“Flavors” and Flavors…
Again – a quick reminder to join us at the annual Flavors of Carlton event tomorrow night at Ken Wright Cellars (just up the street from us here in beautiful downtown Carlton) – we’re pouring, along with Soter, Belle Pente, Tyrus Evan, Solena, Elk Cove, Torri Mor, Biggio-Hamina and a bunch more. Food is from Farm to Fork, Cuvée, Painted Lady, Tina’s, Nick’s and at least five more, the auction packages are full of great stuff, and it’s only $50 (tix avail. at the door) – and all proceeds go to fund after-school and early-education programs right here in Carlton. Festivities start at 5pm…
Had a stunningly good meal at Farm to Fork in Dundee last night. They’ve got a new tasting bar where the deli case used to be, and chef Paul Bachand blew us away with an array of small plates that simply rocked. Highlights were the basil-fed escargot and trumpet mushrooms over stone-ground polenta, the dungeness crab and black truffle raviolo, and a sublime goat-cheese tart. Paul keeps raising the bar – I may have to go again tonight!
James Beard semi-finalist Gabe Rucker of Le Pigeon
Speaking of great food, huge kudos to some of our favorite Portpand chefs and restos who were just announced as semi-finalists for the James Beard Awards. Gabe Rucker at Le Pigeon, Naomi Pommeroy at Beast, John Gorham at Toro Bravo, Andy Ricker at Pok Pok and Ping, Matthew Lightner at Castagna, Jenn Louis at Lincoln, Cathy Whims at Nostrana, and Oswaldo Bibiano at Autentica – what a wealth of culinary talent right here! And this crew is is just the tip of the iceberg – there are exciting new eateries and great young chefs popping up around here seemingly every week – we are truly blessed. (Thank god I’m training for a half-marathon – otherwise I think I could easily gain about 20 pounds a week!)
