Wow, what a dinner! I left completely stuffed, but every single bite was well worth it!
All of the food served to us at the Vintage Press was just so delicious– I couldn’t keep my fork down!
I must say, I love dining out with food bloggers– I don’t feel so weird taking photos of everything! 
The decor inside the Vintage Press is classical and somewhat ornate. I especially loved the bar area!
Of course, I needed a couple of goofy shots, too!
Our group was seated at a large table in our own private room. It seemed so fancy!
The restaurant prepared a special menu for the POM Wonderful bloggers. Neat! 
The four-course meal started with passed appetizers.
I tried a couple, but for some reason, the server kept skipping me! But, it actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it left a little extra room in my stomach for the upcoming courses!
As expected, there was plenty of chatting at the dinner table.
Lovely bloggers!
In the spirit of the POM Harvest Tour, Roni, Caitlin, and I ordered a round of pomtinis. We wanted some antioxidants (and vodka!) in our diets!
They were delish!!! 
The appetizer course was the most amazing Wild Mushroom in Puff Pasty. It might have been my favorite course of the night. The dish was Shimeja mushrooms and shallots in a creamy cognac and tarragon sauce. Holy yum!
I should have paced myself knowing that more courses were to come, but I ended up eating almost the entire appetizer. The mushrooms were so tender– even meaty– and the sauce was divine. Man, it was SO GOOD!
After finishing my pomtini, I switched over to a glass of Chardonnay, which I sipped for the rest of the evening.
The next course was a pear salad with homemade croutons and pomegranate seeds tossed in a balsamic vinegar-olive oil dressing. It was also delicious, and again, I didn’t pace myself well. 
Before the main course was served, Caitlin and I took a minute to post an Operation Beautiful note in the bathroom.
For the entree, we had a choice of 3 dishes:
- Stuffed Filet Mignon
- Pistachio Crusted Salmon
- Quinoia Cous Cous
All three options sounded wonderful, but I went with the Pistachio Crusted Salmon for the extra Omega 3′s. The salmon was served with sliced red potatoes and a vegetable medley.
I tried a bite or two of everything on my plate, but at this point in the night, I was stuffed!
But, not too stuffed for dessert!
Dessert was heavenly! We had a choice of pomegranate sorbet or a Golden Chocolate Pyramid with Espresso Creme Anglaise. Can you guess which option I chose?
The Chocolate Pyramid was incredibly rich and thick. It reminded me of a partially cooked brownie. Mmmmm! I practically licked my plate clean!
After eating such a huge meal, I felt like someone needed to roll me out of the restaurant! But, as a previously mentioned, it was well worth the splurge!
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
What a gorgeous meal! Everything looks fantastic!
What a great recap of the dinner!
That food looks amazing!! Your pictures are beautiful!
I could go for a Pomtini about now
glad you enjoyed the meal! Not every meal is like that, so you should definitely taste everything
That food all looks amazing!
A pomtini sounds pretty amazing!
The puffed pastry appetizer looks amazing!!!!
Wow!! That meal looked amazing!!!! Especially the mushroom puff pastry!
What an impressive spread! Looks like a wonderful meal!
I just love pomegranate in cocktails as well. You only need a splash for lots of flavor, and it’s great to be drinking something that’s a bit healthy with the booze!
That food looks so good! And that dessert omg.
Glad you’re all having a great time
Everything looks so decadant. Glad you’re having such a great time. Thanks for sharing with us.
Oh dear, my mouth started watering when I saw the mushroom dish and it’s only 8:30 in the morning. All of that looks absolutely amazing – what a fun dinner!
meals like that come once in a blue moon. yummy, yummy! what a neat experience.
That meal looks fantastic. It looks like you all had such a blast! Safe trip home
MmmmmMMM! Looks so ridiculously good. Lucky lucky bloggers!!! Dessert sounds like everything I’ve ever dreamed of all on one plate
That’s all so incredible. I definitely would have gone for the salmon, too
What a great looking dessert!!
Sounds delicious, but the presentation of that salmon could have been better! Glad everything tasted good, though – enjoy the rest of your trip!
What a great meal to celebrate and indulge a little! I’m reading the book “Traveling with Pomegranates” by Sue Monk Kidd who wrote The Secret Life of Bees. Your pictures made me think about how funny it would be to be all around the fruits while reading the book too!
I have a hard time leaving food on my plate so I would not be able to pace myself either.
Looks like you had a blast. Must be nice to be in a group where you aren’t the odd one out taking pictures
wow every dish looks amazing!
glad you loved it!
I think I’ll be recreating that pear pomegranate salad for my dinner tonight! Looks like you are having a great time, enjoy the last of it.
Looks delicious! Love the goofy pictures. Sounds like a blast:)
Dinner looks amazing! I love how there were pomegranates used in creative ways in many of the dishes…
Amazing dinner! Looks like you’re having a great time!
wow! that looks like a great dinner! i can’t believe those were just all the appetizers before the actually meals came out and then dessert!
jenna
I love that I’m not the only one who loves to take goofy pictures of myself wherever I go. Those pics by the bar are hilarious!
Love the pic of you at the bar; you look so in your element! The dinner looks incredible! That dessert!
I chatted it up with your NuVal peeps at ADA’s FNCE this weekend! They put on a wonderful presentation about supermarket labeling. I went up to their booth and was like, I know about you through Carrots ‘n Cake!! haha They are looking forward to your start… It’s funny how I talk like we’re friends just because I read the blog. I’m like “oh yeah, Tina…” haha thought you might get a random laugh out of that:-)
what a fantastic meal! and that dessert! yumyumYUM!
I definitely would’ve gone with the salmon, too. Nut-crushed fish has never failed me–always SO delicious!
Glad you have enjoyed your time in California! I have never tried a Pom-tini but now I am intrigued
Dinner looks amazing!!!
This is SO weird to me! I grew up in Visalia and went to The Vintage Press for one of my pre-Prom dinners- it must have improved a lot since then, because I remember the food being so-so and the service being awful! Now I’m gonna have to try it out again when I go back for a visit this December! I’m glad to hear they have improved so much!
This is SO weird to me! I grew up in Visalia and went to The Vintage Press for one of my pre-Prom dinners- it must have improved a lot since then, because I remember the food being so-so and the service being awful! Now I’m gonna have to try it out again when I go back for a visit this December! I’m glad to hear they have improved so much!
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
Now I get to drool over this dinner on Caitlin’s blog and now on your blog! I’m jealous – it looks amazing!!! I think I would have chosen the salmon as well. Yum.
The paintings on the wall in the room you bloggers dined are gorgeous. And that dessert looks to die for!
That restaurant looks terrific! I’m dying to taste that dessert.
what a fabulous looking meal. ya, that mushroom appetizer looks amazing, I would have had no self control either with that!
now I want a pomtini……
Everything looks amazing!