Is Fine Dining Dead?

I’m sure you have your opinions on this one, but the view from my wineglass tells me that we are way past the rococo period of the last few decades. You know, where every menu involved footnotes. Every server rattled off recitations of designer ingredients that might have been lifted from a Dean & Deluca catalog.

Dinners in which one felt like a philistine for daring to destroy the visual narrative on the plate—where perhaps genuflection would have been more appropriate than actually spearing the innocent hyper-mediated vegetables with a fork!

Oh I enjoyed the Late Baroque of dining chic as much as the next woman—and I have the track record to prove it. But I am beginning to think that the ever-more-precious approach to ingredients, presentation and culinary style has had its day.

Here was one moment when I glimpsed the fetid reality (more…)

Shoppers Wine Bonanza

Shoppers Wine Bonanza

vinehill.jpgFans of Vine Hill’s well-crafted wines will want to rush over to Shoppers Corner immediately. In-house wine guru Andre Beauregard has slashed prices on a terrific array of Vine Hill and Cumbre Syrahs, Chardonnays and many other varietals—in half!

That means, for example, $13 for a 2008 Syrah. $9.99 for a mouth-filling 2009 Chardonnay.

Need I say more? Shoppers Corner.

[turns out there’s been some MAJOR upsets at Vine Hill….details coming soon]

Main Street Garden Cafe!

Main Street Garden Cafe!

heirloomtoms.jpgThis outstanding appetizer salad of organic heirloom tomatoes, and a tumescent pannacotta laced with garden basil was one of many flavor-intensive summer dishes I enjoyed at Main Street Garden & Cafe last week.

Our main course— a wood-fired pizza topped with lamb sausage, yellow taxi tomatoes and basil salsa was a showpiece. Classic, thin crust, delicious, toothsome — authentic Italian pizza. The gorgonzola studding the pizza was the exact perfect counterpoint.

If you haven’t stopped by here (the former Theo’s) for a few months, you’re in for a treat. The new owners are quite serious about presenting gorgeous, simple Italian country-style dishes.

Soif Turns Ten

Soif Turns Ten

soifceiling.jpgCongratulations to Patrice Boyle and company for, gulp, ten years of quenching discerning thirsts at their sleek and amiable bôite, Soif. Hard to believe this downtown landmark opened its doors on August 6, 2002.

To celebrate Walnut Avenue, between Pacific and Cedar was coned off for an al fresco fête of wine, beer and bbq. And many lovely apps were enjoyed by friends and family at the vibrant after party. (more…)

Ultimate Granola

Turn back the clock to the hippie heyday and make your own custom, gluten-free granola. This could be a world-changer, this recipe from culinary explorer Dee Vogel.

Dee-vine Granola

Mix: 6 C. oats
2 C/ nuts, any kind, roughly chopped
1 C. each pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds

Mix:  1/3 C. each maple syrup and agave syrup
1/4 C. each canola oil and melted butter
2 T. honey
1 T. vanilla
1 t salt
1 t orange or lemon zest (or a blend)
1/2 t nutmeg
pinch ground cloves

Stir both mixtures (more…)