by Frank Mangio
It is a rare occasion to witness a family restaurant group with the singular quality and wide divergence that the Cohn Restaurant Group in San Diego exhibits. During the past 25 years David and Leslie Cohn have brought San Diego County an amazing array of prime-flavor dining in their 11 restaurants.
Well-deserved honors have been bestowed upon the Cohn “obsession with hospitality,” from the original Corvette Diner to the upscale steak and seafood operations: 333 Pacific in Oceanside, and Island Prime on Harbor Island in San Diego .
We have raved over the menu and wine list at 333 Pacific as being original and uniquely flavorful, so we jumped at the opportunity to meet the staff and sample the offerings at Island Prime.
Deborah Scott is the Executive Chef, a top shelf talent with a sense of the “wow” factor. Her resume is impressive, but it’s in the food that she sets the bar high with flavor that can’t be beat.
I would recommend starting with the crab-stuffed artichoke, then the baby beets salad with walnuts and goat cheese. You have to order the Island Prime Filet Trio if you’re a beef lover like I am.
Wine Director and Island Prime Manager Maurice DiMarino shows his wine cellar and his Italian favorites.
Toppings are different on each and include: gorgonzola, wild mushrooms and blue crab. Three different culinary experiences in one entrée…brilliant! Side options include: truffled-creamed corn, green beans, wild mushrooms and lots more. The wine list and operations are run by Maurice DiMarino who is always on the floor, making certain that the Cohn’s obsession with hospitality is in full bloom. For more see islandprime.com or dinecrg.com.
Wine Bytes
West Steak, Seafood and Spirits in Carlsbad and Executive Chef Eugenio Martignago showcase Penfolds Wines of Australia in a wine and dinner event Mon. Feb. 22 starting at 6:30pm . Delicious food will match up with wines like Riesling, Chardonnay, Red Blends and Port. Rack of Australian Lamb is the main entrée of this 4 course dinner. $75. ea. RSVP at 760-930-9100.
La Costa Wine Company in Carlsbad has a limited-space Justin Tasting on Fri. Feb. 26 from 5 to 8pm . This will sell out fast, as Justin from Paso Robles is well known around the wine world. New releases only. $30. pp. RSVP at 760-431-8455.
The 3rd Corner in Encinitas hosts an Ojai Wine Dinner on Tues. Feb. 16 at 6pm. Four course dinner with 4 different wines from Riesling to a lovely Viognier Dessert wine. $65. charge. Reserve at 760-942-2104.
The Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour is Tuesday February 23 to Thursday February 25. Eleven events are being staged from Cardiff to Pont Loma in a regional showcase of over 40 winemakers. www.FastForwardEvents.com
The Argyle Steakhouse at the Four Seasons in the Aviara Carlsbad now has a Happy Hour. It starts at 4pm with 4.00 drinks, 5pm has $5. drinks and 6pm has $6. drinks. Details at 760-603-3773.
No comments:
Post a Comment