Minerva’s Birthday Picks:

A Partyscope For Everyone

Pssst! I’ve got a secret. Besides being a Lodestar’s columnist, Charles’s wife, the human mommy of Mojo, Rajah, and Mambo, and a novelist, I lead yet another life. For more years than I care to share I’ve been the San Francisco’s weekly astrology columnist. If you’ve ever picked up the Sunday “pink,” you doubtlessly checked the prediction for your sign.

Now with a new year dawning, Mike Taylor has asked me to do a little spin-off. Want a birthday venue for every sign? For a one evening at the very least an outstanding local restaurant will be your special place. Happy New Year, Happy Birthday and many mooooore!

ARIES (March 20-April 19) Rams, the sign that crams more into one lifetime than most do in many, never heard of delayed gratification. For them, the party starts at breakfast. And what better place than Grounds? It’s a happening place if there ever was one. Sleek, state-of- the-art décor—chrome highlighting glossy black furniture, mirrors reflecting the action. The back wall—all of it—a floor to ceiling wine rack. Just the right touch of au couraunt. Now, sit back and enjoy the breakfast burrito, the fresh tomato and basis scrambled eggs or the café granola. And this is just for starters, your birthday is already off and running.

VITALS: Grounds is located at 402 Main St. Murphys. Phone: 728-8663.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Ever stop to think that the Taurus bull is another form of Dionysus, the wine loving fertility god? What a fun association! Tauruses delight in making the most of it too. Their sign, more than any other is committed to the good life And what better place to enjoy it than Stanley’s Steakhouse? This elegant Gold Rush bistro is the anchor of the recently refurbished National Hotel. Painstakingly renovated with special attention paid to art and antiques, the place is a Foothill treasure. As for the food, it’s drop dead delicious. Try the Thunder Ridge (a 10 oz. rib eye steak) topped with gorgonzola cream and herbed spaetzel. It’s that something extra that makes a dinner truly special.

VITALS: Stanley’s Steakhouse, 2 Water St., Jackson. Phone: 257- 2595.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Sophisticated Geminis, that “been there, done that” sign expect more than good food and a well tended bar for their birthday dinner, they want a touch of magic. What better place than Alchemy? Whoever selected that moniker was thinking way beyond food, was in fact holding out the promise of transformation. The warm maize walls are a perfect foil for crystal chandeliers, elegant Picasso-like drawings and post mission furniture. As for the food, try the Italian Classics Trio—a rich tasty pasta with prawns, eggplant parmesan and pesto grilled chicken breast or the strawberry-balsamic glazed salmon grilled with argula, with the strawberry pecan salad. If Alchemy isn’t magical, tell me what is

VITALS: Alchemy, 191 Main St., Murphys. Phone: 728-0700.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Everyone knows that Cancers are all about nurturing, romance, intuition and emotion. Is it surprising that they comprise the great chefs and restaurateurs of the world? And where does a great cook go for a great dinner on a great day? The White Water Grill, that’s where. The tasteful restaurant with its Gold Rush touches calls to the Cancer Crab. Maybe it’s the balcony overlooking orange trees, pioneer cottages and distant mountains. As for the food— it’s always good. Salmon in any form is a house specialty at the White Water, but I also love the lamb chops done just to taste. The

prime rib is a special treat on weekends. Desserts are always good. Don’t you agree banana cream pie is all about nurturing? So very Cancerian!

VITALS: The White Water Grill is inside the Hotel Leger at 8304 Main St., Mokelumne Hill. Phone: 286-1401.

LEO (July 23-22) Be honest Leos, don’t you secretly believe your birthday should be declared a national holiday? Surely the astrological sign that spawned Bonaparte, Castro, Mussolini and Jacqueline Onassis would never be satisfied with a casual get together. They want— demand—something spectacular. Roaring Camp is just the place. It’s the real deal, the very Roaring Camp that Brett Hart immortalized more than 150 years ago. The experience begins with a ride in an open truck down some 1800 feet through dense forest.

Once at the bottom, the scenery is breathtaking. Guests can enjoy it to their hearts’ content while panning for gold in the Mokelumne River while dinner simmers over a camp fire. The steak—cooked to taste—is delicious. So is the fried bread (a Roaring Camp specialty), corn, salad and ice cream. The live music and entertainment is hokey but that’s part of the charm. Roaring Camp—whether you get lucky or not—there’s no place like it.

VITALS: The departure point for Roaring Camp is the Pine Acres Resort on Hwy 88 just beyond Pine Grove. Phone: 296-4200. Saturday night dinners include panning, swimming and exploring. Trucks leave at 5 p.m., return at 10.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Virgo is one sign that insists on plenty of bang for the buck. Also, when acting as host—which happens often with generous Virgins—he or she wants to be certain that it will be a perfect dinner. I can think of no better venue than Giannini’s . But there’s one caveat, do not go to Giannini’s unless you’re hungry. Their deluxe five- course dinner is a no holds barred event. It begins with the famous polenta board—Italian corn meal covered with meat and tomato sauce. The accompanying salad is crisp, an excellent foil to the full-bodied minestrone soup. Pasata—Giannini’s signature dish, is awesome, but then so is the Steak Romana.

