Saturday, March 16, 2024

Dinner at Baci

 Saturday, February 10, 2024

Baci Restaurant

Another one of Margie's Monthly Wine Dinners. at Baci Italian Restaurant. Been a couple of years since we have been to Baci. Attended by 17 hungry and thirsty people. A larger group as the restaurant had not limit on the amount of people that could attend.  Seated in the back dining area away from the main area with the bar and entertainment. 

I ordered the Mushroom Risotto. It was OK but nothing overly exciting. I felt the amount of mushrooms was skimpy since they were the "protein" for the dish and for the price. Did not have any appys or dessert. Still have issues with the amount of food I can consume at a time. At least the weight is staying off. 

17 people 20 wines. And most were empty bottles by nights end. I did taste numerous ones but since this posting is late I can't remember them all and what I liked or disliked about them. So if no comment after name of wine means I just can't remember if I tasted it or not. I brought a 2019 Laccento, di Castagnole Montferrato, Italy, Ruche. For a less expensive, $25, wine I thought it was showing quite well.  Someone must have liked it as there was none left to take home.

NV Launois Le Mesnil Sur Oger, France, Valentine Brut Rose - very good

NV Europa, Vienza, Italy, Prosecco

2017 Freemark Abbey, Napa Valler, Cabernet Sauvignon - good wine

NV Mionette, Valdobbiadeve Superiore DOCG, Brut Procescco

2022 Daou, Adeladia District, Paso Robles, Reserve Rose

2022 Elena Watch, Tramin, Italy, Lagrein

2017 Husch, Anderson Valley, Late Harvest Gewurztraminer - did not taste

2018 Castoro Cellars, Paso Robles. Whate Rock Vineyards, Primitivo - did not taste

2013 Williams Selyem, Russian River, Papera Vineyards, Zinfandel

2017 Beringer, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Monteverro, Italy, Vermintino

2021 O'Connell, Russian River Valley, Pratt Vineyard-Irwin lake, Chardonnay - did not taste

2019 Marchesi Antinori. La Braccesca, Maggiarino, Vino Nobile di Montepulcino, DOCG< Toscano, Italy

???? Maraia, Maranzana, Piedmont, Italy, Barbera del Monferrito

???? Mezzacorona, Italy, Pinot Grigio -  did not taste

NV Mionette, Valdobbiadene, Italy, Prosecco

2020 Nals Margreido, Alto Adige, Italy, Sirmian, Pinot Blanc - did not taste

???? San Fekice IIL Grigio, Tuscany, Chianto Classico Reserva

2021 Vadiaperti Montefredine, Campania, Italy, Fiano de Avellino - interesting



Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Lunch at The Fresh Green Olive with the boys

 Tuesday.  March 12, 2024


Decided to try a Mediterranean restaurant next to Masala Waves.  The Fresh Green Olive. The owner was at one time affiliated with The Green Olive in Long Beach. Large open area with a side area for large parties. Clean and neat.  Music was a bit too loud for my taste and after awhile the "Mediterranean" beat got to me.  

We ordered a variety of small dishes to get an inkling of the quality of their food.  Hummus was very good.  Baba Ghanouj was also good and I am not an eggplant fan.  The Tabouli looked good but had too many ingredients that I cannot eat so I passed.

We had an order of Falafel. Not to my taste as it had way too much cilantro for me. It also was very salty. When the owner asked about it we told him the salt issue and he went back into the kitchen to check the mix.  Yes it was too salty he said. Two people added salt not knowing the other had. Thanked us for pointing it out to him.

We had two platters of meat. Gyro and Chicken Shawarma. Very small, thin slices but they were moist which was a good sign. So many middle eastern restaurants cremate their meat so it is so dry it becomes inedible to me. 

Rounded out the meal with pita chips and fresh pita bread.

Two bottles of wine were on the table. A 2014 Clos Pepe VS Pinot Noir which was showing exceptionally well and a 2021 Educated Guess, Oakville, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon which turned out to be surprisingly good for an inexpensive wine. 


Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Lunch With The Boys At Masala Waves

 Tuesday.  January 23, 2024

Masala Waves Restaurant


A new place to try today.  Indian and Nepalese food.  After checking out online we decided to try because they had Yak, Goat and Lamb on the menu. Menu did not disappoint. 

