It’s like history class, but way, way more fun
If you associate Marco Polo more with the popular swimming pool game than his actual place in history, you’re likely not alone. The good news: this educational experience isn’t like any history class you’ve ever taken. Le Petit Chef is an immersive, entertaining dining event that utilizes cutting-edge technology — plus delicious, flavor-packed food — to teach you all about Marco Polo and his incredible travels along the Great Silk Road, known as a system of trade routes that ran between the Mediterranean and China. But more than that, Le Petit Chef is a lesson in the diversity of cultures. At the time (the 1200s), Polo went further than anyone had gone before. He was an inspiration to future great explorers like Henry the Navigator and Columbus, and his story, as told through Le Petit Chef, will no doubt inspire others to get out and see the world, too.
The dinner adventure is led by the best tour guide ever
This isn’t your boring double decker bus tour. A tiny and very funny Frenchman named Le Petit Chef — who sounds like a Minion or Alvin of Alvin and the Chipmunks — is a five-star tour guide, bravely following in Marco Polo’s footsteps by sailing stormy seas, flying away from hungry camels, and barely escaping death by fire-breathing dragon, all while his passengers laugh along every step of the way.
You get to eat around the world
Go to any fine dining or Michelin-starred restaurant and, while you may get to indulge in multiple courses of food, they will likely all be focused on a single cuisine. But during Le Petit Chef, each course is inspired by a different country that Marco Polo visited along his travels. While Polo’s real journey took 24 years, this two-hour exploration takes each food lover overseas to discover the cuisine of southern France, the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas, and China.
And you’ll sip on the best of California
It wouldn’t be a proper Napa Valley dinner without wine and Le Petit Chef has the option of adding a wine pairing to each course. The menu showcases a range of varietals — like riesling and pinot noir — from California, thoughtfully selected to showcase the quality and breadth of California’s top growing regions. Not a wine fan or want to switch it up? You can also find a great selection of beer to go with the food.
Speaking of the menu, it’s fantastic
An amuse-bouche trio of a melt-in-your-mouth Nicosia Tartelette, a Saffron Vichyssoise, and Beau Soleil Oysters with a charred cucumber mignonette set the stage for six memorable courses. Experience traditional dishes from each country, like the delightful lamb meatball and hummus Sabich Bowl from North Africa, and the umami-packed Shorb Rib Bao with black pepper jus and picked mushrooms from China. For the finale, inspiration from all of the travels comes together to create a fabulous dessert. It’s The Culinary Institute of America, so of course they cook to impress.
The technology is so impressive, Steve Jobs would have approved
Le Petit Chef offers a cutting-edge restaurant experience, which comes to life via state-of-the-art 3D technology and visual storytelling by the world-renowned artists of Skullmapping™ and TableMation™. What this means is that Marco Polo’s travels are literally brought to life using incredibly vivid animation that washes across the walls and tables of the dining room, transporting guests across the world and firing up all of their senses at once. It’s as close as one can get to feeling the hot sands of the Arabian desert between their toes or smelling the multi-colored spices of India without actually being there.
There’s audience participation
Don’t worry, this isn’t like a Disney attraction where random people are brought up on stage as stunt doubles in front of a crowd of people. Le Petit Chef simply introduces several immersive opportunities for diners to do more than just chow down on the food. Without giving anything away, they implement tools to encourage discussions and reflection on the experience as it’s happening — plus there’s one big surprise that’s guaranteed to have everyone “Oohing” and “Ahhing”. Tip: Have the video setting on your phone ready when you reach Himalaya.
It’s a great family activity (with older kids)
This experience is not recommended for children under 12, but young adults and budding foodies will definitely get a kick out of the dinner, so long as they’re not terribly picky eaters. [Note: Le Petit Chef cannot accommodate all dietary restrictions or special requests]. It’s sure to introduce them to parts of the world they’ve likely never traveled to and leave them with a thirst for adventure.
Le Petit Chef is one of a kind
There are a lot of amazing dining options to choose from throughout Napa Valley but none of them are anything like this, combining fantastic food with wonderful entertainment and innovative technology. But even if you’ve experienced this dining phenomenon already, you may want to make a reservation again, as Le Petit Chef will be debuting a new movie this summer that will surely entertain like never before.
You can plan a whole day of activities around it
The CIA at Copia is centrally located in downtown Napa’s buzzing Oxbow district, so you may as well head down earlier in the day to explore everything the area has to offer, from the Oxbow Public Market to wine tasting rooms, breweries, and gourmet restaurants. You could even spend the better part of the day right at The CIA at Copia. Book a hands-on cooking class in their stadium-sized teaching kitchen and explore the Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum (free to the public). Or plan to shop the expertly curated collection of goods for the home and kitchen at the Marketplace at COPIA, then grab a glass of one of the 24 wines on offer at the self-serve wine bar before your 3D dining adventure begins. If you choose to stay the night, the Westin Verasa Napa and the chic Andaz Napa are both a short walk away, making for a restful way to end a night of indulging your foodie dreams.
Le Petit Chef is available by reservation Friday and Saturday nights at 6 PM. Cost is $155 per person (pre-paid) with $50 addition for the optional beverage pairing.
