recent bubble tastes
2007 Cuvee Francoise Blanquette de Limoux - super dry, tastes like Champagne, retails for about $12 a bottle. I had it at a restaurant in Washington, so I don't know where it can be found retail, but it's worth looking for.
Sorelle Bronca Brut - NV Prosecco, not very interesting
Castell de Vilarnau Cava Brut - NV. Yeasty nose, a little fruit, but dry. Nice, but as Cavas go, it can't top the de Marques Gelida Brut, which is now available at Veritas. Yippee!
Pacific Rim White Flowers Brut - when in Washington you gotta try the local stuff. This is from the Yakima Valley. It's 100% Riesling. It's weird. (how's that for a fancy wine descriptor?) I finally get the petrol thing, but with bubbles, when tasting this Riesling. The barkeep said it had a musty nose. I didn't really get that. They do Riesling well in Washington, but this wasn't my fave.
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Jun 12, 2010
Nov 21, 2009
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.
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.
Jan 12, 2009
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.
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.
Dec 4, 2008
Miscellaneous
I was wrong. I thought all California sauvignon blancs were soft. But last night I tasted the 2007 St. Supery SB. It has all the zest and tang I like in New Zealand SBs. I still think Kim Crawford makes my favorite SB, and it is a bargain.
I stopped by a holiday party last night at the newly refurbished Stoneleigh Hotel. The hotel looks great. The terrace was lovely. I didn't like the food. But it was a very nice party.
D Magazine's Best Restaurant issue is out. There are a number of places in there on my "want to go there" list. Among them are York Street (I am embarrassed I've never been there), Lola, and Tillman's Roadhouse. Hattie's isn't on there, but it is still on my list, at least for lunch.
Why do I have such an urge to bake cookies around Christmastime?
I stopped by a holiday party last night at the newly refurbished Stoneleigh Hotel. The hotel looks great. The terrace was lovely. I didn't like the food. But it was a very nice party.
D Magazine's Best Restaurant issue is out. There are a number of places in there on my "want to go there" list. Among them are York Street (I am embarrassed I've never been there), Lola, and Tillman's Roadhouse. Hattie's isn't on there, but it is still on my list, at least for lunch.
Why do I have such an urge to bake cookies around Christmastime?
Nov 29, 2008
So I spent too much....
Things I bought on a recent night at Veritas
Schott-Zwiesel Lead Free Titanium Stemware - The best stemware ever. I have praised it in prior entries here. They put it on sale, so I didn't fight the urge to buy it.
Inwood Estates 2005 Tempranillo-Cabernet (65% Tempranillo - 35% Cabernet) - Best Texas wine I have had. I tasted this back in July out in Grapevine and enjoyed it then. Both grapes are grown at Newsom Vineyards in Yoakum County, Texas, near the Texas-New Mexico border. Tempranillo is a Spanish grape which does well in Texas. It is delicious. (BUT, be advised that I have had a very enjoyable tempranillo-cab for about 1/5 the price. I wish I would have thought of that at the time.... oh well, I am glad to do business with local folks.) I think this may be one to put up for a few years. I am going to inquire of the wine maker about cellaring. It is actually made here in Dallas. I might go there this afternoon.
2006 The Prisoner - (I didn't write this. I have not tasted this wine, but bought it on the recommendation of others.) The 2006 Prisoner received a stellar 91 Point Score in the May 31, 2008 issue of The Wine Spectator. The 2006 Vintage is NOT a one-hit wonder. The 2005 Prisoner, which is no longer available from the distributor, received a 93 from The Wine Spectator and the 17th Ranking in the vaunted 2007 Wine Spectator Top 100 List. Here is the Wine Spectator Review for The 2006 Prisoner: "It's rare that a Zin has this much structure and finesse. Offers appealing aromas of plum, pepper and tobacco, with focused, layered wild berry, pencil lead and sage flavors. A hint of rusticity on the tannins suggests that there's no hurry to drink. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache. 91 Points." The tasting notes I have read online indicate some folks think this is a good one to drink now.
Some $13 French bubbly - I figure you can't go wrong with a nice, dry $13 French bubbly.
Schott-Zwiesel Lead Free Titanium Stemware - The best stemware ever. I have praised it in prior entries here. They put it on sale, so I didn't fight the urge to buy it.
Inwood Estates 2005 Tempranillo-Cabernet (65% Tempranillo - 35% Cabernet) - Best Texas wine I have had. I tasted this back in July out in Grapevine and enjoyed it then. Both grapes are grown at Newsom Vineyards in Yoakum County, Texas, near the Texas-New Mexico border. Tempranillo is a Spanish grape which does well in Texas. It is delicious. (BUT, be advised that I have had a very enjoyable tempranillo-cab for about 1/5 the price. I wish I would have thought of that at the time.... oh well, I am glad to do business with local folks.) I think this may be one to put up for a few years. I am going to inquire of the wine maker about cellaring. It is actually made here in Dallas. I might go there this afternoon.
