BLOCKBUSTER: Morimoto Confirmed in Downtown Napa

Napa: Renowned superchef and lovably quirky star of both Iron Chef and Iron Chef America, Masaharu Morimoto has officially signed a lease at the Riverfront development in downtown Napa. There have been rumblings about this for the last few weeks, and now we have the confirmation. Suffice to say, the restaurant should be a (welcome) game-changer for both the town of Napa and Wine Country as a whole (sidenote: to get an idea of Morimoto's reputation in food circles, check the quotes from Bourdain, Batali and Adria right here). It will be Morimoto's first endeavor on the West Coast, as he currently has restaurants in NYC, Philly, Florida and India. Getting into some specifics, the concept will mirror his proven style—"contemporary Japanese cuisine"—and the space will include a sushi bar, a lounge and an outdoor dining area overlooking the river walk. The preliminary due date for Morimoto's Napa project is summer 2010. Brace.