Recon at Baba Ghanouj

Since the next dinner in February for Margie's Wine Activity will be at Baba Ghanouj we decided to do another recon to check out a few more food dishes before she makes her final decision on the menu. The owner of Baba used to have the Sahara restaurant in Belmont Shore years ago. The great thing about this place along with the food is there is no corkage.

Started out with Cheese Borek. Cheese wrapped in dough and deep fried. I liked this a lot. We also had Feta Mix, which consisted of Feta, onions, tomatoes, garlic and olive oil. Served with pita chips. This had a good fresh , clean taste.

We tried two soups. A Lentil soup and a white bean soup.  The white bean soup had much more flavor than the lentil. It was very good.

Then on to two main dishes. Kibbi be Sineeya, which was ground lamb with cracked wheat and pinenuts, baked and served with Basmati rice, Tabouli and Yogurt. Flavor was good, a little dry but that is what the yogurt is for. I have found most middle eastern meats are on the dry side.

Next main dish was Chicken Shawarma. Marinated, grilled, very thin chicken strips with tomato and parsley. Had very good flavor. This meat mixture would be great in a pita sandwich.

Of course we had rice, yogurt, hummus, tabouli and tahini along with grilled peppers and tomatoes. Did not seem to be heavy on vegetables aside from those added as garnishes. 

Since there was only 3 of us we did not need a huge selection of wine. Margie and Paul brought a 2012 Lloyd (Napa), Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir. I had never heard of this label and was interested to know what vineyards in the Sta Rita Hills they sourced from. Contacted Wes Hagen from Clos Pepe and he had never heard of Lloyd. So I will have to do a bit more research.

I brought a NV Robert Moncuit Grand Cru Champagne. This has become my favorite champagne for the price. At $45 its a real winner.

First Dim Sum of 2015

Friday. January 2, 2015

Seven of us today to welcome in the new year with Dim Sum. I thought the Seafood Palace would be really busy like last week but they only had one side of the dining area open. Henry said that Saturday it would be packed.

We started out with the minced shrimp and roe wrapped in seaweed and deep fried. Again like last week the rolls were smaller than before. Maybe its a food cost thing.


Next came a tin of steamed pork ribs in black bean sauce and a tin of beef tripe. Tripe has no flavor so for most people who avoid it , it becomes a textural thing. I can take it or leave it.

Baked BBQ pork buns appeared along with the Lotus leaf wrapped sticky rice with Chinese sausage. I really like the sticky rice. Its sweet along with having the spicy sausage and makes a good combination.

A big plate of Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce appeared. The sauce is not made with oysters but has a flavor similar. I find it quite pleasing. After the last few dishes it was nice to have some vegetables.

Shrimp with bok choy and thin egg noodles along with Salt & Pepper Calamari were served. Really like both of these dishes. The thin egg noddles were a change from my favorite noodles, the fat ones.

A spicy hot sour soup was served. It hit the spot because the restaurant was a tad cold. They did turn the heat on about this time so it helped.

Last dish was stir fry beef with fat noodles.

We had egg tarts and fortune cookies for dessert. There was no fortune in CJ's cookie so we decided he wasn't going to have much of a year.

We were going to do lobster today but it was not fresh. They did not have a delivery for several days because of the holiday and the bad weather.So maybe in a couple of weeks when we go back we can hit the seafood heavy. Lobster, calamari, scallops, whole deep fried white fish, oysters in black bean sauce. That is what we are looking at for next time.

Wines were an interesting mix. All good, some just a bit better that the others. My favorite was the Ken Brown. Marc opted for the Tontodi 

NV   Segura Viudas, Brut Cava
2006 Tontodi, Chianti Classico
2009 Sea Smoke Botella, Pinot Noir
2007 Sea Smoke Southing, Pinot Noir
2011 Sanford, La Rinconada, Chardonnay
2008 Ken Brown, Cargascchi, Pinot Noir ( excellent wine)
2008 McKeon Philips BPR, Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Dumol, Russian River, Pinot Noir

Thoughts for 2015

I decided to cut back my buying of wine and how many dinners, etc I attend in the year 2015. Some months in 2014 I ran myself ragged. As I am "past prime" it's time to cut back. I have enough wine to last whatever time I have left. According to my cardiologist, I will be dead next week, that is why he has me coming back in six months - go figure.

So as of January 1, 2015, I only have 2 brunches, 3 dinners and 2 wine events scheduled so far. LOL. Maybe I will have to go into cutting back slowly like my retirement from work.  Having 4 days off two weeks in a row really gets boring.

