Extra Spicy | A Fine Dining Legacy, Burned Down

Located in Napa Valley’s St. Helena, the highly acclaimed Restaurant at Meadowood was destroyed on September 28th by the massive Glass Fire, which scorched close to the 67K acres in Sonoma and Napa counties. Under the leadership of executive chef Christopher Kostow, the decades-old resort restaurant earned accolades for its artistic, garden-to-table cuisine. The owners of Meadowood Napa Valley, which housed the famed restaurant, have since vowed to rebuild the property. But amid the news of its destruction, former employees and local fine dining chefs explore a range of emotions regarding its lasting legacy.

On The Chronicle’s food and culture podcast, Extra Spicy, hosts Soleil Ho and Justin Phillips look into what it took for The Restaurant at Meadowood to earn its place as an international fine dining destination and the highly-disciplined, intense work environment that some former employees say was necessary for success, while others claim was an abusive workplace culture.

You'll hear from San Francisco chef Traci Des Jardins, sommelier Alexis Davis Iaconis of Brick & Mortar Wines, chef Ricky Odbert of Six Test Kitchen and more.

Read the story and send us your questions about food, life and everything you’re obsessed with at sfchronicle.com/spicy. | Unlimited Chronicle access: sfchronicle.com/pod

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