Austin Klar tours Understudy, a new all-day cafe in St. Helena opened by the Press and Rudd Estate team in the old Dean & DeLuca space. The menu ranges from beef-fat hash browns to caviar-topped lobster corn dogs, and there's a Michelin-star teaching kitchen for cocktail and pasta workshops. It's attached to the Napa Valley Museum of Art and Culture.
A brand new all-day cafe just opened in Napa Valley with Michelin star pedigree behind it, and it is 100% worth the trip. Understudy opened earlier this year at the former Dean DeLuca location in St. Helena from the founder of Press and Rudd Estate. The vibe is a self-described Willy Wonka meets Hermès, and the menu is so wide-ranging. It is truly intended for an all-day experience, from breakfast sandwiches, beef fat hash browns, lobster omelets, and pastries to go with your morning coffee, to caviar-topped lobster corn dogs to go with wine in the afternoon. Plus, there's a butcher counter where you can get meats, seafoods, sauces, and patés to take home with you. And it's not just purely about eating, it's an all-encompassing food experience. They have a teaching kitchen led by a Michelin star chef, things like Halloween cocktail classes, holiday pie making classes, pasta workshops, and more to come. And if all that weren't enough, the café is attached to the Napa Valley Museum of Art and Culture. So if you need a break between drinks and meals, you can go visit the historical, cultural, and artistic exhibitions they have going on there throughout the year. Share this with someone you need an understudy with and let me know what you think of the concept in the comments.
