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If Willy Wonka Went to Napa Valley
What to know, what to wear and what to order at Under-Study
Welcome to Chow Now, giving you a sneak peek and insider tips for new restaurants we're super excited about.
This is not your average café. Welcome to Napa’s coolest new culinary crossover.
What to Know:
Housed in the former Dean & DeLuca flagship, Under-Study is part café, part high-end grocery, part art installation and fully worth a stop. Chef/partner Philip Tessier (of Michelin-starred PRESS next door) is bringing fine dining finesse to a more chill, come-as-you-are setting.
Grab a seat outside, next to the oversized butter stick bench, and snack on PRESS favorites like truffle-glazed rotisserie chicken or sweet and sour pig’s ears.
Or, pop in for a pastry from executive pastry chef Frank Volkommer, whose croissants and cookies are displayed like works of art under glass domes. You’ll also find housemade breads, local cheeses and the same cuts of meat and seafood served across the lot at PRESS, perfect for assembling a next-level picnic or your dream "girl dinner."
Need a break between tastings? Swing by for coffee in the a.m. or stock up for your Airbnb kitchen.
Bonus: The space now doubles as home to the new Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture (the MAC), debuting with a Julia Child exhibit on view through March 2026. Wine, pastries and a peek into Julia’s culinary legacy? Consider your day booked.
What to Wear
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We The Free Denim Barn Coat
Perfectly combining heritage and utility, this goes-with-anything coat is perfect for crisp Napa nights. Featured in a slightly longline, oversized silhouette with fireman-style hooks and a contrasting corduroy collar for added dimension.
By Anthropologie Braided Bubble-Hem Tank Top
Embrace the bubble trend with this chic and light 100% cotton tank with a braided neckline.
The Colette Striped Full-Length Wide-Leg Pants by Maeve
The pant so beloved, it sparked its own collection. Marked by a breezy wide-leg silhouette and form-fitting high-rise, the Colette Pant is tried, trued, and rave-reviewed.
Steve Madden Grove Green Jelly Flats
These retro-cute jelly flats bring playground nostalgia with grown-up polish. Comfy enough for all-day plans, clear enough to match literally everything.
Petit Moments Croissant Earrings
Sweet croissant earrings show your fandom for baked goods.
What to Order
🦞 Lobster Corn Dog
Lobster and caviar? Say less. This cult favorite from BottleRock is now available year-round—made with lobster trim from PRESS, topped with Tsar Nicoulai white sturgeon caviar and finished with a squiggle of remoulade. State fair meets Michelin star.
🍪 Calistoga Crunch Cookie
Every cookie hits, but this one leads the pack. The Calistoga Crunch layers dried figs, sultanas, pecans and coconut into a chewy, nutty, textural masterpiece. Your dentist might not love it—but you will.
🥪 Pan Suisse Reuben
What happens when a Reuben and a croissant hook up? This. House-cured American wagyu pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss and Russian dressing, all tucked into a flaky croissant shell that somehow holds it together. Breakfast, lunch, snack, it’s always the right time.
🐷 Sweet & Sour Pig’s Ears
A PRESS bar snack turned cult classic. These sweet and sour pig’s ears are glazed in espelette pepper, tossed with peak-season fruit from Tenbrink Farms and crisped to perfection. Salty, spicy, sticky and just weird enough to brag about.
👩🍳 Julia’s Menu
Available weekends only, this prix fixe is a culinary love letter to Julia Child. Expect green asparagus vol-au-vent, roast chicken with morel mushroom sauceand île flottante for dessert.
🥖 Dominic’s Baguettes
Croissants are for here. Baguettes are for later. Take one to-go and pair with butter, cheese or whatever’s left in your Airbnb fridge. Peak French girl picnic, zero effort required.
