TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Recent Columns

1. PETE TITTL: Like a fine wine, eatery has matured

   BY PETE TITTL Contributing columnist

   Thursday, May 23 2013 06:41 PM

   New restaurants change as the years go by, ideally for the better. Steak & Grape is one of those restaurants.

   I wasn't that impressed during my first visit after it opened two years ago, but I felt it had potential. It's improved in a lot of ways since then, with an impressive Sunday brunch, First Friday wine and beer tastings ($20, including appetizers), better service and now a new menu that has some tempting and satisfying choices, such as sea scallops chardonnay (available as an appetizer or dinner), four different types of soft-shell tacos, a fish sandwich made with tilapia and a Bolognese pasta ($13.95) made with sauteed beef and mushrooms.

   I almost ordered that pasta, but was unable to resist another of the new menu items, the macaroni and cheese made with a 5-ounce lobster tail ($19.95). Mac and cheese with shellfish has been a trendy choice for a long time now, but I like the way they do it here. The meat is popped out of the shell and presented on top of the pasta, giving you the option to enjoy it separately or cut it up and mix into the three-cheese sauce. I think they're being conservative on the size of the tail -- it looked more like a 7-ounce portion to me. And the cheese sauce was one of the best I've ever sampled: not heavy, with a garlicky breadcrumb crust on top and some shaved Asiago strings, almost like an Alfredo sauce without the heavy cream gooeyness. It's a graceful, smooth, succulent cheesiness that will not leave you with a dairy hangover. The pasta is actually penne, not macaroni, but the shape works well with the sauce. The good news for those who don't like lobster is you can get this plain ($13.95) or with chicken breast ($18.45).

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2. Steve Merlo: Memorial Day a special time of remembrance

   By The Bakersfield Californian

   Thursday, May 23 2013 05:30 PM

3. ROBERT PRICE: Ralph Bailey's radio fiction

   By Robert Price

   Thursday, May 23 2013 01:57 PM

4. MATT MUNOZ: Artists work it out at Rabobank

   By MATT MUNOZ, Californian columnist

   Wednesday, May 22 2013 06:01 PM

5. Robert Gautney: Rich Gilkey is lone local qualifier for State Amateur in Monterey

   BY ROBERT GAUTNEY Contributing golf columnist

   Wednesday, May 22 2013 04:51 PM

6. SCOTT COX: This hungry judge ready for seconds

   By SCOTT COX, Contributing columnist

   Wednesday, May 22 2013 04:31 PM

7. CAMILLE GAVIN: CSUB students take on work of Chekhov

   By The Bakersfield Californian

   Wednesday, May 22 2013 03:59 PM

8. RICHARD BEENE: Bakersfield Observed, a blot about life, media, politics, and people

   By Richard Beene

   Wednesday, May 22 2013 05:42 AM

9. LOIS HENRY: Vidak, Perez fail to impress with media behavior

   By LOIS HENRY, Californian columnist

   Wednesday, May 22 2013 03:00 AM

10. JAMIE BUTOW: Netizens worldwide react to David Silva beating case

    By Jamie Butow

    Tuesday, May 21 2013 01:11 PM

11. HERB BENHAM: How forgiving is St. Christopher?

    By HERB BENHAM, Californian columnist

    Monday, May 20 2013 11:54 AM

12. HERB BENHAM: If karma is real, Lance McCullah has a lot coming his way

    By HERB BENHAM, Californian columnist

    Saturday, May 18 2013 10:32 PM

13. SOUND OFF: What's known, and what's not, in Silva investigation

    BY JOHN ARTHUR Californian Executive Editor

    Saturday, May 18 2013 10:30 PM