The Hobbit

I am a little behind on this post due to Riley's birthday, but I wanted to make sure I got it in.

A few weeks ago Aaron & I were honored to have the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of friend of ours named Tony. We were invited to join his family at this really fancy restaurant in Orange, CA, called The Hobbit.

We have been there once before with his family, but that does not make the experience any less amazing. The Hobbit is a vintage home that has been converted into a restaurant, complete with its own wine cellar. When you dine there, it truly is an experience to enjoy.

You start out your evening upstairs in the cocktail area socializing with your friends & family. Then you are invited down to gather in the basement, which has actually been converted to an amazing wine cellar, for champagne & hors d'oeuvres. As you enjoy a bit of bubbly, conversation & mystery hors d'oeuvres (I had to have Aaron sample things before I would take a bite; most were delicious, I am just a picky eater), you are surrounded by an incredible collection of fine wines. It is there, that you are supposed to select the wine(s) for each course of your upcoming meal. This is the place where most of our party were in awe - the wine cellar. The selection is huge, & that does not even count their private stock "in the back!" The bottles range in price from about $20 to $2500+ each. Needless to say, this is Aaron's & my brother Tim's, favorite room in the restaurant/house.

When you enter the cellar, they also hand you your very own pre-set menu of seven courses that you will be enjoying that evening. Here is what made up our elegant spread:

Champagne & Hors d'Oeuvres

New Zealand Bluenose Bass with Carrot, Leek and Quinoa Fish Fume

Fennel and Cherry Stuffed Quail with a Spicy Port Reduction

Baby Beet Salad, Totsoi and Frisee Lettuce, Nut Crusted Goat Cheese Parfait, Duck Confit

Intermission

(Yes, there was an intermission)

Sorbet

Wild Mushroom Stuffed Filet Mignon

(Which was amazing!)

Molten Chocolate Cake with Caramel and Raspberry Sauce

(Absolutely to Die For!!)

We were also given an additional bonus - our table was actually set up in the wine cellar! The wine lovers with us would not have had it any other way. The company was wonderful & the ambience was perfect. Overall spending a beautiful evening with family you care about is just ...taking words from Tony's mouth...priceless.

Thank you for a Wonderful Evening Tony!