Holiday Brunch

Sunday, December 28, 2014

I did hold my holiday brunch this year. Last year was too much the the kitchen remodel. Kept the invite list to 25 maximum. Lost 5 people the day before to illness. Which made for a nice size group of people . Have decided that I am cutting down on the size of invites for anything this year.

My new criteria will be to include those whom I socialize with on a regular basis. Those that I only see a few times a year and especially those that never issue an invitation to me for anything will be excluded. It seems that there is a group of people that show up for everything that they are invited to but never reciprocate. Some of it it is the fact that I am single and not attached. Couples seem to only invite other couples, They have a problem not me. As my friend CJ stated maybe its time for us singles to only include other singles in our invites. I have known some of these people for over 12 years and have never seen the inside of their houses and have never been invited to anything by them. So a new philosophy for me this year.

I was not happy with two of the egg casseroles I made. Did not turn out well and too bready. One turned out great. But we had lots of ham for my Jewish friends and lots of chicken sausages for the Gentiles. There is always lots of food brought so no one went hungry. Did miss Margie's Biscuits and Gravy.

I always put out some cheap bubbly, after all you don't get Dom Perignon when you go to brunch. A few other bubblies showed up along with an assortment of wine.

NV   Tattinger Brut
NV   Schramsberg, Blanc de Noirs
NV   De Margene, A. Bouzy, Grand Cru Brut
NV   Sorelle Bronca, Proseco
1997 Justin, Isosceles
2005 Sequel, Columbia Valley, Shiraz
2007  "Private Label" Shiraz
2009 Bogle Phantom
2010 La Fenetre, A'Cote, Pinot Noir
2010 Thomas George, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir
2010 O.D. Vajra, Langhe, Nebbiolo
2011 Otto, Barbera D'Asti
2012 Anthill Farms, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir
2012 Casal Moro, Rosso, del Veneto
2014 Starborough., Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc

Dim Sum After Christmas

Friday, December 26, 2014

6 of us today at the Seafood Place for Dim Sum. This was originally scheduled to be lunch at Nayada. But due to a huge mix up 6 of us ended up going to the Seafood Palace instead. But our wines were outstanding which they would not have been going to Nayada with a larger group of people . We would not have brought the same wines.

We started out with Beef Tendons. This is a dish that you will either eat or pass up. A lot of people do not like the texture. But they were tender and had good flavor.

Next was the minced shrimp wrapped in seaweed and deep fried. I noticed that they were not as large as last time. Seemed to loose some flavor being smaller.

Sticky rice with Chinese sausage cooked inside a Lotus leaf was set in front of us. This is always an interesting dish, good flavor.

No Dim Sum is complete without Chau Shu. BBQ pork inside a baked bun.

A new dish for me came from the kitchen. Taro Root , battered and deep fried. Non-discript, not much flavor. OK dish but without much favor beside the mustard sauce.

Finally seafood showed up. Clams in garlic sauce with jalapenos and shrimp with bok choy and fat noodles. These two dishes are always good. Seafood is fresh as it should be. Two of my favorite dishes.

Beef with Chinese broccoli was next. We needed something for the red wines. Again always a good standby dish.

Last dish before dessert was brand new one and they can keep it. I will always try something once but I would never order this particular dish. They call it "A Protein Dish".  Pork blood tofu with tripe and Daikon radishes.  I like tripe but this whole dish did not cut it at all. Most people at the table felt the same way.

We finished off the meal with Egg tart Cantonese Style and Fortune Cookies.

Our wines were good and only two bottles had something left in them at the end of  the lunch. A nice get together after the holidays with good friends

NV Domaine J Laurent, Cremant, Brut de Limox

2008 Evening Land, Seven Springs Vineyard, La Source, Pinot Noir

2006 D'Arnenberg. Laughing Magpie, Shiraz

2012 Sanford, Sanford and Benedict, Chardonnay

2011 Pisano, Rio de Los Pajaros, Torrontes

2005 BV, Georges de La Tour, Private Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon

Greenfields

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Nine of us gathered tonight for Margie's "Fun Wine Activity" event for December at Greenfields Brazilian Steakhouse in Long Beach.  It has been several years since I was here and they seemed to have "cleaned" the place up.

After a trip to the extensive salad bar we started getting bombarded with the meats. All meat is brought to the table and carved table side. Several of the meats I did not try. It was way too much food for me. Big eaters are in heaven at this place.

Of the meats that I did try I preferred the rib eye, top sirloin and the skirt steak (which had the most flavor). The bacon wrapped turkey was flavorful and moist and the quail was good. I passed on the sausages, lamb and chicken.

