Foodfinds

Well-rounded meal

Bowl

148 West St., 327-4443

I have this bad habit of taking my friend Megan to horrible restaurants, so when I made plans to take her out for her birthday, I’m sure she was thinking she better eat a sandwich ahead of time so she wouldn’t starve. This time I think I finally got it right. I decided to take her downtown to the West Street Market to try out Bowl. Bowl is owned by the previous owner of Sezmu. This restaurant is very different from Sezmu, though not in a bad way. While the space is small, it has a cozy modern feel. The place probably only seats 12, not counting the bar that runs along the front window. Overflow seating is available out in the market. Bowl has no paper menus. Instead, a large chalkboard displays the choices. The menu here changes frequently, but the main premise is that all dishes are served in a bowl. Bowl is a self-service kind of place, where orders are placed at the counter at which time you are given mason jars for water glasses. The water is on the counter in a large glass jar filled with lemons, mint and ice resulting in a nice refreshing flavor. They also hand you your silverware and napkins, which are bandannas. I thought it was really charming. Megan and I took a minute to sit down at a table and go over the chalkboard menu. We decided to start with some pickled vegetables ($4) and a bottle of Zestos Malvar ($20), a Spanish

white wine. They were quickly brought out to us. The vegetables by arrived in a small bowl, filled with K.J. Sullivan things like jicama, green beans and ksullivan@ cauliflower. They were crunchy with newsreview.com a light vinegar tang and sweet finish. The green beans stood out the most too both of us. The wine was crisp and fruity but had a dry finish. For entrées, I went with the barramundi ($15), which was served over lentils and topped with asparagus and prosciutto. Barramundi is a white fish that is amazingly buttery and sweet. The serving was large and had an olive tapenade on top that was rich without being oily. The prosciutto was surprisingly tender and flavorful. My favorite part of this dish was the asparagus, which was firm and had a smoky taste. Megan went with the Mediterranean style “stew” ($11), which was a vegetarian dish. The stew was a bowl of couscous, butternut squash, chickpeas and almonds, with more of that great asparagus on top. This was a great dish with so many layers of flavor. At first it started off rich, but then spiciness crept in. All of the ingredients in both dishes tasted really fresh, which was what stood out the most. Unfortunately, because we finished most of our entrées, we didn’t leave any room for the chocolate cake with ginger ice cream ($6). I thought the trip to Bowl was a complete success from the cool location downtown to the incredibly fresh food. I knew it had been when I told Megan we should get together soon for another dinner, and she actually agreed—after I promised we could come back to Bowl. Ω

Conorlee Romas mixes up a bowl at Bowl.

Bowl is open Wednesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

PHOTOS/AMY BECK

earth week 2012

Spend Memorial Day Weekend exploring the Black Rock Desert • Conservation Projects • LNT Camping • Guided Tours • Educational Talks • Kid’s Activities • Bicycle Race • Dutch Oven Cook-Off • Raffle (Including two tickets to Burning Man!) • Music & Fun!

When the pavement ends, the experience begins. Protect. Respect. Survive. p , p g p

BLACK ROCK RENDEZVOUS

May 26-27 2012

Plus, special tours of Fly Geyser and area hot springs.

blackrockdesert.org BlackRockRendezvous.com

thUrSDaY, aPrIL 19th

earth Week activitieS at the UniverSity oF nevada u ni V ersi T y of neVaD a Cam P us, r eno | Various lo CaT ions | Free

alTernaTiVe energy anD waTer: Joe Crowley Student Union Plaza, 11AM-2PM nV energy Trailer: Solar and Wind Power Demonstration. NV Energy will be bringing the trailer to showcase solar and wind power. energy-generaTing biCyCle: Who says you can't have some fun and get a workout in while saving Mother Earth? Burn some calories on this energy-generating bicycle! waTer TasTing: What is the difference between tap water and bottled water? Come and taste-test the water and find out yourself! bag monsTer, gaTeway Plaza: Ever wonder how many plastic bags an average shopper goes through in a year? 500. The Bag Monster will be strolling on the Gateway Plaza on Thursday! neVaDa unDergraDuaTe researCh symPosium PosTer session: Joe Crowley Student Union's Fourth-Floor Ballrooms, 2-4PM eVening feaTure film: “Patagonia Rising” Joe Crowley Student Union, Room 423, 6PM, FREE INFO: John Sagebiel (775) 784-1139

