World Class Food Awaits On The Napa Valley Wine Train

  The Napa Valley Wine Train bills itself as "Napa's Most Unique Restaurant". One taste of the incredible food on this train and you'll understand why! All of the food on this train is prepared onboard in one of three kitchens. The accomodations you are booked for will determine which car your meal is prepared in. The Wine Train's three kitchens are located in the following cars: Kitchen Car #1090 "Le Chef de Cuisine", the lower level of Vista-Dome Car #1085 "Champagne" as well as in the kitchen located inside Car #1013 "Silverado Trail". The food prepared in the dome car's kitchen is solely for guests riding in the Vista Dome and the food prepared in the Silverado Trail's kitchen is exclusively for guests riding in that car. Food items prepared in the Le Chef de Cuisine car are served in all other dining cars throughout the train. All of the food items served on the train are of the absolute highest quality and were designed by Executive Chef Kelly MacDonald.
I was fortunate enough to take two rides on this train this time around (you'll read more about the overall rides a bit later), so I got to sample food from both the lunch and dinner trains, in two different cars no less! For lunch, I would be eating in Dining Car #1100 "Le Gourmet Express" on my return trip which started as a "Go Loco" trip where I rode in the locomotive for the northbound run of the train to Saint Helena, then would ride in a Dining Car heading south back to Napa.
  For dinner, I would ride in the Vista Dome Car! I had done this once previously on my trip here in 2011 but decided to have dinner this time to sample the dinner menu and so I could also say I ate both lunch and dinner in this car! Once again, this meal (as well as lunch before it) was absolutely world class. What you will see here are photos of menu items that I selected. There is actually a variety of food offerings on the menu along with the wine that pairs well with each selection.
   I think the photos on this page are gonna make you very hungry or maybe thirsty for a nice glass of wine!!! You really need to get out to Napa and ride this train for yourself and experience the incredible food that is part of what makes the Napa Valley Wine Train so great! So for now, check out these great food photos! Are you hungry yet???

The First Course today for lunch was the Baby Lettuce Salad with Candied Walnuts and Smoked Goat Cheese in a Honey Cider
Vinaigrette. They also serve you some absolutely delicious crusty bread and butter as well! I also sampled some of the
Wine Train's own private label Chardonnay bottled by the Raymond Vineyard.

The Main Course for lunch would be the Grilled Medallion of Pork wrapped in Applewood Smoked Bacon
on Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Brioche Encrusted Endive.

For Dessert, I had a Bourbon-flavored Chocolate Brownie topped with Chopped Walnuts and Carmel!
Lunch was just plain great, and to think, I get to do this again at dinner!!!

Now I'm back for dinner in the Vista Dome! To start things off, I had an Hors d'Oeuvre which was a Pan Seared Scallop in a Champagne
Butter with American Caviar and Chive Oil. I also enjoyed a glass of Domain Chandon Brut Classic Sparkling Wine. They also served
more of that delicious crusty bread and butter.

The First Course tonight would be the Red and Green Apple Endive Salad with Gorgonzola Cheese,
Hazelnuts and a Mustard Vinaigrette.

And now for an Intermezzo to cleanse the palate. Today, I would have Harlequin Sorbet
which is billed as "a delicate trio of the Wine Train's Sorbets".

And for the Main Course, I would have the Roasted Beef Tenderloin on Zucchini White Truffle Risotto
with Sauteed Spinach in a Cabernet Reduction.

And finally for Dessert, I would have Creme Brulee topped with Blueberries.
All the food was absolutely delicious!!!