Foodie Heaven: Oxbow Market in Napa

There is always something to do in Wine Country, even on a rainy day. Today, we journeyed through the hills to Napa's Oxbow Marketplace in downtown Napa. Oxbow is an indoor bazaar comprised of several dozen local vendors featuring the bounty of food and wine offered by this region. (Oxbow is the creation of Steve Carlin, who as all Bay Area foodies know, is the person responsible for planning and implementing San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace.)

Culinary delights await at every station in this unique location. Stop in at The Olive Press to sample olive oils and the olive bar. (The Olive Press headquarters is located on Highway 121 in Sonoma; for a review of this corridor, go here.)

Hog Island Oysters provides freshly shucked oysters on the half shell at the bar, with wine and a light menu to accompany. Mr. WCC is a fan of the Kumamoto variety.


Chefs will love the scrumptious spice and salt selections at Whole Spice, displayed so artfully. How does one choose from such a delectable display as this?

Be a winemaker for a day and create your own blend at Folio Enoteca and Winery.

Follow this sign to the Oxbow Wine Merchant, where you can sit in the most classy "sports bar" in the area.

Watch the game and have a beer on tap, or sample wines by the taste, glass, or bottle. Order a specialty panini, salad or cheese platter.

In the same space as the Wine Merchant, soak in the aroma of the finest cheeses from around the world on display at the Cheese Merchant.

If you want poultry seasoned to perfection, take home a rotisserie chicken from Rotisario for dinner.

Don't leave without at least a morsel from Anette's Chocolates. Heavenly.

The vast array of specialty vendors at Oxbow also includes a charcuterie, bakery, beef and seafood purveyors, a coffee bar, tea room, organic ice cream shop, as well as a cult burger joint (Taylor's Refresher).

Oxbow's motto should be: "No palate shall leave unsatisfied." Oxbow is open everyday, rain or shine, at 10 a.m. If you can, go on Tuesday nights when the market is open late for "Locals Night." On Tuesday evenings, you will hear live music, and many vendors have beer/wine/tasting specials. See the Events Calendar here. For Directions, go here.

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