Sparklers

'tis the season for sparkling wine, though I think any day is a good day for sparkling wine. Here are some recent tastes.
Delicious - de Marques Gelida Cava 2005 Brut Exclusive Reserva from the Catalunya region of Spain. About $12-$15.
Not delicious - Nicolas Feuillatte Blue Label NV Champagne - Too sweet/fruity for me. About $30-$35.
Amazing / wish I could drink it regularly - Domaine Chandon 1999 Vintage Brut from the Carneros region of California. I think you can only get it from the winery's website. It's $45 and worth every penny.

Veritas Supper Club

Earlier this week, the first ever Veritas Supper Club was held. I enjoyed it so much. Chef Randall Copeland of Restaurant Ava in Rockwall prepared the food at Veritas. Since Veritas does not have a kitchen, he prepared all of it on portable burners. And the food was amazing. Veritas offered by the glass and bottle discounts for the event. I opted for BTG. I am not sure I have the menu exactly right, but it's pretty close. I could go on and on about each course, but let me just say that every single bite of everything was lick-your-plate delicious - so much so that I am going out to Rockwall for dinner Tuesday night. (And I rarely break the 635 bubble.)
First Course
Granny Smith apple and Prairie Breeze white cheddar fritter with Tassione Farms mixed greens, apple fennel salad and house made apple butter. Bradley recommended the Kung Fu Girl Riesling, which was a good match.
Second Course
Scallop with malted butternut squash, lardons, mushrooms - I think there was some black truffle and some brussels sprouts leaves going on here too. I can't eat scallops, so Chef made me a plate with all the other stuff and it was great. I paired my standby Louis Perdrier Brut.
Third Course
Pan seared beef tenderloin that was unbelievably tender. I cannot believe I can recall the sauce. I had a French red with the beef.
Fourth Course
Lemon Honey Cake with berries and ginger ice cream, paired with a tawny port. I think it was Taylor Fladgate 10 year old. (If I am going to start blogging again, I guess I need to pay better attention.)
It was really, ridiculously good. I am so glad to have attended the inaugural event and look forward to future ones. I also highly recommend Chef Copeland's food. I look forward to checking it out at Restaurant Ava.

Gratitude Attitude (Flip It)

"Accentuate the positive."

"Turn that frown upside down."

The past couple of days I have been trying to turn my negative thoughts into something positive. More specifically, I am trying to find something to be thankful for every time I want to complain. For example, I was bummed by all the laundry I needed to do yesterday. I hate doing laundry. So I focused on how wonderful my huge, fluffy towels are and how fortunate I am to have soft, high-thread-count sheets. I am thankful I have a washer and dryer and don't have to go to a laundromat. On a grander scale, I am thankful that I have plenty to wear and that I have constant access to electricity and clean running water. The laundry went so quickly and was much less unpleasant than usual.

"I have so many errands to run." (FLIP IT) "I am thankful I have a car."

"This brief is so long." (FLIP IT) "I am thankful my parents really focused me on reading as a child."

You get the idea.

I think this effort stems from a couple of different sources. I was inspired by JK's post on facebook and have begun posting something I am thankful for each day. I also think this desire to be focused on the positive goes back to some of the things I said in my earlier post about Freddy. I really want to remain inspired and intentional.

Right now I am thankful to be laying on the loveseat by an open window, using my wireless Internet with my kitty Casey by my side. I have got it good and I don't want to forget it.

Dallas Arts District - First Impression

I took Mom to see A Midsummer Nights Dream at the Wyly Theater last night. We arrived in the area quite early because I was unsure of where to park. Mom needs handicapped parking, or at least very close parking, and the websites and the Dallas Theater Box office were no help whatsoever. Fortunately, we got there early enough to park on the street for free - woo hoo! Since I had read parking would be $15, that meant we had time and cash for some wine.

The first time I ate at One Arts Plaza, amidst the dust of construction, I knew that it would be a great scene on production nights. It was. We sat outside at Dali and each had a glass of wine (Chalone Chardonnay and J Cuvee). Folks were sitting outside all the restaurants and a band was playing outside near the entrance of the main building. The lighting was nice. The weather was perfect. They have a little shuttle - like a long golf cart - that runs folks among the venues for free. I'm not sure where all it goes, but one couple on the shuttle with us was going from One Arts Plaza to the Fairmont. That is a good addition in our city that does not lend itself to getting anywhere without a car. (But hopefully we that situation is improving.)