2006 The Prisoner - (I didn't write this. I have not tasted this wine, but bought it on the recommendation of others.) The 2006 Prisoner received a stellar 91 Point Score in the May 31, 2008 issue of The Wine Spectator. The 2006 Vintage is NOT a one-hit wonder. The 2005 Prisoner, which is no longer available from the distributor, received a 93 from The Wine Spectator and the 17th Ranking in the vaunted 2007 Wine Spectator Top 100 List. Here is the Wine Spectator Review for The 2006 Prisoner: "It's rare that a Zin has this much structure and finesse. Offers appealing aromas of plum, pepper and tobacco, with focused, layered wild berry, pencil lead and sage flavors. A hint of rusticity on the tannins suggests that there's no hurry to drink. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache. 91 Points." The tasting notes I have read online indicate some folks think this is a good one to drink now.
Some $13 French bubbly - I figure you can't go wrong with a nice, dry $13 French bubbly.
Nov 19, 2008
More wine!
It is really bugging me that I cannot recall the stand up routine in which Steve Martin commands,"More wine!" I think it is stand up and not a movie because I have no visual to go with it. I am not even sure it's a bit, but maybe just an exclamation between bits. I think I had the album (or 8-track, or cassette) with this on it. When you just hear stand up and don't see it, there are little exclamations or comments you don't understand because the comic is interacting with audience. Or the audience roars at some physical gesture you can't see. But I used to listen to comedy albums a lot. I recall having Steve Martin, Sam Kinison and Joan Rivers. (Did you know she used to be really funny?)
Enough of that. On to the wine!
AA and I went to a free tasting presented by Concha y Toro (Chile) at Cork. They were collecting non-perishable foods for North Texas Food Bank. Who can resist free wine and good cause? Six wines were offered, and I managed a taste of a seventh that the rep was trying to hide for herself. Sometimes it pays to be nosy.
The list I brought home does not have the year, so I have no clue.
In order tasted...
* Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc - $20 - When it comes to SB, I always buy or order one from New Zealand if it's an option. California SBs are too soft. I like the flint, mineral, lemon, grass - the tangy tastes of the NZ SBs. But this was super tart and sharp, actually harsh. I will take a $10 bottle of NZ SB over this one any day.
* 2007 Xplorador Chardonnay - $8 - Yummy. Would have been yummy at more than $8. I don't drink chardonnay. I learned recently there is a name for folks like me - ABC ("Anything but chardonnay"). Prior vintages have gotten good reviews and been labeled a "Best Buy" by Wine Enthusiast. I taste no oak. It is fruity. It has a spicy finish. I swear I tasted a bit of gingersnap in one of the chardonnays. But now I can't recall which one. I bought this one. It will be really good with white fish.
* Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay - $20 - Subtler than previous chardonnay - not so fruit-forward. Again there was no oak and there were some spice notes.
* Castillero del Diablo Privada Riserva - $17 - This label is the most familiar to me of the winery's labels. It was nice.
* Terrunyo Carmenere - $43 - The nicest of the reds - of course, since it is the most expensive. My only other experience with this grape was very bad. Obviously it was the wine, not the grape. I wouldn't pay $43 for this, but it was good.
* Marques de Casa Concho Cabernet Sauvignon - $23 - It was good, but there are cheaper reds I like as well.
Then I went to Veritas, and stayed far too long. That will have to wait for another entry... I need to work!
Enough of that. On to the wine!
AA and I went to a free tasting presented by Concha y Toro (Chile) at Cork. They were collecting non-perishable foods for North Texas Food Bank. Who can resist free wine and good cause? Six wines were offered, and I managed a taste of a seventh that the rep was trying to hide for herself. Sometimes it pays to be nosy.
The list I brought home does not have the year, so I have no clue.
In order tasted...
* Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc - $20 - When it comes to SB, I always buy or order one from New Zealand if it's an option. California SBs are too soft. I like the flint, mineral, lemon, grass - the tangy tastes of the NZ SBs. But this was super tart and sharp, actually harsh. I will take a $10 bottle of NZ SB over this one any day.
* 2007 Xplorador Chardonnay - $8 - Yummy. Would have been yummy at more than $8. I don't drink chardonnay. I learned recently there is a name for folks like me - ABC ("Anything but chardonnay"). Prior vintages have gotten good reviews and been labeled a "Best Buy" by Wine Enthusiast. I taste no oak. It is fruity. It has a spicy finish. I swear I tasted a bit of gingersnap in one of the chardonnays. But now I can't recall which one. I bought this one. It will be really good with white fish.
* Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay - $20 - Subtler than previous chardonnay - not so fruit-forward. Again there was no oak and there were some spice notes.
* Castillero del Diablo Privada Riserva - $17 - This label is the most familiar to me of the winery's labels. It was nice.
* Terrunyo Carmenere - $43 - The nicest of the reds - of course, since it is the most expensive. My only other experience with this grape was very bad. Obviously it was the wine, not the grape. I wouldn't pay $43 for this, but it was good.
* Marques de Casa Concho Cabernet Sauvignon - $23 - It was good, but there are cheaper reds I like as well.