Started off with a bowl of Lenil Soup - I personally am not into lentils and the spice in the soup was not  for me either. My dining companions did like it.

Then on to Vegetable Momo's.  Dough was tender and the vegetable filling was good.  But again a dish I would not order on my own. Obviously some spice I am not getting my taste buds around,

Next appetizer was Spinach Naan Dip. Naan bread with a spinach cheesey filling. This dish was very good. We decided we liked it much better than plain Naan. A definite keeper. 

Main dishes for us were the Yak Chow Mein and the Lamb Korma. Lamb was tender and had good flavor but for me the Yak Chow Mein was a winner. Yak meat was very tender and flavorful. Chow Mein noodles were al dente and really good flavor. A very good dish. So good I took another order of it home. 

We opened two wines today. a 2013 Sojurn , Wohler Vineyards, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir and a 2014 Samsara, Las Hermanas Vineyards, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir.  Both very good. The Sojurn was a bit more complex. Interesting comparisons between the two. Different areas and climates. But also very similar. 

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Margie's Dinner at The Red Table

 Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Red Table Restaurant


13 of us for Margie's monthly dinner. Tonight we are at the Red Table.  Seating was much better than last year. A bit more room. In fact numerous things were better. Last year was a bit chaotic, new owner, chef quit, etc. this year was much smoother.  Food was better. Staff seemed to work well together tonight.  

Since I still have gastric issues, I cannot eat much at one sitting. I did order the braised short rib that came with mashed potatoes and baby vegetables.  Had no appetizer. Ate a third of the meat and potatoes and boxed the rest to take home. Short rib was very good, nice flavor and tender.   I did take a taste of one bubbly but no white wine tonight for me. 

I did have a bit of a hard time reading the wine list. Some facts were not put down and I had to decipher handwriting. 

 Several of the wines listed I would have like to try. But I only have so much capacity and sometimes people just hoard their wines and don't pass them around the table. 

NV   Launois, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blanc Reserve, Champagne - very, very good, wish I could have tolerated more.

???? Thorton, Temecula, Brut Reserve

???? Belle Glos, SMV, Clark & Telephone, Pinot Noir - very good

2002 Robert Mondavi, Oakville, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2010 Merry Edwards, RRV, Coopersmith, Pinot Noir - a very nice clean wine

2017 McPrice Myers, Paso Robles, Grenache - I did like this wine

2017 Cinquain Cellars, Prose, Paso Robles, Bordeaux blend

2018 Buttonwood, Santa Ynez Valley, Classic Cuvee, Bordeaux Blend - a good balanced wine

2019 Chevreaux-Bournazei, La Parcelle, France, La Capella Champagne

2020 Bound, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2020 Denner, Paso Robles, Grenache

2020 Letita, Arroyo Grande, Sparkling

2021 Onesta, Lodi, Bechtold Vineyard, Rose of Cinsault

2021 Lancaster Estate, Alexander Valley Samantha, Sauvignon Blanc

2022 Sea Shell Cellars, Paso Robles, Viognier


2023 Christmas Soriee in January 2024

 Saturday, January 6, 2024

I usually have my annual Christmas Soiree the first part of December before the festivities begun. This year due to Covid and other creepy bugs coming around it was postponed for a month. This get together is always limited to 12 people. I combine different groups of people I know so they really don't see each other except for my soiree once a year. Because of the change in dates two couples could not make it so I invited others to join. Changed the dynamics and conversation quite a bit.  House was still decorated for Christmas so it was still very festive.

Interesting assortment of finger foods were offered. Pizza, shrimp cocktail (sauce was very good), samosas, couple of cheese plates, smoked salmon, sausage and peppers, Honey baked ham and turkey sliders.   Cookies, fudge, truffle candy and cheesecake rounded out the food table. 

I did not write a list down for the wine. Relied on the pictures I took so there are a couple missing from the list. The two standouts were the 2013 Rochioli and the 2013 Clos Pepe VS.  Barely a few swallows left in each bottle.

