Meadowood To Close January 1 For Huge Remodel

On January 1, St. Helena's three-Michelin-starred The Restaurant at Meadowood is going to close its doors for just over two months. The restaurant's expansive kitchen, where executive chef Christopher Kostow presides, will undergo a major remodel to increase efficiency even further with more space and more state-of-the-art equipment. A new 5-seat chef's counter will also be added, allowing five guests to dine amidst the kitchen action.

Concurrently, the dining room will enjoy some significant design upgrades. Although the footprint will stay the same, woods and carpets will be darkened, brown tones will be switched out for three different shades of gray, leather seating will replace the existing chairs, and the bar will be encased in a mesh wire design fixture—all with the goal of creating a more youthful, contemporary look. The team is also interviewing several designers to recreate the staff uniforms.

Meadowood's been so busy since receiving it's third Michelin star in October of last year, that the staff worked straight through its usual winter holidays. The upcoming break wil allow a much needed, reinvigorating rest and study period for many. Kostow's chefs are traveling to Japan, Korea, Thailand, Europe and New York to learn about new flavors and techniques. The in-house bar manager will work for a bit in New York. Kostow will take a trip to Morocco, and restaurant director Nathaniel Dorn will have a little extra time to spend with his new baby boy, due in January.

"We're not changing our approach," says Kostow. "The menu and service will stay true to our core. I'm continually trying to re-curate the menu so that we're speaking to every single guest. I want flavors to keep getting cleaner and more distilled. We won't hire more staff, but the way the stations in the kitchen function will be different."

Add in the new expanded garden partnership with St. Helena Montessori, and Meadowood will have a notably different feel and flavor when it reopens on March 12 of next year.

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