Dine and Dish: Idle Hour Winery & Kitchen in Oakhurst

OAKHURST, Calif. (KFSN) -- Along a scenic stretch of the Fresno River in Oakhurst, you will find Idle Hour Winery & Kitchen at the Queen's Inn off Highway 41.

"I love this place," says Sharn Meinhoff. "Beautiful setting, wonderful food, great wine."

Idle Hour was known for its wine pairings before Anna Marie dos Remedios opened a Mediterranean-inspired kitchen.

"I can play with Greece, Italy, France, Spain, a little bit of Moroccan stuff," she said.

The American Wagyu Ribeye is prepared in a colorful way.

"The ribeye we cook in cast iron with butter and thyme, a little bit of garlic," dos Remedios said. "We finish it with this escabeche and tomato confit, and then a mojo rojo sauce."

It's served over asparagus, and that red sauce hits different.

Regulars have their favorites.

"Today, I had the Caesar salad and it was delicious," says Carol Moses. "The chicken was done perfectly and it was moist."

The Angel Hair pasta with artichoke hearts was heavenly.

"Our favorite pasta, Aglio e Olio," dos Remedios said. "It's a little bit of a Mediterranean twist on that. We added marinated olives, sun-dried tomatoes, a little bit of smashed garlic. A little bit of parmesan on top."

Chorizo al Vino Tinto was a delicious discovery.

"The Chorizo al Vino Tinto is perfect," dos Remedios said. "It's made with our Cuvee Rouge wine that we blend."

Yosemite tourists love this place.

"They're just surprised at the foods, Europeans especially, that we do foods like they have from home," dos Remedios said.

Save room for dessert.

dos Remedios was born in Hong Kong. The restaurant name honors her grandfather's ship.

"The junk was a big part of our family time there," she said.

Idle Hour's shared property includes The Queen's Inn by the River.

"In the evenings, you can go down to the winery and sit by the river," Meinhoff said. "It's just a great place to be."

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