Posted by David Porter on June 27, 2010 · 1 Comment
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Posted by David Porter on June 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Carol w/ GM Daniele Visco (left), and Chef Jessica Ahrens (right)
OK! Here’s the deal.
What I am about to share with you is such a tremendous find that it is necessary that by reading this article you agree to hold us harmless for what is likely to become a food addiction, and perhaps even require that you add an additional 30 minutes to each of your work outs.
Agreed?
Chocolat Bistro Creperie & Creamerie is going to blow your socks off with quintessential Italian flavors, and will do it in three different venues in one place:
- a very fine Italian bistro
- a trendy, hip wine bar
- and the best Italian gelato I have ever tasted!
This establishment is absolutely obsessed with using only the finest Italian ingredients, and creating objects of such gastronomical delight that you will certainly have to give yourself a most profound lecture on the follies of gluttony.
Please allow me to share with you the eight (can you believe that) samples of delight they shared with us.
First of all, before we even started our meal, General Manager Daniele Visco brought us both cocktails from their wine baSer. We each had a Blood Orange Mimosa (prosecco & blood orange juice), and a Thyme Bellini (prosecco, peach nectar & thyme).
You should also know that with each of the coming courses, Daniele brought a parring taste of wine from their fantastic wine bar as well. Holy wine samples Batman!
OK! Here we go:
- First Course – two samples of Bruschetta: Tomatoes & Mozzarella (Parmigiano, Extra Virgin Olive Oil), and Ricotta & Pears (Honey & Black Pepper). Wow!
- Second Course – Mozzarelle: Napoleon (Fior di Latte Cow Mozzarella, Roasted Eggplant, Bell Peppers, Portobello, Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar). Spectacular!
- Third Course – Shrimp Sambuca (Shrimp sautéed in Garlic, Tomatoes, Tarragon & Sambuca Liquor). Yabba Dabba Doo!
- Fourth Course – Bone Marrow (Baked, served with Roasted Garlic, Salsa Verde & Artisan Bread). I couldn’t get Carol to try this, but I am a huge fan and loved it!
- Fifth Course – Pasta: Lasagna (Layers of Homemade Pasta in Veal Ragu Bolognese Style & Béchamel), Pumpkin Ravioli (Gorgonzola & Roasted Hazelnut). If I knew how to make a loud whistle noise, I would have been standing on my chair doing just that!
- Sixth Course – Lemon Vodka Sorbet Martini. Unbelievable!
- Seventh Course – we shared a gelato dessert dish with Pistachio, Coconut, and Hazelnut Gelato.
- Eighth Course – four sample servings of Dark Chocolate Gelato with the following individual added flavors: plain dark chocolate, hazelnut, mint, and spicy. OH! For heaven’s sake that dark chocolate was goooood!
I can’t even begin to tell you how good these preparations were. Absolutely everything was unbelievably good.
As I sit here in Scottsdale, Arizona writing this wonderful recollection, I am lamenting the fact that we don’t have one of these Chocolat Bistro Creperie & Creameries in our town.
A most wonderful, must visit dining experience!
Now, with all the food and wine from this dining experience, we went back to our room at the Britt Scripps Inn and took a nap. We completely blew off our afternoon museum plans in Balboa Park. LOL!
Disclosure: this most wonderful dining experience was provided by Chocolat Bistro Creperie & Creamerie. Thanks!
Posted by David Porter on June 26, 2010 · 1 Comment
When visiting San Diego, one of the must see sights is the USS Midway Museum.
The USS Midway was commissioned a week after the end of World War II, and embarked on an unprecedented 47-year odyssey that set new standards in naval aviation. More than 225,000 Americans took part in the odyssey that ended after Midway served as the Persian Gulf flagship in Desert Storm. Longest-serving U.S. Navy carrier of the 20th century and largest ship in the world, 1945-1955.
The USS Midway Museum is very popular as well over 4 million people have visited since its commissioning as a floating museum in 2004.
When you climb aboard this massive floating city, you are offered a headset that will be your guide through the very bowels of this American icon.
Carol locked up in the Brig!
We were guided through cramped sleeping quarters, saw the mechanism that hoists the massive anchor, and Carol was locked up in the brig. We visited the ships engine room, walked in the massive hanger deck, strolled by the ships many types of aircraft, and in the end walked upon the massive upper deck.
All throughout the tour we were introduced to the men/women who served on this ship, the surprisingly tight spaces aboard such a large vessel, and we certainly gained a whole new perspective on the sacrifice that these folks made for our country.
Interestingly, we learned that the average age of the person serving on this ship was only 19 years of age.
Another profound memory were the many retired naval personal who were present serving as guides, and helping us to understand their roles as pilots, mechanics, or even just the guy who swabbed the deck.
