Antonellos and Caymus Wine

Thursday,  July 23, 2015

So many people signed up for this dinner that they added Friday night. 88 people at each dinner and a waiting list. There was 6 wine glasses set at each setting. That is 528 glasses setting there. Imagine how many glasses the restaurant must have to handle these types of dinners and the regular dining room also. Antonello's restaurant, www.antonello.com teamed with Caymus Vineyards to have this "epic" dinner. The food at Antonellos is always good . Some of Caymus's wines I like and others are so, so.  Chuck Wager of Caymus was in attendance tonight and will be at the dinner on Friday also.

Open seating so we were seated at a table for 12. A real mix of people. To my right were two women that came in a town car with driver. I had watched them get out of the car and was laughing. Teetering on high heels and both had white jeans on on. The back side of the jeans were sagging because their rears sagged.  After having conversation with them at the table they really are  ditzes. Blond, Newport, 50's or early 60's trying to be "young". Another two females across the table were very lively and funny. Turned out the boyfriend of one of them lives in my condo complex. I don't know him but will keep an eye out for her,

We started out with an onslaught of appetizers. They never stopped. Proscuitto wrapped figs, baby tomatoes stuffed with mozzarella, tuna tartare and a flatbread stuffed with cheese that was so good. I could have made my entire meal on that. For 25 minutes the plates kept coming.  The wine they poured was the 2013 Conundrum. This wine has never been high on my list but it was nice with the appy's and I ended up drinking  with 2 full glasses.  Pours tonight were not stingy. All of them were at least 4 ounce pours.

Our next dish was Grilled jumbo prawns with toasted bread, crispy pancetta, sweet onions and a fig infused balsamic glaze. And again those stupid micro greens that I always push to the side. They served this with a 2013 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc. I think that the Conundrum would have been a better choice. Again I had two glasses of wine.

Interesting Risotto, cooked with Chanterelle mushrooms, red wine and gorgonzola. It was served in a "bowl" made of melted Parmigiano cheese that formed into a bowl.  That "bowl" really made the risotto. Paired with a 2013 Belle Glos, Dairyman Vineyard, Pinot Noir. Big pinot, well balanced. Limited myself to one "full" glass of this wine.

Main dish was a braised boneless short rib served on a very large vegetable ravioli with a Barolo reduction.  Excellent cut of beef,  very tender and moist. Now this is where the wine really flows. 3 wines with this dish and all 4 ounce pours. A 2012 Emmolo Merlot, 2013 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2009 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. Lots of wine and  one of the lively females managed to sag a whole bottle of the 2009 Special Selection for the table as an extra.

Dessert was a flourless chocolate cake with fresh berries and Zabaglione. The red wines went well with this dish also.

Chuck Wagner came to every table and introduced himself and talked with each individual person. The Wagner Family wines apparently do not have wine clubs. They sell all their wine through stores. I talked with him further outside when I was going to my car. Very nice, friendly person.

The only complaint I have is that the acoustics in the private dining area are bad. With the staff and the host along with the attendees there were over 100 people in that room. It was loud. But also after all that wine the decibel's really went up.

Antonellos food is always good, wine was good and our table was very lively and chatty.  Price was right.  A great evening out