Nick Oliveri really wants to be your valentine. Please circle ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and return to the Mondo Generator’s show at the Catalyst.
ROMANTIC LEAD: That would be the mighty Shadowbrook Restaurant, which has been winning hearts, minds and awards for six decades. The latest accolade comes from OpenTable, whose Diner's Choice award dubbed the Shadowbrook one of the 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in the United States. The list of winners comes from more than five million reviews submitted by OpenTable diners. Given my experience with Ted Burke's enduring landmark, I have to say that I'm not exactly surprised. Of course Shadowbrook is tops on anyone's short list of “special occasion” venues. But it also continues to deliver impeccable cuisine in a unique—and, yes, romantic—setting. Congratulations to Burke, chef Anthony Kresge and GM Rob McLaughlin.
TO SEND YOU ‘SPINNING’: Steve Principe of VinoCruz is both serious and passionate about the challenges of pairing wine with foods. That's part of why we love his centrally located wine shop and tasting room, specializing exclusively in the wines made in our Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. Principe has been involved in the pleasurable task of selecting wines to match the food samples to be served at tomorrow night's Spinning Plates screening at the Del Mar Theatre. Just to review, the evening is a sensory multi-media collaboration among the downtown movie palace, VinoCruz tasting room and wine shop, and the entrepreneurs behind the restaurant-in-progress Assembly (soon to open a few doors down from the Del Mar). The prospect of a brand-new restaurant opening in the middle of downtown Santa Cruz has generated mega-buzz. And small wonder. A new dining room in early 2014 bodes well for the collective attitude about reclaiming our restaurant turf, as well as unveiling a new place to meet, dine, drink and be fashionable. Okay, so the Assembly folks—who are also the masterminds ofThe Penny Ice Creamery and The Picnic Basket—will be providing edible previews of Assembly's debut menu. And those food samples will be offered along with appropriate wines chosen by Principe. The entire event celebrates a screening of the foodie documentary Spinning Plates, which goes behind the scenes with three restaurant kitchens and provides mouthwatering glimpses of how it's all really done. Sort of reality TV meets the Food Channel, only in-depth.
Principe took a look at the sample menu for the evening and began dreaming up a few possible wine matches. What red wine would work with seared steak with herbs and coriander, as well as with lavosh with smoked onion, nigella and yogurt? Hmmmm. How about a white that could stand up to roasted winter squash with fromage blanc, as well as pickled quail egg and roasted beet with horseradish? (These are but a few of the proposed menu items for the event.)
The VinoCruz proprietor knew that the menu also included menu items from The Picnic Basket, such as roasted pork shoulder with Meyer lemon, and a chicken salad sandwich with avocado and pickled onions. After considering many variables, Principe zeroed in on a River Run 2008 Carignane (one of my personal local favorites).”It has body and some acid and a bit of bright fruit,” he mused approvingly. And for a white wine, Principe immediately liked the idea of an un-oaked chardonnay, such as Santé Arcangeli 2012 Tank'd Chardonnay from Split Rail Vineyard. Loaded with minerals. And no oak. Brilliant. And you'll get to see how these wines work with the preview foods, at the Del Mar Theatre on Feb. 6. Foods and wines from 6:30-8pm, then the movie. $18 sans wine/$24 with. Get there early!
