Kim Badenhop ensures visitors always have an enjoyable time at his Fort Bragg inn. Housed in a building that dates from 1897, Rendezvous has been rated No.1 for food in Mendocino County by the 2006-09 Zagat Surveys of San Francisco Bay area restaurants.

The redwood panelled dining room is cosy and romantic; the menu, which changes once a month offers an enticing selection of pasta, steaks, local seafood and game, all with an enduring country-French theme. The summer brings wild salmon; the fall, boar and venison; the winter, Dungeness crab; and the spring, early fruits and vegetables.

All the dishes on the menu have suggested wine pairings; start with potted rabbit accompanied by a Domaines Schlumberger Riesling, ragout of escargots with a Keenan Chardonnay or foie gras marinated in late harvest sauvignon blanc, and move to mains of sweet black tiger prawns; Kobe style beef short ribs, or a pair of quail grilled with a ginger-blood orange glaze.

Finish with double caramel custard or molten chocolate cake. Rendezvous offers an excellent selection of wine and beer.