Socalo chefs Raul Plascencia and Enrique Soltero together with Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger brought a little Baja sunshine to the restaurant on a rainy night last week for a four-course menu paired with wines from the Solar Fortun Winery in Valle de Guadalupe.

Socalo

Kumamoto oysters in miso browned butter (Michele Stueven)

The evening, which featured new menu items coming to the Socalo menu,  kicked off with grilled Kumamoto oysters in  miso browned butter paired with a fruity low-alcohol 2023 Vina en Rosa in the colorful private dining room that is lined with huge works by LA-based abstract comic artist Clark Oswald (also known as Kieran Schweitzer and Milliken’s son.) 

And things just got more creative from there.

Inspired by the warm breezes and Baja beachside lifestyle, Plascencia and Soltero personally constructed hammock-like altars worthy of the evening’s uni served on top of a black garlic chicharron with miso sofrito and sliced avocado, paired with a smooth Solar Fortun O positivo 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blend that took on a surprising dimension once coupled with the sea urchin. 

Kogi cured hanger steak with guaca salsa followed alongside a 2021 Syrah, one of the winery’s flagship varieties.   Then came a chicken oyster fried in beef tallow on top of heirloom blue corn tortillas sprinkled with Brussels sprouts leaves paired with a Petit Verdot with violet, blueberry, lilac and cherry notes. Vanilla ice cream with candied papaya in cocoa soil was for dessert.

The  Solar Fortun vineyard is located in Francisco Zarco on the northern edge of Valle de Guadalupe and is run by winemaker Santiago López. The evening was curated and introduced by Gourmet Wine Getaways’ Peter Kerr.  The next Getaway wine dinner is on Thursday, Feb. 29 in Playa del Rey.  The $79 multi-course Great Italian Boutique Wineries Cantalini’s Leap Day (Night) dinner will take place at Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Restaurant.

Socalo

Clark Oswald Private Dining Room (Courtesy Socalo)