Pairings Chef Oscar Escatel
If you’ve visited Lorimar Winery recently, no doubt you’ve noticed a few changes. The patio has been greatly enhanced and the newest member of the Lorimar family is their food truck, aptly named Pairings. Brightly painted with images embracing Temecula’s vibrant wine country landscape, Pairings matches food to Lorimar’s selection of wines. On a toasty summer afternoon, I visited with Chef Oscar Escatel and tasted what’s coming out of the food truck kitchen.
Oscar comes to Lorimar via Temecula Valley Winery Management. He studied at the ART Institute of California and his resumé includes Crush and Brew, The Goat and Vine, Leoness Cellars and Temecula Creek Inn. When I asked him if his pairings begin with food or with wine, he replied he starts with the food and then finds the perfect wine to complement it. Everything is house made from scratch. The ketchup has a touch of Merlot in it.
The first dish was fish and chips ($14-), cooked to a lovely golden brown. Crisp on the outside and tender and moist in the middle, this may well have been the most flavorful order of fish and chips I’ve ever tasted. Clearly I needed more French fries, so chef promptly sent out an order of truffle fries ($6.50). The first thing to hit you is the aroma of truffles. They, too, were cooked to perfection and served piping hot. Finally our server Jase brought out the goat & fig flatbread ($14-). It’s topped with crumbled goat cheese, dried fig, carmelized onions and shaved prosciutto atop arugula and crème fraiche. The crust was light and crisp and the flavors were in complete harmony. I thought it was a great pairing with Lorimar’s Chardonnay.
Pairings is open Friday through Sunday off the patio at Lorimar,39990 Anza Road in Temecula. The menu is simple, but with more than enough choices. I’m a fan of Pairings and Chef Oscar and I encourage you to pay a visit.
Tom Plant launched WINEormous in 2009 and is a member of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association. Based in Temecula, California, he offers intimate winery tours for no more than seven people. Tour details and pricing are available at www.temecula-tours.com. Call now to book your Temecula Winery Tour at (951) 907-9701! Ask about special discounts.