Lunch at Seafood Cove # 1

 May 25, 2023

Just 3 of us today for lunch.  Restaurant was packed for some reason at noon.  Also a big lobster delivery today for the weekend. Saw some really big ones go into the tank.

Started off with the sour spicy soup. A bit too salty and also had a bite to it that wasn't normal. Different chefs have their own versions of this traditional soup.  I had a few spoonfuls but opted not to finish it. Not taking a chance with my gut issues. 

3 of us so 3 dishes were ordered. Started off with the Beef and Chinese Broccoli. Beef was flavorful and very tender. Broccoli was cooked just right.

Next was Salt & Pepper fried fish filet. Nice crunchy coating and fish was sweet and very moist. Had a lot of this because I felt I could tolerate it. Laid off the jalapeno peppers. 

Last dish was Chicken Chow Fun.  Chicken was very moist but lacked seasoning. The greens were good but I did not particularly care for this dish. Henry ate a lot of it. 

Sliced oranges for dessert. Their oranges are always juicy and sweet. Much better than the ones in the grocery stores. I did have one slice but because it was citrus I limited myself.

Kitchen seemed a bit off today and that could be from the two very large groups that were seated when we got there at noon.

I had a small pour of each of the 3 wines. Came away from the lunch with no issues. Hopefully I am on the way up and no more downs.

NV Meiomi blend.  This was young and showed it but in a few years it will be drinking nicely.

2010 Sea Smoke Ten, Pinot Noir. Really showing well. Supple, dark fruit, good mouth feel. A very nice wine.

2013 Tercero, Larner Vineyard, Grenache. Drinking nice. Good blend of fruit flavors, medium to long finish. This wine will go a few more years.

 

Dinner at Dan Modern Chinese

 Friday, May 12, 2023

Dan Modern apparently is a chain of Chinese soup dumpling restaurants. The one we went to at 2nd & PCH in Long Beach is to me on the "sterile" side. No ambiance at all. Noisy because of all the hard surfaces and floor to ceiling glass windows.  Have no idea what the other restaurants in the chain are like, but probably very similar. And I found not disabled friendly.  They meet the minimal requirements.  I found it very tight to maneuver my walker between the tables.  They really pack the people in. High turnover of patrons. But the food is good. At least to look at.  I had the Oxtail Noodle Soup which was a bit bland which I had to have right now and a bit oily which I did not need.  But the majority of the dishes were heavy with garlic or onion which are on my taboo list at the moment. The food that my dining companions ate looked very good and they said it was. I was a bit envious. 

Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic. Beautiful color on the beans and they did look crunchy not overly soft which is a good thing.

Beef Roll which was beef and what looked like spinach rolled in a dough and fried,

Noodles with Short Rib. Looked like Soba noodles and everyone said it was really good.

Pan Fried Shrimp and Pork Dumplings. I think that maybe this was the least favorite of all the dishes. No one seemed too excited about them. They looked a bit oily. 

Two orders of Soup Dumplings were served along with lots a finely julienned ginger. 

Wish I could have indulged. Perhaps another time.

CJ brought a bottle to share. I had none at the restaurant but did get a pour at home. A 2008 Sea Smoke, One Barrel, Pinot Noir. It was an excellent wine.

Service was good and accommodating. But all the dishes had come out way before I got my soup. Will probably go back at some time in the future when I can enjoy normal food again.

Lunch With The Boys At Cal-Chilli

 Monday, May 8, 2023

Went to Cali-Chilli for lunch after my dental appointment. Conveniently located a few blocks from my dentist. 3 of us today. Took two bottles of wine because corkage is $20 per.   We always open, serve and provide our own glasses so to us the fee is excessive. But that seems to be the trend now days. Extra money in the pocket of the owner.  If they had decent wine lists I could understand but for the most part their wine lists are mediocre. 

A 2010 Williams Selyem, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir was showing nicely.  I brought a NV Alandes, 5th Edition Paradux which is a blend of Semillion and Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina.  Unfortunately for me the wine was very acidic. One glass and I had a bad afternoon.  Gave the bottle to a fellow diner to take home.

We had 3 appetizers for lunch. Servings are quite large for appetizers. 

Fried Calamari and French Green Beans with Lime Aioli. Had this before and it was again very good. 

Cali Quesadilla. Chicken, Melted Cheese, Onions and a Herb Sour Cream. Very good flavors. I pulled all the raw onions off. Another item I am having to avoid.

Cauliflower Fritters with a Sambal Aioli. Sambal is a mixture of Garlic Mayonnaise and Sambal oelek which is a chili paste. Another item on my off list at this time. 

Good lunch in spite of my issues. Enjoyed the food and the company. Hope to return soon.

Lunch With The Boys At Seafood Cove # 1

 Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Four of us today for lunch.  Place was empty at noon but by 1:00 it was almost full. And it is a Tuesday, A few live lobsters in the tank after the weekend. Lobster up to $32 per pound. CJ brought a 2010 Clos Pepe VS, Pinot Noir in a magnum bottle. It was excellent. Still having issues so I limited myself to 4 ounces.  Bright medium cherry, supple mouth feel. Good soft tannins. Medium to long on the back palate. Good showing of Clos Pepe.  Wish I could have chanced drinking more. 

Started out with the spicy sour soup which after two spoonful's I had to stop. It was so salty. Like too many cooks adding salt because they didn't think someone else did it. 

Next was Salt and Pepper Fried Fish Filet. Nice tender light white fish with a non-greasy batter. I did eat several pieces of the fish. Left the jalapeno peppers alone. 

Beef Chow Fun , stir fried spicy beef with green beans. Everyone liked this dish but me. Some spice on the meat that I just can't wrap by head around.

Thai Style Seafood Chow Fun. I only had some of the greens and the Thai noodles. Shying away from the sauces for the time being. It did look very good.

Last dish was Peking Style Pork Chop.  Another sauced dish. Did not have any today. I have had this before and really liked it but was afraid to start eating it and overeat because it would taste so good. 

Good lunch and great conversations mostly about old movies, old TV shows and artificial intelligence