Spend More Time in Napa Valley in 2014

Something exciting is always going on in Napa Valley – new restaurants opening, events and celebrations – it’s a thriving, creative community. One of the more recent happenings in downtown is the opening of a new market-driven restaurant. The former chef at Cotogna and Quince, Sean O’Toole moved into a space in downtown on Napa’s Main Street (where Ubuntu used to be). His first solo endeavor, O’Toole says he spent the last 10 years opening restaurants for other people and now he wants to do it for himself. The name, TORC, is Gaelic for ‘wild boar’ and it is in homage to his Celtic ancestor’s coat of arms.

O’Toole’s cuisine defies being labeled. He says he draws on folk and traditional dishes from around the globe while using classic French and Italian techniques. To make the most of local ingredients, O’Toole has hired a professional forager, Connie Green – author of Wild Table – to do the dirty work.

Restaurant details: 1140 Main Street, open 5:30-9:00 p.m. seven nights a week.

Stay with us at Napa Valley Hotel and Suites. Call 707-226-1871 to make reservations and you’ll be within a short walk of one of the best new restaurants to hit the Napa Valley scene. See the details of our Winter Break packages and call to reserve your rooms today.

Napa residents are nothing if not creative. Just take a look at this new take on tasting – the downtown culinary stroll. The fact that downtown Napa has so many amazing restaurants and tasting rooms can be overwhelming for some, so First Taste put together a strolling tour of various restaurants and wine tasting rooms – all of which featured small bites and tastes. Chefs and tasting room managers greeted guests with insights on how the food and wine were prepared and why the flavors are so unique to Napa Valley. If you didn’t make it in 2013, take a look at the 2014 Flavor! Napa Valley lineup for your tickets now.

Call the friendly staff at Napa Valley Hotel and Suites or make your reservation online today. By staying with us, you can put together your own strolling wine-and-dine treat.