Meadowood Napa Valley has opened Forum, a congenial gathering place with an atmosphere of relaxed refinement. Led by Chef Scot Livingston, Director of Food and Beverage Chris Ardu, Pastry Chef Kristin Davison and Wine Director Jillian Riley, Forum serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner both inside and al fresco. Chef Livingston’s seasonally inspired menus highlight local ingredients and the region’s remarkable bounty, accompanied by an exceptional wine list and drinks menu featuring cocktails, craft beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
Designed by renowned architect Howard Backen with interiors by Lindsey Rion, Forum welcomes Meadowood Club members, Meadowood guests and the broader Napa Valley community to enjoy handcrafted cocktails and sought-after wines at the spacious bar or on the outdoor patio, delight in an intimate meal, or celebrate life’s memorable moments in the 20-person private dining room.
Backen, who planned the other structures on the Meadowood property, seamlessly integrated Forum into the estate’s elegant, natural setting. The main dining room is an elevated tent-like structure featuring warm yellow-and-white stripes overhead and relaxing cream bouclé booths. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor lounge, which is illuminated by twinkling lights. Forum seats approximately 70 people and up to 150 for a reception.
“Forum was envisioned with community in mind,” says Livingston. “We have created a place where Napa Valley visitors and community members can enjoy innovative yet familiar dishes with the intuitive and gracious service for which Meadowood is known.”
Livingston came to Meadowood by way of Napa’s famed La Toque, where he was chef de cuisine for four years. A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Livingston’s childhood summers were spent exploring the farmland of his grandparents, where he would pick wild berries and harvest fruit from the neighbors’ orchards, learning to preserve the season’s produce. This experience as a child laid the foundation for his seasonal, produce-driven approach to cuisine.
Forum will serve breakfast, dinner and small bites daily, while lunch will be offered on weekdays and brunch on weekends. Forum’s seasonal menu features a range of options that highlight the culinary team’s international technique and refinement—including spiced pancakes and carnitas Benedict for breakfast, along with seared diver scallops and garden vegetable fideuà for dinner.
“We’ve been working diligently to provide guests and members with a new dining option on the property to complement the Terrace Café and in-room dining,” said Director of Communications Amanda Harlan. “Since Meadowood’s reopening in summer 2021, we’ve wanted to give guests a fresh place to come together and break bread, and Forum is exactly that.” Forum is not affiliated with Chef Christopher Kostow’s The Restaurant at Meadowood (TRAM), which will reopen at a later date.
To view menu and pricing, please visit www.meadowood.com/dining/forum. To make a reservation at Forum, call (707) 967-1718 or book online at RESY. To reserve the private dining room, call (707) 967-1718 or email forum@meadowood.com.
Forum’s hours of operation:
Breakfast: Daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Lunch: Monday - Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dinner: Daily from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Brunch: Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Small Bites: Daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the outdoor lounge only
