Himilayan

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

There is a new restaurant in Sunset Beach called the "Himilayan Grill". No corkage on Mon, Tues & Wed or 50% off the wine list. www.himalayangrill.com

Six of us decided to try it out and see if it met the requirements for CJ's Wine & Dine group.

We all ordered different dishes and tried them all. The normal Indian appetizer plate was ordered so we could compare with 2 other Indian restaurants that we frequent. We all decided that this "Himilayan Grill" was much better. I liked their lamb "shish kebab" better. It was moist and had very good flavor. The Samosa's were excellent. I ordered a dish called "shrimp chau chau". Chau Chau apparently is "noodles". This was the first time I had seen that on a menu in an Indian restaurant.

We were not disappointed in any of the food that we tried and decided that we would definitely be back

Rubber Ducky

Sunday, December 13, 2009

This evening Delius Restaurant in Signal Hill sponsored "The Rubber Ducky Tour". It is an amphibious that holds 48 people. Drives through Long Beach down to the boat launch at Los Alamitos Bay and goes into the water. We motored around the bay looking at all the houses that were decorated for Christmas and then returned to the restaurant. Everyone brought a bottle of wine and small plates of cheese and crackers were served. This was quite the festive event. Everyone was issued a "rubby ducky "mouth piece that made a quaking sound. And I thought my great-grandchildren were obnoxious. On the way back songs were sung and a few brave souls got up to dance in the aisle. Between the lurching of the vehicle and too much vino it was quite a sight. For $20 it was a cheap evening and a lot of fun. Getting on and off this contraption was a feat. The ladder is almost straight up and very narrow steps. Going up wasn't bad but coming down was a different game.

Favorite Chinese

Saturday, December 19, 2009

This was our last dinner at Doung Son for the year 2009 and we decided to bring better wines to celebrate the upcoming holidays. Everyone pulled out the " good stuff". As usual there were 8 of us dining tonight. Makes for better conversation and portions the food out well. The size of the dish at Doung Son is the same if you are 2 people or 10 people.

We started off with a seafood lettuce wrap. This is a takeoff of the "chicken" but much better.

Fried oysters tonight were large and plump and extremely fresh.

Next up was garlic prawns. The prawns were very large but this time they served them with the shell on and skewered. I felt the prawns were overcooked and dry. I prefer them split with the sauce poured over.

One of our favorite dishes is beef tendon and tonight it seemed extra tasty. Maybe we were just hungry with anticipation.

Chinese broccoli with seabass was brought to the table. Everything about this dish was excellent.

Scallops with mushrooms and green peppers was brought in. A little bit of bit to the sauce. The scallops were very good and I did avoid the peppers.

Oliver requested something with noodles so Henry ordered the same dish we had a few months back. Crisp noddles with a sauce. I just do not care for this dish at all. The sauce is really good but the noodles get gummy. I much prefer the soft noddles.

Last dish was lamb simmered in a gravy. This was the first time we had this dish. Apparently it is a "winter" dish. Very tasty.

Dessert was fresh melon and a warm tapioca pudding.

Al the wines that were brought were very good.

2005 Roar Rosella's Pinot Noir
2005 Krupp. Stagecoach, Cabernet Sauvignon (2 bottles)
2008 P/R Reisling
2005 Stolpmans Estate Syrah
2006 Domaine Jean Defaix Chablis
2006 Rusak Grenache
2004 Verison, Napa, Synchrony,
2005 Paloma, Napa, Merlot
2003 L'Aventure Optimus
1997 Cossart Gordon, Colheita, Baul Madeira

Preveza

Friday, December 11, 2009

6 of us met at a new restaurant in Los Alamitos called "Preveza". This was sort of a recon mission to check out the place, try different dishes and see how receptive they are in having a large group come in. CJ is always looking for new places to add to his "Wine & Dine" list

Preveza is billed as a "Mediterranean" restaurant. A blend of Greek and Italian. Pizzas, pastas, seafood. Menu is very diverse and a large selection of food.

We ordered 3 appetizers. Dolmades, which were excellent, Egg plant dip (babakanouch) which was ok, have had better and a smoked salmon flatbread which turned out to be really good. A big winner in that one.

Everyone ordered a different dish and everyone said their entree was very good. Everything from chicken to beef fillet to seafood and lamb. I ordered the grilled lamb chops ( your choice of 3 or 4. $16 or $19) Choice of several side dishes. I was so full from the appetizers I ate one chop of some pasta and brought the rest home for lunch on Saturday.

Prices are reasonable. Service was good. There wine list is very fairly priced. A bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvingon Blanc is $17 which is only a few dollars above retail. Corkage is $5.

This is definitely worth another trip to try a few more dishes. They seem to do a very large takeout business. Pizza boxes and large bagged items were going out the front door all evening.

We all brought our own wines, 2005 Ken Brown, Sanford & Benedict, Chardonnay, 2005 Merry Edwards Russian River, Tobias Glen, Pinot Noir, 2005 Melville, Clone 115, Pinot Noir, 2002 Alapay, Rebecah Beaudeax blend, 2000 Beaucannon, Napa, Cabernet, 2003 Nemea Caberent and a 2003 Meeker, Tutu Luna dessert wine.

Annual Christman Brunch

Sunday, December 6, 2009

I hosted my annual holiday brunch today. 33 people in attendance. A few less than last year and most people seemed to think the party flowed better. They commented on how everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Maybe next year I will have to keep the list of attendees down to a reasonable number. Maybe a lottery system to decide who gets the invitation.

Everyone brought a dish. I always ask for an appetizer, side dish or dessert. This year people seemed to opt for the desserts. They were so many "sweet"items. It became funny because everyone who walked in seemed to have a dessert. Now wait until next year, people will remember all the desserts from the year before and opt for appetizers and we will have no desserts.

I cooked a ham and two different kind of sausages and made 3 different egg casserole dishes. Put out juices and "cheap" sparkling wines to mix. When you go to a brunch at a restaurant they always serve the cheap "champagne". No different here.

Several people brought still wines so there was an abundance to drink.

My house was decorated ( I do that Thanksgiving weekend) and presents are wrapped, I can now enjoy the holiday season without all the stress that seems to go along with it. I have 3 dinners, an open house and a birthday party to look forward to before Christmas

Codfish Casserole

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Instead of our usual Wednesday night happy hour at the Pelican Isle in Sunset Beach we all headed for Chuck's house to be treated to dinner tonight.

Chuck and Janet had been on a 2 month road trip back east and into Newfoundland and the surrounding area.

They came back with this recipe for Cod fish casserole. Full of cheese and very good. It was a nice break from the "PI". Everyone thought that maybe we should do this more often. Sometimes your "hangout" can get stale.

Sea Smoke & Paella

Friday, November 20, 2009

Several people gathered tonight to have another taste of Paella and bring "Sea Smoke" vineyard Pinots to compare.

We had a 2007 Foxen "Sea Smoke" vineyard and a 2007 Sea Smoke Southing along with several other wines. Both of these particular wines were very good.

I also brought along a bottle of Maderia which I had purchased at a Maderia tasting Wednesday night. Iberico cheese , Agur blue cheese and anchovy stuffed olives were served with it . Apparently I was the only one that had tasted Maderia before. Several people were quite taken with it.

Nice way to end the summer/fall social season before we head into the holidays.

Brulee

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

9 of us got together tonight and had dinner at a small restaurant called Brulee. Apparently it is not brand new as several people have mentioned it to me lately. The place was a little noisy, the acoustics were not good but after the crowd that was in there for the "Prix Fixe" special left it became tolerable. They had a 3 course dinner with 2 glasses of wine for $30, 5:00 to 7:00 only. There is no corkage on Tuesday.

