Sunday, September 11, 2011
Spaghettini's in Seal Beach is running a special on Sunday night. Half off their pasta dishes, no corkage or 50% of their wine list up to $100.
Eight of us decided to try this. Turned out much better than expected and we will be going back.
7 of us ordered the pasta dishes and one ordered halibut. No complaints were heard. I had the pasta shells with seafood and a chardonnay cream sauce. Loaded with seafood and 3 very large scallops.Excellent dish. It went well with my 2008 Clos Pepe Chardonnay. I ate half and boxed it up for dinner on Monday night. I also had a side of spinach, artichoke heats and olives. GOOD.
I ordered a cheese plate for dessert since I brought a Port. Plate was brought out and had a whole wheel of Brie cut in half with honey drizzled on it. Who wants to eat all of the same kind of cheese. Cheese plates are supposed to have variety. After discussions with the waiter on what a cheese plate should be I finally ended up with a plate with 3 cheeses, nuts, dried fruits and toast. They serve Maytag blue cheese with their salads so I cannot understand why it was not on the plate. The website indicated honeycomb. I got drizzled honey - not the same.. A restaurant of this caliber and the do not know how to make a cheese plate. The first plate out was ridiculous.
Wines were really good tonight. NV Pommery Brut, NV Francois Chidaine Montlouis Sur Loire Brut, 2008 Clos Pepe Chardonnay, 2009 Palmini Arneis, 2009 Patricia Greene Aita Pinot Noir, 2005 Parris Sangiovese, 2006 Villa de Ceggialno Chianti Classico Reserva, 2006 Coro Graniano, 2008 Huber Dornfelder Hafen (port), a white dessert wine that did not get on my list. I must have missed some wines because the count does not add to the people. I brought 3 wines. Paul & Margie brought at least 2, maybe 3. There was a Sauvignon Blanc on the table but I did not get the information on it.
This was a good dinner for the price. With no corkage it made it great. This is a definite go back to on Sunday night. A little noisy even in the back room where we were. Seated at a long table so it was hard to have conversation with other than the ones on both sides and across from you. This might be a better place for 6 people not 8. We did have a good time and everyone was impressed with what we got for the money.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Can't Get Enough Chinese
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
A quick, inpromtu dinner tonight at The Seafood Palace. Small table just 4 of us and it turned out great. Everyone brought really good wines
Maybe 30 days to the opening of the new Duong Son restaurant. Perhaps we will get another quick last minute dinner in at the Seafood Palace before then.
Wines brought tonight were, NV Francois Chidaine Montlouis Sur Loire Brut, 2004 Ca Crois Domaine Robert Demogente Pouilly Fuisse, 2006 Testarossa Garys Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2006 Roar Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir and a 2007 Frank Family Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. There were some back up wines but we did not need to open any of them.
Started out with Shrimp with Broccoli and cooked Oysters with Chives and Ginger. These dishes are a staple with us. Always fresh and good.
This was followed by a Tofu and Daikon Radish soup. Interesting comes to mind. The tofu is a harder consistency than the fried tofu we have. Probably so it does not break down in the broth. The radish did not have that much of a flavor. More texture. Would I order this myself ? No. I ate it but I prefer the spicy/sour soup they make.
Then came out a fresh, whole, red fish, steamed. Flesh was excellent and sauce outstanding. Henry took the head and I took the tail. I would have this dish again. It is only good for small groups because of the size. More than 4 people and there would be several additional fish needed.
Next was beef with soft noodles and bok choy followed by Fungus with string pork. The pork dish was different. I think I like the spicy pork dish better or maybe it was the fact that I was really full by now and the dish add a disadvantage being last.
Dessert was honeydew melon. Always refreshing to have something very light after a heavy meal.
Could not have asked for better food.Wines were excellent and the company great. We closed the place.
