Annual Christmas Soirée

 Saturday, December 2022

My annual Christmas get together tonight. Was not sure when I made plans the first of the year if it would pan out after my accident. Did not get my Christmas tree nor the house decorated this year but party went off as scheduled.  It did lift my spirits a lot to have the group in. 12 of us tonight. Same group every year. Very compatible. Some people I had not seen since 2021's party. It has been a slow recovery and not much socialization. It was so good to see them again. Only one missing and he was babysitting his grandson. 

I put out shrimp, smoked salmon, mini meatballs, cheese, dip and other small nibblies. A charcuterie board was brought by Tim & Maria and CJ made Samosas. Greg brought seared Ahi.  Big hit of the evening was the two pizzas Stan and Karen brought from Domino's. So simple but so good, Handmade dipped chocolates from Bob, Panettone from Kelly & Dimitry along with chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries which were to die for and cookies from Marc & Judy. A feast board. 

A lot of wine for us to choose from bubblies to port. The two Terravox wines from Missouri I put out was to be able to open and taste. They were drinkable but not stellar. But I needed the 16 different grape varietals that were in them. I now have 582 grape varietals tasted. (we all have our quirks) A Lemoncello was brought but not opened. In the freezer waiting for the next martini night. 

NV   Gruet, Blanc de Noirs

NV   Domaine Allimant-Laugner,  Cremant d'Alsace

2012 Moet & Chandon, Champagne, Grand Vintage

2020 Peake Ranch, Chardonnay

2002 Chateau St Jean, Sonoma, Cinq Cepages

2010 Elio Grasso, Italy, Barolo

2012 Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Angeli

2016 INum Cellars, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

???? Kistler, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir

2016 Longoria, SBC, Blues Cuvee

2020 Terravox, Missouri, Chateauneuf du Platte

1991 Croft, Portugal, Vintage Porto

2016 Terravox, Missouri, Norton Report

Dim Sun Lunch With The Boys at Seafood Cove # 2

 Tuesday, November 29

We had a hankering for Dim Sum so off to Seafood Cove # 2.  Which is in the heart of Little Saigon. # 1 does not serve Dim Sum but the rest of the menu is the same.

We arrived at 11:00 and the place was half filled. Seems they start serving Dim Sum at 8:30 am. Large dining area on second floor. Parking was a nightmare. They did have an elevator (dirty)  so that helped me a lot.

All of the food was good and Henry said it was on par with the Dim Sum places in the San Gabriel Valley area which is heavy Asian population.

We started out with Siu Mai which is a shrimp, pork and vegetable steamed dumpling. Then on to Har Gow which is shrimp and vegetables wrapped in a thin, translucent dough and steamed.

Then came Black Mushroom Sui Mai, pork ribs, and steamed BBQ pork dumplings.  Highlight for me was the Turnip cake. Henry explained how it is made and it seemed like a long process. But it was really good.   Egg tarts for dessert. These tarts had a heavier crust than the one we got at Duong Son when it was open. 

I brought a 2015 Lando, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir which was showing very well. Other wines were a 2020 Daou, Cabernet Sauvignon. Nice wine but a bit too young and a Gruet Cuvee 89 sparkling Rose. The Rose went very well with the Dim Sum.

On the way out I noticed a small freezer with a translucent lid that had bags of frozen dumplings in it.  Next time I plan on buying a bag. Also had small containers of sauces.

Lamb Dinner at The India Restaurant

 Saturday, November 12, 2022

Eight of us tonight for a Lamb dinner planned by CJ months ago.  Finally came to be.. The India Restaurant in Artesia which is also known as "Little India" because of the numbers of Indian people in the area .Loads of shops, restaurants etc., Very unique area.  We will be back in January for another dinner. 

Table was loaded with wine bottles and glasses. Most of us had 4 wine glasses in front of us. CJ had the food sent out in 3 different timelines. Made the table easier to navigate. Even then I know I missed tasting a couple of the dishes. 

For appetizers we had Onion Bhaji which is onions floured and deep fried. Also Tawa Aloo. Pan roasted potatoes with Indian masalas. This dish had quite a bite to it but the dry Gewurztraminer was the perfect wine to pair with this dish.

6 more dishes along with garlic Naan and rice rounded out the selections.

Lamb Skeekh Kabab.

Lamb Garlic Masala - sauteed with tomatoes, green onions and garlic in a brown curry.

Saag Paneer - house made cheese cooked in spinach with herbs and spices.

Lamb Keema Masala - ground lamb with spices, onions, ginger, garlic, tomatoes and cilantro.

Rogan Rosh - boneless lamb cooked in a yogurt based sauce with kashmiri herbs in Muguali style.

Navratan Korma - assorted fresh vegetables cooked in yogurt cream and mild spices.

Everything was cooked on the mild side. There was nothing I tasted that I did not like. All the wines brought went well with the food. People did a really good job of pairing. A lot of thought on their part.

2012 Saxum, James Berry Vineyard. Blend of Grenache, Mouvedre, Syrah and Counaise.

2011 Rochioli, RRV, Pinot Noir

2010 La Croix de Boyd-Cantenac, Margaux

???? Hirsch, Reserve, Pinot Noir

2012 Private, Syrah Reserve from India

2020 Tercero, The Outlier, dry Gewurztraminer

???? Dovecote, Syrah

2018 Optimist, Sanguis. Blend of Syrah, Grenache and Petit Verdot

NV   E, Guigal, Cote-Rotie

NV   Veuve Cliquot, Rose Champagne

2012 Revelation, Champagne, 100% Pinot Meunier

Lunch at Cali-Chilli

 Monday. November 7, 2022

Impromptu lunch today. Had a dental appointment and CJ who drove me decided to walk around the area while he waited for me. Just around the corner from the dental office was a restaurant we have been wanting to try since it opened.

