"This Week" at Vino and Hiroshi
January 31, 2010
VINO HAPPY HOUR ”at the bar seats only”…
We are offering a 50% discount on VINO food for those sitting at the VINO bar from 5:30 to 6:30pm on a first come first served basis.
ALL orders must be in by 6:30PM. This Special will be good only when VINO is open for regular business. It is a great opportunity to have a bite to eat instead of fighting the traffic.
“Locally Grown” Menu… @ Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas
Chef Hiroshi Fukui will feature a new “locally grown” menu each month
Sundays & Mondays (only) $35 per person (not including tax & gratuity)
For Month of February …
First Course
Big Island Butter Fish MisoYaki
rice, choi sum, wilted tatsoi & pickled red ginger, beurre blanc
Second Course
Pepper Seared Ahi
pasta, brussels sprout, red jalapeno & foie gras ponzu demi
Main Course
Japanese Style Bouillabaise
seared opah, crab meat, Manila clams, orzo & saffron clam broth
Sweet Course
Guava Panna Cotta
fresh fruits with orange sorbet
Call now for reservations and be sure to mention that you are having the
Locally Grown Menu to ensure we don’t run out!
VINO’s NEW “WINTER” MENU
VINO Chef Keith Endo launched his new Winter Menu. Here is a
rough draft just to whet your appetite.
Grilled Frisee with shaved fennel, walnuts, pancetta gorgonzola dolce latte & poached egg
Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad with Nalo Farms baby arugula, sweet Maui onions & Roma tomatoes
Beef Carpaccio with ricotta salata, pumpkin seed oil, red jalapeno pesto, smoked sea salt & micro arugula
Chianti Braised Veal Cheek “Ravioli”, with roasted wild mushrooms, foie gras-demi glace & fresh black truffles
House Made Ligurian style”Trofie” Pasta with hedgehog mushrooms, sundried Hau'ula tomatoes, Genovese pesto & Ligurian olive oil
Fresh “Silk Handkerchief” Pasta with house made spicy lamb sausage, baby swiss rainbow chard, mushroom jus & pecorino romano
Fresh Hawaiian Snapper “En Cartoccio” caper berries, manzanilla olives, preserved lemon confit & shellfish brodetto
Black Truffle Carnaroli Risotto with Butter Poached Kona Maine Lobster & tarragon beurre blanc
Maui Cattle Company Flat Iron Steak roasted cippolini onions, broccolini, & red wine shallot demi glace
Wednesday, February 3rd “Alexander Alioto, Keith Endo & Friends”
Mark your calendars. Our good friend Alexander Alioto from San Francisco is coming to VINO to cook. Alexander has worked at two of the top Michelin rated restaurants in Italy…..1 in Germany….the French Laundry…& the Ritz Carlton under Chef Ron Siegel. What a resume! Keith went to San Francisco to work with him this past summer because Alexander makes the most incredible pasta & gnocchi!
On this night we will be doing a FOUR COURSE dinner at VINO…..TWO SEATINGS….5:30PM….and then again @ 7:45PM. We have asked Alexander to do more casual, homey kind of Italian ‘country” food. I just can’t wait!!!! Keith has also invited some of his culinary friends—Chef Ivan Pahk (2 time Maui “Chef of the Year”) for example-- to help cook. It will be quite the night!
Here is the proposed menu…...
First Course
Red Wine Poached Egg with shaved beef carpaccio & parmesan cream
Second Course
Risotto Classico
Third Course
Seared Snapper served with seafood broth, olives & capers
Entree
Seared & Roasted Veal Loin served with sauteed Swiss chard, Veal Demi & garlic chips
Dessert
Coconut Panna Cotta with fresh tropical fruit and caramelized almonds
Real food lovers—this is a dinner you will not want to miss.
$50 per person (not including tax or gratuity). Four course wine pairing (3 ounces each), an additional $25 per person. 533-4476 or email Nicole at nmadosik@dkrestaurants.com
NOTE: For the 5:30 seating...doors will open at 5:15! We encourage you to come early and get comfortable as it will be important for us to start the dinner in a timely manner.
UPCOMING EVENTS…
Tuesday March 16th—Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas Contemporary Kaiseki
Valentine’s Day Weekend…Fri, Sat & Sun (Feb 12th, 13th & 14th)
Valentines Day Weekend...for those of you who want to celebrate early both VINO and Hiroshi will be running our regular menus and specials on Friday and Saturday nights. We will be offering a set menu only on Sunday, February 14th.! Make your reservations now!