A quick, inpromtu dinner tonight at The Seafood Palace. Small table just 4 of us and it turned out great. Everyone brought really good wines
Maybe 30 days to the opening of the new Duong Son restaurant. Perhaps we will get another quick last minute dinner in at the Seafood Palace before then.
Wines brought tonight were, NV Francois Chidaine Montlouis Sur Loire Brut, 2004 Ca Crois Domaine Robert Demogente Pouilly Fuisse, 2006 Testarossa Garys Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2006 Roar Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir and a 2007 Frank Family Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. There were some back up wines but we did not need to open any of them.
Started out with Shrimp with Broccoli and cooked Oysters with Chives and Ginger. These dishes are a staple with us. Always fresh and good.
This was followed by a Tofu and Daikon Radish soup. Interesting comes to mind. The tofu is a harder consistency than the fried tofu we have. Probably so it does not break down in the broth. The radish did not have that much of a flavor. More texture. Would I order this myself ? No. I ate it but I prefer the spicy/sour soup they make.
Then came out a fresh, whole, red fish, steamed. Flesh was excellent and sauce outstanding. Henry took the head and I took the tail. I would have this dish again. It is only good for small groups because of the size. More than 4 people and there would be several additional fish needed.
Next was beef with soft noodles and bok choy followed by Fungus with string pork. The pork dish was different. I think I like the spicy pork dish better or maybe it was the fact that I was really full by now and the dish add a disadvantage being last.
Dessert was honeydew melon. Always refreshing to have something very light after a heavy meal.
Could not have asked for better food.Wines were excellent and the company great. We closed the place.
Monday, September 5, 2011
German Wine Dinner at Delius
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Wine Country in Signal Hill and Rudi Wiest Imports co-hosted a German wine dinner this evening at Delius Restaurant. The dining room was booked with a waiting list of 18. hey even had 6 people in the Wine cellar room for the dinner.
Toby and I sat at the table with Randy from the Wine Country and Nancy from Rudi Wiest Imports. Even though they circulated the room talking with people when you sit at their table you get a lot more information.
We started out with a glass of 2009 Von Buhl Riesling Brut Sket, Pfalz. This was a nice dry wine with just a touch of sweetness. Pleasant enough for me to buy some.
First Course: Smoked Salmon with Red Onion, Cucumber, Micro Herbs and Cream Cheese Foam - The salmon was smoked in house that morning. This was a really good dish and paired extremely well with a 2009 Ziiliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinnett, Saar. The cream cheese foam was thick and held its texture. I feel it was my favorite of the night as far as pairing well. Also this was the only dish of the evening that had micro greens on it. Past dinners have had almost all the dishes enhanced the "micros" and it was starting to get old.
Second Course: Braised Pork Belly with Spicy Green Papaya, Cliantro, Mint and Yuzu Gelle. As for the meat itself I like the pork belly and on the appetizer menu in the dining area better. I feel it is much more tender. This pork was good but not quite the same. The "salsa" that it was served with was superb. The wine paring was a 2007 Von Hovel Oberemmler Hutte Riesling Spatlese, Saar. Again and excellent pairing.
Third Course: Duck Breast with Duck Confit-Swiss Chard Terrine, Beet Gelee and Crispy Fried Beets. I thought the Terrine was the showcase of this dish. The breast was good but the Terrine really stood on its own. Add the crispy beets added just the right touch. We were served a 2009 Becker Estate Pinot Noir. Again a good pairing. The German Pinots are not big so they tend to go very well with food.
Fourth Course: Roasted Lamb Loin with Sweet Potato Spaetzle, Braised Cabbage and Lamb Jus. Wine was a 2008 Salwey Red Wine Blend, "16 Degrees", Baden, a Pinot and St. Laurent Blend. I did not taste this dish at the dinner. If I wanted dessert I would have to forgo something. I had Fred pack the plate up before it even got to me. I ate it the next day and it was excellent. Especially the Sweet Potato Spaetzle. I did drink the wine without food. It was my least favorite of the night. I got a strange, odd taste in my mouth from it. Perhaps it would have been better with the food. But that is not what I did. So it would be hard for me the venture an opinion.
