Thursday, October 30, 2014
The Watertable Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach hosted a wine dinner featuring Hall Wines and Walt Wines. Same owners and winemaker just two separate labels. I was looking forward to this dinner to see if things had improved at the Watertable after last months wine dinner which I was not overly happy with. I will most always give a restaurant several chances before I write them off completely
There were five of us and a big surprise when William and Patte walked in. Apparently there was a loss of communication between William and Margie and we did not know they were coming. The staff at the Watertable were very accommodating in getting added seats to the table for them. Also Patte is a vegetarian and they had a separate menu for her and the other "veggies".
The reception was basically the same as last time, Proseco flowed, the appetizer table was a little different. They had an olive tapendade and a spread that had smoked paprika in it. Also a cream cheese mixture that tasted a bit like blue cheese. It was dimmly lighted just enough that I hard a hard time reading the menu on the board. The staff puts these things together in the daylight so its easy to see. They do not take into account how it will be in the evening with "mood" lighting. The food was good. Not so many items in olive oil so less mess. Still have to handle the bread and break off a piece. I shared my "loaf" with Margie. At least she knew that my hands were clean, other people you never know.
We were ushered outside to the dining area. This time were were seated at a real table. The heat lamps were on and there was no need for a sweater or jacket even though the night was cool.
Dinner started out with a Baja Rock Scallop Crudo, Passion Fruit, Chili, Watermelon Radish and Micro Arugula. Good dish. The scallop was perfect and the dish had really niceflavors to it. Paired very nicely with a 2013 Hall Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. This was an exceptionally nice wine. Not to over mineraly, over acidic and overly citrusy. It had a soft, full mouth feel and was easy drinking. I am not much of a Sau Blanc fan but this wine would be an exception. Dinner is starting out good.
Second course was a California Kurobuta Pork Belly, Pea Puree, Spiced Hazelnuts, Toasted Pea Marshmallow, Apricot-Apple Cider Gastrique. Again flavors were good. I would have liked the pork belly to bet a bit more crispy on top instead of seared. Not sure if that would be the right description but I like a crispy top and this wasn't. It was very tender but still had to have a knife to cut it. The Pea Marshmallow was excellent. That was a first for me and I liked it. Whimsical but very good. The pairing was with a 2012 Walt La Brisa Chardonnay. OAKY - tried a couple of sips with the fatty pork belly but the oak just pushed its way through. I gave my wine to the others that are into the oak. I had some Sau Blanc left in my glass and frankly I thought it was a better pairing. I also had a piece of Patte's squash tart. It was very good but even it didn't really hit the mark with the oak.
Third course was a Hay Smoked Aged Striploin Duo, Redwood Hill Mushrooms, Celery Root Puree. Blueberry Pinot Reduction, Brussel Sprout Puree, Potato Foam, Crispy Shallots, Ligonberry demi. A lot of flavors on this plate. All the "sauces' were very good and added a nice dimension to the dish. I felt that the meat needed just a bit more cooking. The fat needed to be cooked just a little longer. It was too close to raw. If you are going to serve raw sliced it paper thin. But this was an excellent dish. Loved the flavors that all blended in together. A pair of wines was poured. 2012 Walt Blue Jay and a 2012 Walt La Brisa Pinot Noir. Both nice wines but my vote goes to the La Brisa. Softer on the palate, plush, better fruit.
Fourth course up was a Illy Coffee Scented Lamb, Pee Wee Fingerling Potatoes, Heirloom Carrots. Fall Harvest Chutney, Thyme Lamb Jus. Again another really good dish. Lamb was cooked perfectly. The Au jus was excellent and had really good flavors going in it. Gave Margie a small bite (she does not eat lamb) and she liked it. Maybe we will convert her someday. We did convert her to duck. She is quite a challenge. A 2011 Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was poured. I am not a Cab fan. This was a nice wine but I gave it the the boys and drank the Pinots with the Lamb which personally I felt was a better pairing.
Dessert was a Chocolate Cambozola Cheesecake, Walnut Crust, Port Reduction, Candied Orange Peel. This was to die for. Deep Chocolate flavor and the orange peel really added a nice contrast to the chocolate. Served with a 2006 Hall Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. Not to sweet and a good end to the evening.
As always the service from the waitstaff as impeccable. The resort does a very good job with service. and the ambiance is so nice. The view of the ocean is always a good sign and tonight was a beautiful sunset also.
Since this dinner went so well I was hoping to end the evening on a high note. But unfortunately it did not. When I went to get my car from valet they dinged me for extra charges even though my ticket was validated by the restaurant. I was a little over the 4 hours allotted and they wanted $20. When I protested she brought it down to $10. The attendant said everyone was complaining about having to pay extra. Now if they can bring the charge down from $20 to why they cannot forget it completely I don't know. I know I have gone over the limit a few times before and never got charged for it when I was doing a wine dinner, but this was a different attendant in the booth than before. Almost makes you wonder if they were pocketing the money themselves. So a sour note to a great evening. Very good food, good wines, great conversation with my dining companions.
I will miss the next dinner which is Silver Oak - will be out of town - going to Avila Beach and have a winemaker dinner scheduled the day I arrive and then the SLO Wine Festival over the weekend. A few days tasting around the Paso Robles, Edna Valley area and then heading home to do a Sequoia Grove Wine dinner at Delius the day I return.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
Prix Fixe at Delius
Thursday, October 23, 2014.
Nine of us met tonight at Delius, www.deliusrestaurant.com, for the October Prix Fixe menu The which changes at the beginning of every month
Started out with a Chicken Sausage Stew, Kale and White Beans. To me it was a soup not a stew. Stews are always thicker. Very good flavor and went well with the 2013 Cade, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc. The wine was not overly acidic and had a light tropical fruit taste to it. But I did have some bubbly left from earlier and I thought the bubbly went better with the dish.
Second course presented was an Autumn Squash Ravioli, Sage and Pecan Butter. This to me was the hit dish of the evening. Dough was very tender and the squash really put it out there. Great flavor and the butter was one that you sopped up with bread. Wine served was a 2011 Fossil Point , Edna Valley, Chardonnay. Not my style of wine as it a bit oaky but the wine did hold up to the butter sauce. I could have had several of these raviolis.
