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August 22, 2005
The Tasting Room at Lola (6)
A friend once said when asked about his ambitions and career, "I want to make enough money to eat and drink well." While this is certainly not as lofty a goal as say finding a renewable, pollution-free energy source, it shows an obvious love of good food.
I have always found joy in food and wine-- and it is always best when shared with someone. When Karen and I arrived at Lola, a small little restaurant tucked away in a quaint house outside of downtown, we didn't know that we would be attending a master class on culinary art and presentation.
There is a room inside the restaurant that is designated the "Tasting room." Meals are served in 10 or 14 petite courses along with paired wines. The meal and experience was amazing, put together by people who find joy in food and wine.
Tasting Menu
14 courses
Nino Franco, “Rustico” Prosecco, Sparkling Wine, Italy N. V. I love a good prosecco, and this crisp sparkling wine was no exception.
Crudo of Bluefin tuna with lemon and mizuna Karen actually ate and enjoyed raw tuna! Does this mean I might get her to start enjoying a little sushi?
Heirloom tomato salad with a basil cloud The basil cloud was like a mousse made with beaten egg whites-- a sweet sensation
Gaspacho Andaluz
D’Arenberg, The Hermit Crab, Viognier-Marsanne, McLaren Vale 2004
Cop di Testina di Maiale Not sure what this is...might not want to know. It was the only dish that the waiter didn't elaborate on the ingredients...
Artichoke risotto with Prosciutto de Parma This dish was scrumptious, and the torn bits of prosciutto added color and flavor.
Sautéed monkfish with polenta and a parsley salad One of best all night, and that is saying a lot!
Salmon en porchetta with baby fennel
Querceto, Chianti Classico Riserva, Sangiovese, Tuscany, Italy 2000
Quail with glazed cippolini
Duck Breast with shell beans
Dry-aged N. Y. strip with haricots verts Unbelievable! And they do some of the dry aging in house.
Seared Sonoma foie gras with Bing Cherries and brioche The waiter said that it didn't get better than this. He was right.
Elderton, “Botrytis Semillon” Riverina, Australia 2003
Peach sorbet
Three artisan cheeses with caramelized onions Karen was so full by this point, we took her cheese home.
Lemon curd with wild Maine blueberries
Posted by Rich at August 22, 2005 3:17 PM
Comments
Dude, I am soooo jealous. We are in Yakima. We just set up the $5 makeshift, white trash, from Jeremy's past, slip & slide. A sheet of 10 X 25 foot visqueen with a sprinkler on top. The kids slide down this 25 foot wonder and jup into the $29.95 wonderpool! You guys should have a grand time when you get here. At least YOU will Rich :)
Posted by: Jeremy at August 22, 2005 7:37 PM
The whole time we were there I thought, "I wish Jeremy were here. He would love this!"
Posted by: Rich at August 23, 2005 10:16 AM
Why is it that I get hungry every time I read you blog?
I couldn't help but think of you and Jeremy the other night when we met some of Steph's family the other night. We were going to meet at Newport Bay, which is nothing real special, but decent enough for a casual dinner. Well, they called at the last minute and told us to meet them at, of all places, [cough]The Olive Garden[cough, gag, shudder].
The Olive Garden didn't seem so bad back when I didn't know what real Italian food tasted like, but now I just can't handle it. It's kind of like going toChevy's for authentic Mexican food. Much of my experience there can be summed up in this rather entertaining essay (note the info about the "H-2-NO" campaign).
The usual salad and bread sticks were OK, but nothing special. I could pretty well duplicate their salad with pre-packaged greens and a bottle of cheap Italian dressing from Safeway. My entree was rather bland... the steak was overcooked (medium well), the demi-glace was flavorless, and the pesto on the veggies was not fit for human consumption. The entree did come with "Tuscan Potatoes", which would have gone better with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The only real saving grace of the evening was a piece of "Black Tie Mousse Cake", which was actually quite satisfying for a chocolate lover like myself.
Anyway, enough ranting. I was going to do an entry on this, but some family members read my blog, and I didn't think it would go over well. I figured I would have a more receptive audience over here.
So here's to authentic cuisine, whether it be Italian, Mexican, or German. [Lift glass of Vino, Cerveza, or Bier]
Posted by: Jethro at August 26, 2005 2:13 PM
The last time I ate at The Olive Garden was on a shoot. When you have a large crew, a caterer is hired to provide the meal. With a small crew of 5-15 people, a lot of times it’s just better to take them to a restaurant, usually a chain, because it is faster. Sometimes the best chain is The Olive Garden (who wants to eat at Chedder’s?).
I used to think the place was ok in high school, but I grew up in the middle of nowhere. I mean, I wouldn’t eat the meatballs there, but I don’t order those anywhere. (I’m way too picky about meatballs!) Still it is a bit of a shock after being exposed to (and cooking) good Italian food to eat such sanitized/bland versions of favorite dishes. I play a new game when I eat there—“What can I order that I won’t absolutely hate.” Tough game.
I loved the essay! The wine menu bit is funny (I had noticed the two menus, but thought the waiter had made a mistake), and the H-2-No bit was scary…
Posted by: Rich at August 29, 2005 1:34 PM
I really hope that you enjoyed The Tasting Room at Lola. My brother is the sous chef, and I decided to look up some reviews online and I'm glad to say I haven't found a single negative one. Well, hope you find time to go again! It is well worth it! :)
-Lauren Bresnan
Posted by: Lauren Bresnan at September 18, 2005 4:38 AM
It was great and we'll without a doubt go back! I'm not surprised that you haven't found a negative review. Fantastic!
Posted by: Rich at September 19, 2005 8:36 AM
