Saturday, September 9, 2017
Fuego Restaurant at the Maya Hotel
It was the perfect evening for dinner by the water. Still warm but not the oppressing heat that we have had lately. Fuego is in the Maya Hotel facings the Long Beach harbor. Margie has arranged dinner here for several years now. 15 of us winos tonight. Dinner was a preset menu with a couple of choices for each course. Gets you a better price when it is done this way. Corkage was zero and that is a big plus.
I chose the Chicken Tortilla soup. I find having two spaces in my mouth waiting for implants makes eating lettuce a little dicey. Would not have thought that but that seems to be the way it is. The other choice was a Beet salad which looked really good. The soup was good, full of flavor and not over spicy.
For the main dish I choose the "Lubina", Chilean sea bass with boniato puree (type of tuber like a sweet potato), chipotle Dijon aioli, pan roasted Brussel sprouts and cauliflower. Fish was cooked perfectly, very moist and sweet. This is my favorite fish to eat. The aioli gave it just a bit of heat. The pureed boniato was slightly sweet but did not give any competition to the sea bass. Other choices for the entrée were Chili Rubbed Chicken Breast, Brazilian Style Braised Shortrib and Sofrito Quinotto (all vegetables). All portions were good size. So much so you began to wonder if you could manage to eat dessert.
Desserts were a choice of Bread Pudding or Cheesecake. I opted for the cheesecake and took all but 2 bites home. It was a huge serving. Very good
Lots of wine tonight. Several people brought multiple bottles. Needless to day I did not get a chance to taste but a small portion of what was brought.
I brought a Moretti Proseco. Moretti is in the Sta Rita Hills but imports this wine from Italy. No bite to it, smooth with tiny bubbles. As good as I have had in Italy. I also brought a 2016 Buscador, Grenache Rose. Grapes from the Santa Ynez area. Newer winery. Tasted his offerings at the Wine and Fire a few weeks ago. Several people seemed to be impressed with this selection. Both wines hit the spot for a balmy evening by the water.
The rest of the line up consisted of:
2011 Cinquain, Paso Robles, Reserve Malbec - did not taste
2013 Windstream Santa Lucia Highlands, Sarmneto Vineyard, Chardonnay - did not taste
2015 San Simeon, Monterey, Chardonnay - did not taste
2016 Twomey, Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste
2012 Hyde, Carneros, Chardonnay - did not taste
2012 Stillwaters, Paso Robles, Chardonnay - did not taste
2016 Hungry Hawk, San Diego, Albarino - did not taste but had this wine earlier this year
nv Cava Conde de Carali, Blanc de Blanc Brut, Spain - clean, crisp
2014 Iron Horse, Russian River Valley, Chardonnay - did not taste
2014 Joseph Carr, Paso Robles, Cabernet Sauvignon - did not taste
2013 Sanford, Santa Barbara, Syrah - did not taste
2015 Dr. Loosen, Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett - did not taste
2004 Wild Coyote, Little Fawn, Zinfandel Port - rich and sweet
2013 Unanime Ovah Vinto Tinto Muscato - clear, slighty sweet
2014 Lando, Sonoma, Pinot Noir - way to young needs time
Nv La Tordera Brunet, Valpobbiadene, Proseco - rough
2012 Jordan, Alexander Valley, Caberent Sauvignon - did not taste
2014 Beringer, Napa Valley, Private Reserve, Chardonnay - did not taste
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Friday, September 1, 2017
Tuscan Wine Dinner at Chianina with the Wine Country
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Randy Kemner from The Wine Country in Signal Hill was the wine host of the evening. All Tuscan wines from different areas in Tuscany. Found the pairings were good with the selected dishes. They did a good job on that area. Chianina was sold out for this dinner. www.chianina.com.
We started out with a Amuse Bouche of marinated tomato in a foie gras creme. One delightful bite.
First course was a Grilled Prawn and Poached Calamari with tomato and olive compote and saffron espuma. To me this was the best dish we will have tonight. Everything on the plate was cooked perfectly and the flavors were spot on. Paired with a 2016 Vernaccia di San Gimignano, La Lestra..
Second course served is a Devils Gulch Rabbit Porchetta, corn puree, black truffle vinaigrette and baby vegetables. The onions, carrots and turnips were so small that it was difficult to get a fork into them, They just kept rolling around as you kept trying to pierce them with the fork. This dish was good but not stellar. Served with a 2014 Rosso di Montalcino, Uccelliera. A bit rustic but paired well with the rabbit.
