Margie's Monthly Dinner at Buon Gusto

 Buon Gusto

Wednesday,  October 18, 2023

12 of us tonight for dinner.  We were seated on the outside patio. It was a pleasant evening, cool but not chilled.  The servings at Buon Gusto are huge. You can eat for 2 days off of the leftovers.  I ordered the Oso Buco with Fettuccini that came with meat sauce. Still too much tomato for my issues. Ate the meat and took all the pasta home. There are plates of large oblong rolls on the table. These are not warm so I will pass on them. Don't need all the carbs and calories anyway. But if they had been hot I would have devoured at least one of them. Ordered Pistachio Gelato for dessert. Again a huge portion. I did leave some in the bowl. Buon Gusto has a very extensive menu and the food is good. I will not call it great but it is good and no one walks out without leftovers.

Interesting list of wines. Margie asked everyone for Italian wines. She got a very mixed bag tonight. I tasted 2 bubblies and 1 white. Big mistake Not a pleasant night for me. Should have stuck entirely with reds. 

I brought a Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Angeli which is a Syrah. Grapes picked from the best area and vines in the vineyard. Showing very well.

NV   Launois. Le Mesnil Sur Oger, France, Champagne - small pour very good

NV   Santa Margarita, Italy,Vino Spumante Rose Brit sparkling. small pour very good

2021 Fratelli Alessandria Pinsoit, Italy, Langhe Nebbiolo - did not taste

2021 Gorgona Costa Toscana Firenze, Italy, Frescobaldi - interesting wine

2013 Bodkin, Rogers Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma - Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2014 Fattoria di Bagnolo, Italia, Frienze, Chianti Reserve - did not taste

2021 Selvanova La Corda di Luna, Tere de Voltuno, Campania, Italia - did not taste

2020 Belle Glos, Sonoma County, Oeil de Perdin, Blanc de Noir - did not taste

2016 Curran, Rancho La Vina, Pinot Noir - always a winner

2016 Curran, Santa Barbara County, Tempranillo - did not taste

2018 Dewitt Vineyard, Amador County, Barbera - did not taste

2021 DeMonteverro, Toscano, Italy, Vermentino - did not taste

2014 J. Lohr, Suite E Cuvee - did not taste

2014 J. Lohr, Carls Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon - did not taste

2021 Trefethen, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, Chardonnay - did not taste

Lunch at The Himalayan Grille

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Himalayan Grille at Peters Landing

Decided to tr the Himalayan again after an absence of several years.  Peters Landing went through several years of renovation and ownership change of the restaurant also.   They did not go back into their original suite but moved back to the area where the boats dock. A much more laid back place now.  Pros and Cons on this. 

We started out with Chicken Momo. I have had this dish numerous times, but this version did not do it for me. I didn't even finish one piece. 

I did like the Chicken Lollipops. Nice, crunchy and flavorful.  Ate without the sauce. Way too spicy for me.

The Rogan Josh  (lamb) was very good, sauce was excellent. I would have liked the lamb to be a bit more tender, but I have found certain cultures overcook their meats. It is their thing not mine but when I am eating in their territory, I am the one that has to adjust. 

The Garlic Naan was very good. Soft and garlicky.  Better than the old Himalayan.   

We decided that we will be going back to the Himalayan

We had two bottles of wine today. Corkage is $9.99 for 2. Odd but.  A 2019 Simi Sonoma County, Cabernet Sauvignon. Better than I thought it would be because of it being young. Very drinkable. I brought a 2013 Clos Pape, Sta, Rita Hills, Dark Side, Pinot Noir. Drinking exceptionally well. 

Very enjoyable afternoon. Great weather and it was nice to sit inside and still be close to all the boats.

Margie's Monthly Dinner at King's Fish House

 Wednesday,  September 13, 2023

16 of us tonight for dinner at King's Fish House in Huntington Beach. 3 no shows (I would be irritated to no end if it was my gathering).  We were in a side room with no other patrons. Just our noisy group. 16 people, 19 wines does not make for silence.  All of King's restaurants are a no corkage establishments. Makes the total bill palatable. 

Margie made a comment to the group that it was getting harder to book at restaurants for Saturdays because our group takes a lot of time taking up tables and they like to turn over fast on weekends.   Personally I like the weekdays. Restaurants don't seem to rush you. Very few people in the group work so that is not an issue and those few who do work do not seem to have an issue with weekdays.  

I am still watching what I eat so I opted for plain food. Grilled Chilean Sea Bass with spinach and mashed potatoes.  Fish was excellent, moist and delicate.  Others ordered everything from lobster to fish and chips. 

I only had tastes of a small number of wines.  I brought a 2013 Lando, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir. Drinking really well.

2022 Clos Henri, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2018 Foley, Alexander Valley, Merlot - did not taste

NV Banshee 10 Cups of Coffee, Brut sparking - did not taste

2016 Rios-Lovell, Livermore, Orange Muscat - did not taste

2016 Alexana, Dundee Hills, Riesling - did not taste

2022 Abecela, Umpqua Valley, Albarino - did not taste

NV, Pine Ridge, Ceres, Sparkling Chenin Blanc - did not taste

2016 Merry Edwards, RRV, Coopersmith, Pinot Noir - excellent wine

2021 Albiho Armani, "Orange From The Basement" Pinot Grigio - did not taste

2019 Leoness Cellars, Temecula Valley, Mouverdre - did not taste

2021 Bizkaiko,  Spain, Txakolina  -  did not taste

2021 Kolfox, Austria, Gruner Veltliner - did not taste

2022 Schug, Carneros, White Burgundy - did not taste

2019 Smith Story, Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir - did not taste

2008 Avenel Cellars, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon - nice wine

2018 Dehlinger, Pinot Noir - did not taste

2021 Peroncelli, Dry Creek Valley, Rose of Zinfandel - did not taste

2008 La Brun, De Neuville, Millesime, France Champagne - showed so much better than the last bottle of same - very good