CULINARY DISCOVERIES
Celebrating the Region's Flavors and Artisans
The restaurants, wineries, and culinary experiences that reflect why people fall in love with this region—not just what's new, but what's meaningful and worth your time.
European Soul, Napa Spirt
Napa Valley has a way of surprising even the people who know it best. Normandie, which opened on the riverfront in March, is the latest evidence — a classical French restaurant with a serious martini program, tableside service, and a kitchen that delivers on every front. The kind of dinner that ends later than you planned, in the best possible way.
Before the
Grass Changes
The season is short, the ingredient is exceptional, and most people drive right past it on the way to a tasting room. Sonoma County's spring lamb — raised on salt-kissed coastal pasture — is one of the region's most quietly remarkable ingredients. Discover the producers raising it right, and the preparations that let it speak for itself
A Kitchen
Worth
Eating In
Most know Hestan for the Italian-crafted precision of their appliances, but their new First Street flagship reveals a much broader culinary universe. From estate-grown wines to a Michelin-pedigree kitchen led by Chef Mark Dommen, Hestan has created a convergence of craft that is quietly redefining downtown Napa. Discover why this "happy accident" became one of our most memorable evenings in the valley.
Troubador’s
Le Diner
By day, it’s a local sandwich staple; by night, it’s a prix fixe Parisian bistro that feels more "Left Bank" than Wine Country. Led by a SingleThread alum and a Food Network champion, Troubadour’s Le Dîner is the perfect example of why Healdsburg continues to lead the region’s culinary evolution—offering sophisticated, high-level dining without the formal stuffiness.
Gentleman Farmer Bungalow
Tucked inside a 1926 Craftsman cottage on First Street is a private world that vintners Jeff Durham and Joey Wolosz are sharing with Napa—and you’re invited to lunch. It's not a traditional tasting room, but rather a 'studio for gustatory well-being' where the hosts themselves step behind the stove. Discover a thoughtfully layered space where no two visits are ever quite the same.
Palmaz Vineyards
What happens when a renowned medical inventor applies precision technology to centuries-old winemaking tradition? The answer lies deep inside Mount George at Palmaz Vineyards—and it's an experience worth planning ahead for.
Under-Study
St. Helena
This new café and marketplace bills itself as a "culinary playground," and that playful spirit shines through in everything they do—without ever compromising on quality. In a valley known for culinary excellence, Under-Study stands out by balancing precision with playfulness—and delivering genuinely delicious food at every turn.