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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Chevys Fresh Mex - Livermore, CA


Chevys Fresh Mex
4685 1st St
Livermore, CA 94551
(925) 960-0071
chevys.com

Chevys' happy hour is now from 3-7pm (M-F) and this evening I just came for margaritas. DH had one of their $3 fajita nachos happy hour appetizer specials and a peach margarita (both good, he says). I had a margarita on the rocks and a strawberry-raspberry margarita...which wasn't even full and I think they forgot to add the raspberry, since it tasted just like a regular strawberry margarita!

Our friends ordered some food as well and everything seemed to arrive at different times...but at least we were all drinking together. :) Oh well, now I know why I haven't missed this place even though we haven't been here in months...and darnit, we still have like 3 of those free appetizer coupons!



Happy Hour Margarita $3.00


Happy Hour Strawberry Margarita $3.25

The Riata Diner & Tavern - Livermore, CA


The Riata Diner & Tavern
190 S J St
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 294-9170
riatadinerandtavern.com

Located in downtown Livermore on the corner of J and Second Streets, the Riata Diner & Tavern's decor is a tribute to the Livermore Rodeo...and don't be alarmed by the animal skins on the wall and the ceiling!

Their California Chicken Sandwich was a chicken breast with grilled portobello mushrooms, pepper jack cheese and a spicy artichoke spread...it was sooooo good and perfect if you like sandwiches with a little kick! Riata's burger with cheddar cheese, bacon and grilled onions was better than I expected...and their steak fries are worthy of comparison to Red Robin's. Of course, they don't offer bottomless steak fries here...but seriously, who needs more than what they give you the first time, anyway?





California Chicken Sandwich $9.95


Riata Burger $8.95 + Cheese $1.00 + Grilled Onions $1.00


Lunch for two including tax and tip: $15.64
(courtesy of a $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate)

Sunday, March 29, 2009

El Balazo - Pleasanton, CA


El Balazo
5331 Hopyard Rd.
Pleasanton, CA 94588
(925) 737-1300
elbalazo.net

Grunge rock meets pool hall in a sports bar/Mexican cafeteria. That was my first impression of El Balazo right off I-580 at Hopyard. They serve generous quantities of mediocre Mexican food and since I don't like getting full without being fulfilled, I don't plan on coming back.

Shrimp enchiladas: blah.

Carnitas taco salad: better than the shrimp enchiladas.

Our $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate (purchased for $2) made this meal $13...at that price, it's worth it! If it was regular price, this review would have been 2 stars...











El Balazo on Urbanspoon

Fenestra Winery - Livermore, CA


Fenestra Winery
83 Vallecitos Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 447-5246
fenestrawinery.com

This was our last stop of the weekend during Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Event and since we were a part of the "last" barrel tasting group before they closed, I think this is the first time we've left Fenestra without buying any wine! :)

Well, we were just there the weekend prior for the Cabernet & Chocolate event...so we're still not out of Fenestra wine yet...







Concannon Vineyard - Livermore, CA


Concannon Vineyard
4590 Tesla Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 456-2505
concannonvineyard.com

Concannon is definitely "the" winery everyone must visit during a trip to Livermore Wine Country...especially with its history...did you know that Concannon was established in 1883 and is also the home of America's first Petite Sirah?

We came here during Livermore's First Barrel Tasting event last weekend and also the Harvest Festival last year, which we enjoyed tremendously as we sat in the shade of their grape arbors while eating a mid-afternoon meal and sipping wine...ahhhh!

As a local winegrower who has experience with both Wente and Concannon...just skip Wente and go to Concannon. Trust me on this one...seriously.















Eagle Ridge Vineyard - Livermore, CA


Eagle Ridge Vineyard
10017 Tesla Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
eagleridgevineyard.com

Came here during Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend last Sunday for the first time and this winery definitely has a more rustic, country feel from the drive there to the old wooden sign that says "Tasting Room" (see my pic.)

The people make you feel welcome and it was cute that we were greeted at the door by a little girl! I don't know if I have a fresher perspective on wine earlier in the day, but this was the 7th winery we visited that afternoon and none of the wines here really stood out for me. It's worth a second trip, though...



Big White House - Livermore, CA


Big White House
6800 Greenville Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 449-1976
bigwhitehouse.com

The sign said: Big White House Winery & John Evan Cellars and Tasting Room. But it was actually an A-frame barn...just in case you think you're lost! Anyway, we came here during Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend and tried their Sangiovese, which was decent but I didn't love it. I'd like to come back for a regular tasting, as I think I might enjoy that peach champagne I heard about...





Charles R Vineyard - Livermore, CA


Charles R Vineyard
8195 Crane Ridge Road
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 454-3040
charlesrvineyards.com

The people here are all very hospitable and we even ran into someone we haven't seen for years and ended up chatting so much, we went straight to the barrel tasting outside and forgot to taste the rest of their wine in the tasting room!

For what it's worth, I enjoyed the barrel tasting of their 2007 Syrah.

I'll be back soon to update my review! :)



White Crane Winery - Livermore, CA


White Crane Winery
5405 Greenville Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 455-8095
whitecranewinery.com

White Crane Winery had a lively, fun atmosphere and was filled with a crowd of people enjoying themselves. The staff is warm and friendly and I really wish I could feel good about giving them 3 stars...but it's all about the wine and I just did not find the barrel tasting or the regular tasting wines very appealing. Not even their Chardonnay Port enticed me to want more...

Maybe I'll come back in a few months and give them another try.

Here's a story on Day 2 of Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend, if anyone's interested:

http://whrrl.com/story/show/764





Bent Creek Winery - Livermore, CA


Bent Creek Winery
5455 Greenville Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 455-6320
bentcreekwinery.com

Our second winery on day 2 of Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend brought us to Bent Creek Winery. This was our second visit here and for whatever reason, this time we really discovered how much we enjoy their wine...and PORT...ohhhh, their Zinfandel Port was truly faaaaaabulous!!! As I sipped their exquisite port, my husband knew without asking that we weren't leaving without a bottle...even if it was our 5th bottle of port this weekend. :)

Back to the barrel tasting: this was my favorite barrel tasting wine of all. They had three separate wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon in neutral oak, a Cabernet Sauvignon in new oak and a Petite Sirah in new oak. First, we tasted both Cabs to compare, then we tasted a mixture of 3 parts neutral oak Cab, 1 part new oak Cab and a couple of droplets of Petite Sirah. It was better than I had expected from any barrel tasting wine...I think by the time we left Bent Creek Winery, I truly became a fan of the Cabernet Sauvignon!

Here's a story on Day 2 of Livermore's First Barrel Tasting Weekend:

http://whrrl.com/story/show/764









Enjoying their Zinfandel Port at home: