It may be accidental (doubtful), but The Hermosa Inn’s new underground dining experience looks like a yummy nod to Game of Thrones' Westeros with its cavernous setting. As part of LON’s at the Hermosa, the newly-opened dining space features a brick floor that contrasts with rock walls, while medieval furniture accented with red velvet cushions bring castles and dragons to mind. The small space is actually the restaurant’s wine cellar, but from now to September, it is a neat little hidden space for Scottsdale locals and visitors.
“Lon's wine cellar is a private space that many guests don't know we have, which makes our cool dining experience something extra special,” says David Jette, Director of Food & Beverage. “The comment we receive most often is that guests feel as if they've been transported to France or Italy; it gives this old world ambiance. Many guests also don't realize that it is a working wine cellar and are surprised by the cool temperatures.”
Though Executive Chef James Ducas is still putting the final touches on the menu, an accurate sampling of what’s on offer includes “garden gazpacho with pickled green tomato salad; roasted beets and goat ricotta with crispy beet chips; sweet corn Angelotti with roasted tomato broth; halibut with curry broth, dry-age strip loin with gnocchi and braised greens; and seasonal sorbet.” Changes will also be made to the menu to coincide with seasonal ingredients sourced from their garden and from local farmers.
“Guests get to enjoy a special chef's tasting menu, paired (and surrounded by) some of the finest wines from around the globe, and they get to be a part of our history—when we built this space we found the original owner's underground tunnels, which were used for he and his buddies to escape to their horses when the sheriff would show up unannounced during a night of drinking and gambling in the 1930's.”
LON’s at the Hermosa suggests that if you order the duck, you should accompany it with the 1992 Château Pétrus, which is the rarest wine in their cellar. Full-bodied, rich and spicy, the merlot also goes well with roasted root vegetables, duck confit, and mesquite gnocchi. The most expensive bottle on their wine list is the 2011 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti "La Tâche,” which also pairs well with the aforementioned dishes. It has “subtle hints of red, blue and black fruit along with roses and spices on the nose with some plum oak and Asian spices,” and is best when decanted for 2-3 hours prior to sipping.
The chef's tasting menu is priced at $65 a person with an optional wine pairing for an additional $35 per person (or a cocktail pairing for an extra $25).
