Café Champagne Opened for Thanksgiving Dinner

Many Thanksgiving holiday visitors to California's Temecula Wine Country, the premium grape-growing region south of Santa Barbara, are drawn by the promise of idle indulgence, delicious afternoon wine tastings, and lazy strolls through beautiful vineyards. But gourmands know that the pleasures of America's trendiest grape-growing region don't just spring from an oak barrel, and that a trip to the wineries means more than sipping and swirling. Temecula Wine Country is also known for its creative culinary opportunities.

Celebrating the holidays is a wonderful time to let someone else to the cooking. This Thanksgiving one of the best-known restaurants in Wine Country -- Café Champagne at Thornton Winery -- will once again be opening its doors for locals and visitors to enjoy a four-star gourmet Thanksgiving Dinner. Under the watchful eye of Chef du Cuisine Liam Griffen, the holiday menu offers local influences on a classic American celebration. "This is my idea of a perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Menu.  From appetizers to dessert, we have it all covered," said Chef Griffen. Adding to this media director Linda Kissam commented, "All our guests have to do is make a reservation, show up, relax, and enjoy this special day with their family." 

"Our restaurant has become an integral part of the local Thanksgiving tradition. We provide holiday dishes that give our guests the opportunity to spend less time in the kitchen and more time together with family and friends over the holiday," said Steve Thornton, the winery's president. "We're the perfect place for those who can barely toast a bagel, let alone roast a turkey...to the busy family or Wine Country visitor who just wants to relax and let someone else do the work."

According to Kissam, "If your days are filled with chaotic busy-ness, kids, a house full of relatives, conflicting schedules, jobs, and chauffeuring, you may look forward to a holiday as a day of rest. This could be your day to break the routine and do something different for a change. Not everyone wants to cook and clean on their day off, even if it is traditionally expected to be that way." "If this describes you, we hope to see you at Café Champagne," she continued.

Thanksgiving dinner will be served on Thursday, November 22, 2007, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Prices are $44.95 per person, plus tax & gratuity, $19.95 for children 12 & under, plus tax & gratuity CALL 951-699-0099 for reservations.  The menu is available for review on line at thorntonwine.com

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