Margie's Monthly Wine Dinner at Naples Rib Co

 Wednesday, October 10, 2024

Naples Rib Co.

Started out with 15 people reserved and ten at dinner, 5 dropped out that day. Their loss. They missed out on a very good dinner, great wines and gifts of candy and wine from two couples of the attendees.

I had not been to Naples Rib Co in the Naples area of Long Beach for several years. I will say I think there has been an improvement in their food since the pandemic started.  They were always known for their generous portion sizes.

I ordered Prime Rib which was a very large thick cut that I really appreciated. I dislike restaurants that cut their prime rib so thin that you are not sure to cut it or roll it. It came with cornbread, slice of pineapple, ear of corn and 2 sides and sauces.  At $37 it was a bargain.  Meat was a good inch in thickness. My take home will give me 3 meals. 

One of the guests brought everyone a gift of a 375m bottle of Fess Parkers "The Big Easy" wine. He had decorated it for Halloween. A very nice gesture. 

All the red wines were good.  I did not try any of the sparkling's or whites. But there was not a red I did not like.  There were a few surprises. I brought a 2013 Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Angeli Syrah. Always a favorite of mine. Tom does exceptionally well with Syrah's.  Other wines were.

2017 Mario Bazan Cellars, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon. Not a familiar label but I was impressed.

2022 Williams Seylem, RRV< Westside Neighbors, Pinot Noir.

2021 Denner Estates, Willow Creek Dist., Cabernet Sauvignon

NV Marc Chauvet, 1st Growth Brut Selection, Champagne

2021 Stags Leap, Napa Valley, Chardonnay

2021 Talley, SLO, Sauvignon Blanc

2014 Carol Shelton, Rockpile, Reserve Petite Syrah

2022 Averaen, Williamette Valley, Pinot Noir

NV Chateau St. Jean, Sonoma Cst., Benoist Ranch, Sparkling

2021 Schug, CA, White Pinot Noir

2015 Abacela, Umpqua Valley, Fiesta Tempranillo

2015 Turley, Howell Mtn., Zinfandel

Margie's Monthly Dinner at Masala Waves

 Saturday September 14, 2024

Masla Waves Indian & Nepalese Restaurant

Large group tonight, 20 people showed up. First time for the group at Masala Waves. The boys and I have been several times before. Good food, friendly staff, Margie negotiated a prix fixe menu and set cost, couldn't beat the deal. 9 main, rice, Naan and dessert, $40 plus tax & tip. 

Started out with the Naan stuffed with spinach and cheese. This is so good. You can OD on it before anything else comes.

Next was Vegetable Pakora. Vegetables coated with chickpea flour and deep fried. Personally for me it was too crispy

Then onto Nepali Momo. Filled dumplings with sauces. 

A soup made with pureed garbanzo beans and potatoes. Cream style. Not a favorite of mine but others enjoyed it.

Tandoori Artichokes. Artichokes marinated in yogurt and grilled in a Tandoori over. I really like this dish but then I am really into artichokes. Others did not seem to be too keen on it. Matter of taste.

Next was Tandoori Fish. This was a very good. White fish fillets marinated in Indian spices and grilled in the Tandoori over.  Very good flavor.

Tandoori Malai Kabobs.  Boneless chicken breast marinated in yogurt and gilled in the Tandoori oven. The chicken was a bit dry for my taste but good flavor. CJ had explained to me before that Nepalese cooks have a tendency to cook chicken a bit too long. Indian cooks a bit shorter time. So I guess we got the Nepalese cook tonight. 

They kept bowls of rice and baskets of Naan filled throughout the dinner.

They ran out of Yak so we did not get the Yak Chow Mein tonight. I have had it before at Masala Waves and it is very good, Sorry to miss it tonight.

Dessert was Pistachio Kulfi. Homemade ice cream with pistachios. I passed on dessert tonight for stomach issues.  If I could have taken it home I would have. 

