My family went to Postino Wine Cafe on the evening of Thursday July 18 with two firm objectives: 1. Celebrate my wife’s birthday. 2. Make our voices heard in Postino’s Battle of the Bruschetta. It’s a bracket-style competition in which any one of four contenders could win the title and become a permanent part of the menu.
We went to Postino’s relatively new, indoor/outdoor Little Italy location (2100 Kettner Boulevard) as a party of four. Our patio table enables us to see and hear cool tunes spun by a DJ. It was a busy night. Boards of bruschetta were being served all around us at a breakneck pace. We had some preconceived notions of tonight’s contestants. However, our table’s voting results turned out to be downright shocking.
Disclaimer: Traditionally, bruschetta is a mixture of chopped tomatoes, balsamic, basil and garlic, spooned over olive-oil brushed slices of bread.
In this unconventional competition, the contestants throughout the month of July are: French Onion (roasted garlic aioli, gruyere, braised white onions, melted brie) versus Berry Mascarpone (blackberry mascarpone, graham cracker streusel, macerated blueberry, lemon, and powdered sugar).
C’mon. A dessert bruschetta? Let’s get this romp over quickly.
Not so fast.
The four of us all tasted the French Onion first. Four raves. My daughter rated it a 10. I agreed.
Next, we all sampled the Berry Mascarpone. Hmm, not bad. A really good effort, I thought. It was a closer battle than I’d anticipated.
Then the results were announced. It was a tie! Two votes French Onion, two votes Berry Mascarpone. We were all atwitter while we each scanned the QR code that let our votes join the grand tally.
Now we wait and see. The winner will be revealed at the end of the month.
In August, two new competitors take to the boards: Buffalo Cauliflower (buffalo cauliflower, Cambozola ranch yogurt, celery, chives) and Philly Cheesesteak (roasted garlic aioli, chopped steak, caramelized onion and peppers, fondue, chili oil).
That round of voting lasts until September 1. At that time, the two winners will go bread-to-bread in a championship match that will end on September 16 with just one name added to Postino’s public recognition of excellence (the menu).
Postino is a casual eatery offering reasonable prices on all kinds of snacks, sandwiches, soups and salads.
That stuff is all well and good. My foursome will be back next month to duke it out over the next round of contenders. And you’ll see us ringside in September to determine who gets crowned the King of the Battle of the Bruschetta.
For more information about the restaurant, go to: Postino Wine Cafe. SDSun
POSTCRIPT: My wife, Jules, enjoyed her birthday dinner immensely.