I will say that their pizza appetizers were excellent. They also served a small plate with small heirloom tomatoes and cheese which I passed up. The other people at the table said it was good

Various items were ordered and all said theirs were good. I ordered the short rib "osso bucco" which had great flavor and was very tender. A steak was ordered, halibut and lamb chops. No one had a complaint.

This restaurant is in Long Beach at Loynes and Pacific Coast Hwy., Parking can be dicey as there are several restaurants in the small shopping area.

Brulee is definitely worth another look .

November's Wine & Dine

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Tonite the "Wine & Dine" group met at my favorite Chinese restaurant - Doung Son in "Little Saigon". 16 of us attended this dinner.

Since CJ keeps a list of the wines brought, I just list the food. I did bring a 2005 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. I just grabbed a bottle off the rack and did not notice that is was the "VS" which is more expensive that the Estate. The wine was really a treat even though it was a mistake on my part and those of us that got to taste it were glad. The wine did not make it to the other table, That is their loss.

For some reason tonight there was an over abundance of white wines. Seems people think that whites go better with Chinese food but in the case of Doung Son it is just the opposite with most of the food dishes. The whites were fine with the lobster and the sea bass but so were the Pinots.

First up was a plate of freshly made "Shrimp Chips". The Chinese potato chip.

Roasted duck Cantonese style was served. The first time we have had it this was. Very good. Nice "jus" with it.

Lobster was put on the table. They take the whole lobster and hack it up into many pieces and stir fry it in a wok with scallions and ginger. It makes it's own sauce. They served it with the soft noddles that the lobster had been sitting on and the juices saturate the noddles.

Pea Shoots were served. We had this a few months back and they are becoming a favorite.

At this point I am starting to get full but I know there are a few more things to go.

Spicy green beans with white sea bass was set down. Then came Beef Tendon with Daikon radishes. Next was the Pork ribs - there have a sauce on them that is strangely like maple syrup. Crispy and very good.

A new dish appeared. Eggplant with chicken. I did not eat any of this as I had reached the saturation point and I just am not an eggplant fan.

Last up was the fried tofu with vegetable sauce. For some reason the tofu was not as good as it usually is. It did not seem as creamy. I ate 1 small piece. A bit disappointing.

Dessert was melon with leeche nut and grapes.

Sta Rita Hills Wine Tasting

Friday, November 13, 2009

Wine Country, www.thewinecountry.com, is Signal Hill, hosted at "Sta Rita Hills" tasting tonight. The place was a sell out but I was happy to say that my name was the first on the list for this event.

Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe and Ken Brown of Ken Brown Wines were in attendance. Both were extremely informative and we learned a lot about the Sta Rita Hills area and how it was formed millions of years ago. This makes it ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The knowledge that these two people had made for a really enjoyable evening and along with the great wines we tasted it was a not to be missed event.

Not all the wines were from these 2 wineries. There were 4 other wineries represented and it really showed the difference in wine making styles.

First we had a 2008 Clos Pepe Chardonnay and a 2005 Ken Brown "Sanford & Benedict" Chardonnay. Even though they were not the same vintages I gave the edge to the Clos Pepe. It was very Chablis in style. 2008 was a hard year because of the frosts. A very limited production of this wine. Only 75 cases made. The Ken Brown was a more fuller mouth feel with a slight buttery taste. Great wine but I did personally prefer the Clos Pepe.

Next two was the Ken Brown Sta Rita Hills Pinot, a blend of Rio Vista, Sanford & Benedict and Clos Pepe and the 2007 Alma Rosa Sta Rita Hills Pinot. This time I gave the nod to the Ken Brown. It just suited my palate.

Along came the 2006 Ken Brown "Cargassacchi Vineyards" Pinot Noir with the 2006 Longoria "Fe Ciega Vineyard" Pinot. The Ken Brown took this one hands down. I did not care for the Longoria at all and ended up dumping it. I've always been a fan of the "Cargassacchi" grapes.

Next pairing was the 2005 Clos Pepe and the 2007 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. Very interesting comparison. I have always been a fan of the 2005 vintage. And still am. Both wines will cellar.

Last was the 2008 Axis Mundi Syrah and the 2007 Samsara Melville Vineyard Syrah. The Axis Mundi is Wes Hagen's new baby. With the 2008 low yields he was looking for something to make along with the "very limited" production of his Pinot's & Chardonnays. Axis Mundi was born. Its a really dark almost brooding Syrah. I think he has a real winner here and I did prefer it over the Samsara.

Great evening with great wines. Doesn't get better than this.

November's Gathering of The Flock

Saturday, November 7, 2009

This month's theme was "9 Year Vertical of McKeon-Phillips BPR Cabernet Sauvignon" . Terry & Cora hosted this event using my residence. It was truly a unique experience and one of the best "gathering" in the 10 years we have been doing them.

All the food that was brought was great. People went out of their way to elevate their "offerings".

I did not keep notes on the wines but I do remember being very impressed with the 1999 and the 2005. These are not what you would call high end wines. Upon release they are in the $35 to $40 range. But they are very enjoyable food friendly wines and this tasting showed how well they cellar.

Some of the "flock" could take a lesson from this tasting and elevate their theme's a little. Not everyone can offer a large vertical like this but they could really use some help in the imagination part when they pick their themes.

No "gathering in December but next January we are on to Pinot Noir's, Oregon vs Sta Rita Hills.

Bukhara

Friday, October 30, 2009

Met Terry & Cora at Buhkara tonight for a quick dinner. I have had a hankering for Lamb Saag for awhile and tonight would take care of this. We all ordered lamb dishes, just different sauces. They brought an excellent Syrah and I brought a 2005 Sinor-LaValle, Talley-Rincon, Pinot Noir. The wine opened up very well towards the end of the meal. This wine can take a few more years of cellaring. I have bought wines for Sinor-LaValle for several years but had not had the opportunity to taste them until my September trip to Paso Robles. I got to meet Mike Sinor and he opened several bottles of his wine for me to try. Now I know to leave his wines alone for at least 4 years before opening.

Four Vines Wine Dinner

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Delius Restaurant hosted a Four Vines wine dinner this evening. in conjunction with Wine Getaways. I had not seen Peter and Bart in since the old restaurant. I was surprised that they remembered me. We also had Bill Grant, one of the owners at Four Vines at our table. Quite a character. Gave very good presentations of the wines being poured and a lot of the history of the old families of the Paso Robles area.

First Course: Crispy Pork Cheeks with baby watercress, black radish and pear sorbet. This paired with a 2008 Naked Chardonnay. No oak. Excellent pairing. I would not have thought to pair pork with chardonnay but this was a real surprise.

Second Course: Duo of Duck - Duck terrine with toasted brioche and caramelized onion compote. Also Roasted Duck Breast with confit of potato, micro arugula and spiced duck "jus". Paired with 2007 Biker Zinfandel and a 2007 J.Dusi, Dante Dusi Vineyards Zinfandel. Interesting to compare the two different winemakers approach to the grapes from the same vineyard. I would say the J. Dusi was a little bit more European in style. I think that was the consensus of most people at our table. But it was split on which wine they preferred. Again a very good food and wine pairing.

Third Course: Lamb Cassoulet - grilled lamb loin with white beans, dried blueberries and baby carrots. I will say that this particular dish was my favorite of the evening. It had such good earthy flavor. This was paired with 2006 Killer Canyon Syrah.

Fourth Course: Braised Short Rib, red wine cherry glaze, polenta puree and crispy shallots. The wine with this dish was a 2007 Heretic Petite Syrah. Again another very good pairing and good food. The short rib had excellent flavor and was very tender

Dessert: Frozen Raspberry Mousse, chocolate granache and caramel tuile. Served with a 2005 Zinfandel Port. The dessert was just the right "lightness" to end a heavy meal and take care of your sweet tooth.

Again another excellent dinner at Delius. These dinners are never the cheapest around but the quality of the food surpasses everyone else in the area. They use the best ingredients which shows up on your plate.