The next dish I was really disappointed in. Crispy Calamari, Spicy Arrabiata Sauce. I found the calamari rings to be a little tough. The whole baby calamari were ok but without the sauce they would have been nothing. The breading left a lot to be desired. Not much of a flavor. I am so used to the salt and pepper calamari at the Seafood Palace that maybe I have become spoiled with really tender calamari. The Arrabiata Sauce is spicy and that is what is supposed to be but I personally found it too spicy for me and it did not pair well with the wine. The wine was a 2008 La Maia Lina Chianti Classico which is Sangiovese. I thought the wine was weak and did not pair well with the food. This was a big miss for me. I wonder what the Stolpman Carbonic Sangiovese would have tasted like. Had this wine with a spicy risotto and it was a good match. Also perhaps a Grenache may have worked better or a light Zinfandel. I know a Riesling would have been great with this dish. I may have been able to handle the spicy sauce if the wine would have paired better.
Main course was a Rib Eye Steak, Roasted Cauliflower and Caramelized Onions. Tender and cooked perfectly. The onions were very good. The cauliflower added some crunch. A very good dish. Wine was not that great. A 2010 Stepping Stone, Napa Valley, Cabernet Franc. I prefer Cab Franc over Cabernet Sauvignon but somehow this wine did nothing for me. I poured half my glass into Maria's. Someone should enjoy it. Maybe it just me as others seem to like the wine.
Dessert was a Panna Cotta, Roasted Rhubarb and Salted Peanut Tuille. Glad to see a light dessert served. The panna cotta is always good and the rhubarb was a surprise. Went very well together. The peanut tuille was a nice crunchy addition. A good ending to the meal.
A good dinner, hits and misses and good conversation. It was an enjoyable evening.
Nine of us met tonight at Delius, www.deliusrestaurant.com, for the October Prix Fixe menu The which changes at the beginning of every month
Started out with a Chicken Sausage Stew, Kale and White Beans. To me it was a soup not a stew. Stews are always thicker. Very good flavor and went well with the 2013 Cade, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc. The wine was not overly acidic and had a light tropical fruit taste to it. But I did have some bubbly left from earlier and I thought the bubbly went better with the dish.
Second course presented was an Autumn Squash Ravioli, Sage and Pecan Butter. This to me was the hit dish of the evening. Dough was very tender and the squash really put it out there. Great flavor and the butter was one that you sopped up with bread. Wine served was a 2011 Fossil Point , Edna Valley, Chardonnay. Not my style of wine as it a bit oaky but the wine did hold up to the butter sauce. I could have had several of these raviolis.
The next dish I was really disappointed in. Crispy Calamari, Spicy Arrabiata Sauce. I found the calamari rings to be a little tough. The whole baby calamari were ok but without the sauce they would have been nothing. The breading left a lot to be desired. Not much of a flavor. I am so used to the salt and pepper calamari at the Seafood Palace that maybe I have become spoiled with really tender calamari. The Arrabiata Sauce is spicy and that is what is supposed to be but I personally found it too spicy for me and it did not pair well with the wine. The wine was a 2008 La Maia Lina Chianti Classico which is Sangiovese. I thought the wine was weak and did not pair well with the food. This was a big miss for me. I wonder what the Stolpman Carbonic Sangiovese would have tasted like. Had this wine with a spicy risotto and it was a good match. Also perhaps a Grenache may have worked better or a light Zinfandel. I know a Riesling would have been great with this dish. I may have been able to handle the spicy sauce if the wine would have paired better.
Main course was a Rib Eye Steak, Roasted Cauliflower and Caramelized Onions. Tender and cooked perfectly. The onions were very good. The cauliflower added some crunch. A very good dish. Wine was not that great. A 2010 Stepping Stone, Napa Valley, Cabernet Franc. I prefer Cab Franc over Cabernet Sauvignon but somehow this wine did nothing for me. I poured half my glass into Maria's. Someone should enjoy it. Maybe it just me as others seem to like the wine.
Dessert was a Panna Cotta, Roasted Rhubarb and Salted Peanut Tuille. Glad to see a light dessert served. The panna cotta is always good and the rhubarb was a surprise. Went very well together. The peanut tuille was a nice crunchy addition. A good ending to the meal.
A good dinner, hits and misses and good conversation. It was an enjoyable evening.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Baba Ghanouj
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
The restaurant Baba Ghanouj was recommended by CJ as to a destination for one of Margie's wine activities. www.babaghahoujrestaurant.com, so tonight we are doing a recon to check out the menu. Located in Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach. Parking is not the best but we all found spaces close by. Terry decided to brave it and drove himself, first time since his surgery. It will be nice to have him back into the mix of things.
Interesting little place with a definite middle eastern decor and music.. And best of all no corkage. They even have a sign outside that advertises no corkage. Small inexpensive wine list.
We started out with a few appetizers, which I can make a meal out of. Naturally you have to order the Hummus and Pita Bread. Good but not great. I have had better and have had a lot worse. Then an order of Baba Ghanouj, minced eggplant. Taste was good, not my favorite dish to order but others liked it really well. Tabouli was added to the mix. Another dish I am not over whelmed by but I was not the only one eating. Best appy was the Warak Siam, vegetable stuffed grape leaves with a yogurt sauce. Very good. And lastly an order of Sauteed Potatoes with garlic, lemon, chili, cilantro and Tahini. These spuds were good. Cj was glad we had ordered them because not being a potato person he has always passed them up when dining here. Said he would never have tried them himself.
Then on to the main dishes. we tried the Beef Skish Kabab, Shisk Taouk (chicken) and the Shrimp on a Skewer. All good. Like the shrimp best then the chicken,. Beef had good flavor was way overdone for my taste. CJ said it was ordered medium but the outside and inside were the same color.
Sides of rice with vegetables and pomegranate seeds, baked tomatoes, peppers, raw tomatoes, onions were on the table. The rice was ok but a tad dry.
A couple of desserts were ordered. The Karafe with Kashta, a shredded phyllo dough drizzled with a sweet syrup and topped with Kastha Cream. I did not taste but others said it was very good. I ordered the Ice Cream with Pistachios, Rose Water and Rose Jam. It hit the spot. Not heavy and not overly sweet.
All in all good dinner. but I would have liked to try a few of their unusual dishes. Not just kababs.
We had a mixed bag of wines. I brought a 2007 Loring, Rancho LaVina, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir which was drinking really well.
The 2009 Copain, Kiser "En Bas", Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir turned out to be really good. Opened up after awhile. CJ had decanted it.
