Los Angeles restaurant Luna Park on La Brea seems to attract Denise and me back time after time. Lately we've been somewhat disenchanted with the volume at which the music is played in the restaurant. Even at lunch, it has seemed overly loud and overburdened with all the '80s songs you know and hate. This time, however, the music was at a comfortable level which allowed us to talk to each other without shouting. The song selection didn't even seem too bad.
I might have just been in a good mood, because it was a half-price food day at Luna Park. You have to be a real insider to know when those money-saving days are. Or just do what I do - follow them on Twitter . They give a secret word to tell the waitress, which allows you to save money while enjoying that under-the-table-speakeasy sort of vibe.
We love the food at Luna Park, and they have a pretty nice wine list, too. This lunch, I chose an old reliable - Ruffino Orvieto. I've never been to Orvieto, but every time I read about the city, they call it beautiful. Situated in Umbria between Rome and Florence, the area is blessed with a chalky, limestone soil which seems to be so good for white wine.
Ruffino sources their grapes from vineyards in Orvieto, 40% Grechetto, 20% Procanico and 40% a mixture of Verdello and Canaiolo Bianco. The wine is 12.5% abv.
A nice straw yellow in the glass, the wine's nose is floral and fruity, with pear, apple and a lot of minerals present. The taste is delicious, peaches and that wonderful minerality taking center stage, with a citrus note on the finish. It's got great acidity that begs for food. Fortunately, they have plenty of that at Luna Park. This wine was a hit with the salmon on spaghetti aglio y olio, the yellow tomatoes and burrata - Orvieto goes very well with cheese - and the roasted cauliflower and capers. It's great just to sip, too.
