362188 Sat Jan 20 05:18:15 -0800 2007 12 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2208835 I'm going to be taking my family up to Napa Valley next month. We have plans to visit Far Niente and Duckhorn (special requests by the fam), but I also want to show them some specialty shops. Does anyone have any recommendations? Looking for cheese shops, olive oil shops, bakeries, delis, etc. Anything that you find particularly special to Napa (I know that Sonoma is filled with them.. but for some reason I'm not too familiar with Napa). Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks! Sat Jan 20 05:18:15 -0800 2007 54012 shnigglebob 1 2209018 Here's my report on tasting olive oil in Napa. Quite a few of the places should interest you, particularly Round Pond: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/332757 Sat Jan 20 08:09:45 -0800 2007 2208835 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 2209617 St. Helena has a shop that sells olive oils, mustards etc., with lots of tasting. There is also a crazy new chocolate shop that looks like something from Paris. The tiny jewel like candies are very expensive. The place smells amazing, but I didn't buy anything. There's also a bakery in town. Sat Jan 20 18:06:17 -0800 2007 2208835 11231 Glencora 2 2212158 That's Woodhouse chocolates -- they're comparable in price to other ultra-premium chocolates, and they're worth trying for a special indulgence. I also like some of the chocolates and other products at Anette's in downtown Napa, which is much more like an American candy store, and much more affordable. http://www.anettes.com/ If you balk at the prices at Dean and Delucca, you should check out the Sunshine market in St. Helena -- they have a great cheese selection as well, although it's precut and you can't taste it, and lots of other gourmet goodies. Sun Jan 21 20:23:08 -0800 2007 2209617 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 2209626 Dean & Deluca is the only place in the valley for specialty cheeses of any quality. Once there, you can find and taste olive oils, vinegars, and other condiments. St. Helena is a better one-stop for Model Bakery, Woodhouse Chocolates, and the St. Helena Olive Oil Company, on the main strip. Dean & Deluca is technically in St. Helena as well, but an awfully long walk. You could have Taylor's Refresher for lunch! Sat Jan 20 18:10:09 -0800 2007 2208835 16933 Carrie 218 1 2210870 Morton the Mouse, thank you so much for the referral for Round Pond. It sounds amazing and my family will definitely enjoy those tours! We're going to see if we can fit it into our schedule! Glencora and Carrie 218, thanks for your recommendations as well. I am familiar with Woodhouse and my boyfriend and I have a hard time NOT stopping by to purchase their chocolates! I've heard about Dean and Deluca, but a friend of mine said that they are a bit over-priced and V. Sattui sells same/similiar products for less! Sun Jan 21 03:03:28 -0800 2007 2208835 54012 shnigglebob 2 2210937 The prices at Dean and Deluca are almost obscene but it's the best place in the area for cheese. About a yeat ago they stopped buying out of this location so a lot of really interesting local things are gone and the place seems more lackluster and common now. My hope is that Whole Foods will have a competitive cheese department, although I kind of doubt it. Sun Jan 21 03:39:49 -0800 2007 2210870 15739 Earl Grey 1 2210942 Oakville Grocery............. Sun Jan 21 03:41:21 -0800 2007 2208835 50082 TonyO 1 2212228 Check out the CIA store in St. Helena http://www.napavalley.com/cgi-bin/new_mont_frame.cgi?return=www.napavalley.com/regions/st_helena/shoppinglistings.html&target=store.yahoo.com/ciaprochefstore/index.html Sun Jan 21 21:01:32 -0800 2007 2208835 52212 Lori SF 2 2212739 Yes. It's a bit North of town. I did a lot of my Christmas shopping there. Not many food products, but great cookware and books. Mon Jan 22 00:49:37 -0800 2007 2212228 11231 Glencora 3 2214242 What do you mean? They have a wall of condiments, spices, jams and jellies, etc... Mon Jan 22 17:02:57 -0800 2007 2212739 16933 Carrie 218 4 2215176 You're right. In fact, I almost bought some saffron salt. For some reason I just remembered all the other stuff. Anyway, it's a good place and in a beautiful building. Mon Jan 22 20:31:16 -0800 2007 2214242 11231 Glencora 1 2215186 The bakery at Bouchon. There is nothing like Hot Chocolate and hot croissants while watching the balloons rise in the mornings in Yountville. Mon Jan 22 20:33:14 -0800 2007 2208835 62812 chickstein