September 16, 2008

Happy Birthday Chef Tahya. "39"

Menu for the birthday dinner:

2005 Crauford "Highland" Sauvignon Blanc
Assorted Cheeses and crackers
Fig and Proscuitto Flatbreads
Leftover Turkey Sub sandwich (thanks Ramin)



1995 Saintsbury "Reserve" Pinot Noir
1996 Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir
1996 Steele Pinot Noir
2005 Reininger "Helix" Merlot
2005 Saint Laurent Merlot
2006 Substance "Me" Merlot
2003 Garretson "The Craic" Syrah
2003 Torbreck Cuvee Juveniles

Sauteed Spinach with toasted almonds and golden raisins
Oven roasted new potatoes
Pork Loin stuffed with dried apples, dried cranberries and spices

NV Nicolas Feuillatte Rose'
Assorted pastries from Scratch Pastry shop Scratch Pastries



NV BV Muscat de Beaulieu

Cigars on the Patio

August 12, 2008

Tuesday night at Chef T's with a Steak House theme
Hanging out with Chef Tahya, Movie-man Sandy & Baseball Mike.
Our dinner started out with Charcuterie of sliced meats which included spanish chorizo, serrano ham and spanish dry cured pork loin. We also enjoyed an appetizer of grilled spiced rubbed lamb rack. Tahya used the following spices on the lamb: mustard, black pepper, tumeric, coriander, allspice, cumin, ginger and cinnamon which he left on the lamb for 3 days. Just before grilling, Tahya added salt, sugar and m.s.g. We enjoyed a dinner salad of Romaine lettuce, slices of red onion, button mushrooms, carrot, english cucumber and yellow bell pepper and topped with Blue Cheese Dressing. Next were N.Y. Strip Steaks rubbed with Garlic salt, Onion Salt, Paprika and dried Thyme then grilled. We added a salt rubbed baked potato with condiments of Sour Cream, Shredded Cheddar Cheese, Bacon crumbles, Sweet Butter pats and Chives. Dessert was Chef Tahya's Bread Pudding with Caramel drizzle.

The wines we enjoyed were all 1996 California Cabernet Sauvignon:

Gallo Sonoma Barelli Creek Vyd.
Ch. Montelena Estate
La Jota "15th Anniversary"
Whitehall Lane Reserve
Stonestreet "Christopher's Block"
Dominus Napanook (corked)

Finished up the evening with great cigars from Baseball Mike.

Thanks everyone.