matador food & beverage guide: 2006 edition

[9000]

what & where are you eatin' and drinkin' in the '06?

eating:
chimu restaurant, williamsburg, bklyn: peruvian strip steak
peter pan donut shop, greenpoint, bklyn: two--no, six--no, twelve--baker's dozen! thank you, god.
eli's brioche hamburger rolls: really tasty, like challah bread.
p'tit basque cheese: fuck, yeah.
asbach uralt brandy filled chocolate: ditto.

drinking:
gilles robin, 2001 crozes-hermitage: holy shit this is good. velvety smooth and spicey syrah.

if i drop dead before 2007, please continue this thread.

[earl grey]

two--no, six--no, twelve--baker's dozen!


this line deserves some credit (along with the rest of that skit) for getting me through the last few days of finals.

[Maximo]

BONITA! BONITA!!!! (South 2nd and Bedford I *think* ?)

And whatever that nice cozy but recently overly-trendy-full-of-the-rich-condo-owners-who-are-ruining-williamsburg diner on Bedford somewhere near Bonita. They have mean burgers and cute waitresses.

[9000]

BONITA! BONITA!!!! (South 2nd and Bedford I *think* ?)

And whatever that nice cozy but recently overly-trendy-full-of-the-rich-condo-owners-who-are-ruining-williamsburg diner on Bedford somewhere near Bonita. They have mean burgers and cute waitresses.


little duder, when it gets warmer, walk yerself further north to the top of mccarren park, where there's a little taco stand there that blows bonita away. $2 tacos that you can eat in the park. maybe i'm gonna have to try bonita again, because my initial thought was BFD.

i think you're talking about "diner". good grub and nice eye candy, indeed.

[9000]

this line deserves some credit (along with the rest of that skit) for getting me through the last few days of finals.

double true.

[Maximo]

little duder, when it gets warmer, walk yerself further north to the top of mccarren park, where there's a little taco stand there that blows bonita away. $2 tacos that you can eat in the park. maybe i'm gonna have to try bonita again, because my initial thought was BFD.

i think you're talking about "diner". good grub and nice eye candy, indeed.

$2? I think I've heard of these-- Bonita's chicken enchiladas though... and Sangria... haha, they have no hard liquor license because of the church next door. Poor Bonita :(

[9000]

$2? I think I've heard of these-- Bonita's chicken enchiladas though... and Sangria... haha, they have no hard liquor license because of the church next door. Poor Bonita :(

yeah, but you can get 40's to drink in the park too!

i'll try to give bonita another shot and report back.

[Thor]

Damn you New Yorkers and your delicious food options.

[apeshite]

4 words: Al Di La, Brooklyn. (Sat 2 tables over from John Turturro last time I was there.)

Also, went to Leela Lounge (new Indian place on W.3rd, round the corner from Matador) for the first time recently. Surprisingly delish; elegant presentation. I'll go back again this year.

[9000]

Damn you New Yorkers and your delicious food options.

c'mon, i've got to imagine you have some nice options over there. what are some local specialities? wasn't trying to make this a nyc thread at all.

[Thor]

c'mon, i've got to imagine you have some nice options over there. what are some local specialities? wasn't trying to make this a nyc thread at all.

heh, was just teasin'. Plenty of great food here, including a lot of very decent Italian. I just have a thing about food in NYC; the amazing, gigantic burgers in that amazing little pub with woodchips on the floor on lexington somewhere downtown, the beautiful soul food in that place in the village (the pink...something), certain street vendor cheese steaks, and of course Korean BBQ on 34th! (i think). And, holy shit, patrick once took me to a small place in brooklyn that had the best pizza I've ever, ever, ever had. I'm seriously hungry now.

[earl grey]

Also, went to Leela Lounge (new Indian place on W.3rd, round the corner from Matador) for the first time recently. Surprisingly delish; elegant presentation. I'll go back again this year.

hmmm, i'll have to check it out. pricey? my favorite indian spot around there is angon on sixth, on 6th st. i tend to avoid that row but angon is in its own league IMO, definitely some of the freshest and best indian food i've had in manhattan.

[earl grey]

Plenty of great food here

so is the australian hamburger good? served w/ a beet and an egg on top, right? i've seen it on menus and been intrigued, but i've never had the balls to try it...

[apeshite]

hmmm, i'll have to check it out. pricey? my favorite indian spot around there is angon on sixth, on 6th st. i tend to avoid that row but angon is in its own league IMO, definitely some of the freshest and best indian food i've had in manhattan. Lunch was about $10-15. Not so bad, but not cheap cheap either. I'll have to check out Angon.

Also, I thought an Australian burger was an ostrich burger. Or is it just a vegemite sandwich? ;)

[Thor]

so is the australian hamburger good? served w/ a beet and an egg on top, right?

I think that's more of an international version of an "australian" burger. Burgers here tend to be heavy on salad and are generally quite large and so forth but in reality aren't much different from burgers in the USA.

[tinobeat]

you're crushing dreams, man

[Maximo]

yeah, but you can get 40's to drink in the park too!

i'll try to give bonita another shot and report back.


from that bodega that boasts the coldest brews on the east coast?