25 wines tonight.  Did not taste any of the whites and had a very small pour of a champagne. We had 3 Pinot Noirs from the same general area of the Sta Rita Hills. Interesting to taste them side by side. You could see the terroir was the same in each wine but subtle differences.in each, You knew they had some of the same characteristics but different at the same time. 

I brought a 2013 Ken Brown, Ritas Crown, Pinot Noir. Excellent.

2021 Black Summer, Swartland, Chenin Blanc

2018 Tatomar. SBC, Meeresbaden, Gruner Veltliner

NV   Marc Chauvet, Brut Selection, Champagne

2017 Spear, Sta Rita Hills, Gruner Veltliner

2003 Chateau Monbousquet Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux

2022 Moonlight, Dry Creek, Merlot, (Stuart Frickes homemade wine) very good

2016 Sanford, Sta Rita Hills, Block 6, Pinot Noir

2021 Old Soul, Lodi, Pinot Noir

2021 Gundlach Bundshu, Sonia, Dry Gewurztraminer

NV    Laurent-Perrier, La Cuvee, Champagne

2021 Lincourt, Gruner Veltliner

2012 Shafer, Relentless, Napa Valley, Syrah

2015 Williams Selyem, Central Cst, Pinot Noir

???? Delinger, Altamont, RRV< Pinot Noir

???? Runquist, Amador Cty, Rose of Sangiovese

NV  Gaia Notios, Greece, Blanca

???? Lesterland Winery, Fresno, Cetiri 4, Red Blend

2019 Fox & The Flock. CA,  Red Blend 

2020 Milliarie Winery, calaverosm Roberts Cuvee, Zinfandel

2021 Bovine Winery, Paso Robles, gen-er-os-i-ty, Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Kosta Browne, Kanzler Vineyards, Pinot Noir

2007 Clos Pepe, Sta Rita Hills, VS Pinot Noir

2015 Vie L'Imaginaire, Lake Cty. Grenache

2021 Limerick Lane, RR, Zinfandel (59 barrels)

Margie's Monthly Wine Dinner at Prime Cut

 Saturday, August 10, 2024

13 of us gathered tonight at Prime Cut Restaurant in Orange. Private room and no corkage. What could be better. 

I opted for the petite cut Prime Rib with sauteed garlic spinach and Yorkshire pudding. Tonight something is quite off with my taste.  Food and wine did not taste right. Only thing that seemed to work was bread with butter. After talking with someone they thought perhaps the medical procedure I went through on the Wednesday before may have something to do with it. I drank a lot of barium for x-rays and maybe it hadn't worked out of my system yet. Been to Prime Cut numerous times and the food is always very good. 

An interesting group of wines tonight. 13 people, 20 wines. You would have thought that going to a restaurant that specializes in prime rib and steak that Cabernet Sauvignon would have been the predominate wine. It did make a good showing with 7 out of 20 being a Cab.  I won't make comments on the wines since obviously I could not taste them correctly. But after tasting my wine the next day at home I still think it was a very mediocre wine. A big disappointment.  I brought the 2014 Kosta Brown wine

2017 Trump, Charlottesville, VA, Blanc de Blanc sparkling

2022 Merry Edwards, RRV, Sonoma Coast, Sauvignon Blanc

2019 Gary Farrell. Lancel Creek Vineyard, Sonoma. Pinot Noir

2017 Michael Mondavi, Napa, Emblem, Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Bodega de Edgar, Paso Robles, Priorat

2020 Bodega de Edgar, Paso Robles, 75% Albarino, 25% Torrontes

NV   Galleano, Cucamonga, dry white wine

2007 Levigne, Paso Robles, Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Sculpterra, Paso Robles, Cabernet Sauvignon