Third course is a Squab Duo. Braised squab breast with cavatelli. And a roasted squab leg with cranberry bean and baby chard. They mixed up the descriptions of the meat on the menu. The dish with the breast was great. I had a difficult time cutting the meat on the squab leg. The skin was not that crispy and it just was not a happy experience cutting the meat. At home I would have picked it up and ate it. I also was not a fan of the beans. I found them a bit too "rustic" The wine was a 2013 Carmignano, Fattaoria Amba. A good combination.
Fourth course was a Bistecca Alla Florentina, two slices of different cuts of the Chianina beef, with baby yellow squash, roasted mushrooms and a squash blossom. The beef looked beautiful but again I was disappointed in the Chianina beef. I did not think it had that great of flavor and it was too chewy for me. I have had several cuts of this beef at the restaurant and it seems to be a crap shoot of what I am going to get. At times it is flavorful and tender and other times it lacks flavor and is a bit chewy. The wine was the best of the evening. A 2013 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Poliziano.
Dessert was a bit disappointing. An almond sponge cake with roasted plums and honey. Very little flavor to the cake. Plums were good. A 2009 Vin Santo del Chianti, Badis a Coltibuono was served with this dish. Not overly sweet. They did bring out a plate on very mini cookies. They put it in the middle of the table and several of my fellows diners really devoured everything. I did not get to taste one of them.
I did have two of the honey salted rolls at the beginning of dinner and that was my downfall. I fill up on them. But they are so good. They make other restaurants dinner rolls look mediocre. I am a sucker for their marscapone butter. All in all a good dinner but not great. The menu sounded exceptional but it lacked in execution. I have had so many others at Chianina that were over the top that I probably expect that all the time. This dinner was also at least $35 cheaper than the other wine dinners that I have done here.
Randy Kemner from The Wine Country in Signal Hill was the wine host of the evening. All Tuscan wines from different areas in Tuscany. Found the pairings were good with the selected dishes. They did a good job on that area. Chianina was sold out for this dinner. www.chianina.com.
We started out with a Amuse Bouche of marinated tomato in a foie gras creme. One delightful bite.
First course was a Grilled Prawn and Poached Calamari with tomato and olive compote and saffron espuma. To me this was the best dish we will have tonight. Everything on the plate was cooked perfectly and the flavors were spot on. Paired with a 2016 Vernaccia di San Gimignano, La Lestra..
Second course served is a Devils Gulch Rabbit Porchetta, corn puree, black truffle vinaigrette and baby vegetables. The onions, carrots and turnips were so small that it was difficult to get a fork into them, They just kept rolling around as you kept trying to pierce them with the fork. This dish was good but not stellar. Served with a 2014 Rosso di Montalcino, Uccelliera. A bit rustic but paired well with the rabbit.
Third course is a Squab Duo. Braised squab breast with cavatelli. And a roasted squab leg with cranberry bean and baby chard. They mixed up the descriptions of the meat on the menu. The dish with the breast was great. I had a difficult time cutting the meat on the squab leg. The skin was not that crispy and it just was not a happy experience cutting the meat. At home I would have picked it up and ate it. I also was not a fan of the beans. I found them a bit too "rustic" The wine was a 2013 Carmignano, Fattaoria Amba. A good combination.
Fourth course was a Bistecca Alla Florentina, two slices of different cuts of the Chianina beef, with baby yellow squash, roasted mushrooms and a squash blossom. The beef looked beautiful but again I was disappointed in the Chianina beef. I did not think it had that great of flavor and it was too chewy for me. I have had several cuts of this beef at the restaurant and it seems to be a crap shoot of what I am going to get. At times it is flavorful and tender and other times it lacks flavor and is a bit chewy. The wine was the best of the evening. A 2013 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Poliziano.
Dessert was a bit disappointing. An almond sponge cake with roasted plums and honey. Very little flavor to the cake. Plums were good. A 2009 Vin Santo del Chianti, Badis a Coltibuono was served with this dish. Not overly sweet. They did bring out a plate on very mini cookies. They put it in the middle of the table and several of my fellows diners really devoured everything. I did not get to taste one of them.
I did have two of the honey salted rolls at the beginning of dinner and that was my downfall. I fill up on them. But they are so good. They make other restaurants dinner rolls look mediocre. I am a sucker for their marscapone butter. All in all a good dinner but not great. The menu sounded exceptional but it lacked in execution. I have had so many others at Chianina that were over the top that I probably expect that all the time. This dinner was also at least $35 cheaper than the other wine dinners that I have done here.
