Saturday, March 24, 2012
Attended the Pops tonight. Music of Elton John. Along with some classic 50's, 60's & 70's music. The Peter Cavannaugh Group played with the orchestra and they were very good. He has a wide range in his voice. We had a smaller group at the two tables tonight but Cora was able to attend. Pain pill;s and all.
She is already planning next years Pops outing. Gives her hope. She was so wired by the end of the concert. It seem to revitalize he.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Golden Star
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Unfortunately Cora wasn't feeling well enough to attend dinner tonight even tho it was her idea. Terry did come without her and I think it did him good to have break from being the caretaker. No one knows how hard it is to be the caretaker of someone who is terminally ill. Cora told him to get out of the house and go have some fun. Classy lady.
We started with a new dish, Fried White Fish with a special sweet sour sauce. Very light, not oily. I could have made a meal out of this dish.
Next was Garlic Green Beans with Shrimp. Always a favorite.
The soup was pork based broth with artichokes. Excellent flavor.
Roasted Duck with Cabbage. This restaurant specializes in Duck and it shows.
Tofu with mushrooms, snow peas, chicken pork, shrimp and calamai with a special sauce. New dish and again very good.
Next up was Beef with Chinese Broccoli, again always good.
For dessert we were served a Green Bean Tapioca, Slices of Asian Pears, Oranges and some jello like concoction on a spear that was stiffer than regular jello and bright green. Probably still celebrating St. Patricks Day.
The wines were a really mixed selection. CJ brought a NV Louis Bouillot Rose of Pinot Champagne.. That was gone in no time.
There was a 2004 McKeon-Phiilips Caberent Sauvignon, 2005 Stolpman Estate Syrah, 2005 Blanc Fume de Pouilly by Didier Dagueneau, Terry brought a 2008 Flora Springs Trilogy which was excellent. I brought a 2008 Clos Pepe Chardonnay and a 2005 Roar, Garys Vineyard, Pinot Noir.
There was not much left in any bottle by time we were through. We closed the restaurant tonight
Unfortunately Cora wasn't feeling well enough to attend dinner tonight even tho it was her idea. Terry did come without her and I think it did him good to have break from being the caretaker. No one knows how hard it is to be the caretaker of someone who is terminally ill. Cora told him to get out of the house and go have some fun. Classy lady.
We started with a new dish, Fried White Fish with a special sweet sour sauce. Very light, not oily. I could have made a meal out of this dish.
Next was Garlic Green Beans with Shrimp. Always a favorite.
The soup was pork based broth with artichokes. Excellent flavor.
Roasted Duck with Cabbage. This restaurant specializes in Duck and it shows.
Tofu with mushrooms, snow peas, chicken pork, shrimp and calamai with a special sauce. New dish and again very good.
Next up was Beef with Chinese Broccoli, again always good.
For dessert we were served a Green Bean Tapioca, Slices of Asian Pears, Oranges and some jello like concoction on a spear that was stiffer than regular jello and bright green. Probably still celebrating St. Patricks Day.
The wines were a really mixed selection. CJ brought a NV Louis Bouillot Rose of Pinot Champagne.. That was gone in no time.
There was a 2004 McKeon-Phiilips Caberent Sauvignon, 2005 Stolpman Estate Syrah, 2005 Blanc Fume de Pouilly by Didier Dagueneau, Terry brought a 2008 Flora Springs Trilogy which was excellent. I brought a 2008 Clos Pepe Chardonnay and a 2005 Roar, Garys Vineyard, Pinot Noir.
There was not much left in any bottle by time we were through. We closed the restaurant tonight
Wine Tastings
Although I do not post too often about individual wine tastings that I do frequently, this month I have done five tastings. Two outstanding ones were a Pinot tasting and the other was a Burgundy tasting. Both at Wine Country in Signal Hill. I did buy a 2009 Guillemot, Dessus les Gollardes, Savigny-les-Beaune white Burgubndy. This is a blend of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. I was really impressed with the quality of this wine.
Nayada
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
This Thai restaurant continues to improve after changing owners and names. Originally there were 7 of us going, but 2 people got sick at the last minute. But Cora was there and that was important to us and to her. Cora is dying of liver cancer and she is getting as much out of life as she can before life leaves her. You have to really admire her attitude, Sadly in a few months she will no longer be with us.
