At a Glance….
ARLO SAN DIEGO: A contemporary casual restaurant in Mission Valley that creatively combines fresh local ingredients in a mash up of of flavors from around the world. Gourmet yet accessible dining. Official Website | 619-908-5058 | $$$ | Yelp
HAMEL FAMILY WINES: A family run winery located in the Sonoma Valley with wines that inspired Chef Josh Mousakes’ menu. Official Winery Website
SAN DIEGO WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL: Held each year around the second week of November, it’s a week long extravaganza featuring gourmet events like this one, food focused day trips, and one of the best wine and food festivals in the country. Official Website
San Diego Wine and Food Festival hosts a six course gourmet dinner featuring wines by Hamel Family from Sonoma
My Evening at ARLO: 6 courses, 6 wines
Now that Covid is loosening its grip I’ve started to venture outside again but seem to have a bit of Rip Van Winkle syndrome. Where’s Qualcomm Stadium? What? The Trolley runs to La Jolla now? And especially, what happened to the Town and Country Hotel???
I used to work in Mission Valley and to escape from a tyrannical boss I would walk along the river and around the Town and Country Hotel. It was dilapidated but oddly charming, but last time I drove the 8 (when was that, 2020, 2021??) it was just gone, then a pile of rubbish and dirt. Little did I know that during my time asleep that the Town and Country would rise again, returning as a cool and modern resort that rivals some of San Diego’s best. And within the resort is ARLO, a restaurant that’s been getting a lot of attention this past year (Best new restaurant, Best Fine Dining, Best patio dining).
So when I heard that they were featuring a gourmet six course dinner via the San Diego Wine and Food Festival, not even a stormy rainy night could keep me away.
A mad rush through the pouring rain from the validated parking structure to the restaurant, right on time for the dinner to begin. The setting is intimate, not too many tables but enough to make it fun, with the chef and winery introducing themselves and their vision for the night. Six courses, six wines, I’m ready!
Scallop Crudo, Orange creamsickle, sea grass, brie cheese
Scallop Crudo paired with Hamel Family Sauvignon Blanc
Let me first start by saying all of the wines we had were perfectly paired with each course - and all of them were over the top delicious. I especially liked how this sauvignon blanc paired with the freshness of the scallop crudo. Stunning presentation, you can tell that Chef Josh Mouzakes trained at The French Laundry, and the perfect opening to the evening.
Charred Chilean Seabass ith prosciutto, Medjoool dates, brioche, and allium powder
Charred Chilean Seabass with Hamel Family Grenache
Another impressive dish, a crispy yet moist slice of seabass on top of salty prosciutto and a softer than air brioche bun, looking like a play on sushi and oh so delicious. A dip into the date sauce, another winning plate. The brioche was so light and balanced out the proteins perfectly. Another one, please.
Black Pepper Squab, mission figs, butternut squash, caramelized plum
Black Pepper Squab with Hamel Family Isthmus
Served on top of a charred plank from a wine barrel, the squab was elegant yet begged to be picked up by your fingers, which of course I did. I love squab and the mission fig sauce along with the charred butternut squash and caramelized plum added a complexity that elevated the dish to gourmet level. Winner Winner Squab Dinner.
Wagyu Coulotte, chanterelle mushrooms, smoked potato purée
48 HOUR WAGYU COULOTTE WITH CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS, SMOKED POTATO purée WITH HAMEL FAMILY ranch CABERNET
Steak and potatoes? But not what you might think. It was of course the highest quality Wagyu but for me the stars were the mushrooms and potato. The chanterelles were very much the Thomas Keller philosophy of giving you a bite so delicious you wish there was more, only to move on to the smoked potatoes which had the same lingering effect. Oh how I loved both the mushrooms and potatoes. And yes, the 48 hour wagyu was quite nice, cooked and seasoned to perfection, though for me my love goes to the sides.
Tongue, cheek and tail rye wheat ravioli with tomato marmalade, preserved lemom ricotta
Tongue, Cheek and Tail ravioli with hamel family nuns canyon cabernet
In a prior life I worked in the tech industry and had to go to way too many meetings. It was there I learned the art of looking attentive while letting my brain drift to daydream mode. So yes I’ll admit it, five courses in I didn’t pay close attention to the description of the dish but you can trust me that it was yet another winner, the rich sauce complementing the tender meat that was wrapped in ravioli that had a satisfying chew, like the best al dente pasta you get in Italy. And I do remember the wine, perhaps the best pour of the evening and a perfect pairing. Look, it’s been a long evening so I think I did pretty good.
Honeycomb Pavlova, macerated apriocot, white chocolate tuille
Honeycomb Pavlova with hamel family late harvest sauvignon blanc
I love dessert wines, especially when paired with dessert, and the pavlova with its crispy, chewy exterior and softer marshmallow-like interior just melted in the mouth, a contrast of textures. A sip of late harvest sauvignon blanc, a delightful ending to a perfect meal.
Final Thoughts…
The San Diego Wine and Food Festival is a week long celebration of the best culinary experiences in San Diego and the Six Course Dinner at ARLO was no exception. But don’t wait until next year to check out ARLO - maybe go for Brunch this weekend, or hit up the bar for cocktails after work, or yes, go for dinner where you’ll find a menu that features everything from affordable wood fired flatbreads to plates for sharing to gourmet entrees. Check out their menu - and go check out what they did to the Town and Country Resort. It’s got that San Diego vibe that makes you feel like you’re on vacation even if you live 5 minutes away.
More info on ARLO | San Diego Wine and Food Festival Info
About the San Diego Wine and Food Festival
Every year around the second week of November is the San Diego Wine and Food Festival. The week long activities feature a myriad of culinary adventures, from gourmet dinners to trips to Baja to the Grand Tasting event on the bay behind Seaport Village on Saturday, and the Grand Fiesta event featuring a Best Taco competition and beers, wines and spirits from Baja California on Sunday. You can pick and choose which events you want to attend or buy package tickets for multiple days. I’ll post more info as the year progresses but mark your calendars now to check events and ticket sales around mid-October 2023.