Then I went to Veritas, and stayed far too long. That will have to wait for another entry... I need to work!
Nov 9, 2008
Wine Tasting at Veritas
Yesterday I attend a tasting at Veritas of wines from Serendipity Wine Imports. Eight different wines were offered at this free tasting. That was plenty of wine for a Saturday afternoon.
JH and EH met me at Veritas. We had a fabulous cheese plate to go with the yummy wines. I hate to go on and on about how much I like Veritas and the folks who work there. Earlier posts attest. But I have to make some comments about the really neat stuff they are doing. There are cheeses, chocolates, jerky, pate' and honey from Texas producers. Brooks (one of the owners) seems genuinely passionate about offering these great finds from his home state. Then again, I think he is passionate about the business period. I feel like I take too much of his time when I am in there, but he has interesting stuff to say. He gave us some education on some of the cheeses - and a little sample of a cheese made with porter ale, which was great. Veritas is going to be so great this winter - there is a fireplace up front, and it is dark and cozy.
But back to the wines... I don't think I have ever been to a tasting at which there was no wine I didn't like, until this one. One interesting thing was that every one, even the ones I didn't love, had a great nose. Maybe my olfactory system was just ready for some grapes, but the smells were super yummy (that's a technical term). I didn't make notes while tasting (trying to look slightly less dorky than I really am) so I will make notes of my scattered recollections.
* 2006 Vina Robles Red4. I picked up a bottle of this one. At $16 it is a great one to take to your holiday party host and to have around the house. It is a good everyday red.
Somebody other than me wrote this: "This blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Touriga and Tannat received a Gold Medal and 90 Points at the Beverage Tasting Institute World Wine Championships 2008, where it was labeled 'Exceptional' and a 'Best Buy'."
* 2007 Renato Ratti Dolcetto d'Alba Colombe 2007. Touted as a great wine for pairing with pizza and pasta, I really wanted to be crazy about this wine. But it fell a bit flat. I never had a dolcetto until a few months ago at Times Ten Cellars. Theirs is made with Mendicino County grapes and it very, very enjoyable at only $14 for a bottle to take home. For sipping, I really like softer reds. With food I can enjoy a stronger red with a firmer structure. The dolcetto is soft. I definitely prefer the dolcetto at Times Ten to this one.
* 2003 Attila Gere Kopar Cuvee. Seriously - this is a Hungarian wine. Read this interesting article which mentions a prior vintage. It is indeed yummy, but over $50 is more than I will typically spend.
* 2006 Durigutti Mendoza Malbec. Wine Spectator says: "89 points."
* 2007 Renato Ratti Dolcetto d'Alba Colombe 2007. Touted as a great wine for pairing with pizza and pasta, I really wanted to be crazy about this wine. But it fell a bit flat. I never had a dolcetto until a few months ago at Times Ten Cellars. Theirs is made with Mendicino County grapes and it very, very enjoyable at only $14 for a bottle to take home. For sipping, I really like softer reds. With food I can enjoy a stronger red with a firmer structure. The dolcetto is soft. I definitely prefer the dolcetto at Times Ten to this one.
* 2003 Attila Gere Kopar Cuvee. Seriously - this is a Hungarian wine. Read this interesting article which mentions a prior vintage. It is indeed yummy, but over $50 is more than I will typically spend.
* 2006 Durigutti Mendoza Malbec. Wine Spectator says: "89 points."
A few years ago, I let my first experience with Malbec be my last for a long time. I just didn't like it. (In retrospect, I am starting to realize that my experiences at La Duni don't really measure up.) But I liked this wine. And I liked the Malbec Veritas is offering by the glass right now. I guess I have a new grape to explore. Retail is about $16 - a good value.
* NV Carpene Malvoti Prosecco di Conegliano. Wine Enthusiast says: "88 Points"
* NV Carpene Malvoti Prosecco di Conegliano. Wine Enthusiast says: "88 Points"
This prosecco is tasty and easy to drink. I picked up a bit of yeast in the nose. It is clean and fresh on the palate, but finish is a little sweet for me. Folks that don't drink a lot of bubbly would probably like this very much. I find the more that I drink bubbly, I want Brut. Retail is about $22. (Note: I know some of you that read this aren't big into wine. Be advised that NV means "non-vintage" - it isn't from a single year.)
* Domaine de Montvac Vacqueyras Variation. From Wine Spectator: "92 Points." Only 500 cases of this one were made. It was hearty and flavorful.
2005 Petroni Syrah. Only 150 cases of this wine were made. It was good and retails for about $49 a bottle.
* 2005 Spann Merlot. Only 193 cases of this wine were produced. This blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc was very nice. (This is where I wish I had made some notes to come up with more than "very nice". We were talking drinking and eating cheese... sorry.)
If you go to Veritas, and you should, be sure to put your e-mail address in the notebook on the bar so you will get notice of tastings. There was a good discount on all bottles on the day of the tasting. Also check it out for happy hour - a plus is that, unlike Times Ten, Veritas offers some beers. As amazing as it seems, not everyone wants all wine all the time. Also, on Monday nights, they are offering half-price wines by the glass all night! That might be enough to miss Monday Night Football for, especially if the 'Boys keep stinking it up.
