Margie's Monthly Dinner at Taboon

 Saturday, May 4, 2024

Taboon Restaurant

Very small group for tonight's dinner. Only 7 of us.  Several people out of town, vacation etc.  But a nice, congenial group and very good wines.  We arrived close to 5:30 and I was very surprised to see the restaurant almost empty. I doubt that it was 25% capacity. Same when we left at 8:00. This is not the normal for Taboon.. Saturday nights it is usually at capacity.  Sign of the times. If the economy does not turn around somewhat we will be seeing a lot more restaurant closures. It is hard to stay open if you cannot make a profit. 

Margie was told corkage would be $10 but when the bills came it was listed at $15. I realize that restaurants make a lot of money on selling their own wines and when you bring your own wines in there should be a nominal fee. To me if the group brings in their own glasses, opens and pours their own wines and the wait staff does not need to provide any service in regards to your wines then a charge of $5 per bottle should be adequate. If the staff, opens, pours, provides glasses, etc  yes then charge your full corkage fee.   Restaurants buy wine at a 40% to 50% discount off of retail and then mark the wine up 2-1/2 to 3 times retail or more. At dinner we had 10 bottles of wine so that was $160 pure profit for them. My pet peeve at the moment. But maybe if it helped their bottom line for the evening it was a good donation. 

Everyone but me ordered appetizers and they did look good.  Large portions, to me a full meal. I will say the portions at Taboon are large and priced reasonably. 

I ordered the lamb chops for dinner and asked for rare which I got. The plate was loaded with 2 kinds of rice, salad, humus and a few other various items. A large plate full of food for $27. But - my lamb chops were so thin, I am sure they got 3 to 4 chops out of a regular cut. This is mainly an ethnic issue. I find it in almost every Middle Eastern restaurant. Probably because their meat in those countries is not as tender and flavorful as those in the US. Also not as plentiful. So they cook as their ancestors did. We are so spoiled here in the US

Wines were all good, I did taste most of them with about a one ounce pour. Did pass on the whites but did taste the bubblies.

I brought a 2009 Stolpman, Ballard Canyon, Angeli which is their top rated Syrah, It was showing very nicely and paired well with the lamb chops.  Other wines brought were.

2012 Harmonique,  Anderson Valley, Bounty, Pinot Noir. I had never heard of this wine label and was quite surprised at how good the wine was. 

2009 Williams Seylem, RRV, Flax Vineyard, Pinot Noir. Good wine but not as good as it should have been. Seemed to lack something, not sure what since I only had a one ounce pour. 

2019 Far Nienete, Oakville, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon. A big bold cab.

2015 Peay Vineyards, Annapolis, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir. A nice clean Pinot.

2021 Domaine se L'enclos, Romain Et Damien Bouchard, Burgundy, France, Chablis - did not taste.

2017 LVE, Napa Nalley, Blanc de Blancs Sparkling - this was a new one for me also - I did like it and felt it was the best bubbly of the evening. 

2019 Schramsberg, Blanc de Blanc Brut - can never go wrong with this label. 

2021 Cantina Oramin Bianco, Italy - did not taste, a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

2012 Saxum, Paso Robles, Booker Vineyard, Red Blend. 73% Syrah and 27% Mouvedre - a typical Saxum wine, big and fruit forward. This wine is great by itself. No food required. 

Lunch with The Boys at Cafe Corleone

 April 16, 2024

Lunch at Cafe Corleone

Special treat today. CJ brought a 2001 Domenico Clerico, Percristina, Barolo. Because of its age he decided not to decant it. It was drinking very nicely on the first pour but really opened up after an hour. It probably could have been decanted at the table. This bottle was just at the start of going downhill. A slight copper halo but the taste was not compromised at all. A lot of sediment in the filter.  Wine opened up quite well after an hour. A bit of smoke, dark fruit and very smooth tannins. Good mouth feel from first to last. So glad that it was shared with us today. 

We started out with the traditional garlic bread, then onto a Spinach and Mozzarella baked dip.  Good flavors and the fresh spinach really shined in this dish.

A plate of Beef Ravioli with meat sauce. I did not have any of this dish because of the sauce. It did look good. 

Next was a plate of Rigatoni Barese.  Pasta with fresh broccoli and garlic with a white cream sauce. Had decent flavor with to me it was a bit on the bland side. I expected more with the garlic. And the cream sauce was thin. 

A plate of Tortellini Emiliana was next. This I really liked. Cheese stuffed tortellini with white cream sauce, fresh sweet peas, mushrooms and ham.  Sauce was a bit thicker on this dish.  Very good flavor. Really enjoyed this. 

