Christopher Kostow is the critically acclaimed chef of The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena, California and the third youngest chef to ever receive three Michelin stars. Kostow draws upon his own American upbringing and the singular beauty and bounty of the Napa Valley to cook food that is thoughtful, personal, and in concert with his community and collaborators.
Christopher, a Chicago native, graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in philosophy before moving to the kitchen. He has cooked with celebrated chefs such as Trey Foshee
of Georges at the Cove in San Diego, Campton Place in San Francisco with Daniel Humm and Le Jardin des Sens in Montepellier, France. After earning two Michelin stars at Chez TJ in Mountain View, Kostow arrived at The Restaurant at Meadowood in 2008. He has since been chosen as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s Best New Chefs of 2009 and holds an award from the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: Pacific in 2013.
Ten Speed Press published Christopher’s debut book, A New Napa Cuisine, in October of 2014. In March of 2015, his work was awarded “Book of the Year” by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).
Kostow opened a casual restaurant, The Charter Oak, in late spring of 2017. Located in the heart of the Napa Valley, The Charter Oak is centered on a celebratory, family-style dining experience, using simple, approachable and seasonal food. The menu reflects the products of the place through an elemental cooking style with a hearth at its center and by highlighting one or two ingredients at a time.
In August of 2019, Kostow opened his first international project in mainland China, Ensue. The restaurant blends California farm-to-table culture and techniques with Cantonese tastes and ingredients.
