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The Napa Valley Wine Train Murder Mystery Tours
05.25.22
The Napa Valley Wine Train, a memorable experience that echoes the glory days of train travel, announced the 2022 lineup for its popular Murder Mystery Tour in partnership with The Murder Mystery Company, the largest theatrical company in the U.S. Available on select dates each month through October, the 2022 Murder Mystery Tours feature multiple themes and encourage passengers to get creative with their costumes as well as their clue-solving skills.
Guests will find themselves time traveling to the 1920s with the “Death of a Gangster” experience, exploring one of the most vibrant decades during “I Love the ‘80s to Death."
While aboard the historic train, guests will solve a murder on the two-hour journey and be served a multi-course gourmet dinner from Executive Chef Rodrigo Cuadra and the train’s expert culinary team as they enjoy sweeping views of the sunset and passing vineyards. The roaring ‘20s will return on “Death of a Gangster,” which welcomes tassel skirts, pinstripe suits, feather boas, and sequin headbands.
In addition to the mystery tours featured in years past, the train included a variety of new themes and suggested attire for the 2022 lineup, including Hollywood glamour for “Best Laid Plans,” wedding dresses, suits and wedding wear for “Till Death Do Us Part,” and ‘50s-era clothing for “A Dance with Death.” The new “Midnight Masquerade” tour welcomes creative masks, evening wear, suits, and ball gowns for an elegant night of masks and murder.
The first course of the evening's gourmet dinner features a seasonal soup-of-the-day accompanied by a roasted beet salad with Skyhill Napa Valley Farm goat cheese, toasted pistachios, and honey-tangelo vinaigrette. For the main course, guests can choose between four entrees, including the ricotta cheese gnocchi with leeks, mushrooms, porcini cream, and parmesan cheese, herb-roasted chicken with caramelized sweet onion purée and pickled red onion jam, porcini-dusted beef tenderloin with cauliflower purée, smoked bacon, forest mushrooms and ruby port glaze, or the fresh catch of the day, featuring chef’s daily seafood inspiration. To conclude the evening, dinner is finished off with a sweet creation for dessert. Optional wine pairings are also available for purchase to enhance the meal.
To maintain a safe and sanitary environment, the Napa Valley Wine Train has implemented measures for team members and passengers on the Murder Mystery Tour. Actors will maintain the appropriate six feet from guests and wear clear face shields for the performance when necessary. Also, any materials used will have been sanitized before the show, and materials that are not reusable will be disposed of after the performance.
Check-in for the Murder Mystery Tour begins at 5:30 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to arrive by 5:45 p.m. to enjoy the entertainment in the train station. Passengers will board at 5:50 p.m., depart at 6:20 p.m., and return to the station at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $405 per person.
For reservations and more information, guests can call (800) 427-4124 or visit winetrain.com/events/murder-mystery/.
2022 Murder Mystery Tour Dates:
Thursday, May 19 – Till Death Do Us Part
Thursday, June 2 – Death of a Gangster
Thursday, June 16 – Till Death Do Us Part
Thursday, June 30 – I Love the ‘80s to Death
Thursday, July 14 – Best Laid Plans
Thursday, July 28 – A Dance with Death
Thursday, August 11 – Death of a Gangster
Thursday, August 25 – Midnight Masquerade
Thursday, September 8 – Death of a Gangster
Thursday, September 22 – Till Death Do Us Part
Blog
The Bungalow Kitchen Belmont Shore Introduces Prix-Fixe Weekend Brunch
05.15.22
With warm weather on the horizon, The Bungalow Kitchen Belmont Shore unveils an all-new prix-fixe brunch menu, complete with luxe add-ons and refreshing libations. A collaboration between award-winning Chef Michael Mina and hospitality veteran Brent Bolthouse, the 10,000-square-foot waterfront eatery presents itself as the community’s living room with its eclectic Bohemian vibe and a menu of coastal Californian cuisine.
Available Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 10 a.m., the two-course brunch menu is priced at $39 per person and offers guests a choice of one starter and one entree. Starters range from appetizers like Sweet Potato Pancakes with King Salmon gravlax, tangy crème fraîche, and velvety apple butter; and Crispy Liberty Duck Wings with a Grand Mariner glaze & orange zest; to salads including a Classic Caesar tossed in caper dressing and covered in parmesan and garlic butter croutons. Entrees boast brunch classics with a Bungalow Kitchen twist, including sweet selections like French Toast with bourbon maple caramel glaze and apple butter. Savory items include a Breakfast Pizza topped with crispy guanicale, Yukon gold potatoes, pecorino Romano drizzled with a poached farm egg, and Tokyo Hot Chicken & Matcha Waffles with sweet & spicy yuzukosho honey and tangy cabbage slaw.
Those looking to add a bit of opulence to their morning can opt for raw bar selections including Michael Mina’s Tuna Tartare and a multi-tiered Shellfish Platter brimming with Pacific oysters, shrimp, 1/2 Maine Lobster, 1/4lb red King crab served over ice with gin-spiked cocktail sauce, espelette dijonnaise, and passion fruit mignonette. Additional a la carte offerings include California cheeses & charcuterie from the pantry and fresh-baked pastries from local bakery Farmshop.
Also making its brunch debut is an all-new lineup of libations. From refreshing to robust, The Bungalow Kitchen’s new brunch cocktails include:
- Satellite of Love - gin, coconut, passionfruit falernum, lemon, orgeat
- Yacht Water - Espolon Blanco, lime, Topo Chico
- Pineapple Crush - Grey Goose Vodka, lemon, pineapple, basil
- Dirty Diane’s Jalapeño Bloody Mary - choice of spirit, Diane Mina’s Garden Grown Cocktail Blend
- Alotta Rossa - blood orange, passion fruit, pomegranate & sparkling wine
The Bungalow Kitchen is located at 2nd & PCH in Long Beach (6400 Pacific Coast Highway) and is open for dinner Tuesday through Friday from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.
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