Your trip will start in San Francisco, where you'll see the Golden Gate Bridge, Haight Ashbury, and the Presidio, along with an expert-guided tour of the Saturday Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, where you'll taste the foods that Food Network talent raved about on Best Thing I Ever Ate and Giada's Weekend Getaways. We'll also sample Food Network picks featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate in the historic Mission District. We'll visit a fortune cookie factory in Chinatown, followed by a feast at a Chinatown restaurant Rachael Ray has visited: a Chinatown restaurant that showcases the cultural influences in the area. A visit to San Francisco would not be complete without a lunch at a restaurant featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
Your Food Network trip will continue to wine country, where our first stop will be Wente Vineyards, Food Network's partner winery. We'll be treated to a private behind-the-scenes tour, lunch made with fresh ingredients from the winery garden, and a wine tasting featuring Food Network's line of wine, entwine. While in Napa, we've arranged for private dinners at Tyler Florence's and Michael Chiarello's restaurants and private shopping at their gourmet shops. In Sonoma, we'll roll up our sleeves for a hands-on cooking class at Ramekins Culinary School, where we will make a four-course lunch featuring Food Network recipes, which we will enjoy together on a beautiful private garden patio. This trip features free time to visit our recommended restaurants along the way to get a taste of Food Network's favorite California bites.
Come along with us to explore food and culture like no one else can; Northern California is the perfect place to visit with Food Network as your guide!
Itinerary
Day 1, Friday
Arrive in SAN FRANCISCO
Welcome to San Francisco, the city by the bay and one of the most popular cities in the world! You will be transferred to your centrally‐located hotel and have time to relax and unwind before meeting with your Food Network Travel Director and fellow Food Network guests in the evening. Find out more about your tour as you enjoy the stunning views while sipping a Food Network signature cocktail at the Welcome Reception on the terrace at the Hotel Vitale. For dinner, you are free to explore San Francisco at your leisure with the guidance of your Food Network Recommendations guide booklet.
Day 2, Saturday
SAN FRANCISCO
Today begins with breakfast at your hotel (as each day will). Your Food Network Travel Director will lead you on the short walk to the historical Ferry Terminal Building to enjoy San Francisco's Saturday morning Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, just steps from your hotel! This popular market is a California‐certified farmers' market, operated by the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture. A local culinary expert will give you an introduction to the market before leading you to various vendors featured on Chefs vs. City, Giada's Weekend Getaways and Best Thing I Ever Ate to sample unique foods from around the area.
Afterwards, enjoy the multitude of stalls at leisure before we explore the sights of San Francisco on a guided tour. We willvisit Union Square, Twin Peaks, the Presidio, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
In the evening, enjoy a walking tour through Chinatown with your Food Network Travel Director, including a stop at aFortune Cookie Factory. Rachael Ray enjoyed a feast at an intimate China Town restaurant, and so will you! You will be treated to a special dim sum appetizer, followed by a delicious special Chinese banquet.
Hosted Meal(s): Full Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3, Sunday
SAN FRANCISCO
This morning we head to Haight‐Ashbury, the epicenter of counter‐culture, where your local guide will take you on a walking tour of this eclectic neighborhood, made famous during the Summer of Love of 1967. Then it's time for a culinary tour of San Francisco, as seen through the lens of Food Network! Make your way down to the historical Mission District for savory sweets featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate Start with designer ice cream, followed by a walk to sample some of the best doughnuts around, where the bacon maple or saffron chocolate doughnuts are not to be missed. You will enjoy a hosted lunch at a San Francisco legend, featured on Diners, Drive‐Ins, and Dives. Take the rest of the day to explore your own interests in this incredible city. Perhaps take a ferry to Sausalito, stroll the streets of North Beach, or explore Fisherman's Wharf, all easily accessible from your hotel. The choice is yours!
For dinner choose one of the many restaurants for which San Francisco is famous. Your Food Network guide booklet will provide you with recommendations and insider knowledge.