Dessert: Black Forest Cake, - dark chocolate cake with cherry gelee and caramelized white chocolate foam. Delius has a new pastry chef so it will interesting to see what comes out of the kitchen in the next few months.
I did purchase the sparkling and the 2 Rieslings. I felt they were the best wines of the evening. Dinner again was excellent. A couple of minor things that personally for me weren't there. But I would do it again with no complaints. Rieslings are underrated wines in the United States. A lot of people consider them "sweet" but the run from very dry to very sweet with a lot of levels in between. Excellent food wines.
The Wine Country in Signal Hill and Rudi Wiest Imports co-hosted a German wine dinner this evening at Delius Restaurant. The dining room was booked with a waiting list of 18. hey even had 6 people in the Wine cellar room for the dinner.
Toby and I sat at the table with Randy from the Wine Country and Nancy from Rudi Wiest Imports. Even though they circulated the room talking with people when you sit at their table you get a lot more information.
We started out with a glass of 2009 Von Buhl Riesling Brut Sket, Pfalz. This was a nice dry wine with just a touch of sweetness. Pleasant enough for me to buy some.
First Course: Smoked Salmon with Red Onion, Cucumber, Micro Herbs and Cream Cheese Foam - The salmon was smoked in house that morning. This was a really good dish and paired extremely well with a 2009 Ziiliken Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinnett, Saar. The cream cheese foam was thick and held its texture. I feel it was my favorite of the night as far as pairing well. Also this was the only dish of the evening that had micro greens on it. Past dinners have had almost all the dishes enhanced the "micros" and it was starting to get old.
Second Course: Braised Pork Belly with Spicy Green Papaya, Cliantro, Mint and Yuzu Gelle. As for the meat itself I like the pork belly and on the appetizer menu in the dining area better. I feel it is much more tender. This pork was good but not quite the same. The "salsa" that it was served with was superb. The wine paring was a 2007 Von Hovel Oberemmler Hutte Riesling Spatlese, Saar. Again and excellent pairing.
Third Course: Duck Breast with Duck Confit-Swiss Chard Terrine, Beet Gelee and Crispy Fried Beets. I thought the Terrine was the showcase of this dish. The breast was good but the Terrine really stood on its own. Add the crispy beets added just the right touch. We were served a 2009 Becker Estate Pinot Noir. Again a good pairing. The German Pinots are not big so they tend to go very well with food.
Fourth Course: Roasted Lamb Loin with Sweet Potato Spaetzle, Braised Cabbage and Lamb Jus. Wine was a 2008 Salwey Red Wine Blend, "16 Degrees", Baden, a Pinot and St. Laurent Blend. I did not taste this dish at the dinner. If I wanted dessert I would have to forgo something. I had Fred pack the plate up before it even got to me. I ate it the next day and it was excellent. Especially the Sweet Potato Spaetzle. I did drink the wine without food. It was my least favorite of the night. I got a strange, odd taste in my mouth from it. Perhaps it would have been better with the food. But that is not what I did. So it would be hard for me the venture an opinion.
Dessert: Black Forest Cake, - dark chocolate cake with cherry gelee and caramelized white chocolate foam. Delius has a new pastry chef so it will interesting to see what comes out of the kitchen in the next few months.
I did purchase the sparkling and the 2 Rieslings. I felt they were the best wines of the evening. Dinner again was excellent. A couple of minor things that personally for me weren't there. But I would do it again with no complaints. Rieslings are underrated wines in the United States. A lot of people consider them "sweet" but the run from very dry to very sweet with a lot of levels in between. Excellent food wines.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
August Gathering of The Flock
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Our monthly meeting the "winos" was held today. Normally it would be on a Sunday but a few people like to host on Saturdays. Their choice but the attendance is usually down on Saturdays.
