WEEKEND IN HEALDSBURG
WHERE TO STAY:
If you're in search of warmer weather, next level food and wine, and some much needed down time, downtown Healdsburg makes a great weekend escape in the bay area. Chong and I drove up for the weekend and shared a room at 235 Luxury Suites with our good friends Carlina, Francisco, Chanda, and Derek. We stayed in The Plaza suite. With a big living space, spacious kitchen, and three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, the room is ideal for couples or groups of 6. It was so comfy, it made us feel at home and our weekend stay was that much more relaxing.
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WHAT TO DO / WHERE TO EAT:
Our weekend included some wine hopping and good dining. In Healdsburg, each tasting room visit carries a unique concept. From intimate sit-down tastings to world-class restaurants, this little town in Sonoma county has some of the most impressive food and wine experiences. It's not just what they sell, but the stories they tell and the love they really put into their craft. Here are a few hot spots with my top recs from each.
The Gallery Bar & Bistro at Barndiva for dinner. Start off your first night in town here! So many dishes to love. Think pommes frites in potato chip form, must-have Chèvre croquettes with lavender honey, The Gallery steak or a popular house favorite, the burger. Everything was delicious. Enjoy it with any of their instagram-worthy specialty cocktails. You'll thank me later.
Banshee Wines for the 2017 Rosé. Melon and nectarine notes with the Pinot Noir that adds bright red berries and floral scents. I am by no means anywhere close to a wine connoisseur, but I really enjoyed this chilled.
Portalupi for the food and wine pairing. Any wine that is paired with food has my name written all over it. A selection of wines paired with delicious bites, this pairing left my mouth watering for more. From goat cheese crisps to smoked salmon bites and mini bruschetta toasties to hearty ravioli squares, Portalupi provided a rich and satisfying experience. It's one of those places you discover and just want to tell everyone you know to go try it out too.
Noble Folk Ice Cream and Pie Bar for dessert lovers, do yourself a favor and get the Matcha Oreo pie with a scoop of cornflakes ice cream. I'm obsessed.
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WHAT TO WEAR:
The gorgeous 80 degree weather called for light and gauzy jumpsuits to meet those high summer vibes. I felt so cool and carefree living in breezy one pieces all weekend. :)
SHOP THE LOOK:
I hope you guys find the time to make it up there one of these days. I've lived in SF all my life and this was actually my first visit to Healdsburg. I enjoyed it so much, I'm already trying to schedule another visit back before Summer's over. Next time, as an alternative to visiting Napa again, venture out to downtown Healdsburg. It's well worth it. :)