Margie's Monthly Dinner at Buon Gusto

 Buon Gusto

Wednesday,  October 18, 2023

12 of us tonight for dinner.  We were seated on the outside patio. It was a pleasant evening, cool but not chilled.  The servings at Buon Gusto are huge. You can eat for 2 days off of the leftovers.  I ordered the Oso Buco with Fettuccini that came with meat sauce. Still too much tomato for my issues. Ate the meat and took all the pasta home. There are plates of large oblong rolls on the table. These are not warm so I will pass on them. Don't need all the carbs and calories anyway. But if they had been hot I would have devoured at least one of them. Ordered Pistachio Gelato for dessert. Again a huge portion. I did leave some in the bowl. Buon Gusto has a very extensive menu and the food is good. I will not call it great but it is good and no one walks out without leftovers.

Interesting list of wines. Margie asked everyone for Italian wines. She got a very mixed bag tonight. I tasted 2 bubblies and 1 white. Big mistake Not a pleasant night for me. Should have stuck entirely with reds. 

I brought a Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Angeli which is a Syrah. Grapes picked from the best area and vines in the vineyard. Showing very well.

NV   Launois. Le Mesnil Sur Oger, France, Champagne - small pour very good

NV   Santa Margarita, Italy,Vino Spumante Rose Brit sparkling. small pour very good

2021 Fratelli Alessandria Pinsoit, Italy, Langhe Nebbiolo - did not taste

2021 Gorgona Costa Toscana Firenze, Italy, Frescobaldi - interesting wine

2013 Bodkin, Rogers Family Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma - Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2014 Fattoria di Bagnolo, Italia, Frienze, Chianti Reserve - did not taste

2021 Selvanova La Corda di Luna, Tere de Voltuno, Campania, Italia - did not taste

2020 Belle Glos, Sonoma County, Oeil de Perdin, Blanc de Noir - did not taste

2016 Curran, Rancho La Vina, Pinot Noir - always a winner

2016 Curran, Santa Barbara County, Tempranillo - did not taste

2018 Dewitt Vineyard, Amador County, Barbera - did not taste

2021 DeMonteverro, Toscano, Italy, Vermentino - did not taste

2014 J. Lohr, Suite E Cuvee - did not taste

2014 J. Lohr, Carls Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon - did not taste

2021 Trefethen, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, Chardonnay - did not taste

Lunch at The Himalayan Grille

 Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Himalayan Grille at Peters Landing

Decided to tr the Himalayan again after an absence of several years.  Peters Landing went through several years of renovation and ownership change of the restaurant also.   They did not go back into their original suite but moved back to the area where the boats dock. A much more laid back place now.  Pros and Cons on this. 

We started out with Chicken Momo. I have had this dish numerous times, but this version did not do it for me. I didn't even finish one piece. 

I did like the Chicken Lollipops. Nice, crunchy and flavorful.  Ate without the sauce. Way too spicy for me.

The Rogan Josh  (lamb) was very good, sauce was excellent. I would have liked the lamb to be a bit more tender, but I have found certain cultures overcook their meats. It is their thing not mine but when I am eating in their territory, I am the one that has to adjust. 

The Garlic Naan was very good. Soft and garlicky.  Better than the old Himalayan.   

We decided that we will be going back to the Himalayan

We had two bottles of wine today. Corkage is $9.99 for 2. Odd but.  A 2019 Simi Sonoma County, Cabernet Sauvignon. Better than I thought it would be because of it being young. Very drinkable. I brought a 2013 Clos Pape, Sta, Rita Hills, Dark Side, Pinot Noir. Drinking exceptionally well. 

Very enjoyable afternoon. Great weather and it was nice to sit inside and still be close to all the boats.

Margie's Monthly Dinner at King's Fish House

 Wednesday,  September 13, 2023

16 of us tonight for dinner at King's Fish House in Huntington Beach. 3 no shows (I would be irritated to no end if it was my gathering).  We were in a side room with no other patrons. Just our noisy group. 16 people, 19 wines does not make for silence.  All of King's restaurants are a no corkage establishments. Makes the total bill palatable. 

Margie made a comment to the group that it was getting harder to book at restaurants for Saturdays because our group takes a lot of time taking up tables and they like to turn over fast on weekends.   Personally I like the weekdays. Restaurants don't seem to rush you. Very few people in the group work so that is not an issue and those few who do work do not seem to have an issue with weekdays.  

I am still watching what I eat so I opted for plain food. Grilled Chilean Sea Bass with spinach and mashed potatoes.  Fish was excellent, moist and delicate.  Others ordered everything from lobster to fish and chips. 

I only had tastes of a small number of wines.  I brought a 2013 Lando, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir. Drinking really well.

