TRENDING:

Wine Review: Sequoia Grove Winery, Rose of Grenache 202...
Napa Valley Diaries – #30DaysinWineCountry 2025
Everyday Wines That Feel Fancy
Book Review: Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Recipe: Tagliatelle with Prosciutto and Snap Peas
Life. Food. Wine.
  • Restaurant Talk
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Reviews by Location
    • Napa Valley Diaries
    • Fab Dish Friday
  • Tracey on Wine
    • Wine Reviews
    • Wine Wednesday
    • The Wine List
  • In The Kitchen
    • In The Kitchen
    • The Kitchen Recipes
  • BLOG
    • Life Food Wine Blog
    • Shoesday Tuesday
    • Gucci Diaries
    • Thursday Thought
    • Story Time

Select Page

Turkey Bean Soup

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Search LifeFoodWine

INSTA-MOMENTS

lifefoodwine

Join me on my journey as I take one big gulp out of life one small sip at a time #lifefoodwine
#30daysinwinecountry 2025 Day 21 – Work & Don G’s 🍷🕵️‍♀️ Work was productive. The end. (We don’t need to unpack the two days of clean eating and questionable TV binging that came before. Some things are better left on the streaming service.) Anyway, on to the important stuff: dinner. I met up with my Napa friend Traci at the bar at Bistro Don Giovanni, which felt like a fun little plot twist. I usually show off the dreamy patio to out-of-town guests, but tonight was more local, relaxed, and just right. We kicked things off with a chilled glass of the Domaine Gott Rosé and a game of Shishito pepper Russian roulette. Guess who got the zinger? Yep—me. My mouth was on fire, my eyes may have watered, and it definitely took a minute (or five) to recover. But honestly? I loved it. I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to spicy peppers with personality. Then came the entrées and a new friend: Hillary from Georgia, who was the human equivalent of sunshine wrapped in Southern charm. She ordered what can only be described as the entire left side of the menu, just because she felt like it—and I adored her for it. She generously shared everything, but the standout for me? The special of Cauliflower Rigatoni. I could’ve devoured a full plate of it even after my peppers and perfect Branzino (which, by the way, never misses at Don G’s). It was one of those unplanned evenings that ends up being exactly what you needed—good food, great wine, surprise new friends, and the joy of saying “yes” to everything on the menu. A classic Napa night. #NapaValleyNights #BistroDonGiovanni #NapaFoodie #WineAndDine #ShishitoRoulette #BranzinoBliss #RoséAllDay #CauliflowerCravings #NapaEats #LocalVibes #DinnerWithFriends #FoodWithAStory #ConfessionsOfAWineLover
#30daysinwinecountry 2025 - Day 20 - The Great Nap #30daysinwinecountry 2025 - Day 20 - The Great Napa Wine Heist 🍷🕵️‍♀️- Every time I am in Napa, I hear the most marvelous stories. Last year, I shared the story of Ghost Wineries and one on Black Chickens during prohibition. Well, here’s another one for you, which I can’t believe I hadn’t heard before! In 2014, someone pulled off the classiest crime Napa Valley has ever seen at one of the world’s most famous restaurants, The French Laundry. No ski masks. No lasers. Just one smooth operator with expensive taste and zero respect for wine cellar boundaries. 💸 $300,000 worth of wine—poof. Gone faster than a half-price case of Cab at Costco. They stole Screaming Eagle (just look up how much this bad boy costs!), DRC, and other wines that cost more than my mortgage! The kicker? Many bottles were sold, but to this day, many are still missing, and somewhere out there... someone’s pairing a stolen 1990 DRC with Hot Pockets. 🍷 Justice? Yes, for those who received a prison sentence 🕵️‍♀️ The sommelier? Still recovering 🥂 Me? Still suspicious of anyone bringing “rare” wine to a potluck #CabernetCaper #WineHeist #NapaValley #FrenchLaundry #WineCrimes #ScreamingEagle #TrueCrimeButClassy #WineLover #WineHumor #SipResponsibly