Wild & Scenic environmental Film FeStival olympic village lodge 1901 Chamonix Pla C e, o lym PiC Valley, C a | Doors @6P m , films @7 Pm

The larges T en V ironmen T al film fes TiV al in n or T h a meri C a! f ilms abou T: Energy | Water | Conservation | Climate change | Adventure | Wildlife

there will be different films shown on thursday and Friday. TiCkeTs $10, aVailable in aDVanCe aT new moon naTural fooDs in TruCkee anD Tahoe CiTy INFO: TahoeTruCkeeearThDay.Com/film-fesTiVal

earth week 2012

FrIDaY, aPrIL 20th

2nd annUal greenevada StUdent SUStainability SUmmit - UniverSity oF nevada Da ViD son maT hema TiC s an D sCien C es Cen T er | r oom 110 | 1-4P m

Wild & Scenic environmental Film FeStival olympic village lodge 1901 Chamonix Pla C e, o lym PiC Valley, C a | Doors @6P m , films @7 Pm

‘Growing resources for environmental education in Nevada’ (G.r.e.e.N.) a coalition of seven non-profits in reno - offers washoe County school District students an opportunity to share their ideas for improving their schools’ environmental standing. student groups from 14 local high schools present their sustainability plans. Self-paid parking is available in the metered lot south of Lawlor Events Center or on the top floor of the Brian J. Whalen Parking Structure INFO: David gibson, envirolution (775) 391-1329 Free The larges T en V ironmen T al film fes TiV al in n or T h a meri C a! f ilms abou T: Energy | Water | Conservation | Climate change | Adventure | Wildlife

there will be different films shown on thursday and Friday Ti Ck ETS $10, AVAilAB lE i N ADVANCE AT N EW Moo N N ATURA l Foo DS iN T RUC k EE AND T A ho E Ci Ty INFO: TAhoETRUC k EEEART h DAy. CoM/F il M- FEST i VA l

SatUrDaY, aPrIL 21St

tahoe trUckee earth day The Village a T s quaw Valley | 1750 Village e as T r oa D , s quaw Valley, C a

picnic For the planet mCkinley arT s Cen T er an D Park | 925 riV ersi D e Dri V e, r eno | 11 am-3P m

9am-2Pm 11am-5Pm 11am 11:30am-2Pm 12Pm-12:40Pm 2Pm-2:15Pm 2:15Pm-3Pm 3Pm 3Pm-3:40Pm 3:30Pm-5Pm 5Pm E-waste collection event (residents only). Please call in advance for info, (530) 582-2909 learn about recycling, composting, alternative energy, sustainability, watershed and forest health, and reducing our carbon footprint Main Event in the Village Begins Drop Theory with Special Guests Dr. Wilderness – Children’s Stage Show AShA World Dancers Trashion Show Raffle winners announced Dr. Solar – Children’s Stage Show Ten Mile Tide Event concludes Free free, round-trip festival transportation from north lake Tahoe, incline Village and Truckee on Tahoe area regional Transit (T.a.r.T.) info: tahoetruckeeearthday.com Celebrate earth Day and the Truckee river with food, fun and friends with a “Picnic in the Park” in a beautiful, outdoor setting right next to the Truckee river! People are welcome to bring picnics/food to enjoy in the park. fooD anD beVerage VenDors | beer TenT | fooD TruCks (gourmelT anD DishTruCk )

MUSIc: Jahzilla, The exchangers, Paisley brain Cells FarMerS Market: lattin farms, hadji Paul’s eggs, loping Coyote farms, earth alchemy farms eDUcatIoN: american fisheries society, The nature Conservancy and others Free providing interactive education for youth and adults. INFo: (775) 224-9158 or nvfovolunteer@tnc.org nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/nevada/events/reno-picnic-for-the-planet-2012.xml