My Adventures Eating Out

I started a new job at the beginning of June with has left me with little no time to blog or cook.  Due to my new time crunch, I have found myself eating out more and more - great food... bad for my waist line!

► My good friend Kitchen M invited me to be her guest at the Cookbook Release Party at Domaine Chandon in Yountville, CA to taste some of the cook book recipes paired with delicious wines. 

The vineyards are beautiful and the grapes are growing big in preparation to be picked in the fall.

Domaine Chandon is known for their sparkling wines, so they had mostly green grapes in these vineyards.

The event was spectacular and the food and wine pairings were delicious.  Every bite I took sent a rush of tastes to my mouth - I could not get enough!  The best (most unexpected) part of the evening was that I got to take a cookbook home signed by the head chef of Etoile and the author of the cookbook! I doubt my culinary skills allow me to actually cook any of the fabulous recipes, but the pictures in the book are very pretty!

My Favorite dish of the night - Braised pork with beans and couscous

► In the same week, my friend 'CAL' and I decided to try out the new Morimoto restaurant in Napa.  The service was absolutely terrible and their excuse was that they "just opened" - not impressed!  The food was pretty BLAH overall, but we did have a great appetizer and drink (and company!). 

Hamachi Tartare appetizer

White lily - shirayuri: shochu, calpico, yuzu juice and lemon juice

These two items were noteworthy, but the sushi we ordered was nothing special, and definitely not worth the higher price of eating a Morimoto's restaurant.  Unfortunately I do not think I will be visiting this restaurant again any time soon!


► In search of some good sushi, 'CAL' and I visited Mas Sake in San Francisco.  We began our meal with some edamame and a delicious cocktail. 

 Mas Tini: Nigori, peach schnapps, pomegranate juice, and fresh lime juice.. YUM!

We then enjoyed an appetizer and some sushi rolls.  The combination was simply divine and every bite was just as delicious as the first... definitely got our sushi fix from this restaurant.  I will absolutely be visiting this sushi restaurant again!!! No words to describe how much I enjoyed the ecstasy roll. I think I could eat it for dinner every single night from now on!

Sushi cupcakes

From left to right: shana roll, ecstasy roll, and three amigos

Close up of the ecstasy roll - no rice!