The Silver Trumpet at the Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel in Costa Mesa

Michael Hepworth

THE SILVER TRUMPET CHANGES APPROACH IN COSTA MESA

NEW CHEF TUNES UP THE MENU at DESTINATION RESTAURANT

Costa Mesa,CA(Perfect Meal Today)7/21/14/–The Silver Trumpet at the Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel in Costa Mesa is yet another dining option in a city that has more restaurants per resident than any other city in the USA. This is a perfect spot if you are going to the Segerstom Arts Center which is a short walking distance away. The hotel itself has completed a $20 million renovation, and the results are quite stunning. The restaurant alone is sleek and stunning including the classy new Silver Trumpet Patio Bar and Lounge which has launched an innovative cocktail menu and wines from around the world.

The brand new executive chef at the Silver Trumpet is Eddie Garcia and he clearly is expected to take the restaurant to new heights, in what must be a very competitive market. With businessmen staying in the hotel during the week, and well heeled Orange County residents at weekends, Garcia has quite a challenge to keep the balance just right. He trained at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and has had stints at Wolfgang Puck in Santa Monica and Granita Malibu. Most recently he spent seven years at ARAMARK, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority dealing with the food for the Mayors Office and Los Angeles City Council, which all means that Garcia will be very comfortable in his new corporate environment.

I got the chance to try his take on Italian food at a “Night in Tuscany” event last week which is different from the Farm to Fork California concept of the Silver Trumpet. Starter was the Pan Fried Branzino which is usually a main course for me, and it is a fish that always delivers, and Garcia’s version came with a sweet pea puree and kalamata olives. A Zelia 2012 Rose accompanied the dish.

Second course was the Pasta dish of a Thyme, Garlic and Parmesan Tagliatelli that was bright yellow in color. Aragula seems to be popping up everywhere these days along with pine nuts, and this pasta dish came with a Orhora 2012 white wine. Main course was Slow Roasted Short Ribs w/Yukon gold hash, pearl onions and a basil tabbouleh. Along with Le Buche 2008 Red. Homemade Tiramisu w/raspberry coulis and a wine bottle chocolate garnish rounded out the tasting, and I assume that all these items are on the Silver Trumpet menu, and if so then the Branzino stood out from the rest of the pack.

They do have a Happy Hour daily from 4-7.30 pm and 9.30 to close where beers and wines are $5, signature drinks are $8 and select bites are $5. They also have a Saturday and Sunday brunch from 7 am-2 pm that features a bottomless Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar that looks pretty exciting, but more on that at a later time.