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North Lake Tahoe & Truckee Dining Briefs |
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Written by Morgan Kriz
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Tuesday, 15 July 2008 |
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Sunset dinners at Alexander’s
It’s no secret that there are many fantastic restaurants on and around Lake Tahoe, but Alexander’s atop Squaw Valley USA is a restaurant above Lake Tahoe, where guests are afforded unmatched views of the Lake from a mountaintop location. The late sunset in summer makes the mountaintop dining especially exquisite, as dinnertime coincides with the vibrant display of reds and purples — the prelude to the sun disappearing in the Sierra sky. Squaw Valley’s Sunset Dinner Packages pair this unique beauty with a fine dining experience that is both convenient and accessible. Sunset Dinners are offered nightly this summer through August 31.
The Sunset Dinner package includes Cable Car access and a three-course meal with a variety of choices from the Café’s California cuisine-inspired menu. Sunset Dinner Package tickets are purchased at the base of the Cable Car at the ticket portal. The cost is $41 per person after 5 p.m. and $51 if purchased before 5 p.m.
The Sunset Dinner special is offered at Alexander’s, set along floor to ceiling windows affording patrons panoramic views of the changing evening hues over Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe. The sun sets at about 8:30 p.m. in early July, between 8-8:15 p.m. in late July and early August and around 7:30 p.m. in late August.
The Cable Car uploads every 20 minutes until 8:40 p.m., with dinner seating at Alexander’s until 9 p.m. and the last Cable Car down is at 9:40 p.m. Seating for dinner begins after 4 p.m. Operations are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (530) 452-7278.
For more information on Sunset Dinners at Alexander’s or any of Squaw Valley’s summer offerings, call (530) 583-6985 or visit www.squaw.com.
Chef’s table dinners
Get an up-close-and-personal seat at the Chef’s Table every Friday and Saturday evening starting at 7 p.m. at the Resort at Squaw Creek’s Six Peaks Grille. Reservations are required as 10 guests will be seated together and treated to what is typically a five-course menu prepared by Chef Chad Shrewsbury. Every week something different will be prepared, and the chef will speak about everything that went into the meal.
The cost of the Chef’s Table dinners is $75 per person, which does not include the cost of any beverages (a wine expert will be on hand to assist dinners in pairing wine with the different courses of the dinner). For reservations, call (530) 581-6621.
Taste of Brazil at Chef’s Tasting on July 17
To celebrate the flavors of summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Resort at Squaw Creek chefs will present several dishes reflective of the local cuisine, along with caipirinha and other flavored vodka drinks at the Chef’s Tasting taking place on Thursday, July 17 at 5 p.m. in Six Peaks Grille.
Cost for the event is $15. All proceeds from the event are donated to the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation. For reservations or further information call (530) 581-6621, or visit www.visitsquawcreek.com. Online dinner reservations for Six Peaks Grille are available on the Website.
On August 14, the Chef’s Tasting theme will be “Much More Than the Sopranos” — a light tour of the cuisine of Italy.
Winemaker presents Whetstone wines at PlumpJack Cafe on July 18
The evening will feature an intimate four-course dinner created by Chef de Cuisine Andy Unzicker in the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn Conference Center. Winemaker Jamey Whetstone, who is dedicated to supplying organic and biodynamic wines, will host this tantalizing journey and debut three select Whetstone Wine Cellars wines, plus the fabulous Manifesto Sauvignon Blanc. Guests will get to know this young fresh face in the wine industry as they explore perfected food and wine pairings.
The dinner will take place on Friday, July 18, at 6 p.m. in the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn Conference Center and will cost $125 per person, including gratuity and tax. Advance reservations are required and can be arranged by calling Liz Duggan at (530) 583-1576 or by visiting www.plumpjackcafe.com.
Wii Wednesdays at Sandy’s Pub
Resort at Squaw Creek’s Sandy’s Pub has launched their Wii Wednesdays. From 10 p.m. to midnight every Wednesday guests can play Wii games such as tennis, baseball, boxing and bowling for free. These interactive simulations will broadcast on the High Definition projection screen, offering a supersized experience.
