The City of St. Helena is located in the center of the world famous wine growing Napa Valley, 65 miles north of San Francisco. The area was settled in 1834 as part of General Vallejo’s land grant. The City of St. Helena was incorporated as a City on March 24, 1876 and reincorporated on May 14, 1889.
The St. Helena area was home to the Wappo people, a Yukian-speaking group who were the area’s earliest inhabitants. The local Callajomanes tribelet village was called Annakotanoma or Anakanoma and was located where Sulphur Creek meets the Napa River. The earliest white settlers in St. Helena were John York, who lived on what is now Dean York Lane, and David Hudson, whose house is still located at Beringer Winery.
We loved the quaint feel of the town and so appreciated that the old buildings were kept in their original manner
We were planning to have lunch at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone
….but alas…..they were closed!!!!
We came upon COOK and decided that the place was perfect for a lunch break..
We loved the décor and found the wait staff to be relaxed and friendly..
The Menu was quite lovely and promised all sorts of delights…
The Kitchen was open so the Tin Man went to investigate the happenings…
A cozy table was found and the culinary journey began…
The faux trophy in the lobby was beautiful…
Of course then it was off to the streets to find a sweet something…….
Oh look…….The Model Bakery……..
It is lovely here in St. Helena ……but we must get back to Napa and have dinner….
Beautiful Vineyards ……..
So……….finally some food!……….Dinner in downtown Napa..at Celadon..in the Historic Napa Mill
Lovely rustic environment and first class service…..
Sangria…….Soup………Crab Cakes……….Mussels……..ah perfection…
It has been a day filled with culinary delights…….hope you are ready for a nap……..I am!
Tales and Travels of the Tinman 
What a lovely day!
One must go back and back to savor it all, Love the faux trophy! Thanks for the history also!
Jo Nell, thank you! Isn’t the faux trophy cool! I was enchanted by it.
I love this series, Monsieur Tin Man! So many textures: The bricks at the Celadon, the pavement at the Model Bakery, and the stone exterior at the Wine Center-just to name a few. There’s also cool marble and plaster ceiling at the Cook. Lovely series of photographs. I especially love the group portrait. You both look so happy. And handsome, too!
~Theadora
(I’m now very hungry!)
As I read this, the Supreme Court of the United States of America has ruled that we are now legally married, even in our State of Texas. We have now become part of the fabric of America.
I know!! I know!! This fabulous, fabulous news!!
Big Love and Hugs,
Theadora
We are all celebrating this most excellent and long awaited news. What a battle it has been but you are now victorious. I have been sipping my cafe au lait and traveling St. Helena with the dearest of friends. I enlarge the photos so I can closely admire our friends having lunch. Then of course I enlarge the bakery photo so I can read the blackboard menu. I poke and pry into every photograph wanting to take away a little bit from every one. But mostly I just smile and smile to see you both enjoying yourself and having such a lovely holiday in wine country.
Thank you my darlings!!! It is a glorious day here…..tears have been shed and much laughter is heard. A glorious day indeed!
St. Helena is a quaint town…it sounds like a busy day. Congratulations to you both. 🙂
Yes, we loved St. Helena. Thank you so much for your well wishes. At our age we finally have some knowlegde that our privacy is protected and our ability to be of assistance to each other in our later years will not be questioned.
I totally agree. 🙂