I did not list the wines that were brought but I did bring a 3 bottle vertical of McKeon- Phillips BPR Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Interesting top taste these wines over a period of a few hours. The 2002 took on a very chocolate taste. This was Terry and my favorite. 2030 was very fruit forward and remained that way. The 2004 was a leaner wine but opened up nicely. There was a champagne and several other bottles on the table. We did not lack for something to drink.
We started off with Thai Vegetable Spring Rolls. These are always good.Very light and good flavor.
Next was the Tom Yum Soup, My favorite.
This was followed by Lettuce Wraps, Pineapple Rice, Salmon with Red Curry, a new dish for me and very good.
Last two dishes were Garlic Beef and the Crying Tiger Steak.
Enjoyable evening. Good wines and good food. I'm glad to see this restaurant turn the corner and improve. Corkage is $5 a bottle so it remains a reasonable place to go.
This Thai restaurant continues to improve after changing owners and names. Originally there were 7 of us going, but 2 people got sick at the last minute. But Cora was there and that was important to us and to her. Cora is dying of liver cancer and she is getting as much out of life as she can before life leaves her. You have to really admire her attitude, Sadly in a few months she will no longer be with us.
I did not list the wines that were brought but I did bring a 3 bottle vertical of McKeon- Phillips BPR Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Interesting top taste these wines over a period of a few hours. The 2002 took on a very chocolate taste. This was Terry and my favorite. 2030 was very fruit forward and remained that way. The 2004 was a leaner wine but opened up nicely. There was a champagne and several other bottles on the table. We did not lack for something to drink.
We started off with Thai Vegetable Spring Rolls. These are always good.Very light and good flavor.
Next was the Tom Yum Soup, My favorite.
This was followed by Lettuce Wraps, Pineapple Rice, Salmon with Red Curry, a new dish for me and very good.
Last two dishes were Garlic Beef and the Crying Tiger Steak.
Enjoyable evening. Good wines and good food. I'm glad to see this restaurant turn the corner and improve. Corkage is $5 a bottle so it remains a reasonable place to go.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Pime Cut
Saturday, March 3, 2011
This is Orange County Dine Out week so a couple of us went to Prime Cut in Anahiem, near the Honda Center, for dinner. We went here last year and enjoyed the food.
$30 for a three course dinner. I had the Mexican Tortilla Soup which is very good. My main course was 8 oz prime rib with Yorkshire Pudding, creamed spinach & whipped potatoes. The meat is "prime". Desert was Chocolate Pots de Creme. Paul ordered the Prime Rib also and Margie had the Filet. She said the quality was comparable to 555 East. No corkage. I took a bottle of Heidsick Monople Blue Label Champagne. Paul also opened a bottle of Belle Pointe Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills. With just 3 of us the two bottles were enough.
It was a beautiful night. Sky was clear, the Santa Ana's had been blowing that date so the evening was warm. A lot of diners outside on the patios.
This is Orange County Dine Out week so a couple of us went to Prime Cut in Anahiem, near the Honda Center, for dinner. We went here last year and enjoyed the food.
$30 for a three course dinner. I had the Mexican Tortilla Soup which is very good. My main course was 8 oz prime rib with Yorkshire Pudding, creamed spinach & whipped potatoes. The meat is "prime". Desert was Chocolate Pots de Creme. Paul ordered the Prime Rib also and Margie had the Filet. She said the quality was comparable to 555 East. No corkage. I took a bottle of Heidsick Monople Blue Label Champagne. Paul also opened a bottle of Belle Pointe Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills. With just 3 of us the two bottles were enough.
It was a beautiful night. Sky was clear, the Santa Ana's had been blowing that date so the evening was warm. A lot of diners outside on the patios.
Paso Robles Grand Tasting
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Left work at 4:00 to head for Newport Beach. Took the coastal route to avoid the freeways and got to Newport about 5:10. Good drive time and I always like to be early in case of problems which today had them. It took me 40 minutes to finally get parked. The parking structure at the venue site was full so they were sending us down the street to a structure who had no authorization to allow us parking. After being given the run around I ended up parking on the street about 4 blocks away. But those who were late arriving managed to get parking in the first structure. Ir seems there was a large wedding on the yacht next to us and they were leaving about 6:00. Very poor planning on the "planners" part. When they held this event at the Marconi Automobile museum a few years ago there was no problem at all. Guess it all depends on the competency of the planner.
