Sean Shoja, proprietor of ASAN Restaurant Concepts, is
a great restaurateur of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. In 2007, he purchased a
coffee shop on the corner of 5th and K Streets and renovated it into
Toscana Café & Wine Bar. Within very short walking distance from the San
Diego Convention Center, it’s the perfect setting to have lunch or dinner
meetings with prospective clients having a great ambiance and one of the
largest wine selections to choose from in the Gaslamp Quarter. It’s also
relaxed enough to have a casual dining experience with California-Italian fare
using local ingredients with flavors of the old country. The service is very
friendly and the servers are highly knowledgeable about the food and wine.
Taste of Tuscany Sampler
Plate is an assortment of their most popular items and perfect for sharing:
fresh, house-made Bruschetta, assorted imported cheeses, Toscana Mediterranean
Dip, Kalamata olives, assorted Italian Delicatessen Meats and grilled Garlic
Crostini. The prosciutto wrapped mozzarella & basil drizzled with a
balsamic reduction was fabulous! The reduction was really the star and made
everything taste better. The white cheese, when dipped into the reduction,
turned it into a dessert, just like the old country where premium aged balsamic
vinegar is drizzled on thin slices of parmesano reggiano as a dessert. The
charcuterie of mortadella and salami were perfectly sliced and glistening with their
gorgeous natural fat. The port, sage, and cranberry cheeses worked well when
combined with the meats for different flavor experiences. The Mediterranean Dip
was hummus like, but not lemony at all. It was silky and matched perfectly with
the sliced focaccia. You could tell it was homemade as little pools of olive
oil would pop out as scooped it was out of the ramekin forming little pools of
epicurean delight. Thumbs up, way up! Paired with Saxon Brown Semillon 2008;
tasting notes: fruity nose, green apple flavor on the palate, well-balanced,
low acidity.
To read more and see slideshow, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/review/toscana-caf-wine-bar-is-the-perfect-convention-dining-spot-san-diego-ca
Mahalo,
OC Food Diva
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