Last weekend we celebrated late birthdays, Les and Jan's 30th anniversary, and our last dinner together before we meet up at the end of June at the Rome airport for our ride to Umbria and our PalmabellasItaly trip!
After prosecco at the Wolf's, we began with appetizers at the Tea House and Wine Bar in La Quinta. This is a fairly new restaurant, we had visited once for appetizers and a glass of wine. The name is a little confusing, as I , along with many, assumed it would be Asian food. The menu is actually a combination of "European and Fusion Pan Asian". It is a great place to visit for appetizers, a full dinner at moderate prices, a $7 glass of wine, or a cup of tea! Menu items include a "Tuscan stuffed pork porterhouse", red snapper with Szechwan spices, and grilled duck breast. Word is spreading fast with the locals, but for now, there is no problem getting a reservation, or walking in and finding a table. Many "snowbirds" have already left the desert for the summer.
Jan and Les shared a crispy duck pizza:
Brad and I shared lobster quesadillas on crispy wontons with bechamel sauce.
Brad enjoyed his grilled duck breast with baby green beans and parmesan mashed potatoes.
The other three of us ordered the rack of lamb. It was delicious with a mustard-panko crust, and grilled endive with grapes! It was also a bargain at $19.
Next time you visit us, check it out!
Comments (8)
Looks intriguing, Palma.
Now, I have a request -- what's on your shopping list for your next trip to Italy? I'm guessing Furla will be a stop -- I am loving the Furla watch I bought in Florence last September, I wear it every day!
Posted by sandrac | May 28, 2009 12:52 PM
Posted on May 28, 2009 12:52
The wine bar sounds great!
Meet you there sometime?
Posted by nancyhol | May 28, 2009 11:16 PM
Posted on May 28, 2009 23:16
Sounds good, Nancy!
Posted by Palma | May 29, 2009 6:55 AM
Posted on May 29, 2009 06:55
Yes!!! I personally do know how wonderful Executive Erick Torres' food IS!!! I am his sister! He just RECENTLY HAS LEFT THE RESTAURANT. HE COMPLETELY MADE THE WHOLE MENU HIMSELF! Taught every angle IN THE Importance of Presentaion, Style and Skill!! I STILL HAVE THE HONOR OF DINING WITH SUCH CULINARY SKILL WHENEVER I WANT!! IF YOU WOULD ALSO; HE NOW IS A PRIVATE CHEF TO OTHERS... WHO too, ENJOY SUCH PRESENTATION AND FOOD OF THIS CLASS!! I AM SO PROUD,EVIDENTLY SO IS THE OWNER WHO KEPT HIS FULL MENU! Esp. after promising to pull his recipes off:)
Posted by LEANETTE BECKSTRAND | June 5, 2009 10:20 PM
Posted on June 5, 2009 22:20
Wow what a different resturant now that Erick is not there. I used to go all the time because his food was amazing.
The service and front end of the resturant staff did nothing for me. My wife and I still were loyal to Ericks delicious food. Unfortunately we have given the replacement Chef about 3 trys and we were disappointed all 3 times.
Erick if you read this please contact the Ormistons hopefully you remember what we do for a living so you can contact us! We will be future regulars as soon a we find out which resturant you ended up at!!
As for GTWBar sorry folks bad timing. Just not worth it anymore. Leanette if that is your brother please have him respond to this mail. Thank You!!
Posted by Todd Ormiston | June 10, 2009 8:37 AM
Posted on June 10, 2009 08:37
I felt bad that I am just reading the comments now, because I personally met the owners and knew what happened to the restaurant. It is ashamed for such unfair comments to be made towards this wonderful restaurant!! First of all, at the time when Palma visited the restaurant (note the posting date and where she mentioned "last weekend") Erick was already gone!! If the kitchen could still produce good food; that proved two things: One, the replacement kitchen staff, whoever that is, is good. Two, it was not all Erick's recipes. I don't want to mention more about how did things actually happen and why that chef left the restaurant, because it might hurt someone. Yet I know that the food is still incredible, and they've recently won two local awards, and had celebrities such as JED ALLAN raved about their food. They also had done several huge parties recently for local famous retirement communities, and had wonderful ratings. I also had a chance talking to the owners, who had strong Asian culinary background in order to produce such authentic, true fusion food. On the other hand, the previous chef had no background in Asian cooking what so ever. Claiming that he had designed the entire menu is very very questionable. Plus, THWB Restaurant had changed their menu seasonally for several times after the "incident". Obviously they are NOT KEEPING ERICK'S MENUS. If you go back to the post date and comment dates, you will find that it all happened around the same time. My comment is that the THWB is still a good restaurant, because the owners ARE, and WERE the original minds behind the whole thing. I think it is kind of low to talk unfairness behind one organization's back just because you've lost your job with them for your wrong doing. It is a dear restaurant for us and we go there for many special occasions, and it is like our home away from home. And the owners, I know them as the kindest people I've ever met, and I know that they were really, really nice to all of their employees, I've talked to many of them, and they all have something to say about the previous chef, too. So don't take my word for it, go visit the restaurant, try their food, talk to the staffs and the owners, and decide for yourself.
Posted by Tom Lawrence | November 13, 2009 8:45 PM
Posted on November 13, 2009 20:45
Wow.....AMAZING!! I don"t know who... or Care "who You are Mr. Tom Lawrence. IF YOU WOULD CLEARLY READ THERE ARE NO HARSH WORDS SAID ABOUT OR TO THE RESTARANT AT ALL!!(THAT I'VE WRITTEN) SO; TO IMPLY THAT THERE WAS "AN INCIDENT" IS AMAZINGLY REDICULAS!!!! LOST HIS JOB? FOR WRONG DOING ....OK -THAT'S SOMETHING THEY WILL DEFINATELY ANSWER FOR ONE DAY!!! lies-LIES! OH....IS THAT WHAT THEY SAID? WHICH GOES TO SHOW THE OWNERS ARE NOT AS NICE AS YOU THINK THEY ARE!!! IF THEY ARE SPREADING SUCH LIES! Again I SAID ABSOLUTLY NOTHING RUDE REGARDING THE RESTARANT OR IT'S STAFF. That would be just benieth our Class Level OF WHO WE ARE!! There was NO "INCIDENT" & ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS "THE LORD KNOWS THE TRUTH!" IN THE END WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND :)AGAIN.....IF HE(ERICK) WASN'T SO WONDERFUL THE OWNERS WOULDN'T OF BEEN SO CONCERNED ABOUT USING "ANY" OF HIS MENU ITEMS AT ALL(STILL)!
Posted by LEANETTE BECKSTRAND | December 7, 2009 12:07 AM
Posted on December 7, 2009 00:07
FYI:
The owners said nothing but good stuff about the previous chef. When I mentioned that me and my wife was going to have a big party for our 20 years anniversary and trying to have catering from them, they even recommended the previous chef as personal chef for the event.
We just needed a little more information to hire someone who is totally stranger to us, and that was when several staffs stepped in and the "incidents" were mentioned. I would assume that the staffs who are working there have no reason to lie......they all personally had "issues" with the previous chef, and stories from different staffs all matched......I believe that even the owners didn't know about these details.......
Posted by Tom Lawrence | December 8, 2009 1:29 AM
Posted on December 8, 2009 01:29