Sunday, June 9, 2013

Malbec Tasting and Raymonds Bristro

Saturday, June 8, 2013

This was Margie's Monthly Wine Activity day and we started out at Total Wine for a two hour  Malbec Seminar which turned out to include several other varietals from South America. The instructor Mark was new to us and he turned out to be very good.  I did learn a couple of things about tasting that I did not know. Always sniff the back of your hand to neutralize and smells before you smell you wine. And it did work. We had a total of 9 wines and all were good.  Ranged in price from $12 to $25 with a 10% off for a mix of 6. I held my own and did not buy any but it was hard. I am in the drink some of my wine mode and need to get my cellar down to a reasonable number of bottles. 550  is way too much and I have a hard time keeping track even with a spread sheet.

After the seminar was over we headed a short distance to Raymonds Bristo on Warner near Gothard. www.raymondsbistro@gmail.com, , Again in a small strip mall with ample parking. Since the place was very small they took the tables and ran them down the middle of the room. Made for a very narrow table and with the 14 bottles of wine and all the glasses there really was not much room for food. But we did manage.

A variety of foods were ordered, from steak, seafood to pasta. I had the double pork chop,  which was cooked perfectly. Moist and tender, Served with an apple chutney, potatoes and vegetable. The entrees also came with a choice of soup or salad. I choose the mushroom soup which was excellent. This dish was priced at $18 which I felt was very reasonable. Everyone seemed to happy with their choices as I heard no complaints. Someone ordered a tiamisu for dessert and passed it around, It was very good.

Jan brought her laptop and gave us a slide show of 80 of the 2000 pictures she and Bob  took on their trip to Argentina and Chile

The  wines were numerous and a wide variety. Some I did not get to taste but what I did taste were all good.

NV Bivio Proseco, Italy
NV Nicholas Feuillatte, Brut, France (always good, the champagne of Air France)
2005 Testarossa, Bien Nacido, Pinot Noir (excellent)
2007 PZ  ????? (su raine)  cannot read what someone wrote on the list
2010 EOS, Roussane, Paso Robles
2010 Young's Sangiovese, Shenandoah Valley
2012 Halter Ranch, Sauvignon Blanc,. Paso Robles
2007 Badge, Pinot Noir (may be Sta Rita Hills)
2008 McKeon-Phillips Malbec Reserve, Paso Robles
2009 Halter Ranch, Ancestor, Estate Reserve, Paso Robles
2011 ?????  Grenache Blanc, Santa Ynez (no winery listed)
2010 Clos Pepe Estate, Pinot Noir, Sta Rita Hills
2010 Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone, Reserve, France
2007 P2, Aubaine Vineyards, Edna Valley

Issara Thai Restaurant

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Margie, Paul, Terry & I did a recon at the restaurant, www.issarathaicuisine.com,  to check out if it would be a good match for Margie's Monthly Wine Activity. Located in a strip mall on Warner near Goldenwest, Parking is ample. The owner David, who is an engineer and his wife , who s a doctor, decided to open a Thai restaurant because they could not find any Thai places that were good in Orange County. They had not heard of Nayada, located in Long Beach just close to the OC border.  Place was new and clean and the staff was very accommodating.

We started out with the mixed appetizer plate - Vegetable egg roll, Shrimp rolls, Chicken Stay and Bangkok cups. Terry also ordered a side of Calamari. The egg rolls were very good, the shrimp rolls are like everyone else's, more dough than shrimp which I personally are not partial too, would rather just have the shrimp. The cups had a mixture of chicken and potato salad in them, the satay was very good, the calamari was OK, but not much for the price. What set all these items off was the sauces. Excellent sauces,

We then ordered several dishes.The Crying Tiger steak was OK but did not hold up to Nayada's, it was also not very hot, closer to room temperature. The Crispy Sole with green apple was excellent. moist and good flavor. The Tofu with green beans was interesting. Flavor was good but the amount of very small diced green beans was minuscule. Vegetables are cheap, they should have thrown more into the dish. The Pineapple Rice was very good.

The Roti with yellow curry was good. Not my style of dish but very good flavor.

Paul &  Margie have eaten at Issara a few times and have been happy with the food. So Issara will show up on one of the monthly wine activities soon.

We brought several whites wines to go with the food and they all were a good pairing.

2012 Ponzi, Willamette Valley, Pinot Gris, 2011 Willy Gisselbrecht Gewurztraminer, 2010 Longoria Albarino and for the end of the meal a 2007 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. The pinot did not hold up to the spicy food but was an excellent way to end the meal.


Sunday, June 2, 2013

Golden Star + 4

Thursday, May 30, 2013

CJ, Terry, Hanry and I met at the Golden Star in Little Saigon for dinner. This place specializes in duck and they did not disappoint us tonight.

The wines we brought were an odd combination, but frankly went well with the dishes we ordered,

Started out with deep fried whole fish. These are very small, less than 2 inches in length, breaded and deep fried. They are so crispy and good.  Habit forming.

A half roasted duck was set down, cabbage and carrots along side it. Very fresh, moist and oh so good.

Soup was served next, an odd combination of artichokes, pork ribs, carrots, dates and mushrooms. Really good flavor.

This about the time I start getting filled up.

Fresh sauteed pea shoots showed up. These are very tasty and seasonal.

I am really full now but Henry has two more dishes on his mind.

Shrimp with Maggi sauce. Salty taste to them, stir fried in the wok. Exceptionally good.

Last dish before dessert was fried noodles with shredded pork, Hong Kong style. This dish and the shrimp were new to us.

Before dessert came out, Mr Do, the owner came out with a small plate with 4 slices of what turned out to be duck mandible, the cheeks of the duck. You could tell the shape of the head and the beak. Meat was interesting but I did not think as flavorful as the roasted duck itself. Usually head meat on any animal is sweeter and more tender but this was not the case with the duck. If served again I would certainly eat them but would not go out of my way to order them.

Dessert was fresh cubed cantaloupe, served in a very large martini glass and set up with the rind to look like leaves and the cubed fruit were the flowers.

Also a bowl of green bean tapioca pudding. Their puddings are all served warm and not solidified.

Our wines tonight 2005 McKeon Phillps BPR Caberent Sauvignon, 2005 Niner Fog Catcher, 2011 Francois Chidaine Touraine, Loire, Rose of Pinot and a 2011 Arnot-Roberts, Peter Michael Vineyard, Santa Cruz, Pinot Noir.