Ad Hoc Sucked

You know how you look forward to something for a long time? And you get everyone else to look forward to it also? And then it sucks??? Well, that's what happened to me on our vacation!!


I am a FOODIE with a capital "F". I love to eat, to cook, to go to restaurants, to look at food blogs, etc...


About two months ago I decided to make dinner reservations at Ad Hoc in Yountville. The restaurant is owned by Thomas Keller (of French Laundry fame). I figured that if his name was behind it, it would have to be great.


When I made the reservation I told them that I didn't eat pork, and didn't mix meat and dairy. They assured me that it would be no problem and that they would accommodate me.


They called me 2 days before our reservation to check if we were still coming. I reminded them again that I didn't eat pork, and didn't mix meat and dairy. Once again, I was assured that they were aware of my restrictions and it would be no problem.


We got there and the menu consisted of:
*Prosciutto wrapped melon - they put the prosciutto to the side and the melon was actually quite good.
*Steak with a mushroom, cream and cognac sauce - I didn't eat this but my father asked for A-1 steak sauce and my friend said that the meat was tough. The side vegetables were actually quite good, ESPECIALLY the fried cauliflower.
*Cheese Board - 3 types of cheese, small portions.
*Chocolate Ice Cream with brownies pieces in it - this came with whipped cream, candied walnuts and a strawberry sauce on the side. It was nothing special - the ice cream was no better or worse than what I can get at the grocery store.


I told them I would not be eating the steak. They asked if I wanted to have the vegetarian meal. Two of us chose that option. So....they brought out a couple of pieces of fennel and 6 tiny peppers stuffed with something.


That was how this restaurant, whose owner is one of the best chefs in the world, "accommodated" me. A restaurant of this quality should have made an effort to make me feel "at home" instead of as an "after-thought" by throwing a couple of vegetables at me. Especially since they charged me full price for the $2 worth of vegetables.

I was so disappointed and shocked that I didn't even put up a fuss or ask to speak to a manager. I paid the outrageous bill and left. I may still call, but don't really see the point.

Out to dinner

On Saturday night we went to my Father-in-Law's birthday. We went to the restaurant we usually go to.

It is extremely tasty, the service is fabulous and (oddly enough) very child friendly.

This restaurant is Tanino Restaurant in Westwood (this is near UCLA, in Los Angeles). They serve home style, refined Italian food. The chef is Tanino Drago, of the famous Drago brothers. They have restaurants all over LA, and this restaurant is a very good representation of why.

Their soup and appetizers are to die for. The Pappa al pomodoro (Thick tomato and bread soup) is one of the best soups I've ever tasted. I have never been able to re-create this either. The Burrata caprese (Buttery mozzarella cheese with organic heirloom tomatoes,roasted bell peppers basil and olive oil) is phenomenal. The rest of the appetizers are just as good.

Moving on the entrees, a couple of my favorites are the Tortelloni di zucca e salvia (Tortellini stuffed with pumpkin and ricotta in a cream and sage sauce), Stinco d’agnello (Ossobuco style lamb shank served with saffron risotto) and the Risotto ai funghi misti di bosco e mascarpone (Arborio rice with mixed wild mushrooms and mascarpone cheese). No matter how many times we go, and how many people in our party, people always order these dishes!

For dessert, we constantly get samplers of pretty much any thing the chef wants to make us. Wow!! I can't choose a favorite.

For parties (at least 12 people) we get the upstairs room, where we are usually the only party. The service is impeccable. The kids are treated like honored guests. It is a very nice restaurant, but you can easily tell that the wait staff, the management and even the chef (when we are lucky enough to have him come out) truly loves children.

I would recommend this restaurant for a romantic dinner out, a girls night night, dinner with friends AND dinner with the family.

Here are some pictures the big monkey took at the restaurant:

And last, but not least, a picture of my mom and I after dinner (my dress looks so much better in person):

Sometimes I just need a nice evening out

Tonight it was with my girl friend (whose husband was out of town),not my husband, but still it was a great evening.

I picked up my friend at 6pm and we started rolling. WE weren't sure where to go but decided to head towards the city. We ended up at Asia de Cuba. I had been there once, years before, and my friend never had.

The view was beautiful. I would love to come back in the summer, during sunset, when I can fully appreciate the view, and sit outside during dinner.

The food was one of the most memorable meals I have had in a long time.

We started with two appetizers:
Tunapica - good and different, might have been great if we hadn't been served the calamari first
tuna tartare picadillo style with spanish olives, black currants, almonds, coconut, soy-lime vinaigrette and wonton crisps

Calamari salad 'asia de cuba' - I can see why this is a signature dish. We just COULD NOT stop eating it! The portion was huge and we still had some left over to take home
crispy calamari with chayote, hearts of palm, banana, cashews, chicory and radicchio, sesame orange dressing

We shared an entree:
Miso cured alaskan black cod - One of the best cooked pieces of fish I have had. I would have this over and over again!!!
cuban black bean and edamame salad, tempura shisito peppers

We also shared a side dish:
Plantain fried rice with avocado salad - This is another signature dish of theirs. Somehow this dish transcends regular fried rice and elevates it to this amazing symphony of flavors! YUMMY!!!

We each had Mojitos served with sugar cane sticks. The drinks were fantastic.

