James Allyn | Owner | Executive Chef | Certified Wine Professional ...growing up in Marin and Sonoma counties in Northern California, James' passion for fine food, wine and beer goes back over forty five years.

At just fifteen James found he possessed a creative side to life as he worked at small local wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Not only did he have an over powering passion for fine food and wine but he had a natural knack for music. Growing up in Marin County and playing music with some of the most well know musicians in the nation. James switched his attention from the music business to pursue his dream as a professional photographer. James succeeded by photographing and publishing calendars, posters and post cards world wide.

Taking his creativity one step further in the late seventies, James found himself behind the camera as a Director for the clay-animated television series "The Adventures Of Gumby". James relocated to San Diego after the devastating San Francisco earth quake of 1988. James vested his talents in the real estate market and in 2005 James opened "North County Wine Company" and his then life long dream... Canapés in 2009.

Besides running his restaurant, James still finds time for his creative spirit through photography, sailing, far away travels, fun dogs, exotic cars, classic jazz and of course fine foods, wine and beer. You can find James pouring wine and or mingling with customers just about any day of the week at the restaurant.