The host made a brisket and grilled corn on the cob. Corn was good. Barbara brought baked beans which were excellent. Need to get the recipe for those. Henry brought a Tofu, Tomato and pork dish which was quite good.
Today's theme was Zinfandels and Pinot based Rose's Sparklings and Champagnes. The weather today was mild for August. Usually I roast at Doug's but today was quite pleasant and I did taste all the wines. I do not do well in hot weather with heavy red wines.
A couple of the wines I really enjoyed were the 2010 Domaine Phillippe Gilbert, Monetou-Salon from the Loire. and the 2007 Gambia Old Vines, Russian River Valley Zinfandel.
On to next months gathering.
Our monthly meeting the "winos" was held today. Normally it would be on a Sunday but a few people like to host on Saturdays. Their choice but the attendance is usually down on Saturdays.
The host made a brisket and grilled corn on the cob. Corn was good. Barbara brought baked beans which were excellent. Need to get the recipe for those. Henry brought a Tofu, Tomato and pork dish which was quite good.
Today's theme was Zinfandels and Pinot based Rose's Sparklings and Champagnes. The weather today was mild for August. Usually I roast at Doug's but today was quite pleasant and I did taste all the wines. I do not do well in hot weather with heavy red wines.
A couple of the wines I really enjoyed were the 2010 Domaine Phillippe Gilbert, Monetou-Salon from the Loire. and the 2007 Gambia Old Vines, Russian River Valley Zinfandel.
On to next months gathering.
Weekend in the Sta Rita Hills - Futures Tasting at The Clos
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Today was the futures tasting and release party at Clos Pepe. Bash started at 11:00 so we had "Breakfast" pizzas from the wood burning oven, along with fresh fruit and homemade cookies. Tasted the "Library" wines from 1999 on up and all the 2010 barrel tastings. Looks like another great year for Clos Pepe. Picked up my wines I ordered last year. Placed my order for the 2010 and ate and drank again. What a weekend.
Jan & Bob had to leave early so they could not attend. Clyde & Libby went as my guests. CJ & John came up this morning for the event.
Left the Clos and went into Santa Ynez to pick up wine at Stolpman Vineyards. They produce excellent Rhone varietals along with Sangiovese. One of my favorite wineries. Tasted at Tecero and bough a few wines there. On the way out I stopped at Buttonwood but they were completely sold out of their peaches. They have some of the best peaches I have ever tasted.
I was supposed to go to dinner with CJ & John at AJ Spurs but by time I got back to my room in Lompoc I was to tired to dive back 20 plus miles to Buellton to eat dinner. Wish we could have stopped on the way out of the area for dinner. It would have worked better for me. Clyde & Libby and I want back to the Jalama restaurant and had dinner. By this time I was so wined out I had a Blue Moon beer instead.
Need to get some rest as I will be getting up early on Monday and driving back. Bringing back 11 cases of wine. Glad to say 7 of them are for other people. 4 cases is bad enough and I have absolutely no room for storing them now.
Great weekend. A lot of fun. Very tiring but I would do it again
Today was the futures tasting and release party at Clos Pepe. Bash started at 11:00 so we had "Breakfast" pizzas from the wood burning oven, along with fresh fruit and homemade cookies. Tasted the "Library" wines from 1999 on up and all the 2010 barrel tastings. Looks like another great year for Clos Pepe. Picked up my wines I ordered last year. Placed my order for the 2010 and ate and drank again. What a weekend.
Jan & Bob had to leave early so they could not attend. Clyde & Libby went as my guests. CJ & John came up this morning for the event.
Left the Clos and went into Santa Ynez to pick up wine at Stolpman Vineyards. They produce excellent Rhone varietals along with Sangiovese. One of my favorite wineries. Tasted at Tecero and bough a few wines there. On the way out I stopped at Buttonwood but they were completely sold out of their peaches. They have some of the best peaches I have ever tasted.