[Joel]

funniest/best food moment of the past couple weeks:

went to the rock n' sole place in covent garden in london last week to get some proper fish and chips, and paul weller was eating lunch with his daughter. this rather large woman went up to him and asked him where she knew him from, and he was like "uh, the jam?"

[earl grey]

you're crushing dreams, man

seriously! i pictured australians everywhere piling the beets and egg on their burgers. my world is crumbling... though it's prolly for the better, now i feel less of a curiousity to try it and burgers with crazy toppings* have generally disappointed me.

*unless island burger on 9th ave is involved - that place rules.

[rhoops]

seriously! i pictured australians everywhere piling the beets and egg on their burgers. my world is crumbling... though it's prolly for the better, now i feel less of a curiousity to try it and burgers with crazy toppings have generally disappointed me.

well when i was in OZ they were all about the beets. the only place i got a local burger with both egg and beet on it was in Christchurch NZ. . . and it's only crazy if you're not used to it. . . i spent the past 5 years in Chicago and they're all about mustard, no ketchup, on their hot dogs or red hots or superdawgs. . . if you order ketchup they will seriously stare at you for a bit to see if you're joking before they tell you they don't have any.

[earl grey]

and it's only crazy if you're not used to it. . .


very true.


i spent the past 5 years in Chicago and they're all about mustard, no ketchup, on their hot dogs or red hots or superdawgs. . . if you order ketchup they will seriously stare at you for a bit to see if you're joking before they tell you they don't have any.

mmm, chicago dogs are amazing...

[9000]

beets have no business being on hamburgers. totally unamerican.

[tinobeat]

that's why they're australian burgers, duh...

[9000]

that's why they're australian burgers, duh...

--beet it--

[Lukas]

funniest matador moment ever!

[9000]

eating:
donuts - lots of them
nutella
swiss gruyere
bagels, preferably with lox

drinking:
pappy van winkle - 15 yr family reserve
alto adige, 2003, pinot bianco
cortijo III, 2004, tempranillo, rioja <-- good cheap wine
chateau pascand, 2003, bordeaux
pellegrino

[Lukas]

nutella


used to love eating it when I went up to my old country house, but I haven't had it since.

I was surprised to see they had Kobe endorsing them, usually that kind of superstar is used by the big guys. Is it popular in the U.S then?

[9000]

Is it popular in the U.S then?

i can't imagine anyone not liking it. it has a reasonable following here, although is far from being the most popular or readily available sweet.

[Fiona]

i can't imagine anyone not liking it. it has a reasonable following here, although is far from being the most popular or readily available sweet.
Sorry, I think it's vile. It's hugely popular in continental europe, not nearly so much in Ireland & the UK.

Anyway, coming under pressure to disclose the fact I'm a closet food and wine junkie. At The Heritage, Killenard for a couple of days. Lunch not so good but dinner, oh wow:

Smoked slivers of duck breast with pear, young salad and hazelnut oil dressing
Fennel and Leek soup (the most delicate soup I've eaten, ever)
Chargrilled fillet of beef, with potato fondant and tarragon & chive creme fraiche
Iced praline parfait, with fruit compote (doused in alcohol) - not so nice individually but the amalgam of flavours was sublime.
Preceeded by Bauget-Jouette champagne (fine) and accompanied by Marques de Rascal tempranillo, 2003 - very nice indeed.
Someone, please roll me back downstairs. I'm pretty sure I consumed the equivalent of my bodyweight in the last couple of hours...

[9000]

Sorry, I think it's vile. It's hugely popular in continental europe, not nearly so much in Ireland & the UK.


if they had a localized guiness spread, you'd be all over it.

[earl grey]

if they had a localized guiness spread, you'd be all over it.

that's a brilliant idea - though not quite up there with the guinness ice cream float.

i got really into nutella after i first tried it, went overboard for a few months, and totally burned out on it. barely touch the stuff now.

[apeshite]

I prefer good ol' fashioned natural pb to nutella. Lately, I've also been obsessed with the following:

aged gouda (5+ yrs), roquefort, and (always) pecorino romano cheese
roast pork bun
almonds (and almond butter)
green tea ice cream
and oddly, Campari and orange juice

[Patrick]

Aged gouda is the shit(e)!!!!!

Patrick

[apeshite]

Aged gouda is the shit(e)!!!!!

PatrickMmmm...crumbly, sweet, butterscotchy goodness. I put away about half a pound in the last few days.

[Fiona]

if they had a localized guiness spread, you'd be all over it.
Oooohhhhh, you know I would.

though not quite up there with the guinness ice cream float.

It all sounds good to me...

More wine guzzling over the last couple of days:
Cazal Viel Cuvée des Fées Saint Chinian, 2003
Les Hauts de Saint-Rome (formerly Domaine Saint-Romes), Coteaux de Languedoc, 2003
and a gorgeous Barbera d'Asti this afternoon which I can't remember the name of. No, not for that reason.