October Gathering of The Wino's

Sunday, October 18, 2009

This month's gathering of the wino's theme was "Wines From Navarra & La Mancha, Spain"

The host's went all out and made Paella for the crowd. It was excellent and not much was left. Everyone seemed to enjoy this food dish. Remy really went out and cooked an excellent main dish. The appetizers and desserts were good also. People seemed to make a little bit more effort to bring food that had a Spanish influence to them.

There were 32 bottles of wine on the table. A few duplicates but I was surprised that the "wino's" on the most part went out of their way to get wines from these districts. I would say 95% of the wines were good. A few clunkers.

A good time was had by all, good food, good wine and good friends. It doesn't get better than that.

Looking forward to next months gathering. A 9 year vertical of McKeon-Phillips BVP Cabernet.

Delius' Passport Tasting

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Every year (2nd Sunday of October), Delius Restaurant in Signal Hill hosts their annual "Passport Tasting". For $50 you get access to a minimum of 36 wines and a light buffet along with passed appetizers. It was a sellout this year so next year they plan on closing the restaurant and using all the dining areas for the tasting including the Prix Fixe room. That will spread the wine and the people out and it will be easier to deal with the crowd. They do limit the number of people attending but with Delius keeping the bar open and the prix fixe dining area open for reservations it shoved a lot of people into a smaller area

I usually take advantage of the discount prices of the wines being offered but this year I have glut of wines and I am trying to pare down to a comfortable number.

The food was good and the wines were good. Most of the wine vendors bring decent wines to this event. At some events the wine rep's bring the low end wines but not at Delius. Which is to everyone's benefit.

Ante's Croatian Restaurant

Saturday, October 10, 2009

CJ's Wine & Dine group met tonight at Ante's in San Pedro. We have dined here many times before. The food seems to be a mix of many cultures, Germanic, Italian , Greek and the Baltic countries.

We started out the the "Antipasto" platter - salami, ham, cheese, pickled carrots, radishes, celery etc. I only eat the meats and cheese. I find everything else does not come close to pairing with wine so why screw up my palate for something I can do without.

Next we were served "Sauteed Shrimp and Sauteed Calamari Steak". The garlic butter sauce is to die for. Best with hunks of bread soaked in it. Both of these dishes were excellent. There were a couple of white wines that paired perfectly with these dishes.

We were then served a "Dalmatian Salad". Just lettuce with a few other things in it. I passed on the salad. It had a vinaigrette dressing and unless you have a very low acidic wine you cannot drink a wine with this and have a "wine & food" experience.

The entrees served were "Cevapcici" - seasoned mince meat shaped into kebab rolls and served with raw onion. This is CJ's favorite dish. I find that is a tab too dry for me. I will eat one or maybe half but I am a "just this side of dead" meat person and meat cooked dry simply does not appeal to me. And the raw onions are another wine turnoff.

"Sarma" was served - seasoned ground beef and rice rolled in cabbage leaves. It had a very light tomato sauce on it and this is one of my favorite dishes. I had "cabbage rolls" a lot growing up and I suppose it might be said that it is "comfort food" for me. I just missed the potatoes that we always had with cabbage rolls.

Bowls of "Kisell Kupus" were put on the table. Sauerkraut, pork, sausage and vegetables. I have always liked this dish because they cook the sauerkraut dry. But I had a hard time finding "vegetables" in this dish and very little sausage.

Lastly bowls of "Mostacciolli" were served. One with a meat sauce and one with garlic, olive oil and bay shrimp. There is nothing great about these dishes, but nothing negative also. To me they were "fillers".

All the "entrees" seemed to pair well with a variety of the red wines. There were at least 24 wines on the table and by reason of "sanity" I need not try them all. After all I had to navigate the "Vincent Thomas" bridge, downtown Long Beach, Belmont Shore, Naples, Seal Beach and Sunset Beach to get home. All popular places for "Johnny Law" to hang out.

A good group this evening but one of the earliest Wine & Dine dinners endings. Most of us were out the door around 9:00 pm. Some of the die hards were going to a another local "watering hole" to prolong the evening.

Next month The Wine & Dine group meets at my favorite Chinese place - Doung Son.

Chinese Again

Saturday, October 3, 2009

We made another trip to Doung Son in "Little Saigon" in Westminister. Since I did not take any notes with this dinner I am going by my memory. The food I remember the wine I am very sketchy on.

"Garlic Prawns" - very large prawns split in half an cooked with a heavy duty garlic sauce. As always, very good.

Duck Two Ways - Roast duck with "pillows" for peking duck and then mixed with rice noddles and other mysterious ingredients and wrapped in lettuce leaves.

Fred Tofu with a vegetable sauce.

Chow Mein - a new dish for me. Nancy requested a dish with "crisp noodles". It was interesting, had a sauce with mushrooms on it. I would eat it if it was ordered again but I would not specifically ask for it.

Sauteed baby pea shoots. We had this at the last dinner and this dish I did ask for. Very light delicate taste.

Beef with Chinese broccoli.

Desserts were a "seaweed" tapioca pudding, fresh cantaloupe, fresh Jack fruit and because it was the "Harvest Moon" we were served a special cake that they make only once a year for this event. It was very good.

I did bring a 2003 Sea Smoke Botella which was showing very well. There was a Silverado Cab, a Tempranillo, 2 Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc, a 2007 Loring Rancho La Vina Pinot and a Ken Brown Pinot. This is all from memory so I don't remember the years or some of the labels. All the wines were good and everyone had a good time which is a "given" when we dine at Duong Son. Hopefully we will get another dinner in before the end of the year.

La Parolaccia Osteria

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

There is this small Italian restaurant in Long Beach that has great food and a couple of owners that are as "mad" as I am. La Parolaccia Osteria. (the name means "dirty words"). It has been quite awhile since I have attended a wine dinner there.

One of the nice touches about this particular place is that the owners are hands on and that they always give prizes out at their wine dinners. Usually from 6 to 10, including T-shirts, aprons and bottles of wine. I managed to score a nice bottle of Italian wine this evening.

The restaurant usually has a wine rep at dinner but tonight Stephan and Nick were winging it. They decided to do a dinner with their favorite wines. Some pairings work and some did not.

Appetizer was "Crostini de ricotta e cotto" - Toasted bread with a mousse of ricotta cheese, Italian ham and anchovies. The wine paired with this dish was a Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Monteschiavo. This wine was similar to a Sauvignon Blanc and it did pair well with the appetizer.

Next up was "Ditaloni alla Viareggina" - Large tube pasta with Manila clams, black mussels, light broccoli cream sauce with roasted bell peppers. For some reason I had in my mind the seafood would have the shells on which was not the case. I think it would have made for a much better presentation. Messier to eat. This was a generous portion and by time I finished I felt that it should be the end of the meal. The wine was a Orvieto Campogrande, Antinori. A white wine that seemed to be softer in style than the previous wine and I did like it better.

Third dish was "Insalata di patate e cipolle" - Potato salad with red onions, black olives and oregano. This is the third starch we were served. It was overkill. I did not finish this dish. Flavor was good but I think I would have preferred the potatoes to be on the warm side to bring out the other flavors more. This is where the wine pairing went down the tubes. It was served with a Neprica Tormaresca, Antinori. It clashed with the food. I did have some of the Orvieto left and it was a much better pairing.

Main dish was "Ossobuco di cinghiale con polenta" - Wild boar ossobuco, cooked in red wine with vegetables and polenta. The polenta was formed then either baked or lightly fried, which is the way I like it. The boar was good. The meat was slightly dry but that is the way boar is. It does not have the "fat" that a domestic pig has. Flavor was good and the whole dish was done well. This was paired with a Lacrima di Morro, Monteschiavo. A red wine from Puglia. I felt the first red , the Neprica went better with this dish. The Lacrima was not as well balanced wine as the Neprica and it had a washed out back palate.

