Viognier, San Mateo, California

While I was definitely feeling gratitude this year on Thanksgiving ( six days after my right total shoulder replacement and not feeling that terrible arthritic pain anymore ), I didn't feel like a two hour drive to Sacramento for a family gathering.  My arm was still in a sling ( for another five weeks ).  

My dear friend, Kris Bleything, who had welcomed me back from India and offered her home to me, agreed we should dine somewhere locally in the San Mateo area.  She left the choice of restaurants up to me so I spent an hour or so reading reviews and finally picked Viognier.  I liked the menu and their wine list was excellent.  I figured I might have to drink dinner since my right hand was pretty ineffective at cutting meat!

We opted to go early which was good.  Draeger's, the gourmet market that houses Viognier, was not open, so we were given instructions to park in the garage and to phone up for someone who would bring the elevator down to us.  

The restaurant was bright and airy, with light woods and huge flower arrangements of blue hydrangeas.  

It wasn't crowded at that time and we were seated by the crackling fireplace and had an energetic, cheerful server who made excellent suggestions.

I hadn't thought to consider that Viognier might be serving a set menu for Thanksgiving.  I had already looked at their regular online menu and chosen my meal for the evening.  Not so.  Kris was happy to have turkey and dressing but I opted for a meal and an appetizer of pork!

My very good Sazerac cocktail!

A champagne cocktail - lovely but I can't recall its ingredients

We had a long leisurely lunch, enjoying the fire, our meal and an excellent bottle of California pinot noir, recommended by our server.

Turkey and dressing - with a turkey sausage, for good measure

My pork appetizer

Pork, again

I really should have ordered something different.  The pork was delicious but appetizer and entree were so much alike, I found myself craving fish at the end!

Our fine pinot noir

Bread pudding - out of this world

There was a second dessert but I can't seem to find a picture of it - a heavenly pumpkin pie cheesecake.  We must have consumed it so quickly, I forgot to snap a picture...or my phone battery protested.  

It was a nice lunch/dinner but very expensive ( $250 ) and I think both Kris and I missed being with family - though she is like a sister to me.  I was longing to hear little Harper, calling out "Nana."

Sundays in My City - A Lengthy Lunch at the Salt Water Cafe - September 23, 2012

The Santos family of Sahar Village in Mumbai is like family to me.  During my
first stay in India - four months - I lived with Odelio, Lorna, Nick, Jake and, last
but not least, Skip, the family pooch.  I can't believe I've only been to see them
once during this stay - partly because I'm quite a distance away and, with
Nick and Lorna's work schedule and Jake's school and studies, there is not
a lot of time.  My "nephew", Nick, has been working in Dubai.

Happily for me, he is home for a couple of months before starting a new job in
Dubai.  He and his good friend, Snedan, came to have lunch with me 
yesterday at the Salt Water Cafe, my favorite Bandra West restaurant.

We ate and laughed and talked and, before we knew it, we'd been at the 
Salt Water for three hours.  It was so much fun, though, and it delights me
that two young men would take the time to come and hang out with their 
"aunty".

We shared three excellent appetizers and three desserts but each ordered
our own entree.  On the weekends, during certain hours, there is a cocktail
special for 999 rupees ( about $16 ) - quite an assortment and, as far as I
know, it is unlimited.  Since drinks are pretty pricey at the Salt Water, I chose 
to do the special &, four drinks later, I felt I had my money's worth. 

As always, the food and cocktails were excellent and, in spite of the fact
that the restaurant was filled to the gills, we got superb service.  

I laughed and told Nick and Snedan that we had come a long way from our
first outing together when I had just moved to Mumbai - an afternoon of 
several fancy concoctions at Hagen Daas.

Before Nick heads back to Dubai in Novemger, we're going to try another
place about which I've heard good things - Global Fusion.

While I waited for the boys, I went ahead and ordered appetizers so they 

wouldn't have to wait.  All of them were wonderful.  We had a huge plate of

assorted vegetables in an olive oil ( one of the best olive oils I've ever tasted ),

with green and black olives.  There was also cheese on the platter with the 

artichoke hearts, eggplant, zucchini and yellow summer squash.

Nick arrived, wearing a Monarch of the Seas t-shirt which brought tears to my eyes!

This was a delicious polenta crusted chicken with a spicy sauce which I've had

on several occasions.  The only new dish, for me, of the three appetizers was

a wonderful calamari and prawns, not breaded, with lemon and coriander in the

marinade.  I could easily have eaten a second one of those!

While the boys drank Budweiser, I had my second vodka drink, a very yummy and 

spicy bloody Mary.  

Nick Santos and Snaeddan Keppler Vaz

In a tribute to my Southern roots, I decided to have a bourbon mint julep.  The

bartender really is good as this tasted right on a par with that at the Brown

Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.

Snaeddan ordered lamb shanks - something I've always wanted to try since

I love lamb.  They don't look as good as those I've had on Royal Caribbean

ships, though.  I had a beef tenderloin burger on a whole wheat bun with

Brie - yummy.  I love their lamb burger, too - and once I ordered the "Almighty

Burger", a HUGE concoction with two beef tenderloin burgers, cheese, egg,

and some other things.  You can't get your mouth over it, though.  I had to

cut it in four sections!  Nick chose a chicken dish which he seemed to eat 

with delight.

My final cocktail on my drink tour was tequila - a delicious margarita.  I'll

tell you, Salt Water does an excellent job with their cocktails.  They have

some speciality drinks, too, 

All three of the dessert trio were delicious but my favorite is the chocolate

bomb ( I think that's what it's called ).  Once you put your spoon into it,

warm chocolate syrup oozes out.  A scoop of raspberry sorbet accompanies

it.  Definitely worth the calories!

This coffee creme brulee was so yummy.  Of course, creme brulee is at

the top of my favorite desserts list.  

Our third dessert was cheesecake...nice but just cheesecake, as far as I'm concerned.

I've certainly had better, including my pumpkin cheesecake I make at Thanksgiving.

Nick said he had never eaten cheesecake before.  I wonder how anyone, even in

India, reaches his 21st birthday without having tasted cheesecake!

As we got ready to leave, we had a waiter take another picture of us.  I am 

sure I had a couple more pounds on my frame than when I entered Salt Water.

I am really not losing weight this India visit, what with regular, delicious meals

cooked by my wonderful housemates - I'll just be happy if I don't gain any

weight!

I am participating in 

Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City

I haven't visited her in quite some time and I love

her blog.