Playground - Santa Ana, CA
Tasted Sunday, June 30, 2013 by brigcampbell with 581 views
We've been talking about getting together for dinner for 4 years, seriously, that's how lame we are as a group! But dinner at the playhouse was worth the wait, everything on the menu was delicious and we should know because we basically ordered one of everything. The menu is created daily but there's always a few staples or twists on the favorites. Here the night's menu.
As we discussed during dinner, it's entirely possible to create and amazing meal just with the first courses, they are that good.
Wok Roasted Broccolini. This will jack up the blood pressure.
Pan Roasted Corn - flavor pours from this dish. Heck, I like just plain corn from the can, so I gladly finished the remains.
Octopus Carpaccio - definitely the winner of the presentation award. When it landed on the table I was dumb founded. Garlic chip inside, bravo.
Razor Clams - weakest dish of the evening. Tasted like potatoes.
Pan Roasted Mushrooms with slow egg - action shot of Valerie cutting open the egg then mixing together.
Truffle, lemon, ans asparagus Risotto
Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Kurobuta Pork Shoulder
Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken
Striped Bass
Crispy Jidori Chicken Crown. Might be the best chicken I've tasted, better than the roasted chicken at Nicks. Shocking, I know.
Skirt Steak
Tri-Tip
Waygu Beef Brisket Thai style. Authentic Bangkok flavors.
I saw this on the chalkboard wall over the kitchen. Classic.
Lime Curd
Fig Toffee Sticky Pudding - one of the best desserts on the planet
Chocolate and Pistachio Crunch Bar
2009 Copain Pinot Noir Monument Tree
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Ruby/garnet color. Light cherry aromas. Cherry and sweet strawberry dominate the palate with a very soft mouthfeel. Very nice Pinot but not for the money. That's probably an unpopular statement but when I'm in the over $50 category it better outclass a $30 bottle.
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2009 Hearst Ranch Winery Three Sisters Cuvée
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
It's confirmed. This vintage is superior to the '11. With marsanne and rousanne calling the shots there's a significantly greater level of depth in the mouthfeel and much more complexity. I'll be racing Patrick to whole foods to buy the remaining bottles.
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