When former film producer Mark Tarlov established Evening Land Vineyards, he  assembled a team of Burgundy fanatics, including two superstars:  famed winemaker Dominique Lafon and James Beard award winning master sommelier and former GM of Rubicon Estate, Larry Stone.  What was to be a hobby soon became his second career.  Evening Land’s distinctive Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, based on estate vineyards on the Sonoma Coast, Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills and Burgundy, have placed the winery on Wine & Spirits 2011 “Top 100 Wineries of the Year”, garnered raves from Wine Spectator’s Harvey Steiman and scores in the mid to high 90’s.  Twenty-four lucky guests will get red carpet treatment at an exclusive Evening Land wine dinner to be held Tuesday, February 7^th at 6:30 pm in the Jeroboam Room at John Howie Steak in Bellevue, pairing an incredible menu with amazing wine.

Proprietor and author John Howie, together with Chef Mark Hipkiss have designed a sumptuous six-course dinner, as follows:

Tempura King Crab

Tapioca pudding, lobster butter, chervil, chives

Chardonnay, 2009, Burgundy, France

Frisée Salad

Maple sherry vinaigrette, Kurobuta pork belly lardoons,

crispy poached egg, black pepper-Reggiano Parmigiano zabaglione

Gamay Noir, 2010 Seven Springs, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon

Sous Vide Lamb Loin

Pinot crust, creamy yellow grits, roasted garlic,

Ceregnola olives, rosemary demi-glace

Pinot Noir, 2009 Seven Springs ‘Summum’, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon

American “Kobe Style” Wagyu Beef Cap of Rib

Caramelized fennel, leek and potato cake, wild mushrooms, sauce Bordelaise

Pinot Noir, 2009 Seven Springs ‘La Source’, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon

Fromager d’Affinois

Apple, pear and sage jam, red wine honey, walnut crisp

Assorted Cookies

Illy coffee

Evening Land Vineyards winemaker’s dinner will start at 6:30 pm, is priced at $150.00 per person (tax and gratuity are additional), and is limited to 24 seats.  John Howie Steak is located in The Shops at the Bravern at 11111 NE 8^th Street, Suite 125, Bellevue, Washington.  For information or reservations please contact Wilma Manchester at 425.440.0878.  Available seats will be allocated on a first contact, first serve basis.

About Evening Land Vineyards

Evening Land has brought together a collection of pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards in the three great growing regions of the American West.  From the Eola Hills in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, to the Sonoma Coast in the town of Occidental, California and ending on the western lip of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills, Evening Land organically farms over 120 acres of heritage vineyards that produce 13 Estate wines imbued with this unique spirit of place. An orchestrated mix of old vine own rooted Oregon and California heritage clones, cuttings from the great established pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards of Burgundy and an experimental block of pinot noir grown from seed, the Vineyards of the Evening Land present a vivid view of Burgundy´s legendary grapes raised in the amazing diversity of America´s climate and soil.  “The Evening Land” has long been a symbol of the dream quest for the perfect garden. From ancient Greek myth to now, the search for The Evening Land is synonymous with adventure and romance that inevitably leads to the extremes of America’s West Coast.

About Larry Stone

Larry Stone, renowned master sommelier and former general manager of Napa´s Rubicon Estate Vineyard and Winery, joined Evening Land Vineyards as president.  “Larry Stone is one of the most respected professionals in the wine business and we are thrilled to bring his expertise as a producer, manager and restaurateur to Evening Land,” said Tarlov. “I don´t know of a person with a better palate or commitment to making a high quality product.”  Stone brings with him a wealth of wine knowledge. Most recently, Stone was general manager of Rubicon Estate and a two-time recipient of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service. An English-certified Master Sommelier, Stone passed the examination on his first attempt. He was elected to the board of directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2004 and became a trustee of the James Beard Foundation in 2005. He is the only American to earn the title of Maître Sommelier from the Union de la Sommelerie Française.

Passion & Palate is a collection of stories and recipes that he collected over the years. This beautiful, hardbound book is printed on fine-quality coated stock, featuring color photography and with over 240 of your favorite recipes (pictured is the Hot-n-Sour Thai Shrimp Soup) from Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar, John Howie Steak, SPORT Restaurant & Bar, and Adriatic Grill Italian Cuisine & Wine Bar.

$42.00 per book, plus shipping and handling and tax, if applicable.