Hosted Meal(s): Full Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4, Monday
SAN FRANCISCO‐LIVERMORE‐NAPA
Start your day with Tyler Florence's favorite Irish coffee at Buena Vista Café, home of America's first Irish coffee, where they serve around 2,000 of these iconic cups of java each day! Our next stop is Wente Vineyards, where you will learn about and taste entwine, the first Food Network wine portfolio featuring four varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Grigio. Enjoy a private behind‐the‐scenes tour and tasting at Wente, the country's oldest continuously operated family‐owned winery. We'll have lunch at The Restaurant, where the owners will host you for a delectable meal using the very best sustainable and organically‐grown local ingredients – many of which come from their own garden!
Our final stop today is your hotel in Napa Valley– the most famous wine region in the United States. Once we check in to your home away from home, The River Terrace Inn, you will have the opportunity to enjoy dinner as you wish,perhaps at Morimoto's, the Iron Chef's restaurant, just walking distance fromthe hotel.
Hosted Meal(s): Full Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5, Tuesday
NAPA‐SONOMA
We'll begin the day with a stop at a bakery to sample coveted English Muffins as featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate. Then, after a scenic drive to Sonoma, we will arrive at Ramekins Culinary School for a Hands‐On Cooking Class. Everyone will have the opportunity to learn a few new tips and tricks during our class as we prepare lunch together in intimate teams, then enjoy it on the private patio. Later, after some free time at our hotel, we will venture to the quaint town of Yountville, known for its world‐renowned restaurants, for a very special dinner in the private dining room of Michael Chiarello's Bottega.
Before dinner, Food Network guests will enjoy a private reception at Michael'sgourmet store, NapaStyle, where you will enrich your senses with interactive gourmet salt and olive oil tastings as you enjoy a welcome glass of sparkling wine.Michael is closing the store for us and extending a special discount to Food Networkguests making any purchases at NapaStyle!
Hosted Meal(s): Full Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6, Wednesday
NAPA
Spend a leisurely day exploringyour own interests in the Napa Valley. Perhaps enjoy optional ala carte experiences, such as a three‐course lunch on one of the world's great rail trips, the Napa Valley WineTrain, or go hot air ballooning over the Napa Valley, as seen on Giada's Weekend Getaways.
Hosted Meal(s): Full Breakfast
Day 7, Thursday
NAPA-SONOMA
This morning you will visit the olive mill and winery that Giada de Laurentiis visited during one of her weekend getaways. Commence at the olive oil mill and olive groves, where you will learn about their Italian and Spanish oils, as well as their infused Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon oils, and how they pair with different foods. Then enjoy a tasting of their award‐winning wines from the winery terrace, while enjoying the panoramic 360‐degree view!
We'll then head to St. Helena, where you may enjoy lunch onyour own in this charming town with its beautiful shops and wine bars. Perhaps have a glass of California wine with a juicy burger at Gott's Roadside (formerly Taylor's Refresher), featured on Diners, Drive‐Ins and Dives. In the afternoon, we will walk in Rachael Ray's footsteps as we visit the winery and fantastic marketplace at one of the oldest wineries in Napa Valley. We will tour the vineyard, crush pad, and barrel room before swirling and sipping a collection of estate wines and single vineyard red varietals.
Historical downtown Napa is the destination this evening for a farewell dinner at Food Network star Tyler Florence's Rotisserie & Wine. Before dinner, we will enjoy a By Invitation Only "Sip & Shop" in The Tyler Florence Shop. Tyler is closing the doors to the public while we enjoy a glass of wine and private shopping, including exclusive discounts.
Hosted Meal(s): Full Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
Day 8, Friday
Depart SAN FRANCISCO
Unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye to your newly‐made friends as your San Francisco & Wine Country Food Network tour comes to an end. You will be transferred to San Francisco International airport for your flight home after this memorable Food Network culinary tour.
Hosted Meal(s): Full Breakfast