Elite Event – - Sunday Funday Fiesta at La Condesa

This was the first Unilocal Elite event for me and I was very glad it was in the North bay.
There was complementary drinks I enjoyed my spicy prickly pear margarita that was served with a habanero chile on top. There was lots of good appetizers. Such as the roasted sweet corn on a stick covered with 2 cheeses and pulled pork sliders with cream cheese ice cream for dessert. It was great to meet fellow Unilocalers and make new friends. The live Spanish guitar music met with the retro contemporary look of the restaurant. Check this place out

Better believe it, Unilocal is in the North Bay!
Proof positive of this was Unilocal North Bay’s 1^st ever Elite Event, the Sunday Funday Fiesta at La Condesa. For a 1^st time ever YEE in the North Bay, this little Elite get-​together had all the right stuff.
For starters, it was in cute, charming St. Helena. You know, wine country. How North Bay is that? Just going to/​from this event afforded the girlfriend & I all sorts of fun sightseeing opportunities both in town & along the way.
Then there was the venue. La Condesa is a really cool & classy take on a modern cantina. It’s a great looking, spacious, comfortable place & they really pulled out all the stops for us Elites.
It wouldn’t be a YEE without food & drink. La Condesa absolutely delivered the goods. Their food is farm-​to-​table traditional Mexican that has been given a heavy dose of the gourmet treatment. It was all fabulous.
Memorable fave bites were: their deluxe version of street corn, all the various little tacos & tostadas, & the awesome quirky ice creams with flavors like Avocado Coconut Curry, Orange Ginger & Cream Cheese!
The food wasn’t the only star. Their bar was serving some fantastic Margaritas. & much respect for an establishment that makes their own Habanero-​infused Tequilla. I love the spicy & damn, that stuff was good!
Great job Kevin B., the new North Bay CM, you may still be learning the ropes but you really knocked it out of the park with this 1. & Thank you La Condesa for hosting us Elites for this 1^st ever North Bay YEE. Altogether, it was a strong start for North Bay Unilocal

This North Bay event was worth the drive up to wine country. We arrived a bit late due to some thirsty stops at VJB and Jacuzzi Vineyards.
The free bites were enticing enough that we had to check out the menu. The street corn grilled just right and covered in quest fresco stole the show. The avocado and curry flavored ice cream amazed me so be sure to save room for dessert.
Noël M ordered a hearty chile reyeno and I opted for a house specialty – the chilaquiles with a fried egg and some of the most succulent braised pork I’ve ever had. We washed it down with the habanero flavored margaritas.
The restaurant was well decorated with art and a bull above the bar.

What a great kickoff event for the North Bay! I’m so glad I had the chance to come up here to check out La Condesa.
Accompanied by romantical Spanish guitar, we snacked on delicious bites, dessert (billion ice cream flavors that change all the time), and prickly pear margaritas that packed some punch. I want to rave about each item, but the standouts were:
Meats/​Fish + various things on chips = YUM
Mexican Street Style Corn — cheese + mayo + sweet corn = simple but mindblowing /​delicious even though I personally try to avoid mayo.
Guacamole and 4 types of seasonal salsa and fresh chips — spot on tasty
Cream Cheese Ice Cream — I can’t even.
Avocado Coconut Curry Ice Cream — IDIE
All of the flavors were just perfect. It’s such a creative team in that kitchen. Same goes for behind the bar. So many concoctions that I would love to come back to try. Also the ice cream was super creamy. So many different types of flavors that I wouldn’t even think of. Amazing. Speaking of amazing, that also describes the staff. They stopped serving corn at some point, and I loved it so much I wanted to just order some more. We ordered with the bartender, and waited. A short time goes by, and I start wondering about the corn, and low and behold, they walk out with two wooden platters of corn for the event. At first, I thought. nooo I just ordered the dish, but it turns out they just decided to make more for everyone, and the staff bringing out the corn asked the bartender who it was that wanted more corn. *cue excitement me! Squeee! I mean I was willing to just order it because it was that good. How awesome are they?!