2011 Michel Torino Estate, Don David, Capayate Valley, Argentina, Malbec. This was a bigger wine and need beef with it or lamb. It was good also.
Paul and Margie brought a 2012 Palmina Malvasia Bianca, Santa Barbara County. This wine needed spicier food. They also had a 2004 Bernard Bremont-Millesime, Ambonnay Brut, Grand Cru, France and a 2007 Dusky Goose, Rambouillet Vineyard, Orgeon, Pinot Noir. Both these wines were excellent and went well with the Lebanese food.
A good recon and now Margie has the job of deciding what will be on the menu in a few months when we come back for a full wine dinner.
The restaurant Baba Ghanouj was recommended by CJ as to a destination for one of Margie's wine activities. www.babaghahoujrestaurant.com, so tonight we are doing a recon to check out the menu. Located in Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach. Parking is not the best but we all found spaces close by. Terry decided to brave it and drove himself, first time since his surgery. It will be nice to have him back into the mix of things.
Interesting little place with a definite middle eastern decor and music.. And best of all no corkage. They even have a sign outside that advertises no corkage. Small inexpensive wine list.
We started out with a few appetizers, which I can make a meal out of. Naturally you have to order the Hummus and Pita Bread. Good but not great. I have had better and have had a lot worse. Then an order of Baba Ghanouj, minced eggplant. Taste was good, not my favorite dish to order but others liked it really well. Tabouli was added to the mix. Another dish I am not over whelmed by but I was not the only one eating. Best appy was the Warak Siam, vegetable stuffed grape leaves with a yogurt sauce. Very good. And lastly an order of Sauteed Potatoes with garlic, lemon, chili, cilantro and Tahini. These spuds were good. Cj was glad we had ordered them because not being a potato person he has always passed them up when dining here. Said he would never have tried them himself.
Then on to the main dishes. we tried the Beef Skish Kabab, Shisk Taouk (chicken) and the Shrimp on a Skewer. All good. Like the shrimp best then the chicken,. Beef had good flavor was way overdone for my taste. CJ said it was ordered medium but the outside and inside were the same color.
Sides of rice with vegetables and pomegranate seeds, baked tomatoes, peppers, raw tomatoes, onions were on the table. The rice was ok but a tad dry.
A couple of desserts were ordered. The Karafe with Kashta, a shredded phyllo dough drizzled with a sweet syrup and topped with Kastha Cream. I did not taste but others said it was very good. I ordered the Ice Cream with Pistachios, Rose Water and Rose Jam. It hit the spot. Not heavy and not overly sweet.
All in all good dinner. but I would have liked to try a few of their unusual dishes. Not just kababs.
We had a mixed bag of wines. I brought a 2007 Loring, Rancho LaVina, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir which was drinking really well.
The 2009 Copain, Kiser "En Bas", Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir turned out to be really good. Opened up after awhile. CJ had decanted it.
2011 Michel Torino Estate, Don David, Capayate Valley, Argentina, Malbec. This was a bigger wine and need beef with it or lamb. It was good also.
Paul and Margie brought a 2012 Palmina Malvasia Bianca, Santa Barbara County. This wine needed spicier food. They also had a 2004 Bernard Bremont-Millesime, Ambonnay Brut, Grand Cru, France and a 2007 Dusky Goose, Rambouillet Vineyard, Orgeon, Pinot Noir. Both these wines were excellent and went well with the Lebanese food.
A good recon and now Margie has the job of deciding what will be on the menu in a few months when we come back for a full wine dinner.
Monday, October 20, 2014
October's Wino's
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Today's theme was German Wines and Beers. Host made sausages with saukerkraut, rolls etc. Side dishes all seemed to have potatoes in them. All good. Henry did bring a nixed vegetable dish with fuzzy squash which helped on the overloaded starchy dishes. The beers were a big hit. Small gathering, a lot of people had previous commitments. Wines were decent but nothing that shook my pants off. Even the wine I brought was ok but nothing to try and remember. Someone brought home made pretzels with home made whole grain mustard. Very good. Three of the females decided to attempt the "chicken dance" which is always done at Oktoberfest's. A nice relaxing day.
Today's theme was German Wines and Beers. Host made sausages with saukerkraut, rolls etc. Side dishes all seemed to have potatoes in them. All good. Henry did bring a nixed vegetable dish with fuzzy squash which helped on the overloaded starchy dishes. The beers were a big hit. Small gathering, a lot of people had previous commitments. Wines were decent but nothing that shook my pants off. Even the wine I brought was ok but nothing to try and remember. Someone brought home made pretzels with home made whole grain mustard. Very good. Three of the females decided to attempt the "chicken dance" which is always done at Oktoberfest's. A nice relaxing day.
The Boys and I at Seafood Palace
Monday, October 20, 2014
Five of us today at the Seafood Palace for Dim Sum, Probably the last one until December. Henry is going to Hong Kong for a couple of weeks, I will be in Avila Beach and then turkey day hits us, November will be busy. So today we cured the world of everything, made decisions on how everything should be run and solved all the problems. 3 hours of enjoyment, good food, wine and great company. The guys can be themselves with me and nothing is off limits because some female is sitting at the table. People wonder why we like it the way it is. And that is one of the big reasons. Henry doesn 't feel like he has to "host". He can sit back and enjoy. Terry was with us today. His first outing since back surgery. CJ picked him up and was taking him home. He is not into driving yet. Nice to have him back into the fold.
We started out with a dumpling filled with minced shrimp and pork and then onto the minced shrimp filled seaweed roll that is deep fried, Followed by Sweet and Sour soup which is always a big hit,
A dish of sliced scallops with snow peas, carrots and mushrooms was set on the lazy susan spinning around on the table, This dish has always been consistently good and the scallops are very fresh.
A new dish for us . A Braised filet of white fish with noodles, mushrooms, carrots and scallions. Good flavor, very fresh, cooked perfectly. Tender and moist. Nothing left on the platter with this one.
The kitchen sent out a small dish of just made right then, honeyed walnuts with sesame seed. This could be a very addicting dish.
Our old standby, beef with Chinese broccoli, Can never go wrong with this dish. Beef is very flavorful and very tender. Needed something for the red wines.
Another new dish for us, Kung Pao shrimp with peanuts. The shrimp was so fresh and succulent, Sauce was great
Ended the dinner with custard cups and fortune cookies
I brought a 2005 McKeon-Phillips BPR Cabernet which was showing well. Reserved but big at the same time.
