Oxbow Public Market
The newly opened Oxbow Public Market in Napa was my final destination after shopping in Saint Helena and lunching in Yountville. I had heard so much about it with comparisons ranging from the Ferry Building in San Francisco to the streets of Saint Helena. So, before getting on the 37 to head home I detoured through downtown Napa and landed at Oxbow. Perhaps I picked slow day because aside for the Oxbow Wine Merchant & Wine Bar, which was hopping, there weren’t many people there.
A cavernous warehouse still filling in with vendors specializing in artisanal food and wine and specialty shops full of culinary artifacts, food, and entertaining related gift items is what I discovered upon stepping inside and making my way around.
There was a variety of things to see, smell, and taste and on my circuit I browsed through produce, tasted olive oil at The Olive Press, admired the mouth-watering chocolate displays at Anette’s and pondered how an operational micro-winery, Folio Enoteca & Winery could fit into such a small space (80 sq. feet). Impressive!
By the time I arrived at Three Twins Organic Ice Cream I was ready for some fortification and ordered a scoop of Strawberry Je Ne Sais Quoi (strawberry with a splash of balsamic vinegar – yum!). After polishing off the ice cream, I washed it down with a latte from Ritual Coffee Roasters.
Re-energized by ice cream and caffeine I found my way through the automatic doors that lead into the Wine Merchant & Wine Bar and Oxbow Cheese Merchant. This was the one part of the Market that was humming with people, bellied up to the bar, sampling from the tasting menu, and wandering around the shop looking at the comprehensive and eclectic selection of wines not only from Napa but around the world. The staff was helpful and eager to make suggestions to fit any budget and taste. I ended up with a sparkling wine from Spain that I would not have tried without the enthusiastic recommendation.
Walking back to the car, I passed Taylor’s Automatic Refresher and The Model Bakery – both offshoots from their Saint Helena brethren. It made me think that while the addition of the Oxbow Market is good for Napa, the space felt like a glorified food court in a box. I didn’t get the warm, inviting, spend an aftrenoon eating, shopping and hanging out here feeling that I do when I’m in the Ferry Building. I was disappointed but glad I checked it out. I’m not sure how this feeling will be overcome but perhaps with time and once a few more vendors like Kara’s Cupcakes and Hog Island Oyster Company are up and running it will feel less boxy and more like a bustling marketplace. In the meantime, I plan to stick to my San Francisco Ferry Building and return to the downtown blocks of Saint Helena the next time I am in the Napa Valley.
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