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Shreveport's Chef Niema Beats Bobby Flay on Food Network
Shreveport's Chef Niema Beats Bobby Flay on Food Network

Yahoo

time21 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Shreveport's Chef Niema Beats Bobby Flay on Food Network

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Shreveport's Chef Niema DiGrazia reigned triumphant; her episode aired last night, and she defeated none other than Food Network Chef Bobby Flay. Chef Niema, Executive Chef at Abby Singer's Bistro, held a watch party on May 29 to watch the episode titled 'Fight Like a Tiger.' Family, friends, and community members gathered to watch Chef tell the world, 'I beat Bobby Flay!' The crowd roared with excitement as she won while representing her Sierra Leonean. Chef Niema's winning dish, 'Maffé,' is a West African peanut butter stew made with shrimp. 'This moment means the world to me,' said Chef Niema. 'To stand on a national stage and bring my culture, my roots, and my adopted hometown of Shreveport into the spotlight is something I'll always be proud of. This isn't just a win for me—it's a win for every young Black woman, every immigrant, and every Southern chef who's ever dared to take up space in this industry.' Chef Niema provides guests with unique dining experience In the episode's round 1, Chef Niema went against Chef Solomon Johnson; both contestants' mission was to highlight mango in their dish. Chef Niema's mango salad received high praise despite concerns about the mango skin being left on. Chef Niema advanced to the second and final round against Bobby Flay. Mama Tanya gave Chef Niema's Maffé the 'eeow!' of approval, while Chef Bobby Flay's did not meet the judges' expectations. In 2024, alongside her husband, Chef de Cuisine Matthew DiGrazia, Abby Singer's Bistro transformed the restaurant's menu with a fusion of West African, Caribbean, and Southern influences. 'Chef Niema's win is not just a personal achievement—it's a point of pride for the entire Shreveport-Bossier region,' said Wendell Riley, Executive Director of Robinson Film Center. 'She embodies everything Abby Singer's Bistro stands for: delicious and creative food, cultural richness, and heart.' Farm Shares: deliver fresh veggies, milk, eggs and more Abby Singer's Bistro is located on the second floor of Robinson Film Center in downtown Shreveport. Robinson Film Center is a nonprofit arts organization that brings film education, independent cinema, and culinary culture to Northwest Louisiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

10 Of The Toughest Restaurant Reservations To Get In Las Vegas
10 Of The Toughest Restaurant Reservations To Get In Las Vegas