I was supposed to go to dinner with CJ & John at AJ Spurs but by time I got back to my room in Lompoc I was to tired to dive back 20 plus miles to Buellton to eat dinner. Wish we could have stopped on the way out of the area for dinner. It would have worked better for me. Clyde & Libby and I want back to the Jalama restaurant and had dinner. By this time I was so wined out I had a Blue Moon beer instead.
Need to get some rest as I will be getting up early on Monday and driving back. Bringing back 11 cases of wine. Glad to say 7 of them are for other people. 4 cases is bad enough and I have absolutely no room for storing them now.
Great weekend. A lot of fun. Very tiring but I would do it again
Weekend In The Sta Rita Hills - Wine & Fire
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Hit the Wine Ghetto in Lompoc before heading over to the La Purisima Mission for the big wine bash this afternoon. This is put on by the Sta Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance. Tasted at several tastings rooms (free tastings if you had the passport). Lots of good wine being made in the area. Worth a look at. Closer to home than Napa and Sonoma. Went to lunch with friends in Lompoc and then headed out to the Mission for more food and wine. All the Pinot producers in the area were there. Even a few from the Santa Ynez area who buy Pinot grapes from the Sta Rita Hills producers.
Ran into several people I knew. Everyone loves to come out to this event. It did not disappoint . Food was abundant. Great barbecue. Whole roasted pig, great ribs, beautiful beef sliders shrimp tacos. roasted duck. Lots and lots of wine. 30 Wineries pouring their juice.
They had a silent auction which it seemed most people did not know about. I bid and won 4 items.
This has been a long day. Great but tiring.
Weekend in the Sta Rita Hills -Dinner at The Clos
Friday, August 12, 2011
Looking forward to this big, busy weekend. Dinner at the Clos at 6:00 on Friday. Glad I left work at 11:00am. It took me 4 and half hours to make the drive to Buellton. 3 accidents and 3 road closures. I had planed on making a couple of stops on my way into Lompoc but those would have to wait. Had enough time to check in and get ready to leave for dinner.
Clos Pepe has not had a dinner in a few years so I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. We started out with appetizers pizzas in the courtyard (most people would say patio but not at the size of this one). They have a woodburning pizza over built in and those pizzas were really flying out. New West Catering was again in charge and they are really good. And these pizzas are not ordinary. Epoisses (cheese) with Summer Truffle. (lets hope Frankie got her fill of truffles). Dandelion, Pancetta & Quail Egg. Carmelized Onion, Gorgonzola Dolce and Arugula. Sheep's Milk Ricotta with La Quercia Prociutto and Bone Marrow, Rapini with Fontina. These were all washed down with the 2009 Clos Pepe Rose of Pinot Noir.
Just before we entered the house for dinner they passed around a Roasted Peach - Chardonnay popsicle to cleanse the palate. This was Divine. Apparently very easy to make. Roasted peaches, chardonnay wine and some sugar - cook to reduce and freeze.
As in years passed the house was filled with tables in different rooms. I sat at a table set up on Cathy Pepe's office. Cathy and her son Rob were seated there also. The hosts all sit at different tables so to mingle with their guests. The table in the office was set for 10 people. 60 wines glass were on the table also. It really sparkled and glimmered when you went in. Very festive. If you figure 50 people in attendance that would be 300 glasses on the tables that night.
We started out with "Kumamoto Oysters with Avocado, Sea Urchin and Steelhead Roe" (caviar). Wines with this dish were the 2009 and 2005 Clos Pepe Homage to Chablis Chardonnay.
Second course was"Crispy Duroc Pork Belly with Chanterelles and Flageolets" (beans). Served with 2009 Clos Pepe Estate Vigneron Select Pinot Noir and a 2009 Loring Wine Company Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Third course was "Smoke Roasted Wild Antelope with Duck Fat Fries, Blackberries and Thyme". Wines poured were the 2006 Clos Pepe Estate Vigneron Select Pinot Noir and 2005 Loring Wine Company Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Fourth course was a cheese plate. San Andreas, La Tur, & Fourme D'Ambert with Honeycomb, Sweet Butter and baguette. Again more wine. 2008 Axis Mundi Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Syrah and 2008 Loring Wine Company Divergence (Mouvedre/Caberent).
