How to go
What: The Winds Cafe
Where: 215 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs
More information: www.windscafe.com or (937) 767-1144
Mark your calendar: Nov. 12-14: Annual Garlic Dinner
The way diners enjoy meals today compared to 15 years ago couldn’t be more different. No one knows that better than Mary Kay Smith, owner and operator of The Winds.
Smith who has worked at the restaurant since the late 1970s, still holds near and dear to the quality ingredients and European sensibilities her business was built on, but many other things have changed since she’s progressed in her career.
“How customers dined out and ate in the ’90s is very different from how they dine out now. There are more small plates than large plates and more grazing and sharing,” Smith said.
She says dining has become much more social over the years.
“The bar was a place for people to have a cocktail, maybe an appetizer. Now my bar is one of the busiest places in the restaurant.”
Smaller portions and dishes that don’t necessarily depend on big protein centerpieces are also far more popular than they were 20 years ago, Smith said.
The restaurant is currently gearing up for a seasonal menu change on July 2 and that means the last time customers will be able to enjoy some very special dishes for a while.
“I’m just kind of putting some tweaks on (the menu) now,” Smith said. “Farmers are a little bit behind on things because of the cool weather.”
Diners should expect to see produce that is yielded in abundance this time of year to be highlighted.
Cucumbers, zucchini, corn and tomatoes will all be featured in special summer dishes on the ingredient-driven menu.
But there’s still a few days to get out there and enjoy some very special dishes not to be missed.
Here are four unbelievable creations that make the trip out to Yellow Springs worth it.
• Salmon with Black Pasta ($13): This small plate was inspired by a unassuming Italian restaurant in Boston that Smith ate at many years ago. It's a modest dish that features a generous piece of grilled salmon set on top of squid ink linguine that's been mixed with a radiant lemon cream sauce. This is a dish served up with a light hand that lets the ingredients speak for themselves.
• Savory Moroccan Lamb Pastries ($9): Don't order this dish hungry as you will want to have several more in quick succession. These crisp phyllo dough "cigars" are packed with ground lambs seasoned with decadent spices from North African and served with a Moroccan inspired carrot and almond salad.
• American Homestead Pork Chop with Roasted Rhubarb ($20): This tender, tasty single-cut brined pork chop is grilled to perfection and topped with a roasted rhubarb sauce. Served with carrot thyme mashed potatoes and fresh vegetable, the tart rhubarb expertly compliments everything on the plate to create a wonderful symphony of flavors.
• Moroccan Bread Crumbled Eggs ($12): The dinner menu isn't the only thing that's set to change. The Winds brunch menu will also switch things up. Creative dishes like the Moroccan Eggs are what elevates The Winds brunch menus to one of the best in town. Inspired by one of Smiths culinary heroes, Gabrielle Hamilton (of Prune in New York), this dish features two eggs fried in herb seasoned bread crumbles and served on a savory garbanzo bean stew. Preserved lemon, olives, harissa and warm flat bread round out the plate. Sides like a single pancake ($3.50), a side of Nueske's Applewood Smoked Bacon ($3) and a cup of coffee ($3) are wonderful compliments to the meal.
And that’s just four of so many, many other flavorful, creative dishes worth investigating. If you can’t make it before the menu switches over, know there will be plenty of items worth ordering when you are able to make it out.
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