???? Tyler (white wine)

NV  Gruet Cuvee 89,  Brut Rose

2010 Liopart Gran Reserva Brut

???? Marcarini, Brumate, Barolo

2012 Autry, Tertian, Harmony, Blend

2012 Saxum, Booker, Blend

2013 Clos Pepe VS, Pinot Noir

2013 Rochioli, Sweetwater, Pinot Noir

2014 Viader, Limited Edition ? (

2016 Rusack, Estate Reserve, Syrah

2018 LeVigne, Petite Syrah

2018 Soliste, Pinot Noir

NV   Francis Ford Coppola. Chocolate Wine



Saturday, December 23, 2023

Lunch at Sea Food Cove # 1

 Friday, December 22, 2023

Lunch today with the boys at Seafood Cove # 1 in Westminister.  Have not been out for awhile, so today is a treat.  Restaurant was packed today because of Christmas.  Watched them move loads of lobsters around in the tanks. Getting the oldest ones on top. Did not see one lobster that was less than 3 lbs. At $32 a pound.  Some were weighing in at over 6 lbs.  Front door was open so I could see the reflection of outside in the tanks. Some person got hit by a car crossing the street. Could see all the emergency personnel doing their job.  Interesting lunch today. Not the normal.

Started off with the spicy sour soup. A bit more spicy than usual. Different cook.  

We ended up with a plate of Pea Shoots. Henry wanted long beans but for some reason they were out of them along with a couple other green vegetables. 

Also ordered the Salt and Pepper Fried Fish Filet and Pork Chops Peking Style. Both were very good today.

Wines today were all excellent. Tis the season. A 1999 La Pousse d'Or, Corton Bressandes, Grand Cru, Pinot Noir.   2015 Roar Pisoni Vineyard, Pinot Noir and a 2006 Clos Pepe Estate, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir. All very enjoyable. 

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Margie's Monthly Dinner at Buon Gusto

 Buon Gusto

Wednesday,  October 18, 2023


12 of us tonight for dinner.  We were seated on the outside patio. It was a pleasant evening, cool but not chilled.  The servings at Buon Gusto are huge. You can eat for 2 days off of the leftovers.  I ordered the Oso Buco with Fettuccini that came with meat sauce. Still too much tomato for my issues. Ate the meat and took all the pasta home. There are plates of large oblong rolls on the table. These are not warm so I will pass on them. Don't need all the carbs and calories anyway. But if they had been hot I would have devoured at least one of them. Ordered Pistachio Gelato for dessert. Again a huge portion. I did leave some in the bowl. Buon Gusto has a very extensive menu and the food is good. I will not call it great but it is good and no one walks out without leftovers.

Interesting list of wines. Margie asked everyone for Italian wines. She got a very mixed bag tonight. I tasted 2 bubblies and 1 white. Big mistake Not a pleasant night for me. Should have stuck entirely with reds. 

I brought a Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Angeli which is a Syrah. Grapes picked from the best area and vines in the vineyard. Showing very well.

NV   Launois. Le Mesnil Sur Oger, France, Champagne - small pour very good

NV   Santa Margarita, Italy,Vino Spumante Rose Brit sparkling. small pour very good

2021 Fratelli Alessandria Pinsoit, Italy, Langhe Nebbiolo - did not taste

2021 Gorgona Costa Toscana Firenze, Italy, Frescobaldi - interesting wine

2013 Bodkin, Rogers Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma - Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2014 Fattoria di Bagnolo, Italia, Frienze, Chianti Reserve - did not taste

2021 Selvanova La Corda di Luna, Tere de Voltuno, Campania, Italia - did not taste

2020 Belle Glos, Sonoma County, Oeil de Perdin, Blanc de Noir - did not taste

2016 Curran, Rancho La Vina, Pinot Noir - always a winner

2016 Curran, Santa Barbara County, Tempranillo - did not taste

2018 Dewitt Vineyard, Amador County, Barbera - did not taste

2021 DeMonteverro, Toscano, Italy, Vermentino - did not taste

2014 J. Lohr, Suite E Cuvee - did not taste

2014 J. Lohr, Carls Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon - did not taste

2021 Trefethen, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, Chardonnay - did not taste