[the Pawnbroker]

New Years' Eve Menu at the Pawnbrokers':

Caviar (California Sturgeon and something from Uruguay) <--- Dom Perignon 1996

Humboldt Fog (California Goat's Milk Cheese) <--- C/F 2002 Fume Blanc

2002? Terre di Tufo (You gotta have a wine course)

Lobster Bolognese <--- Feudi Di Sangregorio, 2002 Greco di Tufo

Prime Rib Roast w/ Leeks & Red Wine Sauce <--- Produttori di Barbaresco, Barbaresco 1996

Lots o' Johnny Walker Black

Late Nite: Aged Pecorino w/ port

Trust me, I don't eat/drink like this all the time.

[9000]

man, trying to run with pawnbroker and fiona. guzzling (guzzled):
domaine saint antonin--les jardins, 2003, faugeres
chateau l'ermitage, 2004, costieres de nimes (white rhone)
domaine de papolle, 2004, cotes de gascogne (armagnac, france) <--super dry white
wild gaucho, 2003, malbec, argentina

[Patrick]

1983 Musigny (Comte de Vogüé)
1990 Mazis-Chambertin (can't remember producer)
1989 Lynch-Bages
1996 Echézeaux (Domaine de Romanée-Conti)

all superb, all drunk within the past few months, probably won't have any of them again - ever (well maybe the Lynch-Bages)

Patrick

[Fiona]

domaine de papolle, 2004, cotes de gascogne (armagnac, france) <--super dry white

I spent around a week in Toulouse a while back and enjoyed some really great Armagnac. The cuisine in Gascony is something else.

Not quite up to that, but most enjoyable:
Onion and bacon bread
Pyrenées cheese
Lincolnshire sausages

My last bottle of Domaine Des Pradels, Saint Chinian, 2001 :(

The remains of christmas food:
Christmas cake ready spiked with Courvoisier VS Cognac
Roast ham with honey, mustard and whiskey glaze
Butter cookies

Creme eggs, regular and mini - they've been in the shops since new year and Easter's not 'til April!

Very good Guinness in The Chatham Lounge in Neary's - over which, nutella and its merits (or otherwise) came up for discussion. Those of us who grew up in Ireland and England were of the opinion that it was a perversion of both chocolate and bread to spread one on top of the other, whereas those who grew up in Europe and the US though we were cracked. Which means, I guess, that everyone was right.

[9000]

impressive, fi and patrick.

drinking (recommended!):

domaine monpertuis, vin de pays du gard, 2003: go. run. get this. 100% counoise rhone grape, typically used for blending, but stands like a champ on it's own. cheap, luscious, and sooooo good.

[Fiona]

I just scalded my fingers (v. painful) making chicken gorgonzola which made me think of this thread:

Lots of manchego and brebis de moulis cheese
Turkish delight brought back from Izmir
and my new favourite pizza - crab, king prawn, buttered leeks with dill and harissa creme fraiche.

[the Pawnbroker]

All made at home:

Two weekends ago:
Macaroni & Cheese (Cheddar & Greyer) (Sat) <---Old Speckled Hen
Chicken Marsala w/sauted beans and spinach (Sun)

Last weekend:
Split-pea soup (w/bacon & ham hock) & Grilled Cheese Sandwich <--- Feudi di San Gregorio, Falanghina, 2003
Desert was Port w/ aged pecorino

[9000]

drinking:
francois chidaine, collection touraine, 2004 <--nice savignon blanc
les vergers, muscadet, 2004
domaine rabasse charavin, cotes du rhone, 2003
domaine de la chapelle, samur, 2003 <-- chaulky, smokey, nice.
mattei, piemonte barbera, 2001 <--blah

eating:
stopped at wonderful zabar's on a trip to the UWS. picked up:
eli's rosemary ciabatta
french chaumers
danish esrom port salut <--reeks
ragusa jubile chocolate

soooo good.

[Fiona]

drinking:
francois chidaine, collection touraine, 2004 <--nice savignon blanc
les vergers, muscadet, 2004
domaine rabasse charavin, cotes du rhone, 2003
domaine de la chapelle, samur, 2003 <-- chaulky, smokey, nice.
mattei, piemonte barbera, 2001 <--blah

9000, are you trying to make me look bad?
Too much mediocre wine in restaurants of late. Today enjoyed Chateau Cazal Viel, Vielles Vignes (as opposed to the Cuvée des Fées I previously mentioned) Saint Chinian, 2003 - plenty of oomph, lots of tannins and a wonderful finish - with French Chevre and jamón serrano from Saint Esteve de Llemana.
I could live on a diet like this. And it comes with minimal chance of personal injury.

[9000]

drinking:
vernaccia di san gimignano, white, 2004 <---blah
vigna solaria, falerio, white, 2003 <---blah
carro tinto, murcia spain, 2004 <---hints of chocolate and berry. okay, but eh.
twin islands, marlborough, savignon blanc, 2004 <-- hints of gooseberry and kiwi (label's words). one for fi...?
harvey's fresh OJ <-- wow

more memorable eating (florida edition):
fried gator and frog
tilapia sandwich
BBQ platter
dark chocolate covered orange peel

[Lukas]

tilapia sandwich

I had a really good one there too

[Fiona]

twin islands, marlborough, savignon blanc, 2004 <-- hints of gooseberry and kiwi (label's words). one for fi...?