During Wii Wednesdays, $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons and other drink special will be offered. Sandy’s happy hour typically runs from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Sandy’s Pub, which offers a full menu, has introduced a number of new entrees and appetizers. New items on the appetizer menu include the Calamari Duster, which is chili-dusted calamari served over fried basil and wilted radicchio salad, with citrus-caper aioli and fiery tomato sauce. Another new item is the Tequila Shrimp Quesadilla, featuring lime and tequila marinated shrimp, jack and cheddar cheese melted in a roasted red pepper tortilla, with salsa fresco, sour cream and guacamole. Wings, nachos and other items are on the menu, too.
Wii play is limited to ages 21 and over. For more information about Sandy’s Pub visit www.visitsquawcreek.com or call (530) 581-6617.
Northstar features new dining options this winter
This winter, the Village at Northstar will welcome new specialty foods and a fine dining restaurant, offering resort guests an even more diverse array of food and beverage options. Guests will be invited to savor the contemporary American cuisine offered by Baxter’s Bistro & Lounge, operated by Mark Estee and JJ Morgan, the owners of the popular Truckee-based Moody’s Bistro & Lounge, indulge in sweet creations by Reno-based Chocolate Bar, and enjoy ice cream, gelato and other desserts at Euro Gelato.
“With the addition of Baxter’s Bistro & Lounge, The Chocolate Bar, and Euro Gelato to the Village at Northstar, the resort will offer guests an even more comprehensive variety featuring 13 food and beverage options and 22 retail stores,” said Heath Nielsen, vice president of commercial property and operations for the Village at Northstar. “We are confident guests will enjoy the dining options available to them with these new additions, as well as existing offerings by Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Olivier Napa Valley, Rubicon Pizza Company and more.”
BRAVO TV’S Top Chef winner to cook at Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival
Chef and restaurateur Stephanie Izard, the winner of the fourth season of Bravo TV’s Top Chef, recently signed on to host a cooking seminar at the 23rd Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival, scheduled for September 5-7 in the outdoors at the new Village at Northstar.
In addition to her Top Chef honor, Izard, 31, took home Bravo TV’s Fan Favorite Award. She is also the first woman to win the competition. Izard resides in Chicago, where until recently she was the chef and owner of Scylla.
This year’s celebrity chefs also include Joseph Keller of Bouchon in Yountville, Calif., and Bouchon in Las Vegas and Bistro Zinc Restaurant in Henderson, Nev.; Lars Kronmark of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Calif. (winner of Chef of the Year from the Cordon d’Or, Gold Ribbon International Culinary Academy Awards); renowned Chef Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique in Tahoe City, Calif.; Master Sommelier Robert Bath M.S.; and Chef-Instructor Lara Ritchie of the Nothing to It Culinary Center in Reno, Nev.
Additional featured events include the Gourmet Marketplace and Vendor Fair; a new Marketplace Wine Tasting; International Wine and Cheese Pairing Seminar with Robert Bath of the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies; Wines of Burgundy, presented by Burgundy wine expert David Blair; Truckee River Winery Pinot Noir Vertical Tasting; and a hands-on sushi rolling and sake pairing workshop with the sushi masters of the Village at Squaw’s Mikuni. Kids’ and families can also get creative with a free hands-on pizza class and flowerpot painting workshop.
Friday activities include the down-and-dirty grape stomp competition and luncheon, which finds a new home at Rubicon Pizza at the Village at Northstar. The pizzeria adds a dizzying twist with a pizza-spinning contest. The festival culminates with Sunday’s Grand Tasting and Culinary Competition, featuring the creative dishes of dozens of Lake Tahoe-area chefs, paired with a cornucopia California’s finest wines.
Seminar and tasting tickets range from $10 to $110. The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival is a fundraiser for the Community Fund of North Lake Tahoe through the 501c(3) Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation.
Tickets are on sale, and can be purchased by calling (888) 229-2193 or visit www.tahoefoodandwine.com.
Thunderbird Lodge Winemaker’s Dinners
The Winemaker Dinner Series this summer is an event to remember for wine and food lovers. The Thunderbird Lodge has invited several of Lake Tahoe’s premier chefs to prepare fabulous dinners for those who wish to support the Thunderbird Lodge while savoring the finest food and wine. Each chef will pair his dinner with fine wines.