Dessert was "Soffici di fichi" - A puff pastry filled with figs and Sambuca. I am not a big "fig" person but this was a well made dish. I had 2 bites and took the rest home. The starches were starting to really get to me.

I truly wished that they had substituted one of the starch dishes with a vegetable dish of some type.

The dinner was fun and on the whole good. Hopefully I can do the next dinner they have which should be before the end of the year. The dining room was closed to sold out for the dinner. The other dining area had a huge group of about 20 people (noisy) and the third dining area was busy all night. The price of $50 for the wine dinner has something to do with it. For a Tuesday night they should be happy with the turnout. A lot of restaurants in town should so lucky.

South Coast Winery Restaurant

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Went with friends to this restaurant in Costa Mesa. I did not know it existed. They are members of South Coast's wine club and had been to this restaurant before. Right now they have a 4 course dinner with 4 wines for $35 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. In today's climate that's a bargain. Of course they are pouring their own wines with this dinner. At least South Coast wines are drinkable. Most of Temecula's wines are "suspect".

First course was "Corn Bisque" , garnished with sauteed Maitake mushrooms, smoked bacon, basil and paired with a South Coast 2007 Reserve Chardonnay. The Chardonnay was oaky but did go well with the the creamy, sweet taste of the bisque. They two countered each other a made for a good pairing

Second course was "Goncchi di Patate", fluffy potato gnocchi sauteed with forest mushrooms, sweet corn, baby tomatoes, sage butter and paired with South Coast 2005 Collaboration. I did like this wine and it paired beautifully with the dish. The vegetables were still very crisp and slightly warm. I felt this was the best wine of the night.

Main course was "Rack of Lamb", two ribs of lamb with warm Farro salad, scallion, pomegranate seeds, Italian Saba and served with South Coast 2005 Wild Horse Peak-4 Block Cabernet Sauvignon. The lamb was cooked the way I liked it. (just this side of dead) and the Farro (Italian grain) was very good. This wine was the weakest of the evening. I did not finish my glass. It had a very weak back finish. Fell off so you could not remember what you were just drinking.

Dessert was "Coconut Flan" with Muscat braised Vanilla Apricots, fresh berries and paired with a South Coast 2008 Muscat Canelli. This was a good pairing.

The food was good and the wines were decent. It was well worth the $35. I looked at their regular menu and the prices seemed reasonable and their wine list was extensive. Mainly California wines but the prices were in line. Not over the hill like a lot of restaurants. Service was good. Did have a small problem with the glasses. After we drank the Chardonnay the serves was going to pour the red wine into the same glass. We had a problem with that and asked for clean red wine glasses. We were told that because the dinner was so inexpensive that he was told to use the same glasses for every wine. This was a management decision not the servers. We did protest and he brought a large red wine glass and did bring a small glass for the Muscat Cannelli. I could handle the 2 reds using the same glass but not a red into white wine residue. I think that management needs to be woken up a bit. This was not their best idea.

If I am in the area I would go back to this restaurant.

Free Wine

It seems that a high end restaurant has a "clean out" sale a couple of times a year. You get to taste 30 wines "free" and then have the option of buying off a list which included the wines available for tasting along with many others not being opened.

I would have liked to taste the 1982 Chateau Petrus, Pomerol but somehow they deemed this wine worthy of selling but not a "free" taste. Retail was $11,500 and sale price was $5,750. If I had not bought so much "Monday Night Football" wines in Paso Robles I may have opted for a case of this jewel.

Of course they had a few lower end specimen's. Like a 2005 Marquis Phillips Merlot at $11.The 2006 Caymus SS Cabernet Sauvignon was going for $80, the NV Krug Reims Champagne was $90, the 2006 Arcadian SLH Pinot Noir was $19 and the 1996 Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Montrachet was going for a mere $3,750, Lot's of bargains for every price range.

All wines are 50% off their retail price. Of course the retail price is on the high side but factoring in 50% discount then the wines become a bargain.

This sale is apparently the biggest secret in town and I intend to keep it that way.

It was nice to have a tasting where the crowd at the tables wasn't 5 people deep. Of course dealing with the"beautiful" people is another thing. They all feel that the tasting is strictly for them and they hog the table pretending to know a lot about wine while talking with the wine rep's. They are in their own little "bubble world". I have always wondered why so many people that think they are "wine savey" hold their glasses by the bowl and warm the wine they are drinking.

Peirano Wine Tasting

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Delius Restaurant hosted a wine tasting this evening. I had never heard of this winery (there are lots of them that I have not heard of). They have been in the Lodi area for over a hundred years. 1,000 acres but with 500 planted in grape vines. 8 wines were tasted. All estate grown. "Peirano.com"

2007 Chardonnay - see's french oak - a clean wine
2007 Viognier - not overly floral
2006 The Other White - Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc & Viognier. You really get the Viognier at the back palate.
2006 Malbec - not your Argentinian Malbec - more European in structure
2006 Melot - 6 clones - for a Merlot a nice wine
2006 Petit Syrah - nice and inky
2004 Barbera - sure beats Orv's Barbera
2007 The Other Red - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah - the Merlot softens the Cab and the Syrah is predominate on the back palate.

I was very surprised at how nice these wines were and at the price point of $14 each that was a bargain. I really liked the "The Other Red" and the Barbera. I bought several bottles of these. They will be showing up for Monday Night Football.

As always the appetizers that were passed were very good. Ceviche in little spoons. Poke on thin chips, Lamb on toasted baguette pieces, some little mushroom doodad, some kind of pork , mushroom soup shooters, a pumpkin souffle thing on top of a cake round and small dishes of the Russian Cream.

I did not take notes so everything is from memory. And after 8 very good pours of wine I don't think I did too bad.

Private Tasting

Friday, September 25, 2009



Went to friends house this evening for a private "higher end" tasting. Since I just got back from vacation this afternoon it slipped my mind completely to take notes on what we would be drinking tonight. (remembered the next day) Everyone was to bring a "higher" end wine. I do remember 2 Cing Cepages, different years, a Saxum Bone Rock Syrah. I brought a Lucia Gary's Vineyard Syrah. 11 wines all together. We used the 1-1/2 ounce pourer's for the first pours and discussed the wine. After that the bottles were lined up on the bar in the house. We had a great dinner (everyone brought a dish). Since we were seated outside I did not get up to get some more wine until midway through eating. By then some of the most popular wines were gone so some of us did not get a second taste.



My take on this is, that the bottles should have been on the table for easy access. I somehow felt a little cheated that I only got a 1-1/2 ounce pour of some wines and others took much, much larger pours. They liked, so they drank it profusely. Yes I know I could have gotten up and gone into the house (while eating) to get more but somehow this is not setting right with me. I guess I'm getting more bitchy in my old age. I also felt that 12 people were to many. 8 should have been the max for this type of tasting.

The idea was great but needed to de defined more.

Vacation Time

Friday, September 11, 2009:

After getting a late start ( had new tires put on the car) I finally got on the road to Paso Robles about 11:45. This got me caught up in heavy traffic from Torrance through Los Angeles and into Camarillo. After that it cleared up.

First pit stop was at Huber Cellars in the Sta Rita Hills area near Lompoc. Traudle had left for a doctor's appointment so Norman and I tasted his new releases and a few old ones. His new 2008 Dornfelder Port was at 21% but was absolutely outstanding. Luckily I had some dark chocolate with me so we had a few sips for port and a few bites of chocolate. I had plan on stopping at a few more places on the way but since I was 2 hours off schedule I said goodbye and continued up the road towards Avila Beach.

