To be honest, I can't remember the last time I visited Pinot Provence, the venerable French restaurant run by the Patina Group. I've been to its home base, the Westin Hotel, quite a few times (the bar and banquet area, not the rooms since college), but never bother with Pinot because the prices are a bit much, and I'll go to A Taste of France if I'm in the mood for affordable françois. All this might change today, as Pinot gets with the times and is now offering an affordable, seemingly delicious appetizer flight for barflys. Each night for the foreseeable future, chef Lulu
De Rouen
will offer a new trio of Provençal treats. Opening night, straight from the press release:
Grilled squid marinated in “Herbes de Provence”,
classic rouille, tomato confit, shaved fennel salad finished with cayenne
Provencal pizza “pissaladiere” tomato Provencal,
goat cheese, mortar crushed basil, fennel, black Taggliasce olives
Artichoke Barigoule”, classic ratatouille,
crostini, petite basil
Sounds good to me!
Pinot Provence, 686 Anton Boulevard,
Costa Mesa, (714) 444-5900.
