HAUTE CUISINE

The Awesome Aura of Auro at Four Seasons Napa Valley

New to the fine dining scene in Calistoga

BY LAURIE JO MILLER FARR

As rows of grapevines flashed their autumn brilliance, wine country’s newest fine dining experience made its debut at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley in Calistoga. Enter Auro. Guests enter—quite literally—via the vaulted TRUSS restaurant and fireside lounge to the more intimate concept beyond.

Spaces and functions blend seamlessly. Beside the chef’s table, a glass wall provides an intimate view of the action in an open kitchen where executive chef Rogelio Garcia and the talented culinary team prepare a seasonally inspired 5-course tasting menu. Floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors open to the terrace against a backdrop of vineyards and mountains. The dining room’s interior of dark woods, landscape-inspired hues, and muted earthy tones complement the resort’s setting. In fact, the entire property was conceived around an existing 4.7-acre vineyard and winery, Elusa, the onsite brainchild of superstar winemaker and consultant Thomas Rivers Brown.

Executive chef Rogelio Garcia is a busy man in the spotlight. A former contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef, season 15, with a stellar pedigree that includes The French Laundry and Spruce, Garcia is at the helm of both Auro and TRUSS. He explains, “This menu is

a tribute to my evolution as a chef. Little did I know that an afterschool job as a dishwasher in Yountville would grow into a passion and, eventually, a career.”

At Auro, Chef Garcia’s menu changes weekly and showcases hyper-seasonal local cuisine prepared with global culinary techniques. He shares, “This menu begins in the fields and farms of Northern California. It captures my joy of ingredient sourcing, the excitement of beginning a new season, the smell of the sea and the soil, and my friendships with our ranchers, farmers, and fishermen.”

Each tasting menu dish is accompanied by a dedicated world class wine in a program curated by accomplished sommelier Derek Stevenson. His selections come from an extensive cellar of 250 labels with a local emphasis designed to embrace the regional Calistoga community and support the resourceful individuals within its dynamic wine industry.

While wonderful, fresh food is the star of the show and wine plays a masterful supporting role, Auro’s thoughtful presentations—sometimes whimsical, sometimes elegant— prompted plenty of conversation around the table. On a recent visit, some favorite dishes included a most impressive Norwegian king crab, Calabrese saucisson, fennel, and Yukon gold potatoes served with a 2021 Arnot-Roberts rosé from Healdsburg. Meat lovers swooned over a lean, perfect rectangle of delicious Kagoshima A5 Wagyu, spinach, matsutake, and Périgord truffle bordelaise paired with an outstanding 2014 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder. The finale of gianduja chocolate pavé with hazelnut praline was conceived with a lacy dentelle and plated to match, complemented by Quinta Do Noval, a 10-year-old tawny port.

Hours: Thursday - Saturday, 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. fourseasons.com/napavalley/dining/restaurants/auro Sommelier Derek Stevenson

Majestic Mansion with Panoramic Views Tiburon, California DESIGNER HOME OVER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AT PRESTIGIOUS BELVEDERE LOCATION A fully furnished resort-like rental for your home away from home

3 Beds | 3 Baths | Bay Views | 3,000± sq. ft. Offered at $4,995,000

This waterfront showplace was a former home of award winning designer Martin Kobus which he fully renovated in 2011-2012. Known for creating calm, welcoming spaces that showcase his modern aesthetic, Martin reimaged this sunny bright home into a waterfront resort-like design with high ceilings and huge windows to enjoy the breathtaking San Francisco Bay views. Located on the coveted West Shore in Belvedere, this appx. 3,000 sq ft, 3 bedroom, 3 baths waterfront home features a state-of-the-art kitchen with a huge Caesarstone island, all bathrooms feature limestone floors and Caesarstone counters; living room with high ceiling, wall-to-wall windows and a large fireplace; family room with TV and built-in desk, dining room and kitchen combo sharing a large fireplace and large view windows; two bedrooms each with full bath on main floor with direct doors to Bay and garden. All main floor rooms have doors opening to the spacious 1,000 + square foot waterfront deck for gracious outdoor entertaining. Luxurious second full floor master

6 Beds | 5 Baths | 2 Half-Baths | ±0.94 acre suite with fireplace, walk-in closets, a cozy office area and a terrace A spectacular high quality contemporary residence with panoramic views of overlooking the Bay. Wide plank hard wood oak floors through-out the San Francisco Bay from every room, this majestic ±7,693 sq ft 6 bedroom, 5 entire home. Almost every room enjoys spectacular views of Bay, San full baths and 2 half-baths mansion was built in 2006 on a ±0.94 acre lot Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, Mount Tam and beyond. There adjacent to Tiburon open spaces with ample privacy. The interior features huge windows providing great natural light, the formal living room showcases is a two car garage and a gated garden. West Shore Road is the widest street in Belvedere with ample off-street parking. Belvedere West Shore is known as the best yachting location on San Francisco Bay with easy 2- oor-high ceiling windows that frame the panoramic Bay views, a stunning access to Corinthian Yacht Club and San Francisco Yacht Club. chandelier, and a replace. The formal dining room with matching chandelier Downtown Tiburon is walking and biking distance with Ferry services to connects to a high quality designer kitchen with center island, dining counter San Francisco and Angel Island and has dozen great restaurants. for 6 seats, and ample cabinets. This open oor plan includes a butler’s pantry, spacious family room with replace, a wet bar and a temperature controlled wine cellar, all leading to the expansive entertainment terrace with an outdoor kitchen. The private and opulent master suite features a replace, a separate sitting room, a luxurious bathroom with stunning views and a walk-in closet. 5 other bedrooms all have beautiful Bay views. There is also a deluxe library/ media room and a billiard room with a bar. The nearly one acre grounds feature a huge stone terrace with an outdoor kitchen, a bocce ball court, a golf putting green, terraced gardens, a marble gazebo with re pit, a pool site, a three-car garage, and a gated motor court with a marble fountain and space to park 10+ cars. Downtown Tiburon is just a few minutes away with 2 world class yacht clubs, Bayside bike path, ferry services to San Francisco and Angel Island, great restaurants such as Michael Mina’s Bungalow Kitchen, Malibu Farm, Caprice and Sam’s Cafe. More photos and information available at 189GilmartinDrive.com.

The home is fully furnished for rent at $24,000/mo and possible for sale to serious buyers only. For details, text Olivia Decker at 415.720.5915