This event was held on the yacht "Majestic" which is a 60 foot long three story high vessel. It is used for private functions and dinner cruises. They were supposed to have the winery reps' on all three decks but since it was cold and the upper deck was exposed they crammed those reps into the second deck. Crowded but fun.
Ran into quite a few people I knew and a few winery owners that I have met before. Tasted some new wineries and some of them were quite good. Had a good time with the wines.
Too bad someone didn't tell the "planners" that at at 6 to 8 o'clock event you do food. Yes they had a cheese platter. Looked like they go their cheese at Trader Joes. The wedges of cheese were that small. Not set up for 200 people or so. There were some passed "appetizers" but the poor waiter never got more than 10 feet from the door and his tray was empty, They had a nice bruschetta, pieces of beef and lamb on skewers and small pieces of bacon wrapped scallops.What they had was good. Just not enough of it. One of the wine reps told me afterwards that all they got all day was some cheese and bread. The reps did have an hour break between the trade tasting and the general public tasting. They could try to get something to eat from one of the nearby restaurants but they would be dashing around. They still had to reset their stations for the next batch of winos' showing up, like me.
Don't know who did the planning but I could have done a much better job of it. Judging my the looks of the dollies that were registering us in - it was someone of the same - bleached blonde, silcone boobs, botox face and the mandatory short black dress with ridiculously high heels.
I tasted a nice Viognier from Steinbeck (new winery for me) The wine had nice peach & melon flavors which made it a better wine for me. I am not a big white rhone wine fan. Had a good Malbec from Bon Niche - first year bottling. Had the Oyster Ridge from Ancient Peaks. A blend that is always good. Bodegas Paso Robles was there. I hot their tasting room last November. All Spanish varietals.
Left work at 4:00 to head for Newport Beach. Took the coastal route to avoid the freeways and got to Newport about 5:10. Good drive time and I always like to be early in case of problems which today had them. It took me 40 minutes to finally get parked. The parking structure at the venue site was full so they were sending us down the street to a structure who had no authorization to allow us parking. After being given the run around I ended up parking on the street about 4 blocks away. But those who were late arriving managed to get parking in the first structure. Ir seems there was a large wedding on the yacht next to us and they were leaving about 6:00. Very poor planning on the "planners" part. When they held this event at the Marconi Automobile museum a few years ago there was no problem at all. Guess it all depends on the competency of the planner.
This event was held on the yacht "Majestic" which is a 60 foot long three story high vessel. It is used for private functions and dinner cruises. They were supposed to have the winery reps' on all three decks but since it was cold and the upper deck was exposed they crammed those reps into the second deck. Crowded but fun.
Ran into quite a few people I knew and a few winery owners that I have met before. Tasted some new wineries and some of them were quite good. Had a good time with the wines.
Too bad someone didn't tell the "planners" that at at 6 to 8 o'clock event you do food. Yes they had a cheese platter. Looked like they go their cheese at Trader Joes. The wedges of cheese were that small. Not set up for 200 people or so. There were some passed "appetizers" but the poor waiter never got more than 10 feet from the door and his tray was empty, They had a nice bruschetta, pieces of beef and lamb on skewers and small pieces of bacon wrapped scallops.What they had was good. Just not enough of it. One of the wine reps told me afterwards that all they got all day was some cheese and bread. The reps did have an hour break between the trade tasting and the general public tasting. They could try to get something to eat from one of the nearby restaurants but they would be dashing around. They still had to reset their stations for the next batch of winos' showing up, like me.
Don't know who did the planning but I could have done a much better job of it. Judging my the looks of the dollies that were registering us in - it was someone of the same - bleached blonde, silcone boobs, botox face and the mandatory short black dress with ridiculously high heels.
I tasted a nice Viognier from Steinbeck (new winery for me) The wine had nice peach & melon flavors which made it a better wine for me. I am not a big white rhone wine fan. Had a good Malbec from Bon Niche - first year bottling. Had the Oyster Ridge from Ancient Peaks. A blend that is always good. Bodegas Paso Robles was there. I hot their tasting room last November. All Spanish varietals.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)