Saturday. March 3, 3018
17 of us tonight for dinner at Baba Ghanouj a Lebonese restaurant in the Bixby Knolls area. www.babaghanoujrestaurant.com, I did come a few minutes early to snag a parking spot. This area is known for lack of parking. I noticed a few other people in the group had the same idea.
We started out with a quartet of appetizers, Hummus Be Tahini, Sam Busek (like and Empadada), The Monk (fire roasted eggplant with garlic, lemon and yogurt) and Cheese Borek ( cheeses stuffed in a rolled dough and fried). All of them good and served with baskets of Pita bread. This was my dinner. I liked the Sam Buesek with best and the Monk. I am not a eggplant fan but this was very good. I would order it again.
Main course was a plate with Beef Shawarma (thinly sliced grilled beef with tomato and garlic), Shish Taouk ( cubes of marinated chicken breast, charbroiled with garlic sauce) Shrimp on A Skewer ( large shrimp marinated in garlic, lemon and olive oil) Sauteed Potatoes (with garlic, lemon, chili, cilantro and tahini) and Basmati Boiled Rice. It seems all ethnic restaurants like to overcook their meats and poultry. A cultural thing but not my thing. Beef was ok, the chicken had a little moisture in it but not much and the shrimp should have come off the barbie a few minutes before they did. Flavors are wonderful with all the garlic and lemon. The potatoes were awesome. I had them pack my dinner up to take home. The appetizers were more than enough for me. (I got two meals off that dinner plate)
For dessert it was Baklawa (Baklava). Do not think this was housemade but bought from a purveyor. A bit on the dry side. Judy Dunlap's Baklava is so far superior to this.
Wines were an interesting bunch.
I brought a 2012 Sinor-LaVallee, Talley-Rincon Vineyard, Pinot Noir which was showing really well and a 2015 Wolff Vineyards, Old Vine Chardonnay.
There were a couple of bottles of Lucien Albreacht, Cremant D'Alsae which is always a pleasure to drink and a Graham Beck Sparking for bubblies.
2014 Liomer, Niederosterreich, Mustkateller - nice wine, clean and pleasant
2014 Foursight, Charles Vineyard, Pinot Noir - new label for me, light wine
2014 Rombauer, Napa, Merlot - OK but I am not a Merlot fan
2013 LaFond, Sta Rita Hills, Syrah - did not taste
2016 Story of Soil, sauvignon Blanc - did not taste
2013 Stemmler, Carneros, Pinot Noir - ok
2007 Kosta Browne, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, - soft, velvety, plush mouth feel but one dimensional
2014 Natalie Grave, Syrah - did not taste
2013 Augusr Kesseler, Riesling - nice wine, not to sweet
2013 Foley, Sta Rita Hills, Chardonnay - did not taste
2015 Rideau, Chateau Duplantier - did not taste
2010 Chaterau Garraud, Lalande De Pomerol - disappointed
2013 Evening Land Pinot Noir - disappointed
O'Neill Arius, Pinot Noir - new label, nice wine
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