Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/551222
104 / the tasting panel / august 2015 a a "I'm a great roller but I've never rolled this way before, so I'm looking forward to it." Snoop Dogg, never one to let a double entendre go unrecognized, was talking about sushi, and his instructor was Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who urged him to do "cat hands," which means clawing sticky rice evenly toward the corners of a leaf of rice paper. It was Snoop's first California roll, as maker and consumer. As popular as the culinary stage was over the three days (Flavor Flav, Michael Franti and Brett Dennen also made appearances) the bulk of attendees came for the music. It is a testament to the organizers' ambitions that Snoop shared headliner duties with No Doubt, Imagine Dragons and Robert Plant. In a sign that the event is shed- ding its baby fat and growing up, crowds reached 100,000 this year, including a sell-out on the final day. Is BottleRock a musical festival with serious food and wine, or vice versa? "We're in Napa," said Justin Dragoo, a co-owner of Latitude 38, which took over the BottleRock brand after a troubled launch in 2013. "Not only is good food and wine expected, but it's a great way to differenti- ate ourselves from other festivals." With four stages and a music program that runs ten hours each day, many residents along the Silverado Trail and in surrounding streets set up outside to catch the sounds. Chris Berg, 34, put up a tent in the front yard of his Hennessy Street house and invited his neighbors. Not all came. "People get old and grumpy, man," he said. "But I love it. Like being on vacation." Vernon Thibaut, 82, has lived in the same Silverado Trail home for 60 years. It is about 40 yards from the main stage, and I asked him if he'd heard of Imagine Dragons. "My daughter has some of their CDs. I might have to borrow them." Smoke + Mirrors Like the genesis of a great band, a fantastic dish starts with balance. That came through in the special plate created by Rick Moonen of RM Seafood and Bx Broiler Room in Las Vegas, Katie Hamilton Shaffer, who works with Moonen via her Napa-based charitable organization Feast It Forward, and Imagine Dragons' bassist Ben McKee. This main entrée included all the fixings: pan-seared salmon resting atop black truffle risotto ensconced with prawns, scallops, clams, mushroom stock, tea, onions, shallots, lemon zest, olive oil and a splash of Miner Family Pinot Noir. McKee, who grew up over the hill in Sonoma County, loved the freshness of the dish. "It's herby and earthy. It's got that funky truffle vibe going on. You can really smell the wine when you get down there too. It's a whole world of happiness happening on one plate." It didn't hurt that the other members of the band, who are currently on tour promoting their Smoke + Mirrors album, came on stage to taste the delectable dish as well. Imagine Dragons with a culinary twist (from left): guitarist Wayne Sermon, vocalist Dan Reynolds, Katie Hamilton Shaffer of Feast It Forward, Chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood and Bx Broiler in Las Vegas, drummer Daniel Platzman, bassist Ben McKee and Williams-Sonoma Culinary Stage MC Liam Mayclem. Snooshi Dogg or The Way of the Samurai While all the events at the culinary stage were very well attended, the final demo featuring talented rapper Snoop Dogg and sushi guru Masahura Morimoto drew thousands of admirers for both artists. But much to the chagrin of the audience, Snoop admitted he didn't have any experience with sushi. That changed quickly after he followed Morimoto's direction to construct his version of the classic California roll. "Hey I'm a fan of sushi now," quipped Snoop. "I like sushi. I just didn't know it was this good. And with a real chef, that was the best way to get it introduced to me." by Aaron Ridgway Snoop Dog takes sushi-making lessons from Masaharu Morimoto at the BottleRock Festival in Napa Valley. Valley Music in the