If you haven't tasted from the vast array of culinary offerings that Wine Country has to offer, consider this your crash course. From the world famous donuts at Boon Fly Cafe to the buttery English muffins at Model Bakery and everything in between, here are 50 brand new dishes you need to try in Wine Country before you die.
1. Gnocchi allo zafferano con le cozze (gnocchi with mussels), Ca'Momi Osteria // 1141 1st St.(Napa), camomiosteria.com
2. Clam chowder, Spud Point Crab Company // 1860 Westshore Rd. (Bodega Bay), spudpointcrab.com
3. Glazed pork belly, Grace's Table // 1400 Second St. (Napa), gracestable.net
English muffins at Model Bakery are toweringly tall instead of squat, and brioche-like instead of dense and dry. (Jennifer Brant, via goodtastevice.com)
4. English muffin, Model Bakery // 1357 Main St. (St. Helena), themodelbakery.com
5. Short rib pastrami, The Corner // 660 Main St. (Napa), cornerbarnapa.com
6. XOCO profiteroles, Basalt // 790 Main St. (Napa), basaltnapa.com
7. Polpo alla griglia (wood-grilled octopus), Bottega // 6525 Washington St. (Yountville), botteganapavalley.com
The G&G burger features a grilled 10-ounce patty formed from a pre-ground blend of grass-fed chuck-eye and sirloin, topped with Gruyère and house-smoked bacon, with a side of duck fat fries. Add on bone marrow for $3 more. (Courtesy of Goose & Gander, via Facebook)
8. The G&G burger (with bone marrow), Goose & Gander // 1245 Spring St. (St. Helena), goosegander.com
9. Slow poached egg on brioche, Harvest Table // 1 Main St. (St. Helena), harvesttablenapa.com
10. Beef carpaccio, Kitchen Door // 610 1st St. (Napa), kitchendoornapa.com
11. Fig pizza, Pizzeria Tra Vigne // 1016 Main St. (St. Helena), pizzeriatravigne.com
Every day in Wine Country should start with great coffee, fresh juices and house-baked Boon Fly donuts.(Courtesy of The Boon Fly Cafe)
12. World famous Boon Fly donuts, The Boon Fly Cafe // 4048 Sonoma Highway (Napa), boonflycafe.com
13. Yellowfin tuna sliders, Solbar // 755 Silverado Trail (Calistoga), solagecalistoga.com/dine
14. Peach prosciutto and burrata salad, Brasswood // 3111 St. Helena Highway N (St. Helena), cairdeanestate.com/Brasswood
15. Petit plateau (1/2 lobster, 16 oysters, 4 shrimp, 8 clams, 10 mussels, seasonal crab), Bouchon // 6534 Washington St. (Yountville), thomaskeller.com/bouchonyountville
16. Quack 'n' Cheese (duck confit, caramelized onion, diced tomato, toasted bread crumbs), Carpe Diem // 1001 2nd St.(Napa), carpediemwinebar.com
17. Day boat scallop, Auberge du Soleil // 180 Rutherford Hill Rd. (Rutherford), aubergedusoleil.aubergeresorts.com/dining
18. Hand cut fettuccine, Archetype // 1429 Main St. (St. Helena), archetypenapa.com
Ding's Crispy Fried Chicken sandwich is delicious and huge. (Courtesy of R+D Kitchen)
19. Ding's crispy chicken sandwich, R+D Kitchen // 6795 Washington St. (Yountville), rd-kitchen.com
20. Natilla dessert (tres leches, vanilla bean, blueberry & guava compote, cinnamon churros), Napa Valley Bistro // 975 Clinton St. (Napa), napavalleybistro.com
21. Monthly enchilada special, C Casa // 610 1st St. (Napa), myccasa.com
22. Bacon wrapped, blue cheese stuffed dates, Sam's Social Club // 1712 Lincoln Ave. (Calistoga), samssocialclub.com
23. Oysters Bingo, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen // 1327 Railroad Ave. (St. Helena), cindysbackstreetkitchen.com
24. Beignets, The Parish Cafe // 60A Mill St. (Healdsburg), theparishcafe.com
