Spring Is In "Bloom" ~ Wasena Neighborhood~ Roanoke, Virginia

One of the best things about my hometown, Roanoke, Virginia, is our neighborhoods. Wasena neighborhood is an up-and-coming area with fun restaurants. One of my favorite restaurants in Wasena is Bloom.

Bloom recently hosted a International Women’s Day Brunch – featuring wine and food pairings. For our aperitif, we chose Apricot Mimosas. On their à la carte menu they also offered Champagne Cocktails, French 75 and Fall Apart (pomegranate liqueur, campari, chardonnay, lime, rosemary and house soda).

The first course ‘Toast’ – focaccia, olive, coppa, cassis-balsamic. Wine pairing: Fiorini ‘Corte Degli Attimi’ Lambrusco Di Sobara. The pretty salmon color sparkling rosé has a pleasant refreshing acidity that paired perfectly with olives and balsamic, along with the saltiness of the coppa ham.

Our lovely wine host Kristen poured wine for us and gave us information about the nuances of the wines and the history of the wineries. Kristen represents Free Run Wine Merchants, a boutique importer and distributor specializing in authentic, responsibly-grown and artisan-crafted wines based in Richmond, Virginia.

Our second course was Four Oaks Lettuces ~ apricot, rose, benton’s bacon, citrus, yogurt crunch. The apricot puree was artfully hidden beneath the delicate lettuces which was a flavorful surprise. Paired with Clos Cibonne, “Tentations” Rosé, Provence.

Our third course was Savory Galette. It was an amazing house-made puff pastry topped with hydro tom jam, sausage, arugula pistou, hollandaise, ‘asiago’ paired with Valerie Forgues, Touraine Rouge (Gamay).

**Every bite of this Savory Galette was amazing!**

Chef Madie Steuber-Kaczmarski is the Pastry Sous Chef at Bloom. (Read more about her in the April, 2020 issue of the Roanoker Magazine.) She is responsible for the lovely Focaccia bread and puff pastry that is the base for the brunch savory galette.

We also enjoyed an evening at Bloom, beginning with Wolfberger Cremant d’Alsace bubbly. 100% Pinot Blanc. Lots of tiny bubbles dancing in the glass. Notes of apple, pear, lemon lime and honey. Creamy and refreshing mouthfeel.

Dinner at Bloom…