#30daysinwinecountry 2025 - Day 19 – Bye to Laur #30daysinwinecountry 2025 - Day 19 – Bye to Lauren and Libby :(, Work, and a Deep Dive into English Muffin Madness - It was time to say goodbye to Lauren and Libby—cue the sad violins. After five days of wine, laughter, and menus we overanalyzed like sommeliers in training, they returned home. I, meanwhile, returned to something called work… but first, a tribute to a true constant for all my visiting friends to Napa: The Model Bakery English Muffins. For the last five years, you’ve heard me rave about these Oprah-Winfrey-loving muffins. And yes, actual Oprah named them one of her “Favorite Things”—two years in a row. If that’s not gospel, I don’t know what is. But what makes them so good? Picture this: An English muffin walks into a bar and meets a crumpet. They hit it off, invite a donut to the party, then all take a clarified butter (ghee) bath together. Voilà: Heaven. Just toast them, slather on even more butter (yes, even though they’re already buttery), add a generous spoonful of strawberry jam, and close your eyes. You’ve officially left Earth. I found a promising recipe on Serious Eats… but I refuse to make them. I know myself. That road leads to muffin ruin, and after this 30-day Napa adventure, it’s time for veg and protein only until further notice. Probably. #EnglishMuffinDevotion #OprahsFavoriteToo #ModelBakeryMagic #NapaWindDown #BackToReality #LifeFoodWineApproved #ToastButterJamBliss
#30daysinwinecountry 2025 - Day 18 – The Church #30daysinwinecountry 2025 - Day 18 – The Church of Chandon, Chimney, and The Bouchon - My Napa neighbor asked if we were headed to church since it was Sunday and we were dressed up. Yes! I replied—“The Church of Chandon.” Domaine Chandon is just five minutes away, and within ten, we were seated for their Terroir Tasting. But did we follow the script? Absolutely not. Our brilliant host, Daniel, listened to us chat about what we liked, what we didn’t, and simply said, “I got you.” And did he ever. I love dry dry dry and he delivered with the Reserve Meunier, an extra brut stunner that may be my new favorite. Libby, who isn’t big on sweet but likes a hint, was given a taste of the 50th Anniversary Winemaker Blend—a collaboration of four head winemakers that was, quite simply, delicious. We sipped bubbles on their dreamy patio, wandered the gardens, and enjoyed a Summer Spritz before heading to R+D Kitchen for lunch with our friend Jaimee—salads, sandwiches, and solid fuel for what was next. Chimney Rock Winery. Known for Cabernet, and rightly so. Two of us are members, so we lounged on the patio tasting an elegant lineup of reds and a standout 2021 Elevage Blanc that was crisp, floral, and fabulous. Jaimee headed home, and for our final night, the KC Gals and I met up with friends at Bouchon. You’ve heard me wax poetic about this place for years, so I’ll just say: it always feels special. Lauren and Libby ordered the Chicken Chasseur (mushrooms, tomatoes, wine—classic and perfect). Libby declared it the best dish of the trip. I got lucky—I took their leftovers. (Guess what’s for dinner tonight?) As for dessert, Libby said no, Lauren said yes to the Strawberry Meringue, and I said: “No… well, maybe… okay I could do ice cream.”The waiter asked what kind. I replied, “Mint… chocolate… something?” He returned with a dish of vanilla ice cream, poured crème de menthe over it, added warm dark chocolate, then sprinkled rock salt on top. WHAT?! It was insane. I’m recreating this at my next Chicago dinner party. Stay tuned. #ChurchOfChandon #ChimneyRockCabs #BouchonForever #BubbleBrunch #WineTastingLife #BestDessertHackEver #napavalleydiaries
Day 17 – Napa Private Tours: Hills, Balsamic, an Day 17 – Napa Private Tours: Hills, Balsamic, and Beautiful Cabs - Wine tasting day—serious mode activated. Picked up at 10 a.m. by the ever-fabulous Flako of Napa Private Tours, who’s never failed us in 13 years. First stop: Amizetta, perched high up on Howell Mountain. The road? A white-knuckle ride. But the wine? Worth every twist. We tasted through their lineup, including the standout CXR (Complexity Reserve). As Lauren put it: “Every wine is better than the last—until you taste the first again!” Next, we headed to The Charter Oak in St. Helena for a courtyard lunch. Standouts included the fermented soy dip, Lulu’s scramble, green shakshuka, and a seriously good smash burger. Then it was off-roading at The Terraces, where we toured by ATV and tasted their 25-year aged balsamic (incredible), sparkling cider, and the favorite of the day: their 2023 Chenin Blanc. We ended at the serene Forman Vineyards, known for their “one winemaker, one vineyard, one wine” philosophy. We did a sort of vertical tasting of Cabernets (2017–2021)—the 2019 was unforgettable—and a surprise Chardonnay that was perfectly elegant. Huge thanks to Flako for another day of delicious adventure and unforgettable pours. #NapaPrivateTours #HowellMountainHighs #AmizettaWines #CharterOakLunch #BalsamicAndBliss #TerracesVineyard #FormanVineyards #WineTastingDay #NapaMagic #NapaValleyDiaries #CheninBlancForever #CabernetDreaming @napaprivatetours
