<p>The city of Napa was once better known for its car dealerships and dive bars than for top-tier dining. That changed in the late 1990s when a young chef named Greg Cole, against the advice of others, rolled the dice on launching a small restaurant called Celadon. When Celadon became a sensation, he followed it up by opening the now-legendary Cole’s Chop House.</p><p></p><p>Chef Cole’s path to helping reinvent Napa’s food scene started in a Southern California diner and included stops at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, the restaurant at Chandon, a brewery, a stint as a cellar worker, and more.</p><p></p><p>What he started in the 1990s has become a full-blown food renaissance in Napa.</p><p></p><p>Cole is an incredible storyteller, and we had an absolutely unforgettable hour with him. Enjoy!</p><p></p><p>For more on the restaurants he founded, visit <a href="https://www.celadonnapa.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Celadon Napa</a> and <a href="https://www.coleschophouse.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Cole's Chop House</a>.</p>