Japanese Tuna @ Nostrani

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
1

Carollee got an e-mail from Eric Stapleman yesterday afternoon, saying they had just gotten 50-60 lbs of tuna from the Tokyo Fish Market. We couldn’t turn that down, so we went for dinner after a Wine Tasting at Casa Sena in the late afternoon. Don Roberts was also at the tasting and we talked him into joining us, Sally was at her book club meeting.

We all arrived and were seated at our usual table. Eric talked us into starting with a 2006 Lafon Macon-Villages. (I wanted to start with a Barbera.) The Macon was rich white fruits and good acidity; a little light for the first appetizer of Maguro Crudo - Fried shallot rings on slices of Maguro with cucumber. The Macon was better with the next plate - a toro crudo - slices of some of the best toro I’ve had in a long time with heirloom tomatoes. Then Eric brought out a 2006 Ca’Rome Barbera d’Alba, which was fruity with good acidity and very nice with the next course of braised boneless shortribs with Maguro sashimi and heirloom tomatoes. Then to complete our tuna feast we had toro sashimi, Maguro sashimi, and seared foie gras on thinly sliced plums along with a half bottle of 2006 Weinbach Riesling VT. The two types of tuna were wonderful with the foie gras. It’s very hard to find something any richer. The Weinbach was very nice with more foie gras; the end of the Barbera was good with more tuna.

Then to complete the indulgence we all decided to have dessert. Carollee had the cookie plate, Don had the raspberry cannoli, and I had the chocolate flan. Carollee and I also had a couple double espressos each with the lovely desserts.

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The August Wine Geeks at Nostrani is Tuesday, 1 September, for a change. Do you want to try to join us? American Airlines/American Eagle now has direct flights between Dallas and Santa Fe.

3

Oooh, toro & heirloom tomato - sounds yummy!

4

What a lovely meal, Dick. And a guilt free-meal, because as we learned yesterday from Jack Bulkin, tuna is a vegetable [wink.gif]

Are you going to the Santa Fe Wine & Chile Festival this year? If so, I hope Carollee will post lots of pictures on Facebook.

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Yes, we’re going to several events, at least one per day. We also are putting a dinner for six at our house up for the live auction on Friday.

6

Yes, but the short ribs and the foie gras aren’t veggies.

7

A Lafon and a Weinback??? Is Eric actually giving out a wine list or did you need to dig into the cellar? I realize they are an Italian restaurant but knowing they have decent French offerings, and liking French much more than Italian, I’m pleased (shocked!) he offered the Lafon to start.

I’m merely hoping I don’t need to walk into the wine cellar at Tr. Nostrani to find a decent French wine, that I could actually be civilized and sit with a list at the table. Then they’d just need to put up with me arguing against you on which wines to buy with dinner. (I’d lose of course but that’s ok)
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8

There is no French list, you have to have Eric suggest or ask him about them.