Month: October 2021
Vine18 at Copper Valley Offers a Scallop Special – Four Wines Brought to Dinner
An unusual occurrence this last weekend of eating both Friday and Saturday nights at Vine18 at the Copper Valley Golf Course. But unusual is not a bad thing when the meals are so exceptional!
Friday night was the Mahi Mahi special which 4 out of 6 people attending thought it was one of the best dishes they had eaten at the clubhouse. Unfortunately the Mahi Mahi was completely sold out on Friday as table to table recommended the dish. So Saturday, did not know what to expect. To my delight, Chef Albert Reyes prepared a scallop special.
The four fresh and tasty scallops were pan seared and then topped off with a butternut puree on a bed of sautéed spinach. Cauliflower and fennel with toasted sesame seeds and seaweed along with tomato and green peppercorn citrus jam adorned the plated presentation. This was one of the tastier dishes of scallops enjoyed anywhere!
Not knowing this “fish special” was in store, a variety of wines were brought for the dinner of eight. They included a 2016 Toscano white Barbera, 2019 Mer Soleil Santa Lucia Highlands Reserve, 2014 Caymus Vineyards and a 2015 Hindsight Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Hindsight was brought to dinner as one of the couples had not ever tasted a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. He really enjoyed the Hindsight Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon!!
Sláinte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
A Great Restaurant With a Tragic Flaw – But Wonderful Wines!
When in Las Vegas last week, we made reservations at Majordōmo Meat & Fish restaurant in the Venetian Resort. This came highly recommended and will begin on a positive note. As the name implies, majordomo means a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. To this extent the service was beyond reproach and the wait staff along with the sommelier was top notch. Additionally the food was also delicious, hot (or cold depending on the dish) and entrees plated nicely. That is one of the major reasons one goes to a sought after dining experience for delicious food.
The tragic flaw was the noise level. While sitting at a four top, we had to literally yell across the table to be heard. The music was so loud and the bass turned up to mimic a war drum cadence. What the restaurant failed to understand that when folks go out for a nice meal they want to socialize! Ambient music is fine, but it should not fill the room like the casinos. Unfortunately this was sufficient to ruin the experience or want us to come back for another meal.
I started off with a half dozen oysters on the half shell with mignonette, horseradish and Tabasco. The oysters were fresh and succulent. A glass of 2015 Mayacamas Chardonnay was a lovely pairing.
Next up was a beautifully prepared Heirloom tomato salad. This included avocado, Korean chili vin and salsa seca. The crunchiness with the sweet tomatoes was a culinary highlight of appetizers. A bottle of 2015 Optima Cabernet Sauvignon was selected to go with this and other appetizers at the table.
For the entrée a ten ounce prime flat iron steak was selected. This was prepared with a spicy garlic marinade and smoke onion. We brought a 2005 Silver Oak, Napa Valley to celebrate and kick off our Las Vegas stay. The wine was smooth and delicious from its deep color to the wafting fruits of the harvest. Oak, mocha and a hint of vanilla pipe tobacco made this wine while worthy of the time cellared. A smooth and long lasting finish. Kelly the Sommelier on duty did a great job decanting and preparing the wine for the entrée.
I normally don’t write a negative story and this is only negative about the loud music. The food and wines were great, but it overwhelmed what should have been an excellent experience. We left there without having dessert as our hearing was at this point completely diminished.
Sláinte,
Michael
2019 Hindsight Chardonnay Paired Up with Vine18 Mahi Mahi
A couple of us ventured to Vine18 at the Copper Valley Golf Club as they were offering another special seafood dish. After the week before special swordfish, nothing could be as good! We were wrong! Read previous story at: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/09/25/2015-hoopes-chardonnay-gennys-vineyard-and-fresh-swordfish/ and here is the picture:
For those not familiar with Hindsight Wines from Calistoga, this is truly a story of a group of friends who enjoy wine wanting to share their wine with wine aficionados with quality wines without breaking the bank. Read a previous story at: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2020/07/16/hindsight-wines-cabernet-sauvignons-calistoga-estate-howell-mountain/ . Besides their award winning Cabernet Sauvignons, they produce a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay.
