Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Restaurant Reviews

I know I was supposed to write part 2 of my favorite restaurants in Oakland but I thought I would "jump jump around, jump around" over to Emeryville.
So here goes. A few of my favorites, my menu picks and the restaurants link:

Townhouse.
http://www.townhousebarandgrill.com

Can't go wrong with mac & cheese. Add bacon and onion and I'M There !
Roasted beet salad with cherries and goat cheese.
And a warm crab and avocado dip for an appetizer.
Wine for me 09 Cakebread Chardonnay.
Like you didn't know I would have picked that wine?

Myozen Sushi and Roll.
http://www.gotsushiandsake.com

I like the 3 item bento box. I get to choose some of the items I want
and can add or substitute others.
The vegetable tempura is nice. Not too heavily battered.
Good miso soup.
Light veggie salad with asian dressing.
Now for my sushi: California roll, Spicy Tuna, and Unagi (eel)

Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe.
http://iamrudy.com/

The guys from Green Day rocked the House!
Fish and Chips, get these on Friday.
Meatloaf and mash potatoes available on Monday.
2 of my favorites.I order it everytime. Can't fail with these 2.

P.F.Chang's China Bistro
http://www.pfchangs.com/index.aspx

I know, I know it's a chain.
At least it's not like that fake mexican chain of restaurants
my wife drags me to.
Chicken lettuce wraps. perfect little bites of chicken, mushrooms, onions
and more wrapped in a lettuce cup.
Mongolian beef with just the right amount of garlic and scallion onions.
Orang peel chicken with chili sauce and orange.
And I will have a TsingTao. Yes that's right no wine for me here.

Just a few here. Maybe next time I will move on over to Alameda
to check out the Park St. area restaurants.

Enjoy!
Steven




Monday, February 13, 2012

Real Men Eat Quiche and Drink Wine: Wine making at home

Real Men Eat Quiche and Drink Wine: Wine making at home: I finally got around to making some homemade wine. Started out by making a cabernet sauvignon. Never realized how much work was involved. ...

Wine making at home

I finally got around to making some homemade wine.
Started out by making a cabernet sauvignon.
Never realized how much work was involved.
Cleaning and sterilizing the bottles and tank.

And the process, I have NO patience. It has only been a week and 1/2.
I know it takes time for the fermentation to work.
But my mind keep thinking about the future...
After the bottling and then I can sample my labor of love.

Just finished adding my yeast, emulsifiers, wine clarifiers, and sulfates.
Every 2 days I check my water levels.
Added my bags of oak to the liquid.
In a couple of weeks I will be filtering the wine and the aging process will begin.

Got my youngest daughter involved.
She is designing the labels with her artwork.
She came up with the names for the varietals:
Chardonnay: Maui Sunset
Cabernet Sauvignon: Little Red Dog
Syrah - this one is still being considered at this time.

I may be (whining) "wine - ing" but I guess patience is a virtue.

Will have to wait couple of months before the taste test.

Til then,
try this one: 2008 Franciscan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
and you can never go wrong with Conn Creeks' 2006 Anthology.

Drink well and be merry,
Steven