Lovina

Anna insisted that we try this restaurant in Calistoga she had spotted on an earlier trip to the city (while Val and I were in D.C.). So right after seeing Old Faithful, we dropped by Lovina, whose sign promised great food and whose building promised of a cozy dining experience. We just wanted to have a light snack before we drove back to the Bay Area.

Lovina was good on all its promises. Though the restaurant had a low ceiling, it didn't feel cramped (but also may because we arrived just before the dinner rush). The spring sunset made the interiors and the food look pretty as well. The staff were friendly too.

Most importantly, the food we ordered was delicious. 

We started off with a jar of kimchi, which was kind of a surprise because I didn't expect to find Asian influences to Lovina's offerings. It was not as spicy as the kimchi I've tried in Korea or in the Philippines, even. However, it was a great appetiser since the rest of our food were savoury.

I wanted to try the polenta because it had mushrooms in it. What we received were bite-sized pieces that we could dip into the sauce and just pop in our mouths. I'm glad that they didn't come in bigger pieces because the portions didn't overpower the palate. I just wished that there were more pieces in a serving because I didn't realise how hungry I was until I had my first bite.

fried mushroom polenta bites

The salad's flavour was courtesy of the duck confit. The duck was very tasty and tender; a contrast to the texture of the kale and the onions that came with it. I also enjoyed the dressing because of the umami flavours.

warm duck confit and kale salad

I don't know the story behind the name for "Susie's remedy", a dish that came with two sunny side ups, potatoes, and bacon. It definitely was a meal intended for brunch; however, we were told that we could get items from both brunch and dinner menus... so we did just that.

Susie's remedy

Anna's choice was really good. I certainly will make this a stop whenever I'm in the Napa Valley area.