Cali-Chilli, a Mexican-Indian restaurant run by a Michelin star rated chef. Small restaurant with a really nice bar set up. Some tables are bar height and others normal height. A couple of booths at the front with big windows. Very subtle colors. Very nice in color selections. 

We ordered 3 dishes and a garlic-chive Naan bread.

Crispy calamari rings with crispy French green beans. Came with a lime aioli sauce. Subtle spices in the crunchy batter. Took the leftovers home and hours later they were still crunchy. Good flavor.

7 Spice crispy chicken wings. 6 wings to an order. Excellent flavors, Crunchy skin and very moist meat. A real winner. 

Tandoori mushrooms. Large button mushrooms that had a very slightly blackened skin form the Tandoori over.  Another winner.

Prices averaged about $20 per dish. A tad bit high but excellent quality so I have no problem with the pricing. We did not order any drinks this time. Wine menu was on the mediocre side.  They do have a full bar now so I would like to try a few of their specialty cocktails.   Corkage is $20 so when we go back, we will bring our own wine. 

I have an idea that this is not a menu that you would ask for substitutions. They had a large menu so anyone should be able to find something that they would like.

Not sure of the parking. Restaurant is located in a small neighborhood shopping area. There are a few lots available, but I do not know if this restaurant has availability to them. There is street parking and we lucked out to be able to park right in front. But on a Monday at 1:00 I would suspect is an off day and time. 

Can't wait to go back and try a few more new dishes.

Impromptu Lunch With The Boys at Seafood Cove # 1

 September 27, 2022

Spur of the moment lunch today with the guys.  Have graduated from the wheelchair to the walker which made it easier to transport me.   We all seemed to be hungry today so no leftovers. We devoured everything.

Hot Sour Soup - was thicker than normal but good flavor.

Salt and Pepper Fish Filet - very good, Light , crunchy batter and very good white fish.

Calamari House Special. Deep fried pieces of calamari with a light sauce and peppers. 

Beef Chow Fun. Pieces of flank steak seared in a extremely hot wok with wide, flat noodles Thai Style and sauce.  A bit dry today.

 Dessert was a warm Tapioca with dates and seaweed. 

Still not drinking but had a taste of the two wines

2015 Maison Rosier, Blanquet de Limo, Sparkling.

2019 Spyglass. Monterey. Pinot Noir

Lunch With The Boys, Seafood Cove # 1

 September 15, 2022

Great to be back doing lunches with the guys. CJ picked me up. Still in wheelchair. I wanted to pick upm the tab for today's lunch in appreciation for all the help Hanry and CJ have given me during this long recovery from the accident.  So I decided it was going to be lobster. With prices soaring in today's market this would be a real treat. 

Started out with the Hot Spicy soup. Always has a tendency to be different depending on the chef that day.

Seafood Cove cooks lobster about 6 different ways. We chose the scallion, ginger version today. Lobster comes out on a platter already cut in serving size pieces. Exceptionally good. 

Also had a dish of green beans with minced pork and basil.  Sliced, fresh oranges for dessert.

While we were eating the restaurant got in their shipment of fresh, live lobsters for the weekend crowd. They have numerous tanks for them.  

I still am not drinking but did have about a half ounce of each wine. The Sau Blanc was exceptional.

2018 Hands of Time, Sonoma County, Pinot Noir

2015 Jules Taylor. Marborough, Sauvignon Blanc.

Margies Monthly Dinner at Kings Fish House

 September 7, 2022

My first dinner out since my auto accident in June. Still in wheelchair but friend picked me up and took me. It was very beneficial to get out and socialize again.  18 people attended dinner tonight. We had a private room at the restaurant which made the accommodations nice. 

My appetite is still not up to par and since I contacted Covid in the nursing home by taste has dissipated. I had a grilled artichoke and a bowl of clam chowder for dinner. 

Lots of wine on the table. I did not taste any. Still waiting to get my balance issues taken care of before I start tasting again.

2017 Luciga Crochet, Sancerre, France, Rose Bue

2020 Dry Creek Vineyard, Clarksburg, Dry Chenin Blanc

2020 Seghesio Family Vineyards, Sonoma County, Zinfandel

NV   Piper Heidsieck, France, Brut Champagne

2020 Albino Armani, Colle Ara, Pinot Grigio

2020 Premier Cru, Chardonnay-Chablis

2020 Pomar Junction. Paso Robles, Viognier

2016 Tucamadera, Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah

2021 Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley, Sparkling Rose

2021 Robert Mondavi, Stag Leaps District, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc

2020 Fess Parker, SBC, Riesling

2017 Calera, Mt. Harlan, de Villiers Vineyard, Hollister, Pinot Noir

2019 Stolpman, Santa Ynez Valley, Sangiovese

2018 Chapin, Converson

2010 Opolo, Paso Robles, Zinfandel

2020 Broken Earth, Albarino

2019 Stanford, SRH, Chardonnay

2020 Vionta, Roias Baixas, Spain, Albarino

2019 Forefathers, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Muldebosch, South Africa, Cabernet Sauvignon Rose