Alpha Omega Winery

Alpha Omega is located in Rutherford, Ca in Napa Valley. I really loved this winery. We got special treatment which made our wine tasting experience for the weekend memorable. Upon Arrival our wine pourer took us on a tour to the inside barrel room where all the wines are tanked. She gave us in depth information on our wines and the history of the wines and wine makers.
This boutique winery had some of the best wines I have ever tasted. I am not a huge fan of Chardonnay wine but they had one of the best Chardonnay's I have every tasted. Wine Spectator gave this winery 96 points out of 100. I'd have to agree!! :-)

truett hurst winery

There is nothing better than going to a free wine tasting. I always recommend to lovely couples visiting Napa Valley to make sure they head over to the Sonoma side especially if you are on a budget. Majority of the wineries in Sonoma Valley are free.
Truett Hurst is located in the Dry Creek Valley.
Truett Hurst winery is picturesque and fun. Their complimentary cheeses and crackers were a nice touch to their wonderful wines. We really enjoyed their petite sirah selection.
As you can tell we had a wonderful time at this winery and hope that you find this beautiful place on the hidden path.

Topel Tasting Room

Topel Tasting Room is located in Healdsburg, Ca in the Healdsburg plaza. We decided to stop here before going to Mirepoix for our Valentines dinner. It was nice because it was a younger crowd and staff. Topel gave away complimentary sugar and chocolate cookies which was a nice touch. Most of their wines were Syrah's, cabernet's and pinot noirs.
I can't say that any of the wines were memorable or good enough for my taste to purchase. I did like one of the names of one of the wines, "Bird Song". I thought it was very elegant.

mirepoix-windsor, ca

Mirepoix is located in Windsor,California. Mirepoix was recommended to me by my wedding planner. I asked her for something romantic and cozy. Mirepoix is a house and has limited seating which I very much appreciated. I didn't want the hustle and bustle of a huge Valentines crowd and waiting forever for service. Mirepoix's restaurant is a mirror image of how I would want my restaurant to be, 8 tables or less and a small bar area for great wine. Unfortunately I wasn't impressed with the wine. I tried two different wines and they were disastrous. I noticed the chefs were drinking a bottle of rose. So I asked the waitress if that were available to drink and she said that they were finishing it because the previous guest didn't like it.
My one recommendation is to find a sommelier because their wine selection does not match the menu.
Mirepoix's prix fixe menu consisted of oxtail soup with beet foam, foie gras, duck, scallops and all the wonderful rich organic foods that wine valley has to offer.
My favorite was the dessert, rose water creme brulee. There was a perfect balance between the custard and the rose water. The rose water was not over powering and made the dessert feel light and beautiful. Everyone pretty much licked the sides of the ramekin. LOL...
I also enjoyed the oxtail soup, it reminded me very much of oxtail soup that my family makes. It was very comforting and savory. I wish I had a larger portion of the oxtail soup but it was just enough to quench my appetite. I have never enjoyed beets and this was the first time in my life where I could tolerate the flavor and not feel sick to my stomach. However, I could do without the foam personally. (That's more a personal opinion and experience due to the fact my mother forced me to eat it as a child with liver, yuck).

I'm still indecisive if I would come here again given that are so many restaurants to choose from. However, I loved the decor. The restaurant inspired me to make my own rose water creme brulee. I still have some in my wine fridge from France.

Baked Scampi- Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Recipe

This Recipe gets 5 stars!!!!!! It's a guarantee hit!! I tried it the other day and was pleasantly surprised how well it turned out.


Baked Scampi

Ingredients


2 pounds (12 to 15 per pound) shrimp in the shell
3 tablespoons good olive oil
2 tablespoons dry white wine
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 teaspoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1/4 cup minced shallots
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 extra-large egg yolk
2/3 cup panko (Japanese dried bread flakes)
Lemon wedges, for serving


Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Peel, devein, and butterfly the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Place the shrimp in a mixing bowl and toss gently with the olive oil, wine, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Allow to sit at room temperature while you make the butter and garlic mixture.

In a small bowl, mash the softened butter with the garlic, shallots, parsley, rosemary, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, egg yolk, panko, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper until combined.

Starting from the outer edge of a 14-inch oval gratin dish, arrange the shrimp in a single layer cut side down with the tails curling up and towards the center of the dish. Pour the remaining marinade over the shrimp. Spread the butter mixture evenly over the shrimp. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until hot and bubbly. If you like the top browned, place under a broiler for 1 minute. Serve with lemon wedges.

