Bites: June 5-11, 2008
By Richard Foss
Long and Winding Road … The Saddle Peak Lodge has a new chef, Adam Horton, but don’t expect huge changes – he has been a sous there for years, and the menu for his first wine dinner there follows the tradition of exotic ingredients creatively handled. The menu includes squab, buffalo, venison, and pheasant dishes paired with Flora Springs wines, and it looks fantastic. The only concern? The lodge is at the end of a winding road that can be an exciting drive while cold sober and in daylight. Reservations and info are at (818) 222-3888 … .
Tequila! … For Father’s Day, Amaranta restaurant in Canoga Park offers a special tequila tasting – a flight of Tezon Blue Agave for only $15. The restaurant also runs a special dinner on the last Monday of every month at which tequila and tapas are served – the next one is June 30. Don’t laugh – this is good sippin’ tequila, the kind that is as complex as a good Scotch or brandy. Fine tequila can have quite a range of flavors, and if you have a bottle of the fine stuff, it’s a sin to waste it in drinks where you can’t taste it. If you want those fruity flavors, consider trying one of Amaranta’s Mexican-style agua fresca popsicles, available in strawberry or mango. For information on the tastings, call (818) 610-3599 … .
One Bourbon, One Scotch … In last week’s issue, I interviewed Roberto of Wine Expo on the subject of summer wines. At the time I didn’t know that he also conducts classes in pairing food and beer – the next one is at Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom June 14. Chef Eric will teach you how to cook a multi-course meal while Roberto pairs it with beers – and if you ever wondered what ale goes with pan-seared chicken cutlets with jalapeño-garlic sauce, this is the time to find out. Roberto teaches wine classes too – check culinaryclassroom.com for more details.
We accept tips: RichardFoss@earthlink.net.
Java Jive … For serious coffee hounds who live or work downtown, help has arrived. Lot 44 is a European-style “cup bar” serving over a dozen different coffees in a variety of roasts, so you can go every day for over a month, trying new things without repeating. (They also serve teas and chocolate, so make that two months – unless you’re such a coffee purist that you never drink anything else. Unlike the sit-down gourmet experience of LAMill (reviewed in these pages a few weeks ago), this is a quick-serve place, competitive on price and speed with Starbucks and the like. Real 100 percent Hawaiian, Maui estate, or Yemenite mocha to go? This is a sign of civilization! They’re at 257 S. Spring St., and you can check their site at lot44coffee.com ... .
Long and Winding Road … The Saddle Peak Lodge has a new chef, Adam Horton, but don’t expect huge changes – he has been a sous there for years, and the menu for his first wine dinner there follows the tradition of exotic ingredients creatively handled. The menu includes squab, buffalo, venison, and pheasant dishes paired with Flora Springs wines, and it looks fantastic. The only concern? The lodge is at the end of a winding road that can be an exciting drive while cold sober and in daylight. Reservations and info are at (818) 222-3888 … .
Tequila! … For Father’s Day, Amaranta restaurant in Canoga Park offers a special tequila tasting – a flight of Tezon Blue Agave for only $15. The restaurant also runs a special dinner on the last Monday of every month at which tequila and tapas are served – the next one is June 30. Don’t laugh – this is good sippin’ tequila, the kind that is as complex as a good Scotch or brandy. Fine tequila can have quite a range of flavors, and if you have a bottle of the fine stuff, it’s a sin to waste it in drinks where you can’t taste it. If you want those fruity flavors, consider trying one of Amaranta’s Mexican-style agua fresca popsicles, available in strawberry or mango. For information on the tastings, call (818) 610-3599 … .
One Bourbon, One Scotch … In last week’s issue, I interviewed Roberto of Wine Expo on the subject of summer wines. At the time I didn’t know that he also conducts classes in pairing food and beer – the next one is at Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom June 14. Chef Eric will teach you how to cook a multi-course meal while Roberto pairs it with beers – and if you ever wondered what ale goes with pan-seared chicken cutlets with jalapeño-garlic sauce, this is the time to find out. Roberto teaches wine classes too – check culinaryclassroom.com for more details.
We accept tips: RichardFoss@earthlink.net.
Published: 06/04/2008
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