A 2006 Quintessa, Rutherford, Napa Valley red blend. This was the first bottle emptied. Beautiful wine.
2010 Denner, Mother of Exiles, Blend of Cabernet, Petite Verdot, Cab Franc and Merlot. Showing well but could really be great in another couple of years.
2011 Monaasi, Poggio Tufo, Rompicollo,. Blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet. Another good wine.
And lastly a Segura Viudas Cava. Always have to have a sparkling of some kind.
Big wines with Chinese food but somehow it seems to work. These Chinese dishes aren't sweet, they have bold flavors and everything seems to go together. I know some people disagree but we have no problem with our wines and food selections. Sometimes people can get to uppity when there is no reason to. Save me from the so called "wine snob" who thinks they know everything, but only buys because of the labels.
Five of us today at the Seafood Palace for Dim Sum, Probably the last one until December. Henry is going to Hong Kong for a couple of weeks, I will be in Avila Beach and then turkey day hits us, November will be busy. So today we cured the world of everything, made decisions on how everything should be run and solved all the problems. 3 hours of enjoyment, good food, wine and great company. The guys can be themselves with me and nothing is off limits because some female is sitting at the table. People wonder why we like it the way it is. And that is one of the big reasons. Henry doesn 't feel like he has to "host". He can sit back and enjoy. Terry was with us today. His first outing since back surgery. CJ picked him up and was taking him home. He is not into driving yet. Nice to have him back into the fold.
We started out with a dumpling filled with minced shrimp and pork and then onto the minced shrimp filled seaweed roll that is deep fried, Followed by Sweet and Sour soup which is always a big hit,
A dish of sliced scallops with snow peas, carrots and mushrooms was set on the lazy susan spinning around on the table, This dish has always been consistently good and the scallops are very fresh.
A new dish for us . A Braised filet of white fish with noodles, mushrooms, carrots and scallions. Good flavor, very fresh, cooked perfectly. Tender and moist. Nothing left on the platter with this one.
The kitchen sent out a small dish of just made right then, honeyed walnuts with sesame seed. This could be a very addicting dish.
Our old standby, beef with Chinese broccoli, Can never go wrong with this dish. Beef is very flavorful and very tender. Needed something for the red wines.
Another new dish for us, Kung Pao shrimp with peanuts. The shrimp was so fresh and succulent, Sauce was great
Ended the dinner with custard cups and fortune cookies
I brought a 2005 McKeon-Phillips BPR Cabernet which was showing well. Reserved but big at the same time.
A 2006 Quintessa, Rutherford, Napa Valley red blend. This was the first bottle emptied. Beautiful wine.
2010 Denner, Mother of Exiles, Blend of Cabernet, Petite Verdot, Cab Franc and Merlot. Showing well but could really be great in another couple of years.
2011 Monaasi, Poggio Tufo, Rompicollo,. Blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet. Another good wine.
And lastly a Segura Viudas Cava. Always have to have a sparkling of some kind.
Big wines with Chinese food but somehow it seems to work. These Chinese dishes aren't sweet, they have bold flavors and everything seems to go together. I know some people disagree but we have no problem with our wines and food selections. Sometimes people can get to uppity when there is no reason to. Save me from the so called "wine snob" who thinks they know everything, but only buys because of the labels.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Martinelli Wines and The Hobbit Restaurant
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Trekked over to Hobbit in Orange for dinner tonight . www.hobbitrestaurant.com, I was surprise that it only took me 70 minutes to drive from Torrance to Orange in work traffic. Big surprise. Six of us tonight to sample the wines and wares.
Started out in the cellar for appetizers and Champagne, the Hobbits own label. Their appys are always top notch. Could make a meal from them alone. Checked out the wines laying in the cellar racks. They do have an extensive collection and a high price. But tonight we are having Martinelli Wines. Julie Martinelli is representing her family tonight and gave up a little run down on the history of the family. Acreage has been in the family for over a hundred years.
Kelly took numerous photos which will soon be blasted all over Facebook. I am one of the most unphotogenic people and I am sure that will show in the pictures. I did not inherit my fathers great trait.
Dinner was being served upstairs so off we went - started out with a Crayfish Ravioli with Fennel Custard. Not a fan of fennel but this was a light touch. Good flavor and paired very nicely with the 2010 Martinelli Road Chardonnay - a bit oaky but went well with the custard sauce.
Next plate set in front of us was a Roulade of Kurobuta Pork Loin and Black Forest Ham with a Fig Reduction. Very good flavor to the pork, not sure where the ham was but the Fig reduction as just the right touch for this dish. I did think the portion was a bit small or maybe needed a starch or another vegetable. Tasted like some spinach underneath but not a lot of it. Two wines were poured for this dish, a 2012 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and a 2012 Martinelli Moonshine Ranch Pinot Noir, Russian River. Took awhile for the Sonoma Coast to open up but in the end I did prefer that wine over the Moonshine. Both were good but I think the Moonshine being a bit bigger could have used a couple more years before opening
Intermission was upon us so we took our wine outside the grape arbor. This gives the kitchen a chance to start the next dishes and the waitstaff an opportunity to clear up a bit. The Hobbit does take a lot of care with service.
A sorbet of blackberry and star anise was served to clean the palate. Really did like the flavor. Would have never thought to add star anise to a sorbet but it did work.
Main dish was a Wild Mushroom Stuffed Filet Mignon with Banana Squash, Haricot vert and Creme Fraiche Mash. Meat was very tender, mushrooms added just the right contrast, squash had a glaze on it and the mash had good flavor. The green beans were added for color I suppose. There was another small vegetable on the plate. took turns trying to figure out what it was. Turned out to be a cooked radish. Very sweet. May have to try this sometime. Wine poured was a Martinellei 2012 Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River. Fruit comes from 100 year old vines. It was at 17.1 % alcohol. Big wine. I like Martinellis zins but I think for my palate it fell off the mark. I was not overly impressed with the wine. Other at the table liked it. I do not like big wines with dinners. I feel they can over power the food especially with a high alcohol percent.
Dessert was a Montrachet Fruit Tart - crisp dough. Custard was excellent. Paired with a 2012 Martinelli Jackass Hill Muscat of Alexandria. Not overly sweet and a nice ending to the evening.
I am beginning to suspect that all restaurants are cutting back slightly on portion size due to the high cost of meat right now. Keep the prices the same but shirnk the size.
