September 30, 2014 – Nearly five years in the making, the ambitious 201 Main St complex in Salinas endured its final city inspection this afternoon and is getting ready to open on Friday for a Winemaker’s Gala dinner—a kick off event to the 4th annual Salinas Valley Food & Wine Festival on Oct 11.
“It’s really exciting to finally see this project coming together and how the room is just going to sparkle,” says Lea Madrid, who designed the restaurant’s interior and is organizing the gala. Chef Alessio Giannuzzi, who as we reported in July will run the kitchen, was formerly managing partner of Il Fornaio in Carmel. He is preparing dishes for the dinner to be paired with wines from Odonata, Antle Wines, J. McFarland and De Tierra Vineyards.
The 201 Main St. project aims to rejuvenate an early 20th century bank building as a sleek, sophisticated entertainment complex housing six restaurants and an event venue. It will close again following the gala for staff training and a few soft opening events, with October 16 targeted as the official opening date for the first venue, Giorgio’s restaurant.
“It’s such a relief that it’s hard to enjoy it so far,” said General Manager Seamus Kehoe, adding that he has about 40 employees in training so far. After Giorgio’s opens, he plans to launch Ticino coffee shop and deli next, followed by the Grapes of Eden wine bar and a Spanish tapas restaurant over the next 4-5 months. The night club, in the former bank vault in the basement, is the “last piece of the puzzle” and will open in six or seven months, Kehoe predicted.
The black tie Winemaker’s Gala on Friday is generating plenty of buzz with the added attraction of being a behind-the-scenes sneak preview of Salinas’ most anticipated dining venue. The 200 seats available at $85 per person are going fast.
Chef Alessio is preparing wild-boar and tomato bruschetta for nibbling in the piazza along with Odonata sparkling wine and Antle Mourvèdre. The seated portion of the dinner starts off with a salad of Salinas Valley greens, goat cheese dressed with a melon balsamic reduction and paired J. McFarland Tribute Chardonnay. The main course stars wine braised short ribs with De Tierra Syrah and homemade Tiramisu finishes off the epic Italian-accented meal.
Tickets for the Winemaker’s Gala are available online on the Salinas Valley Food & Wine Festival website.
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