Charlie Palmer's Christmas Feast

Saturday night we attended another Charlie Palmer event at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno NV.  During the summer we had attended our first Charlie Palmer event and it was fabulous.  This one was a Christmas spectacular.
It was held in the Grand Theater..we were wondering how they were going to serve dinner.  As we were ushered into the theater the waiters were passing champagne and appetizers.  We were told to sit anywhere for the time being.  We sat and more appetizers were passed as well as more champagne. We were wondering if the food was going to be presented on the stage and how were all these people going to go up and get their food then come back down and sit.
All of a sudden all the lights dimmed, Christmas music started and the curtain parted.  The stage was spectacular with Christmas lights, trees and tables set up.  Then the announcer presented the Chef's and up from the floor rose 4 chefs.  Charlie Palmer was then introduced and he gave a short welcome speech then invited everyone up on stage ( I had a video but some reason it won't load).  Once up on stage there was a drinks station with his and hers cocktails.  Bulleit Rye Sazarac (Bulleit Rye, bitters, Absinthe) for him and Caramel Voli-tini(Voli Vanilla Espresso Vodka, Caramel Bailey's, cream) for her. 
The main dishes were: Duck confit salad paired with Anatori" La Braccesca" Vino Nobile de Montepulciano 2008
Chukkar Partridge bread pudding with foie gras paired with Antica chardonnay 2009
Roasted Scottish Salmon Smoked bacon hash/port reduction paired with Erath "Prince Hill" Pinot Noir 2008
Main Lobster Ravioli/Meyer lemon butter sauce paired with Stags Leap  Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Honey glazed wild boar leg sweet potato puree/caramelized pears/Pear Williams pan jus paired with Spring Valley "Nina Lee" Syrah 2008
 Pepper Crusted Venison Brochettes Roasted root vegetables/Cabernet cassis reduction/ Tenderloin of beef paired with Conn Creek "limited Release" Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (my favorite).
Of course a huge desert table, individual Baked Alaska, petite fours, chocolates, fruit jellies and various pastries, all paired with Horse Heaven Hills Late Harvest Chenin blac 2005.  Whew! 
Everything was fantastic.. of course my favorite was the bread pudding with the Foie Gras and later I got the server to plate me just the Foie.
Here are a few pictures of the evening.

cheese, prosciutto, pates

duck confit salad

Chukkar Partridge Bread Pudding w/ foie gras

roasted Scottish Salmon

Pepper Crusted Venison Brochette/Beef Tenderloin

Lobster Ravioli

Dessert Station

This was another amazing event and we are looking forward to Charlie Palmer's next event in March.

An Evening of Food and Wine

This weekend was a weekend of eating.  We left for Reno Friday afternoon, staying at the Grand Sierra Resort.  Friday night we had dinner at Charlie Palmer Steak which was excellent as usual.  What we actually went for was the Evening of Food and Wine which was being held on Saturday night. It was a special dinner put on by Charlie Palmer with foods from his two restaurants the Steakhouse and Briscola.  The invitation said it was an interactive evening of food and wine.  The dinner was held in the Grand Ballroom..interactive meant buffet. It was an amazing amount of food and wine..all of it delicious..plus they had a martini bar completely made of ice..open bar.  Each station had a beautiful ice carving representing the foods being served. 

 The Briscola antipasti station: assorted cured meats, marinated olives and roasted peppers, cheeses, chutneys and house made crackers.
Penne pasta with house made pancetta, summer squash,cauliflower, red bell pepper, shaved Parmesan Reggiano.
The wine being paired was the Chiarolo Barbera D'Asti "Piedmonte"

 Coffee crusted Angus tenderloin of beef, cabarnet

reduction, mashed potato bar: Yukon gold, Peruvian and Winnemucca potatoes, assortment of Forest mushrooms and truffles.

Paired with Beailieu Vineyards Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Pan seared Hudson Valley foie gras, red onion marmalade, toasted brioche.
House cured salmon, corn blini, creme fraiche, caviar
Paired with Rombauer vineyards Chardonnay, Napa Valley.

 Fresh shrimp, oysters and crab martini bar.
Accompaniments: Cognac remoulade, spicey cocktail sauce and drawn butter.
Pan seared scallops,blood orange marmalade, salsa verede.
Paired with Kenwood Vineyards Pinot Gris

Asian hand rolls, sushi, nigiri, wakame salad and
Bang-Bang chicken salad, Ahi tuna, salmon, yellow tail sashimi.

