Even body sushi couldn't save Temple. I can't say I was really surprised by today's news, reported by WCCO, that Temple Restaurant and Bar has closed - it's a tough market these days. I only made it to Tom Pham's Asian Fusion restaurant a couple of times in the one-and-a-half years that it was open, but I found it gastronomically underwhelming, and overpriced. Visually, the restaurant was stunning, but the cuisine wasn't really the cutting edge fusion that it claimed to be - more gimmicky than inventive. My favorites for Asian fusion are Cafe BonXai, and Ngon Vietnamese Bistro, both of which offer imaginative Asian fusion cuisine at very reasonable prices.

Speaking of over-priced, I have been stunned lately by some of the prices I have run into for wines by the glass. Recently, at B.A.N.K., in the Westin Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, when I requested the wine list, my waitress tried to steer me towards the Duck Pond Pinot Noir - for $18 a glass. I scoured the list for something more affordable, and settled on one of the cheapest glasses - a Woop Woop Australian Shiraz for $14. It's a very drinkable Australian wine of no great distinction that usually sells for about $8-$10 retail, and I've seen it on local restaurant lists for about $6-$7 a glass. B.A.N.K. does offer a big pour, but still...

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Also recently at Bellanotte. Carol asked for a glass of Cabernet without checking the price, and got a bit of sticker shock when the bill arrived - around $14.50 including tax. She didn't note the label, (I think it must have been Dynamite Vineyards, a bottle that sells for around $15 retail, and Bellanotte marks up to $50). She recalls it as a nice wine, but, still felt a little sticker shock. Maybe a price like that ought to come with a warning.

Gotta run, but check back tomorrow - I'll have some tips on more affordable dining.