Amarelle in Wading River closes

Chef Lia Fallon’s lovely, pastoral restaurant, Amarelle in Wading River, has closed. In September, the chef-owner was in a serious car accident that left her with a crushed foot (among other crushed bits) that has kept her on crutches. A chef on crutches can hardly work meal service, and during the busy fall season she hired another chef, Brian Szostak, to pitch in. During the lean months of winter, however, business could not sustain extra staff, and she had to make the tough decision to close.

Fallon’s doctors have just given her the OK to start putting weight on the foot, but it will be a while before she can resume the duties of a restaurant chef. In the meantime, she is catering and consulting, developing recipes and doing culinary events. For example: Valentine’s Day at Roanoke Vineyards in Riverhead.

On Feb. 14, Fallon, Roanoke and Wolffer Estate are collaborating on four-course dinner that starts with a raw bar (accompanied by 2008 Wolffer Estate, Brut-Blanc de Blanc) and then moves on to:

Poached pear and St. Agur triple crème blue with candied pecans and balsamic reduction
2010 Grapes of Roth, Dry riesling

French onion soup or
Cream of potato and leek, with chive crème fraîche
2010 Roanoke Vineyards Sonnet, chardonnay

Pan-roasted duck breast with smoked sweet potato puree and tart cherries or
Spice-rubbed buffalo hanger steak with wild-mushroom demi glacé and smoked sweet potato puree

or

Herbed gnocchi with wild-mushroom ragout, Cognac cream, shaved truffle pecorino
2008 Roanoke Vineyards, merlot

Dark chocolate torte with salted caramel sauce and white chocolate crème Anglaise
2008 Roanoke Vineyards, cabernet sauvignon

The price per person is $96. There will be two seatings, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Roanoke Vineyards is at 3543 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Reservations are required; call 631-727-4161.

Keep in touch with Lia Fallon via Facebook.