Margie's Monthly Wine Dinner at Wine on 2nd

 Wednesday, March 9, 2022

A different take this month on the wine dinner. A wine tasting with optional dinner at Wine on 2nd in Naples.  15 in attendance tonight.  Tasting consisted of appetizers and 5 wines. Service was good with a few glitches. I don't think they are used to serving a large group along with having to handle the other walkins.  Everyone in the group seemed to have a good time and I am sure a few will be back. 

We started out with a dish of olive and eggplant tapenade with crostini along with a charcuterie plate of salami, prosciutto, cheese, honey, figs. The appetizers were very good. A plate of each set on each table of 4. We lucked out as there were only 3 of us at our table.  I felt the quantity was a bit scrimpy since it was supposed to be shared by 4 people and last through 5 wines.  The tapenade was the same size we ordered off the menu a few nights before when there were 3 of us. I am assuming that it is a one size fits all on the menu. Their normal wine flight consists of 3 wines. So no adjustment for 5 wines. 

Optional dinner was a choice of shrimp with pasta or chicken breast. Neither of those appealed to me as I cook that at home. Not what I want when dining out.  I opted for an appetizer of rolled steak around peppers with a salad. Flavor was good. Greens and vinaigrette were very tasty. Meat was good but they gave a butter knife to cut. It took a bit of back and forth to cut through the meat. The meat was tender but when a slice is rolled with ingredients on the inside a sharp knife would have made a big difference.  But we were also in a wine tasting establishment not a restaurant per say.  

The wines served tonight were:

NV   J Laurens Brut Cremant de Limoux Languedoc-Roussillon, France

2018 Portia Verdejo, Rueda, Spain

2017 Benton Lane, Willamete Valley, Oregon, Pinot Noir

2019 Faustino, Rioja, Spain, Tempranello

????  Mazzolada, La Cantina Del Falco, Venezia, Merlot

Dinner at 555 East Steakhouse

 Saturday, February 26, 2022

Six of us tonight for dinner. Did start out on the right foot. Open Table did not relay to the restaurant that a 7th person was added several days prior to the reservation. Also they had us sitting at a table for 4 that they had tried to convert into a 7 seater. It couldn't accommodate 3 bottles of wine much less the 9 we had with us.  It was outside in the tented area. Wind was blowing, it was cold even with the heaters and the noise level was atrocious. Complained to the floor manager. She said she couldn't do anything to move us inside until someone emptied a table and that would be over an hour wait. The 7th person left because of the hassles.  Restaurant manager finally came out and heard our tale of woe. He gave us a table inside that was set up for 6 within 15 minutes. 

I ordered raw oysters to start. 2 each of Kumamoto, Fanny Bay and Wellfleet. Always good and fresh at 555.

One person ordered a filet and the rest of us had the dry aged Chateau Brion which was cooked to perfection. A few orders of mushrooms and potatoes filled the plates. 

2007 Stolpman,  Angeli (Syrah and Sangiovese blend)

1997 Venge, Oakville, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon (excellent - bottle was emptied quickly)

2012 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne

2012 Revelation, Blanc de Meunier, barrel aged, Champagne

2013 Palmaz, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2006 Shafer, Napa Valley, Relentless, Cabernet Sauvignon

1996 Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley. Merlot  (This was the wine of the night)

All the wines were excellent. A nice group to do dinner with because of the quality of the wines brought and a fun bunch or people with good conversations. 

Dinner at Detention in The Trust Room

 Tuesday, February 22, 2022

The Playground restaurant in downtown Santa Ana has been renamed Detention. Detentiondtsa.com. The 2.0 Room is now called Trust. Other than name change everything is the same with some improvements. Same chef's, same owners, same format. Trust still sits 18 people at a long bar with cooking and plating in front of you. Only difference now in the serving of the food, instead of one plated shared by 3, it is one plate (different sizes) for the number in your party. I would assume tied into Covid somehow.

Justin Werner has taken over the reins at Trust and owner and chef Jason Quinn is concentrating on enlarging the back room and hosting different venues.  Justin's style of cooking is different than Jason's.

The dinner tonight was a winery dinner, Stolpman out of Santa Ynez. Jessica Stolpman was the host and she did a great job but personally I was extremely disappointed that neither Tom nor Peter was in attendance. 

We started out with a cocktail made of Italian rose vermouth, gin, cucumber water, prickly pear and orange liqueur. Very tasty. Then onto the 13 courses and 5 wines.

A fresh baked brioche bun with house made cultured butter. Perfect. Frash from the over, still soft and steamy. 

A salad of mixed greens, croutons and a very light, exceptionally good vinaigrette. 

Arancini with ramp vinaigrette. Light and so freshly made.

Very thin sliced beets with citrus, nuts. The slices were so thin, cut on a mandolin then piled high. Yummy.

Hush Puppy loaded with seafood and served with Old Bay Aioli.  A real winner.

Grilled fresh swordfish with a leek and caper salsa. Again excellent.

House made Gnocchi with beurre monte and very thinly grated parmesan. So light, like eating marshmallows.

