BLOGS

Foothills magazine held its first Dream Meal competition last fall. I was fortunate enough to join Wenatchee World copy editor and former food editor Rochelle Feil and Annette Pitts, executive director of the Cascade Loop Scenic Highway, both serious foodies, in reviewing dishes at several local restaurants. The winners were announced in the January-February issue of Foothills. Here are reviews I wrote about each of the restaurants. I'll be posting one review a week. We're hoping several more local eateries will participate in this year's competition. Rick

It's hard to beat Chateau Faire Le Pont for its exquisite, full-bodied red wines. And there's no better place to try them out than over an equally exquisite meal at the winery's own Chateau Grill.

Manager Debé Brazil recommended an extravagant quartet of courses off the menu, including Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Frisee Salad, Hickory Roasted Duck and Caramel Sea Salt Bread Pudding for dessert.

Every item was superb in its presentation, creativity and taste. I thought the scallops stole the show at the beginning with the incredible aroma of wood smoked thick bacon around those tender fresh scallops. The appetizer of three scallops was drizzled with a mustard cider reduction sauce.

The Frisee salad is a dish from Debé's native home of Montreal and not often found on a Northwest menu, she said. Curly leaf lettuce was topped with bacon lardons, a poached egg and a light sherry vinagrette. This was a meal in itself.

The entree of roast duck slices over a sweet polenta (chef Derek Solar called it a buttermilk cornbread pudding) and glazed with a sweet whiskey caramel got us all talking about memories and recipes from Southern France.

There shouldn't have been room for the bread pudding that was spectacularly more impressive and delicious than any bread pudding I've ever had.

This meal will set you back about $50 per person if you order it all. But the appetizer, salad and dessert could easily be shared.

We shared a bottle of Faire Le Pont's award winning 2008 Pinot Noir. It's probably one one of the state's best examples of the variety and a bargain at its $20 price, the same whether you drink it in the restaurant or take one home. We did both.

Restaurant: Chateau Grill Where: Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery, 389 Technology Center Way, Olds Station Phone: 667-9463 Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Limited menu Sunday and Monday Web: fairelepont.com

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