On a scale of 1 to 10, BottleRock 2023 was an 11! They turned up the heat and locked in a diverse line up of heavy hitters in both the music and culinary worlds.
Taking place from May 26th – 28th, the three-day festival drew an estimated 50,000 people each day to the Napa Valley Expo. The event was wonderfully orchestrated and even though there were many performances and culinary demonstrations happening at the same time the execution was flawless!
The festival offered a variety of experiences for guests to select from ranging from G.A. to Platinum (for those that are uber fancy)! Attending the festival for three days also doubled as a Napa Valley food and drink tour as there were various local vendors serving enticing cuisine. As I meandered throughout the festival I indulged in blissful and bougie bites (such as the following) while listening to nostalgic beats from iconic classic artists such as iconic Red Hot Chili Peppers, Duran Duran, and Sheryl Crow. Rocking out to classics took me down memory lane.
Other artists that performed included: Post Malone, Lizzo, Leon Bridges, Lupe Fiasco, Wu-Tang Clan, Lil Nas, Warren G, and Paris Jackson.
My bougiest meal at the festival was by PRESS Restaurant. Their booth was located in the VIP culinary area and I could not pass up their fancy lobster corn dog topped with Tsar Nicoulai Caviar! Their Ahi Tuna Nachos featured a delightful fusion of flavors. To accompany the main dishes I ordered green asparagus tempura that showcased earthy flavors alongside a creamy and decadent truffle-infused dipping sauce. Being a soft pretzel lover, I of course could not turn down the Buttered Pretzel topped with Maldon salt and it was accompanied by fennel pollen mustard.
Another booth that was a must-stop was Stateline Road Smokehouse for gourmet BBQ! I ordered tender and delicious Baby Back Ribs that featured a tantalizing combination of sweet, tangy, and smoky notes. Stateline Road Smokehouse is owned by Chef Darryl Bell who has cooked in the celebrated kitchens of Alinea in Chicago, Bouchon in Yountville, etc. One of Chef Darryl’s most popular dishes is his Kansas City Burnt Ends. At the festival I had them served atop a bed of curly fries with a generous shaving of black truffle. To get some veggies in, I also ordered the Cherry Wood Smoked Maitake Salad. The delicate sweetness of the cherry wood and umami richness of the maitake mushrooms kept my taste buds on their toes. It was a very satisfying meal that kept me BottleRockin’ and gave me a taste of what’s coming to Napa’s Art Rail District! Drumroll please… Chef Darryl will be opening his smokehouse in Napa this year!
Being a paella enthusiast, I of course had to indulge in Gerard’s Paella. While at their booth I witnessed the paella battle station – a culinary marvel, equipped with six massive paella pans, an arsenal of fresh ingredients, and skilled chefs engaged in an epic culinary combat. While there I had the unique opportunity to meet Gerard himself! Gerard is a paella master and even had a paella throwdown with Chef Bobby Flay that was aired on the Food Network.
Every once in a while I like to indulge in fried chicken and on that note I stopped by Imagination on Fire’s booth to pick up a Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich. The spicy fried chicken sandwich tantalized my taste buds with its crispy, golden-brown exterior, revealing tender and juicy meat on the inside. It was all enveloped in a fiery and aromatic spice blend that provided a satisfying kick and a perfect balance of heat and flavor. At the end it left me thinking WOW! That sandwich was on another level!
There are many unique experiences at BottleRock that you typically wouldn’t find at other music festivals. Monkey Shoulder hosted a Porta Party in a secret speakeasy hidden behind a port-a-potty. It was an intimate party with a live DJ, dancing, and Monkey Shoulder’s ambassador Anna Mains serving two whisky-driven drinks:
Peach Please that was topped with a Trolli Peachie O’ Gummie Ring. Ingredients included Monkey Shoulder Whisky, peach simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, green tea, and club soda.
Chi Chi featured enticing tropical flavors and was served on the rocks. Ingredients included Monkey Shoulder Whisky, coconut cream, pineapple, lime, and hibiscus falernum.
Left Photo: Gerard’s Paella. Right photo: Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Imagination On Fire.
Being a Hendrick’s Gin fan I of course had to stop by their three-story bar for whimsical entertainment and to quench my thirst, while getting a bit of a buzz. While there I had the pleasure of meeting Hendricks’s Gin Ambassador, Mattias Horseman, aka the Bar Poet. Mattias served us unique and delightful cocktails, such as the Butterfly Effect.
The Butterfly Effect was almost too pretty to drink as it had white and purple ombré coloring! It’s a concoction of Hendrick’s Gin, chareau aloe liqueur, jardesca aperitiva, fresh-pressed lemon juice, fresh honeydew juice, simple syrup and butterfly flower spirulina. It’s slightly sweet, very refreshing and kept Bottle Rockers groovin’!
Being in the heart of the wine country, there were of course numerous wine lounges throughout the event. Other unique experiences at BottleRock included a spa, a cannabis-inspired lounge, and silent disco.
One of my favorite experiences at the event was the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage as it showcased one-of-a-kind culinary and celebrity mashups. It provided more of an intimate setting where you could get to know the talent and their personalities as they conversed with one another. I personally stopped by the stage to watch the following:
- Chef Giada De Laurentiis and Rapper, Killer Mike made Giada’s delightful Tuscan pork ragu
- Singer and Songwriter, Sammy Hagar and Chef Jose Andres shook things up and made margaritas
- Hip-hop star, Lil Nas, Momofuku restaurateur, David Chang, and food writer Ying cooked up lobster mac and cheese
- Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, Bastille, and Chef Aaron Sanchez made fish tacos and poured up palomas
Left Photo: Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and Chef Aaron Sanchez. Right photo: Hip-hop Star, Lil Nas and Chef David Chang.
Celebrating its 10th year, BottleRock did it BIG! There were enthralling performances by chart-topping artists and culinary demonstrations by world-class chefs. It was a world-class festival with the best of the best. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2024. Cheers!
How fun!!! I like the VIP
Style! Had no idea it’s a foodies delight! Hope to get tickets for next year!