Mariposa bears the Neiman Marcus touch

Greer Wylder

To ladies who lunch, Neiman Marcus has always been tops on their

list. They can spend an afternoon shopping and trying on the finest

designer apparel, pamper themselves with complimentary facial

treatments, and now they can treat themselves to lunch at the new

Mariposa Restaurant. Men will also enjoy Mariposa’s ambience and

extraordinary dishes.

Neiman Marcus attracts those searching for fine merchandise. Its

flagship store opened in 1907 in Dallas, founded by Herbert Marcus

Sr., his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman and his brother-in-law, A.L.

Neiman. Their intent was to fashionably outfit Dallas residents and

offer the finest, most exclusive fashions with impeccable service.

Even though Neiman Marcus was 1,600 miles away from New York, the

pinnacle of high-style shopping, it captured the attention of

fashion’s elite. The founders appreciated the finer things in life,

including gourmet food. In order to improve the Neiman Marcus

experience, a chic cafe opened in 1953, called the Zodiac Room.

Today, the Neiman Marcus Group operates 35 Neiman Marcus stores

across the country and two Bergdorf Goodman stores in New York.

Almost every Neiman Marcus store features a restaurant or cafe, and

loyal customers across the country are hooked on their signature

dishes.

Last year, the secrets of their legendary recipes were revealed in

a beautiful Neiman Marcus Cookbook, marking the restaurant’s 50-year

anniversary. The Neiman Marcus Cookbook even made Oprah Winfrey’s

“Favorite Things” 2003 list for Christmas. Winfrey mentioned it on

her most anticipated show of the year, the Christmas show. The book

is available at Neiman Marcus for $45.

Neiman Marcus at Fashion Island is in the process of a major

remodel and expansion, featuring a new, upscale Mariposa restaurant,

replacing the original Zodiac restaurant. Whereas the Zodiac was

enclosed and dark, the new Mariposa is open and light. Mariposa

features floor-to-ceiling windows, ocean-view dining on the terrace

and a contemporary decor designed especially with the Neiman Marcus

customer in mind.

A Neiman Marcus lunch always centers upon contemporary cuisine. It

includes eight choices of composed salads, five sandwiches and six

regional entrees, featuring fresh seafood and specialty produce. At

Mariposa, chef Steve C. Palmer and manager Jill Crozer have created a

wonderful lunch menu that shows off their culinary talents, while

keeping Neiman Marcus’ signature dishes. Palmer came from David

Wilhelm’s Culinary Adventures, while Crozer interned at Aubergine

Restaurant, one of Newport’s finest restaurants. Pastry chef Sumalar

Saisombot creates fresh desserts daily.

Neiman Marcus has a tradition of starting lunch with complimentary

hot chicken consomme, served in white demitasse cups with tiny,

crescent-shaped cheddar cheese biscuits. The restaurant then serves

the most recognized Neiman Marcus lunch trademark -- giant popovers

served with strawberry butter.

Other signature items include the Mandarin Orange Souffle salad

with chicken, fruit and poppy-seed dressing and fruit bread ($15).

This bestselling lunch dish isn’t a typical baked souffle; it’s more

like a light, whipped gelatin mold, served alongside a chicken salad.

Other popular dishes include the individual toasted coconut-lemon

cakes that come with mango puree and summer berries, and its

world-famous chocolate chip cookie.

Although the menu changes with the season, the fall menu includes

starter dishes including crab cakes with a micro-salad and citrus

aioli ($12), and an heirloom tomato stack -- a tower of pesto ricotta

and a drizzle of balsamic reduction ($10).

Among the entrees is a miso-glazed sea bass with crispy rice cake,

baby bok choy and sake butter carrots ($20); a duck confit that comes

in a radicchio cup with frisee, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan and

seasoned rice vinaigrette ($18); and an herbed artichoke-crusted New

Zealand lamb rack with creamy polenta, Moroccan olives, coriander and

Madeira jus ($22).

An excellent beef tenderloin and tomato salad comes with Blue Lake

green beans, heirloom tomato, peppercress, shaved Asiago, roasted

shallot and truffle vinaigrette ($22).

There is also a half-pound Black Angus cheeseburger with Tillamook

cheddar, onion straws on a potato roll with French fries ($13) and an

California ahi tuna wrap with daikon sprouts, watercress,

wasabi-avocado mayonnaise, marinated cucumber and tomato with cole

slaw ($18).

The ladies’ lunch set knew long ago where to spend a memorable

afternoon. Newport’s finest specialty store now also has one of the

most inviting lunch rooms.

With Mariposa’s refined, contemporary setting, it’s an ideal place

for special events and private parties. It also offers off-site

catering services.

* BEST BITES runs every Friday. Greer Wylder can be reached at

greerwylder@yahoo.com; at 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626;

or by fax at (714) 966-4679.