Winemaker’s Dinner are in the Lighthouse Room with spectacular views from the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. Enjoy one or all of these sumptuous wine dinners while overlooking breathtaking Lake Tahoe at the Thunderbird Lodge. The cost is $250 per person per dinner or $900 per person for the series of four.
For tickets, visit www.thunderbirdlodge.org.
2008 Schedule:
July 20 - The cuisine and wines of PlumpJack Cafe in Squaw Valley, Calif.
Aug. 17 - Chef Jean-Pierre Doignon of Le Bistro & Girard Winery of Napa Valley. Also featured is a silent auction.
Sept. 21 - Chef Mark Estee of Moody's Bistro in Truckee, Calif. and Darioush Vineyards
Oct. 19 - Autumn Nights Wine Dinner with Chef Geno Duggan of the Crystal Bay Club Steakhouse / the winery is to be announced. This is murder mystery themed, end of season fundraiser.
Dinner in the Barn Series
Moody’s Bistro & Lounge Executive Chef and Co-owner Mark Estee and Chef de Cuisine Guy Frenette take literally the concept of farm fresh, locally sourced produce—so literally in fact that they have partnered with Sierra Valley Farms to offer a "Dinner in the Barn" summer series that will showcase both Estee and Frenette’s culinary skills and produce so fresh it was growing in the field hours before.
During the "Dinner in the Barn" series, to take place Sunday, September 21, diners will gather for a four-course meal served family style at Sierra Valley Farms, a serene setting near the Feather River and Sierraville. Estee and Frenette will improvise the menu based on which fresh, organic vegetables are available that day. The food will be paired accordingly with red and white wines.
The farm tour begins at 4 p.m. and dinner is served at 5:15 p.m. Each "Dinner on the Farm" event is $70 per person, plus tax and tip. For reservations to "Dinner in the Barn," call Moody’s at (530) 587-8688 or for more information visit www.moodysbistro.com
Wednesdays at River Ranch
The Spring season is upon us and great reason to get out and enjoy some apres ski or an evening drink and appetizer at the bar at the River Ranch Lodge on Wednesdays.
Starting, Wednesday, April 2nd, the River Ranch will start their “Wednesdays at the Ranch” promotion where one can enjoy food and drink specials in the bar starting at 3:30 p.m. and all night long. The entire Café Menu is half off and includes items such as a Rib Stack, Fried Calamari, Ranch Steak Sandwich, Rock Shrimp Tacos, Nachos, Chicken Caesar Salad, and Seared Sesame Ahi Tuna along with other menu items. In addition, they have a featured draft, house wine and well drinks all at $2.50.
The River Ranch is open weekends for lunch and nightly for dinner. Reservations are recommended. The River Ranch is located at the corner of Hwy 89 & Alpine Meadows Road in between Tahoe City and Squaw Valley. Call (530) 583-4264 for more information.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino Announces Mark May as Chef de Cuisine at Lone Eagle Grille
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark May as the Chef de Cuisine at the award-winning Lone Eagle Grille. With more than two decades of culinary expertise and posts at Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels around the world, including Arizona’s L’Auberge de Sedona, Japan’s Restaurant Vingt-Cinq, New York’s La Colombe d’Or, and Monte Carlo’s La Salière and Louis XV, May brings both a fresh creative energy as well as a rich and diverse culinary background in Mediterranean, Japanese and American cuisine to Lone Eagle Grille.
May has received several accolades by the James Beard Foundation including, "Rising Star of American Cuisine,” and two awards for "Great Chefs of Country Inns" for his work at Amelia’s Field Country Inn and L’Auberge de Sedona. May will be relocating to the Lake Tahoe area with his daughter, Coco. He is an avid skier and enjoys photography and mountaineering on his days off.
For reservations at Lone Eagle Grille, contact Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort at (775) 832-1234 or on the web at www.hyattregencylaketahoe.com.
