Birthday Dinner at Five Crowns

 Friday,  February 10, 2023

5 of us tonight for dinner celebrating 3 birthdays. Again the entire tab was picked up by one person. Extremely generous twice within 2 weeks.  Restaurant was packed, glad we had reservations. It has been over 20 years since I dined at Five Crowns. It is located in Corona Del Mar a good 35 to 40 minute drive along the coast highway. Our host had never been to Five Crowns. 

Five Crowns is part of Lawry's group of restaurant's and they specialize in Prime Rib.  But no silver cart here. Tables are way too close to wheel a large cart around so you can select your cut of beef.

I ordered the lamb chops. Double cut. Excellent flavor. But I ordered medium rare and they were on the rare side. Had issues at Ruth's Chris as those chops were close to medium well.  Came with two excellent sauces and carrots. The carrots were diced and barely cooked. This shouldn't happen. I could had sent the plate back but the restaurant was slammed tonight and it just was not worth the hassle. 

Did not order any wine with dinner. I am limiting myself to 2 to 3 ounces and need to stick with that until I get my gastric problems solved. 

The staff was excellent as far as going overboard on service. 

I was going to order Creme Brulee for dessert but they brought us a raspberry trifle cake with a candle on top.  It was good. 

A nice dinner but a bit on the disappointing side. Especially for the price they charge.  I still think 555 East is the best bet. 

Margies Monthly Wine Dinner at The Red Table

 Saturday, February 4, 2023

Red Table Restaurant

This was probably not the best dinner that I have attended since Margie started her monthly gigs. We had been to this restaurant several times before and I have eaten here numerous times myself.   The restaurant had moved the "red table" from the middle of the room to closer to the front entrance. Made it much nosier. Tonight the restaurant was full which added to the din. Service was slower and there was a big issue with the food. Several of the plates were cold to lukewarm.  I ordered lobster thermidor and half was warm and the other half cold. Have no idea why. It did not make sense. I told the waiter about the problem and also told him I wouldn't send it back. I felt sorry for him as he was over loaded. They seemed to be short staffed tonight. A bit chaotic. Hope they work it out since I had planned on being back this coming Saturday.  

We had 13 people at our table and the food came out piece meal. Nothing seemed to be coordinated.

The restaurant seemed to be cooler than normal. I had to keep my jacket on all night. We were close to the side door leading to the patio area and every time someone went out they did not close the door. CJ got up numerous times to shut it. 

17 wines tonight - way overkill. No way to taste them all much less have a glass of something. If you have 2 ounces of each wine to taste that would be 34 ounces - way over a bottle total. Almost a bottle and half.  I tasted only 5 as I still have some gastric issues. I have only made a comment of the few I did taste.

2017 Epiphancy, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley, Syrah

NV   Rose de Vigne Cremant de Bourgogone Brut, Fernand Cherot  - tasted but not for me

2021 Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc

2020 Corton-Perrieres, Grand Cru, Caveau (Burgundy) Red Wine - young but opened up nicely

2016 Doubleback, Walla Walla Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 En Garde Adamas, Diamond Mtn Dist., Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Denner, Paso Robles, Dirt Worshipper, Syrah

NV   Mumm, Sparkling Pinot Noir - always a good choice

2018 Long Meadow Ranch, Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir

2021 Monte Xanic Bodega Vinicola, Valle de Guadalipe, Chenin Blanc

2019 Shafer, One Point Five, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon

2020 Chateau St Michelle, Columbia Valley, Pinot Gris

NV   Chateau St Jean, Blanc De Noirs, Sparkling

2019 Sycamore Ranch, Paso Robles, Viognier

2018 Brander, Los Olivos Dist., Merlot

2012 Sinor-LaValle, Arroyo Grande Valley, Talley Ricon Vineyard, Pinot Noir - this is the wine I brought. - felt it was showing quite well