BBQ pork steamed buns with roasted plum sauce and scallion

International cheese selection: Raclette, Asiago, Bel Paese, French Brie,Camboloza, Vermont Sharp Cheddar, Emmental, Humbolt Fog, and Manchego.
Assorted gourmet crackers, fruit and chutneys
Paired with Whitehall Lane Merlot








Hand crafted chocolates, pound cake with warm fruit compote, vanilla ice cream .        










Ice bar- Martini bar                 







This was an amazing assortment of foods..all you can eat, drink and all delicious.  Charlie wasn't looking forward to this dinner.  Since we didn't know what to expect, he was thinking he was going to get tiny bits of food.  He was blown away, he's been raving about the food and the whole evening.  Me, I was thrilled with the Foie Gras and probably ate my weight in it..the scallops were amazing and there was a huge selection of sushi and sashimi all were fresh and delicious.  There was so many things to try that I just went for my favorites.  Deserts..I had one of each.
Charlie Palmer and his staff did an amazing job.  Hopefully he'll have another event like this soon.
Here are just some random pictures of a few dishes.
I have to apologize for the photographs..it was fairly dark in there so the pictures didn't come out very well.


Charlie Palmer



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crabtini



steamed buns



seared foie gras





caprese salad









Reno

This is for enquiring minds like Mel who wanted to know what I ate on my quick get away to Reno Nevada. We go to Reno frequently since it is only about a couple hour drive from Sacramento. It's not Vegas but it has gambling and a the dining scene is becoming more than the $2.99 breakfasts and endless buffets. This trip was especially scenic since it had just snowed a few days before and the snow was fresh and clean and everything was beautiful. The only draw back was the temperature. It was freezing!We usually only go to Reno when we get our rooms comped and this year it's been far and few between that we got a free room. We were staying these couple of days at the Peppermill which is one of my favorite hotels in Reno. It's way from downtown so it's pretty much self contained and we didn't go to any other casinos other than to eat.

As far as eating Sunday evening we decided to try Chi the newish Chinese restaurant at Peppermill. It was a toss up between here and the barbecue place at the food court. Chi is located where the old steak house used to be. It is glizty modern Chinese decor...pretty in a Vegas sort of way. The menu is your typical "American Chinese". The appetizers run the usual spring rolls, pot stickers, spareribs, spicy fried calamari. The calamari is what we tried. It was nicely crispy fried with two dipping sauces. I thought it was going to be like salt and pepper style with jalapeno peppers but it was just regular fried calamari so I don't know where the spicy comes in. Together with the dipping sauce it was good.

Our entree was the Peking Duck and the Whole Steamed Fish with ginger and scallions. The duck was great with the crispy skin but instead of being served with the customary steamed buns we got what I called "tortillas". When I asked the waitress about it she said they did have the steamed buns but you have to ask for them and it was her fault that she didn't mention that. When I asked about the "tortillas" she said they really weren't tortillas but the wrappers they serve with the Mu Shu Pork. Whatever it was it was cold and not very appealing.

The whole steamed fish was good, perfectly steamed and fresh. I wish I could speak Chinese because I could see that the Chinese diners were not eating off the menu which I think would be a lot more fun and probably a lot better. The food was good, not fantastic. The disappointment was the desert. I had the Chocolate Mango desert, it was Mango ice cream atop a chocolate brownie. The brownie was really good but it just didn't go well with the Mango ice cream which had a funny taste like it was just mango flavoring rather than made with real mangoes.

All in all dinner was good but I don't think I'd go back.

Next time I'll try the barbecue joint. Actually I was going to try it for lunch on Monday, but they were closed!

After a little gambling and loosing we decided to go to one of the lounges in the new Tuscan Towers area and it looks out onto the pool. The Terrace Lounge is my favorite, it has over stuffed leather couches and chairs and is kind of clubby looking. It is a very comfortable place to end the evening. Settle into one of the couches, kick back and have a couple of cocktails... life is good.

Monday, after checking out Cabela's sports store and hitting the mall for a little Christmas shopping we were back at the Peppermill and I was getting hungry. We were going to Charlie Palmer's for dinner so I didn't want anything too filling. We went to the Deli and I got a Chili dog. I was huge so Charlie and I split it. It was a good chili dog!! That and a beer and it was a perfect lunch.

Dinner tonight was at Charlie Palmer Steak in the Grand Sierra Resort.

This is my all time favorite steakhouse.