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

10 Of The Toughest Restaurant Reservations To Get In Las Vegas

Plenty head to Las Vegas for casinos, night life, the scenic Red Rock Canyon National Park, and Sin City's own versions of globally-loved landmarks. But after all of the gambling and sight-seeing, Las Vegas' thriving restaurant scene is always on-hand to provide the sustenance. The thousands of restaurants in Las Vegas are a tourist attraction in their own right. As well as its iconic buffets, the city is home to pretty much any cuisine you could ever have a craving for — from sushi to Italian. If you want it, Las Vegas has got it. But there's a catch: You may not be able to easily get into the restaurant you're after without a reservation. This is especially true if you're heading to the Nevada city during its two high seasons, the spring and the fall months. The city's low season usually falls over the summer, due to the intense heat. At the time of writing, even though it is still welcoming millions of visitors, Las Vegas' tourism numbers are also on a slight decline, which may make it easier to bag previously hard-to-get reservations. That said, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. If you're planning a trip to Vegas in the near future, it's still a good idea to book your meals in advance to avoid disappointment — especially if you're planning to snag a table in any of the coveted eateries below at peak dining times (think between 7pm and 9pm on a Friday or Saturday night). Read more: The Special Salt Bobby Flay Uses To Deepen The Flavor Of Steak José Andrés is one of the restaurant industry's most prestigious figures. The Spanish-American chef owns multiple restaurants across the U.S., including Minibar in Washington, D.C., for example, which boasts not one, but two Michelin Stars. He's also a James Beard award winner, a New York Times bestselling author, and has been named twice on Time's "100 Most Influential People" list. So it's safe to say he's a pretty big deal. And his food? Well, it's excellent, of course. But if you want to sample it for yourself at his famous Las Vegas spot, é by José Andrés, you'll have to plan way, way ahead. Located next to another of his popular Las Vegas eateries, Jaleo (which offers tapas, sangria, and paella), é by José Andrés is a small space, dedicated to showcasing creative, innovative Spanish cuisine. And when we say small, we really do mean small — there are only nine seats available. Tickets become available three months in advance, and there are only two sittings each night, from Tuesday to Saturday, at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 pm. For the best chance of a reservation, it's a good idea to sign up to the restaurant's ticket release emails, which are sent out monthly. If you bag yourself a booking, you can expect to be wowed with multiple memorable courses of avant-garde fine-dining. Expect high-end cuisine like caviar and wagyu, as well as unique takes on Basque classics like txangurro a la 698-7950Boulevard Tower, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S Level 3, Las Vegas, NV 89109 If you're hungry for Italian-American food, it's a good idea to search out your nearest Carbone. But you probably already know that, because this iconic upmarket chain — founded by chef Mario Carbone, alongside Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick — has gained quite the reputation since it first opened in New York back in 2013. At each of its U.S. restaurants, in Miami, Dallas, New York, and, of course, Las Vegas, Carbone offers some of the best Italian cuisine in the country. Think American Italian classics like Eggplant & Zucchini Scapece, Orecchiette Vito, and Spaghetti Puttanesca — all exceptionally crafted with the best quality ingredients by top chefs. In Sin City, you can find Carbone nestled inside the Aria hotel on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, where, as with its other locations across the country, it's not that easy to bag a table at short notice. If you're planning a night out at the sought-after Italian spot during your next Las Vegas trip, it's highly recommended to reserve a table in advance to avoid disappointment. In fact, the restaurant even describes itself as "perennially booked." Peak times between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. are particularly difficult to snap up. If you're looking to get in at the last minute, you'll likely have more luck finding a table later or earlier in the evening (we're talking 5 p.m. or beyond 9 pm). 590-2663ARIA Resort & Casino, 3730 Las Vegas Fwy, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Kaiseki is more than just a style of Japanese cuisine, it's an artform. It's different from omakase, which is a more playful, sometimes theatrical, flexible experience that usually involves sitting in front of a chef while they create a personalized menu for you. Kaiseki, on the other hand, is a more carefully structured, pre-planned dining experience, often adhering to a theme and certain rules. Due to the care and attention that goes into creating a high-end, artistic kaiseki experience, the food should be enjoyed and savored slowly and mindfully. This is why, at Kaiseki Sanga in Las Vegas, around two hours is usually set aside for each multi-course tasting menu. All diners are served the same menu simultaneously, during two different sittings. Because of this fixed time dining, it's recommended to get your seat booked in advance. Sittings usually take place at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 pm. But don't be tempted to book a table if you're not sure about your availability — no shows will be charged a hefty $150 per head. As for the dining experience itself, you can expect to indulge in authentic Japanese cuisine, cultivated with seasonal ingredients, over a series of eight to 10 courses. The menu changes monthly, but at the time of writing, diners were being treated to a feast of seaweed (in the form of Okinawa mozuku), seafood (think grilled tachiuo and aka ebi sashimi), and indulgent dessert (like matcha ice cream and kashiwa mochi). 