This blooming mustard is celebrated throughout Napa Valley during a festival that involves a multitude of restaurants, caterers, wineries and artists who raise money for arts, culture, historic, educational and service organizations. Events during the 2008 festival, Feb. 2 through March 29, include food, music, wine and dancing at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, a mustard marketplace at COPIA, The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts in Napa, and gourmet dinners—at Meadowood Napa Valley and Etoile Restaurant. One of the most popular events is The Awards—this year slated for March 14 at the Black Stallion Winery—where revelers taste and vote for the most creative mustard recipe of the year prepared by area chefs. Below are two of our favorites from years past.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Salad
Ingredients
1 pound corned beef, trimmed of fat, cut into 3-inch lengths across the grain, and shredded or pulled into threads
2 cups cooked Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup halved green beans or haricots verts, blanched
1 cup green cabbage, sliced
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped chives
Mustard Vinaigrette:
½ cup Dijon mustard
½ cup whole grain mustard
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2. To prepare the salad, combine all ingredients, except chives, in a bowl. Add 1⁄3 cup mustard vinaigrette. (You’ll have some dressing left over.) Toss gently. Garnish with chives. Serves 6.
"Mustard Madness," Relish Festivals and Fun, Feb. 2008.
Pancetta-Wrapped Pork & Dijon Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
½ cup sugar
½ cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon diced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon mustard seed
¼ cup diced red onion
2 large tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
Potatoes:
½ cup 2% reduced-fat milk
3 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 large russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
½ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Pork:
¼ pound thinly sliced pancetta
1 pork tenderloin, fat and silver skin removed (about 1 pound)
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 radicchio leaves
2. To prepare potatoes, combine milk, butter and mustard in a small saucepan. Heat until warm.
3. Bring 3 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes; cook until tender. Drain and return to pan. Add milk mixture. Mash potatoes with a potato masher. Add salt and pepper. Keep warm.
4. To prepare pork, wrap pancetta slices around tenderloin from one end to the other. Slice into 1-inch thick medallions. Use toothpicks to secure pancetta, if necessary. Heat oil in a large skillet or grill pan; add pork and cook over medium-high heat 4 to 5 minutes per side.
5. To serve, place a radicchio leaf in center of each plate. Scoop potatoes into it. Place tenderloin next to potatoes. Spoon chutney next to pork. Serves 4.
"Mustard Madness," Relish Festivals and Fun, Feb. 2008.
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