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 You're not easily starstruck, but you wouldn't complain if a three-time Emmy Award winner were to
cook you dinner.
Especially if said celebrity happened to actually be a world-class chef.
Which is why you'll want to check out Bottega (Italian for "artist's studio"), chef Michael
Chiarello's casual Napa eatery, dishing out rustic Italian and local wines, opening Friday in
Yountville.
You'll soak in the casual vibe from the moment you pull up (making it a welcome addition in the land of the
French Laundrys and Bouchons). The wine starts flowing immediately—start with a Chardonnay from the
well-curated 150-bottle list at a table outside on the terrazzo near one of the massive fireplaces as you
breathe in the vine-scented air (beats regular air any day). Then head inside, settle at a communal barnwood
table (or opt for a more romantic two-top) and prepare to dine under 140-year-old wood beams and Murano
glass chandeliers.
But the real reason you came is to enjoy the Chiarello fare—rustic farm-to-table dishes, big, bold
Italian flavors and fresh-picked Napa Valley produce—that you've previously only seen on TV (like
The Soup, but tastier). We like the gray salt-cured Berkshire pork prosciutto (because gray is the
new black) and the wood-oven roasted meats like Duroc pork or grilled swordfish.
It's the best TV dinner you'll ever eat.
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