DLR LotD 04/03/14

Disneyland Resort
Line of the Day

Thursday, April 3, 2014
Special Edition: Brewer-Clifton/Palmina wine dinner at Catal

Welcome:  2012 Palmina Tocai Friulano, Honea Vineyard*
"Swig!" -- Jenn, to Sher, during pivotal moments in her story

Catal Terrace

Amuse Bouche: Chicken pate terrine, apricot mostarda, toasted pistachios
2011 Palmina 'Subida' Tocai Fiulano, Honea Vineyard
"Wine is weird." -- Sher, noting the difference of the Subida taste before and after eating the pate

First Course:  Black cod, arroz negro, sugar snap peas, mango, coconut-lemongrass foam
2010 Brewer-Clifton '3-D' Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills
"Toddlers, tears, and tantrums." -- Chrystal, telling us her mantra when dealing with her son's very loud and repetitive request for his Buzz Lightyear costume while in line for Astro Orbiter

Mmmm....mango

Second Course:  Duck breast, duck confit cigar, hon-shimeji mushrooms, kale, dark cherries, anise jus
2011 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
"Wine is edible art." -- Chrystal, elegantly speaking about everyone's different reaction to wine pairings.

Third Course: Spiced pork belly and scallop, parsnip cream, beet beurre rouge, root vegetable potpourri*
2011 Palmina Barbera, Santa Barbara County*
"I have a special relationship with bacon." -- Ron, to Sherry

I asked Chef to please make this part of the regular menu

Fourth Course: Grilled New York strip, smoked short rib and onion marmalade ravioli, violet mustard, Romanesco, thyme jus
2008 Palmina Nebbiolo, Santa Barbara County
"It's the Happiest Wine on Earth!" -- Chrystal

Wish I still had room to finish the ravioli.  Quite tasty.

Dessert:  Ginger-buttermilk panna cotta, local strawberries, candied pistachios, shortbread cookie crumble
"That's not a doughnut.  That's a piece of dough eating strawberries for breakfast." -- Ron, looking at Jenn's picture of the Strawberry Donut from The Donut Man

I love that we had 2 dishes with pistachios

"GRAPPA!!!" -- multiple people at our table, ready for an aperitif of Amaro Nonino Quintessential*

Chrystal, still ready to drink us all under the table with grappa

*my favorites

Thank you to our table mates:  proprietors Steve and Chrystal Clifton, Bill, and distributor Ron Striewig of Wine Warehouse. Thanks also for the hospitality, Matt, Valerie and Leah, and to Chef Steven Mary, thank you for the wonderful food!

Jenn and I are already planning to do a road trip to Lompoc to visit the winery and cook Filipino food.  Maybe we'll get to see Steve play with his band, Fast Mojo, while we're there.

Happy Anniversary!