Ubuntu is a word in the South African Zulu language that means something along the lines of community, brotherhood, relationship, giving back. Well, you can learn more about the meaning at their website: www.ubuntunapa.com.
Ubuntu's Interior
Ubuntu's chefs hard at work
Table Setting
When you first walk into the restaurant, it doesn't seem completely clear what the theme of the food is. Thankfully, a very knowledgeable server comes to greet you and explains completely what is going on. The food is vegetarian. Now, I know that for carnivores such as myself, the word vegetable is hardly in my food vocabulary.
What they serve is amazing though. (Uh, they have a Michelin Star, duh!) You would think that earth would taste gross and muddy or mucky, but this is far from it. (by the way, if you haven't gotten it, I seemed to have imagined that being in Napa and about to eat something vegetarian, i thought of mud...wtf?!) By the way, the menu is based off of the produce grown from their own farm. How awesome is that?
Let's begin with the carrot top pesto covered olives. You think what?! I don't like olives and aren't we supposed to throw out those carrot tops anyway? We never think of using the tops. Genius! There is no wastage here. The chefs grow their own produce so there's something different every season depending on what's growing on their farm. Back to the olives. I couldn't get enough. They are incredibly nutty and 'green' tasting. (I can't even diversify my word except to use 'green'--oh, you know what I mean--'fresh, from the earth'!) Kinda like they were just picked right off the tree before they walked the dish to our table. I loved the dish too. Perfect place to put the olive pits.
Olives with carrot top pesto
I was fortunate enough to have dined with my friend Chef Nori Sugie, so I don't know if they recognized him or what, but they sure did take good care of us. We had the best dishes...however, to describe them with words will be a bit difficult. What I remember is a little blurry from the wine pairings. Haha...I just remember how great the dishes tasted as well as looked.
So, from here on out, you'll just have to check out the pictures... worth a thousand tastes for sure!
"The Garden Snake" with lemongrass vinaigrette, soil and shaved pecorino
Pouring ceremony ...totally worth the wait!
Turnips in a "Tokyo inspired broth"
This is how good it was... mmm...ummmmammmi!!
Arbuckle grits, whipped chicken egg, and crispy 'skin'
Arcadia broccoli a la Catalan
Vadouvan spiced squash and torn brioche salad
and for dessert...
Smooth chocolate with bay leaf meringue and meyer lemon leaf ice cream
Cider apple pain perdu with brioche ice cream
and by the way, there's a yoga studio attached to the restaurant, so you can have your yoga and eat healthy afterwards too!
Students just breaking out of yoga class
I can't wait to try it again at some point during another season.
1140 Main Street (between first and pearl streets)
Napa, CA 94559
(747) 251-5656