Anthology

“Take the‘A’ Train” to Anthology In a Class By Itself
Article in RAGE Dining Magazine – February 2009 by Bill Bliss.

Ahhh… sophisticated lady. Anthology, located at 1337 India Street in San Diego, is quite possibly the only prestige place in San Diego where a concert, cuisine and class combine to create a beautiful evening of entertainment and fine dining. The structure itself is simply stunning as three stories of location offer what numerous esteemed jazz musicians have called the most beautiful, cutting-edge and embracing club they’ve ever played at. Wynton Marsalis has said, “We’ve swung everywhere from The Glass House to Carnegie Hall and from palaces to dives. This place is a manifestation of a creative vision.”The vision of owner, creator and CEO, Howard Berksin was to respect artists and their music. He certainly has done just that by creating a world-class space with Anthology. Stopping in on a recent Wednesday night, you are immediately struck by the décor and the vastness of the location. From the modern and sleek bar area to the grand room with billowy blue curtains flowing ceiling to floor and lush booths and seating areas, one is struck with the feeling of being on a luxury liner or the movie set of a 1940s nightclub. The attention to detail and overall look is so impressive. The second and third floors also present an exquisite and modern décor that creates comfort and warmth with a unique fireplace and outside deck room on the third floor. That night, renowned jazz pianist Chuchito Valdés performed and the sound quality and proximity to the stage made for an exhilarating and never obtrusive night of pure entertainment.

Settled in one of their booths on the main floor of Anthology, my dining partner and I opted to start off by selecting one of their eight choices of what they call “First Sets.” These are numerous varieties of salads, or a chef’s daily house-made soup or empanada. Choosing the Spinach Salad with Boursin cheese, bacon and Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette and the Anthology Caesar Salad, we were served with a wonderful presentation on an oversized oval plate. There is definitely something to be said about fine dining while enjoying a live concert. You find yourself not only enjoying a fresh and flavorful salad but also savoring it even more because of the atmosphere around you. This was the case that night and my sentiments are surely felt by other customers who have dined at Anthology.

With fresh seafood, beef, organic chicken or pork to choose from for our “Second Set” it was difficult to make a decision on a main course. All of them seemed to call out for our culinary enjoyment. Nonetheless, we opted for the wild salmon with crushed potatoes, Haricots Verts (French green beans) and Beurre Blanc (a rich hot butter sauce) and the Shrimp Scampi with chili flakes, arugula and tomatoes served with a white wine sauce and linguini. Both dishes were exquisitely prepared and cooked with a fine distinction to taste and seasonings. Chef de Cuisine Kevin Ables and Consulting Chef Bradley Ogden have continued to bring innovative ideas to the table. As Ogden put it, “Fine cuisine, like great music, is created by subtle inspiration. Keep it simple, use the freshest ingredients available and put them together in such a way that the flavors, colors and the textures combine to bring out the best in each other.” This statement rings so true after an evening at Anthology. The service and hospitality of the staff is also important for success and on all accounts our needs and requests were met at a professional and friendly level. The catch phrase of Anthology that is prominently displayed outside the entrance is “fine-tuned music and cuisine.” Let’s elaborate further on that by adding “in a master-class of its own.” With so many star-quality entertainment performances coming up in their schedule of events for February and March such as John Mayall, Judy Collins, Jane Monheit, Branford Marsalis and numerous other phenomenal talents, mark it in ink on your own special note to experience the beauty of live music blended perfectly with an evening of fine cuisine at Anthology.