Five years may not seem like a long time for a restaurant. But in Downtown Santa Ana, these last five years have been a bitch. Memphis, The North Left, Paninoteca Maggio, a quartet of 4th Street Market businesses, Boldo Bol. For one reason or another their doors shuttered, making room for newer concepts. That is, unless you are Chapter One: The Modern Local.
Yes, they have changed chefs (more than once). One of their managing partners left. Yet you’ll still find a steady stream of locals at lunch and dinner. And they’ve managed to stay afloat, outlasting many of their neighbors. They’re doing something right. For making it to five years, they’ve got an appropriate celebration planned.
Chapter One’s teamed up with The Whiskey Scout to present a dinner paired with rare finds. Here’s your play-by-play for Saturday, March 19.
First course
The food: Shaved pickled vegetables and shrimp salad
The drink: FEW Spirits Family Reserve. Given as a gift only by founder and master distiller Paul Hletko, you won’t find this in stores. Ever.
Second course
The food: Duck rillette with pickled onions and toast points
The drink: A duo of tastes from High West Distillery: Yippee Ki-Yay and Double Rye. The Double Rye blend incorporates a 2-year-old and 16-year-old rye, with a palatable end result. Yippee Ki-Yay takes things a step further, putting Double Rye in both Vermouth and Syrah barrels.
Third course
The food: BBQ King salmon with ratatouille, parsnip and red cabbage puree
The drink: A surprise rye, which may or may not yet be available to the public.
Fourth course
The food: Deep fried short ribs with baby vegetables and “big-ass” beans
The drink: Sonoma County Distilling TBD
Final course
The food: German chocolate doughnut with Ojai Pixie (tangerine) marmalade.
The drink: Manhattan Moonshine. A Prohibition-style, luxury whiskey made from New York grains that hasn’t reached California shelves yet.
For more information and to reserve a seat (or two), head over here.