333-03433650 S Decatur Blvd Suite 22, Las Vegas, NV 89103 When it comes to the Japanese restaurant scene, most people think of sushi. But this popular combination of raw fish and rice, served in various styles, from handrolls to sashimi, didn't start out as a restaurant favorite. It actually likely originated out of necessity — people who lived along east Asia's Mekong River needed a safe way to preserve fish, so they cleaned it before mixing it with rice and salt. Now, however, sushi restaurants offer some of the most coveted dining experiences in the world. Take Las Vegas' highly sought-after Kabuto, for example, which specializes in Edomae sushi, and you guessed it, requires a little planning in advance if you want a reservation. Edomae sushi was born from Tokyo's street food movement in the early 1800s. It's salty, sweet, and traditionally always made with fish from Tokyo bay. Kabuto stays true to this tradition by shipping in all of its seasonal ingredients from Japan. The type of ingredients on offer consistently changes, but diners can expect an omakase-style feast of appetizers, nigiri, sashimi, handrolls, soups, and dessert, complete with saki pairings. If that sounds appealing, make sure to get your reservation well ahead of your planned visit, as Kabuto is in-demand. The restaurant only offers two sittings per night and it has limited seating. Groups are asked to book at least three days in 676-10445040 W Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89146 If you're looking for true, show-stopping luxury during your Las Vegas trip, Wynn is a must visit. The resort — which was built by controversial billionaire and Las Vegas real estate developer Steve Wynn in 2014 — is a hub for some of Las Vegas' most exclusive (and expensive) bars, restaurants, retailers, and entertainment experiences, boasting award-winning production shows, elite designers shops, and even $100,000 cocktails. Yes, you read that right. But don't worry, not everywhere requires a second mortgage. Wing Lei, Wynn's five-star Chinese restaurant, offers Michelin Star level cuisine in an elaborate setting. It's not cheap, at around $50 for a seafood dish and $30 for a vegan main, but it's more accessible than the XS Nightclub (home of the $100,000 cocktail), and for a special vacation dining experience, it's worth the splurge. There's just one catch, and you've probably figured it out already. Wing Lei isn't the easiest place to get a reservation. If you want to feast on a medley of Cantonese, Shanghai, and Szechuan cuisine (in the form of everything from marinated jellyfish to mapo tofu to Alaskan king crab to Garden Dim Sum), you'll need to prepare at least a few weeks in advance. Former diners have mentioned that reservations at peak times are particularly hard to score at short 770-33883131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Nobu is arguably one of the most famous names in the high-end restaurant world. Right now, the iconic Japanese-Peruvian fusion chain, founded by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, has more than 50 locations around the world. And one of those locations, of course, is located inside one of Las Vegas' most iconic luxury hotels and casinos, Caesars Palace. Nobu is popular for many reasons, but one of the biggest is Matsuhisa's techniques for preparing delicious sushi. This is what has helped to cultivate the restaurant's enormous fan base and its elite status within the celebrity world. And due to Nobu's global reputation for high-end, top-quality, consistently-impressive food , it's not the sort of place where you can expect to snap up a last-minute table easily. If you want to try dishes like New Zealand King Salmon with Crispy Spinach, Caviar Tacos, Tofu Tempura, Freshwater Eel, or Vegetarian Omakase during your stay in Las Vegas, you will need to engage in some prior-planning. This applies especially if you're looking for that highly sought after peak slot between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday night. If you want the full, immersive Nobu experience, you can also opt to stay at the Nobu Hotel in Caesars Palace. Just like the restaurant, every aspect of the hotel is carefully designed and curated with Japanese opulence in mind. But one of the best parts? You get priority seating at the Nobu Restaurant with select 785-66283570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Frank Sinatra loved music and acting, of course. That much is obvious — his records are still making number one on the billboard charts to this day. But the iconic entertainer was also a major foodie. Some of his favorites were things like milanese, arugula salad, and stuffed artichokes — mostly Italian classics, which is unsurprising, given his northern Italian and Sicilian heritage. The crooner was also a Las Vegas