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a cheap date in NAPA ? Uva Tratoria and Napa Valley Opera House make it happen 20 www.nAPAVA L L E Y L I F Emagaz ine.com Date Night on $50 by Drs. Ron and Mary Wiliams “You two are always having so much fun!” our friends tell us. “What’s your secret?” Well, my friend, our “Date Night” every week is the answer. How do we do it? The challenge. . . a $50 budget. We jokingly call it “Dining out with Grant,” as President Ulysses S. Grant is on the $50 bill. There are many options for a romantic evening out in Napa. Art, music, movies, restaurants, parks and of course, wineries abound. One can certainly spend a lot of money, experience world class cuisine and create memorable moments, but there’s a way to do it on a skinny budget, too. We’re going to share some of our special finds with you. Part of the fun for us is shopping local and supporting our Napa neighbors. In this challenging economy, we feel it’s important to help local businesses thrive. So come along with us on our Date Night. Tonight we’re checking out downtown Napa. Uva Tratt oria Italiana 1040 Clinton St., Napa • 707-255-6646 www.uvatrattoria.com Tuesday evenings during “Happy Hour” at the bar from 4–6 pm, try the Kobe Beef Burger with fries and a draft beer for $10. Yummyricious! We opted for the house red wine, which was an Italian Sangiovese at $5/glass. Beer was $3, well drinks $4.The burger is HUGE, cooked to order, served with cheese of your choice, fresh heirloom tomato slice, romaine lettuce, red onion slices on a tasty bun. We both enjoy blue cheese. The flavor was pungent and creamy, a perfect amount with bits melting out the sides of the burger. Paired with freshly cut skinny French fries and ketchup, this was a BIG meal. If you’re in the mood for something besides a burger, the Antipasti menu has a $5 list of options: crab cake, pizzette with sausage and mozzarella, and others. The full menu is inspired by seasonal organic local produce and Bay Area sustainably produced seafood, poultry and meats. Gluten-free options are available as well. Try some of our favorites: the Margherita pizza; housemade Black & White Spaghetti, with clams, mussels, laughing bird shrimp, marinara and white wine; or a salad of golden and chioggia beets, frisee, arugula, goat cheese, candied walnuts and citrus vinaigrette. Sometimes we share the bone-in rib eye steak with a peppercorn reduction sauce, mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. For wine lovers, bring your favorite vintage—there’s no corkage fee on your table’s first 750 ml bottle. Owner Aaron Diaz sets the atmosphere with warm Tuscan colors, soft lighting, deep wood tones and white tablecloths. Walls are dotted with a multitude of black and white photos of celebrities, musicians and artists, creating a hip yet classy vibe. The bartender, Justin Williams (no relation), keeps patrons refreshed with a handsome wine list and skillfully prepared cocktails. Server Pedro Castillo ensures that guests’ needs are deftly met with a smile. As locals, they’ll recognize your favorites next time you visit. Thursdays through Sundays, Uva Trattoria offers a vibrant schedule of live music from artists around the Bay Area. Check their monthly calendar online for details. Whether you’re in the mood for Jazz, Blues, Soul, Latin, or Flamenco guitar, you’re sure to find some good music here. In a town where few places are open late, it’s nice that the bar is open till midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. We love to dance and appreciate the variety of live performance in such a cozy, romantic setting. As their specials chalkboard states, “Buon Cibo, Buon Vivo, Buon Amici.” Kobe Beef Burger with blue cheese & fries X 2 = $20. Add 2 glasses of House Italian Zinfandel (very nice pairing with the burger) = $10. Total spent = $30. The night is still young! Off to the Napa Valley Opera House for Tuesday Night Flicks, the last Tuesday of each month at 7 pm. Tickets were $7 each. We enjoyed the 1949 classic movie “Adam’s Rib,” starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. The movie was preceded by a short update on the story behind the movie, with a bit of Hollywood nostalgia. Check the NV Opera House Calendar of Events for upcoming movies and events. Wine and beer, coffee and sodas were available for purchase, but that was beyond our $50 budget for the evening. We were still quite full and satisfied from our dinner at Uva, so we didn’t miss anything. Total spent for dinner and a movie for two. . . $44. We didn’t include the tip in our calculations because that’s a personal decision. We tip generously, especially knowing that the bargain price for a meal allows for a wonderful evening out. So that’s our Tuesday evening Date Night on $50. Watch for more of our expeditions in the Napa Valley. Drs. Ron and Mary Williams live in Napa, enjoy cooking, entertaining, traveling, fishing, camping, golf and celebrating life with family and friends. Look for their “Date Night” adventures in future issues of Napa Valley Life. Eggplant Parmigiana with basil and tomato sauce


NVLife_NovDec_2013
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