This was not a cheap dinner but VERY worth it. Truthfully though, the two of us could have easily done without the tuna tartare and not felt like we were missing a thing.

After dinner we took Pico Blvd. down to Santa Monica. Driving along Pico was fun (we passed by Don Antonio's for anyone who has watched The Hills since season 2). We stopped in at Casa del Mar and had a drink in the lounge. The hotel is BEAUTIFUL.

The evening complete we drove back home.

This was a nice, relaxing evening. We had no concrete plans but knew we wanted to have a nice dinner somewhere we didn't usually go. We didn't feel rushed or stressed.

Once in a while, you definitely need an evening JUST LIKE THIS!!

Recession

Tonight I went to sushi with a girl friend. It was a great place that we used to go to quite often (about once every two weeks or so). Due to scheduling conflicts, and the economy, we haven't been in a couple of months.

I remember that WHENEVER we went, be it lunch or dinner, the sushi bar was always packed. I got there at 5:35pm and the place was EMPTY! I was the first person to sit at the sushi bar.

By 6:30, the place was more than 1/2 full, but many tables and sushi bar places were taken by families with kids (kids definitely don't eat as much, and as high priced, sushi as adults do).

According to the sushi chef their business is 30% down since September. And they're one of the lucky ones. A number of their competitors have closed their doors.

Even between my friend and I, we ate less than we have in the past. Personally, I was very happy with the lower bill. At the same time, I felt kind of guilty so gave a little bigger of a tip.

Getting Together

Tonight I saw a friends who I haven't seen in a while. She's not the friend that I will talk to for hours - but she's a good friend none-the-less.

She's one of those amazing women who is constantly on the go. Traveling to different countries, always triple booked, seems in control of her destiny. I became friends with her at one of my past jobs. She was the "go-to" girl. She knew ALL THE ANSWERS! And was very self-assured. We became friends pretty quickly.

Of course, when we get together and REALLY talk, I remember that she has the same problems we all do, regardless of whether we're married or single, have kids or are childless.

She recently started a new job and is still trying to find her place. She is wondering where her career will take her and whether or not she will find some one to share her life. Still, she keeps on going, looking fabulous every step of the way. In many ways I admire her - it's a strong, SMART, woman. She's detail oriented and writes out lists of what she has to do - and then she does them!! She is also constantly busy - she constantly has some sort of plans going one. Even tonight - she had dinner planned with me and then Salsa with another friend later.

I have realized that I am VERY lucky - I am surrounded by strong, amazing women that love life (even when they are complaining about it - because those moments make the best storied) and are there for me whenever I need.

Tonight we went to Vino Wine and Tapas Room. I really like this place. I've been a number of times and I know what to expect.

The Sangria is wonderful. Even my friend who does not like wine enjoyed the red Sangria. The tapas are very god too. I really like the Eggplant with Honey, the Ground Beef with Hummus, the Papas Bravas and the Cheese plate. In fact, I haven't really had anything I don't like.

One caveat - the service can be spotty at times. You have to flag down a waitress for most things, but it is better than it was.

There is also live music on the weekends. I hope the place survives the economic times. It's nice to have a place like this in the valley - casual but nice. Easy enough for a group of girl friends but sophisticated enough for a date.

Here's the drool worthy menu.



By the way, does anyone know how to make my pictures bigger?

Good friends

So, I have to give a shout out to this amazing couple I know. In the past year, we have become amazing friends. The kind of friends that you feel like you've known forever, and that will be there for you, FOREVER! The kind I am blessed to know (yes, I can be sappy as well as sarcastic). They can be over-bearing and always think they're right, but guess what???? So do I!!! To them I say - thank you (they know for what) :)

Anyways, I met them tonight for happy hour (I was only planning on staying 1 hour - honest) at a great sushi place. This place has a wonderful happy hour until 7pm, and after 9pm.

Bistro Ka is one of those places with great ambiance even though it's in a mall (but a very nice mall). The sushi is 1/2 price, but we usually get:

Spicy Tuna and Avocado with Crispy Chips - really good usually, but tonight had too many big chunks of onion.
Crab Cakes - just crab, no filler, amazing sauce
Chilean Sea Bass with Mushrooms - first time getting this (it's a special) but the mushrooms and sauce were wonderful (the sea bass was just good)

The happy hour appetizers are less than $6 and the portions are quite good (except for the Chilean Sea Bass - smaller potion and $8). The draft beers are $3 as is the sake!!

A good, fun place to go that won't break the bank! And in the lounge - we always talk to the most random people - tonight was politics with the table next to us (and it didn't turn into a shouting match - yay!)

Restaurants

I went to dinner with a girl friend tonight and am very happy to live in a city where there is so much diversity. I had been craving Korean BBQ for a while now and finally got to go tonight. The place was packed and the food was good! Brisket and Short Ribs with about twenty different side dishes. We went to Shik Do Rak in Northridge - we were one of two or three white people there. The service was great - to the point of helping us cook the meat (they seemed to do that with the tables uner 40 years old). I would definately do there again. Amazing meal for under $30!!

Driving home I passed by a place I've seen before. China Olive Buffet. Question - when have you ever seen an olive in a frickin' Chinese restaurant????????? Seriously! It does ot make sense. Mushrooms, peppers, most other vegetables and condiments, yes! But Olives - no!! Am I the only one perturbed by an asian restaurant that has an Italian condiment in its' name??