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Style Asian |
TOQUE of The West January 2015 By Carol & Joe Davis
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Sun Valley Harvest Festival |
Co-Founders Heidi Ottley and Ed Sinnot |
Executive Chef John Murcko at Martini Party |
Master Mixologist Ryan Sullivan |
This was our first trip to Sun Valley and we were excited knowing that it was a World Class Resort Area. We knew that this was the perfect time to go as The SunValley Harvest Festival was happening featuring four days of Foodie Events.
Founded by locals Heidi Ottley and Ed Sinnot, this Epicurean Festival has grown since it first began five years ago. Our late planning made it challenging to reserve a room as the Festival attendees had most of the local Inns & Hotels booked. We were fortunate to find lodging with some help from friends and spent one night at The Kentwood Lodge in Ketchum and a second night at the Sun Valley Inn in Sun Valley. Our accommodations were both very good and it was actually fun, as we got to experience two hotels on one trip.
The Sun Valley Harvest Festival spans four days with Foodie Events. The first Event that we attended far exceeded our expectations. It was the Caviar & Martini Party at The Roundhouse where we tasted the cuisine prepared by Sun Valley Restaurants and enjoyed artisan cocktails. We parked at the base of the River Run Ski Area where we were whisked to the Champagne arrival area and were greeted by our hosts. We then took the Sun Valley Gondola up 2000 feet to The Roundhouse which was built in 1939 and is still the only restaurant on Bald Mountain. As we ascended to over 9,000 feet, we were in awe of the view of the Pioneer Mountain Range and the Valley. It was just spectacular!
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Fabulous Martini Party Cuisine |
Chef Jeffrey Rigg at Taste of Sun Valley |
Candy Apples |
Fish Breeders of Idaho Leo Ray |
Upon our arrival, we were greeted by very friendly servers with another glass of Champagne which we enjoyed as we walked a short distance to the Roundhouse. The Restaurant is really charming with beautiful log beam ceilings, an inviting bar and lounge. The dining area is spacious but cozy with spectacular views. You also had the option of enjoying the evening outdoors with views from the patio. This was a perfect spot for this very special evening. We had the pleasure of meeting Sun Valley Executive Chef and Culinary Director John Murcko and his assistant chefs as they were slicing and plating Snake River Farms American Wagyu Kobe Beef for the happy guests. We also enjoyed fabulous Mussels prepared with garlic and wine and delicious Spanish Cheese melted much like fondue served over roasted potatoes. We loved that there were select choices so that there were less competing flavors and that all of the ingredients were luxury. During the entire evening we were served a variety of wonderful appetizers featuring Idaho Caviar. What could be more fun!
We made our way to the bar where we found the Martinis made by MasterMixologist Ryan Sullivan which were incredible! There were quite a few unique cocktails but our favorite was the Summertime Sparkler made with Square One Basil Vodka, Fresh Watermelon Puree, Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice, AperolApertivo Liqueur, a splash of St. Michelle Sparkling wine and finished with black sea salt and lime wheel garnish. Of course we also enjoyed classic martinis and sampled the Square One Organic, Botanical, Cucumber and Basil Vodkas straight up.
The Idaho Caviar was provided by Fish Breeders of Idaho from Hagerman www.FishBreedersofIdaho.com. We had a chance to chat with Leo Ray who has been raising catfish, rainbow trout and Tilapia since 1973. In 2004 he introduced White Sturgeon and has created distinctive domestic Caviar which we enjoyed on blinis, toast points and on eggs.
As the sun set we enjoyed the view and chatted with the other attendees who were all as pleased as we were to be there! This was an intimate event as they only sold 175 tickets at $95 which was a bargain. We descended in the Gondola and watched as the stars came out and even saw The Big Dipper. It was an amazing night!