Beef pasta with spinach and pine nuts in a cream sauce. Excellent flavors

Escarole and Farro soup with breadcrumbs. Had good flavor but was not my thing.

Duck breast with grilled endive and smoked cherry sauce. To die for. 

A5 Wagu beef slices Picanha, (top sirloin cap) chimichurri and fried potatoes. Meat was like butter. Potatoes were crisp outside and soft on the inside.

Chocolate Swiss roll with Creme Angelaise. Decadent.

Poached pear with chocolate, crisp pastry and almond whip. Excellent.

Hazelnut cake with semi fredo. Good ending to a fabulous meal.

Our wines tonight were: 

 Stolpman, 2021 So Fresh, Rose, Love you Bunches. Not my style and I just did not like it. I thought it was flat and non-discript. 

Stolpman , 2017 Rousanne, L'Avion. Tom Stolpman's favorite wine. I am not into white Rhone varietals. But it did pair well with the food. If you like white Rhones you would love this wine. 

Stolpman, 2016  La Croce, a blend of Sangiovese and Syrah. My favorite of all the Stolpman Wines. But a 2016 it is too young to drink.

Stolpman Estate Syrah. For some reason this wine never made it to the end of the room we were at. Did not see the bottle until we were leaving. 

La Cuadrilla, Syrah Blend "El Padrino". This wine is made by the crew that works the Stolpman Vineyards. A certain section of vines is set aside for them. They get to split the profit from the sales. This was a1.5 liter bottle, do not know the year but it was a bit harsh and way too young to be drinking.

Food was great as usual, always top quality ingredients, very disappointed in the selection of wines brought tonight. Do not who chose them but with all the wines they produce a few of these should have been kept at home. 

Will be doing another dinner at Trust in a few months. They price always includes food, beverages, tax and tip inclusive. But not inexpensive but well worth it. 

Margie's Monthly Wine Dinner At Red Table

 Saturday, February 5, 2022

Red Table Restaurant

This month's wine dinner was held at the Red Table Restaurant.  We had a table inside today. Last year it was held outside, and tables were set up for 4 people each. Wasn't best for sharing wines.  14 of us in attendance tonight and everyone ordered off the menu

I shared an appetizer of Baked Brie which was good but very overpriced.  Ordered a cup of Cream of Artichoke soup which was excellent.  Main for me was the Beef Stroganoff. Meat was very tender and had good flavor. Loads of mushrooms which I liked.

Someone ordered dessert for me since it was my birthday. A warm Red Velvet Cake in a mug with whipped cream. Cake flavor was good, but it was dry. They should have put a heavy cream sauce like custard or an ice cream on top. But it did have a candle lit on top for me.

I brought a 2013 Kosta Browne, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir. It was drinking really well. Loads of flavor and very soft tannins. 

NV   Marquis De La Mysteriale, Cuvee Grand Espirit, Champagne - a nice bubbly

2015 Patricia Green Cellars, Ribbon Ridge, Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2018 La Jota Vineyard Co, Howell Mtn, Merlot - this wine was way too young to drink. In ten years it will be time to look at it again.  These wines are known for longevity. 

NV   De Margerie, Grand Cru, Champagne - this is always a winner

2011 Halter Ranch, Ancestor Estate, Reserve, Blend - OK

2011 Foley, Sta Rita Hills. Bar Lazy Ranch, Pinot Noir - decent wine

2017 Justin, Isosceles , blend - a good wine but not as outstanding as prior vintages

2013 Melville, Sandy's, Pinot Noir - did not taste

2017 Sanford, Sta Rita Hills, Chardonnay - did not taste 

2018 Roger Goulart, Reserve Brut - did not taste

2015 Talley, Stone Corral, Pinot Noir - good wine

2017 Blanco, Cote de Pomar, Paso Robles - did not taste

2019 Firestone, Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2019 Kermit Lynch, Cotes du Rhone - did not taste

2009 William Selyem, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir - Excellent wine probably top of the game right now

The Tibet Nepal House Restaurant

 Saturday, January 22, 2022

Four of us brave diners tonight at the "tibetnepalhouseresturant.com" in Pasadena. CJ picked this out because they serve Yak and none of us had ever tasted Yak before. No parking lot, very limited street parking and CJ had to park in a structure a couple of blocks away. At least restaurant patrons got a discount.  A very small restaurant but after 6:00 they became busy.   I am glad we had only four people at the table. Any more would have been way to crowded with bottles of wine, glasses etc., In this case fewer was much better. This restaurant is not set up for large groups of people. 

We started out with Potato Pickle Salad. Potatoes, spring onions, cilantro, chili, turmeric and roasted sesame seed paste. We forgot to ask for mild.  Very hot, my back palate was really feeling it. The white wine helped to tame it a bit. Flavors were very good but way to spicy for the rest of us.

Cj then went back and told the waiter that we needed mild on all our dishes. He could handle to heat but the rest of us could not.

Next was a plate of Vegetable Samosas with peas, potatoes and Tamarind paste. These were good. But I have had better and then again I have had worse. Just standard Samosas. 