regular, and spent plenty of time eating at the city's restaurants, one of his favorites was The Golden Steer, for example, where he would usually order steak pizzaiola. The Golden Steer is still standing, but it's not the only place where you can eat just like Ol' Blue Eyes did back in the day. Italian restaurant Sinatra is a tribute to the Hollywood icon, and it's in high demand. Like Wing Lei, the Italian restaurant is located inside Wynn, and, also like the five-star Chinese eatery, it's not the easiest place to get a last minute reservation. Some previous diners have warned that Sinatra — which offers a menu filled with Italian classics, like Polenta Fritta, Cime di Rapa, and Sinatra's beloved milanese — fills up very quickly. If you want a guaranteed seat, it's advisable to get your booking in around a month prior to your visit. Peak times are particularly tough, so if you're looking for a table between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on a weekend, you'll certainly need to book in 770-53203131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 If you're looking for Thai food outside of Thailand, the U.S. is a good place to be. The country is home to more than 6,800 Thai restaurants, which is nearly 40% of all international Thai eateries. But when it comes to the best of the American Thai food scene, you'll find a couple of sought-after restaurants in Las Vegas. One of them is Lotus of Siam, which is consistently highly-reviewed by esteemed culinary publications, including Eater Las Vegas, Bon Appétit, and The Infatuation. That's perhaps unsurprising when you consider that it's run by the first Asian-born chef to win a James Beard Award, Saipin Chutim. She grew up in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she learned how to cook with her grandmother. Chutim moved to Las Vegas and opened Lotus of Siam in 1999, and to this day, the eatery offers some of the most impressive Thai food in the country. All of that culinary prowess equals an impressive menu (which boasts everything from northern dishes like khao soi to fusion favorites like Chilean sea bass with tom yum soup) and a difficult-to-get reservation. Previous diners have warned that it's sensible to book in advance if you want a good seat at this iconic Nevada spot. If you're coming with a large group, it's even more important to resist the temptation to just rock up and hope for the best. In this instance, you'll need to fill in a special large party reservation form in 735-3033620E Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 If you're in the mood for a steakhouse, then Las Vegas has got you covered. In fact, the Nevada city is home to nearly 90 steakhouses where you can treat yourself to a steak dinner after winning the jackpot in the casino. Some of the steakhouses are more highly rated than others, and therefore far more popular and harder to get into. If you're looking for a table at the esteemed SW Steakhouse, for example, then you'll need to prepare in advance. SW Steakhouse, which, once again, is housed inside Wynn, has a reputation for being particularly difficult to score a last-minute booking — especially if you're looking to sit down for a meal at peak times. This steakhouse is popular for many reasons. Surprise: The biggest is the impressive selection of top-quality food. The menu was crafted by top Italian-American chef Mark LoRusso, who took over the kitchen in 2021. But its location on the hotel's renowned Lake of Dreams is also a major draw. In fact, SW Steakhouse is one of the best locations in the Wynn complex to take in the views of the performance lake, which hosts a range of awe-inspiring and colorful mini shows throughout the year. SW, of course, has plenty of steak on offer, but the crowd-pleasing, family-friendly menu also features a range of seafood dishes and even vegan options. Check out dishes like the chopped salad, Carrot Cavatelli Pasta with almond ricotta, and housemade dairy-free ice cream and 770-33253131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Lisa Vanderpump is known primarily for her career on reality TV (she, of course, has had a starring role in everything from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" to "Vanderpump Rules" to "Vanderpump Villa"). But outside of her television life, she also runs multiple restaurants. There's Sur, of course, in West Hollywood, and nearby TomTom, both of which are the stars of "Vanderpump Rules." But Vanderpump also presides over two popular spots in Las Vegas. One is Vanderpump à Paris (where you can order a shot in a mini Eiffel Tower) and the other is the hard-to-book Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. Located inside Caesars Palace, as the name suggests, Vanderpump Cocktail Garden is a hotspot for cocktails (many of which are made with Vanderpump Vodka), but it also serves a menu of palatable brunch classics like Mini Smoked Salmon Bagel, Mixed Berry Waffles, and Garden on Toast (that's fancy avocado on toast), as well as tasty dinner treats like Bao Tacos and upmarket Grilled Cheese. The Cocktail Garden is a popular spot — its reputation and desirability bolstered by Vanderpump's celebrity status. If you'd like a seat at one of Lisa's Favorite Tables, you'll need to book well in advance. These premium spots, situated in Vanderpump's favorite positions around the restaurant, have limited 731-78673570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Read the original article on Tasting Table.

