Culinary artwork abounds at the Vineyard Rose

Imagine yourself in a ski lodge with incredibly high ceilings fashioned of roughly hewn beams and below are comfortable booths where you can relax and enjoy an artistically prepared meal. That is just the ambiance that dominates the interior of the Vineyard Rose Restaurant in Temecula’s South Coast Winery.

Mediterranean as well as cross-cultural cuisine is featured on the menu, and Executive Chef Alessandro Serni, who studied the culinary arts in his native Tuscany, brings an authentic touch to the fare. “I’m bringing a little bit of Tuscany to Temecula,” he commented. The chef is also adept at preparing a variety of exotic cuisines, having gained experience at Four Seasons properties in Bombay, India and the West Indies.

Chef Alessandro’s Ahi Tuna Tower is an aesthetically pleasing work of art. The fresh tuna is cubed, then blended with finely chopped picholine olives, kalamata olives, capers, scallions and pickled lemon zest. This inventive mix brings out the fine sea flavor of the tuna. The dish is enhanced by a generous portion of tobikko caviar, which is deep orange in hue and subtle in flavor. A necklace of wasabi aioli gives a faint garlic and horseradish taste, which is tempered by mayonnaise and given an exotic twist with paprika and cilantro oils. Creamy avocado cubes top the ahi tuna to lend a delicate touch. The Ahi Tuna Tower is a complex blend of flavors that is truly worth a repeat. South Coast Winery’s fresh and fruity 2005 Chardonnay “Sans Chene” is an excellent wine pairing with this dish.

The Spinach Salad with Garlic Cajun Shrimp is a also a fresh choice. The dish is tossed with applewood-smoked bacon, chopped egg, diced tomato, dried cranberries, bleu cheese and sliced avocado, then dressed with a raspberry vinaigrette. The grilled Cajun shrimp are succulent and the seasoning is peppy, but not overpowering. It gives the flavor, but not the burn, that often accompanies Cajun dishes.

Comfortable booths, wide cushy chairs and a solicitous wait staff round out the Vineyard Rose’s pleasantly delivered dining experience.

Located at 34843 Rancho California Road in Temecula (corner of Rancho California Road and Anza Road), the South Coast Winery is a growing establishment now boasting a new spa. Please call (951) 587-WINE (9463) for further information.