Good food, good friends and great wine.

Lunch At The Black Trumpet

 Friday, March 29, 2024

Have not been to the Black Trumpet since it moved from their location on Beach Blvd. 8 years ago. Tapa style bar and restaurant.  Much larger place than before. I am assuming they fill the place up but at 12:30 on a Friday afternoon it was sparse.  But it is also Easter weekend so that could be a factor.

There are 4 of us today.  Extensive menu and blackboard specials. More than 2 items confuse me so I told my companions to order and I would work around their choices. 

Started out with Patalas Panaderas which are a Spanish style of fried potatoes.  They were OK but not stellar. 

Next was fried, crispy calamari, Rings and tentacles. Again OK but not stellar. I found the rings to be on the skimpy side and not much to them.  Mostly batter. Came with an Arrabiata sauce. 

Seared Ahi on a chip. OK but the Ahi did not impress. Nothing wrong but nothing great.

We had a Pizzette Margherita, this was the best of the food items. Very flavorful. Nice small pieces but you got a mouthful of flavor. 

A tray of dessert items was presented. A plate of "dumplings" were ordered. Soft fried pieces of dough filled with a creamy, cheesy mixture. Again OK.  I had a piece of Chocolate "cake". Hard shell chocolate over several layers of cake with a cream filling between. An oversize petit four.  It was good but should have not ordered it after a meal. Way too much for me. 

A bottom of a Spanish red wine was consumed. Cannot remember the varietal but it was a good wine.

A bit of a disappointment as I remember the food at the other location being much better. But it also could be that since I have this digestive issue things do not taste the same to me.  If I had been doing the ordering I would have chosen different but I opted out of that so it is on me.  A nice lunch with friends. 

Unfortunately something really disagreed with me today and I paid the price for a couple of days. 

Sea Smoke Southing Magnum Dinner at The India Restaurant

 March 23, 3024

The India Restaurant

CJ donated the wines for tonight's dinner. A 2007, 2009 and 2010 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir. All magnums. 9 of us for this dinner.  I personally thought the 07 and 09 were very close in structure and taste. The 09 seemed to be a bit more elegant but not by much.  Everyone must have liked the 09 best as it was the first bottle emptied.  The 2010 lacked depth. It was good but you kept waiting for something that never came. But an excellent showing of Sea Smoke. Different years and different winemakers. 

Started out with a few appetizers.  Papadam with sauces.  This is an item I avoid. Just cannot get into it, so I never eat it.  To me it is eating thin cardboard. But that is a personal preference Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala Sauce and Chicken Tandoori along with the must have Garlic Naan.  I had a Samosas, which were very good along with the Naan. but no Masala sauce. Also did not eat any of the chicken. It did look good but I am so burned out on chicken. I cook it 2 to 3 times a week at home and just cannot bring myself to eat it when dining out. 

Main dishes started arriving.  Navratan Korma which is vegetables in a yogurt cream sauce. This dish was very good. Sauce was excellent.

Chicken Tikka Masala.  Did not taste - again it is chicken. Maybe next time it shows up on a dinner I will be over my distaste for chicken when dining out. 

Lamb Saag. Pieces of lamb in a spinach curry. Excellent dish. Meat was very tender and had very good flavor. Would have liked a bit more meat in ratio to the sauce. It was serving 4 to5 people so a bit skimpy on the meat especially when I was not eating any of the chicken. But that is on me. 

Also the traditional Basmati Rice which taste like nothing until you add the sauces etc. That goes for all plain rice. It is a filler. 

A very enjoyable evening. Talked with people that I had not seen in a very long time. Good conversation, good food and excellent wine. What more is there ? 

Dinner at Baci

 Saturday, February 10, 2024

Baci Restaurant

Another one of Margie's Monthly Wine Dinners. at Baci Italian Restaurant. Been a couple of years since we have been to Baci. Attended by 17 hungry and thirsty people. A larger group as the restaurant had not limit on the amount of people that could attend.  Seated in the back dining area away from the main area with the bar and entertainment. 

I ordered the Mushroom Risotto. It was OK but nothing overly exciting. I felt the amount of mushrooms was skimpy since they were the "protein" for the dish and for the price. Did not have any appys or dessert. Still have issues with the amount of food I can consume at a time. At least the weight is staying off. 

