Palate, Glendale

I went to a brand new restaurant that's doing everything right. It's Palate, just opened in Glendale, a scant seven minute drive from my home. Literally, it's 3 right turns. I'll be there a lot. This week is a "soft" opening, as they get the details together. The executive chef is the very talented Octavio Becerra, and the wine director is Steve Goldun, a man who knows a whole bunch about wine and has put together quite possibly the best wine program in this city. There was not a single item that we ate that wasn't exceptional: Becerra has a sure hand, a great imagination, and a passion for the best ingredients. Goldun has the sources, and put a list together that includes 50 wines by the glass, and they are not the boring wines you see everywhere else. For example, if you want to drink Chave Hermitage by the taste, glass, or quartino: YOU CAN! By the bottle, things get even deeper, and there are many wines with a fair amount of age. As Steve Goldun said, "I don't like young Bordeaux!" We drank a beautiful Lambrusco, a Huet Vouvray Sec, a lovely 2005 Beaune Cent Vignes (forgot producer), even Chateau Grillet by the glass!!! Every menu includes a wine list; why should only one person be able to look? This facilitates discussion and enables everybody to get in the act. Finally, the wine markup at Palate is reasonable and you don't feel like you're being hosed by the wine prices. Support this place!!!

Food included small plates of pickled peaches, fennel, and zucchini; house-made charcuterie; bread with house-made butter; potted chicken (like rillettes); squash blossoms with ricotta and tomato; cannelonni with spinach & parmesan; perfect risotto; pork belly with a lovely bitter salad that included radishes and bitter baby greens. Much of the food is conducive to sharing, and the prices are within reason.

So far, only the restaurant is open, but in the back there is a retail space (which will be a wine shop) and wine bar which will be open soon. The retail store will sell this great variety of truly interesting wines, and customers can bring their purchases into the restaurant for a minimal corkage fee.

I will be back soon and often, and am so happy to have a great wine spot and destination restaurant so close to my home!