Lauren Barbaro, Author at NAPA Kitchen and Wine

20Nov2024

NAPA Kitchen & Wine Transforms into a Spectacular Winter Wonderland for the Holiday Season

NAPA Kitchen & Wine, the Wine Spectator Award-winning restaurant that has become one of Midlothian’s most celebrated dining destinations, is getting into the holiday spirit in a spectacular way. From Wednesday, November 20 through the New Year, guests will be transported into the largest Winter Wonderland in Chesterfield County.

Having undergone a magical holiday transformation that will delight guests of all ages, the restaurant’s stunning metamorphosis features thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. The over-the-top lighting creates an enchanting atmosphere perfect for family gatherings and festive celebrations.

We wanted to create something truly special this holiday season. Our Winter Wonderland transformation offers families and friends a fun and magical dining experience that only NAPA Kitchen & Wine can deliver!

Dennis Barbaro, CEO & Founder

The holiday decor features a festive Christmas bow wall, gift-wrapped bars, and suspended ornaments and presents throughout the dining room. A 12-foot Christmas tree anchors the entrance, complemented by frosted windows, a six-foot nutcracker, and polar bear displays that complete the theme.

Adding to the holiday cheer, NAPA Kitchen and Wine is introducing seven special holiday cocktails featuring two non-alcoholic options, appealing to guests of all ages and preferences. The hand-crafted prohibition-inspired menu boasts festive glassware, garnishes, and magical touches including collectible Christmas stocking shot glasses, available for purchase while supplies last.

In the spirit of giving, NAPA Kitchen and Wine is hosting a Christmas Toy Drive through Thursday, December 5, benefiting Powhatan Christmas Mother. Guests are invited to contribute to this worthy cause, providing gifts and food to families in need.

3Sep2024

Media

Lauren Barbaro 0 Comments

Virginia-Based Restaurant Group Achieves Coveted Inc. 5000 List for the Fifth Year

NAPA Kitchen and Wine, Sedona Taphouse, and parent company DJB Hospitality are proud to announce inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing privately held companies for the fifth year.

DJB Hospitality currently oversees sixteen Sedona Taphouse locations, one NAPA Kitchen and Wine location, and expects to continue to increase its breadth in the coming years. The two concepts bring different strengths to the portfolio: NAPA Kitchen and Wine features a menu influenced by California along with a carefully curated wine, bourbon, and cocktail list. Meanwhile, Sedona Taphouse is well known for creating memorable craft experiences for guests with Southwest-inspired scratch menus, a large offering of craft beers, innovative cocktails, and thoughtful wine lists.

While the proven menus of both concepts have spearheaded the success of DJB Hospitality, the brands have also become known for their philanthropic efforts. As part of its ‘Dine Out for Charity’ initiative, each Sedona Taphouse location supports a local nonprofit organization each month. Since the inception of the program, they have donated more than one million dollars to benefit the local communities that support its success. Along with supporting local charitable organizations, both concepts have partnered with Tunnel to Towers Foundation on a national level. Through sales of the popular T2T Lemon Basil Martini, aid is provided to military heroes and first responders in need.

A cornerstone to our success is our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve.

CEO & Founder, Dennis Barbaro

While philanthropy is the recipe for success of DJB Hospitality, the people behind the scenes are also an integral component. Franchisees set the foundation of excellence for each location and DJB Hospitality prides itself in fostering those relationships.

Our experience with DJB Hospitality as franchisees has been nothing short of extraordinary. A great team of professionals at the franchisor level that are anxious to support our teams in meaningful and tangible ways. The group is responsive, knowledgeable, and all-skilled in in restaurant operations and best practices. DJB Hospitality is continually evolving this great brand and pushing the envelope by staying ahead of culinary and beverage trends in the industry. Additionally, the training, IT support, and systems are simply top-notch.

Franchise Owner, David Trout

16Feb2024

Media

Lauren Barbaro 0 Comments

Cali Vibes & Exceptional Wines Expanding to a Second Location

After opening our doors less than two years ago, we are proud to announce our expansion with the first franchised NAPA Kitchen and Wine location, set to open Q4 of 2024.

The first NAPA Kitchen and Wine franchise will be located in Ellis Preserve, Pennsylvania with 7,500 square feet, a 100-seat patio, and an 80-seat private dining room. This second and franchised location will continue to deliver West Coast-inspired, high-quality, chef-driven cuisine, alongside wines from around the world in a laid-back environment.

NAPA Kitchen and Wine started as a passion project a few years ago and to be expanding to two new locations speaks volumes to the hard work and care delivered by our team every single day. More than our team, it’s our returning guests and the support of the community in Richmond who have allowed us to grow so quickly.