Made a quick stop at Trader Joes in Arroyo Grande then on the Avila Beach where I was staying. I had originally planned on checking in and then heading over to the Sycamore for their Friday night wine tasting. The Sycamore was so crowded there were no parking spaces available so back to my accommodations to plan my "attack" on the wineries in Paso Robles on Saturday.

Spent Saturday, Sunday, Monday in Paso Robles. Tuesday doing the Foxen Canyon Trail, Wednesday, The Edna Valley and Thursday (which was really hot) back down to Santa Ynez .

The amount of new wineries is over whelming. I do not see how they are all going to make it. Something is going to have to give. I was told by one of the winemakers that I knew that there were a lot of negotiation's going on and some wineries would be going under soon.

The big highlight of this trip was getting a private tasting at Sinor-LaValle. Tasted 3 Pinots and a Syrah. Mike Sinor was very accommodating. I had not called ahead because I felt with harvest going on it was not the best time. But when I was in the Edna Valley I called him to see what the availability was. He had already harvested and was at the warehouse. Told me to come right on over. I have bought wines from them for several years but had not tasted them yet. I got on their allocation list after reading an article about up and coming winemakers several years ago. Kosta Browne was listed also and I did get on their allocation list at that time. Two winners.

I did go to a few old favorites but kept most of the tasting to new wineries. Austin Hope now has a tasting area in his barrel room. Worth the stop. Among the others that I stopped at were, Caparone, Chateau Margene, Falcon Nest, Four Vines, Kenneth Volk, Lone Madrone, Maloy O"Neill, Pear Valley, Penman Springs, Red Soles, Stanger, Tolosa, Wolff, Zin Alley, Vina Robles, Cambria, River Bench, Rancho Sisquoc, Foxen, Tres Hermanas, Rusak and Stolpman.

I did not hit the wineries as heavy as I have done in the past. I did not seem to have the urge to get there as they opening. Most of the time I waited until 10:30 to leave my accommodations before heading out. I think the time of year had something to do with my attitude. I usually go to Paso Robles late fall. End of October into November. After the harvest and crush and the "madness" is over. Also more people were out and about and it felt more hectic.

Next year ? I'm contemplating on going back to Sonoma. The 9 hour drive is a big detriment. Maybe I will fly and rent a car, then send the wines I buy back through a dealer. I do have a few months to think about it.

Jason/Stephens Wine Dinner

Friday, August 28, 2009

Delius Restaurant hosted a wine dinner this evening. I was unfamiliar with the winery being featured but I am always on the look out for something new. Jason/Stephens Winery is located in the Santa Clara area.

There were 5 of us singles seated at the rep's table. There are certain advantages to being single when dining at Delius (or Sage).

I was glad to see bread back on the table instead of those crispy rolls that flaked all over when you tore them apart. Now if I could just get them to bring back the shallot bread instead of the rosemary infused bread I would really be happy.

Appetizer was "Veal Sweetbreads with Braised Celery and Celery Root Puree". This was a very good combination and it was served with a "2007 Dorch Vineyard Chardonnay". Excellent pairing.

Second course was "Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Tomato Goat Cheese Tart". I'm glad they brought back the sliced duck breast instead of a hunk of meat. Better presentation and it seems like the duck is cooked to perfection this way. The Tomato Tart had good flavor but with all bread type pieces it got a little soggy and then became a little tough to eat. Fortunately it was small so if you have a "big" mouth like I am, you can discretely shove it into your mouth in one piece. The wine served with this dish was a "2006 Santa Clara Merlot". The wine was ok but I am not a big Merlot dinker so I may be a little biased. It did pair nicely with the food.

Next up was the best dish of the evening and maybe one of the best I have ever had. "Braised Oxtail Ravioli with Smoked Tomato Broth and Baby Vegetables". The raviloi had plenty of meat and was large. The broth was to die for. It was so good. That smoked flavor was subtle yet right in front of your nose. I was so happy that I could have ended the meal with that dish. It was paired with a "2006 Santa Clara Syrah". Excellent pairing.

Main course was "Hazelnut-Cherry Crusted Lamb Chops with Carmelized Onion-Polenta Cake and Mustard Greens". I had a 4 rib chop. I should have boxed it to go but I was a little piggish tonight and ate everything. The mustard greens were cooked correctly and the polenta cake was perfect. This was served with a "2006 Santa Clara Cabernet Sauvignon". Good pairing. Not a Napa Cab but a very food friendly wine.

All the wines seemed to pair well with the food. Sometimes you are surprised at how well a wine will pair when you think because of the taste you had before food was just ok.

Dessert was a "Lemon Custard Tart with Chambord Ice Cream and Raspberry Gelee". Just the right size to top the meal off.

Delius has a new chef de cuisine and it is very apparent he is making a statement. Between Louise and Daniel the food has really been brought up a few more notches. And I always thought it was excellent before. Delius is my benchmark for comparisons on dinners and food.

August Gathering of The Flock

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Our monthly gathering of the wino's took place today (Saturday). Normally we have these events on Sunday but for some odd reason some people seem to think that Saturday works best. I disagree as it should be evident by the number of people in attendance. Sunday's group is always larger. People have to many other things going on on a Saturday and since these gatherings are usually started at 2:00 or 3:00 it really take a big bite out of other chores and events that seem to be prevalent on that day.

There were 21 wines on the table. But that reflects the number of outside guests that the host invited. It was more of a open party.

Today's wine theme was Zinfandels and Pinot Noir based Sparkling, Champagnes and Roses. I was really happy to wake up to a very cool and overcast day. Normally I cannot drink these heavy red wines in the heat and since this event is always held outside on a hot day you can be miserable. Today was Zinfandel tasting weather. I concentrated on the Sparklings and Champagnes more but did taste a few Zin's. Unfortunately the table with the wines was very small and in a small corner which made it difficult to get to. People have a tendancy to hang around the wine table. Its part of the game. After I made the list out of what wines that were brought, I saw several I would have liked to try but really did not see them on the table as everything was crammed into a very small area

The wines were good and the appetizers were great. We had fresh strawberries, which were excellent and brownies for dessert. A nice way to end a day.

Next month I will be on vacation at the time of the next "gathering of the flock" and the next "wine and dine" so I will have no comments on those events. But you will hear about my vacation. A lot of wine tasting is on the agenda.

Wine Mixer at Antonello's

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Antonello's Restaurant in Costa Mesa, near South Coast Plaza held a wine mixer this evening. Featured wines were from Nickel & Nickel and Far Nienete. Price was $25 and you got to taste 8 wines along with assorted cheeses, meats , breads , etc. They passed some appetizers around which was a nice touch. The event was held outside the restaurant and the evening was very pleasant. Antonello's was offering a special dinner afterwards for $40 which I did not stay for. It was a nice event and I would attend another.

I was a little disappointed in the wines. As I have had wines from this producer before I was expecting something that did not get delivered. Wines were discounted tonight but at $65 and $75 for Cabernet Sauvignon I felt they fell off the mark.

August Wine & Dine

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Tonight 17 of us gathered for the monthly "Wine & Dine" dinner. We have been to Belacan Mayalsian restaurant in Redondo Beach several times and the food is always good. A lot of sparkling wines were brought tonight, mainly because of the spiciness of the food.

We started out with 3 appetizers. Malaysian Curry Puffs (pastry stuffed with potato chicken curry (similar to Indian Samosas), Malaysian chicken wings (deep fried wings with turmeric & curry) and Crab Rangoon (crispy wonton pockets filled with crab salad).

The curry puffs were spicy but went well with the Rieslings. The wings went well with the Zinfandels and the crab wontons were mild enough to go with the sparkling wines.

Entrees were served along with coconut rice.

"Char Kway Teow" Malaysian stir-fried flat rice noodles with chicken, shrimp, eggs, bean sprouts and chives in a dark spicy soy sauce. This dish was so spicy that it left a burn on you tongue and lips for a long time. It ruined your palate for the wines.