Everyone seemed to have a good time, even Marc. Looking forward to next week. Monthly Winos, Dim Sum, Lebanese, and Delius. Makes me a happy and busy old broad
Trekked over to Hobbit in Orange for dinner tonight . www.hobbitrestaurant.com, I was surprise that it only took me 70 minutes to drive from Torrance to Orange in work traffic. Big surprise. Six of us tonight to sample the wines and wares.
Started out in the cellar for appetizers and Champagne, the Hobbits own label. Their appys are always top notch. Could make a meal from them alone. Checked out the wines laying in the cellar racks. They do have an extensive collection and a high price. But tonight we are having Martinelli Wines. Julie Martinelli is representing her family tonight and gave up a little run down on the history of the family. Acreage has been in the family for over a hundred years.
Kelly took numerous photos which will soon be blasted all over Facebook. I am one of the most unphotogenic people and I am sure that will show in the pictures. I did not inherit my fathers great trait.
Dinner was being served upstairs so off we went - started out with a Crayfish Ravioli with Fennel Custard. Not a fan of fennel but this was a light touch. Good flavor and paired very nicely with the 2010 Martinelli Road Chardonnay - a bit oaky but went well with the custard sauce.
Next plate set in front of us was a Roulade of Kurobuta Pork Loin and Black Forest Ham with a Fig Reduction. Very good flavor to the pork, not sure where the ham was but the Fig reduction as just the right touch for this dish. I did think the portion was a bit small or maybe needed a starch or another vegetable. Tasted like some spinach underneath but not a lot of it. Two wines were poured for this dish, a 2012 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and a 2012 Martinelli Moonshine Ranch Pinot Noir, Russian River. Took awhile for the Sonoma Coast to open up but in the end I did prefer that wine over the Moonshine. Both were good but I think the Moonshine being a bit bigger could have used a couple more years before opening
Intermission was upon us so we took our wine outside the grape arbor. This gives the kitchen a chance to start the next dishes and the waitstaff an opportunity to clear up a bit. The Hobbit does take a lot of care with service.
A sorbet of blackberry and star anise was served to clean the palate. Really did like the flavor. Would have never thought to add star anise to a sorbet but it did work.
Main dish was a Wild Mushroom Stuffed Filet Mignon with Banana Squash, Haricot vert and Creme Fraiche Mash. Meat was very tender, mushrooms added just the right contrast, squash had a glaze on it and the mash had good flavor. The green beans were added for color I suppose. There was another small vegetable on the plate. took turns trying to figure out what it was. Turned out to be a cooked radish. Very sweet. May have to try this sometime. Wine poured was a Martinellei 2012 Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel, Russian River. Fruit comes from 100 year old vines. It was at 17.1 % alcohol. Big wine. I like Martinellis zins but I think for my palate it fell off the mark. I was not overly impressed with the wine. Other at the table liked it. I do not like big wines with dinners. I feel they can over power the food especially with a high alcohol percent.
Dessert was a Montrachet Fruit Tart - crisp dough. Custard was excellent. Paired with a 2012 Martinelli Jackass Hill Muscat of Alexandria. Not overly sweet and a nice ending to the evening.
I am beginning to suspect that all restaurants are cutting back slightly on portion size due to the high cost of meat right now. Keep the prices the same but shirnk the size.
Everyone seemed to have a good time, even Marc. Looking forward to next week. Monthly Winos, Dim Sum, Lebanese, and Delius. Makes me a happy and busy old broad
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
The Factory
Monday. October 13, 2014
Eight of us gathered at the Factory Gastropub in Bixby Knolls tonight. www.thefactorylb.com, I arrived early so I ordered a bottle of a Rioja wine and paid for it separately as the dinner tab was going to be split evenly. I figured I would get my wine and share the bottle. Mostly beer drinkers in this crowd. A very mixed bag a food ordered. Several people ordered the Pig and Grits, which I believe was one of the dishes featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives television show. They raved about the dish. A grilled cheese sandwich which looked decadent and several hamburgers were on the table. I ordered the Bison Short Rib with Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Root Vegetables. Meat was excellent. Good flavor and very tender. Potatoes had good flavor. But again which seems to be the big trend with today's cooks, the vegetables were still too much on the raw side. The parsnips were good as were most of the carrots but the beets were in quarters and I could hardly cut them with my knife. I realize that people don't want "mushy" vegetables and neitner do I but I would like them cooked enough to get a fork into them. A nice dinner, good conversation and a great time was had by all.
Eight of us gathered at the Factory Gastropub in Bixby Knolls tonight. www.thefactorylb.com, I arrived early so I ordered a bottle of a Rioja wine and paid for it separately as the dinner tab was going to be split evenly. I figured I would get my wine and share the bottle. Mostly beer drinkers in this crowd. A very mixed bag a food ordered. Several people ordered the Pig and Grits, which I believe was one of the dishes featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives television show. They raved about the dish. A grilled cheese sandwich which looked decadent and several hamburgers were on the table. I ordered the Bison Short Rib with Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Root Vegetables. Meat was excellent. Good flavor and very tender. Potatoes had good flavor. But again which seems to be the big trend with today's cooks, the vegetables were still too much on the raw side. The parsnips were good as were most of the carrots but the beets were in quarters and I could hardly cut them with my knife. I realize that people don't want "mushy" vegetables and neitner do I but I would like them cooked enough to get a fork into them. A nice dinner, good conversation and a great time was had by all.
Two Mid Week Wine Tastings
Normally I do not post about mid week wine tastings that I do but this week I had two interesting ones.
On Tuesday, October 7, Michaels on Naples had there monthly wine tasting, www.michaelsonnaples.com and they featured Antica Wines from Napa Valley. This is part of of the Antinori family in Italy hence the name Anti for the family name and ca for California. "Antica". There were 4 wines featured. A 2013 Rose "Fossino",100% Pinot Noir which was very good. Dry and a creamy mouth feel to it. 2012 Chardonnay. Tad oaky but not bad. Paired very well the cheeses offered. 2012 Pinot Noir. Clean, and silky Nice wine but I do prefer other Pinots and a 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Not an overly big Cab but substantial enough. The Cabernet and the Rose were my 2 favorites. Nice tasting, cheeses were good. Ordered a "Il Piatto de Salumi Con Pane e Olive" . Otherwise Italian meats, marinated olives and grilled garlic cibatta bread. Quality as always was excellent. Weather was perfect on the rooftop.