We started out with a charcuterie plate prepared for our table by the Sous Chef which tasted as good as it looked! Artisan cheeses, cured meats, grapes and spreads of ground mustard and fruit compote were on the plate.
So I grabbed the 2019 Hindsight Chardonnay from Napa Valley from the cellar to enjoy with the upcoming special at Vine18. First time I had tasted the Chardonnay so was very excited to see if they could equal the quality of their other varietals. First on the eyes a light golden color and medium viscosity. On the nose it was very aromatic with jasmine and honeysuckle. On the palate is where some strong flavors of pear and pineapple prevailed. On the finish, it showed some great acidity, perfect for the special fish dish. This Chardonnay is sourced from both Carneros and Oak Knoll AVA’s. It is fermented in stainless steel, then aged 3 months on the lees in neutral French oak. It does not have that “buttery finish” and seemed more “old world” in its flavor profile of great European Chardonnays. The wine is listed on their website at $32/a bottle and check out their website for amazing sales!
The Mahi Mahi was served in a coconut pineapple burblanc sauce. The dish was prepared with shallots, 43 liquor, ginger, pineapple and coconut milk. It was finished off with a macadamia crushed topping and served with an herb risotto and fresh seasonal vegetables. The wine with the pineapple flavors meshed nicely with the Mahi Mahi for a delightful food and wine pairing this evening.
Both Vine18 and Hindsight Wines continue to impress me and others this last Friday night!
Sláinte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
One Steakhouse Founded by Morton Brothers – A 1200 Degree Success! With Hindsight, Leal Vineyards, Far Niente and Trinchero Wines.
One Steakhouse was founded by brothers Michael Morton and David Morton who are known as the “first family” of steakhouses founded by Arnie Morton. They are located inside the Las Vegas luxury property of Virgin Hotels.
Our foursome actually ate here twice: our first evening and our last evening in town. So for the record, the pictures are from two meals!! One of the keys to tasty steaks is cooking them at 1200 degrees! They are able to sear them on the outside while having them perfectly medium to medium rare on the inside!
The chilled Hamachi slices that were citrus cured and served with sweetie drop pepper puree and jalapeno sauce were scrumptious.
One of the key reasons for the second visit was the Charred Spanish Octopus cooked in port wine. The size and tenderness of the dish was spectacular. We even got the chef to clue us in on how he prepared and cooked the octopus to be so tender!
The Heirloom Tomato and Burrata with aged balsamic, arugula pesto and spicy almonds was again an amazing dish.
The 6 ounce filet mignon could be cut with your fork and was extremely tender.
On one evening I ordered the Diver Sea Scallops prepared with celery root, trumpet mushrooms and herb butter. These were almost sweet and very savory.
Wines consumed during the two meals included a 2014 Trinchero BRV Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, 2015 Leal Vineyards Cabernet Franc, 2017 Hindsight Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain and a 2019 Far Niente Chardonnay. Each and every one a perfect match for the steaks to be consumed and the Hamachi fish. Steaks ranged from a split Rib Eye to Filet Mignon. Each morsel so tender it could be cut with a fork!
The Wine Director, Anthony Ramirez was charming and accommodating in our discussion of the entrees and wines for the evening.
Two very pricy meals, but what a rare treat while vacationing in Las Vegas! A great start and a perfect finish for the week.
Sláinte,
Michael
TRES Cazuelas An Artisan Latin Treat in Las Vegas (and some great wines!)
The saying “what happens is Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas” can no longer be the saying for at least this scrumptious meal! After experiencing one of the most eclectic and delicious meals it has to be shouted out for creativity and flavorful dishes.
First if you want the glamour and lights and dazzle of the Vegas strip, this is not your restaurant! It is located in an industrial park on the other side of Interstate 95. Only a 10 minute taxi/Uber drive, but it takes you completely away from the hustle & bustle. This restaurant was recommended by friends Steve and Vashti Roebuck and when we pulled up compared to some of the others on their list, I was a bit surprised and underwhelmed. That was very quickly turned around when opening the car door, the aromas hit us upside the head.
