Starling Diner Wine Dinner

Thursday, April 24, 2008

King Wine Company (Los Alamitos) was the featured wine at a new place in the shore area called the Starling Diner. This apparently at one time was a small grocery store. It is right in the middle of a residential area. Not where you would expect to see a restaurant. Very small, cute place but very noisy.

Gary King was there pouring his wines. He does not grow any grapes himself but sources his grapes from all over California.

We started off with a Portobello Mushroom Bruschetta. The bread was crispy the cheese was a mixture of something (we were trying to figure it out) and sauteed mushrooms on top. It was excellent. We downed 2 platters of this dish. The wine being poured was 2005 Central Coast Cabernet Franc. I think this is one of Gary's better wines.

Next up was a Sonoma Goat Cheese Tart with Baby Greens - The crust was phyllo dough, the goat cheese was very light and fluffy and they had candied nuts in it. Again a very good dish This was served with 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. And it went very well together. The Cab was on the lighter side and paired well.

Main course was a choice of Yankee Pot Roast with polenta served with a 2007 Solano County Merlot or Blue Crabcakes with Polenta served with a 2006 Monterey Chardonnay.

4 at our table had crabcakes and 2 went with the pot roast. The crabcakes were good but after having the ones from Shades, I was spoiled. I did have a taste of the pot roast and it also was very good.

Dessery was Dark Chocoplate Pots de Creme with a 2004 California Port. The bitter chocolate was a good compliment to the port. I normally do not care for sweets with sweet wines but this worked well..

Gary King did all the pairings. He came into the restaurant and tasted all the food before making his selection. This was a much better dinner, food wise that the disaster at Park Ave. ,last year where the chef did the pairing and that man should not be allowed near a bottle of wine.

This was a good and interesting dinner. It is out if the way for me but if you are in the area of 3rd & Ximeno it is worth a stop. The staff was friendly and competent. The food good and the ambiance "different".