On Friday, October 10 went to Wine Country , www.thewinecountry.com, for a Wine & Cheese pairing. They do this every year. Ten cheeses and 10 wines. Most of the pairings were excellent. A couple missed the mark a little. I won't go through the whole list but just a few that stood out. The first pairing was a NV Maurice Vesselle Grand Cru Brut with a D'Affinois with Truffles. The bubbly was good, the cheese had a tad bit too much truffle taste for me A 2012 Domaine de Rocfontaine Saumur-Champigny with a Pilota Basque. This was a Cab Franc from Loire and very good. This to me was the best pairing and I really liked the cheese. Something I had not had before. Another very good pairing was a 2012 Ercavio Tempranillo with a Caved Aged Gruyere. Always a good event to attend. Opens you up to some new cheeses and how to pair.
On Tuesday, October 7, Michaels on Naples had there monthly wine tasting, www.michaelsonnaples.com and they featured Antica Wines from Napa Valley. This is part of of the Antinori family in Italy hence the name Anti for the family name and ca for California. "Antica". There were 4 wines featured. A 2013 Rose "Fossino",100% Pinot Noir which was very good. Dry and a creamy mouth feel to it. 2012 Chardonnay. Tad oaky but not bad. Paired very well the cheeses offered. 2012 Pinot Noir. Clean, and silky Nice wine but I do prefer other Pinots and a 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Not an overly big Cab but substantial enough. The Cabernet and the Rose were my 2 favorites. Nice tasting, cheeses were good. Ordered a "Il Piatto de Salumi Con Pane e Olive" . Otherwise Italian meats, marinated olives and grilled garlic cibatta bread. Quality as always was excellent. Weather was perfect on the rooftop.
On Friday, October 10 went to Wine Country , www.thewinecountry.com, for a Wine & Cheese pairing. They do this every year. Ten cheeses and 10 wines. Most of the pairings were excellent. A couple missed the mark a little. I won't go through the whole list but just a few that stood out. The first pairing was a NV Maurice Vesselle Grand Cru Brut with a D'Affinois with Truffles. The bubbly was good, the cheese had a tad bit too much truffle taste for me A 2012 Domaine de Rocfontaine Saumur-Champigny with a Pilota Basque. This was a Cab Franc from Loire and very good. This to me was the best pairing and I really liked the cheese. Something I had not had before. Another very good pairing was a 2012 Ercavio Tempranillo with a Caved Aged Gruyere. Always a good event to attend. Opens you up to some new cheeses and how to pair.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Octobers Fun Wine Activity - Seminar and Dinner
Saturday, October 4, 2014
For this months event Margie picked out a seminar at Total Wines. European Wines, 6 different countries and 11 wines. Good seminar, nice selection of very reasonably priced wines. All were paired with food to show the difference between drinking only and having wines with meals. A couple of the wines that I liked were the 2012 Winzer Krems Gruner Vetliner from Austria and the 2012 Quinta Do Vale Maeo Meandro from Spain. I ended up buying 4 bottles of the Gruner Veltliner. I need some whites in my cellar and with the discount it came to about $10 a bottle. This wine will pair very well with spicy foods.
After the seminar we went to George's Greek Cafe for dinner. 11 people opted for the family style dinner and 2 of us ordered separately. I ordered the mixed appetizer plate with a side of 4 lamb chops. John ordered the Flat Iron steak. I did not want the family dinner because there were 4 to 5 dishes I was not to inclined to eat so in my mind it would have been a waste for me. As it was we had so many nibblies at Total Wine I was apparently not that hungry. When my plate arrived I ate the Pita Bread with dips, 2 Falafel and nothing else. Packed up everything to take home for lunch tomorrow. I did opt for a dessert, a lemon cake that was similar to a pudding cake with ice cream, It hit the spot. The family style diners got Baklava which several indicated was dry and not that good. I probably paid $5 to $10 more than the others (depending on if the opted for lamb chops as an extra) but I ended up with lots of leftover for myself. If I had opted for the family dinner there would have been no leftovers, I would have eaten a small amount and subsidized the other large eaters.
A mixed bag of wines were brought. Only the bubblies were almost empty. Every one took close to a half bottle of wine home with them. Too much wine at the seminar.
I brought a 2008 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. 08 wasn 't the best year but this wine was drinking very nicely.
Two Greek wines were on the table. I did not taste either one of these wines. 2004 Vaeni Xinomavro and a 2009 Tselepos Agirogitiko. Also did not taste the 2011 Kaiken Ultra Malbec (have had this too many times at wine bars) a 2012 Martin Ray Chardonnay and a 2012 Tablas Creek Vermentino. I meant to try the Vermentino but it passed me and then I forgot about it.
A 2011 Wiens - Obscura for Temecula was on the table. I did try this wine and it was good., especially for Temecula,
I tasted both the NV Francois Montano Brut and a 2009 Pear Valley Charbono. The Brut was ok but the Charbono was very good. I also had a 2011 Ecluse, Nohl, Syrah and a 2009 Trilogy Flora Springs, both way too cold at the beginning but as they warmed a little they became a really nice wines. A Veuve Du Vernaz Burt was very good, much better than the other bubbly.
All in all it was a nice day. Good seminar, informative and fun. Very good dinner, wish I could have eaten more and nice company. Too bad the temperature was so miserable, In the midst of a heat wave and thankfully it will start ending tomorrow.
I will miss Novembers event as I will be in Avila Beach. Tasting the wines of SLO county and Paso Robles. A winemaker dinner on a Friday night at the Sycamore. A big SLO Vinters Festival Saturday and open house at all the wineries in SLO on Sunday. It is a rough life.
For this months event Margie picked out a seminar at Total Wines. European Wines, 6 different countries and 11 wines. Good seminar, nice selection of very reasonably priced wines. All were paired with food to show the difference between drinking only and having wines with meals. A couple of the wines that I liked were the 2012 Winzer Krems Gruner Vetliner from Austria and the 2012 Quinta Do Vale Maeo Meandro from Spain. I ended up buying 4 bottles of the Gruner Veltliner. I need some whites in my cellar and with the discount it came to about $10 a bottle. This wine will pair very well with spicy foods.