I am still recovering from the creeping crud so I am not 100 %.  The meats were good but for the price I would prefer 555 East. I go for quality over quantity. But it was a a fun evening out and the big eaters in the crowd were happy

Wines brought tonight were 2003 Stolpman Angeli, took several hours for this wine to open. I should have decanted it. Bottle was almost empty before it started showing well.

2007 Dunham Cellars Syrah
2011 Tablas Creek Viognier
2012 Caymus 40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Saxon Brown, Duvell Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, Chardonnay
NV   Pommery Champagne, Reims, France
2011 Wiens-Chateau Grande Rouge, Temecula Valley
2010 Stolpman La Croce, Sangiovese/Syrah
2011 Stolpman Petite Syrah
2005 Domaine du Grand Ormeau, Pomerol

Cellar Room at Delius

Thursday, December 11, 2014
Once a year I have the opportunity to dine in the Cellar Room at Delius Restaurant, www.deliusrestaurant.com, for dinner at half price. This is a 10 course dinner that runs $95. I always ask 5 other people to join me, and try to do it around the holidays because of the festive mood.

We started off the a Charcuterie plate that and numerous cheeses, salamis, sausage,  olives,  hummus and olive tapenade. Along with  toasts. A nice start to the meal. All the ingredients were explained by the waiter but who can remember them all. We selected a 2012 Phillipe Rainbault Sancerre. Wine opened up nicely after it warmed up a little bit. Way to cold when first served. We originally ordered a Muscadat but it was not available,

Next was a seared Diver Scallop sitting in a pool of corn pudding. Sweet dish Scallop cooked perfectly.

Third was a salad with roasted beets, watercress, burrata and heirloom tomatoes. Good flavor but I personally can do without watercress - to bitter for me.

After quite a bit of "hassle" we ended up with a 2012 Sharecropper. Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir. recommended by Matt. Frankly it turned out to be the best wine of the evening. Took awhile to open up but it was quite nice. Only 2 Oregon Pinots on the wine list and they were out of both of them. Paul and Margie are big into Oregon Pinot Noir and they were a bit disappointed in the selection.

A farro, mushroom risotto with zucchini and duck confit was served. This was a very good dish but I have had this dish several times recently.

Biggest "bomb" of the evening was next. Calamari in Arribatta sauce. Way too spicy. 3 of is have acid reflux so it just did not sit well. Also it really did not flow with the rest of the meal. Too spicy for the wine and I feel it really screwed up a good meal. It had no place on this menu.

Terry ordered a bottle of 2011 Boucard, Pere and Fils, Gervey Chambertin. I was slightly disappointed in this wine. Most expensive of the evening but it was way to young.

Next dish was a red wine braised beef cheek with Salsify puree and quince . Tender and good flavor. The quince added the right touch.

A palate cleanser of Orange sorbet was served. The oranges are sourced from a tree at the back door of the restaurant. This was excellent. Had a very clean taste.

Main course was Hanger Steak with Gnocchi and broccolini. Good flavor, tender.

A cheese plate was served, again with various cheeses, dried fruits, nuts and grapes.

Dessert was Russian Cream with double ginger cookies. Their Russian cream is similar to Panacotta but much richer. They do not serve this as often as they used to. Which is too bad, Its rich, but light and I would rather have a small dish of this instead of a heavy dessert at the end of a heavy meal.

 I always let my "guests" choose the wine. I stay out of it but next year I may just go in several days early, pick out 3 to 4 bottles and make sure the restaurant has them in stock. That way everything is ready and we are not hassling back and forth over the wine list. Delius had gone to a "pad" instead of a book. It might be easier for them but I find it a real big pain. You can't remember where you were, what you saw or where the hell you saw it. Guess next best thing is to write things down as you see them so you don't forget. It also does not help when the restaurant is out of the wine you selected. Why can't they put a notation on the pad that the item is temporarily unavailable. Sure would save a lot of running back and forth and lot of frustration.

I have been sick most of this week so maybe some of my tastebuds are screwed and I am not in the best of moods. But I was disappointed in the wine and several of the food dishes. Nothing was on the level it should be. I also had a big problem with the table and chairs Way to big for the space . Chairs are huge with high backs. Hard to move, uncomfortable to sit in unless you are tall. So being uncomfortable all evening did not help my mood. I still have a screwed back several days later.

But we did have a good time And a pleasant evening out for the holidays. Maybe next year I will have the dinner a little earlier when the restaurant is not in such a flux of holiuday activity.