"Vegetable Delight Curry" - vegetables and tofu simmered in a rich coconut milk curry gravy. I did not have any of this dish. It did not look appetizing and by time it arrived I was full.

"Grilled Tamarind Shrimp" - Shell on charcoal grilled jumbo shrimp seasoned with tamarind juice. We have had this dish before and the flavors are very good. My objection is the shell on the shrimp and the mess it makes eating it. Your wine glasses suffer. But the flavor is wonderful.

"Daging Kicap Manis ( soy glazed beef, tender cuts of beef sauteed with onions and spices in a sweet thick soy glaze) This was actually served right after the "Char Kway Teow". My palate was still stinging from the dish before so I really could not enjoy the beef.

The "Char Kway Teow" which was served first overwhelmed the last dishes and really took away from the enjoyment of the rest of the meal.

This should have been a really good dinner but unfortunately my palate left me half way through the meal and did not return until close to the end.

I took a NV Santa Julia Sparkling Pinot Rose and a 2004 Rotta "Giubbini" vineyard Zindandel. Rotta is just up the road from Turley Vineyards in Paso Robles. Different style of zin and personaly I prefer it over Turley. Much more food friendly wine. It went very well with the wings and The Santa Julia sparkling which was on the dry side went very well with the Curry Puffs.

We all had a good time and this restaurant is worth visiting.

Next month the group is off to Fritto Misto in Redondo Beach. I will be on vacation at Avila Beach so I will miss Septembers dinner. October is Ante's in San Pedro.

Customer Appreciation Night

Friday, August 14, 2009

Utopia restaurant in downtown Long Beach had their 10th Anniversary party this evening. Amir put out a nice spread of food and nibblies. A fairly large crowd attended coming in and out all evening. Live entertainment. Made a real nice Friday evening Happy Hour and the price was right.

German Wine Dinner

Wednesday, August 12, 2009.

Delius Restaurant hosted a German Wine dinner this evening. They had a large private party using the prixe fixe room so the restaurant was closed to the public dinner trade. We took over the al la carte room which was nicely done with white tablecloths and the line up of wine glasses and silverware that make fine dining pleasurable.

I will say this dinner and the wines were so superior to the German wine dinner at D'Vinci's several months ago. Same importer but much better wines. And the quality of the food was superior. Yes it was a few more dollars but worth every bit it.

First course was "Pickled Sardine with Braised Red Cabbage and Pickled Baby Carrots". Served with a Wegeler NV Riesling Sekt Brut, Rheingau.

Second course was "Hot Smoked Trout, White Asaparagus and Meyer Lemon Confit". Wine was a 2007 Schnaitmann Rose "Evoel", Wurttemberg. I loved this dish and thought the pairing was excellent. Dave Solzman, the owner felt the lemon confit was a little to acid for the wine. Different strokes.

Third course - "Pork Sous Vide with Roasted Cipollini Onion, Dried Apricot, Spaetzel and Pork Jus. The wine poured was a 2007 Gunderloch Rielsing Spatlese "Diva", Rheinhessen. Pork was cooked to perfection.

Fourth course was "Marinated Flat Iron Steak with Lentil Puree and Shitake Mushroom Butter"
Paired with a 2005 Dr. Heger Pinot Noir "MIMUS", Baden. Excellent dish and excellent pairing. The Shitake Mushroom Butter was to die for.

Dessert was an "International Cheese & Fruit Selection". Served with a 2004 Pfeffingen Scheurebe Spatlese, Pfalz.

I picked up 2 new grape varietals for my quest. I have passed the 200 mark and my next goal will be 250 varietals tasted.

This was a great dinner, food was excellent and the wine pairings were very good. My type of dinner and evening.

Private Tasting

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Myself along with a few others were invited to a private tasting. There was a group of about 20 in attendance. Among the wines which I liked best were the 1991 Diamond Creek Gravely Meadow Cabernet and the 1991 Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet. There also was a 1999 & 2000 Testarossa Sleepy Hollow Pinot that were quite good. Small group, good wines and food.

Pizza & Wine

Friday, August 7, 2009

Wine Country in Long Beach had a "Pizza & Wine" seminar tonight. I have attended many of these in the past but this definitely will be my last one. They had 4 different kinds of pizza to serve with the different wines. Instead of slices which we have had in the past they cut the pizza into small squares and triangles. You got 2 small (very) pieces of each type. No extras were passed around like in the past. 12 wines were poured. About 1-1/2 ounces each pour. No extras like in the past . The host told us which wines we were drinking and basically asked what we thought of them with the pizza. That was it. No more explanation than that. I could have gone to a pizzeria with 10 friends. Got 3 pizzas and ordered the same quality of wines and been ahead of the game. At $40 I felt it was a rip off. $25 to $30 would have been more tolerable. I was not alone in my reaction to this night. I have talked with people that were there at at least 8 of us think the same way. It wasn't fun like it was in the past. So we will not be back.

Clos Pepe Release Party

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Today 4 of us headed up to the Sta. Rita Hills to attend Clos Pepe Vineyards annual release party. This was a great day for me as I did not have to drive. Interesting to be able to see the landscape from another view besides the middle of the road.

Since we were a little early we headed to Los Olivos to check out Stolpman's new tasting room and visit a few others

About 1:00 we headed back down the highway to Clos Pepe Vineyards. Again luck was with me as we were motioned to head to up to the big house to park. That means we didn't have to climb the driveway and walk thru the dust with open toed shoes.

The party was in full swing. The numbers were smaller than last year because the invites were not given to everyone. New West Catering was busy making specialty pizzas in the wood fired pizza oven Skewers of beef and shrimp were being grilled. Platters of cheese and roasted vegetables were in the main house along with the BYOB themed bottles. This year it was Italian. There had to close to 100 bottles of wine on that table.

Tasted the new releases. The 2008 Pinot Noir, VS Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay. Wes was also pouring the new sparkling pinot that was released earlier this year along with the new 2008 Rose of Pinot Noir. The new label Axis Mundi was being poured. The 2008 Syrah is really good.

The 2008 Pinot Noir is very burgundian in style. Wes said that this was the first really burgundian pinot he has made. I thought it was outstanding. As always the Chardonnay was really showing well.

Clos Pepe wines were really showing well this year. Their yield is about half or normal because of the killing frosts early in the season. My allotment was changed also.

Also pouring today was Ken Brown, Roger Roessler and Justin Willtt. All were pouring their Clos Pepe Pinot Noir's & Chardonnays. Very impressive.

Library wines were on the table. Nice to try the wines that I am holding so I know where mine stand.

After loading 5 cases of wine we headed home. A beautiful day, sunshine and a nice breeze to keep things extremely comfortable. Great food, great wines and really good company. Doesn't get any better than this.

MacRostie Wine Dinner

Friday, July 31, 2009

Delius restaurant in Signal Hill, www.DeliusRestaurant.com, hosted a MacRostie wine dinner this evening. I had heard of this winery but could remember tasting any of their wines. The wine rep from Arizona was with us tonight. It seems that the owner of MacRostie had some last minute problems and couldn't make it.

The appetizer tonight was "Crispy Shrimp Sushi Roll with Asian Pear Salad, Cilantro and Wasabi Aioli. This was paired with the 2007 Carneros Chardonnay. This wine had a touch of oak on it which disappeared with the sushi roll and spicy taste of the dish.

Salad was "Yellow Watermelon with Fried Goat Cheese. Micro Greens, Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette". Wine was a 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir Rose. Nice pairing and the wine was good.

Third course was "Five Spice Pork Tenderloin, Mustard Greens, Cherries, Pan Jus. A 2006 Carneros Pinot Noir was served. It was very interesting to see how well the wine paired with the mustard greens. This was an excellent food & wine pairing.

