We had a last minute, semi-date night dinner at Vino to celebrate the Mrs' B-Day. Knowing that the Mrs worked this weekend and didn't plan on celebrating, a friend graciously offered to cook her dinner on the day. The Mrs declined confiding in me that if she had a really crappy day at work, she didn't want to be a dinner guest at someone else's house in a crappy mood. With a restaurant, you can simply cancel the reservations... can't do that with a friend's home cooked meal. So she was very busy at work but in a good mood (I wonder if discovering that huge slice of multi-layer chocolate cake in the refrigerator that I got for her had anything to do with an uplifted mood) so we headed to Vino. Since Chuck and Cheryle were in Wailea, I carted my own wines since the rest of the Vino staff doesn't know where Chuck stashes the really good wines. Micheal knew that the Mrs would start with her Lychee Gin Fizz while I sampled the 2010 Movia Sauvignon Blanc and the 2008 Relic "Ritual" Mourvedre.
I then uncorked a bottle of Egly Ouriet Grand Cru Rose which had strawberry and orange peel with hints of mineral on the nose with a smooth palate flow and long finish.
Michael also knew that the Mrs always starts with the Duo of Contemporary Sushi
We then moved on to all three specials for the evening starting with the Scallop Dore with fettucine, fennel and lemon in a citrusy butter sauce.
Then the Seafood Canneloni stuffed with ricotta and chunks of seafood on a cioppino sauce.
Moving on to the Garlic Crusted Mahimahi with sundried tomato gnocchi.
All three specials had great sauces that the Mrs continually mopped up with Chef Keith's bread. I also uncorked a bottle of 2012 Miraval Rose.
If you notice the back label, it states Mis en Bouteille par Jolie-Pitt and Perrin. Yup, from the vineyards owned by Angelina and Brad and vinified by the Perrins of Chateau Beaucastel fame. Ripe strawberry and watermelon on the nose with a light smooth palate flow - perfect since we're headin' into summer.
We also uncorked a 2008 Guido Porro Vigna Lazzairasco Barolo with loads of leather, licorice and dark cherry and a very long finish.
For the Vintage Steak - it usually doesn't come with gnocchi - we requested it.
Along with a 2008 Psychedelic Rooster Purple Haze Old Vines Barbera which was ripe and fleshy.
Chef Keith also let us sample the Oyster special for the evening as a finale.
If it looks like a lot of wines were uncorked, a lot were but we only finished the Egly Ouriet. The remainder of the other wines were left with the Vino staff to sample after the night's service was done. I'm glad that the Mrs could celebrate... even if she had to work today... again. But this morning I noticed that she did sample about half of the chocolate cake after we got home. Good for her!
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