Friday, May 30, 2014
A new winery I have never heard of (but that is not surprising), Nine North out of Napa. The winemaker Charles Hendrick along with the new rep from Henry Wine Group and the rep from the group that owns Nine North were at the table I was seated at. Always like to try new things. The names of the wines are a play on words.
We all know that Delius, www.deliusrestautrant.com, is one of my favorites and basically is my benchmark in comparing quality of food and service. And its local which at my age now is a big plus. I am getting so I hate driving anyplace anymore. I put on 50 miles a day driving back and forth to work. I sure don't need road trips on weekends.
We started out with Oysters on the half shell with Preserved Lemon Mignonette. Oysters were plump and very good flavor. The mignonette was different and refreshing. Served with a 2012 Parcel 21 Sauvignon Blanc. Good pairing and the sau blanc was not to acidic. It had a touch of Semilion in it.
Second course - Braised Pork & Fennel Ravioli, Cabbage and Pork Jus. My favorite dish of the night. Great flavor and I was so surprised that the wine paired perfectly with the dish. I would have never thought a white wine much less a Vermentino would pair so well. Wine was a 2012 Dirty Pure Project "G-Spot" Vermentino (Lodi).
Third course - King Salmon. Micro Herbs, Wilted Spinach, Celery Root Puree. Excellent fish and the celery root puree seemed to be the added touch it needed. Paired with a 2012 Dirty Pure "F-Bomb" Grenache blend.(Santa Barbara County) Good pairing.
Fourth Course - Bone in Lamb Loin, Farro Risotto with Peas and Bacon. By this time I hit the wall. I did had a couple pieces of the lamb which was excellent and a few bites of the Farro. Great new way for Risotto. Will have the remainder tomorrow for lunch. After all we have dessert coming up. The wine paired was a 2012 Twenty Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa valley. Wasn't overly taken with this wine but after ten minutes or so in the glass it really opened up.
Dessert was an Almond Cake, Chocolate Ganache, Raspberries & Cinnamon Ice Cream. I felt the cake was too dry. I saw a lot of plates going back to the kitchen with everything eaten but the cake so I have an idea others felt the same way. It had good flavor but really needed less time either in the oven or sitting out before being plated. Because of its small size it would have a tendency to dry out faster.
Patrick Gallardo, the sous chef is in charge of the wines dinners. He does the menu and helps Dave with the wine pairing. So Louise becomes his sous chef for the night. I feel he is doing a great job and his menus now are a great improvement over the past few years.
So another good dinner at Delius and looking forward to 2 more. In a few weeks Wine Country is hosting a Maderia Wine dinner and July is Clos Pepe wine dinner. Looking forward to both of them
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Harvey's Steakhouse
Wednesday, May 29, 2014
Checked out Harvey's , www.harveyssteakhouse.com, in Huntington Beach tonight. I write a restaurant review article for for the newsletter for out condo complex where I live so I am always looking for new places to try.
This is an old style steak/chop house. Large sports bar with entertainment every evening. I found it way too noisy by the bar. Should have asked to be seated in the rear area where the lighting was better and it was much quieter. But did not know that when we went in and the waitstaff did not ask if we preferred a quieter location. Other than that the service was good.
I ordered the rib eye steak and it was cooked perfectly, had good flavor and a nice char. A grilled pork chop was ordered and it was tender and tasted good. A dish of shrimp scampi with pasta was another dish ordered. Disappointment, shrimp were fresh but the scampi sauce needed more flavor. Dinner salads were generous and ingredients were fresh and crisp. Choice of several sides. My garlic mashed potatoes were good. Baked potato came with all the extras. Bread basket was mediocre.
They had a varied menu, early bird prices, separate menu for the bar and patio. Their wine list was run of the mill. Nothing exciting. The wine glasses were the round restaurant style which I do not like. Forgot to ask about corkage but if I go back I will call and inquire.
A decent, local place to go for steak. But I would go early, order off the early bird menu and stay away from the entertainment. It does not hold a candle to 555 in Long Beach but the prices were less expensive than 555.
Checked out Harvey's , www.harveyssteakhouse.com, in Huntington Beach tonight. I write a restaurant review article for for the newsletter for out condo complex where I live so I am always looking for new places to try.