What an awesome event! I feel so honored to have become an Elite!
Big props to Kevin for Organizing such a GREAT event!!!
I really enjoyed the live music, small bites, drinks, and venue! Basically everything was spot on…
The prickly pear Magrerita was really good. And The Alma Blanca drink was amazingly different… it was like a creamed corn, horchata’ish tequila goodness, with spicy hints of habanero… WOW. Like nothing I’ve had before.
And those homemade ice creams. yummo! don’t know what the flavors were but to me they tasted like avocado, and the other one tasted like tamarind, Cinnamon, horchata’ish? either way I loved em both!!!
Man, now that I’m elite I’d better start to hit the gym HARD to keep up with all this eating I’m going to do…

Great to see the North Bay Unilocal community up and running!
A few of us SF folks decided to make a day of our Saint Helena excursion. We love day trips, and it was close enough without being too far away. We were even in the area early enough to wander a bit, and we found Bale Grist Mill which used to be a State Historic Park till they lost funding. Thankfully they’ve been able to sustain themselves by selling what they produce…
On to the event!
La Condesa is located on the main drag of Saint Helena, super easy to find. And what a fantastic host they were. Everyone was super friendly. They make a mean margarita (and plenty of other very interesting cocktails), and the snacks were finger lickin’ tasty! Love the creativity and blend of flavors. Also we were overwhelmed by the selection of ice cream. Avocado-​coconut curry and cream cheese?! WHAT?
Great event. La Condesa is definitely worth a visit. Looking forward to all the North Bay has to offer!

Whew does La Condessa put out a good cocktail or what?! What a fun place and I am so glad I finally made it there for some nibbles and to check it out because I have heard about it for years. I can’t wait to go back and explore more with an empty belly and a DD. :)
What a fun way to break the ice in the new North Bay community. I need to get my Unilocaly break out personality back on track; I felt more reserved than normal like the wallflower at a high school dance. What can I say? I’m a little rusty. :) Guess more events need to happen so I can play more with everyone.
Looking forward to many more good times north of the GG. Thanks Kevin for a first job well done!

In the heart of Napa, St. Helena is the place to be… the most adorable town up Silverado Trail (aka Hwy 29). Thanks to Kevin, our newest & hippest North Bay CM for allowing us to bring +1 & +2. I convinced hubby who was in the town for the weekend to join me at La Condesa before flying out to Portland. Nothing beats a scenic, romantic drive into Napa Valley during the Summer. This vibrant Mexican restaurant has a large selection of tequilas (salud!), everything you could possibly want.
From delicious tacos to parmesan-​coated elotes (corn) and fresh homemade guac… everything was superb! Yummy margaritas and unique flavors of ice cream, especially the avocado-​coconut curry… talk about modern Mexican fusion — ingenious! I love everything about this place and its friendly staff. Live flamenco music added to the ambiance, and we couldn’t have asked for a better day and turnout with the friendliest Unilocal Elites and their smiling guests, it was the happiest place to be.
Thank you Kevin and Jess for another fabulous YEE (North Bay style)! Big shout out to Unilocal’s photographer Wendy, who is both pleasant and affectionate. Thank you La Condesa for hosting a memorable Sunday Funday get together. Can’t wait to see what’s next ~ let’s do this!!!

I remembered how fun the elite events were in S.F. when I lived there around 2009, so I jumped at the chance to take my boyfriend here once Unilocal decided to start doing North Bay events.
Plenty of delicious snacks were prepared and presented, but I didn’t catch any of the names since they were either new and not yet on the menu or variants on the regular menu items. There was something with lamb barbacoa, something with cheese, something with tuna, and something with pulled pork, plus spiced corn cobs rolled in cheese. We each had a prickly pear margarita — unique and delicious, if not a bit spicy. Be careful if you’re prone to acid reflux or sour stomach. We went on to try two more cocktails listed on the menu and carry on conversation with the bartenders. It was a good and easy-​going time, what more can I say?
Verdict: A fun, cheap, and tasty excursion — and an excuse to head into wine country for the weekend.
Thanks for starting up the North Bay chapter of Elite events!
Bonus points: Managing to avoid Sears Point race day traffic both ways, making the long journey from Corte Madera enjoyable.