On Sunday we attended The Taste of Sun Valley. It was a beautiful day for a picnic at the scenic Trail Creek Cabin picnic area. We tasted the cuisine created by Konditorei Bakery and Café, Roundhouse Restaurant, The Ram Restaurant, The Trail Creek Cabin and The Chocolate Foundry. Our favorites were the Konditorei Bakery and Café’s Beer Cheese Soup with House made pretzel, the Ram’s Halibut Cerviche and the The Trail Creek Cabin’s Brick Red Rotisserie Chicken. We also enjoyed the chocolates, fudge and candied Apples.
Along with the cuisine there were quite a few wines provided by Middleton Family Wines. We enjoyed the 2012 Cardaretta SBS Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon and the 2011 Buried Cane Red. This event was limited to 400 people so it was never crowded at all and the $40 ticket was also a major bargain.
While in Sun Valley we took advantage of the great shopping and fine cuisine. We enjoyed browsing at and buying a few things at The Picket Fence, Bellissimo Gardens, Panache, Brash Ranch, Vault, Thunderpaws Pet Shoppe, and Charles Stuhlberg Interiors. We had a light dinner at Enoteca where we sat at the bar and enjoyed a glass of wine with a Diavola Pizza and a Mama’s Salad which were tasty and light.
We had a fabulous time at The Sun Valley Harvest Festival where we met many wonderful people. The weather was cool and crisp, the scenery was spectacular and the cuisine was World Class as expected. We truly felt like we were in Foodie Heaven. We look forward to other trips to Sun Valley and attending even more events at the festival again next year.
http://www.sunvalleyharvestfestival.com/
Faith & Flower-Upscale Dining in Los Angeles
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Faith & Flower |
Deviled Jidori Eggs |
Dungeness Crab Toast |
Oxtail Agnolotti |
We Love L.A. and were pleased to spend a few nights recently downtown at the Omni Hotel. Los Angeles has truly transformed over recent years to become more vibrant than ever. The economy is booming again and the streets were filled with happy people stylishly dressed out for the evening. We asked some friends for a dining recommendation and they all said that we must go to Faith & Flower which is located Downtown in the WaterMarke Tower at 9th and Flower.
Faith & Flower opened earlier this year and has been getting rave reviews. They serve Global Rustic California Cuisine making use of their Wood Fired Oven and offer Classic and Contemporary Cocktails, as well as International Wines. Management brought in a team with World Class experience including ExecutiveChef Michael Hung who honed his craft in New York City and in San Francisco where he was Chef de Cuisine at Roland Passot’s La Folie. Pastry Chef BenSpungin was previously at the French Laundry in Yountville and the Bernardus Lodge in Carmel and Wine Director Jared Hooper was most recently at the Hakkasan Beverly Hills.
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Wine Director Jared Hooper |
Classic Chandelier |
Hazelnut Chocolate Dessert |
We recommend making reservations for dining but they do have a full bar where you can drink or dine as well. We decided late and didn’t make a reservation but we were lucky to get a table as there was a cancellation. We were impressed by the lovely upscale décor and that there was banquette seating. We ordered Pellegrino Sparkling Water and immediately started chatting with our new BFFs at the next table. They were very knowledgeable about the Los Angeles dining scene which was quite fun to hear about. A smooth and strong Belvedere Cosmo and a fabulous Pardita Tequila Mexican Mule soon arrived and we were having a great time.
The menu primarily consists of medium sized shareable dishes which is a great way to dine! We loved the flavors of the Deviled Jidori Eggs topped with Korean Chili and Kimchee which added just the right amount of spice. The Dungeness Crab Toast with Jicama, Avocado and Green Goddess Aioli was also delicious. A glass of the Fay d’ Homme Crazy White Wine paired perfectly with our starters. Next, we had a fabulous “comfort” course, Oxtail Agnolotti made with bone marrow butter. The flavors were fabulous! A Hazelnut Chocolate Dessert made for a perfect finish to our delightful dinner.
We had a fantastic time at Faith & Flower and were glad to see that Los Angeles dining is better than ever. We Love it!!
