Plant-Based Eating in Napa Valley
Check out Sharon Palmer’s guide to plant-based eating in Napa Valley.
My heart goes out to all of the families and businesses currently facing tremendous hardship in Napa Valley this week due to the wild fires. I visited Napa Valley—one of my favorite places on the planet—just a couple of weeks ago and wrote this blog about plant-powered eating in the region before the fires started. I decided to post it today in honor of the people there who grow the amazing food and make the beautiful wine that we enjoy so much. Some wineries and restaurants have been completely lost, and many people have lost their lives, as well. Eater just posted a great article about how you can support Napa and Sonoma Valley. Please remember to come back to Napa Valley often and regularly; it needs you. Let’s support the people who grow and make our food.
Awaken Your Mind, Body, and Spirit Conference, Yountville, CA
My trip to Napa Valley all started with an invitation to speak at this conference, which was hosted by Martin-O’Neil Cancer Center. It was such an honor to be the guest speaker at this forward-thinking community event, which invited people from the community to learn about how plant-powered eating can protect health. I made a full tasting menu of my recipes for people to enjoy during the workshop, as well as provided a cooking demo.
Awaken Your Mind, Body, and Spirit Conference, Yountville, CA
It was fun doing a book signing and talking to the people who attended the event. So many people passionate about eating a plant-based diet for a vibrant, long life.
Awaken Your Mind, Body, and Spirit Conference, Yountville, CA
What a great audience in Yountville!
Gamble Family Vineyards, Napa Valley
After my conference, I enjoyed a couple of days in the beautiful Napa Valley, stopping in for a tasting at Gamble Family Vineyards, which makes gorgeous wines from grapes growing in the Oakville region.
Gamble Family Vineyards, Napa Valley
So beautiful looking out at the vineyards, which were being harvested that day.
It was so fun to visit the St. Helena farmers market!
This farmers market is located right next to the vineyards. Just a couple of farms are producing vegetable crops in this area, doing their best to keep up some monoculture in the Napa Valley.
Look at the late summer/early fall harvest! I wish I had a kitchen in my hotel room so I could cook up those eggplants.
Pretty Bouquet of Bell Peppers, St. Helena Farmer’s Market
Just love this arrangement of colorful bell peppers, don’t you?
Harvest Inn, St. Helena
We stayed at the Harvest Inn by Charlie Palmer, which was a lovely spot in a historic location in St. Helena. The rooms are located beneath old redwood trees, with wandering paths and shaded courtyards. The breakfasts were magnificent, and this was my room service meal one night of roasted seasonal vegetables.
Olivier Napa Valley
Love this adorable olive oil shop, which produces gorgeous olive oil and products.
I love this farm-friendly restaurant right along the wine trail. It’s all about local, sustainable food, and although the menu tends to be meat-heavy there are some plant-based options, too.
Farmstead, Napa Valley
Look at these lovely roasted artichokes!
Farmstead, Napa Valley
I enjoyed a tasty apple, almond salad with fresh greens.
Farmstead, Napa Valley
The white beans were so rustic and satisfying!
Farmstead, Napa Valley
This roasted peach sorbet was divine!
St. Supery Estate Vineyards and Winery, Napa Valley
My all time favorite Sauvignon Blanc comes from this vineyard, which was all decked out for fall.
Bistro Jeanty, Napa Valley
So, I had to stop into this beautiful restaurant in Yountville for dinner one night. I was told by the server that the chef is now vegan!
Bistro Jeanty, Napa Valley
Some French restaurants aren’t that plant-friendly, but my go to is ratatouille—and this one was incredible.
Bottega, Napa Valley
We enjoyed a gorgeous paired lunch with the maker of Better Half Wines at Bottega in Youtville. Look at those pretty heirloom tomatoes we started with.
Mark Pavlovic, Better Half Wines
Mark, along with his wife, Kristin, are the makers of this wonderful wine, which is the result of their romantic pairing, as well as the pairing of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, which is sourced from some of the best vineyards in Napa Valley. This bold, rich wine is redolent in dark fruit notes, producing a sort of decadent, yet complex wine. We immediately signed up for a few bottles of it to take home with us.
Brussels Sprouts and Lemon Slaw, Bottega, Napa Valley
This was so yummy!
Pasta ala Sophia Loren, Bottega, Napa Valley
Our server regaled us with the story of this pasta dish, which comes from the region of Sophia Loren. The chef prepared it for her once, and she adored it, so now it has a place on the menu. It’s completely plant-based, too.
Roasted Seasonal Vegetables, Bottega, Napa Valley
This course of simple roasted vegetables and greens was so wonderful—showcasing the local produce of the region.
Cauliflower, Bottega, Napa Valley
I loved this cauliflower dish, which was topped with bread crumbs and good olive oil.
Wine Grapes, Napa Valley
We were there just in time to see the harvest of the wine grapes in Napa Valley.
Making Wine
At Gamble Family Vineyards, they were sorting, crushing, and fermenting wine already.
Sunshine Foods, St. Helena
Loved this little local food shop, which was filled with wonderful, local plant-based foods.
Remember to come back and support Napa Valley!
For more plant-based eating guides, check out:
Plant-Based Eating in Walla Walla, WA
Plant-Based Eating in the Big Island, Hawaii
Plant-Based Eating in New York City
Plant-Based Eating in Carmel