A somewhat lazy day (that IS what we came for, after all), in preparation for a busy evening. The venue offers a 4-restaurant tasting evening, with wine included at each stop. What's not to like?
We meet at the Asian restaurant, BONG, and we're the first to arrive. It SEEMED like another group was also waiting for the tour, but shortly they were led into the restaurant. After a bit, we were introduced to our tour guide and seated at a long table for about 12. Next to arrive was a sextet: three sisters (two very pregnant) and their delightful spouses. All deliciously-wholesome farm kids; the total of SEVEN children had been left behind with the ladies' parents in their 4-BR suite. Eventually two other couples joined in and we commenced the show.
A theme that would carry through the evening was interesting table settings. Here, the plates were round with an off-center round indentation. The water glasses had a colored squiggle around the outside. Alternating white (plate AND squiggle on glass) and black settings made a dramatc presentation.
Our first offering was a chicken/coconut soup, lighter than it could have been and very pretty and tasty, in a tiny circular bowl just big enough to accommodate the ceramic soup spoon. It was followed by a generous lobster spring roll (rice-paper wrapper) with dipping sauce (I enjoyed a salad enhanced by well-seasoned chicken skewers). Our wine was a fizzy rose, and we were encouraged to master a proper Spanish toast.
After this relaxed beginning, we took off along the wooden walkway to the Italian-themed Tramonto. The bar was empty, except for a wall of interesting books ... some in English, others in Spanish, with a definite emphasis on international architecture. When everyone was assembled, we moved into a private room for a presentation of salmon and beef carpaccio, passing a miniature salad bar enroute. Before that arrived, of course, there was a plentiful bread basket flanked by a small saucer of olive oil & balsamic vinegar for dipping. Freshly-grilled bruschetta slices came out just before the carpaccio. That was served on huge white oval plates, a line of overlapping slices of salmon on one side, beef on the other. In the middle was a sweet little salad of greens and a few other components. The dish was excellent, the sturdy red that accompanied it quite nice as well.
As we departed, still wondering how that tiny salad bar was managed, the truth was revealed! The wait staff actually assembles the house salads, so all the components remain in their assigned containers and it looks pretty all night long. Intelligent design!
Now we trek over to the entertainment venue, which is also a "transportation point" where we had shuttle carts waiting for us. We must have looked in need of loosening up, as the drivers wheeled around the traffic circle twice at break-neck speed (given we were in a golf cart). Next stop was Epazote, a Mexican-themed but white-tablecloth venue. There we enjoyed what could only be described as quarried bricks of sea bass -- the original fish had to have been 50# at least. It was done to a turn and subtly seasoned, garnished with a spoonful of cannellini and a sauteed vegetable medley. The garnish was a fresh pea tendril, very sweet. A dry white complemented the presentation; the oblong white plates showed the meal to great effect.
Our final destination was Havana Moon, right on the beach. The shuttle dropped us right at the stairs, and we had a table on the porch overlooking the breakers rolling in under the moon and stars. Dessert was served on big square plates: a warm brownie with ice cream and candied nuts, decorated with a crunchy lace cookie. A mildly sweet dessert wine rounded out the evening; one of the "older" husbands offered a well-deserved toast to our host.
We were certainly full, but not overstuffed; the pacing and servings were well-planned. We really enjoyed our varied dining companions, finding assorted shared interests and histories. One of the husbands makes his own beer & wine and is planning to move into cheese; we discussed some of the subtleties of working with yeast; support of American Farmland Trust was appreciated. One of the "older" couples had just moved away from the DC area. Camping tales and parenting tales ... lots of crossover topics. The three husbands were having a great time with each other, it was fun to see such a happy extended family.
We arrived back at the room quite ready for a good night's sleep after our 3.5-hour tasting tour -- quite a nice value and a most pleasant experience.
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