Many of you know that one of my favorite summertime dining adventures comes by way of the Summer in Provence series of Thursday night dinners held on the patio of Pinot Provence in Costa Mesa.
Now in its third summer, these beautiful evenings are filled with special menus of casually elegant fare prepared right on the patio by renowned chef, Florent Marneau, each Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., while a classical guitarist serenades.
Share with friends or family some fritto misto of halibut, bay scallops or rock shrimp, with zucchini, tomato confit and eggplant, plus Florent’s definitive tarragon aioli and a basil emulsion for dipping. Or, perhaps you’re in the mood for a good steak,the pan-seared rib eye with shallot marmalade and a fingerling potato salad might be just right.
This is the first time I’ve seen a grilled lamb sandwich with feta on the menu. Sounds delicious with its promised complement of olives, piquillo pepper and tabbouleh. I know that one of the desserts this summer will be an exotic fruit sangria with homemade orange and basil sorbet.
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“Summertime in Provence” at Pinot Provence: patio dining with classical guitarist serenades |
In past summers, I’ve savored everything from eloquently seared foie gras as a starter and gastronomically elevated but requisitely casual entr & #233;es to highly unusual and intriguing desserts. I am envisioning my dining visits this summer,it’s a rather addictive style of seasonal meal as if on a terrace at a grand chateau in France.
To go along with Florent’s food, I like to order from the selection of wines from the South of France that complement the menu items in true Proven & #231;al style.
Pinot Proven & #231;e is part of chef Joachim Splichal’s Patina Group, which is based upon a shared vision of unique restaurants emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients and unparalleled service. Joachim and Christine Splichal opened their flagship restaurant, Patina, in 1989.
Summer in Proven & #231;e dinners are on Thursday evenings, with reservations only until 7:30 p.m. Pinot Proven & #231;e is at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel: 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa. For more information about Summer in Proven & #231;e or for reservations, call (714) 444-5900.
Festival Benefits Local Charities
With still more emphasis on interesting culinary possibilities at South Coast Plaza, we have the 13th Annual Summer Food and Wine Festival, a first-class yearly community event in which every dollar generated from ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and opportunity drawings is donated directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa.
These two groups assist the 456,000 men, women and children in Orange County at risk of missing meals each month.
It all happens this Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at South Coast Plaza’s Crate and Barrel/Macy’s Home Store Wing. The evening of culinary delights features food from more than two dozen South Coast Plaza restaurants, wines from more than three dozen premium vintners and specialty beers from 13 breweries, plus live music.
Panjive, a top local band, will entertain. I happen to love steel drums and this is a delightful group whose steel drum sounds resonate with an upbeat blend of calypso, reggae and contemporary music.
Tickets are $45 per person if purchased by Monday, $55 at the door and $35 for groups of 10 or more if bought by Monday. Guests can purchase Opportunity Tickets ($5 each, five for $20, 30 for $100) for a chance to win some great prizes.
For more information, call (714) 435-2171.
Strawberry Navana
I thought you should all know about Mo & #235;t Hennessey’s Navan, a new Madagascar black vanilla-infused French cognac, the first launch of a product under the Grand Marnier banner in nearly a century, and one of our local bartenders who happened to take the top prize in a recent Los Angeles competition using the new cognac.
Navan was just introduced across the U.S. in a sponsored competition. Bartender Kristin Markley Woodward of Oysters restaurant in Corona del Mar was one of the participants.
There was a regional competition for each county, the winners of which went on to compete in the finals in Los Angeles. Kristin presented a strawberry vanilla martini rimmed with graham cracker and topped with a Navan-injected white chocolate dipped strawberry that she named “Strawberry Navana.” She placed second, making her eligible for the finals in Los Angeles.
The night of that event, Kristin and an entourage of supporters were chauffeured by Navan to The Highlands in Hollywood to join eleven other bartenders for the cocktail mix off. Three hundred guests watched as the competition unfolded.
There were two rounds. In the first, the bartenders were given a secret ingredient and asked to create a cocktail using that ingredient and Navan. One group was to use pineapple, another cream and Kristin’s group needed to incorporate lime.
The bartenders had seven minutes to create their cocktail. Using a micro plane grater, Kristin created lime, lemon and orange zest mixed with sugar and rimmed the martini glass. She had three minutes left, so, grabbing a handful of lychee nuts, she threw them into the shaker tin, added Navan, limes, oranges and lemons and ice and she shook and poured. Kristin garnished the cocktail with half a lime dipped in sugar zest and a lychee nut.
She won for the lime contingent, putting her in the final three of the competition. For the final round, Kristin made her “Strawberry Navana,” the drink that had won her second in the Orange County competition. This time, she took first place honors.
Owners of Oysters, Cary and Suzanne Redfearn, tell me that rumor has it she will have to defend her title next year.
From first reports, Navan is a smooth liqueur with a silky, mouth-filling character. I need to finish my research on this, so I’m on my way to Oysters to have Kristin make me her award-winning Strawberry Navana. Oysters: 2515 E. Coast Hwy. (at MacArthur Boulevard), Corona del Mar. Phone (949) 675-7411.