German Wine Dinner at Delius
Saturday, August 26, 2017
This has been an annual event at Delius for eons. www.deliusrestaurant.com. I almost missed this years because I had put down the wrong date for my high school reunion and thought they were on the same date. Fortunately I am getting old and my mistakes sometimes become helpful. There were 4 people at the singles table along with Alle the wine rep and her SO.
We started out with a glass of 2014 von Buhl, Pfalz, Riesling Sekt Brut. Nice and refreshing, crisp and clean. A nice way to start the evening.
First course served was a Kumamoto Oyster with Togarashi (Japanese five spice) and cucumber caviar. Very tiny balls of cucumber. A lady at our table had never had an oyster before so we initiated her into the "suck and swallow" club. Paired with a 2015 Wagner Stempel, Rheinhessen, Pinot Blanc. Really like this wine. Second best of the night.
Next is an Avocado Salad with carmelized onions, baby arugula, valanecia ornage supremes, citrus vinaigrette and pumpkin seed dust. Interesting combination and they worked well together. The salad was very good. A 2013 Schnaitmann, Wurttemberg, 3 Star, Sauvignon Blanc was the wine selected. Least wine liked for me. To grassy and acidic. I also thought the Pinot Blanc went well with this dish
Third course was a Chorizo sauteed white tiger shrimp over goat cheese hominy grits, lime oregano foam.. Loads of flavor and the grits were exceptionally good. Paired with a 2013 Schloss Schonborn, Rheingau, Riesling Spatlese Feinherb, Hochheimer Domedchaney. Two sweet for me. Went well with the dish but this is the only wine that I did not finish. I really preferred the Pinot Blanc.
A 2012 Wachtstetter, Wurttemberg, Lemberger Dry "Felix" was poured with the best dish of the night. A fresh ricotta and egg raviolo with slow braised lamb shoulder. The pasta was tender and when you broke into it the egg oozed out. Soft and creamy. The wine and the food were my favorite tonight.
Dessert consisted of a Frog Hollow Farms Cal red peach cobbler with cherry pomegrante ice cream. Nice, light dessert to end a meal.
Dave brought the chef out that was in charge of and cooked this dinner. Mike was his name. They are grooming him to open the new place at the Long Beach Promenade. I really wish they would keep him at the Signal Hill location. Liked his cooking so much better than Kate's. I know Kate tries but I just cannot get into her cooking style and her flavors. It has been numerous months since Patrick left and it reflects into how many dinners I will do at Delius. There are others who feel the same. We have not done a monthly prix fixe dinner in quite awhile due to the change in chefs.
This has been an annual event at Delius for eons. www.deliusrestaurant.com. I almost missed this years because I had put down the wrong date for my high school reunion and thought they were on the same date. Fortunately I am getting old and my mistakes sometimes become helpful. There were 4 people at the singles table along with Alle the wine rep and her SO.
We started out with a glass of 2014 von Buhl, Pfalz, Riesling Sekt Brut. Nice and refreshing, crisp and clean. A nice way to start the evening.
First course served was a Kumamoto Oyster with Togarashi (Japanese five spice) and cucumber caviar. Very tiny balls of cucumber. A lady at our table had never had an oyster before so we initiated her into the "suck and swallow" club. Paired with a 2015 Wagner Stempel, Rheinhessen, Pinot Blanc. Really like this wine. Second best of the night.
Next is an Avocado Salad with carmelized onions, baby arugula, valanecia ornage supremes, citrus vinaigrette and pumpkin seed dust. Interesting combination and they worked well together. The salad was very good. A 2013 Schnaitmann, Wurttemberg, 3 Star, Sauvignon Blanc was the wine selected. Least wine liked for me. To grassy and acidic. I also thought the Pinot Blanc went well with this dish
Third course was a Chorizo sauteed white tiger shrimp over goat cheese hominy grits, lime oregano foam.. Loads of flavor and the grits were exceptionally good. Paired with a 2013 Schloss Schonborn, Rheingau, Riesling Spatlese Feinherb, Hochheimer Domedchaney. Two sweet for me. Went well with the dish but this is the only wine that I did not finish. I really preferred the Pinot Blanc.