After the seminar we went to George's Greek Cafe for dinner. 11 people opted for the family style dinner and 2 of us ordered separately. I ordered the mixed appetizer plate with a side of 4 lamb chops. John ordered the Flat Iron steak. I did not want the family dinner because there were 4 to 5 dishes I was not to inclined to eat so in my mind it would have been a waste for me. As it was we had so many nibblies at Total Wine I was apparently not that hungry. When my plate arrived I ate the Pita Bread with dips, 2 Falafel and nothing else. Packed up everything to take home for lunch tomorrow. I did opt for a dessert, a lemon cake that was similar to a pudding cake with ice cream, It hit the spot. The family style diners got Baklava which several indicated was dry and not that good. I probably paid $5 to $10 more than the others (depending on if the opted for lamb chops as an extra) but I ended up with lots of leftover for myself. If I had opted for the family dinner there would have been no leftovers, I would have eaten a small amount and subsidized the other large eaters.
A mixed bag of wines were brought. Only the bubblies were almost empty. Every one took close to a half bottle of wine home with them. Too much wine at the seminar.
I brought a 2008 Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. 08 wasn 't the best year but this wine was drinking very nicely.
Two Greek wines were on the table. I did not taste either one of these wines. 2004 Vaeni Xinomavro and a 2009 Tselepos Agirogitiko. Also did not taste the 2011 Kaiken Ultra Malbec (have had this too many times at wine bars) a 2012 Martin Ray Chardonnay and a 2012 Tablas Creek Vermentino. I meant to try the Vermentino but it passed me and then I forgot about it.
A 2011 Wiens - Obscura for Temecula was on the table. I did try this wine and it was good., especially for Temecula,
I tasted both the NV Francois Montano Brut and a 2009 Pear Valley Charbono. The Brut was ok but the Charbono was very good. I also had a 2011 Ecluse, Nohl, Syrah and a 2009 Trilogy Flora Springs, both way too cold at the beginning but as they warmed a little they became a really nice wines. A Veuve Du Vernaz Burt was very good, much better than the other bubbly.
All in all it was a nice day. Good seminar, informative and fun. Very good dinner, wish I could have eaten more and nice company. Too bad the temperature was so miserable, In the midst of a heat wave and thankfully it will start ending tomorrow.
I will miss Novembers event as I will be in Avila Beach. Tasting the wines of SLO county and Paso Robles. A winemaker dinner on a Friday night at the Sycamore. A big SLO Vinters Festival Saturday and open house at all the wineries in SLO on Sunday. It is a rough life.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Heitz Cellar Wine Dinner at Watertable
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
This was to be the first wine dinner at the newly renovated Watertable Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Huntington Beach. Seven of us signed on for this dinner.
We started out with "appetizers" in a small area off the patio that seems to be set up just for this. They had various items in canning jars, most with olive oil. Some artichoke, red peppers. Some type of jerkey was listed but I never saw it.. Bread was very small loaves in paper bags. Warm and good but if you only want a small piece you had a problem. I sure don't want to take a piece off after someone else has had their hands on it. Flavors of the things I tried were good but olive oil with everything got to be messy. They poured a Proseco very freely which was nice.
After the reception we went outside to the patio area where it has been designed to host dinners. Our name cards were set up around the fire pit. At first I thought that would really be nice but after a while the flaws came through. Had to keep the wine glasses away from the inner edge as they became warm from the fire. Chairs were comfortable but way to low for comfortable eating. The height of the surface was just about at my boobs and I felt like a little kid eating at a large table. You had to yell across the table to talk with anyone who wasn't at your side. First couple of food courses were fine by time the 3rd one arrived it was starting to get dark you could not see the menu or what the food looked like. Very poor lighting for a dinner. The other tables had a big advantage.
First course was a Yellowtail Hamachi Crudo with avocado, compressed cucumber, red jalapeno pepper gel and micro citrus. Best dish of the evening. The avocado and red pepper gel were just the right touch to enhance the raw fish. A 2013 Napa Valley Sauvignion Blanc was paired with this dish. A nice Sau Blanc. Full mouth feel, not overly citrusy or acidic. A good pairing.
Second course was served - Organic Beet Tartar with Drake Farm's goat cheese, fresh herb salad, rye crisp and enfuso olive oil. As far as I am concerned the beets needed a extra minute of cooking. Just this side of raw and you could not get the nice sweet beet flavor from them. A 2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay was poured. Too much oak for me and there also was not enough cheese in the dish to cut the oak in the wine. Others said the Sau Blanc was a better pairing with the beets. But mine was gone and they did not offer second pours. Most of this dish went back to the kitchen and I gave my wine to Margie. She is into oak.
Third course up - a Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast, forest mushrooms, house pickled summer cherries, fresh pea blini and kale chips. Duck lacked seasoning. Also just a cube of meat. I prefer diagonal slicing. Makes a much better presentation. I tasted the cherries but could not see where they were. It was dark. I spyed the pea blini and it was good. The wine paired with this course was a 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Ok wine . Did not like the pairing with duck. Maybe if the duck had a Cabernet sauce or heavier accompaniments it might have worked better.
Fourth course came to us - Espresso Rubbed Short rib, carrot puree, potato-leek foam, carmelized romanesco and a cabernet sauvignon reduction. Meat was very tender and fairly good. Again very little seasoning beside the espresso. Since I could not see what I was eating, I had to go by taste. Could not find the carrot puree, the foam was good but not enough of it was on the plate. The romanesco was almost non-existent. Best wine of the evening was served. A 2005 Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc. Short pours. It was a good pairing/\.
Dessert was a huge disappointment. A" Fall Harvest" Black Mission Fig Tart with marcona almond crumble, thyme infused honey, valencia orange sorbet. The sorbet was the best past of this dish. Figs had good flavor the tart itself was limp. Had the texture you get when you microwave pastry. Most of this went back to the kitchen. As required it seems, dessert wine was a NV Ink Grande Napa Valley port. Nice wine but please do not give me sweet with sweet. A cheese plate would have been much better.
What I figured out about this dinner was there were no starches with the dishes. I actually left hungry when most wine dinners I do I take some food home. Yes I did not finish a couple of dishes but that would not have made a difference. Portions were very small, almost skimpy. If they would have added more vegetables and / or starch to the dishes it would have been much better. Also no bread was served at the table.
