Top Napa Valley Chefs Serve 1,000 Vets Gourmet Feast

Top chefs from Yountville-area restaurants kicked of an extended Veteran's Day celebration Thursday by serving a three-course gourmet luncheon to 1,000 residents of the Veterans' Home of California in Yountville.

"We're always looking for ways to partner with the Town of Yountville," said Karen Zanetell, director of residential care at the home. "We serve 3,000 meals a day here, and the town has so many lovely chefs and restaurants, that to merge the two is really fun."

The event, now in its ninth year, was started by Zanetell and Sharon Parda, Chief of Dietary Services.

 Chef Bob Hurley, of Hurley's in Yountville, led the group of celebrity chefs preparing the meal, while Yountville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Cindy Saucerman recruited more than 70 citizen volunteers -- including members of the Yountville Town Council -- to help serve the feast.

"It's so fun for us to see all the residents smiling, all dressed up," Zanetell said. "It's such a great way to focus on Veteran's Day."

Veteran's Day is Monday, Nov. 11. 

On Monday, the Lincoln Theater in Yountville will show six military-related films from 1 to 6 p.m. as part of next week's Napa Valley Film Festival. Vets and active duty military are admitted free to the film screenings.

Click here to see the film lineup.