Pinnacle Restaurant -- a mountaintop of culinary delights

When one thinks of “Mediterranean retreat,” clear blue skies and warm terra cotta walls come to mind. The Pinnacle Restaurant at the Falkner Winery in Temecula fits that description with its gentle Mediterranean ambiance born in the minds of owners Ray and Loretta Falkner.

The Falkners have owned the winery since the summer of 2000, but the restaurant was opened in September of last year.

Ray worked in the San Francisco Bay Area at one time where he became enthralled with the Napa Valley wineries. He also spent time in Europe where he further developed his wine aficionado instincts.

Not difficult to locate, the Pinnacle Restaurant’s salmon-colored edifice curves around the hillside and is perched 1,500 feet above the valley. The half-moon shape accentuates the commanding view of neat rows of hilltop grapevines and the wrinkled pattern of mountains in the distance.

If you dare to take your eyes off the view, the Pinnacle’s menu affords a plethora of delectable items.

Much of the restaurant’s cuisine is prepared by Executive Chef E. Dennis van Rumund, a native of the Netherlands who graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Chef du Cuisine Cory Chung, who studied the culinary arts in Hawaii, also lends his expertise to the establishment.

A delectable entrée choice is the “Lime Mahi Mahi,” which is grilled to perfection, then drenched in “Key Lime Beurre Blanc” sauce, which adds zest to the fish but doesn’t overpower. The asparagus served on the side was so tender I could eat the entire stalk, not just the tips. A marvelous lobster and potato mélange accompanied the dish and a purple orchid crowned the top.

The recommended wine pairing with this entrée is the 2004 Falkner Reserve Chardonnay which is a smooth wine with a mellow buttery flavor. It is finished in an oak barrel, which infuses it with a rich oak flavor.

Don’t leave the restaurant without trying at least one of the lavish delights that constitutes the dessert menu.

I savored every bite of the elaborate chocolate fantasy called “Molten Lava Cake,” a warm chocolate soufflé cake with a truffle center, which flows from the middle like lava. Fresh strawberries are served on the side and the dessert is drizzled with creamy dark and white chocolate.

I was also delighted to sample the Italian Crespe, a homemade Italian crêpe filled with Nutella, a creamy chocolate hazelnut spread that was invented by Italian Pietro Ferrero in the 1940s, and has been enjoyed in the US, as an import, for about twenty years.

This crêpe dessert is topped with cloud-like whipped crème and luscious deep red strawberries, which are glazed with raspberry syrup and sugar.

Now that I was sufficiently dazzled by the desserts, I was already contemplating my next Pinnacles visit.

Look for the themed “prix fixe” five-course Sunset Dinners premiering in about two weeks. A sunset at the Pinnacles coupled with a provocative and savory dinner has to be a magical experience!

Pinnacle Restaurant

at the Falkner Winery

40620 Calle Contento

Temecula

(951) 676-8231

http://www.falknerwinery.com

Daily 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.