Sep 14, 2008
Random Notes
Bogle Phantom - Wow. What a nose! Chocolate with something sweeter... caramel? overripe or candied cherries? The main taste I get is cloves. Really different.
Grimaldi's Pizza - yummy. I have never gotten fresh ricotta on a pizza before. It was absolutely delish with kalamatas and sundried tomatoes. Without the kalamatas, it would have been downright sweet. Pizza should never have thick crust.
Sexto - A six grape Spanish wine. Highest percentage is Garnacha at 33%. There are some grapes I have never heard of in this one. Decant or give it some time to open up in the glass. My last sip was very different from my first. Only $15 at Veritas and available there by the glass right now, though their btg offerings change frequently.
Grimaldi's Pizza - yummy. I have never gotten fresh ricotta on a pizza before. It was absolutely delish with kalamatas and sundried tomatoes. Without the kalamatas, it would have been downright sweet. Pizza should never have thick crust.
Sexto - A six grape Spanish wine. Highest percentage is Garnacha at 33%. There are some grapes I have never heard of in this one. Decant or give it some time to open up in the glass. My last sip was very different from my first. Only $15 at Veritas and available there by the glass right now, though their btg offerings change frequently.
Aug 10, 2008
Eating and Drinking in the Week that Was
Comments on last week... Kudos and Happy Anniversary to Times Ten Cellars which threw itself a great party. It was much better than last year, which was a zoo. From an owner's perspective, I don't know if the quantity of customers it takes to constitute a zoo is better than slightly fewer. The party this year definitely had a great turnout, but I think they were better prepared with lots of servers and some fun diversions (and Scalini's pizza). There were these people doing "butt sketches" - seriously. I have an awful, hideous, gigantic butt, but was goaded into participating with assurances that the artist was "very complimentary". He was kind indeed. The guys (owners of Times Ten) also brought in a Marilyn Monroe impersonator to sing Happy Birthday. She botched the name (Ten Times Cellars) but was amusing nonetheless. As always, I stayed longer than I intended.
I stopped in Veritas again on Thursday. I really like this place. The people who work there are so nice. Thank goodness I don't drive past it on the way home. I got some more info on the great stemware. It is titanium crystal by Schott Zwiesel. It breaks much less easily than lead crystal or simple glass stemware. I have found it available online for sale, but Veritas may sell it in the future, so I will wait and buy from them. (Shop local!) At a couple of sites online it is about $65 for a set of six glasses. Not bad. Veritas has some intriguing plans in the works for the future with local artists and chefs. I hope it goes well. I also discovered that they are trying to promote their business earlier in the evening. Currently they are getting a mostly late-night crowd. To this end, they are offering $2 off wines by the glass and other specials from 4:30-6:30 pm. I'm sure I will be back.
Finally, I had dinner and drinks this weekend at Bar Belmont in Oak Cliff. Beautiful view on the patio. If you like interesting cocktails, they have several. I am not an interesting cocktail drinker. Other than wine, I think drinks involving fruit are ill-advised. I do except the occasional lime in a beer (a wedge of fresh lime, not some beer with lime flavor bottled into it - ick). I drink beer, wine and Crown Royal. Through these 25 years of drinking (eek) I have learned to keep it simple. But I did like the wine list at Bar Belmont, and was glad to see they had the Sauvignon Blanc from local Times Ten Cellars. They had several bottles for $25. Other than Patrizio, I can't think of a local restaurant that groups its wines by price and features a section of affordable wines. The food was fine but nothing to write home about. At this dinner a friend and I discussed how much we liked and miss M Grill. That place was so good - food, service, wine.
Also at this dinner, I became increasingly aware of how many people are blogging. I think I will share. I have given my blog address to only two friends. If I put very personal stuff on here at some point I don't want it "out there". Hm. Maybe I could just have my food and wine blog and just "journal" in private. The Internet, blogs, MySpace, etc. are evidence of our true exhibitionist nature.
Tonight I am going to see Bottle Shock. Review to follow.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!
Aug 3, 2008
Trying some new-to-me local spots
Last night my friend Julia from the neighborhood and I planned to go out to dinner. I picked Kozy Kitchen (really cheesy, dumb name) on McKinney. I have wanted to try it for a while. The menu is healthful - not in the sense that it is low fat diet food, but it is natural. The veggies are fresh, the salmon is wild caught, the beef is grass fed, etc. And the place is BYOB! That always makes dinner cheaper. Julia had been there for breakfast a couple of times (which is supposedly fab) or we would have driven right past the place. It is very non-descript on the outside. It is small, maybe about 12 tables. It is entirely too dark inside; we could barely read our menus. But that was the only real negative. The service was very pleasant and the food was yummy. I had called Saturday afternoon and inquired about specials so that we could choose wine. I was assured that a reservation was not needed; nothing was on the books. Apparently they had a rush after I called, so the guy on the phone had reserved a table for me. Very nice! Two nice folks tended to us during our dinner. Props to the gentleman for being so honest about the menu.
