a fun place for lunch in the Napa Valley

Clif Family Bruchetteria (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Have you ever had a CLIF Bar? If so, you will recognize the name on this food truck. Gary Erickson, a resident of the East Bay, was an avid biker. During a 175 mile bicycle ride in 1990, he became disenchanted with the "energy bars" he typically brought along for sustenance. Knowing he could do better, he experimented with his mom over the course of several months and developed a recipe for a better tasting and healthier energy bar. He named it the CLIF bar in honor of his father, Clifford Erickson. Thus began an incredibly successful family business.

Moving to the St. Helena area in the Napa Valley, Gary pursued other passions, wine and organic farming. Resisting the temptation of cashing out and "going public," Gary kept CLIF Bar & Company private. Employees are able to buy into what is now an employee-owned business, and their enthusiasm for their jobs and place of work was palpable.

When Meadowood Napa Valley hosted our Brownell Travel group for a two-night stay (to be reviewed in a later blog post), they planned lunch for us at the CLIF Family Tasting Room. The daily menu of Bruschette uses fresh organic produce that is locally available. We enjoyed a veritable feast that included salads, sides, bruschette, and desserts. Verdict: totally yummy! Great tasting, healthy, casual food that you can order outside from the Food Truck or inside the tasting room.

It wouldn't be the Napa Valley if you couldn't enjoy the wine, and guests can enjoy a selection of curated wines including some from the CLIF Family Winery that are available for tasting and purchase.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.