Taste of the Valley

Chef Bob Hurley and the staff of Hurley’s Restaurant welcome back guest chef Karen Crouse for a Mardi Gras dinner Feb. 5, 5-10 p.m. and reservations are required. The Fat Tuesday prix fixe menu is $65 (including wines) and consists of Oysters Bienville, crawfish cocktail, red beans with rice, jambalaya, beignets and New Orleans coffee. There will be plenty of Mardi Gras beads and doubloons.

Born in New Orleans but raised in Southern California, Crouse, a Napa resident, has been surrounded her whole life with the traditions of New Orleans. She started in the kitchen when she was 5 years old and to this day believes, “the mood you are in when you are cooking impacts the quality of the finished dish.”

Crouse’s family cooked traditional holiday feasts of filé gumbo, oyster dressing and bread pudding — with each member serving up a specialty. The memories of these dishes have led Crouse to recreate them. “I always had the complicated entrees,” she said. “And even now I can still peel a pound of shrimp in less than 15 minutes.”

Hurley’s Restaurant & Bar is at 6518 Washington St., Yountville. For reservations call 944-2345 or visit www.HurleysRestaurant.com.

Three Twins Ice Cream Factory at the Oxbow Public Market is serving free ice cream from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday “to celebrate the 31st birthday of the Founding Twin’s twin brother.” Guests are invited to enjoy a free single-sized cone or “teensy cup” of their choice of Three Twins Ice Cream’s organic ice cream. All gratuities for the day will be donated to the Napa Valley Land Trust.

Suppertime, a local family-owned restaurant, known for its home-style lunches and dinners, is now open for breakfast as well, Monday through Friday, 7-10 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday brunch from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The menu includes breakfast staples like bacon, eggs and French toast, plus three egg stratas and the restaurant’s famous chicken fried steak with biscuits and gravy. Suppertime is at 2977 Solano Ave. Info, 224-3097 or www.SuppertimeinNapa.co.

A highlight of the Pebble Beach Food & Wine weekend, March 27-30, will be the two Grand Tasting events. Inside a 30,000-square-foot tent the events will offer tastings of 300 wines from more than 200 wineries, along with delicacies prepared by 16 chefs. Two Grand Tastings will occur over the course of the premier epicurean event. A single day pass to attend one of the Grand Tasting events costs $165.

Ticket prices range from $165 for a single event pass to $4,750 for a three-night stay with the VIP ticket package, which provides access to all events and exclusive after-hour parties with the chefs and winemakers. For tickets to Pebble Beach Food & Wine, or for more information on ticket packages, visit www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com or call 1-866-907-food (3663).

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