Dessert plate was filled with Brown Butter Peach Ice Cream Sandwich, Lemon Raspberry Tart and Salted Caramel Truffle. This was served with Wes' Home Roasted Coffee - Costa Rica San Martin de Leon Cortes. The coffee smelled wonderful but I cannot drink it anymore.
Dinner as always was excellent. My only "flaw" would be the pork belly - good but not up to Delius ' pork belly (which is the best I have ever had).
People at the table I sat with were all great. Good conversation. Great food and wine. Beautiful surroundings. Perfect evening.
Looking forward to this big, busy weekend. Dinner at the Clos at 6:00 on Friday. Glad I left work at 11:00am. It took me 4 and half hours to make the drive to Buellton. 3 accidents and 3 road closures. I had planed on making a couple of stops on my way into Lompoc but those would have to wait. Had enough time to check in and get ready to leave for dinner.
Clos Pepe has not had a dinner in a few years so I was really looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. We started out with appetizers pizzas in the courtyard (most people would say patio but not at the size of this one). They have a woodburning pizza over built in and those pizzas were really flying out. New West Catering was again in charge and they are really good. And these pizzas are not ordinary. Epoisses (cheese) with Summer Truffle. (lets hope Frankie got her fill of truffles). Dandelion, Pancetta & Quail Egg. Carmelized Onion, Gorgonzola Dolce and Arugula. Sheep's Milk Ricotta with La Quercia Prociutto and Bone Marrow, Rapini with Fontina. These were all washed down with the 2009 Clos Pepe Rose of Pinot Noir.
Just before we entered the house for dinner they passed around a Roasted Peach - Chardonnay popsicle to cleanse the palate. This was Divine. Apparently very easy to make. Roasted peaches, chardonnay wine and some sugar - cook to reduce and freeze.
As in years passed the house was filled with tables in different rooms. I sat at a table set up on Cathy Pepe's office. Cathy and her son Rob were seated there also. The hosts all sit at different tables so to mingle with their guests. The table in the office was set for 10 people. 60 wines glass were on the table also. It really sparkled and glimmered when you went in. Very festive. If you figure 50 people in attendance that would be 300 glasses on the tables that night.
We started out with "Kumamoto Oysters with Avocado, Sea Urchin and Steelhead Roe" (caviar). Wines with this dish were the 2009 and 2005 Clos Pepe Homage to Chablis Chardonnay.
Second course was"Crispy Duroc Pork Belly with Chanterelles and Flageolets" (beans). Served with 2009 Clos Pepe Estate Vigneron Select Pinot Noir and a 2009 Loring Wine Company Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Third course was "Smoke Roasted Wild Antelope with Duck Fat Fries, Blackberries and Thyme". Wines poured were the 2006 Clos Pepe Estate Vigneron Select Pinot Noir and 2005 Loring Wine Company Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Fourth course was a cheese plate. San Andreas, La Tur, & Fourme D'Ambert with Honeycomb, Sweet Butter and baguette. Again more wine. 2008 Axis Mundi Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Syrah and 2008 Loring Wine Company Divergence (Mouvedre/Caberent).
Dessert plate was filled with Brown Butter Peach Ice Cream Sandwich, Lemon Raspberry Tart and Salted Caramel Truffle. This was served with Wes' Home Roasted Coffee - Costa Rica San Martin de Leon Cortes. The coffee smelled wonderful but I cannot drink it anymore.
Dinner as always was excellent. My only "flaw" would be the pork belly - good but not up to Delius ' pork belly (which is the best I have ever had).
People at the table I sat with were all great. Good conversation. Great food and wine. Beautiful surroundings. Perfect evening.
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