The menu which provides some entrees, does have mostly tapas and side dishes. Having just eaten at two very “fancy upscale” restaurants the previous two nights, thought tasting some tapas would be a smart change. I could not have been luckier or more correct.
Started out with an appetizer called Habanero Guacamole. This consisted of avocado, habanero, pickled onion, cilantro and oregano. A spicy and enjoyable dish with the Garage Wine Company 2017 Cabernet Franc from Maule Valley, Chile. A special twist on a “standard appetizer”. After this, nothing came close to standard or ordinary.
Next up was Cantabric Anchovies. This dish is Bay of Biscay anchovies, grilled bread, tomatoes and garlic. The sweet tomatoes with the salty anchovies is a tapa dish I will not forget for the flavors. A solid 10 on a scale of 10!
The next small appetizer was the Seared Scallops Al Guajillo. This was cooked and served on a cast iron plate with fresh scallops, grilled lemon, guajillo chili and garlic chips. Another solid 10!
Perhaps one of the most delectable treats this evening was the Iberico Dates. Bacon wrapped dates with almond, blue cheese and with a balsamic-apricot reduction sauce. This paired with the Cabernet Franc and 2009 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon was almost an “out of body” experience. A 10+ rating.
My entrée (appetizer), was a tapas dish called Tropical Ceviche. Prepared with raw Mahi Mahi, mango, red onions, tomato, cilantro and citrus juices, simply another home run. Plated in small bowl inside another bowl with ice cubes which kept the ceviche cool and fresh while eating this tasty dish. A very nice touch and much appreciated. Of course another 10+ rating!
The final appetizer of evening was Roasted Corn off the Cob Esquites. This toasted corn bowl consisted of cilantro, lime, chipotle aioli and queso fresco (cheese). We had been experimenting with a similar dish at home, but this beat our meager attempts with lime and chipotle aioli. For sure a 10 rating!
One of the other wines enjoyed this evening was a 2009 Outpost Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine on the eyes was a deep brick red with a medium heavy viscosity. Blueberry, pepper and fresh violets on the nose. On the palate, it burst forth with vanilla pipe tobacco, licorice and both blue and black fruits. The tannins have soften and Howell Mountain minerality lingers on the finish.
The others had “regular dishes” if that could even be stated at this restaurant of Mediterranean Branzino, their “TRES” pork chop (with piquillo-jalapeno hash) and a Grilled Spanish Octopus (with roasted peppers, garlic, olives). On last side of Broccoli Carbon Carbon was served with grilled broccoli, pipan and guajillo chips! Sorry no pictures as I was too busy eating my delicious dishes!!
Now to top off the entire experience of these diverse and exquisite dishes, the staff and owner Angelo Reyes were beyond friendly and accommodating recommending wines and foods. By the way, no corkage charge (unlike the strip at one restaurant we ate at for $50) that was again much appreciated. Just as an aside, their wine list was similar to the food menu, unique and chosen for specific flavors to match their food menu.
The clincher for why this restaurant was my choice of the best of the week is three fold besides the food and wines. First, the owner provided “free of charge” a port for us enjoy for the end of our meal. Secondly, the moderate level of music in the establishment. Even at some of the “upscale” dining restaurants, we could hardly carry on a conversation without shouting across a four top table! And thirdly the personal touch and guidance throughout the evening from the owner. In fact since they were not located on the strip, meant no taxis were present to take us back to the hotel. When asking if he could call a taxi, Angelo went as far as to order and pay for an Uber ride back to the hotel! These small but significant facts could not be found at any restaurants “on the strip”. And as aside, this meal was extremely filling (both quality and quantity) and was a third of the price higher end and rated restaurants enjoyed during the week.
This is one restaurant in the land of glitter and noise, who understands and really gets the reason people want to dine out and enjoy tasty meal. Kudos to TRES Cazuelas staff and Angelo for this wonderful evening. No wonder why OpenTable provided it in their top ten rated restaurants as number 5 in all of Las Vegas!
Sláinte,
Michael
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