
General Manager Terry Martin shows off one of the fine selections from Melange's wine cellar.
Last week I received a call from Constance Crump. Would I like to attend a Meet & Greet at Mélange? Sounded like fun to me!
I slid out of work a bit early (5:30 is normal for me, so 5 is early!) and headed into town. North-bound Main was a parking lot at 5:15pm. (Is it like that every day?) I managed to skirt around it and scored a primo street spot on Liberty.
Mélange is right near The Ark. The main entrance is a beautiful staircase with bamboo stalks lining one wall. (The handicap entrance, a must if you need to avoid a long staircase, is through The Ark.) The restaurant is all muted oranges, yellows, and browns. It takes a moment for the eyes to adjust, but the effect is a very cozy and private feeling. That modern glassed-in wine cellar you see above divides the bar from the main dining room.
Mélange recently launched a new menu under Executive Chef Sam Ness, who has worked, among other places, at Nobu in New York. In addition to their pan-Asian menu, they have a full sushi bar. The sushi we had was excellent, and the menu selection is extensive, with both traditional favorites and some exotica. Sushi prices are surprisingly reasonable. (And during their 5-6pm happy hour, you can give their sushi menu a try at half-off.) Their dinner menu also looks good — watch for a more complete review of Melange when we go there for dinner... soon, I hope.
I enjoyed a glass of Two Brothers Big Tattoo Red 2005, a nice easy-drinking red with lots of berries in the aroma. The eponymous two brothers, Alex and Erik, created this wine to honor their mother, who suffered from breast cancer. For every bottle sold, they donate 50 cents to the Arlington, Virginia Hospice and to a breast cancer research foundation in their mother's name.
I'm actually sad to say that we didn't get to meet everyone at the meet-n-greet, but here are a few I'd like to give a shout out to...
Myrna Rugg (pictured at right with her husband Rick Cronn) is the Treasurer of the Ann Arbor Film Festival. I know it's a great film festival, but what I didn't know is that the AAFF is the third oldest film festival in the world, after the Venice Film Festival and Cannes. They made news in 2006 when state legislators attacked them for showing "objectionable" films and attempted to pass legislation to single out the AAFF and deny them state arts funding. In turn, the board voted to forego state funding so that they can continue to uphold the Festival's artistic integrity. They are seeking community support so that they can continue to bring independent and experimental film and video to Ann Arbor.
The 46th Ann Arbor Film Festival will be held March 25-30, 2008 at the historic Michigan and State theaters.
If you'd like to support the AAFF and see this wonderful world-famous film event continue, you can make a donation. (The AAFF is non-profit. All donations are tax-deductible.) As an added bonus, with your donation you get to vote for what "Act of Audacity" the AAFF crew will perform in public. If you were one of the lucky people to see the Glam Rock street performance on Oct 17 (I was not, sadly), you saw the first Act of Audacity.

When I started Kitchen Chick back in 2004, there were only two AA food blogs (that I knew about!) — mine and The Ulterior Epicure, who has since graduated and moved on to parts elsewhere. Since then AA's food blogging scene has grown a lot, though oddly I have yet to meet any others in person. (Hint hint - blogger meet-up and holiday cookie exchange, anyone?)
But last night I had the luck to meet Maria, Shana, and Anne who blog about food and the AA restaurant scene at The Gastronomical 3. (pictured left) They're giving the Annabella Chardonnay 2005 a try (crisp, sweet, lots of tropical fruit aromas and an oak finish). Go check them out.
And finally, none of us would have been there but for Constance Crump. Long time Ann Arborites may remember her and the Crumpettes' food adventures in the Ann Arbor News. Thank you, Connie!
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