Curry House- Los Angeles (off Sawtelle)

After returning home from visiting family in Minnesota I decided to stop at the Curry House in Los Angeles off Sawtelle. I ordered the Chicken Curry Udon. As I've blogged before I am a huge fan of Japanese curry soups and have frequented several restaurants.
My take on "Curry House" Chicken Curry Udon;
I would say that their curry was very flavorful and their chicken portions were not small. Most Curry houses seem to skimp on the main ingredient which can become frustrating. I enjoyed that it came out in a beautiful cast iron bowl and it was piping hot. On the side I ordered fried shimp to dip into my curry soup, which made it even better. My only complaint is that they flavored the broth with apples. Since I usually don't like my food to be sweet unless its a dessert I prefer my soup and food to be on the savory side.

Kyushu Ramen in Van Nuys is still my favorite and I can't wait to go back!

i-cugini brunch- Santa Monica, Ca

Happy Birthday to my little sister Dee Dee. We spent her 15th birthday at I-Cugini in Santa Monica. I-Cugini has one the best brunches in Los Angeles according to the reviews online. I beg to differ.
However, I-cugini does has one of the best views of the ocean and has the best location in Santa Monica.
Unfortunately Dee Dee isn't turning 21 but I enjoyed my mimosas while listening to 94.7 (The wave) live jazz band.
I-cugini brunch consisted of wood fire pizzas, ready to order fresh made pastas, seafood, a chocolate fountain, Prime rib and much, much more!
Here is my opinion.... The Hyatt has the best brunch in all of California. It's more affordable and the food seems to make sense. When I arrived I was excited to be able to eat "All I can eat" Beef carpaccio. Dismally, the beef carpaccio was flavorless. There was no salt or pepper and the ingredients that topped the beef did not make a difference. I dabbled a piece of the salmon and it was extremely dry. I was able to make it edible by adding the pesto sauce on top with lemon.
There was also three seafood pasta dishes brewing and the shrimp and octopus paella was a complete disaster. However, I did enjoy the mussels in marinara sauce.
There is one other thing I enjoyed and that was the ricotta quiche. It was fluffy and light. It melted in your mouth.
The pizzas weren't too bad but I'd give them a 3 out of 5 (the only thing holding me over..lol).
Once the band stopped playing the food became the main focus and I wasn't impressed for $50 per person.
My suggestion is to go to the Hyatt in Westlake Village and enjoy the fresh seafood and classical pianist. Your bill will be about 30% cheaper.

Chino Latinos- Minneapolis, Minnesota

This was my second visit to Chino Latinos. Honestly, I have never been had dinner at Chino Latinos but appetizers. If you are looking for great prices Chino Latinos is the place to be. I would say their after hours menu is "Recession Friendly". The portions are generous and the food hits the spot especially if you have been out most of the evening and partying with friends. My brother and his friends all came along for the ride.
We ordered:
Mexican Bel Grande (Mexican Pizza) $3
French Toast of the Dead $3
Crab Ball $1
Donkey Punch $4
Our total bill after ordering several donkey punch drinks $24 for four people.

We were happy and full and ready for our next location.
My favorite on menu was the French Toast of the dead with rum carmel sauce and bananas.

Harry's food and cocktails- Minneapolis, Minnesota

After the game a few friends and I headed over to the Harry's located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The decor is very modern with hardwood floors, high ceilings, dim lighting, see through kitchen where you can see the hustle and bustle of the staff.
The one thing I was excited about trying on the menu was the crispy fried frog legs. I have only tried frog legs once before but Harry's was sold out. I couldn't believe it, guess it tasted like fried chicken. LOL In its place I tried the crispy shrimp with an Asian sweet and sour sauce. It wasn't the frog legs but it was a great substitution.
I decided to order the Scallops with orzo, wilted spinach and mascarpone cheese. The wilted spinach was a nice touch to the dish, it gave the dish texture. My friends and I were all laughing because the scallops were huge! We wondered which farm they came from?? I was actually full after eating two scallops.
The scallops were seared perfectly and very well seasoned however, I wasn't a huge fan of the roe that was on top of the scallops. Although it gave it more of a seafood flavor, I believe a little goes a long way.
I also ordered the lemon cheesecake to go. To die for.

Louisiana Cafe- St. Paul, Minnesota

Louisiana cafe is located on Selby in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a little girl I remember Selby Avenue being the street that divided the affluent from the non affluent. Now, fifteen years later Selby has changed little by little with new restaurants , markets and stores.
On Sunday my sister and I decided to have breakfast at Louisiana cafe. To my surprise the cafe did not have grits as an option. I assumed that if you have a "southern" cafe that grits would be an option. Since I was heading off to the Vikings game I didn't want to order anything too fancy off the menu because I was a little hungry. The blackened catfish breakfast was tempting but I will have to save it for my next visit.
I ordered the crab cake Benedict which was very tasty and delicious. Although I say that this dish was tasty I am mostly complimenting the crab cake. The hollandaise sauce could had been a little lighter. Almost tasted like the hollandaise sauce that you purchase out of a packet and add water. I wasn't a big fan of it but the egg was poached perfectly and the crab cake was extra crispy and well seasoned.
I also ordered a short stack of pancakes.... nothing special.
Louisiana cafe is a decent place to go if you are looking for a place to eat on Sunday. I would asked to be seated at the window so that you can enjoy the sunshine and fully enjoy your cafe experience.

