Rustic scenery, enticing cuisine in St. Helena
In the Napa Valley, rolling hills and vineyards surround the small, amiable community of St. Helena. Italianate commercial buildings, a century-old movie theater, cast metal lampposts, and mom-and-pop businesses give the downtown a beguiling atmosphere. And tuckedaway lanes and ivy-covered stone walls reveal more treasures.
If you’re in the mood for a picnic, stop at the Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Co. Open since 1931 and housed in a rustic white barn, this family-owned market sells regular and infused locally grown and produced extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars and Italian specialty foods.
After surveying some of the thousands of business cards papering the walls, put together a hearty lunch with a choice of breads, a variety of Italian cheeses, and prosciutto, pancetta or salami. The market also carries olives, pepperoncini and packaged pasta imported from Italy. Once you’re set, head out to the shaded picnic grounds and enjoy your bounty. Cash or personal check only. Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Co., 835 Charter Oak Ave., St. Helena. (707) 963-4173, www.oliveoilsainthelena.com.
Walking through the portico entrance into the courtyard of Tra Vigne, where wisteria, roses and olive trees grow, feels like being transported to a villa in the Italian countryside. Dine beneath trees adorned with twinkling lights, or for a more formal experience, go indoors to the dining room with its crisp white tablecloths and vintage Italian posters.
Utilizing fresh, local ingredients, the menu blends influences from Northern Italy’s Tuscany region and the Napa Valley. Start with the mozzarella al minuto, a handmade appetizer served table-side on grilled bruschetta. Standout entrees include the house-made, sage-infused pappardelle with a braised rabbit ragu, wild mushrooms and grana padano. Tra Vigne, 1050 Charter Oak Ave., St. Helena. (707) 963-4444, www.travignerestaurant.com.
Visiting Woodhouse Chocolate is truly a sensory experience. There’s the seductive aroma, the shop’s elegant decor, the fanciful confections artfully displayed in glass cases, and then the actual tasting of the finely made Belgian-style milk, dark and white chocolates. Choices include Cinnamon Toast, a white chocolate ganache seasoned with cinnamon and ensconced in dark chocolate, and a brown butter and milk chocolate ganache covered in white chocolate and fashioned into the shape of a fleurde-lis. Other treats include dark chocolate ganache truffles dusted with cocoa powder, English toffee and chewy caramels.
Husband-and-wife team John Anderson and chocolatier Tracy Wood Anderson founded the company in 2004. Her mother, Chris Wood, along with Christina and Caroline Wood Anderson, the couple’s daughters, have also contributed their talents to the family business. This year, Christina became head chocolatier. Woodhouse Chocolate, 1367 Main St., St. Helena. (800) 966-3468, www.woodhousechocolate.com.