Tuesday, February 11, 2020
4 of us tonight for a wine dinner at Michaels. www.michalesonnaples.com. Cusumano Wines which are from the Sicilian area of Italy. Price of dinner was $100, in the past it has been from $125 to $140. Things must be slow in the restaurant business right now. I have noticed a lot of closures lately. Competition is tough.
Arrived 30 minutes early so sat at the bar and had a Manhattan. Talked with a man next to me for a bit. Turned out he was a wine rep and got his card. He is doing a dinner at the restaurant in the Porsche Center in Carson. (racetrack where you can rent a Porsche to run the course) I drive by the facility numerous times but never knew they had a restaurant. In April there will be a high end wine dinner. Plan on checking it out and hope to attend.
Three distributor reps and the winery rep Diego Cusumano were in attendance tonight. Knew all the distributors from other venues.
We started out with a "Ricciola Sicilian", amberjack crudo, blood orange, EVO. Fish was delicate and delightful. The citrus was a nice contrast. Paired with a 2017 Alta Mora, Etna Bianco (Caricante grape) New grape for me so that makes 551 tasted in my quest.
"Antipasto" consisted of pan seared squid, fennel pollen and carmelized fennel. Not a fan of fennel but it was used with a very light touch. Wine was a 2016 Grillo, Shamaris. Grillo is the grape. A white wine. A good pairing.
"Primo" course is "Mafaldine", house made wide pasts, ahi tuna, San Marzano tomatoes and capers. Great flavor but wished for a light touch of cheese to cut the acidity of the tomatoes. But this is how they serve it in Sicily. Paired with two wines. 2014 Alta Mora, Nerello Mascalese, Etna Rosso, Guardiloa and a 2014 Alta Mora, Nerello Mascalese, Etna Rosso, Feudo di Mezzo. Both wines were good but I did prefer the second one more.
"Secondi" is next with a very thinly sliced egglant rolled with braised pork, pine nuts raisins and finely diced bell peppers. Very tasty dish even if is eggplant. Paired with a 2015 Noa, a super Scilian Nerello Mascalese. Big wine but very good with the food.\
"Agnello". is the last dish. Grilled lamb loin, roasted potatoes an olive tapenade. Lamb was tender and had good flavor. I liked the touch of tapenade. Had just the right touch of saltiness.
"Per Finire" Dolcetti Della Casa, is the dessert course, A small almond cake and a mini cannolli.
Good dinner but I can see where they cut back on certain foods to be able to offer it at $100. Which I am OK with that. Food was good. I do not need numerous dishes of heavy proteins.. I very rarely finish all the courses and the majority of the time I have leftovers to take home. This suits me better.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Dinner at Kelly's & Dimitry's
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Eight of us gathered around the table tonight for a "Rack of Lamb" dinner. Kelly has been practicing cooking lamb. A few stumbles along the way but she finally got it down pat. Lots of appetizers and sides. Everyone really enjoyed the night. Kelly brought out a beautiful fruit tart from Katella Bakery with a candle on it. It was for my recent birthday. Nice touch.
Loads of wines, most of which I did not taste.Had eye surgery 2 days ago and still nit up to par. Eye was really bothering me. But did had a pour of each champagne.
2008 Pol Roger Champagne
NV Palmer and ; Co, Brut Reserve, Champagne
NV Nicholas Feuillette Champagne
2010 Chateau Vieux, Gadet, Medoc
2011 Les Beaux, Monts Premier Cru, Vosne-Romanee
2003 Dry Creek Vineyards, Somers Ranch, Zinfandel
2011 Williams Selyem, Coastlands Vineyard, Pinot Noir
2008 Lillian, Dundee, Oregon, California Syrah
2009 Saxum, Broken Stones, Blend
2014 North Star, Merlot
2015 Ken Brown, Ritas Crown, Pinot Noir
2017 Golden Eye, Pinot Noir Rose
2009 Williams Selyem, Forchini Vineyards, South Knoll, Zinfandel
Eight of us gathered around the table tonight for a "Rack of Lamb" dinner. Kelly has been practicing cooking lamb. A few stumbles along the way but she finally got it down pat. Lots of appetizers and sides. Everyone really enjoyed the night. Kelly brought out a beautiful fruit tart from Katella Bakery with a candle on it. It was for my recent birthday. Nice touch.
Loads of wines, most of which I did not taste.Had eye surgery 2 days ago and still nit up to par. Eye was really bothering me. But did had a pour of each champagne.
2008 Pol Roger Champagne
NV Palmer and ; Co, Brut Reserve, Champagne
NV Nicholas Feuillette Champagne
2010 Chateau Vieux, Gadet, Medoc
2011 Les Beaux, Monts Premier Cru, Vosne-Romanee
2003 Dry Creek Vineyards, Somers Ranch, Zinfandel
2011 Williams Selyem, Coastlands Vineyard, Pinot Noir
2008 Lillian, Dundee, Oregon, California Syrah
2009 Saxum, Broken Stones, Blend
2014 North Star, Merlot
2015 Ken Brown, Ritas Crown, Pinot Noir
2017 Golden Eye, Pinot Noir Rose
2009 Williams Selyem, Forchini Vineyards, South Knoll, Zinfandel
Monday, February 3, 2020
Dinner at the Red Table
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Margie's second monthly dinner for 2020. Red Table in Huntington Beach. www.redtablerestaurants.com. They have a "RED" table that comfortably seats 10. The restaurant says 12 and that is tight. We have 14 people tonight and that made a very crowded table. 14 people, several dozen wine glasses and 16 wines . In spite all this the service was great. Our waitress really kept things moving.