Golf & Supper Club at the Championship Course
Join us for nine holes of golf at the Championship Course and dinner at The Grille. Tee times begin at 4 p.m. and dinner is served from 6 to 8 p.m. with a 3-course meal each event. The Golf & Supper Club costs $57 for residents of Incline Village/Crystal Bay, $67 for guests of residents, and $77 for non-residents. Space is limited and reservations are required. Please call (775) 832-1146 and advise them that you’d like to be part of the Golf & Supper Club.
The dates of the Golf & Supper Club:
July 27
August 10 and 24
The Championship Course is located at 955 Fairway Ave. in Incline Village, Nevada and was named Best in State by Golf Digest magazine in 2007. Originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., this par-72, 18-hole course is described as the ideal mountain layout. For more information regarding golf in Incline Village or to book a tee time, please visit www.golfincline.com or call 877-GO-VIEWS.
Moody’s Bistro & Lounge expands Wine List
Moody’s Bistro & Lounge is taking its wine list to a new level, with nearly 500 different selections and an emphasis on Old World varieties, thanks to the restaurant’s Wine Director, Joseph Nase.
The first sommelier in America to be honored with Wine Spectator Magazine’s
Grand Award more than once, Nase used his expertise to expand the restaurant
’s previous list of 120 selections to nearly 500. The old list consisted
almost exclusively of California wines, while the new list ventures out into
new territory with more emphasis on Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
To complement the cuisine of Executive Chef/Co-owner Mark Estee and Chef de
Cuisine Guy Frenette, Italian wines are a huge component, reflecting the
Mediterranean influence and pairing well with the seasonal, fresh, simple
flavors.
The new list will retain its regional flavor with a large selection of wines
from California, including one of Nase’s favorites, a 2006 Bohan-Dillon
Pinot Noir from the Hirsch Vineyard on Sonoma Coast as well as wines from
Napa and Santa Barbara County. Oregon wines, where the grapes grown in a
cooler climate tend to be less jammy and smaller than their California
counterparts, also will find their home on the list. Nase’s appreciation for
half bottles is another characteristic of Moody’s wine list, allowing for
groups of 4 to 6 people to create a “do it yourself” tasting menu, sampling
a variety of bottles during dinner.
For reservations, call (530) 587-8688 or visit www.moodysbistro.com.
Jump aboard the Tahoe Gal
From May into early June, the Tahoe Gal, the flagship of the North Shore, offers Emerald Bay cruises Wednesday through Sunday. The paddle wheeler departs at noon and returns by 3:30 p.m.
The sixty-foot Tahoe Gal offers a full bar, extensive wine list and full lunch menu. Executive Chefs Ryan Basset and Manny Davila integrate seasonal flavors with a creative menu while preparing everything fresh from the galley.
Emerald Bay offers quixotic charms and landscapes unlike any other location in the world. Guests view lake life such as Bald Eagles along Rubicon’s shoreline nesting in the tops of dead pine trees and the fish-eating white bellied plumage of Osprey Hawk.
Coming about Emerald Bay’s Fannette Island, the lake’s only island, enthusiasts soak in Emerald Bay’s breathtaking views including the huge stands of Whitebark Pine and masses of Mariposa Lillies that surround Vikingsholm Castle, Emerald Bay’s architectural marvel.
Cherry wood, fresh carpeting and compass rose tile ceiling highlights the Tahoe Gal’s freshly remodeled elegant interior. A newly installed state-of-the art sound system adds to the festivities. Tahoe Gal’s saloon offers micro-brews and an expanded martini list featuring its signature martini made with mango vodka and X-rated Passion Liqueur.
Beginning June 22 through August, each Sunday night the Tahoe Gal’s cool, but cozy dinner cruise heats up with live music. Beginning June 23, the ship entertains guests every Monday evening with alternating comedy night dinners, wine tasting, small batch bourbon sampling and stage performances by world-class magicians. The Tahoe Gal also offers a special July 3 fireworks cruise. From June through October the Tahoe Gal offers daily scenic brunch, lunch, happy hour, romantic dinner cruises and private charters.
The Tahoe Gal combines professional seamanship, two levels of roomy comfort, a private Commodore’s Salon and open air viewing of Lake Tahoe. The 38-ton ship provides a unique and memorable setting for private employee parties, corporate outings, birthday, wedding and anniversary charters, and many other occasions. Catering is available upon request.