We come to dinner here every time we are in Reno. It has a modern decor that is clean and sleek. The service is always spot on and the servers know what they are doing and are friendly without being intrusive.

It's funny to say but they have the best butter I've ever had. I asked one time and they told me it was from Vermont. It's hard not to eat too much bread (which is also very good) with that butter. For our first course I started with the Crispy Pork Bell ... YUM! Two large pieces of the pork belly that was crispy, rich, fatty, porky on a bed of frisee. Charlie had the Cesar salad his standard. He says they have one of the best.

Charlie had the New York Steak, blue. Blue means that it is quickly seared on either side and is still cold in the center. Me, I have to be different. One of the specials that night was the Pasta de Mare..lobster,clams, mussels, shrimp and scallops over spaghetti in a lobster saffron sauce. This was delicious!!! All the seafood was perfectly cooked and the sauce was to die for.

There was one little accident. As the server was clearing off the table he knocked over a water glass and it shattered. No harm done but I think half the wait staff came over to clean it up and make sure we were OK. Instead of just changing the table cloth and cleaning up the table they moved us to a new table. After we settled in at our new table we were ready for desert. Charlie had the berries and cream. I had my favorite- the Chocolate Peanut butter Bar. It is chocolate and peanut butter mouse. Plus it's cute the way they make a little island on top of the bar.

We also had an after dinner drink of Remy XO which was perfect with the chocolate. Also for our trouble of having to change tables after the spilled water insident they comped us both deserts.

No, this is not an inexpensive dinner. This is fine dining..the best and worth every penny.

We will be back again when we get back to Reno.

That was our culinary adventure.. it was all good and we always have fun eating.

I have to apologize for the pictures, I know they were horrible. I only had the camera on my phone and takes crappy pictures. Next time you go to Reno, go to Charlie Palmer Steak, a must. Try the Romanza Italian Restaurant at the Peppermill or go try Chi or the steakhouse or the barbecue or the deli. For old school go the Steakhouse at Harrah's.

Our resful weekend and CHARLIE PALMER STEAK

Yes, the weather here in Reno was beautiful and actually not as cold as I expected. It was my time to catch up on my sleep. I actually got a chance to sleep though the night without a dog or cat waking me up to go out and back in or kicking me in the side or sleeping on top of me. I could even see Charlie next to me without having to look over a dog and the whole bed to ourselves!!! Yes we could make the animals sleep on the floor but they are so used to sleeping with us it probably wouldn't go over well with them. Maybe I should turn Tianna's bed into theirs.. naww.

So after a restful night the next evening we were back at the Grand Sierra for dinner at Charlie Palmer Steak. I've written about Charlie Palmer before but since our dinner experience the night before was so bad I thought I'd put in the good also. Charlie Palmer is my favorite restaurant in Reno. As always we started with drinks and I have to say they make good drinks. Charlie like Margaritas in a bucket(short high ball like glass) He says that way you don't get all Margarita mix and a little tequila. Well, at Charlie Palmers you get your money's worth. After you get a shot of tequila (Patron Anejo) there isn't much room but for a splash of the mix.. too strong a drink for me! I had the Aureole reserve sparkling wine, that was more my speed and de licious.

They brought our the bread and butter, different types of bread and the best butter ever. It is some kind of Vermont European style butter.

I had the spinach salad with a crispy fried egg and warm bacon dressing. It was delicious. The only minor thing was after they serve the salad the server puts a couple dollops of a mustard vinaigrette around the salad which is totally unnecessary in fact it's too strong. Also I would have liked the egg a little less cooked but that could have been that way because of all the raw egg controversy. Charlie had the Blue Point oysters on the half shell.. he said they were delicious.

Entrees were a small New York steak and a variety of sauteed mushrooms for Charlie and I had the Wagu beef short ribs over saffron risotto and a truffle twice baked potato. Charlie said his steak was one of the best he's had and just the right size he also loved the mushrooms. My short rib was good (mine is still better) and very tender. The rice was really good because it had all the sauce from the short ribs. The potato while good was just too huge!


Desert was a bread pudding with caramel sauce. That was the best bread pudding.. it was very light, not heavy like most. I also got coffee which tonight was hot as it should be and strong the way I like it. I thought I took a picture, but obviously not. I think I was in a food induced stupor. Service was top notch as always. If your in Reno and want a great dinner you have to go to Charlie Palmer Steak at the Grand Sierra Resort.

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