New Chef Tunes Up the Menu at Silver Trumpet
By Michael Hepworth
Silver Trumpet at the Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel (which has recently completed a stunning $20 million renovation) in Costa Mesa is yet another dining option in a city that has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the USA. This is a perfect spot if you are heading to the Segerstom Arts Center as it is just a short walk away.
The restaurant is sleek and stunning including the classy new Silver Trumpet Patio Bar and Lounge which has launched an innovative cocktail menu that also features wines from around the world.
The brand new executive chef at the Silver Trumpet, Eddie Garcia, is clearly expected to take the restaurant to new heights, in what must be a very competitive market. With businessmen staying in the hotel during the week and well-heeled Orange County residents on the weekends, Garcia has quite a challenge to keep the balance just right. He completed his training at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and has had stints at Wolfgang Puck in Santa Monica and Granita Malibu. Most recently he spent seven years at ARAMARK, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority dealing with the food for the Mayors Office and Los Angeles City Council, which all means that Garcia will be very comfortable in his new corporate environment.
I got the chance to sample his cuisine at a specialty event, “A Night in Tuscany,” which differs from the daily menu of The Silver Trumpet which boasts California Farm to Fork, but certainly articulates the skill set of this chef.
The starter was the Pan Fried Branzino which is usually a main course for me, and it is a fish that always delivers. Garcia’s version came with a sweet pea puree and kalamata olives accompanied by a Zelia 2012 Rose.
The second course was a pasta dish of a Thyme, Garlic and Parmesan Tagliatelli that was bright yellow in color. Arugula seems to be popping up everywhere these days along with pine nuts and this was no exception. It was pleasantly enjoyed with an Orhora 2012 (white wine).
The main course was Slow Roasted Short Ribs w/Yukon gold hash, pearl onions and a basil tabbouleh—appropriately paired with a Le Buche 2008.
A Homemade Tiramisu with raspberry coulis and a wine bottle chocolate garnish rounded out the tasting.
They do have a Happy Hour daily from 4:00 - 7.30 pm and 9.30 to close where beers and wines are $5, signature drinks are $8 and select bites are $5. They also have a Saturday and Sunday brunch from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm that features a bottomless Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar that looks pretty exciting, but more on that at a later time.
www.silvertrumpetrestaurant.com
Silver Trumpet at the Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel (which has recently completed a stunning $20 million renovation) in Costa Mesa is yet another dining option in a city that has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the USA. This is a perfect spot if you are heading to the Segerstom Arts Center as it is just a short walk away.
The restaurant is sleek and stunning including the classy new Silver Trumpet Patio Bar and Lounge which has launched an innovative cocktail menu that also features wines from around the world.
The brand new executive chef at the Silver Trumpet, Eddie Garcia, is clearly expected to take the restaurant to new heights, in what must be a very competitive market. With businessmen staying in the hotel during the week and well-heeled Orange County residents on the weekends, Garcia has quite a challenge to keep the balance just right. He completed his training at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and has had stints at Wolfgang Puck in Santa Monica and Granita Malibu. Most recently he spent seven years at ARAMARK, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority dealing with the food for the Mayors Office and Los Angeles City Council, which all means that Garcia will be very comfortable in his new corporate environment.
I got the chance to sample his cuisine at a specialty event, “A Night in Tuscany,” which differs from the daily menu of The Silver Trumpet which boasts California Farm to Fork, but certainly articulates the skill set of this chef.
The starter was the Pan Fried Branzino which is usually a main course for me, and it is a fish that always delivers. Garcia’s version came with a sweet pea puree and kalamata olives accompanied by a Zelia 2012 Rose.
The second course was a pasta dish of a Thyme, Garlic and Parmesan Tagliatelli that was bright yellow in color. Arugula seems to be popping up everywhere these days along with pine nuts and this was no exception. It was pleasantly enjoyed with an Orhora 2012 (white wine).
The main course was Slow Roasted Short Ribs w/Yukon gold hash, pearl onions and a basil tabbouleh—appropriately paired with a Le Buche 2008.
A Homemade Tiramisu with raspberry coulis and a wine bottle chocolate garnish rounded out the tasting.
They do have a Happy Hour daily from 4:00 - 7.30 pm and 9.30 to close where beers and wines are $5, signature drinks are $8 and select bites are $5. They also have a Saturday and Sunday brunch from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm that features a bottomless Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar that looks pretty exciting, but more on that at a later time.
www.silvertrumpetrestaurant.com
