Foothill Flavors

TGIF at La Contenta’s Vista Grill

By Antoinette May Herndon

Perhaps—but only perhaps—dinner at La Contenta’s Vista Grill is extra special simply because you have to wait and plan for it. It’s a Friday night affair, a singular event for customers who must wait all week to dine there.

The chef, Tiffany Holvedt creates a unique menu once each week. For Tiffany’s staff, take our server, pretty Kaitlyn Minyard, for instance, Friday dinner is a distinctive event as well. She and her co-workers have a fresh and enthusiastic attitude about both their culinary offerings and their customers. It shows!

For me, the dining experience started as always with a martini. Kristi Costa’s are perfect. She’s a great bar tender who knows exactly how to do the James Bond thing, shaken but not stirred. And the olives! I knew the dinner would be divine because the olives were so plump and fresh. Fresh, fresh, fresh—that’s the key. Believe me, olives say a lot about a restaurant. Does the owner care or not? Who is or isn’t on top of things?

Though Tiffany’s menu contains original surprises each week, there are always popular standbys like the prime rib that ranges from $15.95 to $23.95 depending on its size. Personally, I appreciate that option. Plates piled high with food make me uncomfortable. Sometimes, it seems, that the food stares reproachfully at me, knowing that I can’t possibly do

justice to it.

As another mainstay, you can pretty well count on is some variety of steak. The Rancher Rib Eye is a staple ($18.95 for a 10 oz. Steak or $23.95 for the 14 oz.) as is the New York Steak ($20.95 for 10. oz., $25.05 for the 14 oz.) When I feel like a steak, the Vista Grill is the place to go. The meat is aged, tender and cooked to mooing perfection. Well, yes, some people do appear equally satisfied with their well done selections. It’s just hard for me wrap my mind around the concept of well done.

On our most recent outing, Charles went for the special, Italian Pork Pot Roast. This time I bested him in our fork duel and got quite a bit for myself.

The pork roast was truly outstanding. Watch for this delicious offering when it’s available and go for it. It has a delicious homemade taste that set me to day dreaming about what it would have been like to have had an Italian mother, (or even a mother who cooked.) What price ethnic comfort food cooked to perfection? $15.95.

Charles had a glass of Dillian’s Barberra., 2007 as an accompaniment. ($6). It was ideal with the pot roast. Strong, full bodied. The Godfather would love it and so did I.

I liked my grilled wild salmon, but thought it could have done with a tad less seasoning. Salmon is so good with just a little lemon and dill. ($18.95) I ordered it with a had a glass of Stama’s syrah, also $6. It was just right with the salmon.

The

big thrill of the evening was Tiffany’s famous clam chowder. This just may be the best clam chowder I’ve ever tasted in my entire life. It goes with the dinner. If you’re crazy enough to pass up one of the great culinary opportunities of y lifetime, you can order a salad instead. They are also included with the dinner.

Seriously, the chowder is the best ever. Sampling a tiny cup at a charity buffet was what made me long to visit La Contena’s Vista Grill in the first place.

I don’t usually do the dessert thing, but Charles ordered peach cobbler, another of Tiffany’s signature dishes. To my total delight, the serving was huge and came with two forks. Of course I just had to help him eat it. As I said earlier, the Vista Grille is special. You can’t just drop in any night for dinner.

But when that night does come around everything has been planned to make it a celebratory affair. That expectation goes double for the peach cobbler. I’m already counting the nights till Friday.

VITALS: Fusion Grill is located at 1653 Highway 26, Valley Springs. Phone: 772-1714. Friday dinners from begin a 5 p.m. and feature 10% off on an early bird special until 6. From then on they continue at the regular rate until 9 p.m. Reservations advisable. Credit cards accepted.

PICTURES

Kaitlyn Minyard at La Contenta’s Vista Grill enjoys her work.

The entrance of La Contenta hints at exciting things to come.