Nothing could be more special than home-cooked meals. Being made with fresh ingredients, unique personal recipes, and with dedicated love, care, and attention, they are sure to be on par with high-rated meals dished out in any 5-star restaurant—at least that’s how they usually feel! In California’s Napa Valley, there is a family-run restaurant that will take you on a global flavor journey and yet still feel like home. Meet Charlie’s!
Charlie’s was, first and foremost, born out of founder Chef Elliot Bell’s adoration for his son, which was the namesake of the restaurant, and a passion for great food spent in a community-driven place that feels like home. Located in St. Helena, which is known for its lush vineyards and vibrant culinary scene, Charlie’s is also a destination on its own with its iconic white and blue exterior, warm and cozy interior, and globally inspired flavors.
Charlie’s has a dedication to quality, flavor, and sustainability, from the inspiration and ingredients they choose to create every dish to the food packaging they choose to present each dish with to help elevate their customers’ dining experience. For the latter, Charlie’s partnered with noissue to create a food packaging suite fit for their brand: cool and stylish. Read on to learn more about Charlie’s!
Tell us a bit about your brand!
Named after Chef Elliot Bell's son, Charlie's is a family-run, community-focused, neighborhood restaurant with generational goals. "Inspired by my son, I wanted to create a restaurant that shares his same tireless energy, and constant desire to learn and grow. As a family-run business, Charlie’s looks forward to building long-term, sustainable careers for our team and similarly enduring relationships with our vendors, purveyors, and community," says Elliot.
Originally from New Zealand, Bell’s culinary influences and inspiration span some of the world’s greatest dining destinations — France, Japan, Napa Valley, and New York. His restaurant career began with dishwashing and cooking positions in the small Iowa town where he grew up, and eventually led him to study hospitality management at the University of New Hampshire and the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland.
Most recently, he served as the Executive Sous Chef at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, where he spent the past decade of his career. Prior to that, he worked in Boston, Seattle, and New York at several notable restaurants, including Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern.
As a member of the St. Helena Fire Department, where Bell has served as a volunteer firefighter for several years, few things are as important to him as community. He and his young family have lived in St. Helena for more than 10 years, and currently reside in their home around the corner from the firehouse and restaurant.
Tell us about the design for your packaging and how you’re using them?
Our designs currently live throughout the space and are not only meant to showcase the Charlie's brand, but to liven up and inject playfulness into your experience at the restaurant, and as you take a piece of the restaurant home with you. Make sure to order the Charlie's Fried Chicken to catch the fry paper in action, whilst having a delicious bite!
What made noissue a good fit for your packaging?
noissue's incredible variety of stylish collateral products and options made it the perfect fit to bring the Charlie's experience to life off the page.
Charlie’s images, photographed by Haley Murray Robinson and Emma K. Morris
Charlie’s packaging, designed by RAY Studio