ETUDE & Chef Ken Frank
At Etude, our passion for Pinot Noir extends beyond the glass. Through our partnership with Chef Ken Frank, founder of Napa Valley's acclaimed La Toque restaurant, we've created a culinary program designed to explore the relationship between exceptional food and world-class wine. Drawing on Chef Frank's decades of experience championing seasonal ingredients and thoughtful wine pairings, these curated tasting enhancements bring new depth and dimension to the Etude experience throughout the year.
Meet Chef Ken Frank
Few culinary figures have shaped Napa Valley dining as profoundly as Chef Ken Frank. A pioneer of seasonally driven cuisine and one of the early architects of California's modern food movement, Chef Frank has spent more than four decades pursuing authentic hospitality, exceptional ingredients, and memorable wine-and-food experiences.
After founding La Toque in 1979, Chef Frank established a reputation for creative, ingredient-focused cuisine paired with some of the world's finest wines. Today, La Toque remains one of Napa Valley's most respected dining destinations. His philosophy of allowing seasonal ingredients and great wines to work in harmony aligns naturally with Etude's commitment to crafting expressive Pinot Noir, making this collaboration a celebration of two shared passions: culinary craftsmanship and the pursuit of excellence.
Summer Seasonal Pairing
- Confit of Beets with Roquefort Sauce
- Wild Mushroom Tart with Pickled Trumpet Mushrooms & Porcini Dust
- Duck Confit Crostini with Cherry Mostarda & Apricot Preserves
- Five-Spice Pork Belly Bao with Pickled Vegetables & Pinot-Hoisin Glaze
Available as an enhancement to our Study of Pinot Noir experience and offered standard for our Stem & Barrel Tasting, this exclusive pairing invites guests to discover how carefully crafted cuisine can reveal new dimensions of flavor, texture, and expression in every glass.