The day before Thanksgiving was a great day.  Well actually it started the weekend before when I heard from a long time good friend.  Erica was going to be in California for Thanksgiving.  Erica and I met when we were both living in San Diego, working for a travel internet company.  She has since moved to Minneapolis and I’m back up in Napa, so we unfortunately haven’t seen each other in far too long.

Erica is one of those friends that you just pick up with right back where you left off.  Every time.  We proved that again during this (much too short) afternoon.  She’s one of the most genuine human beings I have ever met. She’s just as beautiful as she is gracious. I love her and am so grateful for this afternoon.

I met Erica over in Petaluma the day before Thanksgiving, in this charming town about 45min away from Napa.  We had a great lunch at the Wild Goat Bistro and then decided to stroll around town.  When we actually took a breathe in-between gab sessions to look around (6ish years of not seeing each other will do that to ya) we saw this: Native Kitchen and Kombucha Bar 

We b-lined it across the street.

Uhhh…they had me at ‘kombucha.’  Well actually they had me at ‘kitchen,’ but the word ‘kombucha’ on the sign just sealed the deal. Kombucha is a living health drink made by fermenting tea and sugar with the Kombucha culture. The result can taste like something between sparkling apple cider and champagne, depending on what kind of tea you use.  If you haven’t tried kombucha you should. Not only does it have amazing health benefits– it also (I think) tastes great! I will say though, I didn’t like it at first.  It’s an acquired taste, but there are so many brands/types out there that if you keep trying different ones (or make your own at home, which is what I do now) I guarantee you’ll find one you like.

Obviously we darted across the street, but what happened next had me asking the girls behind the bar if I could move in…

They have Champagne too.  Now let’s recap.  Homemade kombucha, tonics, kombucha cocktails, beer, wine, food and Champagne all live under this roof.  See why I’m obsessed?  I mean, I never have to leave.  Well, just to get bourbon.

So we each started with a kombucha elixir (the alcohol free ones) to start.  I got the “Pommy” and Erica got the “Kombucharita.”  Both amazing. Erica’s had this chili-verde salt rim that I honestly almost licked off when she was in the bathroom.

Then we moved onto the tonics.

A tonic is a medicinal substance (usually much like a warm tea) taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being. I love that definition 🙂  It’s a happy tea!  Native makes these fun tonic combinations to choose from depending on your needs/wants/whims…

I tried the “Immunity” and the “Alleviate Anxiety.”  I had anxiety that I wouldn’t be able to try them all in one sitting…

And I wanted to try the “Sun Tonic.” Next time 😉

So naturally I recruited my oh so willing (kombucha obsessed) friend Amber and came back 4 days later.  It’s worth the 45min drive Napa folks.  Trust me.

Go get your kombucha (and bubbles) on. And maybe have a bite to eat too…

Let me know how it is!

X,