Sigh...my food report is almost over and then I will have to get started on my scrapbook. Maybe I will get it done before we go back and I have to start again.
California Grill 10/01/08 - I may have some difficulties as the menu on AllEars isn't exactly the same, but I will do my best. This is the one restarant I was very excited about. When I make my ADRs 180 days in advance it was for 4 people at 7:00 and Wishes was for 9:00, perfect. When Mom decided to come with, I had to adjust things a bit. I changed the ressies to 5:30 as mom doesn't like to eat real late and I could get another reservation for 5 until 9:20 at night. So I deceided we could just come back and watch the fire works. Ah, the best laid plans. Well things didn't exactly go as planned. We arrived almost on time, we were a little early but not too much. We were escorted upstairs and checked in with the hostess. We sat down with our new best friend from this trip, the ever present vibrating pager. (even my Dr office uses these now). We sit at the couches and look over the menus. We eventually wander outside to the balconies. My fear of heights kicks in a little but it wasn't too bad. My Hubby and I did notice that tourists can be a bunch of pigs. We noticed this at our own hotel with cups and wrapper left all over, but on the balcony of the CG I was most dissapointed. Someone left their drink glasses (broken) just sitting in a corner. I am sorry, but someone else may not have seen them and cut them selves. I don't know about the rest of you but in my world you clean up ater yourself, or find someone to help you. Ok off my soap box. The view from the balcony was fabulous. I was so neat to see the MK from way up there, the only thing that distracted me was the construction. But the very large birds flying around the construction were neat. I swear they were eagles or very large hawks. My Dad would have loved the view. We do spend a lot of time talking about what Dad iked last time we came and what he would or wouldn't have liked this time. Sometimes this makes me and mom very sad and other times we laugh at what his reactions were. On my next post I will post a pick of our last trip with my Dad and you can see his sense of humor.
Here is a pic of the view:
Here is a pic of the kitchen from our table:
Our waitress was from Wausau, WI so we chit chatted about home for a bit. Wm decided he wanted to try a glass of wine. We are not drinkers at all, but he does this when we go on vacation and then I take a picture of the terrible faces he makes. Its tradition. I don't even remember what kind of wine it was.
Stinky had to have his kiddie cocktail in a wine glass also. I bet we look like good parentsd huh?
The waitress brought the kids fish crackers which Josh devoured. She also brought bread and olive oil. I am the only one who likes the oil. Mom says it tastes too much like oil. go figure. She at her bread with good ole fashioned butter.
Stinky ordered the kids salad which was his favorite. He liked the big pieces of lettuce and loved the croutons. So much that the waitress brough him a plate of croutons and even gave up some to go.
We mad Josh order the fresh fruit even though we knew he wasn't going to eat it. We all picked at the fruit which was very good. Very fresh.
I ordered the flat bread with spinach, tomatoes and onions. I cannot remember exactly what was on it, but I would have been very happy to make a meal out of jus the flat bread.
Mom and Wm had ordered the same flat bread as each other. Not sure what it was called but it had fontina, fungus, I mean mushrooms, and bacon and little baby potato chips on it. WM loved it, but didn't like the aoili (sp) that was on top. Mom and I couldn't finish ours so we took them back to the hotel. Sorry about the gigantic pic. Photobucket is not "working with me" today.
I think my mom had this "Pan-Roasted Grouper Fillet - With olive oil crushed potatoes, cipollini onions, and red wine butter sauce " but I could be wrong. She loved the fish, but hated the potatos. Houw do you ruin potatos you may ask...add olive oil to them I guess.
Wm and I both ordered the filiet. OOH ymmy goodness on a plate. two thumbs up. Oh my gosh where do they get those potatos. Oh yeah, here is the description, "Oak-fired Filet of Beef with Boniato Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Haricot Vert and Teriyaki Barbeque Sauce " Wms favorite meal by far.
I neglected to take a pic of the boys food as I was attempting to head off a major melt down when Stinky saw his entree. "Grilled Chicken Breast
with Yukon gold potatoes and seasonal vegetables " I thought mashed potatoes would come, instead they got roasted red potatos and the chicken breast had something on it. Josh ate his chicken and Stinky ate croutons.
For dessert I ordered the ""The Original" - The California Grill's legendary butterscotch creme brulee with a duo of banana cakes, and caramelized bananas " the creme brulee was good, but I make better banana bread at home. I probably won't do that again.
Wm and mom tried the "Valrhona Chocolate Cake and Apricots Warm Chocolate Cake with Molten Center, House-made Apricot Ice Cream and Apricot Sauce", but they go theirs with vanilla icecream and chocolate sauce. I am sorry to say, but it was better than the chocolate wave at CR. My mom makes a chocolate bread budding that tastes very similar.
Josh ordered an ice cream sundae. He thought the nilla wafers were a nice touch.
Stinky got the Kids sushi. Which is glorified rice krispi treats and fruit roll ups. This was served with chop sticks and our very smart waitress brought two sets so the boys wouldn't fight. So Josh at his ice cream with chop sticks. Stinky Loved the sushi.
Here is a shot of the sunset...
Overall, CG is a must do. Wm has requested it again for our next trip. Mom thought it was nice, but not a must do for her, but she is much more conservative. We never did make it back to watch the fire works, but thats ok. Mom was not feeling good and I think she was sad again, so she took Josh back to the hotel since he was falling asleep on the couches. We took Stinky to watch Spectro magic parade and called it a night.
Next up our final full day...Kona for Breakfast and a disappointing Brown Derby.
