Our 2500 sq. food shooting stage is a rustic mix of high technology and Napa Valley comfort. A stone faced fireplace adds a rustic glow in fall and winter, while 12’ glass doors offer unparalleled views to our organic gardens and the Mayacamas Mountains across the valley. A fully functional, glass enclosed prep kitchen allows food stylists their own ‘room’ separate from the shooting stage or studio, or for video work, a complete prep kitchen within steps of the set.
Our 6000 sq. foot organic culinary gardens and patio allow chefs and stylists truly ‘just-picked’ produce and props to ensure your shoot has a style and character all it’s own. The seasonal gardens supply not only product and props for your shoot, but have been used extensively as outdoor locations not possible in an urban studio.
Our state-of-the art Hassleblad digital studio affords an ‘instant’ preview while working on set not possible with film. This preview allows clients, food and prop stylists alike to adjust and massage - with instant results.
Studios & Gardens Blog
01.25.10
Winter settles in
Winter finally has settled in, which for Napa means a generous progression of rain and occasional frosts. Lettuces, citrus, onions, and fresh garlic are still gracing the studio table while stacks of seed catalogs grow in anticipation of the coming growing season...
10.23.09
Wrapping up the Summer
What a wonderful long growing season we had here in the Napa Valley this year! Here we are marching towards the end of October and we're still gathering fresh tomatoes, basil, peppers and zucchini. In the next week we'll be planting for the winter garden adding lettuces, beets, chard, garlic and onions!
01.03.09
The Winter Garden
Well winter is finally here. A few hard frosts, with some nights in the mid 20's. Surprisingly the citrus is hanging in there, mostly because they're in sheltered nooks and crannies... There are also a few amazing toughies. The arugula self seeded and is going bonkers. The Swiss chard is 3 feet tall and laughing at the cold. Onions that didn't start this summer are suddenly popping out in their beds. A huge sage bush and Italian parsley bush are begging to be used in stews and sauces... Amazing and fun to watch Mother Nature in your own backyard...
05.10.08
Tomatoes and more
Ah, finally! The tomatoes are in... This year the crowd pleasing Sun Golds are up front in the raised beds. Tiny marbles of delicious sugary tomato heaven. People who hate tomatoes eat these like candy straight off the vines. Combine a couple dozen with a single Bulgarian Carrot pepper and you have an entirely orange salsa that is sweet and fiery at the same time. A few other heirlooms made the cut this year, but the bulk of the selections are hearty producing reds. The aim is for endless plates of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and sprinkles of Genovese, Thai, and mini-basil leaves floating in Napa Valley Oilve Oil.... Lunches on the patio straight from the garden!
04.17.08
Napa, at the Threshold of Spring
Today I am reminded why this is my favorite time of year in Napa. While the vines slumber, the rest of the valley moves visibly towards Spring. Already, the mustard lies heavily layered amongst the rows of vines, whose recently pruned silhouettes look like clutching fingers trying to escape their plush yellow beds. Piles of vine canes, the subtractions of last years growth, lie tied and sometimes burning in bundles at the edges of vineyards, and wispy plumes of smoke rise and fade in the still air. At this time of year, the mornings are still to cold to plant heavily. Cheating Jack Frost, we risk planting lettuces, chard, spring garlic, broccoli, asparagus, and bare root strawberry starts. Counting the days until it's safe for tomatoes...