Lunch with the boys at Seafood Cove

 Monday, December 6, 2021

A very last-minute decision for lunch today. Henry never knows when he is able to have some free time from being a 24/7 caretaker for his wife.

We had three dishes today along with the complimentary rice and sweet-sour soup

A Sizzling Platter of Shrimp, Scallops, Mushrooms. Brought to the table still sizzling away from the stove. Very good, Nice and a bit spicy. 

Beef with Bamboo Shoots, Mushrooms and Spinach. Love the big mushrooms in this dish and the large pieces of bamboo shoots.

Thai style beef with broccoli, mushrooms and Thai noodles. Had to replace the chopsticks with a fork for the noodles. They are wide, flat and slippery. 

Good wines today. I brought a Graham Beck Champagne. Margie gave it to me Saturday night, so I took it today and shared. Nice yeasty, dry champagne. Thank you, Margie, for the nice bubbly. 

Henry brought a 2017 Barossa Valley Estate GSM and CJ brought a 2009 Sea Smoke, Ten, Pinot Noir. Both goods wines.

Margie's Holiday Dinner at Le Chateau Garden Bistro

Saturday, December 4, 2021 

A bit of a drive, accident on freeway, missed the sign for the hotel, had to back track but eventually I made it. And a few minutes early. 9 of us tonight for the yearly holiday dinner. This was at the Ayres Hotel on Bristol in Costa Mesa near the Newport border Everyone else was spending the night and having Sunday brunch in the morning.  I made it home in 25 minutes by taking the coast route.

A limited menu. Surprised there were no lamb or pork dishes listed.  I started out with the French Onion Soup. It was OK but I have had so much better. It seemed to lack that deep onion flavor and rich broth. For a French themed restaurant.  I was expecting much more. 

My main was Sea Bass over Ratatouille. Fish was good, nice size portion. Ther ratatouille was good. Carrots, squash, tomatoes, onions, tomatoes and 18 little potatoes. Overkill on the spuds.

Dessert was Tismisu cake.  This was good, not overly sweet but light. 

Best thing on the table was the breadbasket with butter and tapenade.  Normally I do not eat the bread and rolls served because I will OD on them and then not want my meal. This bread was very good. A bit on the rustic style.  Tapenade was very good. Made with green olives. I could have had bread, butter, tapenade and wine and been a very happy camper.

I brought a 2011 Clos Pepe, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir VS. Drinking exceptionally well. Very soft on the palate, velvety and lush. Nice dark cherry. A light spice. Personally, I thought it was the best wine on the table.

Other wines were:

2016 Sanford, Block 6, Pinot Noir

2014 Ken Brown, SBC, Watch Hill Vineyard, Syrah

2015 Saxum, Paso Robles, Willow Creek District, Broken Stones, a blend of syrah, mouvedre, grenache, petite syrah, roussanne and viognier.

2019 Puligny-Montrachet-Vielle Vignes, Grand Vin De Bourgogne

NV   Laherte Freres, Extra Brut, Champagne

2016 Bergstrom, Shea Vineyards, Pinot Noir

2014 Champagne de Venoce, Blanc de Blanc, Grand Vindes Princes

2019 Shafer, Chardonnay

2017 Freemark Abbey, Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Sbragia, Merlot

2017 Beetlejuice, Cabernet Sauvignon