Saturday, January 28, 2012
After leaving Pinot Days in Santa Monica I drove to Newport Beach to attend another "Celebration of Life" for Cora.
She enjoyed the one we held for her two weeks ago that her family threw one for her. She comes from a very large family and I think they were all there for her. Abundant food and wine along with music and singing.
It is so nice to able to do something for someone when they are still alive and with us instead of waiting until they have passed away and then try to make amends.
Take care of the living while they are still here. They appreciate it.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Pinot Days
Attended the Pinot Days event at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Got the VIP pass so I could get in 2 hours early and attend a seminar on 4 different Pinot growing areas. Then they had a seminar on clones given by Davis Bynum.
The clone seminar was interesting because you tasted wine made with individual clones and then a blend of several clones. An eye opener.
Saw numerous people there that I knew. Some people attending surprised me as I had not seen them at this particular event before.
Some of the better wines I tasted besides the obvious, Clos Pepe & Ken Brown were Arcadian Roessler, La Fenetre, Papapietro Perry and Thorne. Jim Ontiveros has a label called Native 9 . I was very much impressed with that wine.
The clone seminar was interesting because you tasted wine made with individual clones and then a blend of several clones. An eye opener.
Saw numerous people there that I knew. Some people attending surprised me as I had not seen them at this particular event before.
Some of the better wines I tasted besides the obvious, Clos Pepe & Ken Brown were Arcadian Roessler, La Fenetre, Papapietro Perry and Thorne. Jim Ontiveros has a label called Native 9 . I was very much impressed with that wine.
Naples Rib Factory
Friday, February 27, 2012
Dine LA week is upon us and we choose the Naples Rib . 5 of us descended on the place which was packed. No recession here.
It took awhile to get our order in because of the crowd. Since it was Dine LA week they had a special 3 course menu to choose from for $26 which was quite reasonable. Two us us had the prime rib, two had the rib & shrimp combo and the other the full rack. vegetables, fruit and choice of two sides. I took the baked potato and the mac n' cheese. My appetizers was the grilled artichoke which I devoured. Ate two inches of the prime rib, the asparagus and one bite of the potato. Boxedeverything up and took it home.
When i ate the leftovers I noticed that the potato had a dark spot on the end , I pulled it away and the whole;e end of the potato was black. Approximately one quarter of the potato. I had not noticed this in the dim lights of the restaurant. How anyone in the kitchen could cut and place this on the plate is beyond me.
They charged us $10 per bottle for corkage. There were five bottles brought and they made sure they counted them at the very beginning.
2009 Ryan Patrick, ColumbiaValley Naked Chardonnay
2009 Byington, Quenneville Vineyard, Santa Cruz, Red bland
2009 Turley Howell Mountain, Zinfandel
2009 Tablas Creek Espirit de Beaucastel
2001 Chateau Margene, Paso Robles, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Dine LA week is upon us and we choose the Naples Rib . 5 of us descended on the place which was packed. No recession here.
It took awhile to get our order in because of the crowd. Since it was Dine LA week they had a special 3 course menu to choose from for $26 which was quite reasonable. Two us us had the prime rib, two had the rib & shrimp combo and the other the full rack. vegetables, fruit and choice of two sides. I took the baked potato and the mac n' cheese. My appetizers was the grilled artichoke which I devoured. Ate two inches of the prime rib, the asparagus and one bite of the potato. Boxedeverything up and took it home.
When i ate the leftovers I noticed that the potato had a dark spot on the end , I pulled it away and the whole;e end of the potato was black. Approximately one quarter of the potato. I had not noticed this in the dim lights of the restaurant. How anyone in the kitchen could cut and place this on the plate is beyond me.
They charged us $10 per bottle for corkage. There were five bottles brought and they made sure they counted them at the very beginning.
2009 Ryan Patrick, ColumbiaValley Naked Chardonnay
2009 Byington, Quenneville Vineyard, Santa Cruz, Red bland
2009 Turley Howell Mountain, Zinfandel
2009 Tablas Creek Espirit de Beaucastel
2001 Chateau Margene, Paso Robles, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Himilayan
Friday, January 20, 2012
7 of us got together tonight at the Himilayan in Sunset Beach. Excellent food.
Big disappointment as they had taken the lamb chops off the menu. Sanjiv the owner explained that chops had gotten so expensive that he needed to drop them. I would pay more money for them but many others won't. Always looking for that$60 meal at a $10 price.
I also have come to the conclusion that for this particular restaurant 6 is the max for a table. 5 is ideal.
We started off with Samosa's and Meat Momo's. Always have to have the garlic Naan. Other dishes that were ordered were Vegetables Korma, Lamb Korma, Lamb Vindahloo, Chicken Tiki Masala and rice Biryani. The rice came at the very end of the meal. I would have liked to to be served at the beginning. We did have plain rice but its not the same.
Wines that graced the table tonight were:
NV Perrier Joulet Grand Brut
2009 Caravan
60/07 blended - Cain Cuvee, Napa
2009 Metier Doyenne (red)
2009 Curran Grenache Blanc
2005 Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir
2004 Zegeshio Old Vine Zinfandel
2006 Lone Madrone Syrah
2006 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir.
7 of us got together tonight at the Himilayan in Sunset Beach. Excellent food.
Big disappointment as they had taken the lamb chops off the menu. Sanjiv the owner explained that chops had gotten so expensive that he needed to drop them. I would pay more money for them but many others won't. Always looking for that$60 meal at a $10 price.