The pricing seemed a bit strange. Some dishes seemed rather expensive for what was on the plate, but others seemed to be a very fairly priced. The specials were quite expensive - each was $26 even though they varied widely in the cost of ingredients and complexity of preparation. So we opted for menu items that were a full $10 cheaper than the specials. We were not disappointed. We shared a fresh caprese salad - stacked mozzarella slices and brilliant red tomatoes with mixed greens and dollops of pesto on the plate. We chose the same entree, which I always hate to do, but it sounded the best. It was wild caught Scottish salmon on a bed of herbed risotto with an assortment of seasonal sauteed veggies. The salmon was perfectly cooked. It had that perfect little crust fish gets when cooked on a hot surface. The risotto retained a little firmness but was nice and creamy without being saucy or mushy. The veggies may have been a little more tender than crisp, but were very enjoyable.
I suggested we walk across the street to Grand Tastings, a retail wine shop with a small bar and about six table where folks can sit down for wine tastings. We opted for the $15 per person basic tasting for which each of us chose five wines to taste from a list of about 15-20. The bubbly was very flat. The servers didn't know wine. The retail prices were a little high. We weren't very impressed.
On the way home as we drove down Henderson, I told Julia about Natsumi, the new organic gelato place I had read about in the little strip mall full of hip new places. She decided we should stop, so we did. Yum! Natsumi is a neat little place. It has nonfat frozen yogurt and gelato made with organic milk. They also have coffee and smoothies. They have standard and funky flavors and are quick to give little samples. (Avocado was good!) I got lychee. Julia got pistachio and something. Then we decided to peek in the window, then walk in just to check out, the new wine bar Veritas in the same strip mall. About an hour later, we knew an owner, the adorable college student bar tender and his uncle Fernando. Veritas has a similar concept to Grand Tastings (and Wine Therapist, and Wine'tastic ... clearly it's a trend). It is a retail shop that has limited food, wines by the glass. You also can consume your bottle(s) there for a price slightly more than the retail price. I had a good glass of bubbly for $7! And we tried a yummy grenache with blueberry notes called "Bitch", apparently because that is such a hard grape to grow. They had really nice stemware at Veritas, fitting for a nice wine bar, but nicer than at any other local wine bar I have visited. I read an unfavorable post about one of the owners on another blog or review site, but the experience overcame any bias I had in my mind when I walked in the door. We definitely will go back. They also feature local artists' work on the walls for sale, which I always like.
It was a great evening of checking out new-to-me places. And all of them were pretty close to home. Julia and I had a very enjoyable time talking and hanging out. She and I are very different in some ways, but also have a lot in common. Every time we get together, we both wonder why we don't do it more often.
So remember to get out there and try some new places!
The pricing seemed a bit strange. Some dishes seemed rather expensive for what was on the plate, but others seemed to be a very fairly priced. The specials were quite expensive - each was $26 even though they varied widely in the cost of ingredients and complexity of preparation. So we opted for menu items that were a full $10 cheaper than the specials. We were not disappointed. We shared a fresh caprese salad - stacked mozzarella slices and brilliant red tomatoes with mixed greens and dollops of pesto on the plate. We chose the same entree, which I always hate to do, but it sounded the best. It was wild caught Scottish salmon on a bed of herbed risotto with an assortment of seasonal sauteed veggies. The salmon was perfectly cooked. It had that perfect little crust fish gets when cooked on a hot surface. The risotto retained a little firmness but was nice and creamy without being saucy or mushy. The veggies may have been a little more tender than crisp, but were very enjoyable.
I suggested we walk across the street to Grand Tastings, a retail wine shop with a small bar and about six table where folks can sit down for wine tastings. We opted for the $15 per person basic tasting for which each of us chose five wines to taste from a list of about 15-20. The bubbly was very flat. The servers didn't know wine. The retail prices were a little high. We weren't very impressed.
On the way home as we drove down Henderson, I told Julia about Natsumi, the new organic gelato place I had read about in the little strip mall full of hip new places. She decided we should stop, so we did. Yum! Natsumi is a neat little place. It has nonfat frozen yogurt and gelato made with organic milk. They also have coffee and smoothies. They have standard and funky flavors and are quick to give little samples. (Avocado was good!) I got lychee. Julia got pistachio and something. Then we decided to peek in the window, then walk in just to check out, the new wine bar Veritas in the same strip mall. About an hour later, we knew an owner, the adorable college student bar tender and his uncle Fernando. Veritas has a similar concept to Grand Tastings (and Wine Therapist, and Wine'tastic ... clearly it's a trend). It is a retail shop that has limited food, wines by the glass. You also can consume your bottle(s) there for a price slightly more than the retail price. I had a good glass of bubbly for $7! And we tried a yummy grenache with blueberry notes called "Bitch", apparently because that is such a hard grape to grow. They had really nice stemware at Veritas, fitting for a nice wine bar, but nicer than at any other local wine bar I have visited. I read an unfavorable post about one of the owners on another blog or review site, but the experience overcame any bias I had in my mind when I walked in the door. We definitely will go back. They also feature local artists' work on the walls for sale, which I always like.
