Alberto Baffoni, former partner/chef at Simposio restaurant, has been out of sight for a while. He has resurfaced as the new executive chef at the Rainbow Lodge. John Mariani, Esquire magazine, called Simposio, "one of the great Italian restaurants in America."

Many restaurants in Houston are serving warm red wine. This is just not right.

We've always heard that red wine should be served at room temperature. Have you tasted red wine at room temperature in Houston? It's not really tasty. And it's not fair to the wine.

When our wine forefathers said "serve red wine at room temperature" I think they meant room temp in a wine cellar in a stone castle in Italy or France, not a restaurant in Houston, Texas, in the summertime.

This is a big topic and wine experts can argue with me about this if they wish (new world versus old world, etc.) But to simplify it for the rest of us, it's pretty safe to say that no
red wine should be served at a temperature above 70 degrees.

In general, I like my reds at about 62 degrees. When dining out, if I'm served a red that I feel is too warm, I'll ask for an ice bucket to chill it down for a few minutes. This is a perfectly acceptable practice. Do not hesitate to do this. (Especially if you see wine bottles stacked up to the ceiling of the restaurant, under the hot lights.)

If you need further convincing, Google: red wine temperature.

I promise you. You will be amazed at the delicious difference in the taste of red wine that
is served in the mid to low 60's. Do your own experiment and see.

So - now I've gotten really obnoxious about this issue and I carry a laser thermometer with me to measure the temp of my red wine when dining out. (Thank you Luis!) I won't carry it with me forever, but it is fun to convert non-believers, chilling them down, so to speak.

Wine dinners, Scotch dinners, tequila dinners and martini dinners are examples of popular dining experiences offered by restaurants. Usually prix-fixe, diners enjoy a multi-course meal with the featured alcoholic beverage paired with each course for an all-inclusive price. But what if you want to attend the dinner and your date doesn't drink?

Is it fair to charge the same price for a meal with four glasses of wine as it is for one with four glasses of iced tea? Latika Bathija, owner of Ashiana Fine Indian Cuisine in Houston, doesn't think so and she's done something about it.

All of the special event dinners at Ashiana offer two prices: with alcohol and without.
Meals without alcohol receive a discount, sometimes as much as $25 per person.

Ms. Bathija is to be commended for her decision. Not only is this gracious gesture extended to her guests, but it has increased attendance for her wine dinners as well.

Who knows why this unique restaurant had to close its doors? La Tour d'Argent was unique; a beautifully appointed log cabin, built in the early 1900s. Serving what they called 'new American' (does anyone really know what that is?) and French cuisine (I know what that is), they had a steadfast, but small following. Not enough to keep them going though. A sad loss for Houston's dining community. We wish them well.

NOTE: I'd like to help the staff find new jobs. Email your resume to me and I will circulate it for you. Cleverley@CleverleysNewsletter.com.

Overview
This is a managerial position with responsibility for scheduling, planning and coordinating a wide variety of events held at FPC, including ministry programs, Presbyterian School functions, outside groups, church-wide events and wedding receptions.

For full job description and contact info click the link below.

Beloved Houston chef Tim Keating became the new executive chef for the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida on June 5th. This is truly a monumental loss for Houston's culinary community.

But the good news is that it's a wonderful opportunity for Keating.
The Biltmore is one busy hotel.
He will oversee the $18 million food and beverage departments including five bustling restaurants and a very busy catering operation. Keating and his wife Leigh both have
many family members who reside in Florida so moving there will be great for them and their children.

Keating's Career Highlights:
. Eight years as Executive Chef, Four Seasons Hotel, Houston
. Four years as Executive Chef, Omni Hotel, Houston
. Executive Sous Chef, Essex House, New York
. Worked at Ritz-Carlton properties in Houston, Rancho Mirage and Laguna Niguel
and The Meridian Hotel, Newport Beach, California
 

Awards:
. 5 AAA Five Diamond Awards
. Condé Nast Traveler Gold List
. Gourmet magazine' Reader's Choice award (3 years)
. Zagat Restaurant Survey's Top Food, Business Lunch, Decor, Brunch, Hotel Dining
and Top French Cuisine
. Mobil Travel Guide's Four Star Award
. Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
. Houston Business Journal's Best New Restaurant

Keating has cooked for many celebrities including super chefs Emeril Lagasse and Julia Child, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, British Prime Minister John Major, Luther Vandross, Dennis Quaid, The Bangles, The Dixie Chicks, Richard Simmons, Billy Joel, Martha Stewart and many sports stars.

Built in 1926, The Biltmore Hotel is a national historic landmark property offering luxury accommodations and 76,000 square feet of meeting facilities, a championship 18-hole golf course, tennis facilities, spa, fitness center, a premier membership wine club- The Cellar Club, and the largest hotel swimming pool in the continental United States.

READER'S NOTE:
Cleverley's Newsletter subscriber Sandy Herskovitz emailed me just this week, inquiring about Keating's whereabouts. When I told him that Tim was in Florida Herskovitz said, "Sorry he did not land in Houston. But the good thing is I have a place 15 minutes from Coral Gables so I've got a new place to go now."
So Tim, look for Sandy soon. He craves your risotto! (As I do.)

