Zely and Ritz offers special dinners

Zely and Ritz has had such a great response to the Anniversary Tasting Menu for Two, that they’re continuing it for the next couple of weeks.  They’ll also offering their First Friday Special Menu through the weekend.

First Friday Special Menu

Appetizer
Sumac Encrusted Goat Cheese over Celery Root & Apple Slaw
or
Mexican Style Shrimp Ceviche

Entree
Pan Seared NC Catfish with Sweet Mashed Potatoes & Braised Cabbage
or
Roasted CRF Pork Loin stuffed with Apples over Polenta & Sauté Greens

Dessert
Apple Torte with Sweet wiped Crème Fraiche
or
Caramel Bread Pudding with Coffee Ice Cream
$25 per person
(tax and gratuities not included)

5th Anniversary Dinner, Until February 13th
Starters
Hummus with Pita Bread, Pickles, Olives and Hot Sauce
Spinach and Feta Cheese Baked in a Puff Pastry
Roasted Beet Salad with Organic Mixed Greens, Feta Cheese, Pears and Walnut Vinaigrette
In the Red Sumac Coated Goat Cheese Balls with Candied Kumquat Sauce
Wine: Domaine Aubuisieres Vouvray, Cuvee de Silex, Loire Valley, FR 2007

Seafood
Mexican Style Shrimp Ceviche
Crispy Pan Seared Grouper with Kataifi and Herb Sauce
Almond Crusted Scallop with Caramelized Lemon Sauce

Wine: Anselmi Capitel Croce Bianco, Veneto, IT 2005

Vegetables
Sautéed Greens
Creamy Polenta with Fontina Cheese
Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto Finished with Asiago Cheese

Wine: Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, CA 2007

Meats
Coon Rock Farm Pork Loin with Dried Cherry Sauce
Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with Oven Dried Tomatoes and Rosemary
Braised Harris Robinette Farm Grass Fed Beef Brisket

Wine: Elyse Nero Misto, Blend of Black Grapes, Napa Valley, CA 2007

Desserts
Flourless Mexican Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Ice Cream
Larry’s Beans Espresso Creme Brulee
Pine Nut Tart with Honeycomb Ice Cream

Wine: Ramos Pinot 10 Year Tawny Port

$75 per couple (tax and gratuities not included)
Wine pairings – additional $30 per person

Ilona: Zely and Ritz Liquor Dinner

My friend Ilona wrote about a recent visit to Zely and Ritz on South Glenwood:

Zely & Ritz has an awful lot of wine dinners, a few beer dinners and recently, to my great joy, a liquor dinner. We went with friends, were seated at a table with like-minded diners and enjoyed not only their company, but the meal, the discussion of the creation of the meal and the cocktails! The edible highlights for me were the “Goat Cheese wrapped in Coon Rock Farm Swiss Chard over an Anise infused Daikon Salad with candied Kumquat Sauce”  The flavor blending and the crunch were fabulous and I could have eaten an entire bowl for dinner and been happy. But, then I would have missed the beef Osso Buco and it’s sauce and that was pretty amazing also. The lovely thing about dining at Zely & Ritz is that the conversation and the atmosphere and the presentation of the food is to be savored as much as the flavors and they do a pretty darn good job at all of it. Jay, the bartender, outdid himself and each cocktail was better than the last culminating in an eggnog that was heavenly. It was the best I’ve ever had. Jay created this recipe and used NC’s Catdaddy Moonshine, which even if you didn’t just love that name, was delicious all by itself. I certainly hope all my Northern relatives agree since… they all got a bottle for Christmas.

Zely and Ritz offering Anniversary Dinner

Zely and Ritz asked customers about their favorites and suggestions for the restaurant. And the restaurant had so many responses on favorite foods, that Chef Sarig could not get them all into just one typical wine dinner menu.  Instead, he has created an amazing tasting menu that has lots and lots of your favorites.  Its designed to be shared and will be available starting next Wednesday, Jan. 20th and will be available for the rest of the month.

You can come in anytime this month starting next Wednesday for the Anniversary Tasting Menu (reservations at 828-0018 recommend on weekends) with Chef Sarig’s menu of your favorite dishes and Nancy’s list of your favorite wines.

5^th Anniversary Tasting Menu
With some of your favorite wines

Starters
Hummus with Pita Bread, Pickles, Olives & Hot Sauce
Spinach & Feta Cheese Baked in a Puff Pastry
Roasted Beet Salad with Organic Mixed Greens, Feta Cheese, Pears & Walnut Vinaigrette
In the Red Sumac Coated Goat Cheese Balls with Candied Kumquat Sauce

Wine: Domaine Aubuisieres Vouvray, Cuvee de Silex, Loire Valley, FR ‘07

Seafood
Mexican Style Shrimp Ceviche
Crispy Pan Seared Grouper with Kataifi and Herb Sauce
Almond Crusted Scallop with Caramelized Lemon Sauce