Then we got to the theater. Hm. Don't go if it is raining. The entrance is at the lowest level of the building, one floor below ground, down a slope of about 30 degrees or so. There are no descending stairs. The ramp is reportedly 167 feet wide at its widest point, yet the only hand rail in along the far west wall of the building. Can you imagine when we have the Dallas monsoon season such as we did much of last month? I will be shocked if the lobby does not flood and perhaps more shocked if no patrons are injured trying to get down the ramp. Speaking of injury, Mom's first comment was, "It's not very accessible". It's definitely barrier free, but if you have any limitations it's a tough place to get in and out of. If anyone loses control of a wheelchair at the top of that slope, they are probably going into the plate glass window of the lobby. Yikes.

Inside it's an intentionally stark place, but the performance certainly wasn't. MND was done with contemporary clothing and music. Along with the professional actors, some performers came from the Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet down the block. It was young and fun. Of course, Bottom can be tiresome no matter that setting. Most reviews I have heard thus far praised the portrayal of Bottom by Chamblee Ferguson. He wore us out, but I think that is an accurate portryal of Bottom. Seriously, Bottom is annoying! I personally fancied Helena - loved her performance! - and Oberon and Titiana - he was sexy and she was passionate. The cast interacted with the audience quite a bit. I even got to dance in the audience and onstage with Peter Quince! And Snug the joiner sat with Mom for a bit.

On a side note, we had dinner at Angelo's in Lakewood. I never would have picked it, but Mom really wanted to go there. I was pleasantly surprised - very cheerful service, good Caesar, good manicotti. I have always like their marinara. Mom loved exactly what she went there for Frutti di Mare. A few months back, Angleo's got a really poor score from the health department. Upon reinspection, it was tremendously improved. But I am leery of a place that lets things get bad in the first place. I hope they keep things up. It is a kitschy neighborhood spot.

All in all in was a good time.

Evaluating Mourning - Mourning a Friend

My friend Freddy died this week. I question myself even as I write "my friend". Perhaps he was simply a close acquaintance. But he felt like a friend. There isn't really anything I can say about him that has not been said in the past three days my many, many people. I am struck by how many people use the same words to describe him - beautiful, welcoming, polite, genuine, vibrant and friend. And everyone mentions that smile.

Someone posted on Facebook, "Freddie had a unique gift for making every other person feel quite special." That really says it all. That gift is why I call him friend. I miss him.

Reading what so many have said about Freddy and thinking about how special he always made me feel challenges me and inspires me. Thinking of Freddy inspires me to be better, happier and more intentional.

Peace and love to you Freddy. Please watch over me, and all of your friends, and continue to inspire me.

March 26 1985 - November 3 2009

Urbano Cafe

I almost never post here anymore, so there probably isn't anyone reading. But if you read this, go eat at Urbano on Fitzhugh in Old East Dallas, right behind Jimmy's. I have eaten dinner there twice and lunch once. Love it. It's BYOB. I have had a lovely server both times at dinner. If your reservation is late, prepare to wait, but be advised there isn't anywhere to wait inside. It can get noisy when busy because it is tiny (9 tables). It has a good vibe and good food. Make a reservation for dinner. They are open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday and for lunch on weekdays. Be sure to check out the chalk board which is jam packed with good stuff. Yummy yum yum.

Buon appetito!

The 3/50 Project

This is cool. Shop local!
http://www.the350project.net/home.html

Ah.... patio season

I spent a few hours on the patio at Veritas yesterday afternoon/evening. It was lovely. We have a short window of perfect patio weather before it gets too hot. Get out and enjoy!
I love this t-shirt - a great representation of how I express my spring fever.

