If you’re familiar with the Paso Robles area at all, then you’ve probably heard of Artisan Restaurant. http://artisanpasorobles.com/. It’s absolutely one of our VERY favorite places to spend time in the area. Run by brothers Mike and Chris Kobayashi and their wives, Tina and Shandi, this is the epitome of a wonderful dining experience. You know how when you go out to eat and you just want it to be a great sensory experience? Well, this has all the elements lined up to provide you with that very thing. For starters, wonderful food – local, sustainable products are used and put together in creative and fresh ways that will blow you away from the first to the last bite. You’ve got a staff that is a well-0iled machine, from the servers to the bartenders to the bus boys, they’ve got it down. Then, there’s the wine list…a great variety of selections by the glass as well as by the bottle. So, you get the idea, right? If you’re anywhere near Paso Robles, you MUST come eat at Artisan!
See that picture below? Well, that’s the menu for the Monday Night Supper that we attended. They pair a local winemaker with a local food source and create a food and wine pairing dinner. Check their website for up and coming Monday Night Supper Menus. It’s a cool concept, and they pull it off very well. Moving right along, that’s the menu:
The Charcuterie and Cheese plate with warm almonds and assorted olives was perfect with the Ranchero Cellars Chrome. A great Rhone white blend – Grenache Blanc and Roussanne – that’s got great aroma and flavor and is well paired here. Great job, Amy!
The main course…Rib Eye of Beef with fried artichokes, polenta and bacon-ed brussell sprouts was killer with the J. Dusi Zinfandel!!! A peppery, yet fruit-forward Zin worked so well with the rich meat and bacon brussel sprouts.
To top it all off…we got some Chocolate Eclairs that were heaven with the J. Dusi Late Harvest Zinfandel. OMG! What a meal!!!
So…of course we couldn’t leave you without a video showing our shining faces, so here you go!!! Enjoy!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNxE803zN7E[/youtube]
Matt says
Well done- pics look great. I’d love to eat there. I had a J Dusi Zin at a restaurant in Savannah, GA a while back… really liked it.
Hoot 'n Annie says
Hi Matt! Thanks for the feedback…wow, GA? Way to go on the distribution, Dusi! She makes good stuff!!!
Yrmom says
You guys are so CUTE!!….and the pictures and descriptions of food and wine have me drooling. Let me know when you’re going back there and I’ll come up and join you!
Hoot 'n Annie says
You’re cute, too!!! 🙂 We’ll definitely let you know when we’re headed back to Artisan. We’d love to take you there!