A plate of Yak Momo's appeared. Momo's are like dumplings.  The Yak meat was ground and it tasted a bit like very lean, grass fed beef. These had good flavor but a tad on the dry side.

Then cane a large bowl of Yak Stew.  Had potatoes, caraway seed, onions, garlic and spices. Flavor was excellent. The Yak meat was sliced, a light grey in color and a tad bit chewy. I would say similar to grass fed beef that never saw a corn finish. We are spoiled in this country because our beef is finished off the corn and grains before slaughter. No where else except maybe Japan with it's Wagu beef does this happen.

Next was a plate of Vegetable Phling. Mushrooms, vegetables, tomato, spices and very, very thin transparent bean noodles. Again excellent flavors.

Tandoori chicken was exceptionally good. Moist and tender.

I did not try the Lamb Tiki Masala. It was made with onions - tomato creamy sauce with Himalayan spices. Fellow diners said it was good.

We had two types of bread. Garlic Naan and Dhopzi which is a stone ground wheat bread similar to Naan.

Topped off the dinner with a "Masala Teapot". Himalayan herbs, tea and cooked in milk. Very good. 

All the wines were good. The 2005 Chateau Montelena, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon was outstanding. I brought the 2012 Clos Pepe, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir which was exceptionally good also. The two other wines were a 2015 Tercero Verbiage Rouge which was good with the real spicy dishes and a 2014 Roco, Private Stash # 12, Pinot Noir. I believe this was from Oregon. A light pinot but very good.

A very good, interesting dinner. Always looking for a new adventure.  

Margies Dinner at Buon Gusto

 January 5, 2022

The first dinner of the new year hosted by Margie our dinner guru. Seated in a tent outside that we had to ourselves which made it nice.  It was heated which was good as it is a cold, damp night. Service was excellent. 12 people in attendance tonight.  Covid is still a big factor in socializations. 

At Buon Gusto portions are huge, prices are good. Food is decent.  I had the Veal Marsala. Veal was tender and the marsala sauce good. Pasta was Rigatoni and a lot of it.   Best thing I had tonight was the creamy basil tomato soup followed by the white chocolate, raspberry ice cream. I could have just had those two items and been content. As it was, I had a few bites of the pasta and doggie bagged it. Got two meals off the leftovers.

I brought a 2014 Lando, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. Drinking very nicely. Other wines were:

2018 Solosole, Toscano, Vermentino - wine was off, not corked but not up to par

NV   Paul Launois, Monochrome # 1, Champagne - very good, nice and dry

2019 Jermann, Vintage Tunina, Venezia, Giulia, white blend. Picked up another grape varietal with this wine.

2018 Trefethen, Oak Knoll District, Merlot - decent wine but not outstanding

2008 Talty, Dry Creek Valley, Estate Zinfandel - did not taste

2006 John Robert Eppler Wines, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley Blunome Creek Ranch, Late Harvest Zinfandel - did not taste

2019 St. Amant, Lodi, Zinfandel - did not taste

2018 Trattere Farms Vineyard "MR" - dis not taste

2017 Williams Selyem, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir - nice wine a bit young

2019 Hart, Temecula, Vermintino - surprisingly good

NV   Segura Viudas, Brut, Cava - this wine is always a good selection

2020 Whidbey Island Winery, Yakima Valley Rose - this was exceptionally good, beautiful color

2015 Caparzo, Italy, Brunello de Montalcino - nice big red

2020 Longoria, Albarino - did not taste

Lunch with the boys at Seafood Cove

 Friday, December 31, 2021

Last minute decision to have lunch today at Seafood Cove # 1.  Not much ambiance but the food is damm good and authentic. The # 1 restaurant specializes in "fry". Henry said their woks are extremely hot which seals in the flavors.

Started out with Hot Sour Soup. Perfect for such a cold day.

We placed our order, and first dish out was a Twice Cooked Pork. Not what we ordered. Had a few pieces before they took it back. I have an idea that when it was returned to the kitchen they may have just re-sauteed it with the Peking sauce. Who really knows. But the Peking Twice Cooked Pork was excellent.

Up next was the Sauteed White Fish filet with baby corn, snow peas, carrots and mushrooms. Fish was very fresh.

Last was the Thai Style Beef with fat noodles and greens. Beef was tender and flavorful. But fat noodles are always a pain to eat with chopsticks because they are so slippery. I managed. CJ eats with a fork, so he had no problem.

Always have a plate of sliced oranges for dessert.  Do not know where they buy their oranges, but they are always sweet and juicy.

Our bottles of wine were all good, I brought a NV Palmer & Co. Champagne. Last bottle that I had. Need to get some more. 2011 Williams Selyem, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir which was showing very well and a 2018 Neyers, Sage Canyon, St Helena, Red wine. This wine was a bit young but opened nicely after an hour. 

Since this is New Years Eve a lot of people were ordered the fresh lobster. Tank was full of the critters. Large ones in top tank and smaller ones in bottom tank. The larger lobsters were weighing in about 5 pounds.  At $30 a pound. Lunch crowd was a lot bigger than usual because of the holiday. Nice lunch to end the year on.