Tar & Roses in Santa Monica has been open for more than two years now. I remember the first time I ate there, when it first opened, and watched a group of friends enjoy a hedonistic meals of sorts. When a large platter of meat was presented to them, I asked our server what they ordered as I wanted it as well! We were told that it was the Wood Fired Goat Dinner, good for groups of 4 or more and must be reserved at least 7 days in advance. Ever since then, it has been on my list of must-eats. So, when a friend called me recently to tell me he had an extra seat at the table for a Wood Fired Goat Dinner, I quickly accepted. Priced at $48 per person, the Wood Fired Goat Dinner with Moroccan accompaniments, is a three-course dinner, served family style. Once we settled into our table and ordered a bottle of wine (2010 Pesquera Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, Spain), dinner began:
07 March, 2014
I guess I have to give thanks to the hoards of paparazzi that were hovering outside Gracias Madre or else I may have driven right by the simple white building with modest signage. Of course, I had to drive around the block a few times as parking is a major challenge on Robertson Blvd. Once I got a parking space and walked past the paparazzi, I entered Gracias Madre.....a spacious, inviting space with high ceilings, great natural light and a large outdoor patio. It actually felt like dining at someone's home; there was a casualness and comfort to the modern Mexican design.
02 March, 2014
Since February is Black History Month what better way to recognize it than with a dinner highlighting some great California wines made by African American Winemakers? Did you know that there are more than 7,000 wineries in the United States but only 20 of them are owned or made by African Americans? According to Roberta Rinaldi of Wine Noir, a meet-up group and broker for wines made by African Americans, history tells us that African Americans first appeared as vineyard workers for Thomas Jefferson, who liked French and Italian wines. But there is a limited amount of history known up until 1997 when Iris Rideau, who is of Creole heritage, started Rideau Vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, becoming the first African-American female winery owner in the United States.
27 February, 2014
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