Lunch With The Boys At Masala Waves

 Tuesday.  January 23, 2024

Masala Waves Restaurant

A new place to try today.  Indian and Nepalese food.  After checking out online we decided to try because they had Yak, Goat and Lamb on the menu. Menu did not disappoint. 

Started off with a bowl of Lenil Soup - I personally am not into lentils and the spice in the soup was not  for me either. My dining companions did like it.

Then on to Vegetable Momo's.  Dough was tender and the vegetable filling was good.  But again a dish I would not order on my own. Obviously some spice I am not getting my taste buds around,

Next appetizer was Spinach Naan Dip. Naan bread with a spinach cheesey filling. This dish was very good. We decided we liked it much better than plain Naan. A definite keeper. 

Main dishes for us were the Yak Chow Mein and the Lamb Korma. Lamb was tender and had good flavor but for me the Yak Chow Mein was a winner. Yak meat was very tender and flavorful. Chow Mein noodles were al dente and really good flavor. A very good dish. So good I took another order of it home. 

We opened two wines today. a 2013 Sojurn , Wohler Vineyards, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir and a 2014 Samsara, Las Hermanas Vineyards, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir.  Both very good. The Sojurn was a bit more complex. Interesting comparisons between the two. Different areas and climates. But also very similar. 

Margie's Dinner at The Red Table

 Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Red Table Restaurant

13 of us for Margie's monthly dinner. Tonight we are at the Red Table.  Seating was much better than last year. A bit more room. In fact numerous things were better. Last year was a bit chaotic, new owner, chef quit, etc. this year was much smoother.  Food was better. Staff seemed to work well together tonight.  

Since I still have gastric issues, I cannot eat much at one sitting. I did order the braised short rib that came with mashed potatoes and baby vegetables.  Had no appetizer. Ate a third of the meat and potatoes and boxed the rest to take home. Short rib was very good, nice flavor and tender.   I did take a taste of one bubbly but no white wine tonight for me. 

I did have a bit of a hard time reading the wine list. Some facts were not put down and I had to decipher handwriting. 

 Several of the wines listed I would have like to try. But I only have so much capacity and sometimes people just hoard their wines and don't pass them around the table. 

NV   Launois, Grand Cru, Blanc de Blanc Reserve, Champagne - very, very good, wish I could have tolerated more.

???? Thorton, Temecula, Brut Reserve

???? Belle Glos, SMV, Clark & Telephone, Pinot Noir - very good

2002 Robert Mondavi, Oakville, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2010 Merry Edwards, RRV, Coopersmith, Pinot Noir - a very nice clean wine

2017 McPrice Myers, Paso Robles, Grenache - I did like this wine

2017 Cinquain Cellars, Prose, Paso Robles, Bordeaux blend

2018 Buttonwood, Santa Ynez Valley, Classic Cuvee, Bordeaux Blend - a good balanced wine

2019 Chevreaux-Bournazei, La Parcelle, France, La Capella Champagne

2020 Bound, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2020 Denner, Paso Robles, Grenache

2020 Letita, Arroyo Grande, Sparkling

2021 Onesta, Lodi, Bechtold Vineyard, Rose of Cinsault

2021 Lancaster Estate, Alexander Valley Samantha, Sauvignon Blanc

2022 Sea Shell Cellars, Paso Robles, Viognier

2023 Christmas Soriee in January 2024

 Saturday, January 6, 2024

I usually have my annual Christmas Soiree the first part of December before the festivities begun. This year due to Covid and other creepy bugs coming around it was postponed for a month. This get together is always limited to 12 people. I combine different groups of people I know so they really don't see each other except for my soiree once a year. Because of the change in dates two couples could not make it so I invited others to join. Changed the dynamics and conversation quite a bit.  House was still decorated for Christmas so it was still very festive.

Interesting assortment of finger foods were offered. Pizza, shrimp cocktail (sauce was very good), samosas, couple of cheese plates, smoked salmon, sausage and peppers, Honey baked ham and turkey sliders.   Cookies, fudge, truffle candy and cheesecake rounded out the food table. 

I did not write a list down for the wine. Relied on the pictures I took so there are a couple missing from the list. The two standouts were the 2013 Rochioli and the 2013 Clos Pepe VS.  Barely a few swallows left in each bottle.

???? Tyler (white wine)

NV  Gruet Cuvee 89,  Brut Rose

2010 Liopart Gran Reserva Brut

???? Marcarini, Brumate, Barolo

2012 Autry, Tertian, Harmony, Blend

2012 Saxum, Booker, Blend

2013 Clos Pepe VS, Pinot Noir

2013 Rochioli, Sweetwater, Pinot Noir

2014 Viader, Limited Edition ? (

2016 Rusack, Estate Reserve, Syrah

2018 LeVigne, Petite Syrah

2018 Soliste, Pinot Noir

NV   Francis Ford Coppola. Chocolate Wine