OLD Eats DO NOT USE

I'm here in California wine country for a writing symposium, and before getting down to business, I was eagerly anticipating taking in the view from Hawkeye Mountain. This Kendall-Jackson property allows a panoramic perspective that takes in a scenic arc starting with Mendocino County to the north and west, to Geyser Peak, Black Mountain and Mount St. Helena, sweeping south and west again to Napa, Santa Rosa, and on out toward the far west, to Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and finally the Sonoma Coastal Range. What a view. What a view.

Instead, Kendall-Jackson PR guy and former LA Times photographer George Rose (left) could only hold up his book, The Art of Terroir, and point through a fog as dense as meringue to everything we couldn't see. You'll be able to see the the view, however, and blow-ups of other equally breathtaking photos from the book, as well as taste K-J's high-end Highland Estates wines on March 6 at The Nasher. I wrote about the coming event a few weeks ago, so this is just a reminder. Come and see all I didn't get to. It's 5 to 8 p.m.; free, but call 707-525-6554 or e-mail to RSVP before Monday.

Posted by Kim Pierce at 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Judges for this year’s culinary James Beard Awards have gotten what's known as "the long list" of nominees in the categories of Restaurateur, Best Regional Chef (separate categories for each region), Pastry Chef, Rising Star Chef, Chef, Restaurant, Service, Wine Service, Wine & Spirits Professional, and Best New Restaurant.

From the nominees, each category will be narrowed down to five finalists. This year, five well-known Dallas names are on the long lists:

Best Chef/Southwest: Anthony Bombaci of Nana and Sharon Hage of York Street.

Outstanding Pastry Chef: Dunia Borga of La Duni.

Outstanding Chef: Stephan Pyles of Stephan Pyles.

Best New Restaurant: Fearing's.

Posted by Joyce Saenz Harris at 5:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Eats friend Lesley Téllez (of Quick's nightlife blog) and I both tried to visit Cosmic Cafe this weekend only to find it closed. I went by Friday night to find orange cones blocking off the driveway and yellow tape along the perimeter. Lesley saw the same thing yesterday. As usual when a restaurant is closed, no one is answering the phone or replying to email. But as soon as we know more, so will you.

Posted by Shannon Sutlief at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Business reporter Angela Shah and a host of photographers and videographers followed Villa-O, Robert Colombo's organic-inspired pasta restaurant, from gutting the Travis Avenue space that once housed Samba Room to last Monday's opening night.

Read Angela Shah's Villa-O: From conception to opening night

Watch the video The making of Villa-O restaurant

View the slideshow of photos from taking down the Samba Room sign to opening night.

• Get maps, hours and more for Villa-O

Have you tried Villa-O yet? Tell us what you think.

Posted by Shannon Sutlief at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Sigel's has three excellent tastings coming up:

Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Glenfiddich Single-Malt Scotch Tasting
Glenfiddich rep Sharon Owen will lead a tasting that illustrates the aging process of the best-selling single-malt Scotch in the world, progressing from 12-year-old to 30-year-old; $25. Sigel's Elite, 3209 Fitzhugh at Cole; 214-635-3162.

Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m.: Partida Tequila Tasting and Bottle Signing
Sophia Partida, head of the family company that makes these superb estate-grown tequilas, will be on hand to show and tell why they deserve to be sipped (which they most surely do); $25. Sigel's Elite, 3209 Fitzhugh at Cole; 214-635-3162.

Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m.: Grateful Palate Australian Wines
Robert Parker loves the Australian wines that Dan Philips searches out and brings to America. They're usually big, full, rich, teeth-blackening wines, and even the entry-level Paringa ($10) is an exceptional buy. Two Grateful Palate reps, Joe Eckrich and Neil Deininger, lead a tasting through some of the current releases; free, but RSVP. Sigel's Addison, 15033 Inwood, south of Belt Line; 972-387-9873.

Posted by Kim Pierce at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)