Martini House: A Warm Setting and Wonderful Food For Your Special Event

By Paula Philipps

Step through the front door of Martini House and you feel as if you've gone back to a time when San Francisco Opera Singer Walter Martini invited guests to his Craftsman-style home in St. Helena. Much has changed in the home that Martini built back in 1923, but the feeling remains the same. It is as if you've returned to a simpler time, when guests would linger over a well-prepared meal or share stories beside the fireplace by the downstairs bar.

Walter Martini's House is now a restaurant, designed by renowned restaurateur Pat Kuleto, and guests are invited to experience their own special occasion in the warmth of this newly-renovated home. Mature oak trees, exterior stone walls and stone-cobbled paths lead guests through an outdoor garden courtyard, where they can dine alfresco on balmy, summer days. There is also a well-designed arbor area that provides seating for up to 22 guests for those who want a more private setting. Upstairs, diners can enjoy a booth or the table seating that surrounds the impressive wood staircase which leads down to the bar.

“We offer a restaurant-style experience,” says Carolyn Morton, special events and sales director, “which is different from a winery or banquet facility. Having an event here is like having a place of your own.”

The Arts and Crafts style dining room of Martini House features a dramatic vaulted ceiling made from reclaimed redwood, linked to create a striking visual pattern. A long oak log lit from above by electric candles, is suspended from the ceiling and additional lighting from papoose basket-shaped wall sconces bathe the room in softness. Hanging lanterns were designed to resemble the baskets used to transport acorns by the Wappo Indians, who are indigenous to the area.

Other features include leaded glass acorn table lights, wooden wine press screws that surround the central staircase, collections of antique corkscrews, and wooden wine “spouts” that pop out from pomegranate-colored walls. Wine decanters and antique riddling racks help marry the love of wine country and Native American heritage through architecture and décor.

Diners can rent the entire indoor dining room and veranda, which accommodates up to 70 guests, or they can choose to rent the outdoor garden and patio area for 60 guests. For larger groups, the entire restaurant, including the garden, patio, main dining room and downstairs cellar area can be rented to accommodate up to 130 guests.

“When couples plan their event here, everything is included,” Morton said. “We even have an in-house florist and sound system available.”

St. Helena 's abundance of churches make the Martini House an ideal destination for a rehearsal dinner or reception, as guests can easily walk from the wedding site to the reception.

Not to be outdone, food and wine at the Martini House are well-crafted by Chef and co-owner Todd Humphries, whose years of experience at New York and San Francisco restaurants have formed his unique style of blending locally harvested foods into memorable dishes. Culinary specialties include farm-raised meats, wild game and local herbs and vegetables. Recent offerings have included a mushroom tasting menu, salmon, carpaccio, scallops and exquisite desserts. Diners can select from the 600-bottle wine list featuring both Napa Valley and international wines, or creative cocktails and liquors.

Dinner menu selections for special events at Martini House include three-course set menus, three-course set menus with two entrees, or the chef's multi-course tasting menu. Imaginative hors d'oeuvres are priced per dozen.

Not surprisingly, guests speak highly of Martini House, saying “We had such a great time at the rehearsal dinner. It was a perfect setting, fabulous food, excellent service and tasty wine. It was more than we imagined and actually I remember saying, if this were my wedding night I would be just as happy. Thank you for working so hard to make it a special occasion for us.” said Tina and Mike McGuire.

In addition to weddings, many businesses including renowned local resorts Vintage Inn, Meadowood and Harvest Inn as well as pharmaceutical companies and local wineries have held seminars and dinners at the Martini House. The venue appeals both to locals and those who seek out a destination food and wine experience. “We've had celebrities and TV personalities hold birthday parties and special events here,” Morton said.

“Other events we hold ourselves include our ‘Geek and Freak Dinner' for those who enjoy wine and mushrooms, ‘Todd's Passion,' starring local winemakers pairing their wines with the chef's favorite foods, and a movie and dinner event called ‘Attack of the Killer Tomatoes' that featured tomato dishes, wine and a movie,” Morton concluded.

For more information about hosting your event at Martini House,
call Carolyn Morton at: (707) 963-2233