VALENTINE’S Day @ VINO
First course
Ahi Chu Toro Crudo
Red jalapenos, Maui onion, roasted garlic aioli, thai basil, osetra caviar
Second course
Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad
Big Island hearts of palm, Nalo Farms red ruby mix, pancetta bacon , raspberry Champagne vinaigrette
Third course
Poached Kona Maine Lobster
Fresh shaved Oregon black truffles, carnaroli risotto, hedgehog mushrooms, creamy tarragon butter
Fourth course
Chianti Braised Maui Cattle Co. Short Ribs
Ricotta cheese gnocchi, rapini,hourseradish gremolata
Dessert
“Frozen Kula Strawberry cheesecake”
graham cracker ice cream, chocolate almond biscotti, raspberry gastrique
$50 per person (not including tax & gratuity)
…additional $25 per person for 4 course (3 ounces each) wine pairing
VALENTINE’S Day @ Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas
Duo of Contemporary Sushi
Maui Cattle Beef Shigureni-pickled red ginger
Grilled Mongo Squid-sansho, pickled wasabi, 5 spice powder & shiso
♥♥♥♥♥
Soft Shell Crab
ginger garlic scallion ragout with kabayaki butter sauce
♥♥♥♥
Shichimi Roasted Ahi
brussel sprouts, haricot verts & ponzu demi on capellini pasta
♥♥♥♥♥
Choice of one…
Braised “Beef Stew” Short Rib $54
braised celery & carrots with truffled macaroni salad, mashed potato & “beef stew” sauce
or
Oven Roasted Soy Marinated Butter Fish $56
stewed Hauula tomato concasse, roasted Hamakua mushrooms, baby bok choy & chili pepper water-konbu broth, steamed rice
♥♥♥♥♥
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Macadamia Nut Crusted Chocolate “Lollipop”
Chocolate Sorbet
complete your experience and add the wine pairing (four wines) for an additional $20
Wednesday, February 10th “Winetasting at VINO” 6:00PM
Recently while thumbing through wine importer Kermit Lynch’s book “Adventures on the Wine Route” I was reminded of what Bordeaux used to taste like. It is a far cry of what is “in fashion” currently. Sadly this style of wine is dwindling in availability & becoming an oddity as opposed to the norm. It seems people look for black in their wines, huge amounts of ripe fruit & a significant dollop of brand new oak. Last night, our staff had the chance to taste Chef Keith’s new “Winter” menu dishes. With his Fresh Oreccheitte Pasta with house made spicy lamb sausage, baby swiss rainbow chard, mushroom jus, & pecorino romano we found the 2004 Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco was an ideal match. The dish & the wine deftly complemented each other. By chance Cheryle then try a highly rated Napa Valley Cabernet with the same dish. I wish I had taken a picture of her facial expressions & body English. No Buena!!!! The oak, alcohol & resounding bitterness just became exaggerated with the food. It could have been nicknamed “Clash of the Titans”. With those thoughts in mind, we have decided to do a tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Cabernet Franc based wines in search of wines done in the old style. Translation……NO fruit bombs on this night! Hopefully participants will walk away with insight on the way it was….& perhaps some new standards.
--2005 FORMAN Cabernet Sauvignon “Napa Valley” (California)
this is undoubtedly one of California’s VERY best Cabs….which is at the same time so surprisingly unknown. Hopefully this tasting will make a believer out of you too. As a side note, this was the first vintage he included fruit the top, previously solid rock parcel he had dynamited in order to plant.
--2002 LA JOTA Cabernet Franc “Howell Mountain” (California)
we just had to include this wine because it is so unbelievably good …AND Bordeaux-like. Crafted by the legendary Bill Smith (one of his last La Jota bottlings before selling the winery), this is a benchmark, mountain grown red which is showing so gorgeously right now.
--2005 BARON DE BOUTISSE “St Emilion Grand Cru” (France)
a fabulous, recent discovery for us…a blend of Merlot & Cabernet grown on a limestone plateau in St Emilion on Bordeaux’s right bank. Tasters will immediately smell & taste the soil influences in this one as well as feel it on the palate. As the wine opens with air, one will also sense the breed & character of this St Emilion Grand Cru red.
--2003 CHATEAU BELLE-VUE “Haut Medoc” (France)
another fabulous, new discovery for us. The soil is very iron rich & will therefore be so very different from the St Emilion example. Produced from Merlot & Cab, this wine is much more masculine, chewy & structured with a classic cigar box, cedar, dried fruit kind of perfume.
--1996 GONZAGA San Leonardo (Italy)
This is a Cabernet based red all about the soil it is grown in & has the aromas & character of the old style Bordeaux I grew up with. Certainly brings up memories of the past for me.
There you have it….5 wines….2 ounces each, $39 a person (not including tax or gratuity). By Reservations only….533-4476 or email Nicole nmadosik@dkrestaurants.com
Come join us for this unique wine adventure.
Wednesday, February 17th “Winetasting at VINO” 6:00PM
Let’s taste Pinot! Here is a sampling of 5 really good & interesting Pinots, which most people
wouldn’t have thought of themselves.
2006 DREW “Weir Vineyard” (Yorkville Highlands)
We start this tasting with a wine from the Wines & Spirits 2009 “Winery of the Year” & its winemaking phenom leader, Jason Drew. The Weir vineyard is situated on the southeastern border of Anderson Valley in a cool pocket amongst the redwoods. This stunning 15 acre vineyard is located on a steep southeastern slope at an elevation of approximately 850 feet. & is planted to some of the more rare Pinot Noir clone selections seen today in California.