It was a great evening of checking out new-to-me places. And all of them were pretty close to home. Julia and I had a very enjoyable time talking and hanging out. She and I are very different in some ways, but also have a lot in common. Every time we get together, we both wonder why we don't do it more often.
So remember to get out there and try some new places!
Jul 13, 2008
40th Birthday
April 8, 2008
I took a birthday trip to Napa Valley. It was fantastic – essentially a perfect trip.
April 2 I arrived at SFO. It took forever to get bags and get to rental car. A coworker loaned me her Tom Tom GPS, which was awesome. I went to Mumm Napa and sat on the terrace and had sparkling wine. I tasted several different sparkling wines. I was headed to the hotel, but then decided to make the most of the time before the wineries closed. But I had to get some food on my stomach. I stopped and got a sandwich at Soda Creek Canyon Store. A little store with a deli in the back. I then went to Domaine Chandon, which I ultimately would do each day of my time in Napa. I just love bubbly! At Domaine Chandon, I took the tour. My guide had been my pourer in the tasting room, Meredith. I thought Meredith was snooty or cold at first, but I ultimately decided she just doesn’t not have a dynamic personality. I finally checked into the hotel. Three of my wonderful girlfriends had sent me a basket of goodies – wine, sweets and a beautiful Napa Valley photo book. So sweet! The hotel was very nice. I inadvertently dozed a bit on my couch, then woke up and dined at Zuzu, a tapas restaurant. I was the last customer in the joint, but got to visit with the owner. The soup was fine, but the fried manchego was delish! What’s not to like about fried cheese, right? I slept (though stuck on Dallas time) and headed out at 10 the next morning for my tour via Napa Winery Shuttle and its driver, Karl.
There were 10 of us on the van in addition to Karl – two ladies from New Zealand, a couple celebrating the girls’ 21st birthday, a couple from Queens, a rather strange couple from which the guy used to live in Dallas (the girl was the creepy one), Veronique and me. Veronique had not intended to be traveling alone. Her ex-boyfriend originally was to come with her. They broke up. Then all her friends flaked out on the trip. We ended up palling around all day, which worked out great. Karl had lots of 2-for-1 tasting coupons, or various discounts for us. First we went to Sterling, the farthest north, almost to Calistoga. To get to the winery, you take a little 2-person gondola up the hillside. The view from the top is fantastic. The wines were not spectacular. But we really enjoyed one white. I had never heard of the varietal, and can’t recall it now. It started with an M. Then we went to V. Sattui, a winery that sells its wines only at its winery. Vittorio Sattui has built himself a castle on the hillside that can be seen across from Sterling. My friend Larry has been there for a charity event. Apparently it has a dungeon. Creepy. We tasted at V. Sattui before we ate, which may not have been a great idea. We definitely needed food on our stomachs by the time we ate. Then we got back on the van and went to Hagafen, a tiny winery that makes Kosher, organic wines. The wine guy was very cute. The wines were nothing special to me. Then we went to Black Stallion then Andretti Winery. Black Stallion is a new winery. The tasting room opened last fall. Andretti was a lot of fun, primarily because of the guy working the tasting room crowd. The winery is owned in part by Mario Andretti. It also had a cute gift shop. Their whites were very nice. I did not taste reds there. You definitely learn to pour out wines you don’t really like, because there are many more to be tasted. As a last stop, we went to Domaine Chandon. On this stop, I broke down and joined the club. Meredith assisted again. That was the last winery stop of the day.
I had a 7:30 dinner reservation with Larry that night. Earlier in the day, Larry sent me this sweet, neurotic email. Apparently he has started dating someone seriously and was concerned about expectations for the evening. That took the pressure off b/c I was kind of nervous too. I told him I had shaved my legs just in case, just to harass him. We had a great dinner and great conversation at Fume’ Bistro. My suspicion that everyone on the planet cheats is again confirmed.
April 4, 2008 was my 40th birthday. A distributer back home had hooked me up with some complimentary tours and tastings for two, so I asked Veronique to join me. We were at Markham at 10:30 a.m. Gregory in the tasting room was lots of fun to talk to, and we lost track of time a bit. We made it to Rutherford Hill about 10 minutes late, and caught up with the tour. We got to go in the caves – really neat. We really enjoyed the tasting there with Chris, and each bought some wine. I even liked and bought port! I called Chimney Rock and cancelled because we just could not make it. We were very hungry. But we stopped at Mumm to return my tiny size XL t-shirts and had another tasting. Then it was off to lunch at Domaine Chandon – and why not since I am a member and get a discount there. By this point, Meredith probably thinks I am a stalker. Then I HAD to get on the road.
I stopped and visited our new northern Cali office. Then drove into SF to see Michelle. She and I walked and took the train down to the Ferry Building where we had a fantastic dinner at The Slanted Door. Yum! It was very noisy, but very good. Riesling was the perfect match for the Vietnamese food.
