Ubuntu opens

By Paul Franson

Ubuntu Restaurant and Yoga Studio has opened at 1140 Main St. in downtown Napa. It’s serving dinner this week, and will start offering breakfast and lunch on Monday.

The attractive restaurant features pizzas, pasta and other vegetarian fare from organic gardens and a wide selection of wines.

The yoga studio upstairs hosts a full schedule of classes separated from the diners.

Info 251-5656 or www.ubuntunapa.com.

Angele’s chef still there

There was some confusion about the recent announcement that the founding chef at Angèle Restaurant had joined Farm at the Carneros Inn.

What happened is that Christophe Gerard is now the chef de cuisine at the Carneros Inn for Farm, Boon Fly and private events, but he left Angèle years ago.

Angele’s chef Tripp Mauldin is still manning the stove at the delightful French bistro on the river, though it’s a bit difficult to get there with all the nearby construction.

Persevere and you’ll have a great meal at lunch, though temporarily not outside — they’re sandblasting and pouring concrete on the new path outside the Hatt Building.

Proprietor Bettina Rouas keeps chanting: It will be wonderful when the construction is complete.

Trefethen’s cabernet named best in America

Congratulations to Trefethen Vineyards, chosen by Decanter as the best North American cabernet sauvignon for its 2002 vintage.

Swiss-born winemaker Peter Luthi deserves credit and viticulturist Jon Ruel now tends the vineyards.

Raymond celebrates 30 years of cabernet

As Raymond Vineyards celebrates 30 years of making cabernet sauvignon with its 2004 vintage, which will be released this fall, the Raymonds remind us how things have changed in Napa Valley.

In 1974, there were 2,834 bearing acres of cabernet sauvignon in Napa Valley and 10, 222 tons were harvested with an average selling price of $454 per ton.

During the 2004 harvest, the valley had 15,917 bearing acres of cabernet sauvignon with 42,385 tons harvested at an average price of $3,948 per ton.

   

Weddings in Napa?

Everyone who lives in Napa Valley knows that it’s very unlikely that they can be married at a winery here, and the excellent Napa Wedding Source Web site napaweddingsource.com points that out — but provides alternatives and hints and other useful information.

It also give a lot of information that would be useful to any visitor or resident.

   

CIA Sophisticated Palate program

The Culinary Institute of America has launched a new culinary getaway program at its St. Helena campus.

It’s called the Sophisticated Palate and combines travel, wine and food with daily journeys throughout Napa Valley.

Info, ciachef.edu.

Fourth annual Feast of Eden

The Land Trust of Napa County will hold its fourth annual Feast of Eden Nov. 3 at Castello di Amorosa.

There will be a four-week preview of the artwork to be auctioned starting with the Fine Art Gala Opening at Copia Oct. 7.

Info, 252-1135 or www.napalandtrust.org.

E-mail news to paul@napalife.com.

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