Duckhorn Wine Dinner at Arte Cafe

 Friday, March 26, 2021

Almost a full house tonight. Not sure about the six feet apart table rule being adhered to . The tables themselves were but by time you o\put a chair and a person it left a lot to interpretation.  But not nearly as jam packed as the dining room normally is. We opted to sit outside on the patio.  Said hello to eight people I knew that were attending also.

Started out with Pan Seared Diver Scallops with a caper beurre blanc sauce and baby bok choy. As usual Richard had cooked the scallops to perfection.   Served with a 2019 Duckhorn, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc. Wine was a good pairing. The wine was not overly acidic and had a nice slight creamy texture to it.

Second course is a shaved pear and goat cheese salad with a chardonnay and Dijon vinaigrette. My salad was prefect. Had at least 10 slices of cherry tomato. and was dressed well. My two dining companions had no tomatoes and no dressing. They did bring out bowls of dressing I did notice that a few other tables had the same issue. Apparently a big  screw up in the kitchen. Salad was very good. But the wine, Oh My. A 2019 Duckhorn, Napa Valley, Chardonnay.  So oaky and buttery. A typical California style Chardonnay which I really dislike.  Sherry and I both gave Douglas our wine. We were able to get another pour of the Sau Blanc but it really did not pair well with the salad. 

Next was a Duck Breast with cherries and Port sauce over a round of crispy polenta and roasted turnips. My duck was cooked a tad to much for me but had great flavor. I prefer my meats to be more red than dark pink.  Paired with a 2018 Duckhorn, Napa Valley, Merlot. Good pairing. Wine was good. Not a big Merlot fan but this wine held its own. Was told that it received a 94 rating. 

Fourth course is a double herb crusted lamb chop with spring root vegetable mash and Chinese broccoli.  Again I felt my lamb was a bit over cooked for my palate. But flavors were spot on. A 2017 Duckhorn, Napa valley, Cabernet Sauvignon was the wine choice. A very nice cab, It was about 80% Cabernet grapes and balance were at least 3 other reds among them Cab Franc. 

Dessert was a flourless chocolate cake with icing and raspberry coulis. Rich and decadent.

A few glitches tonight but I will attribute that to the fact that inside dining rooms are now open and the kitchen and wait staff may be a bit rusty due to the long shut down. I am sure by the Whispering Angel Rose wine dinner on the 6th things will be working smoother. 

Outdoor Dinner at The Playground

 Wednesday, Match 17, 2021

An impromptu dinner tonight at the Playground,  www.Playgrounddtsa. com,  Had not been here since Covid started.  Still dining outdoors,  but tables are spaced apart, heaters are going and great company.

Limited menu because of all the issues generated by restaurants having to be closed, open, closed etc., 

Decided to share plates. started off with "Fried Green Beans" with cashews, puffed rice, Thai basil, lime leaf curry. Great flavor. Beans were not overcooked, still had a bit of a bite to them,  curry sauce was excellent.

Next we ordered "Catalan Spinach", spinach, apple, apricot, sunflower seed, pine nut, sultana and lemon. Spinach was bright green, no over cooking here. Wonderful blend of flavors.

For the main "Deep South Congee", congee with Rootbeer glazed Beeler's Pork Cheeks, unicorn grits, fried sweet potato, braised collard greens, buckwheat-sorghum crunch, roasted turnips and ham crispies. I know it sounds weird but the flavors were spot on. The congee was an gray lavender color, odd but good. 

The chef / owner Jason Quinn has a real gift with blending flavors and incorporating "odd" things together. It always amazes me what he comes up with.  I like "different" and he always comes through. 

Two bottles of wine tonight.  A 2011 Clos Pepe, VS Pinot Noir which was showing exceptionally well . A 2010 Chateau D'Aiguilhe, Bordeaux. This wine took a bit to open,  Barnyardy for the first half hour or so before it blew off. Another good wine.

Margie's Monthly Dinner at Kings Fish House

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Back to being able to have outdoor dining for a couple of months now.  Tonight's dinner is at Kings Fish House in Huntington Beach.  Outdoor, open patio area. A bit cool and breezy. I was hoping we would be seated under the awning. Guess with 12 people you can't be too choosy. But I found the tables to be a bit on the small size for all of our wine glasses, bottles etc.,  Had to be careful maneuvering things around.

I started out with 1/2 dozen Oysters. None that I recall having before.  One each of Night Tide, Oishi, Baywater Sweet, James River, Rappahannock and Riptide. Most were on the medium to large size and all had nice salinity to them.

Main dish was grilled Chilean Sea Bass with grilled zucchini and glazed carrots. Fish cooked perfectly and the vegetables were on the crisp side which I like.

Had Creme Brulee for dessert. I did not have any of the bread,  rolls or starches so I could treat myself. 

A large assortment of wines brought tonight. Lots of whites but some varietals I wasn't too sure about with Seafood. Most I did not taste as the varietals were not to my palate.

2018 Hook or Crook, Lodi, Field Blend. and a Cava from Spain, Campo Viejo. The Cava I had a few weeks back at a dinner. A person at out table had found it at Costco. I liked it so went looking.  When I was in the store I stumbled across the Hook or Crook. Great price, bought one bottle to try. Went back a few days later on bought a case. Both bottles had a $5 off  promo going. So at $6 for each it was the bargain of the month.  You can stumble across a deal once in awhile. 

2015 Iron Horse, Ocean Breeze, Blanc de Blanc - nice wine, went well with the oysters as did the Cava

2020 Akash Winery, Parley Vous Rose - OK just not my style of Rose

2017 Brooks Cahiers, Pinot Noir, - nice, light, cool climate wine.

2018 Brander,  Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2018 Titus, Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2018 Carol Shelton, Coquille Blanc, a white Rhone grapes blend - did taste but not my style at all

Lason , Black Label, Brut Champagne - I cannot remember tasting this wine.

Rombauer, Proprietors Select, Chardonnay - did not taste

2014 Sea Smoke, Ten, Pinot Noir - OK wine but not impressed. I think Sea Smoke is a very overrated wine for the price

2017 Foley, Chardonnay - did not taste

2020, Nebbiolo,   home made wine and it was decent

2016 Steinbeck, Viognier - did not taste

2017 Shed Horn, Zinfandel - did not taste

Blandy's 10 year old Maderia - nice touch to end of meal