Go Texan Wine Dinner

April 1, JH and I went to a wine dinner at Tramontana. The restaurant is near Preston and the Tollway (about a block from DSW for those who know that as a landmark). It is a great place that I tend to forget about because of the location. I get focused on my little East Dallas zone and forget to branch out occasionally.
Tramontana’s “Go Texan” Wine Dinner Featured the Texas wines of Kim McPherson, the Dallas cheeses of Paula Lambert, and the cuisine of very nice and talented local chef James Neel. Neel has a reputation for buying fresh ingredients each day and using what is in season. All were present, and McPherson talked about the history of making wine in Texas and what grapes work best in Texas and why. All the of the wines were nice.
I previously tasted McPherson Cellars Viognier at Times Ten Cellars in Lakewood. McPherson grows his Viognier in West Texas. Also grown in West Texas is McPherson Cellars 2006 Rose'. It was served with The 2007 was served with Roasted Beet Salad with Paula’s Fresh Texas Goat Cheese. Delish. Pink everywhere! It is a dry Rose' of Syrah/Grenache and screams Spring.
Next up was Slow Roasted JuHa Ranch Pork with Roasted Garlic & Mascarpone Risotto and Natural Pan Drippings paired with McPherson Grenache/Mouverdre 2007. I still can't pronounce Mouverdre, even though I keep trying. I can't tell you anything about this wine but can tell you this dish was fantastic! It was followed by Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Rubbed Texas Beef with Creamed Spinach “Montasio Festivo”, another delish meat dish. The beef was wonderfully paired with McPherson's "signature" wine, the Sangiovese. We had the 2006 grown on the Texas High Plains. I don't know where that is, but it is a good place for growing Sangiovese.
Dessert was Fromage Blanc Ice Cream with Red Fruits. Yum again. I asked Chef Neel about fromage blanc... white cheese ice cream? When he was a poor student in France (any story can be romanticized when you start it that way, right?) he ate a lot of fromage blanc. Apparently it is kind of like yogurt there. Regardless, I like the ice cream - had vanilla beans, not overly sweet.
JH and I were probably the youngest folks there at 41. We met some interesting people and enjoyed some good food and wine. Good to branch out.
Tramontana is offering lots of specials the past few months for those of us who still want to eat out at nice places in the scary economy. I don't think their website has all the details, but you cold call or get on the email list.

"Don't panic."

Today I dropped off the only expensive purse I have ever purchased for some past due maintenance work at the cobbler's shop. I knew there were a few places that needed restitched, but once I got it in there, I saw how bad it really was. The leather was torn in one place and almost there in others. I decided to go ahead with the repairs, which are going to cost me a bit more than I expected, but less than a replacement would.
The guy at the counter took my contact info and told me it would take about two weeks so "don't panic." Though I showed no signs of panic, or even concern, he told me how he didn't like to rush the guy that does the repairs. He just needs to let him take his time. At this point, of course, I envision some half whacked guy in a shack in the woods who is some great leather artisan, but is a nut. "So don't panic." He wasn't kidding. He locale is near SMU and Highland Park. Maybe he has high strung customers who panic over their fancy bags. I found it patronizing. "I have way more stuff to panic over in my life than a purse," I told him. By the time I left, I thought he may be the half whacked guy in the woods. Geez. Weird.

Dallas Wine Trial

How cool is this?
Times Ten Cellars along with three other North Texas wineries are excited to announce the creation of the Dallas Wine Trail. Follow this link http://www.dallaswinetrail.com/ to learn more about the trail and wines produced by Calais, Fuqua, Inwood Estates, and Times Ten Cellars. All are located within the city limits of Dallas. Mark your calendar and join in on May 24th for our first official wine trail kick off party. Buy local and "Drink Dallas".

Other interesting goings-on from Times Ten Cellars...
Please join us at Hector's on Henderson from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm for a selection of times ten cellars wines at $6.00 by the glass. Hector will provide complimentary appetizers. If you decide to stay for dinner they will offer a prix fixe menu for $19.95, includes your choice of soup or salad, and one of four entrees. Jazz pianist, John Freeman begins at 7:00 pm. Reservations are not needed, it is come and go.

Times Ten Jazz schedule for April
Sunday April 5th, The Rich Jasin Trio, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Sunday April 19th, The Carter Jackson Band, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tuesday April 14th, Mike Drake, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Recent tastes

On a business trip, I sometimes get to taste wines that are well outside of my normal price range. I tasted two such wines last week. The most spectacular was the 1996 Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. I wasn't embarrassed to act giddy about how much I liked it. The professional associate who purchased a couple of bottles of this fine wine at the bar for us before dinner has a case of it in his cellar, which I have been told is amazing. (So I am sure he thought I was a dork for being giddy.) I want a wonderful cellar when I grow up. (Right now I just want a bigger wine frig.) I also had a ZD Cab, but don't know the year. The problem is that cocktails preceded these fine wines. I wish I could have experienced and appreciated them on their own.

