Just when it looked like bacon-wrapped dates were hurtling toward played out oblivion, Vertical Wine Bistro pulled the rip chord. A.O.C. set the bacon-wrapped bar when Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne opened their 3rd Street small plates emporium in 2002 and featured Parmesan-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates. Since then, several restaurants have tried to top that version. Many chefs tend to go too rich, but Vertical Wine Bistro strikes just the right balance.

General Manager/Sommelier David Haskell and Chef Doug Weston have injected new life in Vertical Wine Bistro since arriving at Gale Anne Hurd’s multifaceted upstairs restaurant. They overhauled the menu to meet the level of Haskell’s always interesting beverage pairings. However, some menu items remain, including the bar-only Date Poppers ($11). This week’s Dose of Vitamin P features crisp, salty Serrano ham wrapped around a sticky medjool date, molten Gorgonzola and pickled jalapeno, with just enough heat and acidity to cut through the richness.

Dose of Vitamin P spotlights my favorite pork dish from the previous week.

Related Posts

1. Haitian Libations Benefit at Vertical Wine Bistro
2. David Haskell Discusses Vertical Wine Bistro Revamp
3. Get EntWined! at Vertical Wine Bistro
4. Wine Pairing Dinner at Vertical Wine Bistro
5. Dose of Vitamin P: Ballard Inn Kurobuta Pork Belly

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5 Comments

1. carter, December 22, 2009:

   Time for my dose of Vitamin P, right after the first of the year.

2. mattatouille, December 23, 2009:

   definitely a delicious bite. it paired perfectly with the Old Speckled Hen.

3. David Haskell, December 24, 2009:

   Yo guys lets go to that wine bar in pasadena…that matt just reviewed….and korean food

4. Joshua Lurie, December 24, 2009:

   Wine and Korean food sounds like a winning combination. Let’s line it up for early 2010.

5. David Haskell, December 25, 2009:

   cool…yeah man ..I’m biased, but I say wine and any food is a winning combo

This entry is filed under Dose of Vitamin P.