Ah, there is nothing more pleasant and satisfying than dinner by the Napa river on a warm sunny evening. Angèle Restaurant in Napa is one of those perfect places where you almost feel transported to another country (in this case, southern France).

It’s not just in the quality of the food or the ambiance, or even the quality of the truly french baguette and butter. No. It that, plus the little things, like the detail in the wording of menu items (Poulet au Grand Mére - Grand Mother’s Chicken) to the tasteful, gentle and not overwhelmingly french music, to the staff being unpretentious (…well just a bit), and everyone, down to the busboy being able to pronounce Bon Appétit so effortlessly akin to Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia.

Onto the food. Obviously, one of us had the Poulet au grand mère - Grand Mother’s Chicken (which I tried and declared delicious- definitely french and appropriately heavy on the Demi Glace), but not me. I opted for the Flétan au Verjus - halibut glazed with the juice of unripened grapes. Absolutely perfect- and I mean it. The fish was cooked PERFECTLY. Flakey yet soft, it was nothing like the typical overcooked tough and chewy american style cooked fish. Beautiful. The beans and artichokes that accompanied the fish were also divine, and the brown butter foam emulsion put gave it modern flair and put it over the top.

 

Will definitely be back, Angèle. A definite new regular place to have a leisurely dinner.

 

Fletan au Verjus- Halibut with lacopi Butter beans, Artichoke and Brown Butter Emulsion

Perfectly cooked Halibut- note the flakiness.

Poulet au Grand Mere – Fricasee of Roasted Chicken ad Root Vegetables en Cocotte, Demi Glace, Lemon herb oil.

Joues de Veau – Braised Veal Cheeks Leek Fondue, Pickled Ramps, Orange Supreme, Watercress

Sun setting over the Napa River @ Angèle