Taste of Tri-Valley Kick-Off Party at Underdog Wine Bar

Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week

Celebrate the start of  Restaurant Week at the official Taste of Tri-Valley Kick-Off Party at Underdog Wine Bar at Concannon Vineyard. Underdog Wine & Spirits and the Tri-Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau have teamed up to bring you an exclusive event highlighting the region’s culinary scene.

Partygoers will be treated to an intimate event with live entertainment, food and wine. Acclaimed Bay Area chef, Barbara Llewellyn, has a tempting menu of decadent hor d’oeuvres, delicious dessert bites, and seasonal small plates made from local produce. Award-winning wine and a bubbly toast make for a perfect Livermore Wine Country evening.

Tickets for the Taste of Tri-Valley Kick-Off Party are $75 and can be purchased by calling 925-583-1581 or online.

The location and festive theme embody everything that is special about Tri-Valley’s culinary scene. The beautiful wine country location, gourmet tapas and award-winning wines will no doubt get people excited about Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week.

Taste of Tri-Valley Kick-Off Party at Underdog Wine Bar

If you can’t make it to the Kick-Off Party, don’t forget there is an entire week of special deals and signature dishes during Restaurant Week. More than 20 restaurants from Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon and Danville will showcase their culinary styles with  exclusive pre fixe lunches for $15 and dinners for $20 or $30.

From upscale wine country restaurants to charming downtown cafés and innovative local favorites, explore the region’s diverse culinary offerings without breaking the bank during Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week. The eight-day celebration provides food lovers the opportunity to dine at Tri-Valley’s vibrant and distinctive eateries for a fraction of the normal expense.

 

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Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week

More than 20 businesses from Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon and Danville will celebrate Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week January 21-29, 2012.

Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week is an incredible opportunity to experience some of the best wine and food in the destination at a value they can’t get at any other time of the year. January is also a great time to get hotel deals with the Winter Weekend Getaway promotion, offering a $50 Visa card for weekend stays. Visit and experience the diversity of what Tri-Valley offers, from wine tasting to shopping and so much more.

Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week

From upscale wine country restaurants to charming downtown cafés and innovative local favorites, visitors to Tri-Valley can explore the region’s diverse culinary offerings without breaking the bank during Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week. The eight-day celebration provides food lovers the opportunity to dine at Tri-Valley’s vibrant and distinctive eateries for a fraction of the normal expense.

Participating restaurants in Tri-Valley will showcase their culinary styles and signature dishes with exclusive pre fixe lunches for $15 and dinners for $20 or $30.

Select participating restaurants include The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards, Eddie Papa’s American Hangout, Stomp! Wine and Small Plates Lounge, Nonni’s Bistro, Blue Agave Club, Milano Joe’s Cucina Italiana, Maria Maria, Underdog Wine Bar and Campo di Bocce.

Visit the CVB website more information, a complete list of participating restaurants and menus.

Taste of Tri-Valley Restaurant Week is part of California Restaurant Month, designated by Visit California. Upward of 30 destinations across California, from the desert and coast to wine country and High Sierra, are hosting restaurant weeks and other value-driven food programming this January.

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Best brunch spots in Tri-Valley

Looking for a great way to kick off a wine tasting trip in Livermore Valley Wine Country or just celebrate the return of warm, sunny weekends? Get your weekend started right with a hearty brunch. Several restaurants in Tri-Valley welcome the early crowd with tempting brunches not to be missed! Here are some of our picks:

 Best Gathering Spot: Laurus Bistro

With floor to ceiling windows looking over the lagoon in Blackhawk Plaza, Laurus Bistro is the perfect spot to rally the crew and kick off a day of shopping and socializing. A local favorite for dinner, Laurus started offering brunch in April 2011 and has received rave reviews. Top picks from the menu include the Bistro Benedict with avocado and the Brioche French Toast & Brown Sugar Bacon. Indulge in inventive drinks like sauced coffees, brunch bubbles, or The Weekend Warrior—trouble in a pint glass with bourbon, spiced rum and Grand Marnier.

Laurus serves brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

Tip: “Like” Laurus on Facebook and receive complimentary bottomless mimosas. This offer is only valid on Saturday, April 23, 2011.

Just a sample of the new brunch menu at Laurus Cafe.

