Food, Wine & Cocktail Experiences
Blue Note invites festival-goers to a series of food, wine and cocktail experiences on the Vineyard Deck. We’ll kick off each morning with a rotation of brunches by celebrated Bay Area chefs, including Chef Fernay McPherson of Minnie Bell’s, Chef Joseph Paire of Claremont Club & Spa Hotel and Chef Jay Foster of Farmerbrown and Little Skillet. Each afternoon, Chef Darryl Bell hosts Stateline Road Smokehouse ‘In The Vineyard’, where he’ll indulge guests with his celebrated take on Kansas City BBQ paired with House of Brown wines.
Don’t miss the star-studded lineup of musicians, chefs and wine experts rotating through the Food & Wine Center. Seats are limited and will sell out quickly – reserve your spot now!
The Meritage Resort also brings festival goers brunch and dinner buffets, and an offer to be among the first to try Napa Valley’s newest premier steakhouse, Ember Steak.
While there are no substitutions on the pre-set menus, the culinary team will do their best to accommodate any allergies or dietary restrictions within reason.
In The Food & Wine Center
Afrofuturism in Cuisine & Music by Chef Keem Hughley featuring Terrace Martin
$75 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Chef Keem Hughley, the mastermind behind DC hotspot and Michelin recognized, Bronze Restaurant kicks off the culinary vibe for the Food & Wine Center. Bronze brings Afrofuturism to the forefront through unique Afro-Caribbean-inspired dishes, weaving in a movement that centers Black history, culture, music and art. Take a front-row seat on a journey through the creative process while tasting signature Bronze dishes paired with wines by Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery + a dynamic conversation with Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist, engineer and producer, Terrace Martin.
Friday: 1:00 p.m.
Playlist on a Plate by Chef Ken Polk featuring Robert Glasper
$75 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Chef Ken Polk takes inspiration from music by Robert Glasper for a lively afternoon in the Food & Wine Center, where the two will recreate some of their favorite remixed dishes. While sipping on Love Cork Screw Rosé, guests will experience a creative cooking session and savor modern takes on classic dishes like seafood paella and watermelon rosé salad. Robert and Chef Ken will wax poetic on how modern cooking is a derivative of classic techniques similar to the composition of modern jazz. A delicious and intimate look into the creative process limited to just 40 attendees.
Friday: 3:30 p.m.
A Very Hi-Lo Caviar Happy Hour with Caviar Dream’s Kendra Anderson
$75 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Happy hour just got upgraded. Caviar Dream founder & Advanced Sommelier Kendra Anderson brings you a caviar experience like nothing you’ve tasted before. Enjoy a delicious, inclusive lineup of eclectic pairings featuring caviar, high (and low) end beverages + an infectious mix of hip hop and neo-soul music, delighting everyone from novice to aficionado.
Friday: 5:30 p.m.
Eating from the Vines with Chef Keem Hughley & Brenae Royal
$75 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
The abundance of the Napa Valley inspired this cooking experiment, wine exploration and conversation between friends – Brenae Royal, Director of Vineyard Operations at St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery and Keem Hughley, Owner and Chef of restaurant Bronze in DC. The two will be guided by the multi-layered, fruit-driven characteristics of St. Supéry wines during the creation process of dishes that parallel them…marrying complimentary flavor profiles in real time. Guests will enjoy bites of these unique dishes with ingredients coming from in and around the vineyard while sipping perfectly paired wine.
Saturday: 1:00 p.m.
Afternoon Delight with Bronze Pastry Chef, De’Andra Bailey
$35 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Pastry Chef De’Andra Bailey from Baltimore, who recently competed on Food Network’s “Next Baking Master – Paris” will delight attendees with an energy filled demonstration of her masterfully created treats along with music that inspires her creative process. Her famous berry & stone fruit panna cotta infused with Volcan Blanco Tequila & other surprises are sure to sweeten the afternoon. Needing tips for your own baking pursuits? Chef De’Andra will share her expert angle.
Saturday: 3:30 p.m.
Ladies First Power Hour: Cocktails & Conversation with Kendra Anderson & Imane Hanine
$55 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Ladies, step up. Learn tricks of the trade when hosting your next happy hour party with craft cocktail expert & Advanced Sommelier, Kendra Anderson and beloved Bay Area wine pro, Imane Hanine. You’ll be a VIP guest at this eclectic happy hour, bringing magic into Saturday’s festivities. Guests will sip on beverages incorporating female-founded Martha Stoumen wines and learn how to mix and serve perfectly balanced wine-based cocktails paired with delectable party bites – all set to a vibrant, ladies-first soundtrack. Lively conversation will surely ensue.
Saturday: 5:30 p.m.
JAM Session with Robert Glasper & Chef Ken Polk
$75 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Robert Glasper and Chef Ken Polk set the tone for Sunday’s Food and Wine Center experiences demonstrating the creative process behind classic Southern dishes like shrimp & stone ground grits and roasted summer fruit crème. In this intimate setting, guests will engage in an interactive discussion on manipulating culinary ingredients to create layers of flavors and the comparisons in creating modern jazz and hip hop music! Attendees will enjoy bites of their creations paired with Love Cork Screw Chardonnay.
Sunday: 12:30 p.m.
