The Roanoker - February 2014 - 108

dollop of tangy pimento cheese. While the bacon in
the vinaigrette is barely discernable, the salad doesn't
lack without it.
Other standouts from the Small Plate menu include
the Colorado Lamb "Lollichops" with Blue Cheese
Grits and Fig Demi Glace and the Coffee and Brown
Sugar Rubbed Scallops with Leeks, Bacon, and Saffron
Beurre Blanc. The lamb lollichops (the tail end of the
bone is whittled into a lollipop stick of sorts), are as
fanciful as they are delicious and I hold nothing but
love for the creamy yet sharp blue cheese grits. As for
the scallops, the bittersweet coffee and brown sugar
rub on the seared scallop pairs nicely with the smoky
bacon and smooth beurre blanc.
From the more substantial Entrée side of the menu,
you can sample hearty fare like the Hunter's Grill - a
trio that features a gourmet sausage of the day (the
night I ordered, boar was the sausage du jour), duck leg
confit and pork belly with fire roasted vegetables and
mashed potatoes - or something more waist-friendly
like the Grilled Carolina Grouper over Lemon Mascarpone and Asparagus Risotto. Both are fantastic options,
though during the winter months I gravitate toward the
Hunter's Grill with it's perfectly rendered pork belly
and always interesting and different sausages.
Perhaps my favorite entrée, however, is the Pepper

Seared Duck Breast with Blue Cheese Grits, Tomato
Confit, and Balsamic Cherry Reduction. Although the
blue cheese grits are redundant if you have ordered the
lamb lollichops or the grouper (it would be nice to see
more variety with compositions), the remainder of the
dish is a marriage of equals. Ordered medium-rare, the
black pepper rubbed duck breast was cooked perfectly
with a good sear and it positively sings in the rich, tart
balsamic cherry reduction. Each component is separately delicious, but together they work in harmony to
create a balanced, memorable dish.
It would be egregious not to mention the restaurant's
well-appointed wine list from which I definitely recommend you order a bottle. Whites and reds are available in
matched supply and there are even a few local wineries to
choose from like Villa Appalachia or Horton. For cocktail purists, however, it's best to avoid the bar as I've yet
to receive a proper Old Fashioned (the drinks err on the
side of saccharine) no matter how many times I order.
And, at the end of the night, be sure to order a slice
of Coca Cola Cake before you head out the door. It
sums up the First & Sixth experience better than any
other dish - it is familiar yet different, with staple ingredients given the gourmet twist. It's Roanoke on a
plate and I may never want to drink another Coke again
after tasting this far better rendition. I

Date Night At

ROANOKE'S MOST
DIVERSE ASIAN
DINING EXPERIENCE
FULL BAR SEATING AVAILABLE

CafeAsiaVa.com
Sun-Thurs:
11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat:
11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Cafe Asia:

What A Girl Wants

Voted one of 2013's 100 Best
Restaurants in the U.S. for Service by OpenTable
105 S. Jefferson St. Roanoke * 540-982-6983
www.alexandersva.com

108 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

540-206-2298
3940 Valley Gateway
Blvd., Suite B1,
Roanoke, VA 24012
(Bonsack Kroger
Shopping Center)

Cafe Asia 2:

540-774-1688
3549 Electric Rd.,
Suite A,
Roanoke, VA 24018

THE

R OANOKER.COM

http://www.alexandersva.com http://www.CafeAsiaVa.com http://www.CafeAsiaVa.com http://www.alexandersva.com http://www.THEROANOKER.COM

The Roanoker - February 2014

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