The USS Midway Museum provides a most unusual opportunity to climb aboard an aircraft carrier, and we promise that this is a visit that will leave a life-long impact in your mind.
Disclosure: this amazing experience was provided by the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau with a Media Pass. Thanks!
Note: the USS Midway photograph is courtesy of the USS Midway Museum.
Posted by David Porter on June 25, 2010 · Leave a Comment
“This painting of the parable of the sower from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke is among the earliest signed paintings by Bruegel, one of the geniuses of Northern European painting. A lone peasant in the left foreground scatters seeds on an upland pasture. The seeds he has already sown have multiplied in the fields below him to the right and in the middle distance. Across the river, a small crowd gathers to hear Jesus preaching. Bruegel left Antwerp in 1553 to study in Italy, and on his return made drawings of the Alps, which influenced the detail and aerial perspective of the landscape in this painting.”
While on our 10-day San Diego Tour, and right after our lunch at The Prado at Balboa Park, we marched directly across the street to the Timken Museum of Art.
The Timken Museum of Art is considered one of the great small museums in the world. The Timken houses the world-class Putnam Foundation Collection of European old master paintings, American paintings, and Russian icons. Artists represented include Rembrandt, Rubens, Fragonard, Bierstadt, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, John Singleton Copley, and Eastman Johnson.
This beautiful little museum is free of charge, and for $3 you can rent an audio tour that will walk you through all of the museum’s collection in about 90 minutes.
We particularly enjoyed the above Bruegel, and recommend that you put Balboa Park (home to 14 museums), and in particular the Timken Museum of Art on your must do list.
Posted by David Porter on June 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Another evening in San Diego, and we find ourselves in yet another wonderful restaurant.
This time we are perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean enjoying the California fresh cuisine of Chef David Warner at JRDN Restaurant.
From Chef Warner:
“Our style of California fresh cuisine fuses the best of contemporary steak and seafood restaurants. We utilize hand selected, all-natural meats, the finest seafood from sustainable sources, plus locally grown and organic produce to create a uniquely modern rendition of “surf and turf.” We make all our own breads in house daily. All our purveyors are based in San Diego.”
We were a little concerned when we first walked into the place as their very popular Tower Bar was absolutely packed with people enjoying happy hour, enjoying food from the fresh raw bar, and awaiting the coming sunset. We gave each other a knowing look, how are we going to enjoy a nice dinner with all this revelry?, we wondered.
Carol w/ Chef David Warner
Thankfully, we were ushered into a much more subdued atmosphere, given a sunset view table, and set about to scan the menu. I might also note that after the sun did set, we greatly enjoyed the ever changing light show of their dramatic wall of light.
Also to our surprise, and great delight, we were treated to a wonderful wine parring with each course. We both started out with a J. Wilkes Pinot Blanc (2007) from Bien Nacido Vineyards. YUM!
After a delightful amuse-bouche, Carol opted for the build-to-order JRDN Salad, while I eagerly went with Moroccan Lamb Lollipops (dijon mustard glaze, figs, mint). Carol’s salad was parred with La Grenouille Rougante Rose, Frogs Leap Vineard (2009), while I delighted in a Beaujolais Villages – Vieilles Bignes (2007). Carol enjoyed her salad, but a profound “oh my” came forth when she tasted my lamb lollipops.
Up next, Carol crooned over a six ounce Tenderloin w/ Chef’s Thunder (an alternative to choosing a rub and sauce, with caramelized sweet onions, pt. reyes blue cheese + aged basalmic vinegar), while I explored the unusual with Ahi Tuna + Octopus (grilled ahi, baja octopus, lime, peppers). Carol’s steak was parred with Vineyard 29 Cru Napa Valley Cabernet (2007), while I enjoyed Morgan Rosella’s Vineyards Pinot Noir (2007). Carol is always a very happy girl with a good piece of filet, while I always enjoy exploring the unknown. The best way to describe my meal would be seared tuna atop an octopus cheviche. YUM!
Next we enjoyed a wonderful sampling of house-made desserts with an Italian dessert wine, Michelle Chiarlo Novole – Sparkling Moscato d’ Asti (2008).
JRDN Restaurant is a repeat winner of the California Restaurant Association’s award for Best Hotel Restaurant, and will certainly make for a wonderful dining experience. Besides the wonderful food, the impeccable service, and the mood-setting wall of lights, there exists, right outside the window, a never ending display of people walking the ocean boardwalk, and of course the Pacific Ocean within a stone’s throw.
We greatly enjoyed this dining experience, and can highly recommend it.
Disclosure: this most excellent dining experience was provided by JRDN Restaurant.
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