Did I mention whites from Marlborough before? I got through a couple over Christmas, rather nice, but can't remember the details. There are some decent producers in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay areas of the North Island as well.

Had an excellent Cotes du Rhone recently - Les Genets, Chusclan. Can't recall the vintage. Well worth checking out.

[9000]

Did I mention whites from Marlborough before?


possibly. i figured gooseberries would seal it for you.

[the Pawnbroker]

Recent trip to Casa Mono:

Goat Cheese and Pumpkin Croquettes
Serrano Ham
[Some Spanish Pasta, Almost Like Cut-up Angel Hair] w/Chorizo, Cockles & Sea Urchin Roe
Duck w/ Capers
Lamb w/ White Beans

Wine: A red from Montsant (sort of like a spanish pinot noir
Duck & Lamb ruled, everything else was good, but the Ham was waaay overpriced.

Desert: Three aged manchegos w/ a Bodega Olivares (Jurmilla) 2001 <-- This wine is unbelievable w/ manchego. Sort of like a sweeter, less spicy, slightly thinner port, but w/ more gorgeous concentrated grape flavor. I'm trying but can't find this anywhere but online.

[Fiona]

possibly. i figured gooseberries would seal it for you.
How very astute of you, 9000.

On Sunday - Domaines des Pradels, Chateau Quartironi de Sars, Saint Chinian 2003. This a different Saint Chinian from a producer I've mentioned before. This one has a higher syrah content than their other Saint Chinian - a lot more spicy, lovely stuff.

Been scoffing white chocolate covered blueberries this evening, oh yum.

[9000]

drink:
chataeau de ligre, chinon, 2003 --> spicey, smokey cab franc
le telquel, somewhere in france --> funky ass gamay. needed several hours to decant.
peyra, cotes de gascogne, 2004--> tart white

eat:
pork chops with vinegar and sweet peppers (bamonte's, brooklyn) delish.

[9000]

oogie's smoked gouda popcorn (!!!)

[earl grey]

here's an interesting question: what beer have you drunk the most in your lifetime?

for me, i gotta think it's either guinness or red stripe. though yuengling's given them both a serious run since my supermarket started selling 6-packs of it cheaper than anything else a couple yrs ago.

[9000]

tough one. i like to mix it up too much. possibly stella or brooklyn.

[rhoops]

a tough one for sure. . .

lately it's been sierra nevada, but when i lived in chicago it was any brew made by two brothers. yuengling is great too, but tough to get west of Pennsylvania it seems. . . and with the introduction of New Belguim to the Chicago market i'm sure there'll be more competition for favourites their 1554 belgium black ale is great. . .

[Fiona]

here's an interesting question: what beer have you drunk the most in your lifetime?

for me, i gotta think it's either guinness or red stripe. though yuengling's given them both a serious run since my supermarket started selling 6-packs of it cheaper than anything else a couple yrs ago.
*cough* guess which of the three you mention...
A good pint of Guinness has to be one my favourite pleasures in life, but in pubs rather than for home consumption. I find cans, even draught with the widget, just don't have anywhere near the quality of draught from kegs. Guinness launched four special brews here recently, though I've only seen Brew 39 and just in Mulligan's and The Long Hall.

Anyway pub consumption's for later tonight... at home, but seriously curtailed due to illness:

Alasia, Barbera d'Asti Superiore, 2003
Mascaron Par Ginestet, Bordeaux, 2001

Cheesey goodness:
Fiore Sardo
Pecorino Sardo
Cashel Blue
Gubbeen

Gross disappointment at the Bretzel on Lennox St discontinuing their cheese danishes owing to lack of suitable kosher cheese - bright side, having to cheer myself up with cherry and walnut muffins.

[earl grey]

*cough* guess which of the three you mention...
A good pint of Guinness has to be one my favourite pleasures in life, but in pubs rather than for home consumption. I find cans, even draught with the widget, just don't have anywhere near the quality of draught from kegs. Guinness launched four special brews here recently, though I've only seen Brew 39 and just in Mulligan's and The Long Hall.


whoa special guinness brews? how are they different? guinness is definitely my favorite of the three i listed for a single pint or two. agreed that it's gotta be on draft. and it's gotta be somewhere where they know how to pour it.

red stripe is the best go-to IMO for a standard bar selection and yuengling is the best value. fuller's would totally be my #1 if enough places had it...

[Fiona]

whoa special guinness brews? how are they different? guinness is definitely my favorite of the three i listed for a single pint or two. agreed that it's gotta be on draft. and it's gotta be somewhere where they know how to pour it.

red stripe is the best go-to IMO for a standard bar selection and yuengling is the best value. fuller's would totally be my #1 if enough places had it...
I really don't know what the difference is - whether it's brewing technique (would be terribly expensive to implement surely) or more likely preparation of the hops. Have yet to try it - seems to be on sale in the old-school pubs which are kind of on the tourist trail (ie great but always packed) like The Palace, Mulligans, Stag's Head, Long Hall etc., rather than my locals (Grogan's and Whelan's) One of my friends who's tried Brew 39 reckons it's milder, so I'm thinking maybe along the lines of Murphy's or Beamish?

