We returned to Vino for another date night this past weekend especially since our future calendar is potentially booked with parental care duties. So as usual the Mrs started with a Litchi Gin Fizz while I had started with my usual trio of tasters.
We then selected one of the Mrs' favorites, the Duo of Contemporary Sushi
Since it's been a while since our last visit to Vino, the staff also treated us to a plate of rice crackers from the Hiroshi side along with a basket of bread from the Vino side.
We also ordered the Okinawan Soba "Mazeman" which has become one of my favorites. Something about the combination of salmon, salmon roe (ikura), salmon skin (fish flavored bacon) with dense, chewy noodles in a rich clam broth with basil, cilantro and shiso...
I also ordered another sampler trio with various reds...
And Chuck also blinded us on red of his choosing, a 1998 Gros Nore Terrebune Bandol
We then sampled special Raviolo U'ovo of the evening with pancetta, Hamakua mushrooms and corn... if it has a runny egg yolk, I'm there...
BOOM!...
Along with the special pizza of the evening... again, another runny egg yolk that you schmeer over the pizza...
As well as the special Crab Stuffed Squash Blossoms... we had to let it cool as the ricotta filling was just a little South of scorching temperature but the stalks were just like fried green beans
And just as we thought dinner was done, our order of Polenta Fries was tabled... we totally forgot that we ordered this dish and were stuffed at this point.
Then as service started to wind down, I uncorked a bottle of 1996 Noel Verset Cornas. Still with loads of kalamata olive, old leather, a touch of licorice and earth. Since Chuck turned me on to this wine years ago, I made sure both he and Cheryle also sampled a glass...
Then Chuck uncorks a 1996 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling. A mixture of petrol, white flowers, apricot and melon on the nose followed by slate and still with almost vibrant acidity and a long finish. Two 1996 wines that exemplified the best of their respective grape varietals...
The Mrs then finished with the assortment of sorbet from the Hiroshi side.
Though we won't be back like our usual "every other week", we'll always return when time permits...
Comments