Faith & Flower
705 West 9TH Street
Los Angeles, CA. 90015
213-239-0642
www.faithandflowerla.com
Chandlers Prime Steaks & Seafood-World Class Dining in Boise
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Chandlers |
Escargot a la Carol |
Wood Oven Clams |
Executive Chef Luis Flores |
We always enjoy going out to dinner on Sunday Night as it is generally not as crowded, gives you something to look forward to and lengthens your weekend. We had heard that Chandlers Prime Steaks & Seafood in Downtown Boise was offering a Prix Fixe three course Prime Rib Dinner for only $27.00 and knew we’d better check it out.
Chandlers is also home to the Award Winning Ten Minute Martini which was developed by Bartender Pat Carden back in Petaluma California. This Vesper Reconsidered (James Bond) Martini is made with Blue Ice Vodka, Plymouth Gin, Lillet Blanc, Orange Bitters and a Lemon Twist. It is just so smooth and so refreshing because it is kept on ice for ten minutes before being poured. This promotes better drinking through chemistry. We knew about this Martini and wanted our drinks to be ready when we arrived for our dinner reservation, so we called in about 10 minutes before and told the bartender to “Bury two for us”.
We drove up and took advantage of Chandlers convenient free Valet Parking which allowed us to enter the restaurant at the Hotel 43 as our car was whisked away. We were warmly greeted and seated in a comfortable elevated booth. We loved the Retro atmosphere and elegant décor which featured fresh flowers all around the restaurant. There are three dining areas which are either used for nightly dining or for Private Parties and a large circular bar on the left as you enter with both indoor and outdoor seating for cocktails and appetizers. The Glass Wine Rack walls and atmospheric lighting also exude Fine Dining.
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Prime Rib |
Chocolate Soufflé |
Service with a Smile |
Our professionally dressed server brought us a large bottle of S. Pellegrino Sparkling Water as well as dinner menus and an IPAD which showed the Wine Selections. We were told about the Sunday Night Prime Rib dinner as well as the facts about the fish and meats. Chandlers uses locally sourced Idaho Ingredients and delicacies from around the world. They feature Fresh Pacific Fish and Seafood which is flown in daily and offer Chairman’s Reserve 30 Day Aged Premium Mid West Prime Corn Fed Steaks as well as both American and Japanese Wagyu Kobe-Style Beef.
Our Ten Minute Martinis arrived as we listened to soft live jazz by The Sidemen http://boisesidemen.com/ . We ordered our dinners and as we looked around we saw a roomful of happy groups and couples mostly who were just out for a nice dinner, as well as some who were also celebrating special occasions.
The starters arrived and we could not have been more pleased. The Kumomoto Humboldt Bay, CA. and ShigokuWillapa Bay, WA. Oysters on the Half Shell were freshly shucked raw oysters served with horseradish, cocktail and mignonette sauces. They were extremely fresh and flavorful and the mignonette sauce was superb. Next, we loved the “Escargot a la Carol” which was served hot and heavy on the garlic...just what we like! These Organically Grown Burgundian snails marinated with fennel, shallots, garlic parsley then baked with garlic butter browned in Asiago Cheese were perfect. You must have the Oysters Rockefeller which were fabulous fresh oysters baked on the half shell with fresh sautéed spinach, shallots, red peppers and Pernod then topped with a light citrus Hollandaise. Simply the best! Another excellent choice was the Beef Carpaccio which was sliced paper thin and served with capers, Dijon mustard, horseradish cream, shaved Asiago cheese, watercress and baby Arugula then dressed with Dijon vinaigrette.
Our Second Course was Soup and Salad. The Chandlers Caesar Salad made with romaine and classic anchovy dressing, parmesan cheese, croutons and a white anchovy was quite refreshing. The Soup du Jour was a fabulous Chicken Limp Tortilla soup which was served piping hot and was light and flavorful.
