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H
is for Hotels
If
you travel much, you know that hotel food is
either very good, or very bad. There's usually
not much middle ground. And, more often than
not, to experience the "very good,"
you must be willing to part with a pretty penny.
If
you're going to part with your precious dollars
for a good meal, you may as well have a good
bottle of wine along with it, right?
So
for this edition of the ACWC Cyber Report's
"A-to-Z" series, we thought we'd share
with you a few of our favorite hotel eateries
. . . and a few recommendations for those who
may be planning a trip to Australia in the not-too-distant
future.
Call
it a grab bag of wining-and-dining delights
. . .
 "H"
Is For Hotels
From
California Wine Country to the bright lights
of Las Vegas, from Vegas to the Windy City,
and from Chicago to Australia . . . hang on!
Here we go. . .
Rancho
Caymus Inn
Rutherford, California
If
you're searching for an unforgettable dining
experience, look just beyond your balcony. Attached
to the Inn in the heart of the Napa Valley is
La Toque, rated among the top 20 restaurants
in America by Wine Spectator (March 31, 2000).
Step
through the restaurant's hand-crafted oaken
door and you'll discover that the romantic themes
of Rancho Caymus are carried through in the
La Toque dining room -- stained glass, spacious
beamed ceilings and attention to detail.
La
Toque chef Ken Frank describes the restaurant
as "innovative French cuisine with a California
twist."
Frank
developed his style of "California Cuisine"
-- emphasizing and showcasing local farm-fresh
vegetables and ingredients -- some two decades
ago at the original La Toque in West Hollywood.
True to his California roots, Frank's menus
always include intriguing vegetarian options
for each course.
The
restaurant features an ever-changing prix fixe
dinner menu of modern innovative French cuisine,
combining Frank's popular signature dishes and
new creations which highlight seafood and fresh
local produce.
And
the wine list? VERY Napa Valley!
Mandalay
Bay Resort And Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
Chef
Charlie Palmer has brought the flavor of his
acclaimed New York eatery, Aureole, to the far
end of the Las Vegas Strip.
Aureole-Las
Vegas features the now classic dishes that Chef
Palmer invented, made even more brilliant in
the luxury and taste of the surroundings.
But
the Aureole "experience" doesn't stop
with the wonderful cuisine. The restaurant also
features a magnificent wine tower that serves
as a centerpiece for diners and a photo opportunity
for passersby. When a patron orders wine, the
bottle is fetched by a "wine angel"
who ascends the tower much like a mountain climber.
As
one might imagine, it's quite a sight to see.
House
Of Blues Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
In
a one-square-block area of downtown Chicago,
one can wine, dine,recreate and enjoy world-class
music. It's all part of the House of Blues Hotel
complex, where the wining-and-dining experience
is taken to new levels at Bin 36.
A
combination wine shop, wine bar and restaurant,
Bin 36 offers dozens of wines by the glass or
taste, and also assembles wine flights with
imaginative themes.
The
full meals are exquisite, but those who opt
for selections from the appetizer menu should
be forewarned: The portions are LARGE.
(Not
to mention delicious.)
Also
in the complex: an ultra-modern bowling center,
and a House of Blues nightclub. What more could
you ask for?
Wine
Friendly Restaurants
In The Land Down Under
As
recommended by the Australian Wine Bureau .
. .
- In
New South Wales -- Bistro Moncur, inside the
Woollahra Hotel.
- In
South Australia -- The Grange, inside the
Hilton International Adelaide.
- In
Victoria -- Stefano's, inside the Grand Hotel.
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