Go here to reserve your copy.

Beginning Tuesday, August 16th, for two consecutive weeks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, four rubber burgers or four toy sushi will be hidden somewhere in downtown Bellevue.  The lucky discoverers will have until the end of September to redeem their findings for any lunch sandwich at John Howie Steak located in The Shops at The Bravern (the burger) or any two raw bar lunch menu items (up to a $20 value) at Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar located in the Civica Building (the sushi).  Seastar’s raw bar lunch menu includes a wide array of deli salads and sandwiches as well as sushi, poke and sashimi.

As aspiring dining detectives have found, the clue driven Howie Hunt takes them on a merry chase throughout the heart of Bellevue’s retail area, involving many of the merchants. To add a little more spice to the game, Howie has added another element for participants.  Whether or not they have been the first to solve the daily clue and claim a prize, if they take a self-photo at the destination, “like” and post it on either the John Howie Steak http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/John-Howie-Steak/190245729822 or Seastar http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Seastar-Restaurant-Raw-Bar/63847024438
Facebook page, they are eligible to win an even bigger prize.  At end of contest, one snapshot will be chosen from each restaurant page and the lucky photographer will receive a $200 gift certificate.

Chef John is still missing 3 miniature starfish and 3 toy cows that were claimed during the original Howie Hunt.  These Howie Hoarders are still welcome to redeem their goodies for a salmon lunch at Seastar or Steak Frites at John Howie Steak.

Giveaway dates are August 16 – 18 and 23 – 25, with redemption by September 30, 2011.  Individuals may only redeem one rubber hamburger or toy sushi during the entire length of the promotion.  Winners must bring in and surrender the toys to be awarded their winnings.

“The Heart Attack Grill” in Arizona somehow heard about the eye-catching and stomach-satisfying burger that was the talk of the town way up North.  Ownership of the name belonged to them.  Although Hipkiss’ burger only resembles the Arizona burger in designation and nowhere in content, he must now dub the sandwich with a new title.  After quizzing the team at John Howie Steak, nothing fitting came to mind and the menu presently reads “What’s that burger?”  Hipkiss and proprietor John Howie decided to reach out in the form of a contest and ask friends and fans alike to come-up with a new name.  The prize is a party for 6, which will include 6 of the said hamburgers and 6 pints of John Howie Steak Amber Ale.

Beginning immediately, name submissions can be made by e-mail to clalley@seastarrestaurant.com and must be received by midnight on October 30^th, 2010  Entrants must be a minimum of 21 years young, should include their name, address, and phone number along with a suggested new name for the burger.  The subject line needs to read “John Howie Burger Contest”.  A winner will be announced on November 1, 2010.

John Howie Steak is located in The Shops at The Bravern, 11111 N.E. 8^th Street, Suite 125, Bellevue, Washington  98004.  Hours are:  Monday – Thursday from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm; Friday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm; Saturday 5:00 – 11:00 pm; and Sunday 5:00 – 9:00 pm with Happy Hour on Monday – Friday, 3 – 6 pm.  Valet service or validated self parking is available in The Shops at The Bravern parking garage.  For reservations or information call (425) 440-0880.

As John Howie Steak nears the restaurant’s first birthday, chef/owner John Howie has decided to get the party going early by gifting guests with $131,550 in gift certificates.  Every party dining at the award winning steakhouse during the months of July and August will receive a sealed envelope.  Like Pandora’s Box, they MUST resist the temptation to open it!  When returning to dine during the months of July and August, upon the finish of their dinner and receipt of the bill, the still sealed envelope should be presented to their wait-staff.  At that time, the server will unseal the envelope and disclose the amount of the gift certificate inside, applying it to the bill.  Amounts issued range from $20 to six special certificates with $500 in value.

The envelopes must still be sealed when presented for redemption or they are considered invalid.  The gift certificates are good only for dinner (not lunch) dining during the months of June and July and may not be combined with any other promotion or used during Happy Hour.

John Howie Steak opened in September of 2009 and is located at The Shops at The Bravern, 1111 NE 8^th Street, Suite 125, Bellevue.  The restaurant was most recently honored with the 2010 Haute Picks award for “Best Steakhouse”, and “Best Steak House in Seattle” by the readers of Seattle Magazine (Best Restaurants Issue April 2010).   For reservations or information call (425) 440-0880.