2019 Bergerie de L'Hortus, Pic Sant Loup, France, Rose - very good - went well with the lobster

Dinner at Ruth's Cris Steak House

 Tuesday. January 31, 2023

To celebrate Sunny's 75 again and again and again birthday she treated 7 of us to dinner at the new Ruth's Chris Steak House in Long Beach. They opened in August. No views except of the patio area which I am sure will be filled during the warmer months and some business way across Ocean Ave. Very corporate feeling to the restaurant. I felt we were in the dining room of an upscale hotel. Personnel dressed in all black.  We were seated by the very high windows so it was a bit on the chilled side and it didn't help to have the a/c outlet right above us.  The staff decorated the table for the birthday celebration which was a nice touch. Service was excellent. 

Food was very good as it always is at Ruth's Chris. All meat entrees came on very hot plates.  Most everyone ordered steak and the double steak at that. They were huge and people shared them between themselves.  I ordered the lamb chops. Very thick and large. Ordered the medium rare. They were served medium. I did not bother to return them. I did not get into the medium rare until close to the bone.  I noticed that all the steaks seemed to be a bit overcooked from what was ordered.  No one seemed to mind or notice but then several people were feeling no pain. Between the wine and martinis it was an interesting evening.  Everything is al la carte so I had an order of sauteed mushrooms.  The baked potatoes were very large and had several add ons. Aspargus, french fries and mashed potatoes rounded out the sides. 

Most people ordered the creme brulee for dessert. It was good. One person ordered the cheesecake. That was interesting. The graham cracker crust was made into a round bowl and filled with the cheesecake mixture. They said it was good but to me there was way too much crust. 

The person who ordered the wine was more interested in the price. Really did not know the labels. Ended up with a bottle of Sixty-Five and Broad. A Cabernet from Washington. I was not impressed. Also a bottle of Jabobs Creek Cabernet from Australia which turned out to be a far better wine but not stellar. Both of these wines were in the mid $50 range on the wine list and both retail for about $14 in a store.  But it didn't seem to matter that they were ordering Martinis that ranged from $14 to $17 each. 

A nice evening with friends I have not seen in several years. But for my money I will patronize 555 East for steaks. Like the atmosphere better. Feel far more comfortable and have never had meat not cooked the way I ordered it. Plus they have the artichokes. 

Sea Smoke Magnum Dinner at The India Restaurant

 Saturday, January 28, 2023

CJ sponsored this dinner. He has magnums of wine that need a crowd to share. This is the first of several dinners he plans on having to relieve his cellar of this big bottles.  The restaurant was packed all night long. Very popular in Little India area of Artesia. as the food is some of the best around. Eleven of us tonight.

I am still having digestion problems so I knew my selection of food would be very limited and I would need to watch my consumption of alcohol. Spicy and alcohol are top on the list of things to avoid.  

We started out with a couple of appetizers, Vegetable Samosas which are pastry stuffed with potatoes and green peas and then deep fried. I did eat one of these. It was very good. The other was Chicken Tandoori. White meat chicken marinated in yogurt, herbs and spices. I passed on this one. 

Next was Jeera Aloo. Sauteed potatoes with cumin seed, onion and tomatoes.  This I passed on. Others said it was very good.

Then a dish of Karahi Goshi which is diced boneless lamb cooked in spices with onion, bell pepper, ginger and garlic. I took one piece of lamb and had one bite. That was it for me. I knew my stomach was not going to be able to handle this one.

Chicken Tikka Masala was next. Boneless white met marinated in spices and yogurt, tandoored in a clay oven and served in a curry sauce This dish was very good, chicken was very tender and the sauce was tempered by the yogurt. I sopped up the sauce with Naan bread. 

Garlic Naan and Basmati Rice rounded out the meal. 

There were 4 magnum bottles of Sea Smoke, Southing, Pinot Noir, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. There were differences in opinions of what years were best, I personally liked the 2007 and 2010.  I had less than 2 ounces of each. And small pours of two champagnes.  Did not want to tempt problems.

