Occasionally one of the restaurants splurges and offers the public a taste and tale of wines that’s beyond the usual three to five showcased at a dinner. This time, it’s Villa Nova in Newport Beach lining up some of the great wines of Tuscany.
Tomorrow evening, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. a dinner and tasting of 10 of Italy’s best wines will take place. There will be one Chardonnay, five Chiantis, two Brunellos and a couple of other wines to sip and match with an extensive meal.
The wines are being presented by Len’s Wine Site and the chef at Villa Nova says he is preparing a very special meal to honor the wines for the “exotic and extraordinary” evening.
Guest speaker is Thomas Keim of Vinifera Imports, not only an expert on fine wines but also a fascinating storyteller. He’ll tell you every juicy morsel behind the making of the wines.
From the Fattoria Di Felsina Winery: 1997 Chardonnay, 1998 Chianti Classico, 1994 Chianti Classico “Riserva” and 1994 Chianti Classico “Cru Rancia.” From Azienda Agricola Terreno: 1997 Chianti Classico and 1995 Chianti Classico “Riserva.”
Wines of Tenuta Friggiali Winery include 1998 Rosso di Montalcino and 1995 Brunello di Montalcino. The other two are Angelo Gaja’s 1995 Brunello di Montalcino “Cru Rennina from La Pieva Di Santa Restituta and the 1999 Moscato d’Asti “Vigna Senza Nome” from Braida Di Giacomo Winery.
Price of the dinner and all 10 wines is $120 all-inclusive. Call Susan Emmett at Villa Nova for reservations: (949) 642-1865. The restaurant, at 3131 West Coast Highway, promises that they are sparing no expense to bring us the wines and cuisine of Italy’s leading wine region. I am sure the wine connoisseurs will be out in force.
Bloomies to Host Benefit
Will you please meet me at the party? I’ll be at Bloomingdale’s Home Store on Sunday, April 1 from 10:00 a.m. to noon, naturally hanging around their custom kitchen right in the middle of the store, for the wonderful yearly S.O.S. Brunch. It’s a chance for all of us, for a mere $20, to support a very special cause while dining on the signature dishes of 10 of the best restaurants.
There will be raffle prizes, goodie bags, special discounts and Champagne to drink. Bloomingdale’s and the restaurants are doing all they can to make this a superbly flavorful and happy event. 100% of the proceeds go directly to SOS.
Share Our Strength is a nonprofit organization that works to alleviate and prevent hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world. By supporting food assistance and treating malnutrition and other consequences of hunger, and by promoting economic independence among people in need, SOS meets immediate demands for food while investing in long-term solutions to hunger and poverty.
We want this to be a banner year in raising money for this great cause. I’ve got my ticket, so I’ll be there enjoying the food and Champagne and taking advantage of the bargains too, I’m sure.
You can purchase tickets at any register in the store, or by calling the culinary director, Susan Svoboda, at (949) 729-6858. Please put this on your agenda for April 1 and let’s all participate to make it a proud moment for Orange County’s charitable conscience.
Irvine Wild Oats Market Debuts
I am a very big fan of the Whole Foods Markets. Non-genetic produce, free-range poultry, dairy and meat products without hormones and pesticide free products of all kinds play loudly in my household. Now, Irvine has a new Wild Oats Market that adheres to the same healthful concepts as the Whole Foods chain.
The plentiful store features a worldwide deli with food choices from many countries saving you the trouble of cooking. At the World Mix station of the deli, there’s the Flame Dance Grill where stir-fries, flame-broiled meats, poultry and vegetables are prepared all day. On the rotisserie are various meats and poultry roasting in their own juices. Many salads and soups dress up the garden bar and there are plenty of fresh sushi items as well.
The store has a marvelous selection of cheeses, full-service meat and fresh seafood departments, a great array of organic fruits and vegetables and a non-stop parade of packaged products, all controlled by the same healthful guidelines.
Yet another aspect of this store is the friendly Community Center where cooking classes, lectures and seminars on healthy living are held. There’s even a computer kiosk. The new Wild Oats is at 18040 Culver Drive (and University) in Irvine.
In Memoriam
And, there’s one sad note about a person some of Orange County’s more serious diners will remember. James Conway, whom many of us knew for a decade as one of OC’s best waiters in the Ambrosia of the ’70s and early ’80s, and who later became the maitre d’ at JW’s in the Anaheim Marriott when it featured modern French cuisine, has died.
One can hardly discuss the good old days of the restaurant industry without someone invoking James’ name. He died suddenly on Feb. 25 in Newport Beach. I will miss being able to call him to ask about some aspect of dining in years past. He was always so good with those minute details about the industry that we writers need to revisit for some article but tend to forget. He was the best in helping us keep our stories straight. It was a good and long frien
