Restaurant Review – December 2006

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Restaurant Review December 2006

Cuvée
By “The Elusive Epicurean”

As your duly elected Restaurant Writer, my first act in office was to appoint my cabinet. First and foremost, there’s my Chief Secretary of Culinary Affairs, whose many years as a professional foodie will be called upon frequently in the months ahead. The next cabinet member (conveniently married to the first) is the Secretary of the Second Opinion, because a spare set of taste buds always comes in handy.

Our first diplomatic mission together was to Cuvée, a relatively new restaurant that’s taken up residence in the former home of the ill fated Restaurant Budo, just a short hop from downtown Napa. Not having the foresight to make a reservation, we started with cocktails and appetizers in the lounge while waiting for a table to open up in the busy dining room.

I’m always happy to add a new destination to my Napa pub crawl, and with it’s full bar, fun cocktails, late night menu, and cozy lounge, Cuvée’s bar fits the bill. So if you’re in the mood for a couple of drinks and simply good eats like a BLT ($10), a Slow Roasted Pork Sandwich with Chipotle Honey BBQ Sauce ($10), or the slightly exotic Spicy Mussels with lemongrass and green curry ($10.50), don’t bother with a reservation and head straight for Cuvée’s lounge.

But we were here on a mission, and that mission required a proper dining experience, so we moved on to the main dining room. (Were it summer, I would opt to eat in the beautiful enclosed courtyard that allows views into the kitchen.) Cuvée’s menu is full of comfort foods you might cook at home, only better. Much better. Think roast chicken, pork chops, and steak – just the sort of food you want to eat as our days and nights get chillier.

My newly appointed Secretary of Culinary Affairs proved her worth by making sure that the pork chops were brined. (Brining is a process of giving meat a lengthy soak in a salt water solution to insure it is moist and succulent.) I’d never thought to ask if my pork was brined. Now I know. The House Cured Pork Chop ($18), served with garlic mashed potatoes and a fig and red onion compote, was juicy and satisfying.

The minute I spotted the Grilled Duck Breast ($21) on the menu, I knew what I was ordering. It was served with caramelized squash, braised greens, a maple-sherry vinegar glaze and a currant and pine nut relish. If I could, I would raise duck and eat it every day. Alas, I do not live on a farm, and plucking feathers is a tedious chore anyway. Much better to go to Cuvée. With crispy skin and just the right amount of fat, this duck was absolutely delicious.

My Dad, err, I mean, the Secretary of the Second Opinion, ordered the Chianti Braised Short Ribs ($21). I jealously watched the meat fall off the bone, but since I am, after all, the Restaurant Writer in Chief, I am permitted to demand as many tastes of others’ meals as I like. (I won‘t abuse the powers of office, I promise.) My pop gave the short ribs the highest compliment he could: he said they were almost as good as Great Grandmother McKean’s.

The desserts on offer were simple and homey, just the sort of thing to finish off our evening. We had a crème brulee, and an ice cream sundae using ice cream made at our local chocolatier, Annette’s. We had no difficulty devouring both. (All desserts $7.50)

With a second restaurant under my belt, I have learned this: do not write a review when you are hungry. For here I am, hundreds of miles away in a land devoid of Napa’s culinary delights, and there is no Cuvée to satisfy me. Sheer torture.

Cuvée is located at 1650 Soscol Avenue, adjacent to the River Terrace Inn. www.cuveenapa.com (707) 224-2330.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – December 2006

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review December 2006.

Harbison Appliance
By Craig Smith
“It is your baby!”

Dale Carriker, owner of Harbison Appliance Service and Sales, Inc. at 333 Third Street (between Silverado Trail and the Expo) hears that comment often of late. “I’ve been in a restaurant, and had somebody I didn’t know mouth it to me from outside,” Dale says with a smile.

The comments are typical of the responses Dale and the “Harbison Players” get after a new TV ad hits the airways. In the latest ad, Dale holds a baby, looks at the camera and, with a furrowed brow exclaims, “This is not my baby!” The baby, for anyone who hasn’t seen the ad, is also looking at the camera – and it has Dale’s face.

The ad is typical of the cable TV ads Harbison has been running for the past twelve years. “We used to run straight ads without much flare. One day the producer from the ad agency called and said he wanted to do something different,” says Dale. “I asked him what he had in mind, and he wouldn’t tell me. He said if I knew, I might chicken out. I trusted him, so we just showed up and did what he told us to do.”

The resulting ads have featured Dale and staff as Beach Boy/surfer types, singing cowboys, and of course, the current ad. People love ‘em, especially the latest one. They work for Harbisons as they show Dale and the staff in funny situations while extolling the latest appliance or sale at Harbisons. The “actors” enjoy making the commercials and are now better know as the “Harbison Players”

The “Harbisons Team” has years of experience in sales and service. Each one of the staff has appeared in the TV ads to the delight and sometimes embarrassment of their families and friends.

Charlie and Thelma Harbison founded the store in 1957; they sold Harbisons to Dale and his partner Dan Brown in 1976. Prior to that time, Dale was an electrician while his partner Dan was in the wholesale appliance business. It seemed like the perfect hometown business to the two young entrepreneurs when they “took the leap” and bought Harbisons. For many happy customers and employees it has been the perfect decision.

Dan retired from Harbisons in January 2002 and is now involved in community service. Dale has been a member in Rotary Club of Napa for 13 years and believes that Rotary is one of the ways he is able to give back to the community.

“We have a lot of fun, but we are serious about our business,” says Dale. “We are an independent, but we compete successfully with any of the Big Box stores.”

Dale makes that claim with confidence. Harbison Appliance is part of “Brand Source,” a national group with over 100 dealers in Northern California alone. The buying power of the group allows Dale and his team to take advantage of discounted pricing that he passes along to his legion of customers in regular sales. In addition to great pricing, Harbisons has access to the key brands that people expect, such as GE, Maytag, Jenn-Air, Monogram, Bosch, Amana, Viking, U-Line, Best and Broan.

In addition to Dale, that staff includes George Webster (25 years), Mike Webster (18 years), Kris Roberts (8 years), Tim Molloy (6 years), Ed Conrad (5 years), Sharon Arm (5 years) and Linda Berlind (3 years). These people give Harbison Appliance strong customer service.

Dale also rates his staff as among the best in the industry. They have been together for so long because they have fun and enjoy working together. It makes for a relaxing and enjoyable environment in the store, which customers appreciate. Now that Harbisons has been in business for 30 years, their customers are referring their children and grandchildren to them for their appliance needs.

Dale plans to stay in the business and enjoy the “Harbison Players” TV ads for a “long time.”

“It is too much fun to think of doing anything else” says Dale.

Asked if he had anything else to add, Dale laughs again. “Yes, I need to mention our Year End Clearance Sale starts December 26th thru December 30th and say thank you to all our great customers.”

Harbison Appliance Service and Sales is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 to 6, and can be reached at 253-2141.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com