25. French dip, Rutherford Grill // 1180 Rutherford Rd. (Rutherford), rutherfordgrill.com
The brioche toasted bun—rather than an English muffin—on 1313 Main's lobster Benedict is a stroke of genius. (Courtesy of 1313 Main)
26. Lobster benedict, 1313 Main // 1313 Main St. (Napa), 1313main.com
27. Chicken under a brick, Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria // 21021 Geyerville Ave. (Geyerville), diavolapizzeria.com
28. Coq au vin, Bistro Jeanty // 6510 Washington St. (Yountville), bistrojeanty.com
Cauliflower is having a moment this fall. We're big fans of this version at Glen Ellen Star with tahini, almonds, and sumac. (Krista Jeremiason, The Press Democrat)
29. Cauliflower with tahini, almonds, and sumac, Glen Ellen Star // 13648 Arnold Dr. (Glen Ellen), glenellenstar.com
30. Grass-fed cheeseburger, Farmstead // 738 Main St. (St. Helena), longmeadowranch.com/Farmstead/Restaurant
31. Shrimp etouffee, Evangeline // 1226 Washington St. (Calistoga), evangelinenapa.com
32. Tempura calamari salad, Morimoto // 610 Main St. (Napa), morimotonapa.com
33. Petite summer quiche, Angèle // 540 Main St. (Napa), angelerestaurant.com
34. Agnolotti rosso di pollo e caprino (sautéed white corn, toasted pistachios, white wine chicken broth, goat cheese, basil oil), Aventine // 14301 Arnold Drive #32 (Glen Ellen), aventinehospitality.com
We're a fan of poppers in all forms, but foie gras poppers have to be the best. Check them at Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy of Willi's Wine Bar)
35. Foie gras "poppers," Willi's Wine Bar // 4404 Old Redwood Highway (Santa Rosa), starkrestaurants.com/willis_winebar
36. Nashville style chicken with waffles, The Fremont Diner // 2698 Fremont Dr. (Sonoma), thefremontdiner.com
Pair the salted caramel mud pie with Sightglass coffee or matcha-almond green tea at Noble Folk. (Courtesy of Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie Bar)
37. Salted caramel mud pie, Noble Folk Ice Cream & Pie Bar // 116 Matheson St. (Healdsburg), thenoblefolk.com
38. Raw fish of the day, OSO Sonoma // 9 E Napa St. (Sonoma), ososonoma.com
39. Forno roasted octopus, Redd Wood // 6755 Washington St. (Yountville), redd-wood.com
40. Chef's tasting menu, The French Laundry // 6640 Washington St. (Yountville), thomaskeller.com
41. Soft serve ice cream, Miminashi // 821 Coombs St. (Napa), miminashi.com
42. NY strip, Torc // 1140 Main St. (Napa), torcnapa.com
43. Poutine with braised beef cheeks, Cook Tavern // 1304 Main St. (St. Helena), cooksthelena.com/cooktavern
44. Halibut in saffron cauliflower puree, El Dorado Kitchen // 405 1st St. W (Sonoma), eldoradosonoma.com/kitchen
45. Plum upside down cake with Earl Grey tea ice cream, Harvest Moon Cafe // 487 1st St. W (Sonoma), harvestmooncafesonoma.com
46. The Mister cupcake (Gravenstein apple cake, caramel drizzle), Moustache Bakery // 381 Healdsburg Ave. (Healdsburg), moustachebakedgoods.com
47. House made onion rings, Fumé Bistro & Bar // 4050 Byway E (Napa), fumebistro.com
The Farmstead charcuterie board comes with homemade pickles, of course. (Courtesy of Farmstead via Facebook)
48. Farmstead charcuterie board, Farmstead // 738 Main St. (St. Helena), longmeadowranch.com/Farmstead/Restaurant
49. Chocolate-dipped fig kisses, The Girl & The Fig // 110 W Spain St. (Sonoma), thegirlandthefig.com
50. Caviar, Farm // 4048 Sonoma Highway (Napa), farmatthecarnerosinn.com