The next day, she and I just had breakfast and went down to Chinatown and did some shopping. It’s always good and easy to spend time with Michelle. I got to the airport early. The worst think that happened the whole trip is that my flight was about 30 minutes delayed leaving SFO. Big deal, huh? Larry got me a funny book for my b’day and I almost finished it Saturday. I did finish it Sunday.
The weather was amazing the entire time. All in all, a wonderful trip. I had a meltdown around the beginning of the week. By the time of my trip I was fine and I am no longer freaked out by 40.
I took a birthday trip to Napa Valley. It was fantastic – essentially a perfect trip.
April 2 I arrived at SFO. It took forever to get bags and get to rental car. A coworker loaned me her Tom Tom GPS, which was awesome. I went to Mumm Napa and sat on the terrace and had sparkling wine. I tasted several different sparkling wines. I was headed to the hotel, but then decided to make the most of the time before the wineries closed. But I had to get some food on my stomach. I stopped and got a sandwich at Soda Creek Canyon Store. A little store with a deli in the back. I then went to Domaine Chandon, which I ultimately would do each day of my time in Napa. I just love bubbly! At Domaine Chandon, I took the tour. My guide had been my pourer in the tasting room, Meredith. I thought Meredith was snooty or cold at first, but I ultimately decided she just doesn’t not have a dynamic personality. I finally checked into the hotel. Three of my wonderful girlfriends had sent me a basket of goodies – wine, sweets and a beautiful Napa Valley photo book. So sweet! The hotel was very nice. I inadvertently dozed a bit on my couch, then woke up and dined at Zuzu, a tapas restaurant. I was the last customer in the joint, but got to visit with the owner. The soup was fine, but the fried manchego was delish! What’s not to like about fried cheese, right? I slept (though stuck on Dallas time) and headed out at 10 the next morning for my tour via Napa Winery Shuttle and its driver, Karl.
There were 10 of us on the van in addition to Karl – two ladies from New Zealand, a couple celebrating the girls’ 21st birthday, a couple from Queens, a rather strange couple from which the guy used to live in Dallas (the girl was the creepy one), Veronique and me. Veronique had not intended to be traveling alone. Her ex-boyfriend originally was to come with her. They broke up. Then all her friends flaked out on the trip. We ended up palling around all day, which worked out great. Karl had lots of 2-for-1 tasting coupons, or various discounts for us. First we went to Sterling, the farthest north, almost to Calistoga. To get to the winery, you take a little 2-person gondola up the hillside. The view from the top is fantastic. The wines were not spectacular. But we really enjoyed one white. I had never heard of the varietal, and can’t recall it now. It started with an M. Then we went to V. Sattui, a winery that sells its wines only at its winery. Vittorio Sattui has built himself a castle on the hillside that can be seen across from Sterling. My friend Larry has been there for a charity event. Apparently it has a dungeon. Creepy. We tasted at V. Sattui before we ate, which may not have been a great idea. We definitely needed food on our stomachs by the time we ate. Then we got back on the van and went to Hagafen, a tiny winery that makes Kosher, organic wines. The wine guy was very cute. The wines were nothing special to me. Then we went to Black Stallion then Andretti Winery. Black Stallion is a new winery. The tasting room opened last fall. Andretti was a lot of fun, primarily because of the guy working the tasting room crowd. The winery is owned in part by Mario Andretti. It also had a cute gift shop. Their whites were very nice. I did not taste reds there. You definitely learn to pour out wines you don’t really like, because there are many more to be tasted. As a last stop, we went to Domaine Chandon. On this stop, I broke down and joined the club. Meredith assisted again. That was the last winery stop of the day.
I had a 7:30 dinner reservation with Larry that night. Earlier in the day, Larry sent me this sweet, neurotic email. Apparently he has started dating someone seriously and was concerned about expectations for the evening. That took the pressure off b/c I was kind of nervous too. I told him I had shaved my legs just in case, just to harass him. We had a great dinner and great conversation at Fume’ Bistro. My suspicion that everyone on the planet cheats is again confirmed.
April 4, 2008 was my 40th birthday. A distributer back home had hooked me up with some complimentary tours and tastings for two, so I asked Veronique to join me. We were at Markham at 10:30 a.m. Gregory in the tasting room was lots of fun to talk to, and we lost track of time a bit. We made it to Rutherford Hill about 10 minutes late, and caught up with the tour. We got to go in the caves – really neat. We really enjoyed the tasting there with Chris, and each bought some wine. I even liked and bought port! I called Chimney Rock and cancelled because we just could not make it. We were very hungry. But we stopped at Mumm to return my tiny size XL t-shirts and had another tasting. Then it was off to lunch at Domaine Chandon – and why not since I am a member and get a discount there. By this point, Meredith probably thinks I am a stalker. Then I HAD to get on the road.
I stopped and visited our new northern Cali office. Then drove into SF to see Michelle. She and I walked and took the train down to the Ferry Building where we had a fantastic dinner at The Slanted Door. Yum! It was very noisy, but very good. Riesling was the perfect match for the Vietnamese food.
