California Grill - CR - just a few questions

[pooh2001]

We would love to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary dinner at California Grill. It will be worth the 2 TS.

Since my DD will be 14 - she will have an adult DDP - but what if she wants something off the children's menu ?

Should we pay OOP instead of using 2 TS for each of us ?

Has anyone has the -> Cashew Nut Dacquoise Cake - Inspired by the Year of a Million Dreams. Served with roasted stone fruits, blackberries, lychee cream, and ginger caramel ice cream.
What are the roasted stone fruits ?

What does the free range chicken taste like ? Is it gamey ? -> Roasted Free Range Chicken Breast - Served with salad of Heirloom tomatoes, arugula, croutons, and natural jus. - $28.00

Is the steak main dish part of the DDP items ? -> Oak-fired Filet of Beef - Served with Boniato mashed potatoes, sauteed haricot vert, and teriyaki BBQ sauce. - $41.00

 

[Raivyn]

I would think it would be worth it for your DD to use TS instead of paying OOP. It is such a great, but expensive restaurant.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Stone fruits are fruits with a pit--peaches, plums, cherries, and apricots. I don't know which ones are used, though roast peaches seems to be quite a fad lately in fancy restaurants.

Free range chicken breast tastes pretty much like regular chicken breast but is usually a bit darker (not nearly as dark as dark meat) and moister and the flavor tends to be a bit stronger.

Don't know about the rest. Happy anniversary! I wish I'd thought back when we got married about having both our birthdays and our anniversary right in the middle of high summer when it's too hot to go to Disney (ETA: at least considering I married someone who comes from a country where 80° is enough of a heat wave that the government issues health warnings) ...

 

[BCV23]

I ordered the chicken in January I think (might have been Oct. though which would have been a different chef). Anyway, it was very flavorful and the skin was perfectly crisp. I did find it a bit on the salty side but I think that's what brings out the chicken flavor. I don't remember it being darker in color at all. I would order it again happily.

Yes, the steak is included on the DDP and it's excellent.

Haven't had the cake, sorry.

I think your 14 year old could find things to enjoy on the menu. There's always a 4 cheeseflatbread (well, right now the flatbread oven is apparently out of commission) that's tasty but fine for a pickier palate. She could order it as an entree. We've often done that for one son. Sauces can be on the side and they'll happily substitute a starch for another on the menu, etc.. I bet she'll enjoy her meal a lot more if she tries some of the adult items.

One of ours was picky at restaurants until she was 12 or so....and when she finally stopped ordering chicken nuggets or strips everywhere, her palate blossomed overnight.

 

[GazerBeam]

Has anyone has the -> Cashew Nut Dacquoise Cake - Inspired by the Year of a Million Dreams. Served with roasted stone fruits, blackberries, lychee cream, and ginger caramel ice cream.
What are the roasted stone fruits ?

When I was there last october, they were plums, though I would not be surpirsed to see that change based on what is in season. Just ask your server to be sure.

It was good, not the best dessert I've had there (That award goes to what I think they called a pumpkin tart, layers of pumpkin moose between layers of pastry. That was in late november 2007).

GB

 

[pooh2001]

Thank you for thr menu help and suggestions. DH, DS & me like the steak - but DD is into chicken. She does like dark meat - thighs and legs, so the free range chicken may be ok.

We will do the California Grill for our 25th anniversary

 

[4orm]

All free-range means is that the chicken gets to run around and be a chicken rather than being stuck in a cage with ten other chickens unable to move. It's had a happier, healthier (slightly darker meat might be due to actually getting exercise) chicken life compare to caged chickens