For more information on the Diablo Magazine Food Awards, click here.
The readers of Diablo Magazine voted for their favorite restaurants, and Diablo's judges rated them for food, ambience, and service - out of a possible 90 points.
Pizzaiolo.Oakland
Food: 27 points, Ambience: 26 points, Service: 25 points
FINAL SCORE: 78 points
www.pizzaiolooakland.com
Oliveto.Oakland
Food: 26 points, Ambience: 27 points, Service: 23 points
FINAL SCORE: 76 points
www.oliveto.com
Va de Vi.Walnut Creek
Food: 28 points, Ambience: 22 points, Service: 26 points
FINAL SCORE: 76 points
www.vadevi.com
Prima.Walnut Creek
Food: 23 points, Ambience: 24 points, Service: 28 points
FINAL SCORE: 75 points
www.primaristorante.com
Wente.Livermore
Food: 24 points, Ambience: 24 points, Service: 24 points
FINAL SCORE: 72 points
www.wentevineyards.com
Yankee Pier.Lafayette
Food: 26 points, Ambience: 21 points, Service: 24 points
FINAL SCORE: 71 points
www.yankeepier.com/lafayette
Uncle Yu's
Food: 21 points, Ambience: 24 points, Service: 25 points
FINAL SCORE: 70 points
www.uncleyuatthevineyard.com
Gigi.Lafayette
Food: 23 points, Ambience: 23 points, Service: 70 points
FINAL SCORE: 70 points
www.gigirestaurant.com
About Jeffrey Amber: Jeffrey Amber ran the venerable Moose's Restaurant, after a very successful tenure at the highly touted XYZ Restaurant (W Hotel in SF) where he garnered a Rising Star chef Award from the SF Chronicle, as well as numerous other accolades and most recently oversaw the three kitchens for Chow Restaurants. Gigi is named after his daughter.
Gigi Restaurant
1005 Brown Ave
Lafayette, CA 94549
(925) 962-0882
www.gigirestaurant.com
Champagne Poached Pear
For four guests
- 4 Pears peeled and cored
- 1 cup Champagne
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 cups water
Combine all ingredients in a medium size pot. Bring to a low boil. Carefully add pears and poach pears for approx. 4 min. Remove from liquid and refrigerate.
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 6 oz. mascarpone
- 3 tbsp. sugar
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract or ½ vanilla bean
Combine cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in mixing bowl and whip until medium peak. Fold in mascarpone and whip.
- 8 oz. huckleberry
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup sugar
Combine all ingredients and reduce slowly until ingredients thicken.
With a small piping bag fill cored out pears with cream filling. Place in center of plate and surround with huckleberry sauce.