NV   Banshee, California, Brut Champenoise

2019 Ferrari Carano, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir

2022 Jean-Jacque-Auchere, Loire, France, Sancerre

2012 Dusky Goose, Oregon, Pinot Noir

2020 Faustino, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo

2021 Bogle, California, Cabernet Sauvignon

2009 Graveyard, Paso Robles, Cabernet Sauvignon

2000 Chateau Grand Bert, Saint-Emilion, France, Grand Cru Bordeaux

2014 Kosta Browne, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir

2022 Hess, Napa, Allomi, Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 J Vineyard, RRV, Pinot Noir

Two Asians and a White Girl for Lunch Today at Irrawaddy Taste of Burma Restaurant

 Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Went to Irrawaddy today for lunch. I had been before a year ago or so. But new to the boys.  We all agreed we will be back soon. Henry was really taken with the Burmese food. He was born in China but this was a new experience for him.

We had 3 dishes so we did not overindulge but all 3 dishes were consumed.  All were excellent

Started out with Paratha with curry sauce. A fried bread. Almost pancake like but so much lighter and a bit crispy.  

Next was Kauk Sware Thota.  A Mandalay style coconut noodle with chicken and cabbage. I had several servings of this dish. 

Last was Lamb Masala. Very large pieces of lamb and very tender, great flavor. Best Lamb Masala I have had. 

Did not order dessert as we were stuffed.  Total with tip came to $75. Not bad pricing considering what fast food goes for nowadays. 

Wine was very good.  A 2019 Provence Vineyards, Rutherford, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc. I did not have any of this wine as it is too acidic for me right now but the boys enjoyed it. 

A 2000 Longoria, Sta Rita Hills, Blind Faith Vineyards, Pinot Noir. Excellent wine. Could go a few more years. No flaws. Only issue is cork broke when opening but a filter was easily produced. CJ and I went in on this wine a few years back when Wine Country had it on sale for approximately $150. We split the cost. Wine was well worth it.

Seafood Cove 1 With The Boys

 Tuesday, July 2, 2024

It has been a busy few months for everyone. Between putting a house on the market, moving, vacations etc., this was the first chance to get together for lunch. Since we were trying out a few new restaurants we had not been to Seafood Cove in awhile. For a Tuesday the restaurant was very busy. Probably the holiday had some influence. Noticed that their live lobster tanks were packed and that the price had actually gone down a few dollars per pound. Still high an $27.99 a lb. put a bit cheaper. 

Started out with the sour, spicy soup. A restaurant standard. Only difference is the chef that day as to the spiciness. Today this was very good.

Then onto the entrees. I ordered the Salt & Pepper Fried Fish Filets. I needed to make sure there was something my stomach could tolerate if the other dishes vert too spicy. As always a very good tasting fish.

Next was Thai Style Scallops with Sauteed Green Beans. Scallops were very tender and dish had loads of flavor. Good Choice.

Last entree was Seafood Cove Chow Main Hong Kong Style. Crispy noodles, baby bok choy, carrots, water chestnuts, shrimp, pork and a very good sauce under the crispy noodles. 

Dessert was the house specialty. Green Bean Warm Tapioca. 

There were 3 bottles of wine brought. The Rose was half gone and the two reds only had a small amount taken out of each bottle. For some reason it was just not a drinking day. 

2022 Precision, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019 Tercero Aberration (Cinsault & Grenache) and a 2019  Francois Chidaine, Touraine, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Gamay Rose.  

Margie's Monthly Dinner at Taboon

 Saturday, May 4, 2024

Taboon Restaurant

Very small group for tonight's dinner. Only 7 of us.  Several people out of town, vacation etc.  But a nice, congenial group and very good wines.  We arrived close to 5:30 and I was very surprised to see the restaurant almost empty. I doubt that it was 25% capacity. Same when we left at 8:00. This is not the normal for Taboon.. Saturday nights it is usually at capacity.  Sign of the times. If the economy does not turn around somewhat we will be seeing a lot more restaurant closures. It is hard to stay open if you cannot make a profit. 

