Last June we first heard stirrings about a new restaurant project in downtown St. Helena, in the old Vanderbilt building, owned and designed by prominent Napa Valley architect Howard Backen. Today Grub Street gets the official word that French Blue (1429 Main Street) will be opening this May, and the executive chef will be Philip Wang. Wang was most recently exec at Merriman’s Kapalua in Maui, and his kitchen credits also include the Carneros Inn, Jardinière, and Daniel in New York. The concept is a contemporary-country neighborhood restaurant with wood-burning ovens and grills in an open kitchen; local food largely sourced from Rudd Farm & Orchards on Mt. Veeder; house-made charcuterie; seasonal cocktails; and California wine curated by partner Leslie Rudd (Press). We still don’t get the name, but expect managing partner Stanley Morris to bring a little bit of theatricality to the mix — he was most recently managing partner at Teatro ZinZanni. [Grub Street]
