New in St. Helena
Always a center of style and deliciousness, St. Helena has added to its riches.
French Blue/Eric Wolfinger
French Blue: This restaurant is beautifully bright yet cozy, sort of like a very high-end beach house. The food is simple—omelets served all day—but don’t be fooled. Delicious ingredients and the subtle touch of Traci Des Jardins protégé Philip Wang combine to make dishes that sing. frenchbluenapa.com.
Goose and Gander: Head down to the stone-fireplaced downstairs bar, where cocktails are more fun than you ever thought you’d have, and small plates include such knockouts as braised Manila clams with chorizo and halibut ceviche with taro chips. goosegander.com.
La Condesa: Artisanal Mexican food takes some bold turns here, including dishes not often seen in the United States. Cuitlacoche huaraches are worth the price of admission, and try the quartet of guacamoles (one’s got strawberries in it) just for the experience. lacondesa.com/napa.
Bello Family Vineyards: High-scoring (read big boy) Cabs rule here, but the delicately fragrant Marsanne might get you thinking differently about white wine. bellofamilyvineyards.com.