Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/306378
94 / the tasting panel / may 2014 DARREN WEISS AND NADIA PAVLEVSKA Owner and Executive Chef, and Sommelier, Darren's Restaurant, Manhattan Beach "The focus should be on people having a good time and coming together," said Darren Weiss when he explains the friendly feel at his eponymous restaurant. In pursuit of this goal, Weiss wants his patrons to drink flavor- ful wine that blends nicely with the food he creates, so he turned to Nadia Pavlevska, originally from Bulgaria, to bring more of an Old World influence to the wine program. Since her start, Pavlenska has expanded the restaurant's wine list from two pages to six. When it comes to pairings, Nadia likes to take a step back when pairing to decide what defines the dish. "The best way is to taste," Nadia explains, "and it always involves some trial-and-error to find that perfect match." SHAWN KERWIN Owner, On the Thirty, Sherman Oaks Shawn Kerwin opened On the Thirty because he simply loves to eat and drink. This wine virtuoso self- describes his views on pairing as unorthodox. Without even bringing food into the equation, he states, "If a wine is great, it can go with anything." Based on this philosophy, On the Thirty carries only fabulous wines meticulously curated from exclusively California and from mainly boutique vineyards. The rationale behind his approach is two-fold: He enjoys introducing his customers to these niche experiences, and he believes strongly in putting money back into the local economy. Since Kerwin's program consists of solely California wines, he was excited to learn more about Wente's offerings. Not that he isn't already a fan—his pas- sion for artisanship and the unique flavors has led him to especially gravitate towards Wente Family Estates winery exclusive and Small Lot labels, which he'd recently explored on a visit to the Livermore winery. The most popular pairing dish of the afternoon, the potato, garlic and green onion soup work nicely with The Whip. Darren's take on the Murrieta's Well 2011 The Spur: A very stylish wine! I taste hints of smoked chocolate, which would accompany the earthy tones of the New York steak beautifully. The rib-eye from Darren's is a very heavy dish that I would want to pair with the spicy and lush notes of this robust wine. Nadia's take on Wente Vineyards Brut: The brut is very crisp and lively. Although I do not typically pair non- dessert wine with dessert, I think this sparkling goes nicely with the crumble because the wine is quite refreshing and does a fantastic job of balanc- ing the sugar and tangy flavors of the crumble. Shawn's take on the Murrieta's Well 2012 The Whip: Easy to drink, this fresh wine has a great fruit balance that reminds me of summer. These aromatic notes would be a wonderful complement to the soup from this lunch and the pesto spinach salad from On the Thirty. Darren Weiss. Nadia Pavlevska. Shawn Kerwin. TP0514_072-101.indd 94 4/24/14 11:01 PM