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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
 | | 05/01/2007 10:52 PM |
| Summing up this post if you don't want to read the whole thing:
Restaurant Nu was fantastic but they have now closed.
The Wine Cask Restaurant has been sold.
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I had a group of 22 people for a wine dinner at Restaurant Nu this last Saturday night (4/28/07). It was absolutely fantastic! I had set it up over the internet but on Friday afternoon I spent some face time with Chef David Cecchini. He really got enthused and put together a great meal.
Canapes
2004 Margerum Sauvignon Blanc, Vogelzang Vyd., Santa Ynez Valley
2004 Domaine des 2 Mondes Viognier “Saints & Sinners”, Sanford & Benedict Vyd.
2004 Clendenen Family Tocai Friulano “Borgo Buon Natale”, Santa Maria Valley.
Seared Diver Scallop - Celeriac puree, black truffle & pancetta
2003 Ojai Chardonnay Clos Pepe Vineyard
2003 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Unity Nuits Blanches Au Bouge
Ricotta Gnocchi, Braised duck, pear, porcini and walnut
2004 Cargasacchi Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills
2004 Point Concepción Pinot Noir, Salsipuedes.
Seared Rare Tuna, Ivory lentils and pinot noir reduction
2002 Fiddlehead Cellars Pinot Noir Lollapalooza Fiddlestix Vyd. Sta Rita Hills
2003 Ampelos Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vyd., Sta. Rita Hills
Lamb Sirloin, Red wine risotto, mostardo di cremona and wilted radicchio
2003 Badge Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills.
2003 Sea Smoke Estate Pinot Noir “Botella”
Cheese
2005 Margerum Wine Co M5 Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Counoise
Warm Pineapple Vanilla Tart, Honey Panna Cotta and Caramel drizzle
2005 Ojai Vineyard Viognier, Roll Ranch, Sweet "Ice Wine"
All of this for $117 gross per. This was so much better than what we had at the Wine Cask last month it is rediculous. David was the chef at the Wine Cask for ten years and it was he who did all the great offline dinners we had after the Future's Tastings. I really like the guy.
Now the bad news...
This was the last real meal to be served at Restaurant Nu. The place closed Sunday night after a big bye-bye bash. The landlord evicted them so that he could remodel the place including roofing over the beautiful patio making room for another dozen stores or so along with a Fondue joint. Unbelievable!
David and his partner Leslie have not made a deal for a new restaurant as of yet but they do have a couple of options in mind. At any rate there will probably not be a Restaurant Nu for at least six months. I'll let you all know when something is set.
More news...
Doug Margerum, the founder and proprietor of The Wine Cask for 25 years, has sold the joint. He will stay on as an insultant for an indifinite period of time. Wendy is gone (as of a week ago today). The new owners live in Texas. The currently have a restaurant in Long Beach. Along with the two Wine Cask restaurants they also bought The Big Yellow House restaurant in Carpenteria. They have said they will keep the Wine Cask pretty much the same but they are changing the name of the Big Yellow House to the Big Yellow Rose (of Texas... I guess). There is a fifth restaurant somewhere in the mix but I don't know anything about it.
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| Paul_H
San Francisco
Grape Puncher
Posts:890
| | 05/02/2007 1:46 AM |
| | Whoa! Big doings in Santa Barbara... and it doesn't sound like anything good at all. I'm glad I was able to attend a few of the golden age dinners. | |
http://www.sweetandsourspectator.org | |
| mountainman
Mammoth Mountain
Wine Bottler
Posts:3147
| | 05/02/2007 12:02 PM |
| Posted By David Niederauer on 05/01/2007 10:52 PM
He will stay on as an insultant for an indifinite period of time.
Is this someone who makes fun of the new owners?
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| TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5210
| | 05/02/2007 1:01 PM |
| | when i grow up, i want to be an insultant too. i think i'd be quite good at it, no? | | | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 05/02/2007 1:18 PM |
| I'm sorry. Did I say "insultant"? I meant "consultant".
Same thing anyway. | | | |
| Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts:9210
| | 05/02/2007 10:49 PM |
| Wow, big changes! Good to hear about NU! sounds like Teri and my instincts were correct  | | | |
| Corkage
Grape Puncher
Posts:975
| | 05/03/2007 11:22 AM |
| | We dined at Nu last summer, most of the food was pretty good to outstanding (I no longer recall specifics), but what was most impressive was Leslie's customer service. They were sold out of like 8 of the 9 items we wanted (due to large parties) and we decided to leave (after the Krug). Leslie insisted we allow her to try to make it up and she managed to pull together most of the dishes we wanted and then poured like 10 wines for us to try. In the end, She comped the wines and the dessert. My wife will be dissappointed they closed. | | | |
| David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 05/04/2007 12:05 PM |
| You were spot on Eric. On your recommendation Tricia went to Nu with her sisters that Tuesday after the Futures dinner. She loved it so I started an email dialog with Leslie which led to an email dialog with David (the Chef). Then about a month ago I learned (not from Leslie or David) that the restaurant had lost their lease and was going to close. At first it was a bit alarming as the rumor was that it March 27th (and my dinner was scheduled for March 28th) but after a bit of investigation I found out the date for closing was my date except for a bash that they were going to have the next night (Sunday). So I figured I could go down in history as having the last "real" dinner at the place (and indeed we closed the joint about 11:30pm with the only people left there the staff drowning their sorrows at the bar).
I really hadn't seen the place until that Friday before the dinner. I dropped off some wines in the morning and made an appointment to see David that afternoon. At 4:00 we met and had a great hour-long. We hit it off very well and I was really excited about the dinner. I then sealed the deal by giving him a bottle of the 4-Barrel. His face lit up like a whore house on the Vegas Strip and I new that we were going to be in for a real treat... and indeed it was. | | | |
| Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts:9210
| | 05/04/2007 9:04 PM |
| | Damn, NU closed? That really sux. Any word on if they will reopen elsewhere? what a shame, the place looked beautiful. | | | |
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