Wine: Anselmi Capitel Croce Bianco, Veneto, IT ‘05

Vegetables
Sauteed Greens
Creamy Polenta with Fontina Cheese
Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto Finished with Asiago Cheese

Wine: Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, CA 07

Meats
Coon Rock Farm Pork Loin with Dried Cherry Sauce
Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb with Oven Dried Tomatoes and Rosemary Jus
Braised Harris Robinette Farm Grass Fed Beef Brisket

Wine: Elyse Nero Misto, Blend of Black Grapes, Napa Valley, CA ‘07

Desserts:
Flourless Mexican Chocolate Cake & Chocolate Ice Cream
Larry’s Beans Espresso Crème Brulee
Pine Nut Tart with Honeycomb Ice Cream

Wine: Ramos Pinot 10 Year Tawny Port

$75 per couple (tax and gratuities not included)
Wine pairings – additional $30 per person

Zely and Ritz New Year’s Eve Bash

Zely & Ritz is throwing friends and customers a big party on New Year’s Eve with great food, wine, cocktails and later in the evening a DJ to play some tunes to bring in the new year.

New Year’s Eve Menu

First Course (select one)

• Shrimp Ceviche with Radish, Local NC Pink Lady Apples, & Stewed Cranberries
• In The Red Goat Cheese Wrapped with CRF Swiss Chard and Arugula Pesto
• Harris Robinette Flank Steak Salad with Organic Mixed Greens

Second Course (select one)

• Pan-Seared Striped Bass with Mushroom Hill Shiitake Mushrooms and Creamy Risotto
• Hearty Braised Lamb Shank and Rutabaga and Creamy Polenta with Braising Jus
• Grilled & Slow Roasted Harris Robinette Ribeye with Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Greens and Red Wine Sauce

Third Course

• A Shared Plate: Warm Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce, Pumpkin & Almond Cake Napoleon & Caramelized Banana Tart

Served with a Complimentary Glass of Bubbly
Party Favors, Dancing with DJ 10-1am
$45 per person (tax & gratuities not included) until 8pm
$60 per person (tax & gratuities not included) after 9pm
Vegetarian Options available upon request

Reservations are recommended for this event as it sells out pretty quickly.  Call 828-0018.

Zely and Ritz offers Date and Skate

Enjoy the winter weather with some outdoor fun and then stop in at Zely and Ritz for one of Chef Sarig’s special meals or one of Jay’s special $5.00 Martinis.

December 17^th Date & Skate Menu
1^st Course
Tuna Carpaccio with Arugula & Radishes with Cranberry Cider Drizzle
or
Goat Cheese wrapped with Swiss Chard over Daikon Salad with Candied Kumquat

2^nd Course
Big Boss Braised CRF Pork Shoulder over Pumpkin Polenta
or
Seared Speckled trout over Butternut Squash Risotto

3^rd Course
Caramel Bread Pudding with Caramel Ice Cream
or
Lemon Verbena Panna Cotta
$25.00 (tax and gratuities not included)

You can still give a Zely and Ritz Gift Certificate for the special locavore or foodie in your life and get a 10% bonus certificate for yourself.  To take advantage of this offer, just tell your waitperson when you are in the restaurant or you can do it over the phone by calling 828-0018.

Zely and Ritz Celebrates the holidays

Zely and Ritz has a number of special events as we head into the holidays.

Date and Skate Thursdays
Zely & Ritz is open on Thursday nights from 5:30 till 10:00.  During December and January in participation with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance Date and Skate, don’t miss our special $25.00 Three Course Tasting Menu.

Liquor Dinner, December 9th and 16th, 7pm.
Starter-Reception
Martinez, The forerunner of the iconic Martini,
created in the 1880s and extremely popular until prohibition

1st Course:
Tuna Carpaccio over CRF Arugula and Radishes
with a Cranberry Maple drizzle and Candied Citron
Cocktail: The Aristocrat- Bulleit Bourbon, Campari, Ruby Port,
Fresh lime and a splash of Cranberry Juice

2nd Course:
Goat Cheese wrapped in CRF Swiss Chard over an
Anise infused Daikon Salad with candied kumquat drizzle
Cocktail: Apples and Oranges- Anise infused Apple Brandy, Cointreau,
Local Organic Cider and a splash of fresh sour mix

3rd Course:
Harris Robinette Beef Osso Buco over spiced
Pumpkin Polenta with Braising Jus
Cocktail: Pineapple Infusion- Appleton Estate V/X Rum and
Ginger, Clove and Vanilla infused Pineapple Juice with a Meyers float

4th Course:
Succulent Caramel Bread Pudding with Cinnamon Ice Cream
Cocktail: Liza Eggnog, a family recipe with NC Catdaddy Moonshine

$65 per person
$49 without Cocktails
(tax and gratuities not included)

Wine Dinner Series
Upcoming Events – You may reserve by calling 828-0018.