As expected, we had to try the slow roasted Prime Rib for one of our entrees. It was beautifully presented medium rare with creamed horseradish and beef au jus and served with smashed potatoes and broiled tomato Provençale. It was a large portion, not too rich and tasted great the following day for lunch, as it was too large to finish. Our second Entrée was Surf and Turf. The Australian Lobster Tail was sweet and Petit Filet Mignon was tender, juicy and flavorful and we loved the Cognac Peppercorn Sauce. The entrees come with two sides. We enjoyed the PomFrittes with truffle oil and Asparagus Hollandaise. We also enjoyed a decadent side of Creamed Spinach.
Chandlers has a Wine Spectator Award Winning Wine List. Sommelier RichardMoore has created a wine list with plentiful choices by the half glass, glass and bottle. We enjoyed the 2011 Lieu Dit Santa Ynez Valley, CA. Sauvignon Blanc with our starters. We opted to create our own flight with 4 half glasses to pair with our entrees. We enjoyed the 2011 Joseph Swan Cuvee de Trois Russian River, CA. Pinot Noir, the 2011 Split Rail Snake River Idaho Cabernet, the 2010 Freemark Abbey CA Cabernet and the 2011 Andis Amador Valley Zinfandel with our entrees. Each had their positive attributes but the Freemark Abbey was certainly our favorite.
The Desserts were huge and are definitely shareable. The Berry Cobbler with house made vanilla ice cream was fabulous! We also enjoyed the Classic Belgian Chocolate Soufflé with Grand Mariner and chocolate sauce. Make sure you allow 30 minutes for preparation. It is best to order just after you receive your entrée. We relaxed and enjoyed a Kopkee 10 yr. old Tawny Port and a double Espresso which was a great finish to our fabulous dining experience.
Chandlers Prime Steaks & Seafood established in 2007 is a world class dining establishment. Restaurateur Rex Chandler has culminated his 40 years of experience in the restaurant business by bringing a Gem to the Treasure Valley. With the help of their seasoned Executive Chef Luis Flores,Chandlers gives locals and travelers from around the world a chance to experience fine dining in Boise.
We also recommend their Social Hour which is Monday-Friday from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM. We’ve enjoyed their Classic Grey Goose Martinis which were potent and their Mini Tower of Tuna and Teriyaki Bites Appetizers which were quite tasty. On our last visit we had the good fortune to meet Rex Chandler and chatted with him about his career in the restaurant business. We loved his story about waiting on John Wayne and his pals who were drinking and playing Liars Dice while we enjoyed our Martinis and appetizers. We look forward to returning soon!
Chandlers Prime Steaks & Seafood
Hotel 43
981 West Grove Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
208-383-4300
www.ChandlersBoise.com
Complimentary Valet parking
Reservations Suggested
Open 7 Nights for Dinner at 5:30
Bar opens at 4:00 PM
Wine Maker Dinners
Private Parties and Banquets
New Private Capitol Room
Live Jazz
Atlantis Steakhouse- Reno’s Finest Dining
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Atlantis Steakhouse |
Aquarium |
Oysters Rockefeller |
Shrimp Scampi |
We rarely have the opportunity to go to Reno but are always pleasantly surprised by how well we can dine and how much fun we can have! The Atlantis Casino & Resort is only a few miles from Downtown and has a superb Steakhouse which has been open for five years and draws both locals and tourists alike. As you enter, you are greeted by a beautiful large cylindrical aquarium in the stylish bar area. Their decor is exceptional and has made them a finalist at the Luxe Et Al International Hotel & Property Awards to be announced later this month in Venice. The adjacent dining room is elegant and the wait staff is well dressed adding to the sophistication. We ordered cocktails to start. The Moscow Mule made with Fever Tree Ginger Beer and Belvedere Vodka was perfect. Their rendition of “Some Like it Hot” made with Herradura Tequila and muddled Jalapeno was spicy, hot and perfectly balanced! We enjoyed our drinks and perused the “classic steakhouse menu”. House made breads and Sparkling Water soon arrived as did hot towels which was a lovely elegant touch.
