Check out these web site links for restaurants in the greater Bellingham area that offer both excellent food and wine lists:

> Silver Reef Steak House -
www.silverreefcasino.com/silverreef/dining_steakhouse.htm

> The Temple Bar -
No web site address. Located at 306 W. Champion St. in Bellingham. Phone: (360) 676-8660

> Harborside Bistro -
www.harborsidebistro.com

> Tivoli Restaurant - www.tivoli-bellingham.com

TIVOLI’S BISTRO RED EARNS HIGH HONORS
-Submitted by Eileen Turk from Mount Baker Vineyards

Nate and Kelly Becklund, graduates of the Culinary Institute of America have worked at some of the top restaurants in New York, Las Vegas and Seattle before opening Tivoli in Bellingham in July of 2008.

Soon after opening Tivoli, Kelly and Nate approached Mount Baker Vineyards’ owner Randy Finley with a request to create a signature wine for the restaurant. Finley provided them an afternoon blending session and follow up tastings to create a Rhone style blend from wines of their choosing. Continuing the French Bistro theme, the Becklunds worked to create a Rhone Style blend that is 50% Syrah, 25% Mouvedre and 25% Grenache.

Tivoli’s “Bistro Red” began with the selection of a barrel of Syrah from Mount Baker Vineyards’ reserve barrels, and then choosing the blend that represented what they were trying to achieve during blind taste trials. Direction for blending and selection were guided by Mount Baker Vineyards’ consultant Andrew Friedman who has extensive experience in the fragrance and wine industry. Coordinating the blending was MBV cellar employee Chris Purnell.

The final selection was then put in a new barrel for an additional 10 weeks before bottling to create a totally new wine that is available only to Tivoli patrons by the glass and by the bottle at the restaurant.

Mount Baker Vineyards’ staff sent the wine to wine publication Wine Press Northwest for review, where it was rated “Excellent “in the fall of 2009 issue.