2004 ROBERT MUELLER “Emily’s Cuvee” (Russian River Valley)
A few years back, Robert Mueller was featured in the Wine Spectator’s story on 20 Pinot producers to watch out for. We have been a big fan since the 80’s. His superb Pinots have such class & texture. Here is his fabulous 2004.
2005 AMBULLNEO “Mastiff” (Carneros)
This winery abruptly came out of nowhere & immediately HUGE ratings & acclaim. It sure caught our attention! The “star” of their releases was this uber-pricey, real ballyhoo-ed, storybook bottling (produced from Hyde Vineyard grapes in Carneros). With my first taste, I was very apprehensive of the enormity & bombastic attitude of this wine, & especially its BIG price tag. That was 3 years ago & the wine today, though still pricey, is something we were hoping would materialize. It certainly did. WOW!
2005 DOGPOINT “Marlborough” (New Zealand)
A New Zealand project well worth keeping an eye out for as their wines are really good. Purity & class are
really good words to use when describing their wines.
2007 LOUIS LATOUR Corton Grand Cru (France)
The 2007 vintage is being lukewarmly received by the media. It was a challenging vintage for reds in Burgundy.
As this wine will show, however, there are some really good “finds” if you dig around.
Grand Cru…& it really shows its pedigree.
There you have it….5 wines….2 ounces each, $49 a person (not including tax or gratuity). By Reservations only….533-4476 or email Nicole nmadosik@dkrestaurants.com
Wednesday, February 24th “Winetasting at VINO” 6:00PM
Our good friend Bruce Liebert has been patiently waiting for us to do a BIG Red tasting. Well Bruce & you ‘all, here it is. 5 New World Black Beauties, in all their glory. Hopefully this will show you the difference between BIG & “Over the Top”.
2006 HARTFORD COURT Zinfandel “Highwire Vineyard” (Russian River Valley)
a stellar, mega-intense Zin from 100 plus year old vines grown right in the heart of the Russian River Valley
2005 TRITONO Malbec (Argentina)
a “mountain grown”, Old Vine Malbec crafted by Pinot-meister Steve Clifton (of Brewer Clifton)
2003 DUTSCHKE Shiraz “Oscar Semmler” (Australia)
a black, masculine Old Vine Barossa Valley Reserve bottling from Wayne Dutschke
2004 CAMBIATA Tannat (Monterey)
Tannat is the grape….which in this case is grown high atop a wind pounded Monterey hillside
2004 STOLPMAN Angeli (Ballard Canyon)
an absolutely insane, majestic, VERY limited Reserve Syrah from superstar winemaker Sashi Moorman
There you have it….5 wines….2 ounces each, $42 a person (not including tax or gratuity). By Reservations only….533-4476 or email Nicole nmadosik@dkrestaurants.com
Come join us for this unique wine adventure.
Now On to Wines………
.
.2006 FORMAN Chardonnay “Napa Valley” NEW By The Glass
There is NO doubt that Ric Forman is one of California’s true “Hall of Fame” winemakers of ALL time.
Despite a VERY decorated & highly revered career which has spanned SIX decades, Ric is producing his best wines seemingly every new vintage. For me, for example, this is the very best Chardonnay I have had from him. The 2006 is so alive, delicious, classy, suave & layered without pretension or gaudiness.
2006 ROBERT MUELLER Pinot Noir “Emily’s Cuvee” NEW By The Glass
Here is a real TOP NOTCH Pinot Noir maker and one whom most of you haven’t heard about. It is not like he is a new-by either. He has been around awhile. I in fact went to see his newly built winery back in the early to mid nineties. I loved his wines then & am impressed how much better they are with each new release. I have found his Pinots benefit greatly with a little bottle age. Here is his 2004 Reserve Pinot. See for yourself.
VINO WINE OF THE MONTH
(price good for February only)…
2004 SELENE “Chesler”--$85
One of my all time favorite winemakers from the Napa Valley is Mia Klein. Her illustrious career has now spanned at least 5 decades AND her wines are better than ever! To put this in better perspective, think about how many of her contemporaries have either retired, fallen by the wayside or passed away. Furthermore, she has done all of this as a female in a very male dominated arena. Mia’s most special attribute is undoubtedly her character….& I strongly believe her wines reflect that. Although she has made quite a reputation for her Selene label via a top notch Sauvignon Blanc & a truly superb, incredibly elegant & well textured Merlot, for me her crowning jewel is the Chesler bottling, a VERY elegant, highly refined, seamless Cabernet Franc based Napa Valley red. Here is the stellar 2004. I am always so astounded how a supremely gifted winemaker like this gets so little accolades & acclaim even though she has consulted for BIG name-ers like Spottwoode, Araujo, Viader & Dalla Valle. Her work is a HUGE reason for their world wide acclaim & resulting success! Well, this is her own project & something well worth checking out. I believe she & her wines are the REAL deal & this wine should show you why. Then……..compare what you are getting in terms of quality & price to all of the other high profile Napa Cabs. You will be amazed!