Time to ketchup: Here's what happened during the inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500
Time to ketchup: Here's what happened during the inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500

USA Today

time24-05-2025

  • Automotive
  • USA Today

Time to ketchup: Here's what happened during the inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500

Time to ketchup: Here's what happened during the inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 The inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 took place during the Indianapolis 500's Carb Day, the final practice day before the renowned auto race. Show Caption Hide Caption See the Wienermobiles and crew at the Wienie 500 at IMS for Carb Day We grilled the crew of these Wienermobiles and even got a tour as they relished in the chance to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 23 for an inaugural wienie race. The Slaw Dog, the Wienermobile that represents the "Saucy South," took home first place. Want to rewatch the race? Fox Sports streamed the Wienie 500 on its social media sites. It's not everyday you get to see a 27-foot-long hot dog bus. But what about six? On Friday, the six Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles − yes, there are six − gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to participate in the inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500. Two "Hotdoggers," the fresh college graduates who drive the Wienermobiles, sported Indy 500-style attire as they loaded up to race around the track. The Wienie 500 was held on Carb Day, the final practice day before Indianapolis 500 kicks off on Sunday, May 25. Miss the wienie race? Here's what to know about the inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500. More Wienermobile: I rode 'shot-bun' in the iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Then we got pulled over. When, where was the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500? The inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 was held on Friday, May 23 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. Who won? Slaw Dog took home first place Slaw Dog took home first place. The 27-foot-long winning bus, which represented the "Saucy South," was driven by Grill Master Matthew Bailey of Madison, Georgia and Mustard Maddie Meyers of Kirkwood, Missouri. "I MUSTARD'mit, I will relish this moment forever," Mustard Maddie shared on her Instagram Story after the race. Want to rewatch the race? Here's how Fox Sports streamed the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500 on its social media sites. Wienermobiles represent regional hot dog flavors. Here's how to make them Over the course of a year, the Hotdoggers visit different regions of the country from inside the Wienermobile: East, Southeast, South, Midwest, Northwest and Southwest. During the Oscar Mayer Wienie 500, each of the Wienermobiles represented a regional hot dog. Here's how to grill them up: New York Dog (East): Kosher hot dogs topped with sauerkraut and homemade onion sauce, sat between a bun smothered in spicy brown mustard, as shared by Bobby Flay per Food Network Kosher hot dogs topped with sauerkraut and homemade onion sauce, sat between a bun smothered in spicy brown mustard, as shared by Bobby Flay per Food Network Slaw Dog (Southeast): Hot dog topped with homemade chili, mustard and creamy coleslaw, per a recipe by Spicy Southern Kitchen Hot dog topped with homemade chili, mustard and creamy coleslaw, per a recipe by Spicy Southern Kitchen Chili Dog (South): Hot dog topped with homemade chili and cheddar cheese, as outlined by Food Network Hot dog topped with homemade chili and cheddar cheese, as outlined by Food Network Chi Dog (Midwest): All-beef frankfurter, like Vienna Beef, inside a poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, pickle relish, chopped white onion, tomato slices, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and celery salt, as reported by New York Times Cooking All-beef frankfurter, like Vienna Beef, inside a poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, pickle relish, chopped white onion, tomato slices, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers and celery salt, as reported by New York Times Cooking Seattle Dog (Northwest): Hots dog topped with cream cheese, sauerkraut, brown mustard and sweet onions, per Allrecipes Hots dog topped with cream cheese, sauerkraut, brown mustard and sweet onions, per Allrecipes Sonoran Dog (Southwest): Hog dog wrapped in bacon and topped with pinto beans, onions, jalapeno salsa and tomatoes, as shared by Serious Eats What is the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile? A bit about the history The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is Oscar Mayer's hot dog on wheels − a 27-foot-long hot dog-shaped bus used to advertise the brand. Today, six Wienermobiles travel throughout six different regions of the country. The Wienermobile made its first appearance in 1936 but it looked a bit different than it does today. A 13-foot-long metal hog dog on wheels was the first iteration of the Wienermobile. The vehicle featured an open cockpit, so the driver was seen sticking out of the top of the hot dog, according to Oscar Mayer. By 1940, a glass enclosure was added to better protect the driver. In 1952, after taking a hiatus during World War II, five 22-foot-long Wienermobiles began traveling throughout the country, per Oscar Mayer. They were the first to have a sound system and sunroof. The Wienermobile continued to adapt over the years and today's fleet has remained the same since about 2004, according to Oscar Mayer. The vehicle is made of custom fiberglass and contains a V-8, 6.0 liter engine. As for the interior, each Wienermobile features a hog dog-shaped dashboard, six mustard and ketchup seats, a 52-inch flat screen television, gull-wing doors with retractable steps, a removable roof, blue sky ceilings and a wiener jingle horn. Here's how to see a Wienermobile near you To find a Wienermobile near you, visit the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile locator at You can also request the Wienermobile to visit near you on the Oscar Mayer website at Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@

Bay Area chefs dish on the best things to eat at BottleRock
Bay Area chefs dish on the best things to eat at BottleRock

