This weeks restaurant... the 'V' Bistro in downtown Murphys.
It may seem as if I have been spending a lot of time dining in Murphys as of late, I can only claim the luck of the Irish for that one, as the dining is always interesting and the variety of culinary treats plentiful in Murphys.
As my birthday stretched out I had the opportunity to dine with some good friends at a wine pairing at the V Bistro. Having never been there before I was delighted at the intimate nature of the restaurant yet the exquisite cuisine offered by such a small establishment.
We chose to hit the back of the V first as that is where the bar is and where the glass shelves lined with top notch liquors were calling my name. Not wanting to spoil my much anticipated dinner I passed on the chambord creation I so desired and asked to be paired with a wine. Yes, pair me with a wine. I told the wonderfully cheerful and knowledgeable bartender what I preferred and she matched me perfectly with a dry Muscat, just the right hint of sweet with no overpowering dessert wine taste. My friends too were matched perfectly. and as we sipped we chatted with those around us making fast friends.
When it was our time to dine we were escorted to a beautifully set table ... fireside. If you want romance...this is it! But alas not tonight...this was a dinner with friends. Our waiter was quick to serve us yet more delightful wine...it certainly had the makings of a great evening early on...and we were handed the pairing menus. Each course would be paired with a local wine perfectly suited for that particular meal. Before I begin I must tell you each course was absolutely mouth watering.
The initial course was by far the most delicious rice porridge I had ever consumed as it was blended with honey macadamia crusted scallops, curry and scallions. Sweet, spicy, and oh-so savory. Next up balsamic braised veal shank served over white polenta with a tomato-red pepper relish. The veal literally melted in your mouth. I wished for seconds. The final course was a chevre cheesecake 'diassembled', meaning the graham cracker crumbs were intricately laid out on the plate with drizzles of huckleberry lazily crossing through the design and a nice dollop of chevre cheesecake - sans crust - in the middle. A great dessert for those that love to clean their plate. Pretty sure not a crumb was left on mine.
With all this said I must say that the cost of the meal absolutely included the cost of the ambiance as the portions did not match the price but the quality of the ingredients did. If you are wanting a huge meal for your money, then pass. If you are wanting a quality meal made with the finest ingredients that just fills you nicely, then the V is a good bet. The wait staff was very knowledgeable, even though many had two or more jobs they knew their culinary treats and their wines. The seating was a bit cramped but the V is clearly shooting for romantic settings or at least cozy for a gathering of great friends not nervous about knocking elbows. Either way it seems to work as the meal is not hurried...we were there a good 2 hours. So again, not fast food and not inexpensive...but soooo worth it!
For more information on the V Bistro visit http://vrestaurantandbar-murphys.com/
by,
Charity Maness
(My little disclaimer: 'To dine or not to dine' is meant to be a
helpful - and humorous - informational piece only. I receive no monetary
compensation for this column nor do I endorse any one eatery. This
is simply my opinion. My tastes will be different from others and I
readily admit that I have no culinary background, but I am fairly
confident I know when food is cooked correctly or not, whether a drink
is poured well or not and especially whether wait staff is
first-rate or in need of a career change.)
