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Three-Michelin-starred restaurant The Restaurant at Meadowood burns down in Napa Valley fires

The restaurant, along with multiple wineries, bed and breakfasts, and homes have been damaged or destroyed in the Glass Fire

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

September 30, 2020

2 Min Read
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The 250-acre Meadowood Resort burned down early Monday morning, including the Michelin-starred restaurant on the premises.Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty Images News

Joanna Fantozzi

Three-Michelin-starred The Restaurant at Meadowood, as part of the 250-acre Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, Calif. was the latest casualty of the fires rampaging through California. The fine-dining restaurant burned to the ground Monday in the so-called Glass Incident fire, which began on Sunday as three smaller fires merged and scorched 66 miles of California’s famed wine country in Napa and Sonoma Counties, according to NBC News. The fire is currently one of 30 burning throughout the state and has thus far claimed three lives, according to Shasta County Sheriff Eric Magrini.

The fire has so far caused tens of thousands of residents to evacuate and destroyed more than 48,000 acres and seven wineries including the Chateau Boswell Winery and a bed and breakfast, the Black Rock Inn, according to Eater.

The Restaurant at Meadowood was eulogized in a social media statement on the restaurant’s Instagram page:

“We are all torn apart,” the statement from executive chef Christopher Kostow said. “A eulogy is deserved and will be given in due time...for now, I want to thank all of the TRAMily that have ever graced this magical space—and all of the guests over the years who have enjoyed the efforts of these multitudes. What an honor it has been. Martina and I wish our broader, Napa community safety and courage during this devastating time.”

Related:Fires, evacuations and smoke hurt restaurants in Northern California

Photos being shared on Twitter show the extent of the damage the former restaurant sustained during the fires:

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Derek Moore on X: "The restaurant at the iconic Meadowood Napa Valley Resort. The last time I was anywhere near here I was covering George W. Bush's stay. This also is the site of Auction Napa Valley. Huge loss. #GlassFire https://t.co/8RwVg1Y7kq" / X

Guests and staff of the resort were evacuated on Sunday before the fires reached the property early Monday morning. By the time firefighters arrived on the scene around 3 a.m., the resort was already engulfed in flames, Fire Capt. Matt Dowland told ABC 7.

According to Insider, all that remains of the restaurant is two brick fireplaces and the stairs to the entrance of the restaurant.

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"We're going to reopen," Bret Anderson, a representative for Meadowood Resort’s parent company told the East Bay Times. "And we believe that the Napa Valley, as it has in the past, will experience a renaissance after this." 

As of Wednesday morning, the Glass fires were 2% contained, according to Cal. Fire, with more than 70,000 residents still under evacuation orders.

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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