The Pedigreed Italian Black Trumpet Bistro’s Mediterranean Tapas

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar, as breezy and fresh as the flower planters on the patio, has been a family run restaurant in the heart of Huntington Beach since it opening.  It’s freshly prepared fresh sauces, soups and dessert daily makes Black Trumpet Bistro a highlight of Huntington beach.  the kitchen combines fresh ingredients (from the best of international produce at Melissa’s Produce), in recipes gathered from the owner’s own home in Sicily and Copenhagen, and years working with a French chef.  The genuinely friendly, professional  service plus a fair priced menu reflects the best of this casual, spiffy beach-city. //(//www.theblacktrumpetbistro.com)

Friendly Kyle earring out plates of Lamb Lollipops

 Owner Dino is just one of those guys who appears born to run a restaurant seamlessly, and he has been cooking since he was 16 for friends and family.  The restaurant is named after the Black Trumpet mushroom in Italy – Dino laughed and said that they are now being grown in Oregon, and they are “ok.”  This theme evolved into the musical instrument, and now a jazz background. We have created photo albums around our Jazz CD’s because of Dino’s  curated jazz background music 

Owner Dino, of The Black Trumpet Mediterranean Bistro & Bar credit his staff in both of his restaurant every chance possible

New is the Happy Hour Program, and the bar itself at The Black Trumpet Bistro.  Dino told us that Jose, who has been with him almost 20years, learned how to make cocktails from the best, “and I prefer his to their’s now,” he laughed proudly.

Jose at the gleaming bar with a fresh batch of his own sangria at The Black Trumpet Mediterranean Bistro & Bar. We paired the drink with Charlie Musselwhite’s “Sabroso”

The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar specializes in Mediterranean tapas, small plates that bring you flavors from Italy, France, Spain, Greece and Morocco.  Customer favorites, include house special risotto, truffle fries, tuna tartare, and Brussels sprouts with chorizo.

The Black Trumpet Mediterranean Bistro & Bar’s Greek Tzatziki, with Greek yogurt, Persian cucumbers, mint dip

Cauliflower, quick fried, siracha , harissa aioli and a crowd-pleasing Brussels sprouts, sumac vinaigrette at the Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar. We paired it with Ray Charles duet with Natalie Cole, “Fever” (below).

Creamy yet textured Hummus, garbanzo dip at the Black Trumpet Bistro, topped with an Israeli salad of diced tomato, mimi-cucumber

Pizzette pera, roasted pear, baby arugula, Gorgonzola at The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar. The pear is first topped with a sprinkle of sugar, then roasted separately for a sweet-salty taste

The refined, rustic onion soup at The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar, very authentic from a French chef owner-chef dino worked with for decades, served in its own “onion bowl.”

Full entrees including traditional French rack of lamb, Moroccan chicken tagine, and a variety of handmade Italian pasta.   Meal can be paired with a rich wine or the popular house-made sangria at The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar.  Start dinner with the French Onion soup, in its own onion “cup,” just salty and cheesy enough.  We paired this “ooh la la” dish with Henry Mancini’s magical film score of Stanley Donan’s inspired “Two for the Road,” so characters Mark and Joanna (Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney) could each whack off the top with a spoon before loving every savory sip.

The absolutely mouth-watering Lamb lollipops, Moroccan couscous, mint pesto ($10!) at The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar.  The rack of lamb is cut, trimmed of fat, marinated, then grilled.

Veal meatballs, house marinara, shaved pecorino at The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar, which we paired with the film school of Motorcycle Diaries

Creamy, firm, Berry Panna cotta, with a layer of berry sauce on top. The texture is heavenly. Pasquini shows the care in picking the right coffees. We paired this Italian favorite with Nino Rota’s music from Fellini film scores

A new Happy Hour has just started, and it can be accessed in social media and also directly on the front patio post.  Judging by the regular prices, this will be one to go to regularly.  Proof of the care in specialty drinks is the FRANCOLI grappa, which is uniquely made with moscato but not sweet, dino told us.

All the information for the New Happy Hour is on the front patio of The Black Trumpet Bistro & Bar

Dino lives in Huntington Beach with his wife Lisa and their 2 sons Caleb and Joshua.  In fact, the day we visited was the chef’s usual day off, which he would have been spending with the boys who were home with the chicken pox!


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