The chef's 5-course tasting menu with paired wines is held every Saturday.  The menu selections and wine flights change every week.  Here are the details for this week.

Please join us (21 and up only, please!) anytime from 5:00 on for a chef's 5-course tasting menu.  Cost is a mere thirty bucks for all five courses.  We've also put together a wine flight that pairs each course with a different wine.  Cost for the flight is only twenty bucks for five wines, or if you'd prefer not to do the flight, we'll also have wines available by the glass or bottle, as well as beer and cocktails.  The bar will be open until at least 10:00 and the kitchen will be open until at least 9:00.  Here's the line-up.  Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

CHEF'S 5-COURSE TASTING MENU ~ $30

Tuscan Cantaloupe "Raviolo" | Preserved Lemon | Dungeness Crab | Sea Beans | Coriander

Halibut Cheek | Heirloom Tomato Soubise | Summer Bean Escabeche | Suzie's Farm Arugula | Pickled Ramp Froth

Kurobota Pork Katsu | Hoisin | Soba Noodles | Scallions | Yuzu | Pickled Ginger | Japanese Herbs

Grilled Flatiron Steak | Herb Crushed Potatoes | Rapini | Smoked Paprika Chimichurri

Caramelized Peach Tarte | White Cardamom Gelato | Toffee

WINE PAIRING FLIGHT ~ $20

2007 Bastianich Friulano

2007 Stolpman "La Coppa" Rhone White Blend

2007 Bokisch "Liberty Oaks" Tempranillo

2006 L'Aventure "Optimus" Cabernet/Syrah Blend

Stirrings Peach Liqueur

LOCATION & PHONE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upstairs terrace.  Follow the black handrail up the stairs from the sidewalk to our front door.  Our phone number is (619) 295-3939.

PARKING ~ FREE & PAID

On-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius.  Remember that it’s OK to park in yellow commercial zones after 6:00 and that meters are also free after 6:00.  You can also park in the lot behind Shakespeare Pub two doors down, but do not park in El Indio's lot unless you want your car towed!  If you can’t find parking next to the restaurant, there’s always LOTS OF PARKING on San Diego Avenue and the adjacent side streets just past the Chevron station across Washington Street.  There's also a huge pay parking lot ($1 per hour) at the Mission Brewery Building two blocks south at the corner of Washington & Hancock.  (You'll have to take San Diego Avenue to Noell to Hancock to get there due to the one-way streets.)  So please don't drive yourself crazy endlessly going around in circles waiting to pounce on that perfect spot when there's TONS OF PARKING less than three blocks away!

WINE NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2007 Bastianich Friulano ~ $14

(Friuli, Italy) 100% Tocai Friulano. Medium bodied, with ripe, luscious pear and almond flavors carried by a refreshing mineral flavor and zesty mouth watering acidity that mix together to create a perfect food wine.

2007 Stolpman "La Coppa" Rhone White Blend ~ $25

(Santa Ynez)  60% Roussanne + 40% Viognier.  Deliciously ripe, fruit forward, rich and full-bodied, this wine is a classic new world style white Rhone blend.  260 cases produced.

2007 Bokisch "Liberty Oaks" Tempranillo ~ $18

(Jahant, Lodi) 85% Tempranillo + 15% Graciano.  Purple-black in color with crimson hues.  Exhibits jammy aromas of cassis and ripe blackberry contrasted with mountain forest floor.  Silky flavors in the mid palate of ripe strawberry and white pepper.  Luscious, creamy and round finish with robust tannins.  As in the traditional style of the Rioja, it is blended with our highly prized Graciano giving it an aging potential is 5-8 years.  440 cases produced.

2006 L'Aventure "Optimus" Cabernet/Syrah Blend ~ $38

(Paso Robles) Review by Robert Parker ~ 92 points: 50% Cab Sauv, 45% Syrah + 5% Petit Verdot.  Reminiscent of a northern Rhone blended with a Bordeaux, it exhibits sweet cassis, graphite and a chalky, powdery minerality.  Good structure and full bodied.  As the wine sits, hints of espresso roast and white chocolate emerge.  This structured, well-endowed wine should age effortlessly for 10-15 years. 

Stirrings Natural Peach Liqueur

(Canada) Natural peach liqueur infused with fuzzy skinned, orchard ripe peaches.  36 proof.