Tasting the Heintz reaffirmed to me that I should do something I have been pondering for a while now. I want to get a few bottles and put them up for several years. I have never managed to keep anything more than two years or so. I have a 2004 Rutherford Hill Petit Verdot that I want to cellar (i.e., keep in my wine frig) for a few more years. But I think I am ready to invest in a few more bottles for later. Fortunately I shared a bottle of the Petit Verdot with a friend last year, so I have notes to compare the aged bottle when I decide to open it. I still don't know much about wine, but learning is much fun to me.

Now, that is is getting warm, it's white and rose' season again. I got a bottle of my favorite rose', the Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Rose' at Cork last week. It is the 2008. I loved the 2006 and really liked the 2007. Hopefully this will be good too. The price is still a whopping $10 for lots of juicy, but not sugary, fruit. Now if the Arboretum concerts would just hurry up and start!

Also good for light foods and warm weather is the Italian 2007 Barone Fini Valdadige Pinot Grigio at about $12 a bottle and the Milbrandt Vineyards 2007 Pinot Gris from Washington at about $13 a bottle. I believe they have the latter at Veritas.

Woman of a certain age

There comes a time in every woman's life....

Oh heck, why talk in third person?!

I recently found these cutoffs. They made me smile. But I quickly came to the realization that even if I could get my booty to be that size again (and I think I can) I am too dang old to wear these shorts. That ship has sailed.

But I still smile at the patches holding them together, and the little Grateful Dead dancing bears - Iko bears, we called them back in the day. I smile at the confidence and sass I had in those days and hope that ship hasn't sailed too.

Chilean Wines

Since I have not blogged in over a month, I thought I would post the wine musings of my friend JK who recently returned from a trip to Chile. Many thanks to her for the tips! I am really looking foward to trying some of these.

Hint: anything 2005 is fabulous--otherwise choose odd years.

Sauvignon Blanc:
Casas del Bosque: amazing--crisp, grassy, and minerally.
Veramonte: also very nice--less minerally and more lemony

Cab Sav:
Splurge on Concha y Toro's Don Melchor 2005. It's not quite ready to drink, but already fantastic. Carter just bought a bottle for $55. And you know we don't like to spend a lot on vino.
Viu Manent 2007 Cab Sav. Probably under $15 and really yummy.

Carmenere:
My new favorite varietal.
Casa Silva 2007 is yummy.
Casa Montes also delish

Malbec:
Viu Manent beat the Argentinians! Their 2007 won the Gold Medal and really pissed off their neighbors. Fun.

Chardonnay:
Casa Lapostolle.

Look for: Casa Haras "Albis" blend. This is a joint venture between Chile and Italian winemaker Antinori. I bet it will be fabulous! We visited the Haras winery on a lark, but were not able to do a tasting.

By region: white wines: Casablanca Valley
red wines: Colchagua and Maipo valleys.

Noteworthy joint ventures: Almaviva (Concho y Toro plus French Baron Rothschild); Lapostolle (French Grand Marnier family + Chilean Chadwick); Haras (Chile + Antinori); Sena (Chile + Mondavi). All of these brands are producing spectacular wines. We have a bottle of the 2005 Almaviva. We accidentally drank one other bottle of the same (forgot we'd paid a lot for it). It was absolutely fabulous! It rated a 94 on Wine Spectator.

My favorite wineries were Casas del Bosque, Viu Manent, and Concha y Toro.

Bonny Doon Wine Dinner at Jasper's

The Shops at Legacy in Plano is a neat shopping / dining area. West Plano is a long way from East Dallas, but I thought it would be worth a trip up there for a dinner with a reportedly interesting wine maker at an excellent restaurant. It was worth the trip.

Randall Grahm has the reputation of being a rather interesting fellow. You can read about him on the Bonny Doon website. I expected a flambouyant, entertaining individual. But Grahm presented as a hippie who is serious, intellectual and romantic about terrior, biodynamic growing and wine. I liked all of the wines and would like to visit one of the Bonny Doon tasting rooms, which are reportedly pretty trippy.