Giannini’s also offers some delicious items rarely seen this side of North Beach like sauted chicken livers and sweetbreads. For a total treat, top off the dinner with a dish of zabaglione.

VITALS: Giannini’s, Pine Grove. Phone: 296-7222.

LIBRA (Sept 23-Oct. 22) Elegant, romantic Libras need look no farther than The Rock for the romantic fantasy they crave. It’s that dreamy retreat that everyone longs for when the weather outside is frightful. Think German hunting lodge meets log cabin. There’s plenty to choose from on the menu but my favorite is the Smoke House Sampler—ample portions of smoked brisket, chicken, Baby back ribs and Andouille sausage. All entres are cooked to order and dressings, sauces and desserts are made in house. The portions are very generous at The Rock. Expect to be overwhelmed. The place is a diet buster, but birthday kids deserve a treat.

VITALS: The Rock. 2368 Fuller Rd. Twain Harte. Phone: 585-2080

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) If there’s anything that turns a Scorpio on it’s a good ghost story and the National Hotel’s restaurant has a real lulu. It involves a romantic love story, a gunfight, and bereaved young woman who literally died of a broken heart. Of course that wasn’t the end of her. She comes back upon occasion to the delight of staff and diners alike. The National has spirits of other kinds as well. Check out their pomtinis (Absolut vodka, triple sec, pomegranate juice with a splash of lime). The scampi et oufflee—prawns

sautéed Cajun style with scallions, tomatoes, mushrooms with white wine and herbs—is fabulous but then so is the garlic roasted prime rib, served au jus with creamed horseradish.

VITALS: 18183 Main St., Jamestown. Phone: 984-3446

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 20) High rolling Sagittarians—the sign that spends most of its time in the fast lane—are right at home at the Jackson Rancheria’s Lone Wolf. Unlike the casino downstairs, you can enjoy wine and spirits in the Lone Wolf. The House Smoked Ribs are a sure fire winner and I promise you they serve a great martini. Archers also enjoy the “Rat Pack” aura that drifts up from downstairs where luck is (sometimes) a very nice lady

VITALS: The Lone Wolf is located on the second floor of the Rancheria, 12222 New York Ranch Rd. Jackson. Phone: 223-WOLF.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 19) Saturn's children are not only ambitious but decisive. The term "executive decision" was surely coined by one in the long, long ago. Be assured that Capricorn’s no holds dinner will be a "power" event. She or he is almost certain to vote for the subtle elegance of Taste. The interior is sleek and suave with wood-plank floors, ochre-hued walls, and dark wood furniture. The wait staff, slim columns in black, dart lightly about, efficient and knowledgeable. For an appetizer, nothing beats Taste’s “cigars.” Think: crimini shitake, oyster mushrooms, sprinkled with fresh herbs and goat cheese then wrapped in phylo dough. For an entre you just cannot beat Grimaud Farms Duck Confit unless you consider the smoked beef short ribs. I could go on and on. If you’ve been there, you know exactly what I mean. If you haven’t, try it—you love it.

VITALS: Taste, 9402 Main St. Plymouth. Phone: 245-3463.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 17) One Aquari is unlike any other-or anyone else for that matter. These are the true originals of the cosmos: cerebral, independent, inventive. Where do they celebrate themselves? Some place supremely visionary. Drop by Clark’s Corner and there’s always something to do. Plenty of somethings. While texting, perusing a book, scanning a magazine, or turning on wifi, you can enjoy some of the best sandwiches ever or a slice of delicious beef pot pie with a glass of the lusty house red.

VITALS: Clark’s Corner, 12 West Main St. Ione. Phone: 274-2233.

PISCES (Feb. 18-March 19) ) Pisceans are closet mystics. We know that and they know we know it. Still, the time eventually comes when they’re ready to kick over the traces and pull the plug on that airy-fairy reputation. “We can do more than just read minds,” they insist. “We know all about life—not just this one but past ones.” Naturally such an enchanted sign wants a dinner choice that’s out of this world. They’ll take special pleasure in the Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial’s bar is straight out of central casting. It doesn’t take much I imagination to conjure up images like Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas and Alan Ladd. Souchy hats, sexy grins, six guns at the ready. The adjoining dining room is equally tempting. Call it frontier opulence. The wild white Mexican shrimp rubbed with chili and ginger in a lemon garlic sauce put me in a viognier kind of mood and Imperial had just the wine selection to satisfy it.

VITALS: The Imperial Hotel. 14202 Old Highway 49, Amador City. Phone: 267-9172.

It’s sad to think of some of the great restaurants that have closed their doors this past year. It’s up to us to see that there are no more casualties. Happy New Year Ho! Ho! Ho! And keep sharing your favorites with me.

birthday/may 1