For most of her culinary career, Erin McCartt has had to follow someone else’s rules.
Now head chef of the newly rebranded Urban Pine Winery & Eatery, she makes her own.
McCartt has full autonomy over the expanded menu debuting Feb. 20, which weds her culinary specialties with wine and cider bases produced in-house.
“It’s been a really fun journey being here, matching the foods, [and] the atmosphere to the wine,” Chef Erin said during remarks at a menu preview event held Tuesday.
New delights include salmon glazed with Urban Pine’s hard cider, bourbon mac and cheese customizable with crispy chicken and other toppings, and a pork belly appetizer served on a jalapeno cornbread with a little hot honey.
Urban Pine will also offer seven new burgers, including a delectable-sounding wine and cheese butter burger, alongside new flatbread options and a cheesecake flight.
For Jennifer McAlear, the time was ripe for the female-owned business, located at 3415 Briarfield Blvd. in Maumee, to widen its scope. When the menu goes public, it will be the culmination of a year’s worth of work.