30daysinwinecountry - Day 16 – Part Two: Sooooo 30daysinwinecountry - Day 16 – Part Two: Sooooo Many Amuse-Bouches & Auberge du OMG Food Coma. Welcome to Part Two. If we thought we were in a food coma after Bistro Jeanty, we were adorably naïve. Let’s begin. Auberge du Soleil is not just a restaurant—it’s an experience. Nestled high in the hilltops of St. Helena, this stunning slice of nirvana greets you with genuine enthusiasm and then quietly steals your breath with panoramic views of the forest and vineyards. We were escorted to a patio table with a jaw-dropping view and handed menus featuring two prix fixe options: 3 courses for $180 or 4 courses for $205. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Oh, you have no idea. Just as we were settling in, the champagne cart rolled up. I mean… how could we not? We each ordered a glass 3oz pours of Iron Horse bubbly to kick things off. Auberge is generous with wine pours—they’ll do half pours, and by mid-meal, we discovered they’ll even do 1oz pours. We took them up on that. Now let’s talk food. Was anything disappointing? Absolutely not. And just in case four courses weren’t enough, they surprised us with an amuse-bouche between every course—as if we might forget how to eat. Check out the photos for what went down and, if you want to know exactly what we indulged in, check pit lifefoodwine,com. We rolled ourselves into an Uber, which I swear should’ve charged us an extra $50 for the emotional and physical baggage we were carrying. Food. Coma. Achieved. #AubergeDuSoleil #NapaValleyEats #StHelenaViews #LuxuryDining #TastingMenuMagic #NapaMoments
30daysinwinecountry - Day 16 – Part One: The GD 30daysinwinecountry - Day 16 – Part One: The GD Chickens, Lucy, and Darioush Yes, friends—this is a two-parter. Buckle up. Let’s begin with the goddamn chickens next door. Were they being strangled? Sacrificed? Made into coq au vin? No one knows. All we do know is that they were SCREAMING at the top of their tiny chicken lungs from 7 AM onward. I had dreams of sleeping in, but those dreams were crushed. Libby, half asleep, thought she was being chased by geese. That’s how intense it was. With sleep officially canceled, we decided on a spontaneous brunch at Lucy at Bardessono. When we arrived, we discovered brunch had ended and lunch was in full swing—not what my avocado-egg-toast craving self wanted. The waiter overheard me whining (gracefully, of course), and whispered sweet nothings to the chef… and somehow, miraculously, all three of us got exactly what we were craving: avocado toast, fried eggs, a simple side salad, crispy bacon, and a fresh fruit bowl. It hit every note. Nicely fueled, we made our way to Darioush Winery for the Mezze Experience, which I had originally booked indoors—but the outdoor setting was too gorgeous to pass up. If you’ve never been, Darioush is a Persian palace plopped right in the middle of Napa Valley. Photos don’t do it justice. Though we veered a bit off the official pairing script, here’s a taste of what we experienced: 2024 Signature Chardonnay: crisp, summery, and paired with roasted Persian pistachios—perfection 2022 Signataure Cabernet Franc: paired with a warm pistachio soup topped with crushed pistachios. So good, I’m planning to recreate it this summer 2022 Signature Cabernet Franc: served alongside a mesquite-grilled lamb chop on a bed of smoked eggplant purée. Gorgeous 2022 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon: young and fruit-forward, bursting with personality. Not quite a grown-up yet, but it’s got potential—like a charming college student with a Napa internship. Stay tuned for Part Two… #DarioushWinery #NapaValleyWine #WineTastingAdventure #LucyBrunch #GirlsTrip #ChardonnayDays #NapaMoments