Old Dutch Dill Potato Chips- Roseville, MINNESOTA

OLD DUTCH DILL POTATO CHIPS
I have loved these potato chips since I was a little girl growing up in Minnesota. I assumed that you could find these chips anywhere in the country. Unfortunately, the company does not sell their product on the west coast. Every time I visit Minnesota I pick up at least two bags. I have even had someone ship me a few bags. ;-) (I am forever grateful).
Here is my opinion. Lays makes the best Classic potato chip however their dill pickle potato chip cannot compare to Old Dutch's Dill Pickle Potato chip. Old Dutch's Dill Potato chip is perfectly seasoned. There is the right amount of tanginess and isn't too sour. There has been times when I have had taken plain Lays Potato chips and sprinkled dill and pickle juice to try and capture the flavor on my own. The sad thing is it gets too soggy. :-) Old Dutch has captured the perfect flavor of this combination without the sogginess.

Please sell your product nationwide, trust me... you will gain marketshare!

NYE2010-Moiselle Spice featured at Union Bar Aria Hotel-Las Vegas

When I first created Moiselle Spice Breakfast Blend for my Signature Spice line little did I know that my spice would be used a rimmer to a cocktail drink. "Heat of the Moment" was created by Mixologist Mike Monrreal at the Union Bar in the Aria Hotel. The drink has been selling like crazy.
"Heat of the Moment" has fresno chilies, patron, passion fruit puree, agave nectar, lime juice and our breakfast spice rim. Note: This drink goes down smoothly so be careful because you would never know there was alcohol in the drink :-) Moiselle Spice Breakfast Blend gives it a perfect sweet, savory finish.
If you are in Las Vegas and happen to stop at the Aria Hotel, stop by the Union Bar and ask for "Heat of the Moment". You will definitely LOVE this drink!!!

Jean Georges Steakhouse-Las Vegas

I am not a fan of Prix Fixe mixed menus here in America. I believe it works best in Europe. I believe you should have a choice to choose what you want to eat from the restaurants regular menu. I understand that restaurants are trying to turn tables during the holidays but I find it quite lazy.

I was looking forward to eating at Jean Georges Steakhouse until I saw the menu and my jaw dropped to see the price. $350 per person. Wow!! I have been to many 5 star restaurants with outstanding food and have never paid a fraction of this price.

When the hostess saw my reaction she quickly offered us a choice to try a few things off the menu instead of the entire menu.

So I decided to try the tuna tartare with caviar. To my astonishment it was one of the best tuna tartares I have ever eaten. (My favorite hands down was at G. Garvin restaurant in LA that is no longer around.) The best touch to the the dish was a black pepper chip to scoop up the tuna tartare and caviar.

We also had the Kobe Beef Ribeye. For those that have tried Kobe Beef its very fatty and has a buttery texture. I believed they should have used a filet mignon Kobe Beef instead of a ribeye. Sometimes fat on fat can make you feel nautious. Well at least that happened to our guest and the party next to us. Everyone took a few bites (edges of the steak) and that was it.

This would be the main reason why I am not a fan of Prix Fixe menus because there was only one choice of steak and this was a "Steakhouse".

Another annoying thing was the music. Usually I do not pay much attention but the music was horrendous and put me in a bad mood. I have never been to an establishment and the music turned me off. It was loud and obnoxious to say the least. I don't want to eat caviar and listen to a song of a person screaming classic rock songs that I have never heard. Don't get me wrong I love classic rock but I don't think any of the songs were in the top 40 during its time period.

Will I return..... Not during a recession.

The Original Pancake House- Las Vegas-New Year

The Orginal Pancake House has been around since 1953 and has over 100 franchises throughout the U.S. After a long night of gathering with friends and family for the New Year we decided to fill up at the Orginal Pancake house.
The Orginal Pancake House orginal founder has put together a menu of authentic and ethnic pancake recipes.
After long contemplation I decided to try their signature dish which was their Apple pancake. The apple pancake takes 18 minutes to bake. The also have 3 others that take 18 minutes to bake such as the Dutch Baby and the German which is more of a savory pancake.
The Apple pancake is a pancake that is smothered in apples, and a cinnamon glaze. The apple pancake was dismal to my taste buds. There was too much egg in the batter and felt like I was eating bastilla without the meat. I ate 4 bites and I was done. Some people have an infinity for eggs but for some reason I can only eat one and then I feel nauseated.
To their defense The Original Pancake House does use quality ingredients. I should have went with my first choice which was the German.
A good friend of mine did suggest this dish after the fact but it's okay. I will give them one more try when I return.