After another day of sight-seeing and shopping, Mom and I finished off our LA 2-Day with a visit to Il Grano. The recommendation from friends notwithstanding, we almost skipped it due to LA Driving Dread. Thank goodness we gathered our forces and made the drive. Chef Salvatore Marino, in the kitchen on a Monday evening and at our table to explain his food, put together a 5-Course Tasting Menu that was worth the trip. The sommelier was off for the evening but his substitute put together an eclectic, international wine flight to match the tasting menu.
The first and best course was a blue fin tuna sashimi dressed with candied mandarin orange peel, peppery mâche, and a subtle blood orange vinaigrette. Served alongside was a 2-ounce pour of the 2003 Pouilly Vinzelles la Soufrandière, a crisp white burgundy which served to accent the citrus flavors of the dish and highlight the balance of flavors present in the dish.
Marino is skilled with fish and clearly enjoys working with all manner of seafood. In addition to the tuna sashimi, skate wing and red mullet made strong, seasonal appearances on this short menu, the mullet gussied up with pea shoots and fresh peas and the skate layered with sautéed kale and seasoned tomato brodo. Fresh-cut pasta with minced vegetables, a refreshing change of pace amidst the seafood, suffered from too much pepper. Macerated blueberries and strawberries made a suitable finish to a light dinner.
Interesting wine notes:
I love it when a sommelier goes out on a limb. After our Wine Guide heard that my Mom and I were knowledgeable about wine, a slew of wine from boutique producers and lesser known wine regions found their way into our glasses. A few are noted here:
A 2005 Hondarribi Zuri Talai Berri (from Txakolina, Spain) was not a perfect match for the pasta course but did introduce me to only the second producer from Txakolina I have tasted in the US. (The grape is Hondarribi Zuri and the winery is called Talai Berri.)
2003 Monleale Vigneti Massa Barbera
1998 “Seifile” Nebbiolo/Barbera
2002 Pierre Matrot White Burgundy (Meursault)
2003 Domaine Cauhape “Symphonie de Novembre”
11359 Santa Monica Blvd
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
T: 310.477.7886
Visited March 12, 2007Labels: food and wine pairing, italian cuisine, LA, los angeles, wine flight