Baba Ghanouj Restaurant

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Ten of us tonight for Margie's Wine Activity monthly dinner at a Lebanese restaurant, Baba Ghanouj,  www.babghanoujrestaurant,com, in the Bixby Knolls area . Owner used to have this restaurant on Second St. in Belmont Shore years ago.  Margie arranged for a prix fixe meal. Makes it easier at this type of restaurant than having everyone order separately. Much easier on the restaurant also.

We started out with a cup of White Bean Soup which had a lot of flavor and was very filling. Thick and good and thankfully not salty.

Plates of Hummus Be Tahini and Feta Mix, feta cheese, chopped onion, tomato, fresh oregano and olive oil, along with Pita bread and Pita chips were set on the table. The restaurant was very generous with these dishes. Tasty and I am getting full.

The balance of the food selected was served on the dinner plates. Already portioned out which made it nice and easy. We did not have to pass dishes around. The plates had Kibbie Sineeya, which is freshly ground beef mixed with cracked wheat and layered with pine nuts.baked and served with tabouli and yogurt sauce. This dish has lots of good flavors but is somewhat dry so the sauces add a lot. Also on the plate was Chicken Shawarma, thinly sliced grilled chicken with tomato and garlic sauce. excellent flavor, chicken  was moist and a few pieces of Lamb Shish Kabab completed the protein portion of the plate.

There was a very large grilled green pepper which I did not eat, , grilled tomato slice which really had no flavor, the tomato itself seemed like it was hot house grown,  Basmati rice and sauteed potatoes. The potatoes were a big hit. Cooked with garlic, lemon, chioli, cilantro and tahini.

I ate a little of the chicken and beef, a few potatoes and boxed everything else to take home. The soup and the appetizers filled me up. I just cannot eat like I used to which is probably a good thing.

Rounded out the meal with a dish of ice cream with pistachios, I could taste a rose water flavor to the dessert. A nice ending to the meal. Margie also gave everyone a little bag of Valentine chocolates for a "party favor". Nice touch.

Mixed bag of wines. I felt some did not really lend themselves to the type of food being served.

CJ's and my wine were the first to be finished along with the Champagne. So we know which wines were really good. The first 4 wines listed were the ones that had empty bottles when I left. People were still drinking when I left so there probably were a few more dead soldiers.

2010 Domaine Carneros by Tattinger Champagne (always good)
2011 Seasmoke, Sta. Rita Hills,  Southing, Pinot Noir (favorite of the evening)
2009 Roar, Santa Lucia Highlands, Garys Vineyard, Pinot Noir (took awhile to open but was really good)
2004 Chateau Margene, Paso Robles, Late Harvest Zinfandel (not overly sweet - very good)
2013 Tablas Creek, Paso Robles, Dianthus Rose ( too strawberry sweet)
2013 Patricia Green, Oregon, Pinot Noir (very good - shows Oregon Pinot)
2011 Klinker Brick, Lodi, Old Vine Zinfandel (typical Loid zin)
2011 Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Estate Chardonnay (tad oak but not my style)
2013 Hart, Temecula, Roussane (did not taste - not into Rhone whites)
2011 Tamber Bay, Babicano (did not taste)
2012 Martin Ray, Santa Cruz Mt., Chardonnay (oaky - not for me - did not taste)
2011 Kaiken, Ultra,  Mendoza, Argentina,  Malbec (  did not taste- I have had this by the glass in restaurants too many times  - it keeps showing up at dinners - person must have bought a case)