Philly restaurant plans Rioja dinner

Once in awhile I'll deviate from the regional wine and wineries theme to tout an event that's wine-related in the region. That's the case here, where I can give a shout-out to one of my favorite Philly restaurants and one of my favorite wines. Period.

Chef Jose Garces’ acclaimed wine bar and restaurant, Tinto (114 S. 20th Street, 215-665-9150), will offer guests a thrilling journey through the extraordinary wines of Spain’s famous Rioja region, paired with Chef Garces’ authentic Basque tapas. This special dinner will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. The Rioja dinner is four courses including dessert and wine pairings, and will cost $130 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

“Spain is producing some of the world’s finest wines, and of course, they are a perfect complement to the foods of the region,” says Chef Garces. “Our special Rioja dinner is a fun, festive way to explore some of these amazing wines and experience them with the cuisine of their homeland.”

Chef de Cuisine David Conn created a delectable menu that will include: House-cured Jamon de Pato, duck prosciutto with membrillo; White Asparagus Gratin with aged manchego cheese, Iberian ham and sage sabayon; Steelhead Trout a la Plantxa with romesco verde and cippolini; and Patatas Riojana, Rioja-style fingerling potatoes with caramelized shallot, chorizo and guindilla chile.

Since opening in March 2007, Tinto had received rave reviews from local and national media, including Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, The Wall Street Journal and Shape magazine. They were also named to Conde Nast Traveler’s annual “Top Tables” in 2008, and received a prestigious three-bell review from the Philadelphia Inquirer. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch, brunch and dinner. For more information, or to make a reservation, please call (215) 665-9150 or click on this link.