The appetizer that we enjoyed this evening was Oysters Rockefeller made with baby spinach, garlic, Pernod and Hollandaise sauce. Seasonal Oysters are flown in from Washington State three times a week which keeps them extremely fresh. This preparation was absolutely perfect and a must have on any visit! Next, we had soup and salad. The Soup de Jour was Tomato Soup with Bacon which was creamy, delicate and just the right hint of richness with very flavorful bacon. The Steakhouse Salad which included cherry tomatoes, cranberries, julienne carrots and house made croutons was presented chilled as was the salad fork. The chilled fork reminded us of classic steakhouses that we had dined at in our youth and this sets Atlantis apart from today’s steakhouses.
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Chef De Cuisine Michael Schreck |
Allen Brother's Filet Mignon |
Ice Cream made tableside by Room Captain John Sanchez |
Manhattan New York Cheesecake |
Both of our entrees came with side dishes which made our dinners much more reasonable than traditional Steakhouses. The Shrimp Scampi entrée was accompanied by beautiful asparagus and wild rice. The large Prawns sautéed with garlic, butter, white wine sauce suited our palette perfectly! The Filet Mignon prepared rare as ordered was presented with Sautéed Button Mushrooms and finished with Maître d’ Butter then served with duo of Sauce Béarnaise and Signature Steak Sauce. Atlantis Steakhouse serves 28 day aged Allen Brothers Chicago Prime Cut Steaks which truly sets them apart. We also liked that they listed on the menu their Steak and Chop Temperature Specifications so you knew how your steak would be prepared.
The 2013 Wine Spectator Award Winning Wine List features wines from around the world and we were pleased to see that wines by the glass were 8 ounce pours.
Desserts are a must! We loved their Famous Manhattan New York Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust and fresh Berries but the highlight was having our Ice Cream made tableside by Room Captain John Sanchez. The Ice Cream was produced using Nitrogen which created a fabulous show and tasted creamy and rich. This was a true delight and also very light after a significant dinner.
We truly had a fabulous dinner at Atlantis Steakhouse! We chatted with Steakhouse Chef De Cuisine Michael Schreck who told us that they use the freshest prime ingredients including organically grown produce whenever possible. Maître D’ Ali SarSangi told us that the secret to keeping his staff and maintaining the highest level of consistency was being open only 5 nights a week. We look forward to returning soon to Reno and enjoying another excellent dinner at this AAA Four Diamond Award Steakhouse!
Atlantis Steakhouse
Atlantis Casino & Resort
3800 S. Virginia Street
Reno, Nevada 89502
775-824-4430
Open for Dinner Only Wednesday-Sunday
www.atlantiscasino.com
Savor Idaho-Idaho’s Premier Wine & Food Event
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Savor Idaho |
Savor |
MoMo |
Angell’s Bar & Grill’s Crew |
We always have fun and enjoy our experience at Wine and Food Events and were pleased to attend the Sixth Annual Savor Idaho at the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise. The event featured a few local Restaurants and Caterers, dozens of Idaho Wineries, as well as representatives from Sponsors and Local Businesses. The event was sold out and the attendees were there to celebrate and Savor Idaho’s best food and wines.
Savor is an acronym for the basic principles of wine tasting.
S Sight (color, intensity and hue)
AAroma (fruit, floral, spice, vegetal, etc.)
V Vitals (sweetness, acidity, body, tannin and alcohol)
O Oral (flavors, fruit, spice, vegetal, etc.) and
R Review/Rate (balance, length and quality)
As always, at these events our motto is “Sample Food First”! Some of our favorites were Angell’s Bar & Grill’s BBQ sliders, Bardenay’sSnake River FarmsKurobuta pulled pork with orange-habanero mojo sauce, and black bean spread and pickled red onion sliders and Momo’s Himalayan Dumplings.
