Unlike many other restaurants in town, has stayed open during this torrid season and enjoyed a regular stream of patrons.
On Tuesday night, the eatery will hold another one of its summer series of wine dinners.
These wine dinners have given me a chance to try out new pairings with their extensive wine collections. Mostly importantly it has given residents like me a chance to stay up on their foodie lust while others have abandoned the city.
Tuesday's dinner will feature Jocelyn Lonen wines. The Napa Valley winery is notorious for its amazing females who run the show, including winemaker Alison Doran who was trained by legendary Napa winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff. She is a veteran winemaker with over 30 years of experience.
In 2008, she joined Jocelyn Lonen as winemaker just prior to the harvest. Her father Russell Green was an oil man and a long-time Alexander Valley vineyard owner.
The winery's owner Susan Curtis will present the wines at the dinner and fill guests in about its signature bottles.
The dinner menu is as follows:
First Course
Crispy Soft Shell Crab/ roasted corn, sea beans and lavender caper hollandaise
Jocelyn Lonen, Chardonnay, Carneros 2008
Second Course
Braised Lamb Shank/ tomato and bean cassoulet, olive and orange walnut gemolata
Jocelyn Lonen, Reserve, Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley 2006
Third Course
Grilled Petit Tender/ star anise demi glaze, tellegio cheese whipped potato and brussel sprouts
Jocelyn Lonen, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2007
Fourth Course
Chocolate Covered Strawberry
Date: Tuesday, Aug. 23
Time: 7 p.m. reception bubbles / 7:15 p.m. dinner
Cost: $50 plus tax and gratuity
Wine dinners tend to abound once season starts and are easily filled up. You can probably show up at this dinner and be included since its still the "slow" season, but reservations are encouraged. This is also a relatively cheap price considering all that's offered compared to the dinners at other places in town that run upwards of $75 per person.
