WINE AND DINE AT GYPSY BISTRO

SPOTLIGHT WINE AND DINE AT GYPSY BISTRO

THIS LOCKEFORD RESTAURANT OFFERS MODERN CUISINE IN HISTORIC SURROUNDINGS

BY SARAH STEFFENS

Just around the corner from Main Street in Lockeford is the Olde Lockeford Winery. Founded as the Lockeford Cooperative Winery in 1946 as a winery and custom crush facility, today it exists as a complex of micro-wineries, and has been renamed the Vino Piazza by owner Don Litchfield. The facility is huge. It’s a 75,000 sq. ft complex, built of cement, a nod to the scarcity of materials during the war. The ceilings are high and when you step inside, you get a sense that you have gone back in time.

One of the micro-wineries you will find in this ode to wartime past is the charming Gypsy Bistro, serving a variety of vinos and rustic California cuisine inspired by the seasons.

Behind the company is Chef Lisa Freeman. Her background in the food industry is most impressive, having served as the executive chef for NASCAR, owned and operated a food truck in Northern California, opened her own catering company offering wild game cooking and urban cowboy cuisine, authored her own cookbook Hook and Horns, and having worked in many restaurants over the years. Let’s just say, those of us lucky enough to visit Gypsy Bistro are in good hands.

This January Gypsy Bistro unveiled its full bar, bringing more options to the table than just wine and beer. That means the cocktail menu is brand new. You still, however, cannot go wrong with the wine. Staff sommelier Colby will personally guide you in the most satisfying wine and food-pairing experience if you’re up for it.

When it comes time to dine, order the Arancini, risotto rice balls stuffed with cheese, both deep-fried and golden brown and served with pesto aioli. Inspired by Sicilian street food, every bite is mouth-watering. The Shrimp and Grits is an experience you don’t want to miss. Tender, charred shrimp in a smoky sauce with umami mushroom and bacon atop a bed of savory grits. Chef Lisa has nailed the ratio of polenta and liquid in this dish, ending with a perfectly creamy final product. The Rack of Lamb is grilled and served with blackberry port sauce, tender garlic green beans, and whipped potatoes or fettuccini alfredo. And the rest of their menu will not disappoint. With a list of burgers, sandwiches, a full Sunday brunch, and options for catering, there are countless ways to taste the rich charms of Gypsy Bistro.

THE GYPSY BISTRO

12562 Locke Rd., Lockeford (209) 327-0368 Gypsy-Bistro.com