CJ and I decided ahead of time to share appetizers instead of ordering dinner. But unfortunately we were seated across the table from one another instead of being by a side. So when the dishes came out we had to pass them back and forth trying to be careful and not break any glasses or knock over a bottle of wine. A big faux pas. Also those dishes were heavy. I feel lucky we didn't have an accident.
The couple seated on the end between us offered to trade one of their seats so CJ and I could sit next to each other but by then the wines glasses were out, wine was poured and food was served. Difficult changeover so we declined. Wish I had asked when they first got to the table.
Portions are very large here. Food is very good. We ordered Roasted beets with feta and walnuts.
Then the quad of french fries. Red Table makes 4 different fries and have 4 sauces. Regular fries with hose made ketchup, sweet potato fries with bacon, chive aioli, , Bollywood fries with madras curry dust and garlic fries with blue cheese crumbles. After these dishes I was staring to expand.
Next was crab cakes (4 oz) each and Bacon Truffle mac n' cheese with mozzarella, parmesan and prosciutto. All were good. But this was my swan song. Doggie bags.
Margie made a batch of her very decadent brownies in celebration of my birthday in a few days. This was a nice surprise.
Wines were a real mix which usually happens at these dinners. I brought a 2010 Kosta Browne, Santa Lucia Highlands, Pinot Noir. . The second best wine tonight. The best wine was a 2009 Williams Seylem, Olivet Lane, RR, Pinot Noir.
2014 Tobin James, Arroyo Grand Valley. Paso Robles, Pinot Noir - did not taste.
2017 Croad, Paso Robles, Viognier - did not taste
2017 Enroute, RRV, Pinot Noir - did not taste
2015 Chronic Cellars, Paso Robles, Paradise Proprietary red - did not taste
NV Piper Heidsieck Champagne - never wrong
2016 Grgich Hills Estate, Fume Blanc - did not taste
2014, Cabernet Franc Reserve - big wine, bold flavors - I liked it
2013 Halter Ranch, Paso Robles, CDP Red blend - OK
2017 Vina Ponte, Cabaleiros, Albarino - did not taste
2014 Lando, Sonoma, Pinot Noir - very good.
NV Kirkland, French Brute Champagne - a bargain for the price
Sierra Foothills, Coppermine, Miners Nightcap - very sweet - needed cheese
2016 Rideau, Enchevetre, white bland - did not taste
2016 Miro, Ponzo Vineyard, Red wine reserve - did not taste
Margie's second monthly dinner for 2020. Red Table in Huntington Beach. www.redtablerestaurants.com. They have a "RED" table that comfortably seats 10. The restaurant says 12 and that is tight. We have 14 people tonight and that made a very crowded table. 14 people, several dozen wine glasses and 16 wines . In spite all this the service was great. Our waitress really kept things moving.
CJ and I decided ahead of time to share appetizers instead of ordering dinner. But unfortunately we were seated across the table from one another instead of being by a side. So when the dishes came out we had to pass them back and forth trying to be careful and not break any glasses or knock over a bottle of wine. A big faux pas. Also those dishes were heavy. I feel lucky we didn't have an accident.
The couple seated on the end between us offered to trade one of their seats so CJ and I could sit next to each other but by then the wines glasses were out, wine was poured and food was served. Difficult changeover so we declined. Wish I had asked when they first got to the table.
Portions are very large here. Food is very good. We ordered Roasted beets with feta and walnuts.
Then the quad of french fries. Red Table makes 4 different fries and have 4 sauces. Regular fries with hose made ketchup, sweet potato fries with bacon, chive aioli, , Bollywood fries with madras curry dust and garlic fries with blue cheese crumbles. After these dishes I was staring to expand.
Next was crab cakes (4 oz) each and Bacon Truffle mac n' cheese with mozzarella, parmesan and prosciutto. All were good. But this was my swan song. Doggie bags.
Margie made a batch of her very decadent brownies in celebration of my birthday in a few days. This was a nice surprise.
Wines were a real mix which usually happens at these dinners. I brought a 2010 Kosta Browne, Santa Lucia Highlands, Pinot Noir. . The second best wine tonight. The best wine was a 2009 Williams Seylem, Olivet Lane, RR, Pinot Noir.
2014 Tobin James, Arroyo Grand Valley. Paso Robles, Pinot Noir - did not taste.
2017 Croad, Paso Robles, Viognier - did not taste
2017 Enroute, RRV, Pinot Noir - did not taste
2015 Chronic Cellars, Paso Robles, Paradise Proprietary red - did not taste
NV Piper Heidsieck Champagne - never wrong
2016 Grgich Hills Estate, Fume Blanc - did not taste
2014, Cabernet Franc Reserve - big wine, bold flavors - I liked it
2013 Halter Ranch, Paso Robles, CDP Red blend - OK
2017 Vina Ponte, Cabaleiros, Albarino - did not taste
2014 Lando, Sonoma, Pinot Noir - very good.
NV Kirkland, French Brute Champagne - a bargain for the price
Sierra Foothills, Coppermine, Miners Nightcap - very sweet - needed cheese
2016 Rideau, Enchevetre, white bland - did not taste
2016 Miro, Ponzo Vineyard, Red wine reserve - did not taste
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