A 2012 Wachtstetter, Wurttemberg, Lemberger Dry "Felix" was poured with the best dish of the night. A fresh ricotta and egg raviolo with slow braised lamb shoulder. The pasta was tender and when you broke into it the egg oozed out. Soft and creamy. The wine and the food were my favorite tonight.
Dessert consisted of a Frog Hollow Farms Cal red peach cobbler with cherry pomegrante ice cream. Nice, light dessert to end a meal.
Dave brought the chef out that was in charge of and cooked this dinner. Mike was his name. They are grooming him to open the new place at the Long Beach Promenade. I really wish they would keep him at the Signal Hill location. Liked his cooking so much better than Kate's. I know Kate tries but I just cannot get into her cooking style and her flavors. It has been numerous months since Patrick left and it reflects into how many dinners I will do at Delius. There are others who feel the same. We have not done a monthly prix fixe dinner in quite awhile due to the change in chefs.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Tamber Bey Wines at Taste
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Met 4 others at Taste in Long Beach for a wine dinner. www.taste-wbk.com. Parking is a real problem in this area. At least I was able to parking in a 30 minute zone and wait until 6:00 to get out of the car. No parking police today. Winery tonight was Tamber Bay in the Napa area. It is a horse farm that makes wine on the side. Dinner was sold out so the restaurant is very noisy.
First course served was a Late Summer Stone Fruit Salad with peaches, figs, pulots, Burrata Cheese and arugula, basil and lemon oil. Nice selection of fruit, all very good and just ripe enough. Paired with a 2016 Lizzy's Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. 50% Acacia wood barrels and 50% stainless steel. Not to my liking. A bit too "new zealandy" for me. $ 32 a bottle.
Nest was a Carmelized Wild Caught Sea Scallops with lime buerre blanc, warm corn and Hatch chiles and cilantro. Excellent dish, scallops cooked perfectly and the corn salad was exceptionally good. A 2016 unoaked Younville Chardonnay was served. It was OK but again not to my palate. $36 a bottle.
Third course is a Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin, smoked grits, Earl Grey plum compote. Very good dish. the rub was good and the smoked grits were unusual and very good. Paired with a 2014 Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast, Sun Chase Vineyard, Pinot Noir. After a weekend of Sta Rita Hills pinots this was not cutting it for me. $70 a bottle.
Main course is a Tomato and Red Wine Braised Brisket, roasted garlic pommes puree, black pepper glazed carrots. Again a very good dish. Brisket had great flavor and was tender. Paired with a 2013 Rabicano Bordeaux blend. Good wine. Finally found something I liked. $50 a bottle.
Dessert was a Dark Chocolate Roasted Beet Cake with blue cheese ice cream and Italian Saba. Sounds strange but both were good. The cake was not overly sweet and the blue cheese was a very light flavor in the ice cream. They did go really well together The wine poured was a 2014 Yountville, Deux Chevaux Vineyard, Merlot. Best wine of the night. $75 a bottle.
Altogether a very good dinner. But the restaurant still is a very noisy place and the parking is awful. I would do another wine dinner here but it won't become a regular stop on my way home which is too bad because the food is excellent.
Met 4 others at Taste in Long Beach for a wine dinner. www.taste-wbk.com. Parking is a real problem in this area. At least I was able to parking in a 30 minute zone and wait until 6:00 to get out of the car. No parking police today. Winery tonight was Tamber Bay in the Napa area. It is a horse farm that makes wine on the side. Dinner was sold out so the restaurant is very noisy.
First course served was a Late Summer Stone Fruit Salad with peaches, figs, pulots, Burrata Cheese and arugula, basil and lemon oil. Nice selection of fruit, all very good and just ripe enough. Paired with a 2016 Lizzy's Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. 50% Acacia wood barrels and 50% stainless steel. Not to my liking. A bit too "new zealandy" for me. $ 32 a bottle.
Nest was a Carmelized Wild Caught Sea Scallops with lime buerre blanc, warm corn and Hatch chiles and cilantro. Excellent dish, scallops cooked perfectly and the corn salad was exceptionally good. A 2016 unoaked Younville Chardonnay was served. It was OK but again not to my palate. $36 a bottle.
Third course is a Spice Rubbed Pork Tenderloin, smoked grits, Earl Grey plum compote. Very good dish. the rub was good and the smoked grits were unusual and very good. Paired with a 2014 Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast, Sun Chase Vineyard, Pinot Noir. After a weekend of Sta Rita Hills pinots this was not cutting it for me. $70 a bottle.