Margie was told corkage would be $10 but when the bills came it was listed at $15. I realize that restaurants make a lot of money on selling their own wines and when you bring your own wines in there should be a nominal fee. To me if the group brings in their own glasses, opens and pours their own wines and the wait staff does not need to provide any service in regards to your wines then a charge of $5 per bottle should be adequate. If the staff, opens, pours, provides glasses, etc  yes then charge your full corkage fee.   Restaurants buy wine at a 40% to 50% discount off of retail and then mark the wine up 2-1/2 to 3 times retail or more. At dinner we had 10 bottles of wine so that was $160 pure profit for them. My pet peeve at the moment. But maybe if it helped their bottom line for the evening it was a good donation. 

Everyone but me ordered appetizers and they did look good.  Large portions, to me a full meal. I will say the portions at Taboon are large and priced reasonably. 

I ordered the lamb chops for dinner and asked for rare which I got. The plate was loaded with 2 kinds of rice, salad, humus and a few other various items. A large plate full of food for $27. But - my lamb chops were so thin, I am sure they got 3 to 4 chops out of a regular cut. This is mainly an ethnic issue. I find it in almost every Middle Eastern restaurant. Probably because their meat in those countries is not as tender and flavorful as those in the US. Also not as plentiful. So they cook as their ancestors did. We are so spoiled here in the US

Wines were all good, I did taste most of them with about a one ounce pour. Did pass on the whites but did taste the bubblies.

I brought a 2009 Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Angeli which is their top rated Syrah, It was showing very nicely and paired well with the lamb chops.  Other wines brought were.

2012 Harmonique,  Anderson Valley, Bounty, Pinot Noir. I had never heard of this wine label and was quite surprised at how good the wine was. 

2009 Williams Seylem, RRV, Flax Vineyard, Pinot Noir. Good wine but not as good as it should have been. Seemed to lack something, not sure what since I only had a one ounce pour. 

2019 Far Nienete, Oakville, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon. A big bold cab.

2015 Peay Vineyards, Annapolis, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir. A nice clean Pinot.

2021 Domaine se L'enclos, Romain Et Damien Bouchard, Burgundy, France, Chablis - did not taste.

2017 LVE, Napa Nalley, Blanc de Blancs Sparkling - this was a new one for me also - I did like it and felt it was the best bubbly of the evening. 

2019 Schramsberg, Blanc de Blanc Brut - can never go wrong with this label. 

2021 Cantina Oramin Bianco, Italy - did not taste, a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

2012 Saxum, Paso Robles, Booker Vineyard, Red Blend. 73% Syrah and 27% Mouvedre - a typical Saxum wine, big and fruit forward. This wine is great by itself. No food required. 

Lunch with The Boys at Cafe Corleone

 April 16, 2024

Lunch at Cafe Corleone

Special treat today. CJ brought a 2001 Domenico Clerico, Percristina, Barolo. Because of its age he decided not to decant it. It was drinking very nicely on the first pour but really opened up after an hour. It probably could have been decanted at the table. This bottle was just at the start of going downhill. A slight copper halo but the taste was not compromised at all. A lot of sediment in the filter.  Wine opened up quite well after an hour. A bit of smoke, dark fruit and very smooth tannins. Good mouth feel from first to last. So glad that it was shared with us today. 

We started out with the traditional garlic bread, then onto a Spinach and Mozzarella baked dip.  Good flavors and the fresh spinach really shined in this dish.

A plate of Beef Ravioli with meat sauce. I did not have any of this dish because of the sauce. It did look good. 

Next was a plate of Rigatoni Barese.  Pasta with fresh broccoli and garlic with a white cream sauce. Had decent flavor with to me it was a bit on the bland side. I expected more with the garlic. And the cream sauce was thin. 

A plate of Tortellini Emiliana was next. This I really liked. Cheese stuffed tortellini with white cream sauce, fresh sweet peas, mushrooms and ham.  Sauce was a bit thicker on this dish.  Very good flavor. Really enjoyed this. 

Good food, good friends and great wine.