backward, letting out a scream. Payton grabs her before she can fall. “I’m sorry, Mom! Are you okay?” asked Payton. Catching her breath, Angela manages to speak, “Yes, I’m fine…” Then, chiding her son, “Boy, why didn’t you answer me?”
“I had my headphones in! You sure are jumpy...” “Yes, I am a bit. I left $40 on the table for food, your dad and I shouldn’t be too late.” “Okay, cool.” Shrugging, Payton starts walking upstairs, but pauses. “Did we get a new car?” he asks. Angela turns to look up at him. “What are you talking about? What car?” Payton responds with a surprised look on his face, “The one in the driveway!” Striding toward the front door she thinks, what is he talking about?
She opens the door and, suddenly, she can’t breathe.
Right there, right in front of her, is the past she so desperately tried to leave behind. Barely getting a breath out, Angela says in a low voice, “Connie …what are you doing here… How did you find…” Angela stands frozen, not believing her own eyes and anxiously hoping this is a nightmare she’ll wake up form at any moment. Connie looks back at Angela like a cat that finally caught the mouse. “Hello Ree – I mean, Angela… that is what you're calling yourself these days, isn’t it? I’ve come to talk to you about a house.”