This is an old style steak/chop house. Large sports bar with entertainment every evening. I found it way too noisy by the bar. Should have asked to be seated in the rear area where the lighting was better and it was much quieter. But did not know that when we went in and the waitstaff did not ask if we preferred a quieter location. Other than that the service was good.
I ordered the rib eye steak and it was cooked perfectly, had good flavor and a nice char. A grilled pork chop was ordered and it was tender and tasted good. A dish of shrimp scampi with pasta was another dish ordered. Disappointment, shrimp were fresh but the scampi sauce needed more flavor. Dinner salads were generous and ingredients were fresh and crisp. Choice of several sides. My garlic mashed potatoes were good. Baked potato came with all the extras. Bread basket was mediocre.
They had a varied menu, early bird prices, separate menu for the bar and patio. Their wine list was run of the mill. Nothing exciting. The wine glasses were the round restaurant style which I do not like. Forgot to ask about corkage but if I go back I will call and inquire.
A decent, local place to go for steak. But I would go early, order off the early bird menu and stay away from the entertainment. It does not hold a candle to 555 in Long Beach but the prices were less expensive than 555.
May's Wino's Get Together
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Beautiful day to have an outdoor party. Several of our group seem to be out to town so a smaller gathering today. Still had 20 bottles of wine opened. More than enough to go around. Theme today was Russian River or Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. I opted to with the Russian River area because next months theme is so similar. California (preferably Sta Rita Hills) and "Oaky" Chardonnays. My thought was too much "Sta Rita Hills" in a row. I hope people don't duplicate the wines next month. My two favorite wines today were the 2009 Dragonette Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot and the wine I brought, a 2009 Kosta Browne Russian River Pinot.
The hostess did a great job on the main dishes. Her salmon was great. Since this is a "pot luck" type of event you never know what is being brought. Today only one appetizer showed up. All side dishes and desserts. Probably because last month there were no desserts and everyone compensated for it. I like unpredictable.
Beautiful day to have an outdoor party. Several of our group seem to be out to town so a smaller gathering today. Still had 20 bottles of wine opened. More than enough to go around. Theme today was Russian River or Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. I opted to with the Russian River area because next months theme is so similar. California (preferably Sta Rita Hills) and "Oaky" Chardonnays. My thought was too much "Sta Rita Hills" in a row. I hope people don't duplicate the wines next month. My two favorite wines today were the 2009 Dragonette Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot and the wine I brought, a 2009 Kosta Browne Russian River Pinot.
The hostess did a great job on the main dishes. Her salmon was great. Since this is a "pot luck" type of event you never know what is being brought. Today only one appetizer showed up. All side dishes and desserts. Probably because last month there were no desserts and everyone compensated for it. I like unpredictable.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Recon at Issara
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Paul, Margie and I met at Issara in Huntington Beach to try out some new dishes for a wine dinner Margie is planning next month for her Fun Wine Activity.
David, the owner, had suggested several new dishes to try. Don't want to repeat last years dinners.
We started out with Chicken Satay and Beef Satay. Love the peanut sauce. Decided the beef must be a flank or skirt steak from the texture. Had good flavor.
Next was Moo-Yang - a very thinly sliced pork on a bed or rice noodles. The sauce really had a kick to it. Served with Roti ( like pita bread only very thin).
A Papaya Salad was served. Did not like this at all. The papaya was shredded very thin and looked like carrots. Could not taste the papaya. Too many tomatoes also.
Chicken with yellow curry and more Roti. Good flavor and the curry sauce was excellent.
Issara special fried rice - good flavor but I still prefer the Pineapple Rice myself.
Last dish was a Pad Thai with Shrimp - very good Pad Thai.
I brought a bottle of 2009 Huber Pinot Noir and Paul & Margie opened a 2012 Gundlach Bundschu Gerwurztraminer. The gerwurzt went excellent with the spicy Thai flavors. Maybe next month I will bring the newly released Tercero Mouverdre Rose. Should pair excellent with the Thai dishes.
Good evening out and it will be nice to see what food dishes Margie picks out for the dinner next month. She plans on eight dishes so I am sure we will see a few from last year show up.
Paul, Margie and I met at Issara in Huntington Beach to try out some new dishes for a wine dinner Margie is planning next month for her Fun Wine Activity.
