Beginning this Monday, Jardinière will be catering to the value-conscious consumer (who wants to splurge every now and then) with a weekly prix fixe menu, which features dishes from a different region of the world each Monday night. For $45, you get a top-notch, four-course meal and a wine pairing for each dish. The wine usually doubles the bill with such meals, so this is an offer we can't refuse, when the budget allows.

The featured regions for the next few Monday nights are Devil's Gulch (Northern California), Dordogne, (South East France), Savoie (French Alps), and Tuscany (Italy). A vegetarian option will be offered each Monday as well.

Chef/Owner Traci Des Jardin hosted a press preview this past Monday, which featured a scrumptious Oaxacan Dinner. The Ceviche Costeño was citrusy and refreshing, the Liberty Farms Duck in Black Mole (containing over 21 ingredients) melted in our mouth, as did the Cinnamon Churros with Oaxacan Hot Chocolate. We liked the Caldillo de Nopales but weren't a fan of the dried shrimp that came in it.

Since Monday nights are generally slow in the food biz, we hope more restaurants follow Jardinière's brilliant lead!