The Mrs initially intended on a quiet date night. Of course that included a side trip to the Made in Hawaii Festival which we both enjoy. No wait, she enjoys the Festival, I just enjoy driving to the Festival. Wait a minute, she just enjoys looking at (and sometimes purchasing) Mark Kane's black Tahitian pearls, I simply drive to the Festival. Okay, now that we have that straight, she did decide to text the gang that we would be headed to Vino after the Festival. K got back to us first saying she would either meet us at the Blaisdell or at Vino. Since I wasn't sure who would be there, I brought a gaggle of wines with me primarily intending of uncorking just 1 bottle and ordering the rest. Since Ms K usually runs a little late, we started with specials from the Hiroshi side including a Hamachi Crudo (loads of different flavors going on in the dish from rich and savory to tart and acidic to salty and sweet).
We also sampled the Crab Cake on Kim Chi Sauce. I tell you, anything that's coated in panko and fried is a natural partner to a kim chi sauce. This SHOULD go on the regular menu!
We also were served the Rice Crackers with Aioli (a first since Hiroshi usually never let it happen during his reign)
I also sampled 2 ounces pours of the 2011 Cantine Valenti Etna Bianco "Enrico IV", the 2011 Bucci Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and the 2011 Tyler Santa Barbara Chardonnay. All three wines were great with our starters though the Tyler seemed oaky compared to the Italians and Tyler isn't heavily oaked.
I then uncorked a bottle of 1995 Morey-Blanc Mersault gifted to us by the I's. Poached stone fruit with pebbles and stone on the nose with a beautiful palate flow. Mahalo V & G!
Then the gang started to appear! The K's dropped in after Champagne at The Wine Stop so I uncorked a Barnaut Brut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru with red fruit and stone on the nose with candied citrus peel and a touch of gingerbread.
Since Chef Keith did a FB post that he had some fresh chanterelles and lobster mushrooms, we asked him to make a special so he topped fresh tagliatelle with the sauteed mushrooms.
Then the I's showed up after visiting the Made in Hawaii Festival! So now "La Familia" are all here. We even invited J to our table to sample the wines.
We also sampled the Bay Shrimp Salad Bruschetta
And the Seafood Canneloni
With a 1998 Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala. Leather, cherry, licorice, tobacco all in one bottle!
Along with a 2010 Bastianich Vespa Bianco
We also sampled another special from the Hiroshi side, the Crispy Fried Shrimp (I consumed them shell and all like Chinese salt and pepper shrimp)
Along with Mary's Chicken
Chuck also blinded us with several wines including a 2009 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 (with grapes from Noel Verset's original vineyards)
A 2010 Jimenez-Landi Sottorrondero
And a ringer, a 1994 Il Podere Dell'olivos Pronto Aleatico made right here in the US
The Mrs finished with her usual sweets, this time a Tiramisu
Though we initially intended on a table for 2, it morphed into a table for 8 which by simple math made it four times better! Life is great when these little get together's spontaneously coalesce with good food and wines and most importantly, GREAT friends!
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