Oxbow Napa
No more than a long par-5 from my house is the Oxbow Public Market. If you have ever been to the SF Ferry Building, then you have experienced the Oxbow’s big sister. Basically its amazing wine, stinky cheese, silky oysters, tea, coffee, gifts, olive oil, antiques and ice cream all under one roof.
In short, its really really great.
But for some odd reason it is struggling. Well It’s not that odd a reason I guess. First off, no one really knows about it’s existence. And Locals, God love em, are tending to snub the Oxbow, cause, you know, Heaven forbid a business actually succeeds in being a draw for tourist dollars right? And, locals love their “little ol’ Napa”. So we should do everything we can you keep those, you know, like, tourists, from spending actual money in this town huh? Sorry. I’ll save the rest of my tirade for another post…
But I LOVE he Oxbow and I want it to succeed. So, for the 2 or 3 people out there who might happen upon this entry, I say, GO TO THE OXBOW. And then tell 20 friends.
Here are my Oxbow favorites:
Rotisario: Killer Chicken. Period. Dinner for 4: killer chicken + salad + vegetable, under $40 bucks. Where else can you do dinner for four in Napa for under $100 let alone under $40?
Three Twins. Awesome ice cream. And my daughter with her dairy allergy can always count on a fantastic sorbet.
Folio. My other daughter (with no dairy allergy) loves the mac & cheese. And the wines are a wonderful gift to her Mom and Dad.
Napa Wine Merchant. HUGE selection of cheeses. Try the Salmon BLT. uh-maz-ing.
Kanaloa. Great, earth frendly fish shop.
Model Bakery, Hog Island, Fatted Calf… Seriously people, get to the Oxbow.
Don’t get me wrong, up-valley is nice. St. Helena is worth the extra 40 minute drive and 2 hours trying to find parking. Sometimes. But with the Oxbow, you can get everyting all right here in Napa without fighting your way up highway 29, waiting in line for a tasting, or spending a kings ransom for a wine country experience.