There are seven storms now listed: one in the West Pacific (Tropical Typhoon Etau is moving away from Japan), three in the Central Pacific (but only Felicia is a threat), two in the East Pacific (watch out for both) and Atlantic (which could be could become the FIRST named storm...Ana).
Felicia is now a tropical depression, but is heading straight for my apartment. The expectation is 25 MPH winds, with gusts up to 40 MPH, with a lot of rain (but nowhere the up to 100 inches Taiwan saw this weekend).
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Oh, about Monettes (Inventive American cuisine with island influences), this a restaurant at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. I had two dinners here. The first night featured Chef Matt Zubrod's Night in Italy. Overall, the food was good, but service trying, for more showed up to eat than the staff could handle, which, I guess, is a positive note for tourism.
The meal, Night One:
1. Grilled calamari, arugula, tomato and house-made mozzarella salad with Zardetto Prosecco. A bit too much dressing for me, but okay.
2. Porcini mushrooms, heirloom polenta and crisp egg with a Piedmonte 2007 Ceretto Blange Arneis. The egg was hot, but the rest of the items were too cool for my taste. This unusual white wine went well with the dish.
3. Veal osso bucco, asparagus and ricotta ravioli with a Lago di Corbora 2006 Tunuta diSalviano "Turlo" Blend. The veal, again, could have been hotter, there was too much ravioli and the red wine was a bit too light.
4. Artisan cheese with Marsala poached figs and a Veneto 2006 Masi "Campofiorin" Ripasso. This wine might have gone better with the dessert.
5. Espresso Tiramisu with a Chianti 2000 Barone Ricasoli Vin Santo. The tiramisu was excellent, but I was much too satiated to enjoy it. This was not a chianti in the conventional sense, for it was closer to a dry port, which should have been switched for the Ripasso.
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I particularly enjoyed my information exchange with lead server Bryan and sommelier Karen, who shows huge potential for her pioneering spirit. I however told them that the overall experience was less than adequate, so the tip will reflect this service. However, I made a reservation to return the second night, for Monday nights are not normally overcrowded. Mind you, only half the restaurant was occupied. This was an unexpected staffing problem. With the tourist industry in such despair, it is understandable that there had to be cost-cutting.
Night Two:
The sitting began with the above view, and entertainment featuring Rupert. I like to balance tastes, temperatures and other culinary parameters, so the following reflected my eclectic epicurean tastes. The meal also cost more than twice that of Night One.
1. Tomato and Pepino Gazpacho accompanied by veal sweetbreads en cocote, with a Carneros Ancient Pinot Gris. The gazpacho had all kinds of vegetables, and was an ideal match for a rather bland sweetbread. The white wine was perfect.
2. Kona Kampachi (just had to order something associated with Neil Sims' sea ranch) carpaccio and Rougie Farm Foie Gras, with a Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon. The combination was great. The turnip below the fish needs to be a different form, though, for it was nearly impossible to eat both at the same time. This was a very expensive red wine, and disappointing.
3. Japanese Wagyu Kobe New York...all of three ounces, with an Urakasumi "Zen" Junmai Ginjo. This was the highlight of all the dishes I had over the past two days. It also cost more than the entire food portion of Night One. But, then, Marukai takes orders for Omi beef at nearly $200/pound, so the price was not ridiculously out of line.
4. The staff then treated me to tiny pieces of all their signature desserts with an excellent Tawny Port.
The setting with a sunset view, then later under the stars, plus fantastic service with gastronomic delights, made Night Two among the best meals I've had in my life. Thanks, Bryan, Karen, Tina and Kiley.
I'm now off for the Four Seasons Hualalai for some golf and exploration, as I need to remain on island for a lunch with Pearl's relatives on Friday. Yet, I do worry about the Craigside.
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The Dow Jones Industrials had its biggest loss in a month, 97 to 9241, while world markets were mostly down. Gold stayed steady at $96/toz and crude oil slipped below $70/barrel.
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