Main course is a Tomato and Red Wine Braised Brisket, roasted garlic pommes puree, black pepper glazed carrots. Again a very good dish. Brisket had great flavor and was tender. Paired with a 2013 Rabicano Bordeaux blend. Good wine. Finally found something I liked. $50 a bottle.
Dessert was a Dark Chocolate Roasted Beet Cake with blue cheese ice cream and Italian Saba. Sounds strange but both were good. The cake was not overly sweet and the blue cheese was a very light flavor in the ice cream. They did go really well together The wine poured was a 2014 Yountville, Deux Chevaux Vineyard, Merlot. Best wine of the night. $75 a bottle.
Altogether a very good dinner. But the restaurant still is a very noisy place and the parking is awful. I would do another wine dinner here but it won't become a regular stop on my way home which is too bad because the food is excellent.
Wine & Fire Weekend
Saturday, August 19 to Monday, August 21, 2017
Left early Saturday morning to make the trek north to the Sta. Rita Hills for the annual Wine & Fire fest. I have been doing this for over 15 years.We made the trip in 2 hours, traffic was light and good driving all the way. Headed down Santa Rosa Road looking for the entrance to this years seminar and lunch at El Jabli vineyards. After going many miles down the road and the numbers are getting higher we decided we must have missed the signage. Turning around on a narrow two lane curvy road is interesting. As we headed back looking at the road numbers we came to the entrance for Alma Rosa. No signage, no balloons, nothing to indicate this was the stop. Asked a field worker where El Jabli vineyards were and he pointed to where he was standing. After pointing up the hill we took off and after cresting the small hill we saw the white tent and the big BBQ rig from Hitching Post.
Had a great seminar on the wineries and vineyards on the Santa Rosa Road area of the Sta. Rita Hills. Last years seminar was on the Route 246 producers. Lunch was good as always. Lots of wine flowing and good talks by the participants. This all was headed by Matt Kellerman from Wine Enthusist magazine.
At 5:00 we at the entrance to the big grand tasting at the La Purisma Mission. Beautiful grounds. They cut back on the amount of tickets available this year and it was a much better venue. Not nearly as crowded and no long lines at the tasting tables. Hope they do this again next year.
Sunday morning after having breakfast at the hotel we were at the door of the Taste of Sta. Rita Hills tasting room when they opened. Left with 6 bottles of a very good Proseco that Antonio Moretti makes. Next was Fiddlehead for a quick tasting before heading down the road. In Buellton we stopped at Buscador. A new place for me . I was impressed with his wines and bought a couple of bottles. I will make it a point to stop in here next time I am in town.
Leaving Buellton we drove into Los Olivos. Tercero's tasting room was packed so we went around the corner to Dragonette. Brandon Gilles was pouring at the seminar. A Pinot from Radiance vineyard which was exceptionally good. Then popped into Stolpman for a quick taste and walked out with 6 bottles of their Rose.
Back to Solvang for dinner at First & Oak. A restaurant in the Mirabelle hotel. Owned by the same person that has the Sky Room in Long beach. I can never remember the name of the winery he owns. Starts with a "C" like Cloqcouiet or something along that order. But do not like the wines at all. The food at dinner was very good but the wines by the glass were all his winery. I would dine there again but would order a bottle of something else and share it at dinner.
Up bright and early to head home. After a brief stop at watch the eclipse we veered off the freeway to visit the Hubers and their new home in Newbury Park. Had a nice vist with Norman and Traudl then off again. Cindy needed to get home by 2:00 to do a webinar for work. About 1:30 I reached for my purse and it was not in the car. I had left it at the Hubers. So we pulled over and found a shady spot so Cindy could d the webinar on her cell phone. At 2:45 we turned around and headed back to Newbury Park.. Traudl made us a dinner to go. A nice sandwhich, fresh blueberries and a homemade brownie.. Norm threw in a couple bottles of wine and Perrier water.
Got back to Cerritos at 6:30. 9-1/2 hours after we left Lompoc. Long day. Went up with the intention of not buying any wines but came home with 17 bottles. I have no will power. But a good trip overall and looking forward to next years festival.