Red Stripe isn't available in Ireland, believe it not. Have had it in the UK but find it quite bland. Prefer sharper lagers like Becks or Stella.

[the Pawnbroker]

here's an interesting question: what beer have you drunk the most in your lifetime?

for me, i gotta think it's either guinness or red stripe. though yuengling's given them both a serious run since my supermarket started selling 6-packs of it cheaper than anything else a couple yrs ago.

That's pretty funny. I went to high school/college in yeungling country, so I've had (more) than my share, but stopped drinking it years ago. Picked it up again about a year ago for the exact same reason.

My favorite beers are from Sam Smith, especially Nut Brown Ale, Oatmeal Stout, and especially Winter Welcome.

[earl grey]

My favorite beers are from Sam Smith, especially Nut Brown Ale, Oatmeal Stout, and especially Winter Welcome.

mmm, their oatmeal stout is indeed great. i quite like the taddy porter as well though it's like a meal.

perhaps my favorite beer moment was stumbling onto (and into) the cheshire cheese pub in london. it not only had samuel smith on tap (which i'd never seen before), but had their bitter. i was instantly smitten. (fantastic pub otherwise too, almost 350 yrs old and it feels it.)

[9000]

drinking:

jezebel, blanc, willamette valley, oregon, 2004
the magnificant wine co., house red, prosser, washington, 2004
amazir, rouge, beni m'tir, morroco, 2003
gobelsburger, zweigelt, austria, 003
weingut hoffer, gruner veltliner, austria, 2004

eating:

oogies' romano & pesto popcorn <--not to get all street-team, but this shit is so good. smoked gouda was better than romano & pesto, though.

[Fiona]

Mature Cooleeney <--- one of my favourite Irish cheeses, soft with an unusual mushroomy flavour
Too much Taleggio
both with parma ham and pave levain bread

Bergerie de l'Hortus, Coteaux du Languedoc, 2002
Cave de Tain l'Hermitage, Crozes Hermitage, 2002
Bouchard Pinot Noir, Pinossimo 2002
Nautilus Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2004 (lots of gooseberry, 9000)

[the Pawnbroker]

Last weekend @ Home:

Eat:
Roast Beef Tenderloin w/ Wild Mushrooms
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Asparagus

Drink:

Frei Brothers, Reserve Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2004 <--- Eh.

9000 -- Thanks for the heads up on the Italian wine thing coming up. A Tuesday, so it would be a tough commute.

[Kid B]

Drink: Blantons bourbon (better than Bookers or any other Noe bourbon hands down)

also Eagle Rare bourbon ( not bad for $24, 10 years old bottled at 90 proof)

[9000]

Drink: Blantons bourbon (better than Bookers or any other Noe bourbon hands down)

also Eagle Rare bourbon ( not bad for $24, 10 years old bottled at 90 proof)

blanton's is something special, for sure.

not too wild about eagle rare. in that price range, you should try elijah craig. or spend a few more bucks for van winkle.

[Kid B]

blanton's is something special, for sure.

not too wild about eagle rare. in that price range, you should try elijah craig. or spend a few more bucks for van winkle.
I don't know who you are, but I like you now. The Rip Van Winkle is one of my all time favorite Bourbons. It made me a bourbon drinker.
I can usually only afford the 15 year old, 107 proof bottle but a friend (in Kentucky) shelled out $107 for the 20 year old Pappy Van Winkle; I'm very jealous.

[earl grey]

blanton's is delicious but a little rich ... i'll usually go for the wild turkey instead these days. (tho at home it's almost always scotch.)

[9000]

I don't know who you are, but I like you now. The Rip Van Winkle is one of my all time favorite Bourbons. It made me a bourbon drinker.
I can usually only afford the 15 year old, 107 proof bottle but a friend (in Kentucky) shelled out $107 for the 20 year old Pappy Van Winkle; I'm very jealous.

there are van winkle "special reserve lot b" bottles floating around. i think they are 12 year. they used to run low-$30s, but may have gone up a bit in the past few years. regardless, get this stuff if you can. i think it's better than the 15yr. still haven't tried the 20 yr.

wild turkey: all good in the hood.

[the Pawnbroker]

blanton's is delicious but a little rich ... i'll usually go for the wild turkey instead these days. (tho at home it's almost always scotch.)

early grey, what scotch do you drink? Ever since I switched to scotch from bourbon last year, I've been drinking Johnny Walker Black pretty steadily. Years ago I used to drink Macallan, a pretty mild 12-year old single malt.

[tinobeat]

a recent fave bourbon of mine is Bulleit, real nice and smooth. I agree with Earl about Blantons. I like it, but not for anything regular. I only drink scotch when I'm out, at home its all bourbon or beer.

