Grgich Wines at Arte Cafe

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Taking advantage of these wine dinners before the country gets shut down (except for politicians who feel they are special). Grgich wines tonight. Mike Grgich is still kicking. In his late 90's. His wines are always good except for Chardonnay which is a bit too oaky for me. But that is a personal preference. Seated outdoors in the fenced area. Band came into play close to the end which was good since they where set up just on the other side of the fence right by our table. Started out with a Kale salad with apples, cranberries, goat cheese, seared ahi and a pine nut vinaigrette. Very good, loads of flavor. I ate the whole thing. Paired with a 2017 Grgich Fume Blanc. Good pairing and a really nice wine. Up next was a plate of scallop. summer corn, Nueske bacon, lentils and corn puree. Good flavors but I am not a fan on lentils, ate a few spoonfuls of them but that was it. A 2017 Chardonnay was the wine selection. Tasted OK with the food but it was a bit too oaky for me. Third course is a Crispy skin Oro Salmon with bouillabaisse broth and herbal oils. Unfortunately my salmon was over cooked, which us rare for Richard to do. Even in the broth it was dry. Good flavor in the broth. Others at the table said thier's was cooked perfectly. Just not my day I guess. A 2016 Merlot was poured. Nice Merlot and paired very well with bthe salmon. Main is a Chateaubriand with Pommes Puree, Ratatouille and veal demi. I was served ends cuts of the beef. That should never be sent from the kitchen to a diner paying full price. One of the people at my table likes the ends so we traded plates. That meat had excellent flavor and was cooked to just a medium rare. The wine is a 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon. Nocde pairing. Dessert is a White Choicolate Mousse with Walnut Dust. Interesting. light and decadent. They poured a dessert wine which was Violetta., Good dinner, but have had much beter at Arte Cafe. Good company and a very enjoyable evening.

Issara Restaurant for Margie's Monthly Dinners

Saturday, November 7, 2020 Issara in Huntington Beach was our destination tonight. A very highly rated Thai restaurant. Orange County has allowed in house dining for a few weeks now. So we got lucky that the weather took a turn to rain and wind and we did not have to dine outside tonight. There were 12 of us and they broke us up to tables of 4. A bit close but not bad. None of us have had Covid or been around anyone that has it. A bit dicey but not too much. There are several of us old folks that have health issues but I am not hibernating forever. I try to be careful but not paranoid. Everyone ordered their own dinners off the limited menu. So a wide variety of food. I ordered the "Wings" which are really good as an appetizer. We got soup, salad, white rice, a choice of brown rice or shrimp fried rice along with our entree. I had ordered the Crying Tiger steak. After the wings and soup I was full. So the entire meal came home with me for tomorrows lunch. Two of the best wines tonight were the 2018 Penner-Ash, Zena Crown Vineyard, Pinot Noir and the 2010 Roar, Santa Lucia Highlands, Pinot Noir. There were 7 white wines (overkill), 2 Rose's and 7 reds. I only tasted the Rose's and a couple of the whites. A few reds but most of the wine I did not get to taste. A homemade wine, 2019 Beetlejuice, Cabernet Sauvignon was interesting. Good balance and nice fruit but will not hold for too long. I also liked the 2017 Enroute, Les Pommiers, RRV, Pinot Noir. The balance of the wines are as follows. 2018 Buscador, Chenin Blanc, 2019 Dr. Heidemann's Riesling, 2017 Tobin James Chardonnay, 2014 Danseier, Syrah, 2018 Draj Chenin Blanc, NV Chateau St. Jean Sparkling Rose, 2017 Navarro, Gewurztraminer, 2017 Loring, Pinot Noir, 2017 Fess Parker, Viognier, 2018 Donnhof Rieslng and a 2007 Sea Smoke Southing, Pinot Noir.

Halloween at CJ's

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 This year because of Covid CJ is breaking up the invites to see his Halloween display into small groups. 3 tonight. We brought the food and CJ provided the wines. As usual the diorama was great. He has so many pieces that he cannot set up all at one time. Really like his witch on a broomstick circling above in front of the full moon on the back drop. I suggested he move his furnture around and have two large long tables set up. CJ opened a Gruet Cuvee 89 Rose which was very good. 2009 Sea Smoke Southing, Pinot Noir, good by not great and a 2004 Chimney Rock, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine was spectacular. Not a big cab fan but this really hit all notes. So maybe next year will be Covid free and CJ can go back and do his big production at Halloween.

Williams Selyem Wine Tasting

Saturday, October 17, 2020 Started with 8 people and ended with 5. Illnesses taking its toll. At least it wasn't Covid. Everyone brought their own entree and the host supplied all the sides and appetizers. I brought a boneless rib eye and the host did grill it perfectly. He had sides of risotto, not cooked well at all, a dish he called Paella which was not Paella but just rice with a few veggies and not sure if I saw any seafood in it at all. The roasted beets were good along with the brussel sprouts. Both I suspect came from a takeout because of the containers. And everything was luke warm. An appetizer plate fared better. Ahi Tuna, Shrimp, 3 cheeses and a dollop of loster to put into your lobster bisque soup. Soup was close to being cold. Instead of trying to impress people with the number of dishes people should remember less is less but better. A 2008 Veuve Cliquot Grande Dame Brut was poured. Very good. We had 5 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir wines tonight. My favorite was the 2011 Peay Vineyard. Disappointed in the 2009 Precious Mountian. Could be bottle variation because this vineyard is usually one the of best. Rounding out the line up was a 2012 Russian River Vineyard, 2010 Flax Vineyard, Russian River Valley, and a 2012 Sonoma County. Goods wines. mediocre food but great company.

Prisoner Wine Dinner at Arte Cafe

Friday, October 16, 2020 Birthday dinner for Douglas at Arte Cafe. He brought a bottle of Bailly Lepierre Reserve Brut to share his celebration. We started out with Unshackled Rose. Decent wine. Nothing exciting. But did pair well with the salad. Smoked Yellowtail and strawberry with greens and a great honeyed balsamic vinegar reduction. Would never had thought to combine fish and strawberries but it worked out well. Second course was Mussels in lemon garlic butter with a nice piece of garlic toast. Paired with Prisoner Chardonnay. Not the best chard I have had. Very acidic. It did improve slightly with the mussels. A Unshackled Red Blend was poured next. It was OK. Paired with a Pork Tenderloin with orange blossom honey mustard, rice pilaf and grilled zucchini. Perfectly cooked. Loads of flavor. Entree is a braised Short Rib with smashed potatoes and braised bok choy. Again a very tasty dish. Wine was a Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon. Again OK but nothing special. A bit disappointed in the wines tonight Dessert is a Green Tea Ice Cream with Straaberries. A perfect end to a meal. Good food, mediocre wines. But at $59 it is still a bargain.