• Friday, Dec 18th – Amanda’s Wine Lunch, 12 noon
• Thursday, Dec 31st – New Years Eve Dinner & Party
• Tuesday, Jan 12th – 5th Anniversary Wine Dinner, 7pm
• Thursday, Feb 4th – Triangle Wine Experience, 7pm
• Tuesday, Feb 9th – Chocolate Dinner, 7pm
• Wednesday, Mar 3rd – Cheese Dinner, 7pm

Zely and Ritz offers Holiday Spirits Dinner

Zely and Ritz will have its first Holiday Spirits Dinner next Tuesday to get into the holiday spirit.  Chef Sarig and “post modernist” bartender Jay Earley have worked together to create a delicious food and spirits combination.    If you can’t make it next Tuesday then the dinner is offered again on Wednesday, Dec. 16.

Zely & Ritz Annual Spirits Dinner

Libationist/Boozehound: Jay Earley; Chef: Sarig Agasi
7pm – Tuesday, Dec. 1 & Wednesday, Dec. 16

Starter-Reception
Martinez- The forerunner of the iconic Martini,
created in the 1880’s and extremely popular until prohibition

1^st Course
Tuna Carpaccio over CRF Arugula & Radishes with a Cranberry Maple drizzle & Candied Citron
Cocktail: The Aristocrat- Bulleit Bourbon, Campari, Ruby Port, fresh lime & a splash of Cranberry Juice

2^nd Course
Goat Cheese wrapped in CRF Swiss Chard over an Anise infused Daikon Salad with candied kumquat drizzle
Cocktail: Apples & Oranges- Anise infused Apple Brandy, Cointreau, Local Organic Cider & a splash of fresh sour mix

3^rdCourse
Harris Robinette Beef Osso Buco over spiced Pumpkin Polenta with Braising Jus
Cocktail: Pineapple Infusion- Appleton Estate V/X Rum & Ginger, Clove & Vanilla infused Pineapple Juice with a Meyers float

4^th Course
Succulent Caramel Bread Pudding with Cinnamon Ice Cream
Cocktail: Liza’s Eggnog- a family recipe with NC’s Catdaddy Moonshine

$65 per person
$49 without Cocktails
(tax & gratuities not included)
(vegetarian or other special menu options are available upon request

Call 919.828.0018 For Reservations!

Zely and Ritz offers lunch with Amanda

Zely and Ritz is adding a new wine event called Lunch with Amanda.  The first lunch will be Friday, Nov. 20th at noon.

The restaurant will have a new lunch and wine combination with host Amanda May from Juice Distributors each month.  Amanda is a wonderfully effervescent wine enthusiast who will bring several bottles of her best wines each month for tasting and purchase with Chef Sarig’s lunch creation.

Lunch will be served family style around the big table. Sarig will probably make a salad, a pizza and a bowl of risotto. Amanda will have several bottles of “must have wines for the holidays” to taste. Lunch is $15 a person and includes the wine. Tax and gratuities are additional. As always, the wines will be available for sale. To join, call 919-828-0018.

This month “must have” wines for the holidays include:

2007 Hartwell Sauvignon Blanc
2006 Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
2006 Cadence Ciel du Cheval (Cab/Cab Franc blend from Washington State)
2007 Outpost Howell Mtn Zinfandel
2007 Culler La Palette (Cab blend)
2006 Round Pond Cabernet Sauvignon

Zely and Ritz November events

• Monday, Nov 9th – catering for CEFS lecture with Will Allen at visitor center across from McKimmon Center from 5:30 – 6:30. Lecture to follow. (Zely & Ritz is a sponsor a well as the caterer for this event — details at http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/main-news-and-events/upcoming-events.html)
• Wednesday, Nov 11th local Big Boss Beer Dinner with Brad Wynn – see menu below
• Thursday, Nov 12th – Longoria Wine dinner with Rick Longoria – spectacular wines from Santa Barbara County
• Wednesday, Nov 18th – Peak Beer Dinner

Zely and Ritz offers Beer Dinner

The cool weather outside says Fall to us and Fall means it is time for hearty food and great beer.  Zely and Ritz will have the first Beer Dinner of the season  next Wednesday, October 21^st at 7 p.m. and feature beers from Raleigh’s own Big Boss Brewery.  You willl have the pleasure of being entertained and educated about all things on the local beer scene by Big Boss Brewmaster Brad Wynn.  Chef Sarig’s menu is below.

Starter-Reception
Bad Penny Brown Ale

1^st Course
Barley Salad with Mushroom Hill Shiitake Mushrooms & Coon Rock Farm Arugula
Beer: Big Boss Hell’s Belle Belgian Blond

2^nd Course
Braised CRF Sausage & Clams with a Big Boss Reduction in a Candied Orange Broth
Beer: Monkey Bizz-Ness (9% ABV)

3^rdCourse
Slow Roasted Whole CRF Ham with a NC Maple Syrup Glaze over Old Mill Polenta & Butternut Squash
Beer: Amber Rye Ale

4^th Course
Pumpkin Soufflé
Beer: Big Boss Harvest Ale

$49 per person (tax & gratuities not included)
Menu subject to change
Vegetarian options available
Call 919.828.0018 for Reservations!