Mashed potato mash up

In a recent Taste column looking back on some of the most memorable dishes from 2008, I mentioned the mashed potatoes at Culinaria. Customers love the creamy hand-mashed spuds.

But a letter included on last Friday's Reader Mail post from reader Adam Warner took issue with the mashed potatoes at Culinaria and the restaurant itself.

Culinaria owners Pam Grabowski and Ezio Reynaud sent me an email response:

Wow, Pat, our mashed potatoes sure struck a nerve for Adam Warner.

We want to make sure your readers know that we are not "upscale." Culinaria is a small
joint in [the Branmar Plaza] shopping center and we have no delusions otherwise.

Fine Dining? No, not at all.

Inventive and dynamic cuisine? Once in a while we'll take a chance and try to put something creative on the "additions menu", but mostly we offer straight forward food that we hope will please a wide range of tastes.

Oh, and our offensive grilled marinated chicken breast and mashed potatoes is $15.75 not $19.

By the way, Adam, we agree with your list of "Fine Dining" establishments, they are some of our favorites as well.

Happy Eating Wherever You Go!

Pam & Ezio