30daysinwinecountry - Day 15 – The KC Gals and B 30daysinwinecountry - Day 15 – The KC Gals and Bistro Jeanty. Another productive workday wrapped up just in time for the arrival of the KC crew—Lauren and Libby! A quick unpack, a change of clothes, and we were out the door, heading straight for Bistro Jeanty. You’ve heard me gush about this place before, and yes, I’m doing it again. From the warm welcome to the impeccable waitstaff to the indulgently rich French cuisine, it’s just always so good. We scored a patio table with classic bistro chairs and caught up over glasses of Hill Family Rosé. Then came the food. Let’s just say… thank goodness I had a few salad-and-veggie days before this. We started with the heirloom beet salad with arugula, feta, and citrus dressing—sweet, tangy, and delicious. That was the righteous part. Then came the indulgence: Coq au Vin with chicken, mushrooms, applewood smoked bacon, and red wine stew Mussels steamed in cider with crème fraîche and grilled bread The special: Mediterranean Sea Bass with clams, mussels, bouillabaisse broth, and saffron aioli croustade It was glorious. But then… dessert happened. Profiteroles topped with warm dark chocolate and chocolate croissant bread pudding. Yes. We waddled home in a full-blown food coma—at 8:45 PM, which feels practically like midnight in Napa. Back at the house, we donned our pajamas, I made tea for the ladies (and poured myself a glass of Hogwash Rosé), and we watched one of my favorites, British comedian Russell Howard. I’m hoping the KC gals love him as much as I do. Day 2 with the KC crew is coming in hot… stay tuned! #NapaLife #BistroJeanty #GirlsTrip #FoodieAdventures #KCtoNapa #WineCountryEats #HillFamilyRosé #TravelWithFriends #NapaValleyVibes #FrenchCuisineFix #FoodComaChronicles #VacationMode
#30daysinwinecountry - Day 14 – Patio Work & A L #30daysinwinecountry - Day 14 – Patio Work & A Late Lunch Discovery. Today was one of those rare, glorious work-from-home days where everything just flows. The best part? I spent most of it outside on the patio, laptop humming, birds chirping, and a gentle breeze whispering productivity. So productive, in fact, that I completely lost track of time—and by the time I looked up, it was 3pm and I hadn’t eaten a thing. Oops. Cue a late lunch/early dinner at The Coop by Hoopes, a charming new outdoor café tucked behind the Yountville Community Center. I’d been meaning to try it, and it did not disappoint. This cozy little corner spot radiates joy—welcoming smiles, colorful decor, and a slightly Indian-inspired menu that feels just adventurous enough. I went with The Coop Sandwich, served on a soft, buttery bun (pretty sure it was brioche!) layered with cilantro, green chutney (on the side and perfect for dipping), roasted red onion, and mixed greens. It was fresh, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. And the chips? Sweet and spicy and suspiciously addictive. I was hoping home-made, but I later discovered they were Lay’s Barbecue, but dressed up just enough to feel gourmet. I had to stop myself from asking for more. They also offer Hoopes Vineyards wines by the glass, along with coffee and sodas—but today was a cleanse day, so I behaved. 🍷. I’m already plotting my return. A delicious, walkable lunch gem right in town? Yes, please. #YountvilleEats #TheCoopByHoopes #NapaunchFinds #PatioWorkDay #NapaEats #CleanseDayWithStyle #FoodieDiscovery #NapaLiving #WineCountryLife #HoopesVineyard #CafeVibes #hiddengemalert
Follow on Instagram

CATEGORIES

  • Blog
  • Book Reviews
  • Cocktail Time
  • Fab Dish Friday
  • Featured
  • Featured Video
  • Gucci Diaries
  • Guest Bloggers
  • Hotel Reviews
  • In The Kitchen
  • Insta Moments
  • Movie Reviews
  • Musical Reviews
  • Napa Valley Diaries
  • Play Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Restaurant Talk
  • Shoesday Tuesday
  • Story Time
  • The Wine List
  • Thursday Thought
  • Tracey on Wine
  • Travel
  • Weekend Download
  • Wine Reviews
  • Wine Wednesday
  • Wine Wednesday Fun

FEATURED VIDEO

Loading...
  • Valentine’s Day
  • michael mcintyre on wine snobs
  • My Favorite holiday movie
  • Julie and Julia
  • Uncorked – a netflix movie

FOLLOW LIFE FOOD WINE

  • Facebook

  • Google+

  • Youtube

  • Pinterest

  • Instagram

SUBSCRIBE

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Life. Food. Wine. | All Rights Reserved | 2024