The next day, she and I just had breakfast and went down to Chinatown and did some shopping. It’s always good and easy to spend time with Michelle. I got to the airport early. The worst think that happened the whole trip is that my flight was about 30 minutes delayed leaving SFO. Big deal, huh? Larry got me a funny book for my b’day and I almost finished it Saturday. I did finish it Sunday.
The weather was amazing the entire time. All in all, a wonderful trip. I had a meltdown around the beginning of the week. By the time of my trip I was fine and I am no longer freaked out by 40.
Dinner Party
Below is the menu for the dinner party I hosted in June, with some notes. I planned the menu around the wines I wanted to serve. It turned out well, though far from perfect. All the food was good. All the wine was good. I think everyone had a good time. Though I dream of being the perfect, put-together hostess, I certainly am not there yet. Timing is the thing I have the most trouble with. When you are doing everything by yourself, it is hard to get everything ready at just the right moment. Often I have finished dishes too early, leaving them to sit too long. This time, I actually tried to relax, and ran up against my guests' arrival time. And this was the most prompt group of dinner guests I have ever had. I do appreciate promptness. Lateness is quite rude in general, but especially for a sit-down dinner like this. My guests were four wonderful ladies who hit it off well. One is a bit of a wine guru. I enjoyed the evening very much. But I won’t do another dinner party until it cools off quite a bit. It is just too hot to cook in the house right now!
Come in from the Heat!
Orange Iced Tea
Miguel Torres 2007 Santa Dinga Cabernet Rosé – Central Chile
Come in from the Heat!
Orange Iced Tea
Miguel Torres 2007 Santa Dinga Cabernet Rosé – Central Chile
This rose' has become my fave this summer. I discovered it at Cork in Dallas.
First
Domaine Chandon 1999 Vintage Brut – Sonoma County
Goat Cheese Croutons with Mushrooms in Madeira Cream
There was enough of this sparkling wine for each of us to have only a glass. So I promptly ordered myself another bottle. The recipe is from a Susan Spicer cookbook. I had this dish as a first course at her restaurant Bayona a few months ago. I wanted to lick the plate. I would like to try to make this somewhat less absurdly fattening, but who knows if it will be as good.
Second
Schug 2006 Pinot Noir – Carneros
Domaine Chandon 2006 Pinot Noir – Carneros
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Red Wine-Shallot Reduction
Summer Vegetable Risotto
Sautéed Broccolini
Multi-Grain Bread
Sarah, the Schug aficionado, brought two bottle of 2006 Schug pinot noir. She is in their wine club, so one of them was a limited production - only 50 cases made. It was my fave (of course). It was interesting to try three pinot noirs from the same year and same region. They had differences, but all were quite tasty. I made the reduction sauce with a pinot noir also. It was an adaptation of a Bobby Flay recipe with beef and cabernet sauvignon. The risotto was adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe. I did not use white wine in the risotto as suggested. There was enough wine. More chicken broth was the best choice in this instance. And no, I did not bake the bread. I am not much of a baker anyway, but I really don't do yeast breads.
Third
Rutherford Hill 2003 Vintage Zinfandel Port – Napa Valley
Organic Chocolate Truffles
New York Sharp Cheddar
St. Pete’s Select Blue Cheese
Domaine Chandon 1999 Vintage Brut – Sonoma County
Goat Cheese Croutons with Mushrooms in Madeira Cream
There was enough of this sparkling wine for each of us to have only a glass. So I promptly ordered myself another bottle. The recipe is from a Susan Spicer cookbook. I had this dish as a first course at her restaurant Bayona a few months ago. I wanted to lick the plate. I would like to try to make this somewhat less absurdly fattening, but who knows if it will be as good.
Second
Schug 2006 Pinot Noir – Carneros
Domaine Chandon 2006 Pinot Noir – Carneros
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Red Wine-Shallot Reduction
Summer Vegetable Risotto
Sautéed Broccolini
Multi-Grain Bread
Sarah, the Schug aficionado, brought two bottle of 2006 Schug pinot noir. She is in their wine club, so one of them was a limited production - only 50 cases made. It was my fave (of course). It was interesting to try three pinot noirs from the same year and same region. They had differences, but all were quite tasty. I made the reduction sauce with a pinot noir also. It was an adaptation of a Bobby Flay recipe with beef and cabernet sauvignon. The risotto was adapted from a Martha Stewart recipe. I did not use white wine in the risotto as suggested. There was enough wine. More chicken broth was the best choice in this instance. And no, I did not bake the bread. I am not much of a baker anyway, but I really don't do yeast breads.
Third
Rutherford Hill 2003 Vintage Zinfandel Port – Napa Valley
Organic Chocolate Truffles
New York Sharp Cheddar
St. Pete’s Select Blue Cheese
This port is what made me realize I like port. It is a ruby, not tawny. Julia turned us on to the truffles. We put down this bottle of port quite quickly. I just cannot make myself like blue cheese.
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