Several Champagnes were on the table. Top for me was the 1998 Piper Heidsieck " Rare" Brut Millesime.  25 years old and was vibrant. Excellent bubby.

Also a Moet & Chandon, Ice Imperial. This champagne is specially made to be served over ice. A  Duval-Leroy, Brut Reserve.  There was another bottle of champagne on the table but I did not make a note of it. 

I found it difficult to take pictures tonight. Table was very long and the magnums are big bottles and hard to move around. I use pictures to remind me what we drank and the details of the bottle. Also the champagnes did not move down to my end of the table easily. A batch of hearty champagne drinkers at the other end of the table. A good dinner, glad to be able to attend.  Looking forward to the next one. 

Lunch at Irrawaddy, Taste of Burma Restaurant

 Friday, January 6, 2023

6 of us today for lunch. This is a new restaurant for me. Irrawaddy in Stanton. Have never tasted Burmese food before. Looking online is seems very similar to Indian but without the fire. Lot of coconut milk and tea leaves used along with loads of spices but not hot like Indian food.  Restaurant is very clean and well appointed.  So many "asian" restaurants are on the tacky side. Service was very good.

This will be a place where the boys and I go for a lunch soon. Corkage is $12. There was no wine at this  lunch but a few people had the Myanmar beer. 

All the dishes we had we shared. that way we got to taste numerous items.

Started out with Tea Leaf Salad. Very good, interesting flavors. They sell the mix in a jar for takeout. You just add your own greens etc.

Then onto Paratha with curry sauce. A pancake style fried bread, slightly sweet and a non spicy sauce. I really liked this dish. This would be a definite reorder for me.

Sauteed green beans with sweet onion, carrots and a light sauce came next. Beans are al dente and bright green. Good job in cooking and presentation. 

Next is the one dish I did not care for. Mint Leaf Chicken. Did not like the texture nor the flavor. Whatever spice they used was over whelming to me. 

The Chicken Masala was more to my liking. A bit different from what I am used to in Indian cooking. Nice blend of flavors but would have preferred to have boneless chicken. Wasn't keen about spitting small bones out of my mouth. 

The Sour Leaf Shrimp was interesting. Good flavors in the sauce. But not sure if I would order this again.  Not sure why but it just did not knock my socks off. 

Dessert was Fried Banana with Green Tea Ice Cream. Ice cream was exceptionally good.  Over the years I have OD'd on bananas and just do not like them anymore. The fried ones did look good as they seemed to be caramelized. 

A large menu and so many more items to try.

Lunch at Seafood Cove # 1

 Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Lunch today at Seafood Cove. We were supposed to go to Cali-Chilli on the 19th but I had a bad episode of GERD and had to cancel. This was a last minute decision today.

Place was packed. Almost all were Chinese. All 3 lobster tanks were virtually empty. I saw one lone lobster left. Christmas must have been extremely busy for them. No deliver until Friday. 

Started out with the House Sweet and Sour Soup with tasted very good to me.

Next was Hong Kong Style Crispy Noodles with Chicken, Shrimp, Calamari, Bamboo Shoots, Bok Choy and Carrots.

Followed by Beef with String Beans and Fried White Fish Fillet with Carrots, Baby Corn  Pea Pods and Mushrooms.

Apparently, I was having issues again with taste The fish tasted good along with the mushrooms and string beans. Nothing else.  I talked with several people I know that had Covid and developed taste issues. They are having the same thing. again. Not much tastes good. Seems we all want only salty or sweet. This issue  seems to come and go. Lasts a few hours or a few days. No rhyme or reason to it.

Two wines on the table.  A 2019 St. Huberts, The Stag, Paso Robles, Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2012 Trimbach, Alscae, France, Pinot Blanc. I had a very small taste of both wines and they tasted the same to me, off.  It was me not the wines.

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