Main dish was "Chocolate-Coffee Roasted Beef Tenderloin Medallions, New Potato, Pearl Onion Confit and a Red Wine Reduction. I cannot say too much about the spectacular sauce. The meat was cooked to perfection. They made a rub of chocolate & coffee and then roasted the meat. When the sauce was poured over the rub infused itself to the sauce. Similar to a Mole but not as spicy. This dish was the hit of the evening. Served with a 2005 Wildcat Mountain, Sonoma Coast Syrah. A perfect pairing.

Dessert was a "Rhubarb Upside Down Cake with Toasted Almond Gelato" . The cake had to top that was similar to a creme brulee crust. Very tasty, not to sweet and just the right end to a fabulous meal.

MacRostie makes 30,000 cases of wine of which 20,000 are Chardonnay. That is their flagship wine. Wines prices were in the $20 to $35 range. All were good and I especially liked the Rose which was dry but still had a nice fruit taste to it

Domaine Serene & Ketcham Estate Wine Dinner

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sage on The Coast, http://www.sagerestaurant.com/, hosted a wine dinner this evening. The weather was very pleasant and we sat in the outdoor dining area. I was not familiar with Ketcham Estate wines http://www.ketchamestate.com/, . They are in the Russain River area od Sonoma.

Appetizer was "Tempura Prawns with Papaya Mustard, Roasted Figs with Proscuitto". The mustard was great, just a right balance between spicy and sweet. This was paired with the 2007 Domaine Serene Rockblock Viognier.

Next came "Sauteed Soft Shell Crab with Coconut Rice, Mango Salsa and Sirachia Aioli". The wine as a 2007 Ketcham Estate, Sonoma County Viognier. I personally liked this voignier better than the Domaine Serenc.

" Grilled Wild Salmon with Summer Vegetable Risotto and Roasted Tomato Sauce " was served with a 2007 Ketcham Estate Russian River Pinot Noir. This wine really opened up after awhile in the glass. It was still a little tight when first tasted.

Entree was "Roasted Duck Breast and Peaches/Blueberry Compote". A 2006 Domaine Serene Evanstad Reserve, Willamette Pinot Noir was paired with this dish. A good pairing the duck was perfect.

Main course was "Roast Rack of Lamb, Mushroom Potato Gratin and Market Vegetables". The wine paired with the lamb was a 2005 Domiane Serene Rockblock, Seven Hills, Walla Walla, Syrah. A great pairing.

Dessert was "Roasted Apricots and Cream with Burnt Honey and Shortbread.. The wine that was originally listed was substituted with the Tablas Creek dessert wine we had a couple of months ago.

The food was great and all the pairings were good. I did find that I liked the Ketcham Estate Viognier best and I really liked their Pinot after it opened up.

They have just recently retained Mike Browne of Kosta Browne as their winemaker. Ketcham Estate is allocation and the list is still open. Needless to say I added my name If Mike Browne does what he did to the Kosta Browne wines this should be a winery worth looking at.

I was lucky enough to get on Kosta Browne's allocation list before it closed. Steven Rigisch of Ketcham said that there is a waiting list of 12,000 to get on Kosta Browne's list.

Another Trip To Duong Son

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Eight of us gathered tonight for another "feast". We had Karen & Stan Wong with us tonight. This was the first time that they had attended one of these dinners. They live in Santa Monica so it was a way for them to drive to Westminister.

Henry ordered some standards and a couple of new items.

We started out with a fried fish (I think it was catfish). Tasty. Next came the roasted duck 2 ways. First the Peking with the soft white buns (no crepes here) then the shredded duck mixed with a variety of items and served in lettuce cups.

Spicy green beans with shrimp and beef tendon came to the table, Stan & Bob had never had beef tendon before. Its not for everyone but those at the table tonight all enjoyed it.

The tofu dish tonight was "fried tofu" with a seafood sauce. Great dish. Next a plate of greens showed up. Henry said they were the snow pea shoots and leaves. This was a dish that was more expensive than the regular "greens" Stan, always the "lets compare" person had Henry order the other greens. We all decided we liked the "snow pea shoots" best. .

Dessert was fresh cantaloupe, cherries, white peaches, red bean tapioca and sesame seed buns.

Wines tonight were:
1997 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Riesling
1996 Icon, Ravenswood, (Syrah/Grenache)
2002 Siduri, Rosellas, Pinot Noir
1999 Kistler, McCrea Vineyards, Chardonnay
2000 Justin Isoscles (corked)
2006 Clos Pepe, Sta Rita Hills, Chardonnay
2008 Jada (Viognier/Russan/Grenache Blanc)
2003 Rochioli, Russian River, Sauvignon Blanc
1997 Arcadian, Pisoni Vineyard, Pinot Noir
2004 Loring, Clos Pepe Vineyard, Pinot Noir
NV Mirabell, Brut Rose
2004 McKeon Phillips, BPR Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 Sete Cepas, Albarino

Utopia Summer Wine Dinner

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Utopia , www.utopiarestaurant.net, hosted a summer wine dinner tonight. At $39 this was the bargain of the year. Yes it was only 4 courses and 3 wines but for the price you could not go wrong. You could have multiple pours if you wanted to do so.

We started out with a "Seafood Ceviche" , grilled calamari, shrimp, scallop in a fresh tomato, cilantro oilve oil sauce. Pared with 2007 Dry Creek, Clarksburg, Dry Chenin Blanc. This was a very good pairing. Everything melded nicely.

Next was "Baby Arugula Salad", arugula, fresh mango, roasted walnuts and goat cheese in a aged balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Decent salad but not enough dressing on it. Paired with a 2007 Folonari, Pinot Grigio.

Main course was a choice of duck or lamb. I asked the waiter to bring what was the rarest. Both proteins I like rare so it didn't make any difference to me. He brought the "Roasted Duck Breast" with cranberry cream sauce. It was barely pink inside, over cooked for my taste. He offered to exchange it but I declined. This is my basic complaint about Utopia is that they have a tendency to overcook lamb and duck. Toby got the lamb chop and it was too rare for her. Guess it just wasn't my night. This course was paired with a 2005 Fieldstone, Alexander Valley, Merlot. A good pairing.

Dessert was "Homemade Bread Pudding" with vanilla ice cream. Quite nice.

Bob Ballard was the "wine guy" tonight. He is not a rep but is very knowledgeable about wines. At least they were not really pushing the sale of wine. Bob also happens to be my optometrist.

July's Wine & Dine

Saturday, July 18, 209

This months "Wine & Dine" group met at Pasta Al Dente in Naples for dinner. We sat outside and the weather was great. It was still warm but since we were 1 block from the marina and the bay it was very pleasant.

Since the menu that CJ had put together had more "white wine" food dishes I brought a 2008 Curran Grenache Blanc. It was a good choice. Quite a few other people had the same idea. There was 18 people in attendance. If was unique that most of the people that brought white wine were seated at on end and the red wine people were at the other. So we had the red zone and the white zone. I did bring a red wine just in case but it wasn't necessary to bring it out as there was an abundance of wine on the table

We started out with 3 appetizers. All of them winners.

Crostini di Formaggio - warm brie with pesto, carmelized garlic & onions, sun dried tomatoes on a toasted baguette.

Calamari Fritti - fried calamari served with a spicy marinara sauce.

Funghi Imbottiti - Baked stuffed mushrooms with pieces of chicken breast, green onion, cream cheese and herbs, finished with a Romano cheese bread crumb gratinat.

Pizza was up next. I could have stopped eating with this dish., I was taking small portions because of eating a few hours before and was starting to get "full". This pizza was outstanding
Parmigiano & provolone cheese, marinara sauce, breaded eggplant and zucchini, red & yellow bell peppers garnished with pesto vinaigrette

Next up was "Manicotti di Formaggio" - manicotti pasta stuffed with Ricotta cheese and topped with a garlic & roasted pepper cream sauce, scallops & shrimp.

