Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Restaurant

[Traveller]

Something a little different in Cali is Chardonnay.
The address is:
An 4N. No. 5N-20
Centenario.
Tel: 667-0142
Nice atmosphere and the food is pretty good. On Sundays they feature a different dish. Last week it was roast lamb and this Sunday Russell (the Owner) cooked up Nachos w/ guacomole, Chile con Carne on a plate of rice and for dessert we had vanilla ice cream with peaches. Not bad at all. All that for 14,000 pesos and I got full (that's saying something). If you like your food picante, Russell has grown some red peppers that reminded me of OC pepper spray. HOT!
Russell plays a variety of music too. Everything from Jazz, to American style ballads, to World Music.
Chardonnay also has a pretty good wine list broken down by country.
I've taken a couple of girls to Chardonnay on dates and they all liked the place very much. One girl said she had never been to a place like Chardonnay.
So, if you're looking for something a little different from the food court at Chipichape, Chardonnay might be a good alternative for that first date in Cali.

[OkieMan]

... in response to Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Restaurant, posted by Traveller on Apr 17, 2005

Traveller,

Thanks for the tip.  You said the owner's name is Russell?  Is he an american guy?  At any rate, I will want to check out some different places when I am in Cali at the end of May. Thanks again.

                           OkieMan

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Restaurant, posted by OkieMan on Apr 17, 2005

Russell is from England. He also owns the British English school.

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Restaur..., posted by Traveller on Apr 17, 2005

Traveller,

I have a follow up question or two. That is cool that Russell is British.  I lived in England for two years.  I was in the Air Force and stationed at RAF Lakenheath, which is in East Anglia.  If you see Russell, anytime soon, you can relay that bit of info.  Maybe I can see him at the restaurant.  Now that you have also told me that he owns an English language school, that adds another dimension to this.  Do you have any idea how much he charges for english lessons?  Would I be correct in assuming that many of the american men, who marry latinas, use his school to teach the girls some english prior to coming to the States?  I am sure that he does other things too; but in the event, at some future date, that I should meet "Ms Right", that might come in handy. But, it would have to be cost effective.  If someday I should marry a latina, she could get free english lessons here.  The same is probably true for most if not all locations here in the States.  I can't see throwing around lots of money, but it could help to get the lady in question some english classes, if the occasion arises.
Changing the subject, but do I understand correctly that you own  the Blues Brothers Bar?  Also, aren't you the owner or are part owner of a modeling agency?  I seem to recall seeing a sight that I thought you said you owned.  If so, what's the deal about the models?  Do any of the guys on this board get to meet them?  Are they interested in dating or marrying american men?  I understand that they are young, so they might not even be interested in a man my age (51).  But, I just wanted to ask.  Not important, at this time, but I am always trying to learn a little something. Thanks.

                    OkieMan

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Res..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 17, 2005

Russell has a website where you can get more info about the school. http://www.britenglish.com/
You can email Charles Bodenham about costs and things.
britishenglish@britenglish.com
I'm not sure what they charge but they have a pretty good reputation here.
No, I don't own Blues. Peter McKeown does. I'm just a supporter of the place. I get a little special treatment, like I can go behind the bar and make a drink or play music. Stuff like that. Sometimes when Pete has an appointment and can't get to the bar until late, I'll open it up and set up.
I have the Latin Modelos "Franchise" consisting of 3 websites. I used to have a partner and we had an introduction agency. A lot of the women in our agency ended up in the later modeling agency that I had. The problem back then was there were a lot of trolls who had interest in other agencies. So, we had mud slung at us from a lot of different directions. Trolls were on this board and others calling the women in the Introduction agency "Dogs" and other unsavory terms. Make a long story short, we gave up the ghost on the Intro Agency. Then I got the modeling agency and like I said, a lot of the same girls in the Intro Agency ended up in the modeling agency and on the websites. OH Well! That was different then. Now, those same Trolls (and we knew who a lot of them were.)WANTED to meet my "Dogs" in the modeling agency. I guess, since they were "elevated" to model stauts they were now worthy of meeting them. I had guys hanging around the agency or bringing in photos of the models they wanted to meet. They couldn't get it through their heads that I was out of that business. As far as I was concerned they had their chance to meet the same women I had in the Modeling Agency while they were in the Intro Agency but they chose to be pretty vicious about it and made stuff up about myself and my partner and the girls in the intro agency.
That being said, I have always said this too, my friends who were my friends when I had the Intro Agency are still my friends today and I have no problem introducing them to my friends who are models (when I can get ahold of them. They are Calenas afterall.). For example a buddy of mine came in from Ecuador and he wanted to meet one of my more popular models. I knew she didn't have a boyfriend (at the moment) or anything so I invited her down to the bar along with about 4 other models. The Tequila flowed and we danced, we sang, and just generally had a great time. But Paul is a very good friend of mine and that was a far and few between event. I don't mind hooking my friends up. But as far as introducing the girls to anyone else for the purpose of relationships, I don't do that anymore.

[AGUILA]

... in response to Re: Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Restaurant, posted by OkieMan on Apr 17, 2005

Good post. I may try it out when I am in Cali.
What part of the city is it in and how far from the Interconti Hotel. Also whats the atmosphere in there like. I imagine they have Chilean wine in there. Ball park what does a bottle run?
thanks

[Traveller]

... in response to Re: Re: Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Restaur..., posted by AGUILA on Apr 17, 2005

Chardonnay is pretty close to the Inter. You could walk it in about 10 minutes.
It's in the Centenario neighborhood. Down the street from the Siglo XXI Buiding. Most taxi drivers know where that is.
The atmosphere is romantic. Candles, smooth music, wine, appetizers, etc. The bar is also an open air setting. You can see the sky.
You know, I'm not sure what a bottle runs. I'm suppose to do a shoot there in the next week or so. I'll see about getting a menu and posting it.

[AGUILA]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Chardonnay: Wine Bar and Res..., posted by Traveller on Apr 17, 2005

Thanks, sounds like my kind of place. I will go check it out for sure. Are they opened for lunch too or just dinner?