After the Future (figure that one out)

I have bad news and I have good news.

Last year after the Wine Cask Futures event we had a fantastic offline at Bouchon in the private Cork Room. The food was fantastic. The service wonderful. The corkage a very good deal. So we are not going back there!

They have a new, firm policy of $22 a bottle corkage . No negoitiating. It was a fun place .

So... the good news.

The offline will be held at The Wine Cask restaurant this year. The wine cask is arguably the best restaurant in town. I know the owner personally and I know many of his staff. If the group doesn't get too big we will have our dinner in the wine store in their "import" room. And at this point we will be able to order off the menu. I have also been promised a very low corkage fee (maybe/probably no charge). The Wine Cask is a bit more expensive than Bouchon but the corkage fee will more than make up any difference.

So let me know who and how many of you are attending.

M/M Davidn
M/M j_b
M/M Jones Wine #1
M/M Jones Wine #1 guests
M/M Winetex
M/M Winetex guests

Please confirm you all. And who else wants to join us. This is a special event to me and I promise you I will bring some VERY nice wines.

David

Quote:

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Please confirm you all. And who else wants to join us. This is a special event to me and I promise you I will bring some VERY nice wines.

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as if you ever bring or serve plonk . hell david, the stuff you dump is better than a lot of wine i've had .

I'm surprised Mitchell wasn't more accomodating David. Pencil me in for four if that is ok with you. I will confirm in the next day or two.

Davidn - we are in for two. I will confirm the third and get back with you in the next couple of days.

I have some good wines in mind to bring but you make the call if there is a theme. <evil laughter here>>

Davidn-
Bill and I may be driving up for the day, I will let you know when we see you next weekend

1,2. M/M j_b
3,4,5,6. M/M Jones Wine #1 and guests
7,8,9. M/M Winetex and guest
10,11. M/M Pinot Envy
12,13. M/M DavidN

Theme? If you ask me the theme should be red wine with a little white wine thrown in.
That will go good with the eating theme.

sounds great. pencil me plus 1 in please. i am notorious for flaking lately(sorry ttepper, freud, brent, etc, this "band" is driving me nuts. now i remember why i got out of it for so long), so please use a very lightly leaded pencil. for now. will solidify plans asap.

NEWS FLASH

CORKAGE... all we want... $0

Don't get too excited. This is NOT their regular deal. But because you are all so special... this one time... for you only...

1,2. M/M j_b
3,4,5,6. M/M Jones Wine #1 and guests
7,8,9. M/M Winetex and guest
10,11. M/M Pinot Envy
12,13. M/M Tbird
14,15. M/M DavidN

Hi Davidn - can we add one more guest? We would then be the Winetexs (2) and two additional guests. I've filled them in on how these dinners go and they are awaiting direction on what bottles to bring.

Many thanks.

Winetex,

Of course!

1,2. M/M j_b
3,4,5,6. M/M Jones Wine #1 and guests
7,8,9,10. M/M Winetex and guests
11,12. M/M Pinot Envy
13,14. M/M Tbird
15,16. M/M DavidN

I think I need to cut it off at 18. Act now or forever hold you piece

David, I'll do my best to talk the wife into going. Should be an easy sale; I'll let you know via PM later tonight.

Well, I'll be darned. I've got a friend that retired from our LA office ... her retirement party is Thursday, 4/22 and I wouldn't miss it for the world. I've got a dinner scheduled with HighDesertWines on Friday 4/23 in Victorville, but nothing scheduled for Saturday 4/24. I don't leave LAX until early Sunday afternoon.

I was wondering if a trip to Santa Barbara was in order, so this is PERFECT timing! Is there room for one more attendee? If so, please count me in.

Steve

1,2. M/M j_b
3,4,5,6. M/M Jones Wine #1 and guests
7,8,9,10. M/M Winetex and guests
11,12. M/M Pinot Envy
13,14. M/M Tbird
15. M Stemor
16,17. M/M DavidN

Randy?

I am most likely now out for this. Unfortunately, we have a grand tasting for the store on the 24th. I'm not happy about it. Believe me, if there is any way I can weasel out of it and make it to SB, I will. But for now, count me out. Sorry.

jb

j_b
stemor

1,2. M/M DavidN
3,4,5,6. M/M Jones Wine #1 and guests
7,8,9,10. M/M Winetex and guests
11,12. M/M Pinot Envy
13,14. M/M Tbird
15. M Stemor

I am working on a menu. You could choose one item from each catagory.
$100 including tax and tip per person. Corkage ZERO.

Comments please.
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Starters

Baked Fanny Bay Oysters bok choy, napa cabbage and citrus hollandaise

Filet Mignon Carpaccio onion, capers, arugula, manchego cheese and pommes frites

Baby Frisée and Arugula shaved fennel, jicama, cucumber and castello blue cheese with champagne vinaigrette
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Main

Seared Peppercorn Crusted Ahi seared rare and served with ginger risotto, stir fried vegetables and a ponzu sauce with spicy sesame seed oil drops

Roasted Free Range Chicken Ballontine fagioli ratatouille with lavender glaze

Fennel Crusted Colorado Lamb Sirloin butternut squash risotto with anise and shallot sauce

Roasted Red Beet and Marscapone Risotto grilled seasonal vegetables and shiitake mushroom fricassee with aromatic herb broth
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Dessert

Berry Bread Pudding strawberry coulis and cointreau cream

Chocolate Torte earl grey ganache and dried cherry compote

Classic Vanilla Bean Crème Brulée with fresh seasonal berries


Coffee and Tea
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This is not set in stone. Looking for comments. Keeping in mind that this is arguably the best restaurant in Santa Barbara... is the price ok for everyone?

I think I could tale them in to an amuse bouch in addition.

The stars have aligned favorably. Count me in... I'll firm up my plans in the next few days and confirm 100%, but it looks like >90% likelihood my wife and I will be able to attend...

I might not be dead yet. I'm close to getting a reprieve. Put me back on the list, damnit!

jb

Davidn, what? No fois gras and Sauternes?

jb

The menu looks good David. For starters on wine I have a great Sauternes that I shlupped back from France that I would enjoy sharing with this group. It's not d'Yquem but very, very close (that's a hint...).