I also have come to the conclusion that for this particular restaurant 6 is the max for a table. 5 is ideal.
We started off with Samosa's and Meat Momo's. Always have to have the garlic Naan. Other dishes that were ordered were Vegetables Korma, Lamb Korma, Lamb Vindahloo, Chicken Tiki Masala and rice Biryani. The rice came at the very end of the meal. I would have liked to to be served at the beginning. We did have plain rice but its not the same.
Wines that graced the table tonight were:
NV Perrier Joulet Grand Brut
2009 Caravan
60/07 blended - Cain Cuvee, Napa
2009 Metier Doyenne (red)
2009 Curran Grenache Blanc
2005 Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir
2004 Zegeshio Old Vine Zinfandel
2006 Lone Madrone Syrah
2006 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir.
Jnauary 2012 - The Winos
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Today's theme was California Central Coast Rhone Varietals. 23 bottles showed up. Football playoff game was today but Oliver had the TV on for those who could not stay away from it.
One of the better wines today was a 2006 Saxum Broken Stones Syrah from the Paso Robles area. That bottle was consumed and gone before some people knew it was there. And that was with the 1-1/2 oz pourers that we use.
As usual there were the god, the bad and the ugly. Mostly good but a few that should have gone into the vinegar jar,
Lisa & Oliver grilled some nice steaks and Oliver relented and made one rare for a few of us carnivores. Oliver likes his meat well done. Funny thing is at the end of the day the rare meat was gone and the medium and well done still have pieces on the platter.
Today's theme was California Central Coast Rhone Varietals. 23 bottles showed up. Football playoff game was today but Oliver had the TV on for those who could not stay away from it.
One of the better wines today was a 2006 Saxum Broken Stones Syrah from the Paso Robles area. That bottle was consumed and gone before some people knew it was there. And that was with the 1-1/2 oz pourers that we use.
As usual there were the god, the bad and the ugly. Mostly good but a few that should have gone into the vinegar jar,
Lisa & Oliver grilled some nice steaks and Oliver relented and made one rare for a few of us carnivores. Oliver likes his meat well done. Funny thing is at the end of the day the rare meat was gone and the medium and well done still have pieces on the platter.
Cora's Celebration of Life
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Our dear friend Cora's cancer has spread to her liver. We decided to have a "Celebration of Life" or a "wake" for her while she is still with us. She wanted to able to say her goodbyes to friends while she is able.
Terry her husband brought a magnum of McKeon-Phillips CPR Caberent. This bottle was to be emptied because it will become the vessel for her ashes. Some people may think this is off the wall or maybe even morbid. I feel its great tribute to a wonderful person who loved wine, food and friends.
4 of us got together to host this event. Part of it covered by KCET who is doing a documentary on Hospice.
People attending were generous in their contributing wine and food altho we did not ask for it.
Cora gave a very moving "speech".. The tears flowed. We all have great memories with Cora and will always remember her . I think over the years whenever we fill a glass with wine we will offer a toast to Cora.
Our dear friend Cora's cancer has spread to her liver. We decided to have a "Celebration of Life" or a "wake" for her while she is still with us. She wanted to able to say her goodbyes to friends while she is able.
Terry her husband brought a magnum of McKeon-Phillips CPR Caberent. This bottle was to be emptied because it will become the vessel for her ashes. Some people may think this is off the wall or maybe even morbid. I feel its great tribute to a wonderful person who loved wine, food and friends.
4 of us got together to host this event. Part of it covered by KCET who is doing a documentary on Hospice.
People attending were generous in their contributing wine and food altho we did not ask for it.
Cora gave a very moving "speech".. The tears flowed. We all have great memories with Cora and will always remember her . I think over the years whenever we fill a glass with wine we will offer a toast to Cora.
Start off The New Year at Francos
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Small table tonight at Franco's in Cypress/Los Alamitos. Great family run Italian restaurant. The place was packed. People know good food and support it.
Ordered the shrimp appetizer but it was not what I was expecting. I thought we would be getting the Franco;s Special and it was not. I love the special because the butter/garlic sauce is so good for dipping bread into it. This dish was a tomato based sauce. Good but not the same.
I ordered the filet with gorgonzola . Excellent. Cooked perfect for me. Just this side of dead. There were a couple of other filets ordered, a pork chop and alas another dish I do not remember. But there is never a bad dish at Francos.
Wines were really good tonight:
NV La Saltelle Premier Cru
2001 Stolpman La Croce - perfection
2004 Il Sasso Carignan
2005 Melville Indulgence
2009 Charles Hrug, Younville Cabernet.
Small table tonight at Franco's in Cypress/Los Alamitos. Great family run Italian restaurant. The place was packed. People know good food and support it.
Ordered the shrimp appetizer but it was not what I was expecting. I thought we would be getting the Franco;s Special and it was not. I love the special because the butter/garlic sauce is so good for dipping bread into it. This dish was a tomato based sauce. Good but not the same.
I ordered the filet with gorgonzola . Excellent. Cooked perfect for me. Just this side of dead. There were a couple of other filets ordered, a pork chop and alas another dish I do not remember. But there is never a bad dish at Francos.
Wines were really good tonight:
NV La Saltelle Premier Cru
2001 Stolpman La Croce - perfection
2004 Il Sasso Carignan
2005 Melville Indulgence
2009 Charles Hrug, Younville Cabernet.
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