No kitchen at the castle
The kitchen at Castello di Amorosa was shut down recently by the Napa County Department of Environmental Management. A lawsuit filed by the District Attorney’s office claims the kitchen was used without the proper permits. Register file photo |
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Sattui faces fines for unpermitted kitchen
By DAVID RYAN
Register City Editor
Dario Sattui’s celebrated Castello di Amorosa has a problem, according to the Napa County District Attorney’s office: The kitchen in the Calistoga replica of a 12th-century castle was being used without the proper county permits.
According to a civil lawsuit brought by county prosecutors, Sattui used the castle kitchen without proper plans. The suit also accuses the longtime Napa Valley vintner of using the castle’s kitchen without protection from “birds and vermin” and failing to properly clean and sanitize all plates, utensils and equipment, plus not having handwashing stations equipped with soap and hot water for employees.
Last month, Sattui signed a preliminary injunction ordering him to close the kitchen at the castle and post signs at the facility.
Steve Lederer, director of Napa County Environmental Management, said the suit stems from Sattui’s use of the kitchen for events before the kitchen was fully completed.
Lederer said it should have been no surprise to Sattui that the castle would be undergoing inspections, because it was under construction and inspections occur normally while a facility is under construction.
“The fact that he's doing on-going construction means that we're doing inspections,” Lederer said.
Officials at Castello di Amorosa did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.
The company faces a minimum $45,000 in fines if a deal isn’t reached with the district attorney’s office.
The current Web site for Castello di Amorosa specifies that visitors can enjoy wine and food pairings utilizing the services of caterers.
Sattui built the castle after 30 years of research and opened it in April 2007 after starting construction in 1994. Published reports peg the castle at 121,000 square feet, 107 rooms, 8,000 tons of stone, with a dungeon and a replica torture chamber.
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jfz wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:45 AM:
wined0wnnapa wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:34 AM:
GregN. wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:46 AM:
Chump-change for these guys. "
journalism major wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:05 AM:
4gnapan wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:14 AM:
y2kcbr wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:35 AM:
Actually I believe that Env. Mgmt. was miffed at the following:
The suit also accuses the longtime Napa Valley vintner of using the castle’s kitchen without protection from “birds and vermin” and failing to properly clean and sanitize all plates, utensils and equipment, plus not having handwashing stations equipped with soap and hot water for employees.
Judging by these violations, I'm glad that I wasn't invited as well...
Now Serving: Botchalism "
reason-ator wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:50 AM:
verum wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:40 AM:
comment wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:42 AM:
Project707 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:00 AM:
UncleStuy wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:07 PM:
verum wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:22 PM:
valligirl wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:33 AM: