Aala Park @ Vino

Actually, it wasn't Aala Park at Vino last night, it was the Ala Carte menu specials almost like an Italian dim sum cart. Though with Vino's small size, you can't push a cart throughout the restaurant so they simply placed the specials on a large tray in the center of the restaurant and you selected what you wanted to order. As usual, we started with a bottle of bubbly, a 1998 Billecart Salmon

With the Kampachi Crudo

Kona Cold maine Lobster "Rolls" - delicious but hard to actually eat as a sandwich, more a knife and fork approach required.

Fresh Burrata and King Crab

Kula Strawberry Salad

And Duck Confit Noodle

We also uncorked a 2nd bottle of bubbly, a Demiere-Ansiot Grnad Cru Blanc de Blanc

We also sampled the Curried Cauliflower

The Grilled Home Made Bruschetta with porcini tapenade and quail egg

The Fried Sausage and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli

And Chef Keith's Smoked Meat with tomatoes and onions

And since man doesn't live by Champagne alone, I uncorked a 1982 Domaine du Chevalier with loads of tobacco and earth on the nose and very supple palate.