Art Openings are Back at Artful Upper West!

(Gerry Furth-Sides) It was an event to look forward to and did not disappoint: The first Sunday Art Opening Reception first art opening in over two years to welcome local Artist Bobbie Rich (@bobbierichfineart) to the walls of Upper West.

The buzz was immediate as soon as you walked in the door to be greeted with almost every table full. The artist met family and friends, and new friends. Her latest works are on the walls for the season. Guests enjoyed light snacks, wine, and community!

And of course there was the food! Last year the reopening of our gorgeous rustic neighborhood favorite last meant pared down hours (dinner only five nights a week) and a pared down menu from Chef Nick Shipp that was still sensational. California-fresh, ingredients enhanced each Mediterranean inspires dish to make each one feel like a classic: Sweet & Spicy Spare Ribs with samba-honey glass, watermelon and cilantro.

Inventive Chargrilled Whole Octopus ($22) with hummus, sweet pepper, thai basil, shaved fennel, passion fruit vinegar and sumac has a slight crunch to the bite and is tender inside. This could be a new favorite, and has the same slight surprise of sumac that was in the signature corn soup!

Grilled Artichoke Hearts with an ethereal citrus aioli, as stunning in color as in the mellowed, tart flavor, with fennel pollen, parmigiana-reggiano and herbs.

Roasted Cauliflower ($13), generous enough as a sharing plate is rich in middle eastern flavors with chimichurri spice, barberries, tahini, pine nuts with an Asian crunch twist of toasted panko.  It’s always fun to learn and we had to ask about the “barberries” here.

It turns out that barberries are long red berries that grow on shrubs, which have branches covered in yellow flowers. Known as zereshk in Iran, barberries have long been part of traditional medicine. They not only grow in Persia but they are found in America and Asia. The American version is more sweet than the European or Middle Eastern version. Barberries add a kick of citrusy flavor to dishes, like the neutral cauliflower, that needed an extra boost of brightness.

Even Nick’s obsession-worthy, take-away Burger Box last year as consolation, there is nothing like  “coming home” to have a dinner in the glassed-in patio in front of the open French windows with the partners and chef’s welcome.

And so is the  Adelaida Cab (2016) from Paso Robles that just always has to be on the wine list (by the glass and bottle). Guests like me are usually affectionately labeled “prima Dona” — I get stuck on items I .

Upper West Restaurant, 3321 W. Pico Blvd. (33^rd Street), Santa Monica, CA.  (310) 586-1111, www.theupperwest.com.