Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
Son of Rumaki
Wednesday night, we took my parents out to Nora’s Wine Bar and Osteria in the northwestern section of Las Vegas. We expected good-quality, upscale Italian, but we got a whole lot more for our money than that. Each of the entrees had a certain indescribable uniqueness, as if the chef had given more than a little thought to making the dish his own. Grilled Scampi, for example, had little in common with the shrimp-bathing-in-garlic-butter concept we all know too well. Imagine little lobsters split lengthwise, charcoal broiled, chest cavities filled with an herb-and-bread stuffing. (They weren’t lobsters. They just looked like ’em.) Freshest-tasting prawns we’ve had in a long, long while.
But I was even more impressed with their grilled chicken thighs, described in the menu as “mesquite-grilled” with “spicy Sicilian blood orange vinaigrette.” They might have grilled them over mesquite, but they finished them under the broiler, or perhaps in a deep fryer (although I didn’t detect the least hint of oiliness). The skin was that crispy. The vinaigrette was truly remarkable, a perfect balance of citrus flavors with a chicken reduction glaze.
Listed simply as “dates” on the appetizer menu: China Ranch dates stuffed with Parmigiano-Reggiano and wrapped in bacon. Wow. I tend to think “rumaki” whenever I encounter bacon wrapped around a soft center, but this had little in common with rumaki. I found a recipe over at Epicurious which looks about right. See what you think.
Definitely some great ideas for our next dinner party, whenever that may be . . .
D.
Wow, I didn’t think Vegas was capable of having a restaurant like THAT. I don’t think I could get used to the flavor of bacon wrapped around a cheese-filled Medjool date.
That sounds like a fabulous meal.
Bacon-wrapped dates are my favorite tapas at Jaleo. Not sure about the cheese, though, it might just be too much flavor for a single bite.
See, Sis? You should have come out — you’d have gotten at least one good meal out of it 🙂 As for the flavor, there was very little cheesiness. Just a pleasant crunchy/soft combination of sweetness and saltiness.
jmc: like I said, the cheese didn’t leave much impression, so I imagine you could leave it out altogether.
Big here are prunes wrapped in bacon. Yum! Also a popular pre-made package of things to barbeque includes dried apricots wrapped in bacon and they are incredible right off the grill.
Rumaki are evil because of the liver factor. Yuck!
If you find yourself looking for a restaurant in Silicon Valley, I highly recommend the Los Altos Grill, which does things that sound a bit like what you describe above. Everytime I’m home, I take my parents there and I send my bro money so he can buy them gift certificates for various holidays.
Husband loves dates stuffed with cream cheese, but I’ll try them wrapped in bacon for X-mas appetizers. Thanks for the idea!
oh god, after swearing off food for years, now I’m hungry again.