CEO & Founder, Dennis Barbaro

Since opening in early 2022, NAPA Kitchen and Wine has quickly become one of the top destinations in Virginia for an expansive selection of wines from Napa Valley and beyond, resulting in the prestigious recognition of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. In addition to an extraordinary selection of wines in a relaxed environment, NAPA Kitchen and Wine has earned top marks for a remarkable seasonality-driven menu of California-inspired cuisine including fresh seafood, premier steaks, fresh produce, hand-rolled sushi, and more. Guests also enjoy a self-serve wine station, a wine-tasting bar and lounge, a self-serve bourbon station, the area’s only Sunday Jazz Brunch, personalized wine tastings, monthly wine pairing dinners, and a fun, interactive wine academy offering informative monthly sessions covering a gambit of wine-related topics, themes, and regions.

8Aug2023

Chef's Blog

Lauren Barbaro

Sushi & Wine: A Perfect Pairing

Without a doubt, sushi has captured the hearts and palates of people worldwide and our guests at NAPA Kitchen and Wine are no exception. While sushi is traditionally enjoyed with green tea, there are two other beverages that we know to elevate the sushi experience to new heights: wine and sake.

Our culinary director, Tyler Barbaro, describes some of the special techniques that are used to create fresh, handmade sushi, along with his suggested pairings including offerings that you can find on our menu any night of the week!

The first step in preparing incredible sushi is the rice. We select a special short-grain rice that is rinsed, steamed, then gently tossed with a special, seasoned rice wine vinegar. This is what gives our sushi rice a unique flavor and a sticky consistency.

The most important ingredient is the fish. We only use sushi grades of the highest quality. We source our fish from a specialty supplier to ensure the absolute best quality. The seafood must be chilled to exacting temperatures so it is firm and easiest to cut. We cut our seafood into 1/4″ to 2″ thick long batons so it fits perfectly in each roll.

We cut our toppings such as carrot, avocado, and cucumber to nearly the same length as our fish, only slightly thinner, especially when placing them inside a roll. Toppings for the outside of the roll, such as avocado or salmon, will always be cut into thin rectangular pieces which can be strategically draped on top of the roll.

If you enjoy sushi, you know just how important nori is to most rolls. Nori, otherwise known as dried seaweed, is a necessary ingredient in making sushi, with the exception of nigiri and sashimi. When creating a sushi roll, we use nori as the base to place our rice, on one side, while the ingredients are placed on the other side.

Finally, there are many different sauces that we use in our sushi and everyone has at least one favorite. We use traditional soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, acevichado (a Peruvian-style aioli), eel sauce, and spicy aioli, all of which have been specially selected by our team.

Now onto my favorite part, pairing our sushi with a fantastic wine or our traditional sake!

Our Buddha and Paradise rolls are lighter fare but contain bold, rich ingredients that present a slight sweetness when enjoyed. I would pair these rolls with either an unoaked Chardonnay, one of our sparkling wines, or Sho Chiku Bai Mio Sparkling sake.

Our Sensei roll is a favorite, producing a hint of heat balanced by the cream cheese. I highly recommend pairing this roll with our Anna Cordorniu Brut Rosé or Mizubasho Ginjo sake.

The Cobra roll is very unique between the meatiness of the crab, the contrasting sweet characteristics, and the spicy sauces. You can easily pair this roll with a semi-dry white or rosé wine or Mizubasho Ginjo sake. Our Terra D’oro Chenin Blanc Viognier would pair nicely with this roll as well.

These next two are our most complex in terms of ingredients and flavor profiles, and arguably two of our most popular rolls. Each with contrasting sauces, meaty seafood, and a fried component, our Fire and Miyagi rolls tend to pair best with a light-bodied red such as our Elk Cove Pinot Noir. Hakutsuru Saruyi Junmai Nigori is also a great choice for a sake option.

So, the next time you crave fresh, hand-rolled sushi for dinner, consider taking Tyler’s advice! Elevate your experience by choosing the perfect bottle of wine or sake to pair with your sushi from NAPA Kitchen and Wine. Cheers to the perfect union of sushi, sake, and wine!

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West Chester Commons | Midlothian, Virginia

Author Archives: Lauren Barbaro

NAPA Kitchen & Wine Transforms into a Spectacular Winter Wonderland for the Holiday Season

Virginia-Based Restaurant Group Achieves Coveted Inc. 5000 List for the Fifth Year

Cali Vibes & Exceptional Wines Expanding to a Second Location

Sushi & Wine: A Perfect Pairing

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