Left early Saturday morning to make the trek north to the Sta. Rita Hills for the annual Wine & Fire fest. I have been doing this for over 15 years.We made the trip in 2 hours, traffic was light and good driving all the way. Headed down Santa Rosa Road looking for the entrance to this years seminar and lunch at El Jabli vineyards. After going many miles down the road and the numbers are getting higher we decided we must have missed the signage. Turning around on a narrow two lane curvy road is interesting. As we headed back looking at the road numbers we came to the entrance for Alma Rosa. No signage, no balloons, nothing to indicate this was the stop. Asked a field worker where El Jabli vineyards were and he pointed to where he was standing. After pointing up the hill we took off and after cresting the small hill we saw the white tent and the big BBQ rig from Hitching Post.
Had a great seminar on the wineries and vineyards on the Santa Rosa Road area of the Sta. Rita Hills. Last years seminar was on the Route 246 producers. Lunch was good as always. Lots of wine flowing and good talks by the participants. This all was headed by Matt Kellerman from Wine Enthusist magazine.
At 5:00 we at the entrance to the big grand tasting at the La Purisma Mission. Beautiful grounds. They cut back on the amount of tickets available this year and it was a much better venue. Not nearly as crowded and no long lines at the tasting tables. Hope they do this again next year.
Sunday morning after having breakfast at the hotel we were at the door of the Taste of Sta. Rita Hills tasting room when they opened. Left with 6 bottles of a very good Proseco that Antonio Moretti makes. Next was Fiddlehead for a quick tasting before heading down the road. In Buellton we stopped at Buscador. A new place for me . I was impressed with his wines and bought a couple of bottles. I will make it a point to stop in here next time I am in town.
Leaving Buellton we drove into Los Olivos. Tercero's tasting room was packed so we went around the corner to Dragonette. Brandon Gilles was pouring at the seminar. A Pinot from Radiance vineyard which was exceptionally good. Then popped into Stolpman for a quick taste and walked out with 6 bottles of their Rose.
Back to Solvang for dinner at First & Oak. A restaurant in the Mirabelle hotel. Owned by the same person that has the Sky Room in Long beach. I can never remember the name of the winery he owns. Starts with a "C" like Cloqcouiet or something along that order. But do not like the wines at all. The food at dinner was very good but the wines by the glass were all his winery. I would dine there again but would order a bottle of something else and share it at dinner.
Up bright and early to head home. After a brief stop at watch the eclipse we veered off the freeway to visit the Hubers and their new home in Newbury Park. Had a nice vist with Norman and Traudl then off again. Cindy needed to get home by 2:00 to do a webinar for work. About 1:30 I reached for my purse and it was not in the car. I had left it at the Hubers. So we pulled over and found a shady spot so Cindy could d the webinar on her cell phone. At 2:45 we turned around and headed back to Newbury Park.. Traudl made us a dinner to go. A nice sandwhich, fresh blueberries and a homemade brownie.. Norm threw in a couple bottles of wine and Perrier water.
Got back to Cerritos at 6:30. 9-1/2 hours after we left Lompoc. Long day. Went up with the intention of not buying any wines but came home with 17 bottles. I have no will power. But a good trip overall and looking forward to next years festival.
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
With The Boys Again
Monday, August 14, 2017
Another Dim Sum with the boys at the Seafood Palace, www.seafoodpalacerestaurant.com,. We started out with the normal offerings from the carts, Shrimp Shu Mai, Sweet Rice with Chinese Sausage in Lotus Leaf, and a Soy Bean Wrapped concoction of Pork, Mushrooms and Vegetables. We consider these items appetizers before our main dishes.
Then our complimentary bowl of Sour Spicy Soup. Followed with a platter Beef and Vegetables with Fat Noodles, Salt and Pepper Calamari and Basil Clams. When we reached this state we are ready to stop. A nice Egg Tart for dessert.
We each had a taste of a Fried Radish Cake that Henry ordered to take home to his wife Evan. A light radish flavor, not too much and it was interesting. I would eat it again,
Good selection of wines today. For a $12 each lunch we do drink well.
I brought a 2009 Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir which I decanted for about 90 minutes. Drinking really nicely. A 2012 Stags Leap Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Melville Sta. Rita Hills Syrah and a 2011 Touraine, Val de Loire Pinot Noir Rose.
Another Dim Sum with the boys at the Seafood Palace, www.seafoodpalacerestaurant.com,. We started out with the normal offerings from the carts, Shrimp Shu Mai, Sweet Rice with Chinese Sausage in Lotus Leaf, and a Soy Bean Wrapped concoction of Pork, Mushrooms and Vegetables. We consider these items appetizers before our main dishes.
