Many years ago, as a five year old, I would spend rainy days in upstate New York, on the glass enclosed front porch, involved in various fantasy games. One of my favorites was standing behind an ironing board taking and serving imaginary orders at my lunch counter. I’m sure the luncheonette counter at the Woolworths in Troy was responsible.
I’m not alone with this fantasy. In this increasingly difficult environment for restaurants (sky high rents, exorbitant insurance and compensation demands etc.) very few of us will ever have the opportunity to make the dream a reality. But I finally did!
After a few years of off and on wine and cheese pairings, we’ve had ten consecutive months of straight success, culminating in a standing room only Valentine’s Day of forty-one people! This gave Brittney and me the impetus to launch our first Friday evening of food and wine, billed as “Tapas @ Tolosa”.
Situated in the Heritage Room, we created seating for twenty-four people; Just enough for a cozy intimate atmosphere without the frenzy. Our partner, Patty Carpenter of the Corner View Restaurant, prepared four tapas to be served with four reserve wines.
The origin of tapas according to my Spanish I teacher, was to be no more than a foil for the bugs anxious to get in your glass - just a coaster on the top of your glass with perhaps a black olive and a piece of cheese. Enough weight to keep the wind from lifting it and yet not too much food so as to insure the café’s financial solvency.
That in mind, Patty really outdid herself! Just a sampler of last week’s menu:
- Endive With Crab & Mango served with 1772 Chardonnay.
- Chicken Satay with soy ginger glaze served with “Lily Gil” Block Select Pinot.
- Wild Mushroom Strudel, served with “Marley Anne” Block Select Pinot.
- Mediterranean Lamb, served with our 2006 Salaal, our boldest Rhone blend.
Within a day of posting this on the internet to our members, we were sold out and I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise why. Only twenty $25 admission per person to the public and $20 to Heritage Club members!
Brittney and I have not had such fun working in all our five years! The food (thanks to Patty) and wine were great, atmosphere perfect and of course our guests gracious. We prepped, served, bused and poured for three hours and of course spent another hour cleaning up. After all of that, we decided to celebrate with dinner out, but that’s another story.
So, sixty years later I have finally fulfilled my fantasy, but rather than looking for me in a new restaurant location, you can find Brittney and me weekly (with an ever changing menu) on Friday evening from 5:30 to 7:30, reservations only. But just in case you miss us, we can always have wine and cheese pairings the next day!
For reservations call (805)782-0500 or email jshakley@tolosawinery.com
-John Shakley, Concierge