Out table paid $95 for this dinner as we had been quoted a price by email. But the others paid $110. This was not a $110 or a $95 dinner. I have had Heitz wines before but I don't feel the prices justify what you are getting. Maybe the winery was not that accomodating to the resturant. All wineries operate differently when it comes to pricing their bottles for these dinners. But the higher end wine did not justify the very small portions of food. Potatoes and rice are cheap
Dining in the dark has huge drawbacks. Part of eating is the look and presentation of the dish. When it is so dark that you cannot see what is set down in front of you it does not become a pleasant dining experience. Fire pit would be great for cocktails but for dinner it was the pits A lot of bugs seem to be in the need of fixing with this new venue. Setting was beautiful and the service impeccable. Food should have been also.
This was to be the first wine dinner at the newly renovated Watertable Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Huntington Beach. Seven of us signed on for this dinner.
We started out with "appetizers" in a small area off the patio that seems to be set up just for this. They had various items in canning jars, most with olive oil. Some artichoke, red peppers. Some type of jerkey was listed but I never saw it.. Bread was very small loaves in paper bags. Warm and good but if you only want a small piece you had a problem. I sure don't want to take a piece off after someone else has had their hands on it. Flavors of the things I tried were good but olive oil with everything got to be messy. They poured a Proseco very freely which was nice.
After the reception we went outside to the patio area where it has been designed to host dinners. Our name cards were set up around the fire pit. At first I thought that would really be nice but after a while the flaws came through. Had to keep the wine glasses away from the inner edge as they became warm from the fire. Chairs were comfortable but way to low for comfortable eating. The height of the surface was just about at my boobs and I felt like a little kid eating at a large table. You had to yell across the table to talk with anyone who wasn't at your side. First couple of food courses were fine by time the 3rd one arrived it was starting to get dark you could not see the menu or what the food looked like. Very poor lighting for a dinner. The other tables had a big advantage.
First course was a Yellowtail Hamachi Crudo with avocado, compressed cucumber, red jalapeno pepper gel and micro citrus. Best dish of the evening. The avocado and red pepper gel were just the right touch to enhance the raw fish. A 2013 Napa Valley Sauvignion Blanc was paired with this dish. A nice Sau Blanc. Full mouth feel, not overly citrusy or acidic. A good pairing.
Second course was served - Organic Beet Tartar with Drake Farm's goat cheese, fresh herb salad, rye crisp and enfuso olive oil. As far as I am concerned the beets needed a extra minute of cooking. Just this side of raw and you could not get the nice sweet beet flavor from them. A 2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay was poured. Too much oak for me and there also was not enough cheese in the dish to cut the oak in the wine. Others said the Sau Blanc was a better pairing with the beets. But mine was gone and they did not offer second pours. Most of this dish went back to the kitchen and I gave my wine to Margie. She is into oak.
Third course up - a Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast, forest mushrooms, house pickled summer cherries, fresh pea blini and kale chips. Duck lacked seasoning. Also just a cube of meat. I prefer diagonal slicing. Makes a much better presentation. I tasted the cherries but could not see where they were. It was dark. I spyed the pea blini and it was good. The wine paired with this course was a 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Ok wine . Did not like the pairing with duck. Maybe if the duck had a Cabernet sauce or heavier accompaniments it might have worked better.
Fourth course came to us - Espresso Rubbed Short rib, carrot puree, potato-leek foam, carmelized romanesco and a cabernet sauvignon reduction. Meat was very tender and fairly good. Again very little seasoning beside the espresso. Since I could not see what I was eating, I had to go by taste. Could not find the carrot puree, the foam was good but not enough of it was on the plate. The romanesco was almost non-existent. Best wine of the evening was served. A 2005 Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc. Short pours. It was a good pairing/\.
Dessert was a huge disappointment. A" Fall Harvest" Black Mission Fig Tart with marcona almond crumble, thyme infused honey, valencia orange sorbet. The sorbet was the best past of this dish. Figs had good flavor the tart itself was limp. Had the texture you get when you microwave pastry. Most of this went back to the kitchen. As required it seems, dessert wine was a NV Ink Grande Napa Valley port. Nice wine but please do not give me sweet with sweet. A cheese plate would have been much better.
What I figured out about this dinner was there were no starches with the dishes. I actually left hungry when most wine dinners I do I take some food home. Yes I did not finish a couple of dishes but that would not have made a difference. Portions were very small, almost skimpy. If they would have added more vegetables and / or starch to the dishes it would have been much better. Also no bread was served at the table.
Out table paid $95 for this dinner as we had been quoted a price by email. But the others paid $110. This was not a $110 or a $95 dinner. I have had Heitz wines before but I don't feel the prices justify what you are getting. Maybe the winery was not that accomodating to the resturant. All wineries operate differently when it comes to pricing their bottles for these dinners. But the higher end wine did not justify the very small portions of food. Potatoes and rice are cheap
Dining in the dark has huge drawbacks. Part of eating is the look and presentation of the dish. When it is so dark that you cannot see what is set down in front of you it does not become a pleasant dining experience. Fire pit would be great for cocktails but for dinner it was the pits A lot of bugs seem to be in the need of fixing with this new venue. Setting was beautiful and the service impeccable. Food should have been also.
Septembers Wino Fest
Sunday, September 21, 2014.
I did not attend our monthly wino fest. I was out of town for the weekend. When the list of wines was sent to be I could have just about picked which wine and what person brought it. Some people are so predictable.
The theme was West Coast Blends. That was meant to be CA, OR and WA. Only one wine from other than CA. And mostly from Paso Robles.
i would have liked to try the 1994 Conn Creek Anthology to see how it has held up. Another wine that I showed an interest in would have been the 2011 Margerum Wine Company, M5. It was probably too young yet but would have liked to see what it had ahead of it.
Not much to report since I was not there. Next month another conflict. SAWG is scheduled for the same day and time as Delius Restaurant's annual Passport Tasting. I not missed a Passport since it was started about 15 years ago.
I did not attend our monthly wino fest. I was out of town for the weekend. When the list of wines was sent to be I could have just about picked which wine and what person brought it. Some people are so predictable.
The theme was West Coast Blends. That was meant to be CA, OR and WA. Only one wine from other than CA. And mostly from Paso Robles.
i would have liked to try the 1994 Conn Creek Anthology to see how it has held up. Another wine that I showed an interest in would have been the 2011 Margerum Wine Company, M5. It was probably too young yet but would have liked to see what it had ahead of it.
Not much to report since I was not there. Next month another conflict. SAWG is scheduled for the same day and time as Delius Restaurant's annual Passport Tasting. I not missed a Passport since it was started about 15 years ago.
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