A platter of breaded chicken breast topped with a lemon caper sauce showed up next. Along with a platter of Italian style grilled and roasted vegetables.

Dessert was a Spumoni Cake.

All the food was good. But as usual it was too much and you get stuffed really quick. Even tho the food was good I could have done without the calamari and the roasted vegetables. That way I could have stuffed myself with more pizza & mushrooms.

It was a great evening and a nice restaurant with fun people and good wines. It doesn't get better than this.

Next month we are off to Belacan. A Malaysian restaurant

July's Gathering of The Flock

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Today's gathering was a very small flock. Too many vacations and conflicts during the summer. Also this held on a Saturday not Sunday as our normal gatherings are. I personally prefer Sundays. It 's a more laid back day. Saturdays are way too busy for me.

Today's theme was"Sangiovese & Pinot Grigio". Nice wines showed up and I was really glad to have several Pinot Grigio's on hand. The day was very hot and no air was moving.

The hosts served a nice pork loin was a raspberry chipolte sauce. I ate and drank very sparingly today as I had a dinner this evening with the "Wine & Dine" group.

I brought a Point Conception Pinoit Grgio that they had left on the skins for a short while it gave a nice pink tone to the wine. It was a really nice refreshing wine for the day.

Stan had several "old" sangios that he brought . A 1988 & 1990.

South African Wine Dinner

Wednesday, July 14, 2009

Sebastiani's Restaurant, www.sebastianis.net, hosted a South African Wine dinner tonight. I was looking forward to this dinner because of the menu. When I walked in to join friends Paul & Margie for the evening sitting at the table was Toby. She had fallen and broken her hip several months back and I was delighted and surprised to see her. She was still using walker to get around but was getting "stir crazy" at home and decided at the last minute to get out of the house. When she was in rehab I went and visited a couple of times. Once I snuck in a bottle of wine and a 2 glasses. She really enjoyed that.

The wine rep's were from Fairest Cape. They rep'd the dinner at Capone's last month also.

First course was "Ostrich Carpaccio" - thin ostrich loin with kiwi-cilantro relish and shaved parmegian cheese. This was served with a 2006 Villiera Estate Chenin Blanc. A nice dish with a nice pairing.

Second course was "New Zealand Mussels Au Gratin" - New Zealand musssels baked with garlic lemon grass and a splash of Saugivon Blanc and parmegiano regiano. Nice flavor, nothing overly exciting. Paired with a 2006 Villiera Estate Saugivon Blanc. Paired well together.

Third course was Zuppa di Salcica - South African venison sausage with lentils in a kale broth. This was my favorite of the evening. Good flavor and really paired well with the 2005 Westerland Estate Pinotage. Pinotage is not my favorite wine but it went exceptionally well with the venison sausage.

Fourth course was "Alligator Tenderloin all Balsamico" - alligator cutlets sauteed with a balsamic sauce with black grapes and sage and served with spinach rissotto. Paired with a 2000 Kaapzichi Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon. Alligator is similar to chicken in taste and texture. The sauce was good and the pairing was good.

Dessert was a Passion Fruit Mousse. Very light and a nice end to the meal.

The food at Sebastiani's is good. Not great but good. They do nice sauces, portions are good and the prices are always reasonable. At the wine dinners they are very generous with their pours. And they were very accommodating to Margie and substituted everything for her.

I think the pairing of the wine and food at this dinner was better than the dinner at Capone's last month

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Delius Restaurant hosted their annual bus trip to the "wine country" today. As usual we had a great "buffet" breakfast before boarding our bus at 9:00 to start our journey.

Unfortunately its seems there was a "huge" mix up on what size of bus that was ordered for 37 people. In rolls a mini bus that is like the ones that they shuttle people between hotels and airports. It held 27 people and had no restroom. After conferring with the transportation company which said they could have another bus to us in an hour, Dave decided to keep this one and take two additional vehicles .

Off we went down the freeway towards Solvang. The seats were narrow, no padding and the suspension system on this "bus" was non existent. This was starting out to be a very "non-enjoyable" experience.

Arriving in Solvang many hours later (it seemed like 24) we went into "Trio" which is the tasting room for 3 labels, Curran, Badge and D'Bruno. This was the highlight of our trip. Kris Curran and Bruno D'Alphonse were waiting for us and provided a very nice "seminar" on their wines and winemaking. Very informative, generous pours of wine and a Laurel & Hardy banter between the two of them (they are married). They also offered a 30% case discount on their wines today. Obviously we took advantage of that.

Next stop was Stolpman Vineyards. We stopped here to have lunch and originally were going to the tasting room in Los Olivos afterwards. But they brought the wines to the vineyard. I am a big fan of Stolpman wines but this was an ok stop but no where near the Trio stop. Their pours were small and they were not to fast on giving seconds. I overheard someone remark "why don't they leave the bottles on the table" . The only higher end wine they poured were the Hilltops Syrah. The rest were the wines they have made for the tasting room. I did like a white wine that I had not had before and when I am up in the area in September I may check it out some more. Personally I liked it better than the L'Avion, which is a blend of Marsanne and Rousanne.

Lunch was ok. I getting real tired of the same sandwiches that have been served for the last several years. The salads were very good along with the homemade potato chips. Hopefully if there is a trip next year Louise will break out of her rut.

We loaded ourselves into "Mr Toads Wild Ride"and went to Dierberg for our final tasting. The wines were nice but all they did was pour for us and no one talked about their wines. We left there at 5:15. We were due back at 7:00 but no way was this going to happen.

We made a stop around Ventura area to use a restroom. After everyone was loaded back on the bus the driver made an announcement that he could not drive anymore and had to park the vehicle. His boss had called and said there was a problem with Dave's credit card going through and until it was straightened out we were going nowhere. That seemed extremely ridiculous as the vehicle had to driven back to its base at LAX anyway so why waste time sitting and not moving. And besides what business waits until late in the day after the business transaction takes place to run a credit card ? It should have been run before the vehicle was dispacted in the am. I offered to put the charges on my credit card just to get the damm vehicle moving again. The company was having a hard time getting hold of Dave . His cell phone kept going to message. Finally someone called the restaurant and had them get hold of Louise and Dave finally got it straightened out the the transportation company. Eventually we were on our way.

We returned at 9:40. I got my wine and left. At this point I was "pissed off".

No only was the whole thing a fiasco from the beginning. The driver drove like a idiot. 70 to 80 miles an hour. Crossed the solid double lines to get into the carpool lane. Drove with one hand and held his cell phone with his other hand while he talked (a lot). Carried on conversation with the person sitting in the other front seat. When we returned to the restaurant I would have thought that Dave and or Louise would be there and get onto the "bus" and apologize for the the day. There were 27 of his customers on that damm thing and no one from Delius was with us. They were in nice comfortable SUV's. Dave did come up and talk with a few people after we unloaded. Most of us just left as fast as we could. Not only did we have a "harrowing ride", we were held hostage for a period of time. My back was screwed up for a week afterwards with all the swaying and jarring.

This was not an experience that I want to repeat. And in hindsight we would have been better off to wait for a larger bus and drop Dierberg from the itinerary if needed. This whole mess could have been avoided if Dave when he saw that the bill for the bus was a lot less expensive than last years would have taken that as a red flag and checked it out to see why. He also delegated the task to Fred his floor manager to reserve the bus and did not double check to see if everything was done correctly . Fred had never done this before but he should have asked questions about the size. You can't shove 37 people into a vehicle made for 25. Also the contract should have been read when it was received. Always double check and don't assume. The bus company was downright stupid not to run a credit card before a dispatch. And the bus company was stupid for not asking why a mini bus was ordered for a trip to Solvang. As Forrest Gump said, "stupid is as stupid does" or something like that. My employer has a saying, "treat everyone behind you as stupid so you can cover yourself".