[earl grey]

early grey, what scotch do you drink? Ever since I switched to scotch from bourbon last year, I've been drinking Johnny Walker Black pretty steadily. Years ago I used to drink Macallan, a pretty mild 12-year old single malt.

mostly single malts in the cabinet at the moment. macallan was what started me on scotch (got a bottle as a gift), but these days i've been drinking mainly balvenie. bruichladdich is my favorite though, i need to replenish my supply. i also really like aberlour, especially a'bunadh (which is a cask-strength single malt of theirs). their scotches have a slight caramel flavor that's really nice.

[Fiona]

Tonight at Yamamori:
Ebi Nigiri
Tuna Norimaki
Ebi Gyoza
Agedashi Tofu
Suki Yaki (incredible!)

I should point out this was between two of us, but I've been a complete savage with wine today:

Domaine Grosset, Cairanne CDR Villages 2002 <--- do try if you see it in your local, lots of blackberry on the palette with a long liquorice finish. Simply great.
Domaine Saint Agnan, Touraine, Gaec Louet Gaudefroy, 2004
And another Sauvignon Blanc (NZ) and a Muscadet before dinner, but didn't catch the details.

[9000]

drink:
hijos de guelbenzu hoppe; calchugua valley, chile; 2003 <-- pretty big red. 50% cabernet sauvignon/50% carmenere.
chateau de chamboureau, savennieres, 2002 <-generally positive about most whites from here.
cascina ca'rossa; roera, italy; 2004<-- nice toasty italian white. hints of almond.
cooper hill, pinot noir, oregon, 2004 <--think it was organic. alright.

eat:
really good italian sandwich (somewhere on 5th ave, park slope)

[the Pawnbroker]

drink:
hijos de guelbenzu hoppe; calchugua valley, chile; 2003 <-- pretty big red. 50% cabernet sauvignon/50% carmenere.
chateau de chamboureau, savennieres, 2002 <-generally positive about most whites from here.
cascina ca'rossa; roera, italy; 2004<-- nice toasty italian white. hints of almond.
cooper hill, pinot noir, oregon, 2004 <--think it was organic. alright.

eat:
really good italian sandwich (somewhere on 5th ave, park slope)

Those glasses or bottles?

This past weekend @ home:

crostini w/broccoli rabe and montasio
pork loin roast stuffed w/ mortadella and truffle butter
roast potatoes
spinach

drink (both gifts):

santa margherita, pinot grigio, alto adige, 2002
la magia, rosso di montalcino, 2002 <--- '02 is not supposed to be a good year, but this was nice w/ really drinkable fruit up front but nice and dry tannic finish.

desert w/ port:
corsignano (aged pecorino)
15 mos. age manchego (this killed)

[9000]

Those glasses or bottles?


uh, bottles.

btw- stopped by that italian wine thing. the exhibit had about 75 wineries, which in theory sounds great, but was actually a bit overwhelming for my taste, especially when you factor in the shitload of people who apparently show up for these things. i hit about 10 stations and left more confused than when i showed up.

[the Pawnbroker]

uh, bottles.

Hopefully with others and not all in one session. :)

btw- stopped by that italian wine thing. the exhibit had about 75 wineries, which in theory sounds great, but was actually a bit overwhelming for my taste, especially when you factor in the shitload of people who apparently show up for these things. i hit about 10 stations and left more confused than when i showed up.

Yeah. I'm finding you have to pick little regions/wines and build your knowledge slowly.

[Oogie's]

oogie's smoked gouda popcorn (!!!)

Wow, that's really cool to see someone liked our popcorn enough to list it here. I thought I should stop by and say thanks!

[9000]

Wow, that's really cool to see someone liked our popcorn enough to list it here. I thought I should stop by and say thanks!

yeah, we'll talk about anything. no shortage of appetites or opinions here.

[Kid B]

Wow, that's really cool to see someone liked our popcorn enough to list it here. I thought I should stop by and say thanks!
This popcorn you speak of sounds intriguing. Where in ohio can I obtain it?????????? *

[Oogie's]

This popcorn you speak of sounds intriguing. Where in ohio can I obtain it?????????? *

Ohio? That's funny, we actually produce Oogie's now in Ohio although we don't sell it there yet. Still in the process of getting it distributed to different places, but the feedback and buzz we've been getting so far has been phenomenal, an we should be on shelves in Ohio within 2-3 months (it's complicated; believe it or not it depends on how we do in Michigan and Virignia first).

You could get it on our website for now but frankly I wouldn't recommend that option first; on the site we must charge the suggested retail price so we don't undercut any of our retailers, and currently that's $3.49. And you'd need to buy at least a case. I know it goes for $2.99 in a lot of places, and there's always a 2-for-$5 special running somewhere in the universe, but like I said, Ohio's on the horizon. Thanks for asking.