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A BBQ |
Bardenay Chef Robert Waller |
Women of Wine |
We sought out some new White Wines, as we need to add to our normal mix of California and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s. We enjoyed the Cinder Dry Voignier, the Indian Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc, the Eola-Amity Hills, Cold Springs Winery L’attraction White Blend and Syringa Winery Sauvignon Blanc. Each had some qualities that we could SAVOR. We also enjoy Reds and were pleased with the Mouvance Pinot Noir.
We enjoyed Savor Idaho which gave us some insights into the local Food and Wine scene. We found some new local wines and we also learned about some new restaurants...some of which we had dined at. We look forward to seeing even more restaurants at the event next year. This is a unique opportunity for the Executive Chefs and potential diners to meet and discuss their food, style of cooking and perhaps even share some secret tips!
Savor Idaho was sold out in advance.... so be sure to get tickets as soon as they become available next year. We had a great time and will be back next year too!
www.Idahowines.org
www.SavorIdaho.org
Dining in The O.C.
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Celebrities Eating Pasta |
Contadino Salad with Chicken |
Celebrities Eating Pasta |
We had the opportunity to be in Orange County just south of Los Angeles for a day and made the most of our dining and shopping opportunities. We shopped at the ultra-upscale South Coast Plaza and had some excellent Italian Cuisine at Quattro Q4 Caffe, which is located between Emporio Armani and Jimmy Choo. We enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere and the playful classic black and white photos of celebrities eating pasta. The cuisine is Northern Italian with a Californian flair. We loved the Spaghetti Bolognese and the Contadino Salad with Chicken which were both perfect and quite filling for lunch.
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Grilled Ahi |
El Puerco Primo |
At the Lab |
Our dinner that night was at Habana in the Lab Anti-Mall just down the street in Costa Mesa. They feature Cuban Cuisine and fabulous Mojitos! On this warm evening, we sat on the patio and enjoyed the Grilled Ahi and El Puerco Primo which were both excellent and definitely worth going back for. Before we left for John Wayne Airport the next day, we enjoyed shopping at Fashion Island in Newport Beach then took a quick ride to the Coast.
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Rusty |
Swordfish |
Yachts |
We had an excellent and reasonably priced fresh seafood lunch at The Rusty Pelican which overlooks the yachts in the beautiful harbor. We enjoyed the baked Spinach Stuffed Salmon and the Swordfish which were plated topping mashed potatoes. They were both extremely fresh and perfectly prepared. We look forward to our next trip to SoCal for more exciting dining and shopping!!
Quattro Q4 Caffe http://quattrocaffe.com/
Habana http://thelab.com/shops/habana
The Rusty Pelican http://www.rustypelican.com/
Doukkala Restaurant
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Doukkala Restaurant |
Doukkala Pacific North West Dayboat Scallops |
Doukkala Escargots |
Doukkala Steak Frittes |
Doukkala Executive Chef Eric Lanvert |
The Temescal neighborhood in Oakland continues to grow and thrive as a dining destination. Doukkala Restaurantrecently opened on Telegraph Avenue serving Moroccan inspired California Cuisine. Talented Executive Chef Eric Lanvert uses French techniques and local and sustainable ingredients to create interesting and tasty dishes. Along with the main menu each night the Chef creates a four course Tasting Menu with wine pairings. The Décor at Doukkala exudes Moroccan old world charm with a Casablanca style seating and very comfortable banquettes. There is also outdoor dining weather permitting and the window tables are especially great for people watching.
We opted to have the Tasting Menu as well as order off of the main menu. It is sometimes difficult to order this way but both the chef and wait staff executed the timing so it was paced beautifully. The Tasting Menu started with a delicious cold Gazpacho soup which had a Moroccan flavor and paired with Louis Bouillot Sparkling Burgundy. Next up was the fabulous Pacific North West Dayboat Scallops which were sautéed with Jerusalem artichoke veloute, argan oil and paired perfectly with Elizabeth Spencer Pinot Blanc. The entrée that we enjoyed was Mendocino Quail Pastilla with Anjou pears, honey, spices and roasted marcona almonds. This was amazing and was perfectly paired with the Evening Land Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. We opted for tea with the light Moroccan Baklava dessert. The tasting menu was delicious and an extremely excellent value. We appreciated that it was only four courses as many Tasting Menus offer too many courses and one has to taste too many competing flavors.
