Dining Club At MeMe's, Chalmette, Monday.

Among the most pleasant surprises in the local dining scene is the appearance of the excellent Creole bistro MeMe's in Chalmette. That part of town has never had enough good dining--either quantitatively or qualitatively. That made MeMe's and the cooking of chef Lincoln Owens stand out. He and the restaurants owners (two couples, the Williamses and the Catalanottos) set a new standard. The place is good enough that it has taken a flyer at wine dinners. The first in the series was a big hit. The next one is this Monday, September 22. It's a bit different from most wine dinners in that you can make a reservation at any time starting at 5 p.m. The menu speaks for itself, with wines from a variety of sources:

Lobster Empanada
Fresh lobster meat, herbs, crispy dough, sauce Lafitte and gruyere cheese.
Wine: Ruffino Prosecco Pairing

Stuffed Gulf Flounder
Stuffed with shrimp and eggplant, herbed lemon butter
Wine: Simi Chardonnay

Grilled Lamb Chops
Marinated, grilled and served over a creamy cauliflower puree then drizzled with a fresh mint glaze.
Wine: Kim Crawford Pinot Noir

Crispy Duck Breast
Birdnest of fried sweet potato, port wine demi-glace
Wine: Saved Red Blend

Bananas Foster
Fresh sliced bananas, brown sugar, dark rum and a splash of amaretto
Wine: Ruffino Moscato d’Asti

The price for this is a mere $70, inclusive of tax, tip and wines. Reservations are essential at the number below.

MeMe's

St. Bernard Parish: 712 W. Judge Perez Dr. 504-644-4992. www.memesbarandgrille.com.

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