Then our complimentary bowl of Sour Spicy Soup. Followed with a platter Beef and Vegetables with Fat Noodles, Salt and Pepper Calamari and Basil Clams. When we reached this state we are ready to stop. A nice Egg Tart for dessert.
We each had a taste of a Fried Radish Cake that Henry ordered to take home to his wife Evan. A light radish flavor, not too much and it was interesting. I would eat it again,
Good selection of wines today. For a $12 each lunch we do drink well.
I brought a 2009 Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir which I decanted for about 90 minutes. Drinking really nicely. A 2012 Stags Leap Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Melville Sta. Rita Hills Syrah and a 2011 Touraine, Val de Loire Pinot Noir Rose.
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Baci Restaurant
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Margie's choice for dinner this month was Baci in Huntington Beach. www.bacirestaurant.com, Loads of murals on the walls but a bit noisy for me. But when you have 12 people at a long table the noise level does go up. But I was on a far end so I had a least one quiet side.
A variety of foods was order. I started out with a shrimp, artichoke heart, percorino cheese appetizer. It was decent, but the 4 shrimp were very small. But my lamb oso bucco was excellent. Loads of flavor and meat was tender. I think I would have preferred risotto instead of pasta as a side but that is always an after thought. The panna cotta for dessert was good. So a good dinner.
Mixed variety of wines. I brought a 2008 Stolpman LaCroce which is a blend of Sangiovese and Syrah . Decanted it for 3 hours and to me was the best wine on the table. Very well balanced, nice fruit without being too fruity, semi dry with a good mouth feel. I did taste some of the other wines. A few good and a few not. But that is the reality of life.
2011 Pio Cesare, Barolo - good (second favorite)
NV Valdobbiadrene, Brut Prosecco - good
2015 Turley, Sauvignon Blanc - good not to acidic
2015 Francis Ford Coppola, Sophia , Blanc de Blanc - decent
2016 Trump, Monticello, VA, Sauvignon Blanc - I dumped it
2012 Carpineto Vino Nobile de Montepulciano - good
2014 Seal Beach Winery, Estelle Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon did not taste
2003 Chumeia, Barbera - did not taste
2004 Pedroncelli, Sangiovese - sharp mouth feel, it should have been much smoother for a 13 year old wine. - was not impressed
2015 Moretti, Bianchetto - did not taste but I have earlier years of this wine and they have been good
2014 Palmina Dolcetto - did not taste
2013 Tabalas Creek, Full Circle, Pinot Noir - decent
2014 Kosta Browne, SLH, Pinot Noir - good but too young to drink
Margie's choice for dinner this month was Baci in Huntington Beach. www.bacirestaurant.com, Loads of murals on the walls but a bit noisy for me. But when you have 12 people at a long table the noise level does go up. But I was on a far end so I had a least one quiet side.
A variety of foods was order. I started out with a shrimp, artichoke heart, percorino cheese appetizer. It was decent, but the 4 shrimp were very small. But my lamb oso bucco was excellent. Loads of flavor and meat was tender. I think I would have preferred risotto instead of pasta as a side but that is always an after thought. The panna cotta for dessert was good. So a good dinner.
Mixed variety of wines. I brought a 2008 Stolpman LaCroce which is a blend of Sangiovese and Syrah . Decanted it for 3 hours and to me was the best wine on the table. Very well balanced, nice fruit without being too fruity, semi dry with a good mouth feel. I did taste some of the other wines. A few good and a few not. But that is the reality of life.
2011 Pio Cesare, Barolo - good (second favorite)
NV Valdobbiadrene, Brut Prosecco - good
2015 Turley, Sauvignon Blanc - good not to acidic
2015 Francis Ford Coppola, Sophia , Blanc de Blanc - decent
2016 Trump, Monticello, VA, Sauvignon Blanc - I dumped it
2012 Carpineto Vino Nobile de Montepulciano - good
2014 Seal Beach Winery, Estelle Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon did not taste
2003 Chumeia, Barbera - did not taste
2004 Pedroncelli, Sangiovese - sharp mouth feel, it should have been much smoother for a 13 year old wine. - was not impressed
2015 Moretti, Bianchetto - did not taste but I have earlier years of this wine and they have been good
2014 Palmina Dolcetto - did not taste
2013 Tabalas Creek, Full Circle, Pinot Noir - decent
2014 Kosta Browne, SLH, Pinot Noir - good but too young to drink
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