Best Twist on the Brunch Routine: Campo di Bocce

Campo di Bocce is always a great place to hang out, but the new Bocce Brunch makes it even more tempting. Offered during bocce tournaments, this brunch allows diners to watch players in action. Or, reserve a court and play yourself. Indulge in a huge spread including a carving station, seafood display, omelette station, salads and traditional breakfast favorites. Just a few of the highlights include the smoked salmon, waffles and the chef’s choice pasta. Be sure to save room for dessert. The flourless chocolate cake and tiramisu are always a hit.

Campo di Bocce’s Bocce Brunch is offered every Sunday from 10 am- 2 pm for $29.95 for adults, with unlimited cocktails included, $24.95 without cocktails and $14.95 for children.  Reservations are recommended, but not required.

Best Morning View: The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards

Wente Vineyards is always beautiful, but it’s exceptionally serene in the morning hours. With dramatic views of The Course at Wente and tucked in the south Livermore hills, the vista may just rival the standout brunch at The Restaurant at Wente. Wente’s inventive menu is a product of close collaboration between the Executive Chef, Master Gardener and Pastry Chef. The end result is tempting dishes like citrus French Toast, Smoke Double-cut Pork Chop and Chamomile Crème Brulee Tart. While you’re there, make sure to enjoy a glass of Wente Vineyards sparkling wine.

Brunch at The Restaurant at Wente is offered every Sunday from 10:30am -2:30 pm.

The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards offers one of the best Tri-Valley views.

Best place to people watch: Nonni’s Bistro

Part of the charm of Nonni’s Bistro  is in its location in historic downtown Pleasanton. This cute Mediterranean-style café opened in fall 2010 and offers outdoor dining along tree-lined Main Street. This is the perfect brunch option for people watching on the weekend. With the weekly farmers market  and shoppers browsing boutiques, there is always something to see. Top picks from the menu include the jazzed up French Toast topped with fresh tropical fruit, and mango and raspberry sauces or Spanish Omelette with chorizo and peppers. Reservations are recommended.

Best Value:  The Basil Leaf Café, Danville

If you’re looking to stretch your dollar without sacrificing quality, The Basil Leaf Café in Danville, fits the bill. For less than $20 per person, the restaurant offers a beautiful buffet of traditional brunch fare and bottomless mimosas. Made-to-order omelettes, house made pizza and eggs benedict are favorites. The cozy restaurant is always busy for brunch and reservations are recommended.

Kick off a day of wine tasting with the sparkling brunch at Underdog Wine Bar, starting Sunday, May 1, 2011.

Best Trendy Spot: Underdog Wine Bar

Underdog Wine Bar, located on the grounds of Concannon Vineyard, the latest addition to the Tri-Valley brunch scene, set to unveil its new Sparkling Brunch. The wine bar, known for inventive flights and tapas is trying its own spin on brunch with a menu that includes a frittata, strata and fresh pastries. Enjoy the morning sun on the patio and then head over to the nearby tasting room to sample Concannon Vineyard’s latest releases.

Brunch will be served each Sunday from 10 am- noon starting Sunday, May 1, 2011.

 

 

 

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Grand opening celebration set for Underdog Wine Bar

Underdog Wine Bar in Livermore offers an extensive selection of local and international wines, paired with a complimenting menu of small plates.

Tri-Valley, California and Livermore Valley wine country welcomes a trendy, urban-style wine bar to the scene this summer. Nestled among the rolling hills and situated between the vines at Concannon Vineyard,

Underdog Wine Bar offers patrons something decidedly new and refreshing.

Underdog Wine Bar makes its official debut Saturday, August 14 with a grand opening celebration that will include live music, flavorful small bites from chef Barbara Llewellyn and wine tasting. The event is open to the public and runs from noon to 8 p.m.

An example of the innovative and resonably priced food & wine pairings at Underdog Wine Bar.

Regular offerings at Underdog Wine Bar include an extensive list of local and international wine and a menu of inspired seasonal small plates carefully designed to compliment the wines available by the two-ounce pour, six-ounce glass, flight or bottle.

The shaded outdoor terrace has seating for more than sixty and is the perfect place to spend a warm afternoon enjoying views of the vines, surrounding hills and the historic victorian house on the property. Inside, the wine bar has intimate tables as well as an open common space.

The covered patio offers an inviting lounge feel perfect for spending an afternoon among the vines at Concannon.

Following the grand opening celebration, Underdog Wine Bar is planning ongoing special events,  including music on Friday nights, enticing discounts and offers as well as a monthly spotlight on an individual winery where people can learn and converse with local and international vintners.

For more information about the grand opening and Underdog Wine Bar, visit the website underdogwinebar.com.

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