Comments on: Ubuntu (Napa, CA) – Something Wonderful

By: Coomer

Coomer — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:21:05 +0000

Manresa- what more is there to say? I date a vegetarian, so it’s often “interesting” to get a tasting with the stipulation- really, no meat, no fish…. sometimes there are hits- Chef Yamamoto did a fabulous job with the request at RyuGin, and the French Laundry and Per Se already have a set tasting of vegetables, others not so much… Chef Kinch did a wonderful tasting for her on Saturday.

I am already planning a return trip for each of the upcoming “seasons” to see how the garden changes and the menu reflects that.

Do you happen to know what Chef Fox has planned now that he has left Ubuntu?

By: chuckeats

chuckeats — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:23:17 +0000

(and, incidentally, the desserts you had @ Manresa were by Deannie Fox – who made the desserts pictured here.)

By: chuckeats

chuckeats — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:22:37 +0000

Coomer – now that Fox has left, these reviews are null & void. I have not been since the switch and I’m not particularly compelled at the moment. I just ate @ Manresa on Thursday so, yes, I know your meal there was spot on!

By: Coomer

Coomer — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:44:47 +0000

Hrm… just dined there on Saturday. The service… let’s leave it at “horrible” and be done with it. The food, while good, was nowhere near revolutionary, or *truly* inspirational. Fox is gone… so maybe that had an effect.

The food was good. But honestly, I’ve had much better “vegetable” centric meals at The Green Zebra in Chicago. And the service at Green Zebra is much better.

I had such high, high hopes for Ubuntu. I’m not sure I’d bother again.

Now… fortunately, we backed up Friday’s Ubuntu reservation with a Saturday res at Manresa- now that was a meal!!!!

By: Trine

Trine — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:10:20 +0000

Thanks for the clarification. Yeah, I was really surprised it didn’t have any before.

By: chuckeats

chuckeats — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:38:17 +0000

trine, it has a star now – it did not have one last year.

By: Trine

Trine — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:06:17 +0000

Ubuntu doesn’t currently have a star?
Like you said in CPH – Manresa and Ubuntu are on my list!

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:56:18 +0000

Thanks, Chuck. I’m hoping to take a trip out to the valley either in mid December or mid February. I’ll definitely keep you posted. I’m dying to go to Ubuntu. I see a lot of visual/aesthetic similarities to Noma. These photos are killing me.

By: ulterior epicure

ulterior epicure — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:26:18 +0000

@ chuck. I’m such a predictable sop. The beets dish is the one that gets me worked up the most from this meal. So does the look of those Frog Hollow peaches at the end. You want to know something pathetic? I had Frog Hollow peaches recently — in New York. That kind of nonsense almost cancels out the very soul of what places like Frog Hollow are about.

By: ulterior epicure

ulterior epicure — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:20:04 +0000

Great report and recap as usual Chuck. Adam, you really need to get to ubuntu. And I need to return. NEED.

re: gooseberry skins. Doubtful you’d want to eat them. And if you did, you’d probably remember the experience. Those papery husks are usually naturally dry with the berries are picked off the plant.