We ordered four courses from the Main Menu as well. The Escargots were delicious braised snails in a mint and spice broth Marrakech style which had great flavors. Next we enjoyed the Suid a La Plancha which was excellent grilled and stuffed squid with chorizo, freekeh, and tomatoes then served over tomato coulis. The 2012 Mason Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc which was fruity, lively and complex paired perfectly. Our entrée was the Steak Frittes which was Grilled Grass Fed Marin County Bavette Steak served rare as ordered with charmoula butter and house fries with harissa aioli. Bavette has become one of our favorite steak cuts as the lovely aroma and savory flavor comes through. The Sangria made with 2007 French Chateau De Serema paired perfectly with the Steak Frittes. For dessert we had the Panacotta made with mango and green tea which was refreshing. A Strong Espresso was an excellent finish to our extremely satisfying meal.
Doukkala Restaurant has added an excellent dining option to the Oakland Dining Scene. It is a worthy destination from anywhere in the Bay Area or around the globe. The Cuisine was exceptional, the service was friendly and professional and the Décor was inviting. We will surely be back for dinner again soon.
Doukkala Restaurant
4905 Telegraph Avenue (at 51st)
Oakland, CA. 94609
510-653-8691
http://www.doukkalarestaurant.com/
Open for Dinner Only Tuesday-Sunday
Louis’ Basque Corner-Family Style Dining in Reno
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Louis’ Basque Corner |
Mussels |
Prime Rib |
Family Style Dining is always intriguing as you dine with people that you don’t know. Tables are filled up, and then the multicourse dinner begins. Louis’ BasqueCorner in Downtown Reno is almost 50 years old and if the walls could talk one would hear how appreciative everyone was with the plentiful food and the random chance to make new friends! It was opened by Louis and Lorraine Erreguible who moved to Reno from Mauleon, Basses Pyrenees in France and the torch has since been passed to new owners who are continuing the tradition of “To us you’re one of the family”.
We were escorted by the hostess through the active bar area to a table where we were seated with one other couple. A server wearing a classic Basque Costume took our drink order for a Picon Punch which is a tasty traditional Basque cocktail. As we sipped on this potent libation a foursome joined us and the dining was set to begin. We all ordered our own entrees as carafes of wine and French bread were placed on our table.
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New Family |
New Family |
Executive Chef Frank Vargas |
Three large dishes of fresh crisp Salad and dressing were passed around the table, as we visited with our new friends. Next we enjoyed delicious Clam Chowder as we continued to learn more about each other and where we were all from. The wine and conversation flowed as their special Basque Beans arrived. We chatted, we ate, we drank, and we relaxed until our next course the steamed Mussels and Rice was placed on the table. Just when we thought we had eaten enough... our personal entrées arrived. The generous portions included Lamb Chops, Sweetbreads, Beef Tongue and Prime Rib. Executive Chef Frank Vargas stopped at our table to see how we were doing which was appreciated. The wine and conversation continued to flow with our new found family. Ice Cream sundaes, fresh fruit and cheese and coffee were the perfect finish to our quite filling dinner.
We enjoyed our dinner at Louis’ Basque Cornerand chatting with our new family. As the separate checks arrived I was advised that it was an old Basque tradition that the youngest person at the table respects their elders by picking up all of the checks. Just one more Picon Punch and they probably would have convinced me.!!
Louis’ Basque Corner
301 E. 4th Street
Reno, Nevada 89512
775-323-7203
www.LouisBasqueCorner.com
Need a Deli Fix?
Check out Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles…http://www.cantersdeli.com/
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Matzo Ball Soup |
Brooklyn Avenue Sandwich |
Bronx Special Sandwich |
Until we eat again…..
TOQUES (MORE REVIEWS)