Our New Year’s Day tradition is to join a dozen friends for a leisurely lunch at Tra Vigne in St. Helena, the heart of the Napa Valley. I can’t think of a more perfect way to begin the year than celebrating with dear friends enjoying delicious food, tasty wines and convivial conversation. It is meal of complete self-indulgence in which calories do not count.
Tra Vigne is ideally located off Highway 29 in a charming brick building with a classic wooden bar that evokes the best of old Italy. The lush garden is surrounded by a vine covered wall and is attractive year round. The large high-ceiling dining room was nearly full on 1/1/2014, but we are always made to feel that we get special attention. James has been our waiter for the last six years. The entire staff is knowledgeable and the service is excellent.
One of the advantages of dining with a large group is that we get to see and sample a majority of the dishes on the menu. During the meal, we imbibed two different sparkling wines and three other wines, some from the fine Tra Vigne wine list and some that we brought in. The antipasti course consisted of Mozzerella “Al Minuto” on grilled bruschetta ($14), Arancini Alla Blognese (crispy risotto balls filled with mozzarella and slow cooked pork sugo–$13), Fritto Misto (fried calarmari, rock schrimp, castelverano olives, lemons, Peruvian peppers–$12) and my favorite, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with spicy chili oil and parmesan cheese($9).
It seems that so many restaurants are offering kale salad right now. I was delighted by the hearty Kale and Farro Salad with shaved fennel, cranberries, goat cheese, and Meyer lemon-garlic citronette ($12).
Speaking of garlic, I sampled the Rosemary Pizzetta, which consists of fragrant heads of roasted garlic and cambozola cheese ($25). The garlic taste stayed with me for the rest of the day. With so many enticing offerings on the menu, it is hard to make just one selection. Last year I loved the Roasted Butternut Squash Ravioli ($18) and a friend who had it this year said it was even better this time. Our table was also graced by the Forni Brown Garden Lettuces Salad with spring mountain pears, candied walnuts, gorgonzola and red wine vinaigrette dressing ($12) and Butternut Squash Soup ($9).
For the main course, I enjoyed the smoky Snake River Trout Salad, with green beans, peppers, tomatoes, lemon cucumbers and a refreshing avocado goddess dressing ($15). Others had Slow Cooked Sonoma Duck Leg Risotto with carnaroli rice, green apples, thyme and aged balsamic ($25), Beef Short Ribs with polenta ($32) and Smoked Chicken Salad with tomatoes, roasted marble potatoes and garlic croutons ($16) and a medium rare Grilled Ribeye Burger ($14). Extra napkins were required for the Wood Oven Roasted Dungeness Crab, with mache salad, roasted garlic, meyer lemon aioli and buttered baguette ($30).
After two hours, I could have stopped eating, but I sampled my friends’ desserts. My personal favorites were the Tiramisu (Italian ladyfingers, espresso, marsala wine and mascarpone zabaglione, $9) and the Strawberry Gelato. The Butterscotch Pannacotta with sea salt caramel and crème fraiche ($9) was a delicious combination of super sweet and subtle salty flavors. My friends who love chocolate raved about the Warm Molten Chocolate Cake, a showy concoction of crème anglaise, vanilla bean gelato and hazelnut tuille on top ($9) and the Pannetonne Bread Pudding ($9) was absolutely fabulous.
Let’s face it; the Napa Valley offers an amazing selection of great restaurants. Tra Vigne holds its own with consistent quality and exceptional service. You simply cannot go wrong with Tra Vigne.
Tra Vigne is open Monday – Saturday: 11:30 AM– 9:00 PM, Sunday: Brunch 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM/ Dinner: 3:00 – 9:00 PM.
Tra Vigne| 1050 Charter Oak Avenue |St. Helena, CA 94574 | 707.963.4444