David, the owner, had suggested several new dishes to try. Don't want to repeat last years dinners.
We started out with Chicken Satay and Beef Satay. Love the peanut sauce. Decided the beef must be a flank or skirt steak from the texture. Had good flavor.
Next was Moo-Yang - a very thinly sliced pork on a bed or rice noodles. The sauce really had a kick to it. Served with Roti ( like pita bread only very thin).
A Papaya Salad was served. Did not like this at all. The papaya was shredded very thin and looked like carrots. Could not taste the papaya. Too many tomatoes also.
Chicken with yellow curry and more Roti. Good flavor and the curry sauce was excellent.
Issara special fried rice - good flavor but I still prefer the Pineapple Rice myself.
Last dish was a Pad Thai with Shrimp - very good Pad Thai.
I brought a bottle of 2009 Huber Pinot Noir and Paul & Margie opened a 2012 Gundlach Bundschu Gerwurztraminer. The gerwurzt went excellent with the spicy Thai flavors. Maybe next month I will bring the newly released Tercero Mouverdre Rose. Should pair excellent with the Thai dishes.
Good evening out and it will be nice to see what food dishes Margie picks out for the dinner next month. She plans on eight dishes so I am sure we will see a few from last year show up.
Oh No - Onotria
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
After vowing I would not return to Onotria in Costa Mesa I showed up there with friends. Julie and her man Jim flew in from England for Julie's daughters graduation from Chapman University.
Picked them up at their hotel and decided that Onotria was close and would work out for the evening. I brought no wine for dinner but did bring a bottle of 2008 Stolpman Rubens Block Syrah for a git for them. Julie likes Stolpman wines and they are not available in England.
Restaurant was busy not not crowded. Msssimo the owner/chef was in the garden picking what ever was needed for the next dish. I started out with the Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms with a Marinara sauce. Very good and I am assumed very freshly picked blossoms. Jim ordered a Margarita pizza which was not on the dinner menu but they did accommodate him. Julie had a pasta dish which I neglected to write down what is was but looked like some type of ravioli with a white sauce. And I ordered the Osso Bucco. Dish was good, but I have had better and then I have had worse. So it fell in between. sauce was excellent but the pasta was mediocre. Not fresh made.
I had a great dessert - "apple pie" - a tart shell with freshly baked apples, caramel and cream sauce. Good flavor . Enjoyed that and the Zucchini Blossoms more than the main dish.
Since Jim drinks beer ( he's English), Julie and I split a bottle of 2008 Michele Chiarlo Barberesco. I had this at a wine dinner here at Onotria last year and also just tasted it again last month at another wine tasting. Very nice wine and priced reasonable for Onotria.
The wines are over priced. Most restaurants use a formula of 2.5 to 3.0 times retail for their price. I saw a bottle of Segeshio Zinfandel priced over 3.0 times retail. Restaurants do not pay retail . They get a discounted price of 30% to 40% off retail so it is a real irritant to me to have jacked up prices. I know they have to cover overhead, glasses, washing of same and holding a wine in storage until it sells. But it seems to me that if the prices were a little more reasonable they would sell more wine and have a faster turn over of their stock. My own personal take on it.
It was great to see Julie again. She moved back to England several years ago so it has only been Facebook contact since then.
After vowing I would not return to Onotria in Costa Mesa I showed up there with friends. Julie and her man Jim flew in from England for Julie's daughters graduation from Chapman University.
Picked them up at their hotel and decided that Onotria was close and would work out for the evening. I brought no wine for dinner but did bring a bottle of 2008 Stolpman Rubens Block Syrah for a git for them. Julie likes Stolpman wines and they are not available in England.
Restaurant was busy not not crowded. Msssimo the owner/chef was in the garden picking what ever was needed for the next dish. I started out with the Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms with a Marinara sauce. Very good and I am assumed very freshly picked blossoms. Jim ordered a Margarita pizza which was not on the dinner menu but they did accommodate him. Julie had a pasta dish which I neglected to write down what is was but looked like some type of ravioli with a white sauce. And I ordered the Osso Bucco. Dish was good, but I have had better and then I have had worse. So it fell in between. sauce was excellent but the pasta was mediocre. Not fresh made.
