SAVOR SOUTHERN FRANCE AT PINOT PROVENCE
By Sheryll Alexander
Starting this week (through Aug. 18), Pinot Provence’s newly-appointed executive chef Jason Petrie invites OC foodies to experience the rustic charm of Southern France. Yes, it’s time for Patina Group’s annual Summer in Provence series of dinners.
Every Tuesday through Thursday from 5-9 p.m., Pinot Provence guests can sit on the charming outdoor patio while Chef Petrie mans the grill and oversees the kitchen with tasting menus ranging from three to seven courses (priced between $40-$100 per person). Many of the dishes are prepared tableside while the lively patio rocks live music, French cocktails and excellent wine pairings.
Chef Petrie’s menu changes weekly based on seasonally-fresh produce. Some dishes on a most recent Summer in Provence menu includes an octopus salad (grilled octopus, Mexican chorizo, crispy hominy,Marcona almonds, summer mint, Serrano chile, virgin olive oil), paper-baked loup de mer (heirloom tomato, black truffle, fruits de mer broth, grilled rustic bread), slow-roasted pork shoulder (cumin-scented panisse, confit garlic and egg yolk emulsion, wild arugula, candied orange) and lemon verbena pot de crème (market black berries, vanilla shortbread cookie).
Pinot Provence, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714-444-5900, www.pinotprovence.com.
Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California. Follow her! @sheryllalexande
