‘Unknown Diners Descend on Collage’

 Under cover of darkness, the group known simply as ‘The Palencia Unknown Diners’ quietly gathered at a pre-arranged rendezvous point.  Once together, they synchronized their timepieces, then boarded a transportation unit and head to 60 Hypolita Street in old St. Augustine . Upon entering the establishment, the group was quickly seated at an attractively set table in one of the restaurant’s two small dining rooms.  The feeling was cozy and warm. The wood plank and exposed wood beam ceiling, coupled with the autumn orange wall tint, added to the warmth of the experience.  The wait staff was pleasant and attentive. 

 Just as the supper sleuths were sliding into their seats, a surprise twist confronted them.  They discovered that the restaurant had been renamed Collage, and its menu theme had become ‘artful global dining.’  The menu still included some of the favorites from the former French restaurant; it also boasted some new concoctions representing a more international flavor.  Very intriguing!

 Since Collage is strictly a restaurant (no bar), the Unknown Diners would forego their usual pre-dinner cocktails and spied upon the beer and wine list instead.  The list was quite adequate, with a good variety of California , French and Italian wines at reasonable prices.  They chose a 2000 vintage French grape from the St. Emillion region at $42/bottle and found it to be delightful.

 As they investigated their menus, warm Tuscan-style bread, accompanied by whole fresh roasted garlic cloves and herbed butter was conveyed to the table.  The wine ad bread made for an excellent start to this clandestine undertaking.  The menu provided a choice of 4 salads ranging in price from $5 to $9 and 6 appetizers priced at either $9 or $10.

 One of the covert diners ordered the spinach salad, constructed of fresh baby leaves with crisp water chestnuts and a nicely aged blue cheese, then coated with distinct raspberry flavored vinaigrette.  The salad rated a thumbs up!  Other appetizers sampled include potato crusted shrimp served with remoulade sauce, prosciutto wrapped jumbo shrimp grilled and accompanied by garlic mustard sauce, escargot with mushroom and cognac cream sauce and fried scallops served over pepper-onion-cilantro salad.  Collage’s international food theme became quite apparent as the group savored the nice variety and taste of these unique appetizers.

 Before the entrees were served, a petite cup of delicately flavored pear-Midori sorbet was presented to cleanse the palate (a nice touch). Collage listed four dinner specials on the menu price between $26 and $42, plus 7 international entrees with tariffs ranging from $24 to $36. In addition, steak-loving patrons could order an 8-ounce tenderloin or a 12-ounce New York Strip prepared plain or with one of six different sauce toppings for $31 or $27 respectively.

 Main courses included food from all points of the globe such as rack of lamb with Dijon-pistachio crust, lobster ravioli in pesto-cream sauce and veal Orleans prepared with sherry and demi-glace.  Potato crusted flounder in a Buerre Blanc sauce with couscous, plus seared Ahi tuna stacked over wasabi slaw and crispy gyoso chips rounded out the international flavors brought to the table. To complete their surveillance of Collage, the group finished the evening with a heavenly warm butter rum cake, Grand Marnier-flavored crème brulee and white chocolate macadamia nut cheesecake.

 What were the results of their espionage effort? The mission was a SMASHING SUCCESS.  The Unknown Diners secretly tasted a great variety of exceptionally prepared food, sipped a few bottles of good wine and concluded that they will return to Collage for further spy work. Oh yes, they also kept their identities anonymous.