17 people 20 wines. And most were empty bottles by nights end. I did taste numerous ones but since this posting is late I can't remember them all and what I liked or disliked about them. So if no comment after name of wine means I just can't remember if I tasted it or not. I brought a 2019 Laccento, di Castagnole Montferrato, Italy, Ruche. For a less expensive, $25, wine I thought it was showing quite well.  Someone must have liked it as there was none left to take home.

NV Launois Le Mesnil Sur Oger, France, Valentine Brut Rose - very good

NV Europa, Vienza, Italy, Prosecco

2017 Freemark Abbey, Napa Valler, Cabernet Sauvignon - good wine

NV Mionette, Valdobbiadeve Superiore DOCG, Brut Procescco

2022 Daou, Adeladia District, Paso Robles, Reserve Rose

2022 Elena Watch, Tramin, Italy, Lagrein

2017 Husch, Anderson Valley, Late Harvest Gewurztraminer - did not taste

2018 Castoro Cellars, Paso Robles. Whate Rock Vineyards, Primitivo - did not taste

2013 Williams Selyem, Russian River, Papera Vineyards, Zinfandel

2017 Beringer, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Monteverro, Italy, Vermintino

2021 O'Connell, Russian River Valley, Pratt Vineyard-Irwin lake, Chardonnay - did not taste

2019 Marchesi Antinori. La Braccesca, Maggiarino, Vino Nobile di Montepulcino, DOCG< Toscano, Italy

???? Maraia, Maranzana, Piedmont, Italy, Barbera del Monferrito

???? Mezzacorona, Italy, Pinot Grigio -  did not taste

NV Mionette, Valdobbiadene, Italy, Prosecco

2020 Nals Margreido, Alto Adige, Italy, Sirmian, Pinot Blanc - did not taste

???? San Fekice IIL Grigio, Tuscany, Chianto Classico Reserva

2021 Vadiaperti Montefredine, Campania, Italy, Fiano de Avellino - interesting

Lunch at The Fresh Green Olive with the boys

 Tuesday.  March 12, 2024

Decided to try a Mediterranean restaurant next to Masala Waves.  The Fresh Green Olive. The owner was at one time affiliated with The Green Olive in Long Beach. Large open area with a side area for large parties. Clean and neat.  Music was a bit too loud for my taste and after awhile the "Mediterranean" beat got to me.  

We ordered a variety of small dishes to get an inkling of the quality of their food.  Hummus was very good.  Baba Ghanouj was also good and I am not an eggplant fan.  The Tabouli looked good but had too many ingredients that I cannot eat so I passed.

We had an order of Falafel. Not to my taste as it had way too much cilantro for me. It also was very salty. When the owner asked about it we told him the salt issue and he went back into the kitchen to check the mix.  Yes it was too salty he said. Two people added salt not knowing the other had. Thanked us for pointing it out to him.

We had two platters of meat. Gyro and Chicken Shawarma. Very small, thin slices but they were moist which was a good sign. So many middle eastern restaurants cremate their meat so it is so dry it becomes inedible to me. 

Rounded out the meal with pita chips and fresh pita bread.

Two bottles of wine were on the table. A 2014 Clos Pepe VS Pinot Noir which was showing exceptionally well and a 2021 Educated Guess, Oakville, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon which turned out to be surprisingly good for an inexpensive wine. 

Lunch With The Boys At Masala Waves

 Tuesday.  January 23, 2024

Masala Waves Restaurant

A new place to try today.  Indian and Nepalese food.  After checking out online we decided to try because they had Yak, Goat and Lamb on the menu. Menu did not disappoint. 

Started off with a bowl of Lenil Soup - I personally am not into lentils and the spice in the soup was not  for me either. My dining companions did like it.

Then on to Vegetable Momo's.  Dough was tender and the vegetable filling was good.  But again a dish I would not order on my own. Obviously some spice I am not getting my taste buds around,

Next appetizer was Spinach Naan Dip. Naan bread with a spinach cheesey filling. This dish was very good. We decided we liked it much better than plain Naan. A definite keeper. 

Main dishes for us were the Yak Chow Mein and the Lamb Korma. Lamb was tender and had good flavor but for me the Yak Chow Mein was a winner. Yak meat was very tender and flavorful. Chow Mein noodles were al dente and really good flavor. A very good dish. So good I took another order of it home. 

We opened two wines today. a 2013 Sojurn , Wohler Vineyards, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir and a 2014 Samsara, Las Hermanas Vineyards, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir.  Both very good. The Sojurn was a bit more complex. Interesting comparisons between the two. Different areas and climates. But also very similar.