Nibblers-worth the bite?
There's a tiny little winery/eatery in Pleasant Hill just off Oak Park Blvd that's pretty easy to miss. Hence, it's quite a find if you do in fact find it.
Driving down Oak Park Blvd., an older neighborhood that's definitely a time travel away from the ritziness of downtown Walnut Creek, one wouldn't expect to find a little restaurant that specializes in international wines and flavors. Nibblers boasts an eclectic wine menu and tapas menu. Their wines come from as far south as Chile to the Rioja in Spain to Australia. And my friend and I spent a good three hours playing catch up and enjoying their "Irregular Bar Menu" (one might call that a "happy hour" as the irregular bar menu is open during their slow hours from 4-6). The menu has appetizers for as little as $2 (although it was simple, I thoroughly enjoyed their artisan bread plate and seasonal fruits) and drinks for as little as $3. Their signature drink is the sangria (this is the drink that broke my sobriety when I was in Spain) and is made with a sprinkling of cinnamon and what tastes like maybe nutmeg. Their version of sangria is a little warmer in flavor. The traditional sangrias I had in Spain are a little fruitier and refreshing and light and perfect for summer. The Nibblers sangria, which was just as tasty, boasted warmer flavors more suitable for a fall luncheon.
We tried a few drinks from the "happy hour" menu, including a Chateua Valette Bordeaux Cab/Merlot blend from France for $3 and a Candori Pinot Noir from Puglia. I'm not sure how I felt about the Puglia--it was definitely a wine off the beaten trail. There seemed to be some anise or black licorice flavor. It was a bit sour... so... sour licorice. I wouldn't recommend it but my friend and I did favor the Rhone de Robles Robert Hall blend which was smooth and rather chocolatey and dark.
For dinner we had a roasted eggplant and sweet onion za'aluk with housemade pitachips--delish. Came with some pickled lemon (quite interesting--alone the pickled lemons taste like pine sol but with the dish, the sweetness of the onions and the meatiness of the eggplant are accentuated). Excellent dish--a little small for $6.75 but not a rip off for the flavor.
For dessert we indulged in a blackberry cabernet sorbet supplied by Fiorelli's--sweet, tart, bold and with a slight aftertaste of cab. Great post wine dessert. Our waiter Ron was also kind enough to give us two samples of a 1991 Eiswein which had very strong apricot and grape flavors--mmmmm.... graaaaapes.
Daniel, the owner, has no formal degree but is a fanatic about his food, wine and culture. I didn't get a chance to meet him but from the passion I heard in his waiter's voice, I'm sure Daniel is quite the host. He features a different country every month at his restaurant and this month is Morrocco. It's worth the trip to Nibbles for a bite of Marakech. (That was so cheesy...)
Driving down Oak Park Blvd., an older neighborhood that's definitely a time travel away from the ritziness of downtown Walnut Creek, one wouldn't expect to find a little restaurant that specializes in international wines and flavors. Nibblers boasts an eclectic wine menu and tapas menu. Their wines come from as far south as Chile to the Rioja in Spain to Australia. And my friend and I spent a good three hours playing catch up and enjoying their "Irregular Bar Menu" (one might call that a "happy hour" as the irregular bar menu is open during their slow hours from 4-6). The menu has appetizers for as little as $2 (although it was simple, I thoroughly enjoyed their artisan bread plate and seasonal fruits) and drinks for as little as $3. Their signature drink is the sangria (this is the drink that broke my sobriety when I was in Spain) and is made with a sprinkling of cinnamon and what tastes like maybe nutmeg. Their version of sangria is a little warmer in flavor. The traditional sangrias I had in Spain are a little fruitier and refreshing and light and perfect for summer. The Nibblers sangria, which was just as tasty, boasted warmer flavors more suitable for a fall luncheon.
We tried a few drinks from the "happy hour" menu, including a Chateua Valette Bordeaux Cab/Merlot blend from France for $3 and a Candori Pinot Noir from Puglia. I'm not sure how I felt about the Puglia--it was definitely a wine off the beaten trail. There seemed to be some anise or black licorice flavor. It was a bit sour... so... sour licorice. I wouldn't recommend it but my friend and I did favor the Rhone de Robles Robert Hall blend which was smooth and rather chocolatey and dark.
For dinner we had a roasted eggplant and sweet onion za'aluk with housemade pitachips--delish. Came with some pickled lemon (quite interesting--alone the pickled lemons taste like pine sol but with the dish, the sweetness of the onions and the meatiness of the eggplant are accentuated). Excellent dish--a little small for $6.75 but not a rip off for the flavor.
For dessert we indulged in a blackberry cabernet sorbet supplied by Fiorelli's--sweet, tart, bold and with a slight aftertaste of cab. Great post wine dessert. Our waiter Ron was also kind enough to give us two samples of a 1991 Eiswein which had very strong apricot and grape flavors--mmmmm.... graaaaapes.
Daniel, the owner, has no formal degree but is a fanatic about his food, wine and culture. I didn't get a chance to meet him but from the passion I heard in his waiter's voice, I'm sure Daniel is quite the host. He features a different country every month at his restaurant and this month is Morrocco. It's worth the trip to Nibbles for a bite of Marakech. (That was so cheesy...)