Notes of Noire with Song Pairings by Tank of Tank & the Bangas
$75 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
An immersive experience, engaging all 5 senses of the attendee – a private tap into the art of wine and music pairings, featuring Tank’s sonically diverse ballads and Pur Noire’s exquisite wines. Guests will learn about the 5 S’s of wine tasting with Sommelier and Owner of Pur Noire Wines, Carissa Stephens put into practice for each wine, song and cheese pairing. Take a once in a lifetime peek into the creative process of music creation directly from Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball…sure to give you butterflies. Limited to just 40 guests.
Sunday: 2:30 p.m.
Sunday Revelations: Culinary Masterclass with Chef Darryl Bell
$45 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Kansas City-raised and Michelin-trained, Chef Darryl Bell takes on Jaques Pepin-style smoked crab & caviar omelettes, masterfully demonstrating the art of omelette making…with all of the extra indulgences. Sip on Sauvignon Blanc from Brown Estate, sample Chef Darryl’s creation, and enjoy the perfect Sunday playlist as we head into this final evening of the Black Radio Experience!
Sunday: 4:30 p.m.
At The Vineyard Deck
C’est CHIC: A Caviar + Champagne Brunch featuring Minnie Bell’s Fried Chicken + Vinyl DJ Mara Hruby
$165 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Chef Fernay McPherson of Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement in San Francisco and Caviar Dream founder Kendra Anderson curate a flavorful + fashion-fueled moment to start your Black Radio Experience in style! Indulge in Chef Fernay’s famous rosemary-fried chicken and other decadent brunch bites, accompanied by the finest caviar. The playlist? Inspired by the greatest hits by CHIC + Nile Rodgers, spun by DJ Mara Hruby. The Black Radio Experience pops off with an array of Champagne by Laurent Perrier paired perfectly with beats and inspired eats!
Friday: 10:30am – 12:30pm
‘Casa de Buena Vibra’
Brunch by Chef Joseph Paire featuring Volcan Tequila
$165 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Chef Joseph Paire III, Executive Chef of The Claremont Club & Spa Hotel will awaken the senses with an elevated, Latin American-inspired menu, paired with refreshing blanco tequila cocktails by Volcan. Expect abundant Tajin spiced fruit, shrimp aguachile, crab tostada with poached eggs, Spanish tortilla, cochinita pibil, nopales and more. Volcan Tahona blanco tequila perfectly accentuates the vibes for this delicious and sensual second morning of Black Radio Experience, set in the stunning Vineyard Deck.
Saturday: 10:30am – 12:30pm
‘For the Love of Jazz’
Soul Brunch by Chef Jay Foster & DJ Mara Hruby, featuring John Legend’s LVE Wine
$165 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Chefs Jay Foster’s restaurants Farmer Brown and Little Skillet in San Francisco set the tone for the Bay Area brunch scene. On this final day of the Black Radio experience, guests will be ignited by Chef Jay’s creative and hyper-local approach to soul food – paired with wines from The LVE Collection by John Legend and soulful beats by DJ Mara Hruby. Chef Jay brings the Sunday vibe to festival goers with his classics… smoked brisket & poached eggs over a sweet potato hash with Cajun hollandaise + watermelon salad, fresh biscuits, and museum-worthy fruit platters & more surprises.
LVE wines display a unique series of rich, soulful and complex notes inspired by true love, produced in collaboration with the renowned Boisset Collection. The wines express the perfect harmony of passion and elegance from Napa Valley and French tradition.
Cold coffee by Red Bay, founded by renowned artist and food entrepreneur, Keba Konte.
Sunday: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Stateline Road Smokehouse ‘In the Vineyard’ with Chef Darryl Bell & House of Brown Wine
$155 – Inclusive of all food & beverage
Napa’s own Chef Darryl Bell indulges guests with a soulful BBQ every afternoon at the Vineyard Terrace.
Chef Bell melds his Kansas City upbringing with his Michelin training to create a culinary experience like no other. Savor Stateline’s famous burnt ends, ribs, smoked maitake mushrooms, and seasonal vegetables. Enjoy certified sustainable and vegan-friendly wine pairings from House of Brown, sister label to the Brown Estate. The first and only Black-owned estate winery in the Napa Valley joins Napa’s first black-owned restaurant for this unforgettable afternoon residency!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 2pm – 4pm
In The Meritage Resort
Meritage Brunch & Dinner Buffets
Eat, Sip, Groove at The Meritage
$250 per day + Taxes and Tip
$699 for 3-Day Pass + Taxes and Tip
Enjoy a daily feast in The Meritage Resort’s air-conditioned ballrooms. This food package includes a brunch and dinner buffet for all three days of The Black Radio Experience and makes it easy to nourish, refresh and restore before getting back to the music.
Brunch Buffet from 9am – 12:30am Friday, Sat & Sun
Dinner Buffet from 4:30pm – 9pm
Ember Steak
$175 Prix Fixe Menu
Experience Napa’s new premier steakhouse, Ember Steak, at The Meritage Resort. Couples and culinary savants alike will relish in the intimate atmosphere and the sumptuous dishes. Chef Cary Roy ensures every detail exceeds expectations with carefully-curated menus.
Fri and Sat: 5:30pm, 7:30pm & 10:15pm
Sunday 4:30pm, 6:30pm & 9:15pm