Food at COPIA

At COPIA, we want you to taste, learn, and get inspired. That's why we bring the culinary to life with classes, exhibits, and plenty of opportunities to taste.

Chefs, authors, farmers, and artisans from around the world come to COPIA to share their passion for food. Here, you can expand your palate with classes, receptions, and special meals, and learn expert techniques while finding inspiration for cooking at home. Or, watch demonstration cooking while sampling the finished dishes in our food theater during weekly Taste of COPIA lunches. Visiting food authorities mean that in every season, there will always be something new to learn and taste.

Our permanent food-related exhibitions complement the experience by providing insight into the way people produce, eat, and think about food. Visitors can explore the distinctly American cultural buffet approach to cooking and eating with COPIA's permanent Forks in the Road exhibit, an interactive, multimedia installation that examines contemporary culture through shared expectations of food and drink. Plus, temporary shows offer creative and educational glimpses into human relationships to food around the world.

While you're at COPIA, you can linger and dine at one of our two onsite restaurants. Julia's Kitchen, named for patron saint of the pantry Julia Child, offers French-American cuisine featuring fresh ingredients from COPIA's organic edible gardens, prepared in an open-kitchen setting. At the American Market Café, seasonal sandwiches and rare artisanal cheeses are available in a garden setting.

The spirit of the good life doesn't have to end with your visit. To experience a bit of COPIA at home, check out our web-exclusive, regularly updated Curator's Corner for articles, recipes, and food tips.

From the ceremonies surrounding eating to food itself, COPIA explores all things edible in our ongoing food programs. Classes, talks, tastings, and demonstrations are hosted at COPIA by experts in the field. Food is an ideal companion to wine, and COPIA's food programs are the perfect complement to a wine country tour. To view the full range of classes and events at COPIA for a given date, check our Special Programs Calendar.