[Fiona]

Finally I get to a pub that serves Brew 39! It's really good, a smoother pint than regular draught Guinness, I also found it had a bit more of a malty flavour.
Anyway it hit the spot on Saturday afternoon whilst watching the final three matches of the Six Nations rugby (capped by Ireland beating England to win the Triple Crown :D)
I think the idea is to launch the special brews for a limited time only, so must be another due soon. This one's been around for a while, at least since last October.

[9000]

drank:
dezio; marche, italy; 2003--> bold, earthy and funky red. not sure of the varietal(s), but was sort of like a knuckleballin' cab franc. fi and pb, go for this one if you can find it.
zenato-lugana, trebbiano di lugana, 2004
chiorri, umbria, grechetto, 2004 <--nice, but no biggie.
pinot auxerrois, alsace, 2003 <--subtle grapefruit here
craftsman, hungary, cab franc, 2003 <--eh. overpriced at restaurant.

[earl grey]

It's really good, a smoother pint than regular draught Guinness

i'm not sure how guinness could get much smoother! wish they would send it over here, i wanna try...

[Fiona]

Really enjoyed a bottle of Costières de Nîmes last night over dinner. It's Chateau de Surville, 2004. Lots of oak, very spicy and peppery. Definitely worth digging out.

On the food front, had some Brin d'Amour, a very fresh ewe's milk cheese from Corsica, coated in rosemary. Delicious. Awfully expensive at Eur42/kilo but worth every cent.

Lastly, Valrhona Palmira... mmmm....

[9000]

unapologic white wine drinking:

la croix belle, languedoc, 2004 <--grenache blanc, viognier and chardonnay blend
cantina bolzano, goldmuskateller, 2003 <-- italian with a twist. serious lemon & grapefruit.
la pergola, pinot grigio, somewhere italy, 2004

[9000]

forget whether interpol bolted for interscope, tvt has astor liquors in the same building now. prime spread. it's on, matador.

[Patrick]

Riddle:

and what's going to be where astor liquors was?

Patrick

[9000]

disney store? interscope nyc office?

[earl grey]

i heard it was gonna be a walgreen's. i hope that's right because, you know, a rite aid 30 seconds away just isn't enough.

[9000]

i heard it was gonna be a walgreen's. i hope that's right because, you know, a rite aid 30 seconds away just isn't enough.

yeah, especially with k-mart right across the street.

now a target store would be a different story.

[earl grey]

yeah, especially with k-mart right across the street.



oh right, kmart, that's what i meant. they're all the same...

[9000]

oh right, kmart, that's what i meant. they're all the same...

but there's a rite-aid too, i think, on broadway and 9th.

[9000]

drinking:
francois chidaine, touraine, savignon blanc, 2004 - so nice, i had it 2x. rockin' $10 bottle of wine.
montesole, italy, fiano di avellini, 2003 - refreshing italian white with the most subtle hints of apple.
mano a mano, la mancha, tempranillo, 2004 - fun, stupid red.

eating:
gold's wasabi w/ ginger sauce
lindt's: 70% dark, 85% dark, intense orange, intense pear

patrick, was the riddle answered? and what you eating?

[Fiona]

francois chidaine, touraine, savignon blanc, 2004 - so nice, i had it 2x. rockin' $10 bottle of wine
Twice in the one sitting? I remember you mentioning this one before Christmas.

Ag ól anseo:
St Clare, Clare Valley Semillon, 2000
Oxford Landing, Cabernet-Sauvignon Shiraz 2004 <--- not my bag at first, but really grew on me. Oakier than expected.
Melini Chianti, 2004 <--- cheap as chips at Eur6/bottle, fantastic value. Bursting with flavour - cherry, with hints of almond. Total steal.
La Prendina, Corvina, Garda 2004

Cheese - all good:
Old Amsterdam
Cashel Blue
Tomme Crayeuse
Tomme de Savoie
Brebis de Moulis

[9000]

Twice in the one sitting? I remember you mentioning this one before Christmas.

Ag ól anseo:
St Clare, Clare Valley Semillon, 2000
Oxford Landing, Cabernet-Sauvignon Shiraz 2004 <--- not my bag at first, but really grew on me. Oakier than expected.
Melini Chianti, 2004 <--- cheap as chips at Eur6/bottle, fantastic value. Bursting with flavour - cherry, with hints of almond. Total steal.
La Prendina, Corvina, Garda 2004

Cheese - all good:
Old Amsterdam
Cashel Blue
Tomme Crayeuse
Tomme de Savoie
Brebis de Moulis

...not the same night.

i haven't been able to find that OL. expectations aren't too high, but i'll try it for $7!

the big news here is that a trader joe's (national food chain) finally opened. they carry $3 wine (!) that's supposedly halfway decent. stay tuned.

old amsterdam!

[Fiona]

i haven't been able to find that OL. expectations aren't too high, but i'll try it for $7!

the big news here is that a trader joe's (national food chain) finally opened. they carry $3 wine (!) that's supposedly halfway decent. stay tuned.

Don't get me wrong, the Oxford Landing's actually pretty good. Definitely worth a punt at $7 - it's €9 ($11) here! I still thought it decent value.
$3 wine? You couldn't buy a bottle of vinegar for 3 notes here...
old amsterdam!
Pass the dutchy!