The Menu

- Wood Roasted Judith Point Moonstone Oysters with Spanish Chorizo-Herb Butter; Grilled Eggplant with Curried Lentils and Green Chili Papadam, Ca’Del Solo, Albarino 2007
- Butter Poached Main Lobster “Pot Pie,” Bonny Doon, Le Cigare Blanc 2006

(During the passed hors d'oeuvres and the first course, they kept filling our glasses. Yummy, but yikes. Fortunately they limited us during the other courses or I would have had to stay in Plano. We were all suprised by the generous pouring.)
- Ca’Del Solo Nebbiolo Braised Lamb with Homemade Pappardelle and Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Ca’Del Solo, Nebbiolo Monterey 2005

(An interesting note on this Nebbiolo... Grahm spoke a bit about the wines. He said this one was incredibly tight and needed to decant for many hours. I liked it very much. I would love try it after it had seen some air and note the difference.)
- Texas “Kobe” Meat Loaf with Brie Scallop Potatoes and Roasted Cipollini Demi, Bonny Doon, Le Cigare Volant 2003, Bonny Doon, Le Cigare Volant 2004
- Bosc Pear-Brie Strudel with Toasted Almond Honey, Bonny Doon, Le Vol Des Anges 2006

(I loved the savory-sweet dessert and its compliment to the notes of honey in the wine.)

Some of the wines through which Bonny Doon and Grahm became well-known - Cardinal Zin, the Big House wines - have been sold off by Grahm. He clearly wants to be small and focused. And it works. All of the wines were enjoyable and well-paired with this menu.

I went with friends Elle and her beloved, and we had the good fortune of being seated with two nice couples. How often does one end up at a table full of over-30 people who are childless by choice who love their pets as children?

Another Bonny Doon note - They make a Viogner port. Who ever heard of such? I would like to try it, but I think it is available only at the tasting room.

Best New Restaurants

Three of the Dallas Morning News' 2008 Best New Restaurants are in one building, One Arts Plaza. Thank goodness my office is not in that building - I would be broke and even more rotund than I already am. I recently had the pleasure of enjoying lunch at Dali Wine Bar and Cellar and dinner at Screen Door. Something was blowing up at work the day I ate with friends at Dali. So, sadly, I did not have wine. My lunch was delicious, and the other ladies liked theirs too. The space is really strange. It is tiny and the location of the front door is not obvious or convenient. It's small, like being in the bar space of a restaurant. But best I could tell, that room constituted the entire space.

In contrast, the interior of Screen Door is fabulous - natural and clever and luxurious all at the same time. The wine list is long. The chairs are comfy. The tables are roomy. I even liked what the servers wear. The menu is essentially contemporary Southern cuisine. The food was very good and very well prepared. If I am paying $19 for fried chicken - something we ate often in my home growing up - it better be perfect fried chicken. It was mm mm good. No breading tops my mom's, of course. But this was super juicy chicken with crisp and well-seasoned breading. The greens were perfectly cooked. The fried catfish gets equal praise and was teamed with red potatoes and crisp slaw. I enjoyed it.

When the Wyly theater and the Opera house are completed, these restaurants should be wonderful for outdoor seating and will be places to see and be seen on event nights. Right now there are lots of cranes and dust.

Also in the building are Tei An (the other of the "best new"), Fedora (owned by a Campisi?) and Jorge's (an outpost of the Austin establishment).

Things I haven't written about yet, but will...

lunch at Dali Wine Bar
dinner at Screen Door
Gloria Ferrer bubblies from CA
Bonny Doon wine dinner at Jasper's
This is really just a reminder to myself of all the stuff I need to write about. But right now I am sleepy.
Buenas noches.

Whites

I drank white tonight because I felt like poo today. I didn't have the internal fortitude for red, though Veritas has Inwood Estates Cornelius 100% Tempranillo on the BTG menu. It is SO good. I will have it next time. I have only had it at tastings twice, so I am interested to drink a full glass.
2006 Santos Beck Chardonnay-Viognier blend - This wine is very light. You could drink a bottle on the patio. I always think it is hard to find a wine that is good with salad, but this would fit the bill with most, I think. It seems like a summer wine, but would be a good pre-dinner wine, especially if you aren't sure of your guests tastes (or if there is something wrong with you and you don't want to serve bubbly).
Tonight I also tried a Roussanne for the first time. It was a new grape for me. It was interesting. It provided a full, thick mouth on the outset, but had a very acidic finish. I don't know the winemaker or what it was blended with (if anything). As Brooks said, "Needs food." I wouldn't want to sit around and drink a bottle, but it could be enjoyable with the right meal. I am not sure what that meal would be, however.
Also had another glass of the St. Supery SB. Liked it even better this time.