OMG! It's Becks and Posh!

Soccer star David Beckham and his eye-candy wife, Victoria (the former Posh of Spice Girls fame) were spotted dining at Oenotri in downtown Napa recently. It's been a good month for Oenotri. First, the restaurant earned a multi-page spread in the latest issue of Food & Wine magazine, which makes the bold claim that it's the best new Italian restaurant in the United States. And then to have Posh and Becks roll in with uber-critical TV chef sensation Gordon Ramsay, well, hearts were fluttering and eyes were popping. Read more about Oenotri on page 51 of my book "Food Lovers' Guide to Napa Valley." Buy it here: http://tinyurl.com/72etwsc

One thing you can always count on in Napa Valley is a shifting landscape on the dining scene. While high-profile places such as Tyler Florence's Rotisserie & Wine and the vegetarian palace Ubuntu are both expected to reopen soon following time off for renovations and sabbaticals, new eateries are filling the void.

Consider St. Helena's La Condesa, with food and decor inspired by a trendy Mexico City neighborhood. The casual fare at this Main Street destination is far from the standard taqueria menu. One of the signature dishes is corn tortillas shaped like huarache sandals and loaded with different toppings.

Move over, In-N-Out Burger––there's a new choice for grilled meat in Napa. The Habit Burger Grill that just opened on Trancas Street is the latest in the chain's 50-some locations throughout California (and three in Arizona). Char-broiled hamburgers are the specialty, but they raise the bar by also offering sandwiches such as fresh albacore tuna and tri-tip. Pretty decent salads, too, and shakes and sundaes to end the meal.

And the Japanese sushi and sashimi restaurant called Eiko's in downtown Napa (kittycorner from Oenotri on First Street) has added liquid nitrogen cocktails and ice cream to its menu. This fad has been going on for some time in trendy bars and restaurants as a way to add a touch of drama to drinking (or to impress the kids with steamin' sweet stuff).