There’s Something New at DiStefano Winery: The Kitchen is open.

There’s a new eatery in Woodnville this summer:.

“We're really excited to offer our guests a unique dining experience, it was a lot of work but we made it happen, The Kitchen is open and we're ready to cook,” said Mark Newton, owner and winemaker of DiStefano Winery.

Dining options include casual meals on the outdoor deck or family style culinary dinners.

On the deck small artisan plates with local cheese selections, salami, house marinated olives; fig jam and Macrina baguettes are now available on the tasting menu. In The Cellar Room a culinary demonstration or dinner you won’t forget.

“We want to give our guests an alternative dining experience at a reasonable price,” said Newton. "And we want to offer events that appeal to everyone."

The Family Style Culinary Demonstration experience begins in the tasting room where guests are invited to enjoy a glass of wine. Newton, acting as maître de, then leads guests to the cavernous Cellar Room for the main event of the evening.

As diners enter The Cellar - the table is set with flowers and tea lights perfectly arranged on a large table. In the front of the room a large stainless steel counter is laden with the evening’s fruit and vegetable selections; fresh figs, canary melon, white peaches, eggplant, tomatoes, and garlic galore. Front and center; bottles of DiStefano wine of course, fresh bread and butter.

“It’s about taking time to prepare really great food, cooking with passion” said Executive Chef George Stevenson. “And learning something new while you’re doing it.”

Demonstration and wine dinner event themes vary; recently the evening included knife skills with Stevenson, who demonstrated how to properly debone the main course, which was pan roasted chicken with caramelized onion jus. Throughout the evening guests also learned how to properly hold a knife, select knifes, popular knife makers, the difference between knifes and how to identify higher end knifes.

“Knives are an extension of the chef’s hand,” said Stevenson who’s calm, cool and very casual cooking style make even the novice culinary enthusiast feel welcome.

The evening concludes with Newton and Stevenson joining guests for casual conversation.

“At the end of the night it’s about making fine wines, spectacular food and making people happy,” Newton said. “And when people leave we want them to leave saying ‘wow!’.”