The Tahoe Gal is located at 850 North Lake Blvd. at Tahoe City’s Lighthouse Center. For directions, pricing, reservations and more information call (800) 218-2464, or visit www.tahoegal.com
Beer:30 at FiftyFifty
It’s Beer:30 at FiftyFifty Brewing Co. $3 FiftyFifty beers, $3 well drinks and 25% off appetizers from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Balance is what FiftyFifty Brewing Co. is all about. With the addition of daily lunch specials, Beer:30 happy hour and extended kitchen hours, Truckee’s beloved brewpub now provides new ways to maintain your poise throughout the week.
With the addition of Beer:30 into the mix, you can now get $3 FiftyFifty beers, $3 well drinks, and 25 percent off appetizers from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday- Friday. After a long day at work or play, there’s no better way to unwind than hanging out at a hip spot, drinking some quality, handcrafted brews. Finally, for all the late eaters out there, FiftyFifty will be keeping the kitchen cranking until 10:30 p.m. Now guests can get their bellies full right before getting their party on.
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.: Find Your Balance. Located in Truckee at 11197 Brockway Road, between Hwy 267 and downtown Truckee. Open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., FiftyFifty serves both lunch and dinner to complement their variety of beers brewed on the premise. FiftyFifty also features a full bar, seasonal outdoor seating on the patio and live music and entertainment.
To contact FiftyFifty, call Andy or Alicia Barr at (530) 587-BEER or email
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Dragonfly hires new daytime manager and adds new lunch menu items
Dragonfly recently hired Jennifer Boettcher as the restaurant’s daytime manager. Several new items have been added to the lunch menu as well, augmenting this downtown Truckee restaurant’s popular midday fare.
Boettcher moved to Truckee in August 2007 coming from the Bay Area where she received her fine dining experience working at several award-winning restaurants such as Bridges in Danville and Prima in Walnut Creek. Boettcher previously worked as a dinner server at Dragonfly. “I was excited about the opportunity to move into the daytime manager position,” said Boettcher.
Dragonfly chef and owner, Billy McCullough hired Boettcher based on her personable outlook and organizational skills which keep the front-of-the-house staff operating in a streamlined, efficient and welcoming manner. Dragonfly is a power lunch mainstay on Truckee’s Commercial Row
With a distinct menu that features California cuisine with an Asian twist, Dragonfly offers consistently delicious curry dishes, noodle bowls, fresh seafood and vegetarian entrees, always making use of fresh, seasonal ingredients…unique salads…. Newly introduced lunch menu items include popcorn shrimp Ceasar salad, Asian Cobb salad and steak and fries with chimichurri sauce.
Lunch at Dragonfly is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; sushi from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Dragonfly is located upstairs at 10118 Donner Pass Rd., right in the heart of downtown Truckee. For reservations, call Dragonfly at (530) 587-0557.
Jake’s on the Lake Alpenglow dinners
Jake’s on the Lake presents Alpenglow Dinners. Valid Sunday through Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the dinner special features a three-course offering, for $26 per person ($32 with a glass of premium wine). Jake’s landmark lounge shakes up every Friday and Saturday nights with live music beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information and reservations, call (530) 583-0188 or visit www.jakestahoe.com
Pacific Crest Grill & Bar of America gets virtual online
Pacific Crest Grill & Bar of America, located in historic downtown Truckee, recently launched their interactive website at www.pacificcrestgrill.com and www.barofamerica.net. In addition to featuring Pacific Crest Grill’s mission on sustainability, the Web site also features Bar of America and Pianeta Restaurant (also accessible via www.pianetarestaurant.com)
Pacificcrestgrill.com features informational elements of history, recipes, menus, sustainable cooking, information on the chef and staff, online booking for reservations, and a live music section that the dining enthusiast sailing the web can experience.
Pacific Crest Grill & Bar of America is located at 10042 Donner Pass Road in Truckee. Bar of America offers live music Thursday through Saturday with open mic from 8:30 p.m. every Sunday. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and brunch is served on the weekends only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. to close and the Bar of America opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information or reservations, call 530.587.2626. Visit www.pacificcrestgrill.com for more information.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 15 July 2008 )
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