We recently celebrated a birthday with dinner at Le Bistro in Aina Haina. The guest of hanor arranged a private seating area where the restaurant's wine racks are located so we enjoyed a semi-private dinner. Since there were 9 of us, I brought a magnum of 1986 Couly-Dutheil Clos de L'Echo Chinon which I quickly uncorked and decanted.
We started the evening with Philipponnat Rose Champagne and also uncorked a 2005 Simonnet-Febvre Preuses Grand Cru Chablis and a 2010 Champalou Vouvray for those intending to start with seafood appetizers.
Since the Mrs was the DD for the night, she wanted to start her imbibng early so she ordered the Foie Gras special so she could have her dessert wine up front- a 2010 Chateau L'Avocat Cerons Semillon blend.
We also split the Warm Lobster Salad which worked with both the Chablis and Vouvray and the Fig Salad which worked surpsingly well with the Chinon.
Others sampled the Puget Sound Oysters, Escargot, French Onion Soup, Green Salad, Soft Shell Crab and Ahi Tartare (which paired wonderfully with a 1995 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc).
We then uncorked several red Burgs, a 1995 Jobard Blagny La Piece Sous Le Bois and a 1997 Champy Echezeaux which paired nicely with the Roasted Duck.
A bottle of 2007 Chateau Aney Haut-Medoc was uncorked for those with boeuf. I personally selected the Quartet of Beef.
The Filet
The Kobe Slider
The Braised Short Rib
The Rib Eye
While the Mrs selected the 20oz Bone-In Prime Rib Eye
Others had the Prime Cote de Boeuf, the Bone-In Kurobuta Pork Chop and assorted fish specials.
We ended the night with assorted desserts thopugh yours truly only had a Keoki Coffee sans whipped cream.
Finally ending with a pair of Champagne, a NV Vilmart Cuvee Rubis 1er Cru and a 2002 Paul Bara Brut.
As always, another great night with good food and wines and most importantly, great friends!
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