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Contra Costa Marketplace - May 2017

Seasonal Fruit Tart with Vanilla Bean Gelato MAY 2017 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 33 Parmesan and Gorgonzola Crusted Salmon steady flow of customers; I understand that Sunday brunch at PSB tends to be much busier. I was happy to have come on Saturday to enjoy the comfortable, unrushed atmosphere. I sat at a small table facing the open kitchen, which allowed me to watch the cooks busily preparing the food orders. I looked over the menu, and quickly realized that the price of the Endless Mimosas was no longer $10 (as was published last year), but increased to $13—although this is still a good value! When my server, Erica, asked for my drink order, I ordered a pineapple mimosa from the three flavors available—orange, pineapple, and cranberry—and found it to be delightfully delicious! Erica returned again and again with a pitcher of mimosas, and ensured that my glass was always full. For my brunch entrée, I ordered the Frittata special, which that day featured Ribeye, mushrooms, caramelized onions, spinach, and gorgonzola cheese. Who could ever pass up something that sounded so delectable? All PSB brunch entrees are served with a homemade biscuit and homemade strawberry jam, tricolor home fries, and fruit garnish. As I waited for my entrée, I enjoyed my biscuit and jam, and observed that the Southern Fried Chicken and Waffles seemed to be the popular choice of many nearby guests--a hearty dish, to be sure. This entrée is a crisply fried half-chicken, served atop a brown sugar and bacon infused waffle, served with jalapeno butter and warm maple syrup--definitely something to try on a future visit! Although most guests were enjoying mimosas, there were also a few drinking “The Bloody Tito”, PSB’s signature Bloody Mary made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, served in a “bowl” with all the garnishments, including thick slices of Applewood Smoked Bacon! Quite an impressive (and large) drink for Bloody Mary lovers! My entrée arrived quickly and was beautifully presented. The frittata was served in four triangular overlapping sections, and the home fries were a colorful assortment of brown, red and white potatoes seasoned and cooked to perfection. A small bowl of fresh pineapple, melon and grapes garnished with mint also adorned the plate. The frittata was moist and delicious, with small slices of tender, seasoned ribeye steak mixed in with the gorgonzola cheese and other ingredients. As I finished my meal, Erica presented me with the dessert menu, the same one available for lunch and dinner. On recent visits, my guests and I had tried a number of the selections, including the New York Cheesecake topped with the homemade strawberry preserves, Blood Orange Sorbet, Caramel Gelato, and the “make your own S’mores.” I should have passed on dessert, but decided to try something new that would complement brunch—the Seasonal Fruit Tart. (The 15-minute prep time allowed me time to enjoy one more mimosa!) The tart was served on a plate garnished with caramel syrup, had a perfectly browned crust, and was filled with apples, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, topped with a scoop of vanilla bean gelato. It was divine—warm, and not too sweet, with a light, flaky and delicious crust. Suffice to say that I’ve never tried a PSB dessert that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy (except possibly the Blood Orange Sorbet.) Make sure to save room for dessert when you visit—definitely worth the calories! There are a lot of good reasons to try out Pear Street Bistro if you haven’t already done so. Stop by after work for Happy Hour, or gather with friends in the lounge to watch a sports event on one of the several televisions behind the bar. Celebrate a special occasion with an elegant dinner, or stop by for a casual lunch or brunch. Come try out your artistic talents on Paint Night, or come to a special event and enjoy drinks, appetizers, music and dancing. Consider reserving the spacious private banquet room at PSB for a private business meeting or seminar, or for a special family celebration. Regardless of when or why you visit, the PSB staff will welcome you and provide you with a great customer experience. And as a special incentive to visit, during the month of May 2017, mention that you read this restaurant review in the Contra Costa Marketplace, and PSB will offer a free appetizer of your choice for parties of four or more. Pear Street Bistro is licensed by the city of Pinole to host special events, such as the upcoming Cinco de Mayo celebration, making it possible for locals to enjoy special festivities close to home. Watch for additional events coming up later this year. Be sure to stay informed of upcoming PSB events by subscribing to their weekly newsletter and/ or by following them on Facebook or Instagram. If you’re a PSB regular, don’t forget to join the PSB Rewards program to earn loyalty points for each visit, which can be redeemed for rewards. Kudos to Francisco Flores and the PSB staff for creating a delightful, hip, and trendy bistro experience in the heart of Pinole. If you haven’t tried it, you owe it to yourself to check it out! Also found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Yelp and Open Table


Contra Costa Marketplace - May 2017
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