San Francisco Chronicle​

time22-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Bay Area chefs dish on the best things to eat at BottleRock

BottleRock Napa Valley brings together some of the most lauded chefs from the Bay Area and beyond. At this week's festival, which runs Friday-Sunday, May 23-25, TV food competition master Bobby Flay and 'Top Chef' host Kristen Kish are among those who will appear on the Culinary Stage. To help you make the most of the festival's robust food offerings, the Chronicle asked five Bay Area chefs — all seasoned BottleRockers — for their top dish recommendations and hacks for maximizing meals over the three days. Festival food strategy Mark Dommen, a Napa local, longtime BottleRock attendee and chef at San Francisco's One Market, always fuels up before entering the festival. 'We are not breakfast people in general,' said Dommen, 'but it's good to eat something that builds a base for a day of drinking.' He even hosts a 'Build a Base Brunch' at his home with breakfast pizzas each year, which he said 'has become quite legendary.' Once inside the gates, Dommen never eats the same thing twice and focuses on new restaurants as 'there's always something different to discover.' Newcomers to this year's BottleRock culinary garden include beloved Bay Area Italian spot A16, which opens its Napa location next week, and Sumo Dog, a Coachella staple that recently brought its creative hog dog combos to Napa's Oxbow Public Market. Chef Phil Tessier, of the Michelin-starred Press Restaurant and its new sister cafe Under-study, suggested hitting up 'high-demand booths' early, or during off-peak times, especially if there's a specific item you have your eye on. Edwin Robles, the executive chef of Napa's Compline, which will have 'The Bear'-themed booths in GA and VIP, opts for 'small snacks between shows' instead of a few big meals and suggests sharing with friends so you can try more. Press Restaurant's offerings were a common favorite among the chefs, especially the fancy, caviar-topped lobster corn dog, which Dommen called 'incredible' and would pair with a glass of rosé. The corn dog will be back this year, but sold by Under-study instead of Press. For the first time, it'll be available in GA and VIP. The Wagyu hot dog from St. Helena's Charlie's, which has a caviar add-on, got several nods, as did the nachos from Napa tequila hot spot Chispa. Charlie's chef-owner Elliot Bell said Compline's Original Beef sandwich and duck fat fries are 'a yearly highlight.' Tessier, who described the burnt ends from Napa Kansas City barbecue spot Stateline Road Smokehouse as 'unreal,' also spoke highly of the locally famous doughnuts from Napa's Boon Fly Café. 'My wife waited 30 minutes for (them) last year and, honestly, it was totally worth it,' he said. Dommen said Bay Area Vietnamese legend Slanted Door, which opened a Napa location in 2023 and made its BottleRock debut last year, is at the top of his list. Robles plans to seek out the queso dip from Chispa, while Bell said he's excited for the festival return of Loveski Deli from famed Napa Valley chef Christopher Kostow. 'Their loaded fries are family-friendly and were a huge hit with my kids a couple of years ago,' said Bell, who is set to preview a new ice cream concept in the Williams-Sonoma Culinary Garden (backstage of the Culinary Stage). 'It's a little nostalgia, a little whimsy and a lot of fun.' Where to eat before the festival Tessier, Robles and chef Darryl Bell of Stateline Road Smokehouse all suggested Winston's Cafe for breakfast. Stateline's Bell, who will make his BottleRock culinary stage debut this year on Sunday evening (and teased a surprise), likes Small World Restaurant for lunch; Robles recommended Kitchen Door and Contimo. All are in downtown Napa and within walking distance of the festival. 'It's all about the hot dog vendors while you're walking back to the ride-share area,' said Dommen. 'Bacon-wrapped hot dogs with caramelized onions.' Robles, however, recommends Zuzu or his home base Compline, whose late-night menu, featuring one of the Bay Area's best burgers, goes until 11 p.m. Tessier also mentioned Zuzu, which will serve pintxos until 11 p.m. 'Great energy, great food,' he said. 'It's the perfect spot to wind down.' Stateline's Bell chose an 'oldie but a goodie': In-N-Out. His go-to order: a double-double animal-style, fries and a vanilla shake. The Napa location is a mile-and-a-half from the festival grounds, on the way out of town for those getting on the highway. Prepare to wait.

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