It's spring, Narrow Gauge Inn opens

In Business

By Elizabeth Gabriel

(Updated: Friday, April 18, 2008, 9:00 PM)

Signs of spring in the Mountain Area:

Leaves are sprouting on the oaks.

You see sandals instead of boots on feet.

Pickups and SUVs, with boats attached, are heading toward Bass Lake.

Seasonal restaurants are opening.

It's the latter that gets a lot of salivary glands working.

The Forks? Check.

Miller's? Check.

Now it's the Narrow Gauge Inn's turn. The vaunted eatery in Fish Camp will be back starting Wednesday. The countrified dining room with its great stone fireplace opens for business at 5:30 p.m. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday. Reservations are recommended and you can do that by calling (559) 683-6446.

Go on the Web at www.narrowgaugeinn.com to see some pictures and see menu items -- it will be difficult to make up your mind. Chef Connie Harsin and manager Carly Carper are ready.

And don't forget to say thanks for this: The restaurant offers a 15 percent discount for Mountain Area folks on weekdays.

Choices

The Fresno Bee (no, the Star is not really a part of the hive, but we are owned by the same company) has a public ballot every year that it calls the People's Choice Awards. That other paper's reach is a lot bigger than ours, so readers all over the central valley vote, and they recognized Mountain Area businesses as favorites.

Westbrook Wine Farm (www.westbrookwinefarm.com) near O'Neals rated a No. 1 in the winery category. Ray and Tammy Krause run the place and farm cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, malbec, merlot, petit verdot and carmenere grapes. The Fait Accompli label included all six of the varieties.

Westbrook will be featured at the KVPR public radio wine tasting and Sunday, May 4 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the riverside garden of The Lester Estate in Fresno. Tickets cost $75 in advance. Call (559) 275-0764 or online at www.kvpr.org/wine_tasting.

Coarsegold's Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino took a No. 2 in the popularity contest for local casino. The gaming palace opened on June 25, 2003. Since then, the numerous restaurants, the gaming facilities and the entertainment options continue to evolve. A new hotel tower is in the works.

Revenue from the resort and casino has helped countless charities in the area and in the county.

Check it out at www.chukchansigold.com or (866) 946-9466.

Sweet Dream Cakery in Oakhurst took a No. 3 in wedding cakes. Laura Zabicki is the designer and creator of these cakes, which you can see samples of at Crab Cakes Restaurant, run by her husband, Roman.

Go on the bakery's Web site at www.sweetdreamscakery.com (do it after you finish your dinner) for pictures that make you want to grab a fork and start chowing down. Call (559) 641-7606 for more information.

More on food

The Manzanita Cafe next to the Triangle Market in Mariposa will have its grand opening today and tomorrow.

Owner Deborah Van Arsdel said she has no background as a restaurateur but loves to eat. She hired chef Patrick Edwards, who has worked at Mountain Area restaurants Savoury's and Mountain House.

Grand opening festivities will fill the place 5 to 9 p.m. tonight and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow. There will be live music, free appetizers and free wine tasting -- tonight it's Mariposa Wine Co. selections and tomorrow, Butterfly Creek Winery will offer their vintages.

The restaurant is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. It's open for breakfast Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. and Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The address is 3125 Triangle Road, the phone number is (209) 966-7799.

Gas poll

So what else is new? Gas prices are up. Just be glad you don't drive a diesel for transportation. It's even higher.

Here's our Mountain Area poll, minus the Oakhurst Valero. When we called there, the guy answering the phone said the employees are not longer allowed to give out prices over the phone.

This week's prices, with last week's in parentheses:

Bass Lake Shell, $3.89 (same); Oakhurst Chevron, $3.85 ($3.79); Coarsegold Kwik Serv, $3.73 ($3.69); Coarsegold Shell, $3.77 ($3.69); Bootjack Market, $3.79 ($3.75); Pioneer Texaco in Mariposa, $3.79 (same) and AMPM near Avenue 12, $3.64 ($3.59.

Have business news?

Let us know. Call (559) 683-4464 or e-mail egabriel@sierrastar.com.