An Afternoon at Folio with Chef Pickle

It was a great day at Folio in the Oxbow Market in Napa, where Chef Pickle is in charge of turning out some really, really delicious food.



Sarah's squash soup and minestrone are superb -- Mrs. Large Pants and Plotnik agreed they could eat that minestrone every day and twice on Sunday.




The Oxbow Center is located right next door to Copia, and is itself a temple for foodies. Folio is sharp looking, with as much space devoted to selling wine than serving food, and is only one of several small eateries inside the new building that resembles a small, modernistic airplane hangar. No restaurant has more than a counter and few tables, but all are top of the line. In quality, that is, not price -- nothing seems all that expensive.

There's an olive and olive oil seller (don't forget to sample the olive oil hand cream). An organic ice cream seller (taste the cardamom). A spice merchant, where Plotnik and Mrs. Large Pants practically bought out the place. An organic beef butcher. Local cheese. A few antiques on the theme of kitchens -- everything is about Napa, which means the good life, especially wine and food.

Plotnik and Ducknik will go going back in a few weeks with their friends from Washington, D.C. Gotta have another slow-cooked pork panini.



It's beautiful, Chef P. We all wish you the best, and please hurry up with the chicken fryer.