New Desserts for Fourth of July

Talk about culinary fireworks!

Chef Chris Cohen has three new desserts for this weekend -- overhaul of the entire dessert menu.

Pictured at right, from top to bottom are:

Cannoli, the classic Italian dessert filled with flavorful sweet ricotta and sitting on a puddle of dark chocolate -- with fresh strawberries.

Our new cheesecake recipe is lighter and more flavorful. Here, it is dressed with mango puree and a fresh berry.

Lastly, Tartufo, the original Italian ice cream truffle, is in limited supply. Only about a dozen of these elegant, shareable creations will be available -- so don't delay! We want 'em to be fresh -- so we only make the dish in small quantities.

We will be closed for Fourth of July, but open again at lunch on Tuesday, July 5. Begin watching the Savannah Morning News for our Gourmet Club Card offer!

Flavorful Special

Chef Chris Cohen crafted this wekened special using head-on shrimp that he peeled and de-veined "from the neck down," then sauteed is butter and spices. Add a topping of fresh herbs and savories, a squeeze of grilled lemon and you've got the flavors of the Georgia coast merging with the flavors of the Med.

A pair of tender, lightly breaded fried squash blossoms accompanies.

Welcome Thomas Meunier to our regular Thursday tasting this week!

Thursday, June 30, 6-8 p.m. $20 pp includes samples from the appetizer menu. Wines will be available for purchase. Reservations appreciated, 231.8888.

Thomas Meunier, owner and importer form Authentique Vin, stops in for a visit this week and brings six wines from his portfolio.

Thomas is originally from Loire Valley, but lives now in North Carolina. This is a spectacular, value-priced range of wines.

We will enjoy the following:

Chateau de LaLigne Bordeaux Superiore (Bordeaux)

60 percent Merlot, 30 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Cabernet Franc

Pere Fils Chardonnay (Languedoc)

100 percent Chardonnay

Pere Fils Syrah Grenache (Languedoc)

70 percent Syrah, 30 percent Grenache

Domaine Moreau Naudet Petite Chablis (Burgundy)

100 percent Chardonnay

Chateau Gabaron Bordeaux Blanc (Bordeaux)

100 percent Sauvignon Blanc

Chateau Gabaron Bordeaux Rouge (Bordeaux)

100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon

Beers of summer tasting on Thursday

Thursday, June 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 2 E. Broughton St., $20 pp++. Reservations please, 231.8888

  Call it a prelude to the Savannah Craft Brew Fest, call it a refreshing evening out, call it beer school -- but don't miss my tasting this week that highlight beers of summer!
  We will sample six beers, ranging from Pilsner, through refreshing IPA and finish with a couple of surprises.

  Of course, you will sample each beer and experience a trio of light bites -- some of which are featured on the Italian restaurant's new menu. The event will be held upstairs in Zitto Zitto, over La Vostra Cucina.

  Do you LOVE French wines? Then mark Thursday, June 30, on your calendar. Don a beret and come meet Thomas Meunier of Authentique Vin and his host, Adam Smith of Empire Distributing, as we sample 6 wines from France. More details next week!

Cocktail Class details

Thursday, June 16, 6-8 p.m.

Join food and drinks journalist Tim Rutherford and Rick Lamas of Quality Wine & Spirits for a class on classic cocktails. Guests will learn to make, and then sample, Aviation Fizz, Cucumber Watermelon Chill, Spicy Mule, Monticello Lawnmower and Orange Refresher. All of these drinks are made with high quality, craft liquors and fresh ingredients. Recipes, samples, small bites -- $20 pp. Reservations please, 231.8888.

Great First Weekend -- New Happy Hour Deals Begin Today!

Thanks for your support of the new menu! We visited with lots of old friends and met several new local guests during the inaugural weekend of our new menu.

Popular new dishes over the weekend included Sicilian-style Roasted Cod, Salmon Cappelini, Gorgonzola Bread and our delicious, Eggplant Fries with Spicy Aoili.
Of course, your favorites -- lasagna, spaghetti carbonara, fettuccine with smokey clams, bruschetta and lobster ravioli -- appeared on several tables
Today begins our new Happy Hour specials. Sunday-Thursday, 4-6 p.m., our friendly bartenders will be serving 2-for-1 well cocktails, $1 bubbles, $1 off selected beer and $10 wine trios.

Yay! New signs went up today!

Told ya so!

Thanks to Amir and his crew from Signs for Minds for getting our new window signs in place today!

I've got the new menu in hand -- watch the link at right within the next 24 hours for a sneak peek. Service from the new menu -- I'm very proud of its authenticity -- should begin with dinner service on Friday. Chef Chris has new product to bring through the door -- and some retraining -- 'cause we wanna be "on spot" first night out.

Our Sunday-Thursday bar specials will begin this Sunday!

Tweet-up with us Thursday as we introduce The Crusher wines to Savannah.