Oh Unilocaly goodness galore, I do love you, my multifaceted and multitalented northbay elite family!
As the first of the recent northbay elite events, we are so lucky to have Kevin as our leader, because this event was awesome! I went to college in this area, so when I found out this was where our inaugural event was to be located, I was beyond happy. I had talked with some local elites beforehand to make sure everyone knew, but I doubt anyone was excited as I was. In fact I came up yesterday to scope everything out ahead of time. Devoted or obsessed… hmmm…
I brought along one of my employees who I am desparately trying to recruit into Unilocal,and we were greeted at the door by the one and only devastatingly gorgeous redhead goddess herself, and Kevin who I had met briefly at the Unilocal promenade gala in sf.
I had not been to this restaurant with the exception of yesterday’s recon mission, and I was pleased at the ambiance and décor. I immediately met Wendy the bubbly and talented photographer, and then bumped into Fred and we proceeded to drinks. Regardless of the theme, we opted for the Pinot which was a surprising hit, and then took a sampler of the finger foods. I really loved the corn on the cob, and was head over heels for the perfectly delicate chips.
Aside from the complimentary foodie bites, we ordered the truffled mushroom hurrache, which was delicious, and the plantains, which were spicy and perfectly cooked, which we shared with my Unilocaltastic friend Noelle and her date, after their day of Sonoma/​napa wine tasting. They ordered chile relleno i think, and the chiliquilles, which they shared with us (thank you!!) and i really enjoyed. I finally met Mandy the amazing gluten free goddess, and I hit it off in grand style with Dennis and his adorable and very beautifully tall wife Laura. Y’all are so great.
After bending the ear of the owner Chuck, he brought us some extra special goodies and tasters, and we discussed culinary mishaps, his chef Chris’s imaginative palate for ice creams, and just how many times it takes to fail before you get a win.
I was impressed with the turnout for our first event, and am every much looking forward to Wednesday’s event in mill valley. To my new, existing and yet to meet Unilocal friends, let’s keep this going! Never too much of a good thing :)

La Condesa was the perfect place for our very first North Bay Unilocal Elite Event [YEE]!
St. Helena, in northern Napa Valley, is a charming, very high end, small town strewn with many boutique stores, lovely restaurants, a few wineries and residential areas right on Main St. which is part of Highway 29. La Condesa is right in the sweet spot of all this action. La Condesa is a cantina/​bar with a small stage in the corner near the front entrance. At our event they had a flamenco guitarist playing classical guitar and spanish flavored, sexy music. I wish we could have danced because it was a romantic setting with a number of beautiful women at our YEE.
The cantina had a nice spread of appetizers that when sampled filled you up as a full meal. There were several different kinds of nacho/​chip creations and salsas, grilled corn on sticks with numerous spices, and sliders with marinated pork. Since I’m a veggie, I leaned over into the cantina and asked if they could make some vegetarian versions of the sliders for me and the nice lady chef eagerly asserted, «Yes.» A few minutes later a server tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was the one who asked for veggie sliders. It was presented on a small cutting board that said «La Condesa» on it and I gratefully accepted it. I was very happy!
We all also had a beverage choice as part of the YEE. A regular margarita, a «Prickly Pear Cactus» margarita, or wine. I opted for the Prickly Pear Margarita and it was pret-​ty spicy, with chile salt on the rim and hot pepper something in the drink. .. mmmm good, YA!
I was so happy to see some familiar faces like John M., Lilia M., Tracey A., and my Rohnert Park bud, Leah S. who was one of my very first Unilocal friends. I shared much of my time at a table with new Unilocal friends Tom S. and his wife Barbara S. very nice to meet you both.
Unilocal hired a pro photographer named Wendy Yalom to record this event. She was so friendly, warm, and gregarious while she snapped away most everybody at the event. Wendy gave lots of hugs too. I said she should be a Unilocal Eliter. .. and, she replied she intends to after enjoying herself with everyone here tonight.
Thank You, Kevin B. and Jessica T. for putting together such an intimate and warm soirée for us simple North Bay folk!
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