BY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER

Featuring 35+ recipes from top Napa Valley restaurants and chefs, such as Beer Can Chicken from the Bounty Hunter, and Chocolate Soufflé from Michelin-starred La Toque, The Essential Napa Valley Cookbook is a first-of-its-kind philanthropic effort. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook go directly to Napa Valley restaurant workers who have been heavily impacted in the past year by the pandemic and wildfires. 

Author Jess Lander created the cookbook in partnership with Feed Napa Now. The Wine Enthusiast, Wine Business Monthly, 7x7, and Napa Valley Register regular contributor had been seeking a way to help local restaurants, beyond the frequent ordering of takeout, when she learned of restaurant relief cookbooks launching in Boulder, Colorado and New York City. ‘Why not in Napa?’ she thought, believing that a cookbook from Napa’s world-renowned culinary scene might appeal nationally.

The cookbook will enable Napa Valley fans to enjoy iconic wine country dishes at home, like the Gott’s Ahi Burger, Mustards Mighty Meatloaf, and Charlie Palmer Steak’s Lobster Corn Dogs. Each recipe also has a suggested wine pairing from a Napa Valley producer, selected by Napa Master Sommelier Desmond Echavarrie. 

The 100% volunteer effort provided great distraction to Lander, who lost her home in the Glass Fire. “During the fires and the pandemic, I kept thinking about how the only consistent comfort was food from our local restaurants and how they provided a chance to get out and feel semi normal. I wanted to do something nice for the restaurants and their employees, to return the favor,” said Lander, who fundraised to cover printing costs and received gratis services from photographer Alexander Rubin and design studio design this!

“I don’t want this simply to be a coffee table book. I want people to actually use it, get the pages dirty, and enjoy the flavors of Napa Valley from their homes.”  

The cookbook can be purchased at napavalleycookbook.com.