Hey South Florida, what's with you raiding H-town for chefs?
Keep your tongs off our toques.

In the past month you've taken two of our major culinary talents:

I think we need better 'border patrol' in Houston.
 

Manfred Jachmich's Chianti's Tuscany Grill has closed.

Hans Eirik Gerner will take over the location and open Eirik's Goodtime Tavern this weekend, just in time for World Cup Soccer.

They will be open from 4 p.m. until 'late' seven days a week.

Offerings: Tavern-type menu, Sunday cooking on the patio, sports bar, live music, bocce ball court, pool tables & poker.

Eirik (pronounced Eye-Rick) is a longtime club and bar operator and was involved in the creation of The Black Labrador and Cezanne's in Montrose and Hans' German Bier Haus
in the Village.

Eirik comes from prestigious culinary stock. His German father was a world-renowned chef who won four gold medals in the Culinary Olympics and was president of Holiday Inns.

2200 Wilcrest, Houston, Texas 77042 713-783-2233
(I suggest you call before going this weekend.
They are not sure of the exact day they will be opening.)

Don't drink your red wine at room temperature in Houston in the summer. Chill it down to somewhere in the low to mid 60s F. Ask restaurants to do the same. Your red wine could taste a lot better this way.

Amisetta Winery tasting with vintner Spencer Clark.

Job listings for positions in Houston's hotels & restaurants.

With the July 4th holiday weekend coming up,
here are a few new restaurants in town that you might like to try...

After spending seven days at a raw veggie camp in the Pacific Northwest to “clean out his system and give him perspective,” award-winning chef Scott Tycer had an epiphany.

The result: he transformed his restaurant Aries into a
back-to-basics neighborhood eatery called Pic.
(no, it’s not a vegetarian restaurant.)

According to Tycer, Pic is a neighborhood cafe that treats inner-loopers to high quality ingredients and great service
with an emphasis on simple dishes and simple pricing.

4315 Montrose, Houston
713-526-4404
 

Click here for sample menu

We told you about Jon Paul's idea for a new restaurant many months ago.
Sabor is now open and Paul has taken a partner in the project,
Marco Wiles (Da Marco & Dolce Vita Pizzeria Enoteca).

There was some buzz a while back that Paul had been spotted working as a waiter at both of Wiles' restaurants. This was not true. Paul told me that
he was helping out his new business partner at night (training staff and
helping to maintain high service standards) while working on his Sabor
concept during the day.

On paper it looks like Sabor has been rolled into Wiles' restaurant lineup.
Da Marco, Dolce Vita and Sabor all have equal billing on printed materials
at Sabor.

Now that Sabor is open, Paul might assume the same role he played with
the Vallone organization - that of majordomo. In fact both he and Wiles
are graduates of the Vallone School of Restaurant Management.
(There really is no VSRM, but both worked for and learned from
legendary restaurateur Tony Vallone.)

This restaurant is hot-hot-hot right now.
A must visit.
1308 Montrose Boulevard, Houston
713-520-8222
No web site yet.

We told you about this restaurant a couple of months ago and it is now open, Glass Wall by Lance Fegen.

We've been following Fegen for years. We first met him when he was chef de cuisine at the Houstonian Hotel. Then he became a co-owner and executive chef at Zula and Trevisio.

He took a break to create Glass Wall. Fegen is a surfer and the term glass wall is surfer slang for a perfect wave.

As you can see from his menu, Fegen is into fresh, seasonal and local.
Glass Wall is definitely his baby and he oversees every aspect of the restaurant.

You can watch him cook Tuesday-Saturday nights.
(The best seat in the house is at the counter.)

And yes, the restaurant has glass walls, two of them.
There is a glass wall inside the dining room and another wall of glass
facing the street in the kitchen, so you can watch them cook from the sidewalk.

933 Studewood Street, Houston
713-868-7930

Note: Read Fegen's eloquent thoughts on foie gras here

Summer Time!
Look great & feel great!

Whether your goal is reducing calories,
blood sugar control or just cutting down on sugar,
Zsweet all natural sweetener can help.

With Zsweet all natural sweetener as a part of your healthy lifestyle,
you can make life sweet again!

Available exclusively at Whole Foods.

In the next 90 days Polo Becerra expects to open two more restaurants:
. Polo's Grill, 3800 Southwest Freeway, Houston, next to Lakewood Church.
. Post Oak Grill Midtown, 3017 Milam, Houston.

This will bring his stable to four restaurants.
He currently owns and operates Post Oak Uptown, 1415 S. Post Oak Lane, Houston
and Post Oak Downtown, 1111 Louisiana (in the tunnel), Suite B-100, Houston.

It's Taste of Houston week on Great Day Houston with host Whitney Casey...

I'll be on the show on Wednesday, June 28th
and Friday, June 30th.

9 a.m. on KHOU - Channel 11

On Wednesday I'll give my picks for best restaurants
in some interesting categories like:
"Best Restaurant to Dine in Front of the TV"
and "Best Restaurant to Watch a Man Cook for You"...

On Friday we're seeing stars in Houston's restaurants and hotels...
Where do celebs dine and what do they order?? Mmmm.