2022 Clos Henri, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc - did not taste

2018 Foley, Alexander Valley, Merlot - did not taste

NV Banshee 10 Cups of Coffee, Brut sparking - did not taste

2016 Rios-Lovell, Livermore, Orange Muscat - did not taste

2016 Alexana, Dundee Hills, Riesling - did not taste

2022 Abecela, Umpqua Valley, Albarino - did not taste

NV, Pine Ridge, Ceres, Sparkling Chenin Blanc - did not taste

2016 Merry Edwards, RRV, Coopersmith, Pinot Noir - excellent wine

2021 Albiho Armani, "Orange From The Basement" Pinot Grigio - did not taste

2019 Leoness Cellars, Temecula Valley, Mouverdre - did not taste

2021 Bizkaiko,  Spain, Txakolina  -  did not taste

2021 Kolfox, Austria, Gruner Veltliner - did not taste

2022 Schug, Carneros, White Burgundy - did not taste

2019 Smith Story, Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley, Pinot Noir - did not taste

2008 Avenel Cellars, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon - nice wine

2018 Dehlinger, Pinot Noir - did not taste

2021 Peroncelli, Dry Creek Valley, Rose of Zinfandel - did not taste

2008 La Brun, De Neuville, Millesime, France Champagne - showed so much better than the last bottle of same - very good

Lunch at Downtown Disneyland

 Friday, September 1, 2023

10 of us converged on Downtown Disneyland today to have lunch at Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. We all know the floor manager and decided to grace him with our presence.  It has been years since I have been to this area in Disney. Friends picked me up and I took the wheelchair. because of the walk.  Parking lot was huge, all the handicapped were taken but we did luck out and get a space close to the entrance side of the lot. It was about a 8 minute walk to get to the entrance. Big changes. Security.  Bags and purses are searched and you have to go through a metal detector.  How sad times have become.

We arrived at the restaurant and were seated. Others showed up quickly except for one person who was parked in the same lot but much further away from the entrance and was a bit lost.  Eventually they arrived at the restaurant. 

I ordered a sandwich with a deep fried chicken patty. Had them leave off the chow chow and put the sauces to the side. Served with fries.  It was OK but without the sauces, which were spicy it was a bit bland.   Since this is a New Orleans Creole style restaurant, I did not have many choices.  Everyone's food looked good. Prices were a bit on the higher side.

We got a tour by Dave of the restaurant and private rooms. Big upstairs area and rooms for private events. Upstairs looked a bit classier than downstairs.  I would assume that there would not be too many screaming kids upstairs.   When we returned to our table there were benights for us on the house. 

Downtown Disney was packed as afar I was concerned but the parking lot was only half full. Hate to see it when the lot is full. Most kids and a lot of adults had "mouse ears" or were in costumes.  Seems like there were only a few venues to attend besides food related.  There was a large "Lego" building which you could enter and play with Legos and I am assuming buy, buy, buy. Also a bowling alley called Splitsville, 4 lanes on ground floor and 12 lanes upstairs.  Did not venture past that area so I have no idea what else is there.  But did find out Porto's Bakery is going to be opening a place there. 

Dave did indicate that management was looking at the idea of hosting winemaker dinners.  They used to have them at Napa Rose and Catal (which is gone)  but no longer. You can buy glasses and bottles of wine but no winemaker dinners now. 

I doubt if I would go back on my own. If someone drove I might for a winemaker dinner but not to just "hang" at Downtown Disney. I am getting too old for that.

Lunch at Seafood Cove # 1

 Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Back to our old favorite. Seafood Cove # 1.  Posters featuring food items on the wall show the rise in prices of food over the past year. Lobster $30 a pound. Peking Duck $45 for the whole duck dish.  

We started out with the customary Sour Spicy soup. I actually ate the entire serving of it. Then onto the entrees.

Salt and Pepper Fried White Fish Fillets. We ordered mild. Fish was very fresh, moist and sweet.  A perfect dish for me.

Beef Chow Fun. Different chef from last time. The pieces of beef were much larger and not overcooked. Served with the Thai style wide noodles.

Pork Peking Style. Pieces of pork with the bone, deep fried and a spicy sauce. This dish I did not try. Did not want to push my luck. Maybe next time. I have had it in the past and really like it but have a tendency to eat too much of it because it is so good. 

Rounded out lunch with a dessert of warm Green Bean Tapioca with Dried Dates and Seaweed.  Interesting and good.

3 bottles of wine today.  

2003 Roth Estate, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon. Very low keyed and mellow. Light weight Cab. Drinking quite well.

2013 Tercero, Larner Vineyard, Grenache.  Typical grenache, always good from the Larner Vineyard. Showing quite well. I have leftovers for the rest of the week.

Michael David, Petite Petit from Lodi Always an interesting wine. Petite Syrah and Petite Verdot. Went well with the food. 

Lunch With The Boys at My House

 August 01, 2023

 Lunch was at my house with takeout from Olive Pit.  We ordered Kabob plates, lamb,  chicken and steak along with sides of grilled mushrooms, grilled artichoke hearts, green beans with stewed tomatoes, roasted potatoes, hummus and naan.  Have eaten at the Olive Pit numerous times but this time the food we picked up was not up to par.  Ordered the meat medium and it was well done, A few pieces were actually burnt on the ends. Void of flavor.. I was so disappointed that I posted on Yelp. 

I opened a 2013 Kosta Brown Sonona Coast Pinot which was drinking quite well.

A bit different today but very pleasant.

Lunch at Cafe Corleone

 June 29, 2023

3 of us today at a small family owned restaurant in Paramount. Cafe Coreleone. My first time and I was impressed by the quality of the food. At least to look at it. Still have issues so no marinara sauces for me. But they were homemade and had a terrific smell. Would have loved to try but knew better. My dining companions had Eggplant Parmesan, Pizza and Lasagna.  My choice was a beef sandwich which was very good. Can't wait to go back when I am "cured" so I can actually taste and savor the food. House gave us canneloni's for dessert which were house made and exceptionally good.  Cage Coreleone is not fancy just a family "joint" but it was voted one of the top new restaurants in Los Angeles.  A definite place to return to.

Two wines were brought. a Assolati Sangiovese and a Seghesio Sangiovese. Had a small taste of each one. Both were very good.