Christmas Dinner @ Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas

I guess that Mom enjoyed her Thanksgiving dinner so much that she decided to also have Christmas dinner at Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas. Or maybe that she's just a creature of habit and didn't know of any other restaurant open on Christmas Day. In any case, we both (the Mrs and I) enjoy Hiroshi so there was no argument there. I know that Chuck's Mrs (Cheryle) was looking forward to having both Eves and Days off (since Vino isn't open on Mondays and Tuesdays) so it was surprising to see Mr Chuck working the floor at Hiroshi (probably had to due with the Vino private party AND the private party in Hiroshi's back room). We all decided to sample the Christmas Special Menu (though I did have to explain to Mom that she couldn't choose individual items from the special menu - it was all or none).

The evening started with a glass of Pinot Grigio for Mom and a blinded red wine Chuck had us try... Again I was way off in my guess. I thought Central Coast Rhone blend... 2002 Frederic Magnien 1er Cru Burgundy!

We then started with the Oven Roasted Black Cod with cilantro pesto, forbidden black rice and smoked paprika sauce. Basically flaky butterfish with a terrific red pepper sauce almost like a Romesco sauce.

The next course was Kona Lobster Cake with linguine and a kim chee and lemongrass sauce. Other than the small large-bite sized cake, the sauce was the BOMB! Just the sauce and pasta would have made a great dish.

For entree items, you coukl choose between the Crispy Skin Hawaiian Kampachi with squid ink pasta and Hamakua mushroom-squid ink puree (the entree that I chose)

Or a Sous Vide of Kulana Beef Tenderloin with bacon and foie gras demi (the Mrs' selection)

I would give the edge to the tenderloin just because it was so tender...

Dessert featured a duo of Red Velvet Cake (the advertised dessert was a green tea mousse which was served to earlier diners but I think we got the better selection)

And a Caramel Mousse Quinoa Chocolate Crisp with raspberry sorbet. This dessert also was the BOMB! Delicious and pseudo-healthy with quinoa grains in the mix...

Another great meal and you know we'll be back... on the Eve to be precise since Vino is closed next Monday...