I had a great dessert - "apple pie" - a tart shell with freshly baked apples, caramel and cream sauce. Good flavor . Enjoyed that and the Zucchini Blossoms more than the main dish.
Since Jim drinks beer ( he's English), Julie and I split a bottle of 2008 Michele Chiarlo Barberesco. I had this at a wine dinner here at Onotria last year and also just tasted it again last month at another wine tasting. Very nice wine and priced reasonable for Onotria.
The wines are over priced. Most restaurants use a formula of 2.5 to 3.0 times retail for their price. I saw a bottle of Segeshio Zinfandel priced over 3.0 times retail. Restaurants do not pay retail . They get a discounted price of 30% to 40% off retail so it is a real irritant to me to have jacked up prices. I know they have to cover overhead, glasses, washing of same and holding a wine in storage until it sells. But it seems to me that if the prices were a little more reasonable they would sell more wine and have a faster turn over of their stock. My own personal take on it.
It was great to see Julie again. She moved back to England several years ago so it has only been Facebook contact since then.
Another Scotch Tasting
Thursday, May 15, 2014
ABC Liquor in Long Beach hosted another Scotch tasting by Gordon Macphail. 14 scotch's were poured ranging in price from $60 to $180 a bottle. Of course the intent of these tastings is to get you to buy some product. I held firm this time and walked away with no purchase at all. I have some unopened bottles at home and it seems ridiculous to another. Also when I pay to attend one of these tastings I have no problem with no buying. If a tasting is free then I sometimes purchase on bottle to "cover the costs".
They did more one that was very unusual. From France and it was Brenne French Single Malt, Single Cask. Had a very light almost sweet taste to it. I did like it but I think too much of it and you would be turned off. The Benromach Golden Promise was very peaty. Not to my taste. Not into that heavy smoke taste.
Others poured tonight were, Glen Grant 10 yr., Inchgrower 13 yr., (we had fun with that name combined with Golden Promise), Speymalt Macallan 19 yr., Benromach Port Wood 12 yr., Montlach 15 yr., Scapa 10 yr., Glen Scotia 21 yr Cambeltown, Old Pultney 21 yr., (100% bourbon cask) , Coa 12 yr Cast Strength (very peaty), Benromach Organic, Tormore 14 yr (bourbon cask), and Speymalt Macallan 9 yr (European cask).
Besides a female wine rep who was invited at the very last minute, I was the lone female. At other "whisky" tastings there have been a few females but males predominate the group. You would think that the "women libers" would be screaming about being denied their "rights". But don't notice them showing up and doing these tastings. But bring on the bubbles and they are out in full force. But don't ever tell them there is a difference between the sexes.
ABC Liquor in Long Beach hosted another Scotch tasting by Gordon Macphail. 14 scotch's were poured ranging in price from $60 to $180 a bottle. Of course the intent of these tastings is to get you to buy some product. I held firm this time and walked away with no purchase at all. I have some unopened bottles at home and it seems ridiculous to another. Also when I pay to attend one of these tastings I have no problem with no buying. If a tasting is free then I sometimes purchase on bottle to "cover the costs".
They did more one that was very unusual. From France and it was Brenne French Single Malt, Single Cask. Had a very light almost sweet taste to it. I did like it but I think too much of it and you would be turned off. The Benromach Golden Promise was very peaty. Not to my taste. Not into that heavy smoke taste.
Others poured tonight were, Glen Grant 10 yr., Inchgrower 13 yr., (we had fun with that name combined with Golden Promise), Speymalt Macallan 19 yr., Benromach Port Wood 12 yr., Montlach 15 yr., Scapa 10 yr., Glen Scotia 21 yr Cambeltown, Old Pultney 21 yr., (100% bourbon cask) , Coa 12 yr Cast Strength (very peaty), Benromach Organic, Tormore 14 yr (bourbon cask), and Speymalt Macallan 9 yr (European cask).
Besides a female wine rep who was invited at the very last minute, I was the lone female. At other "whisky" tastings there have been a few females but males predominate the group. You would think that the "women libers" would be screaming about being denied their "rights". But don't notice them showing up and doing these tastings. But bring on the bubbles and they are out in full force. But don't ever tell them there is a difference between the sexes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)