Taste is Amador County’s best non-secret secret. I say non-secret because Taste was named one of America’s Top 100 Wine Restaurants by Wine Enthusiast Magazine—the word is definitely out! 

My husband and I visited for lunch on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, and the dining room was bustling. We started with the popular and aptly named Mid-Day Mushroom Cigars, which featured an earthy medley of crimini, shitake and oyster mushrooms with goat cheese and herbs—all tightly rolled in a light, crispy phyllo casing with porcini mushroom sauce. It tasted even better than it sounds…believe me. 

For mains, I ordered the Local Rock Cod, and my husband opted for the Grilled Niman Ranch Pork Loin. The tender, flavorful fish was served on a rich and vibrant bouillabaisse sauce with tiny nuggets of Spanish chorizo (yum!), white bean purée, saffron-braised fennel and two oversized grilled sourdough “croutons” topped with a black garlic aioli. It was like consuming a flavorful symphony, note by tasty note. My husband’s pork loin—served alongside a bed of farro with thinly sliced discs of summer squash and the most mouthwatering stuffed squash blossoms I’ve ever tasted—was equally toothsome.

 After two eyebrow-raising courses, how could we deny ourselves a sweet treat? We both couldn’t resist trying the trio of creme brulee—vanilla bean, butterscotch and Mexican chocolate. All of them were divine.  

Taste is a true treasure for the taste buds. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want to enjoy carefully selected and artfully prepared fine dining alongside friendly and attentive service, it will be a meal to remember. Word to the wise: If you’re a wine enthusiast, definitely take advantage of their pairings—overhearing the staff talk so knowledgeably to other diners about the local offerings made me jealous that I wasn’t partaking myself. There will be a next time though…oh yes, there will be!

by Sharon Penny

Taste Restaurant & Wine Bar, 9402 Main Street, Plymouth, 209-245-3463, restauranttaste.com.