[earl grey]

$3 wine? You couldn't buy a bottle of vinegar for 3 notes here...


from what i've heard about that trader joe's wine, there's not much difference...

(used to be 'two buck chuck' but i guess it's pricier now.)

[9000]

it's still "two buck chuck" elsewhere; they're jacking it up on us because they can...

as a rule, i'd say stay entirely clear of $3 wine, but i'm willing to give chuck a shot. my understanding is that TJ buys a glut of excess wine that's out in the market, leaving open the possibility that you may get a decent batch. or not, i guess.

i'll post back on my scientific findings.

[the Pawnbroker]

Bertani, Valpolicella Valpentana "Ripasso", "Secco Bertani", 2004
Bastianich, Tocai Fiuliano, 2004 <-- This is a white food monster. Pair w/ Proscuitto di San Danielle.

[9000]

mary's fish camp: incredible fish, low-key environment, recommended. cold oysters & clams followed by grilled tilapia; washed down with foris pinot gris (oregon). could had sworn the wine had a slightly salty sea kick, which worked surprisingly well.

[the Pawnbroker]

mary's fish camp: incredible fish, low-key environment, recommended. cold oysters & clams followed by grilled tilapia; washed down with foris pinot gris (oregon). could had sworn the wine had a slightly salty sea kick, which worked surprisingly well.

Sounds yummy. I've only ever done lobster rolls at lunch there -- beer to drink.

[9000]

Sounds yummy. I've only ever done lobster rolls at lunch there -- beer to drink.

the lobster rolls looked great.

drinking (two buck edition):

trader joe's two buck chuck, cabernet sauvignon, 2003 -> passable with food. typical boring CA red wine, but at least it's only $3.
trader joe's two buck chuck, chardonnay, 2003 -> dreadful. like drinking butane.
les heretiques, france, 2004 --> another cheapo at $8.
logis de la giraudiere, anjou, 2002 ->dud.
ravielle freres, languedoc, 2003 -> a fiona special.
las brisas, rueda, 2004 -> white that may work w/ chinese

[Patrick]

Andrew Klein has this Clontarf Irish whiskey. I'm not normally into Irish whiskey but this is nice. He also had some seriously salty old oloroso that was wonderful - Emperatriz Eugenia I think it was called, but there must have been more information than that... sherry is a seriously underrated drink.

Patrick

[Fiona]

Over here sherry seems to be associated mainly with amontillado, which suffers from being known as a little-old-lady drink and that's a pity. I'm fond of fino, but more so manzanilla - especially in the summer time. Have a bottle of each left from my last trip to Cádiz and looking forward to cracking them once the warm weather arrives.

Meanwhile:
Sileni Cellar Selection, Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir 2003 <--- This is the first new world Pinot Noir I've tried - very pleasant, but softer on the palate (less berry, spice) than French pn's I've had.
Chateau Peyragué, Graves blanc, 2003 <--- a long time since I've had a white Bordeaux, flowery nose, very earthy, rich palate with apricot notes.

[Fiona]

Last night - Liefman's Kriekbier. Belgian beer, flavoured with cherries. Has a lovely sharp cherry flavour. Thought it may be a bit sickly sweet, but not in the least, mmmm. Now I just have to find somewhere in this country that stocks it...

Green & Black's organic butterscotch milk chocolate and creamy vanilla white chocolate, plus the ice-cream version of the latter.

[Lukas]

Green & Black's organic butterscotch milk chocolate and creamy vanilla white chocolate, plus the ice-cream version of the latter.

that sounds outrageously good

[9000]

fi's butterscotch brings all the blokes to the yard.

drinking:
domaine monpertuis, vin de pays du gard, 2004: a year makes a big difference, i suppose. 2003 vintage was sooooo good, but 2004 is kinda alright. maybe it needs more time, i don't know.
chateau d'arcins, bordeaux, 2003
galvs, costieres de nimes, 2004
chateau du trignon, cotes-du-rhone, 2004--> easy peasy rhone white.
tres picos, borja, garnacha, 2004 --> nice and smooth grenache all on sale for $8.50. fo' real.
pitchers of beer

eating:
fried pickles!
bbq
junior's for lunch while on jury duty

[earl grey]

fried pickles!


nice. on yr own, or did you get them somewhere? i had fried pickle spears in colorado once and it was the greatest thing ever. have only seen them in NYC once, and they were terribly disappointing.

[9000]

nice. on yr own, or did you get them somewhere? i had fried pickle spears in colorado once and it was the greatest thing ever. have only seen them in NYC once, and they were terribly disappointing.

ain't much frying going on over here. i had them in a northern florida bbq joint. maybe when we get nascar, bbq will follow.

[earl grey]

ain't much frying going on over here.

i figured, but i had to ask.

my food consumption these days seems to be wholly thai, middle eastern, and mexican, i.e. the three cheap quality options near school. (though w/ the mexican, it's some of the best mexican i've had in NYC. pio maya on west 8th street ... cheap, authentic, and really tasty. the chorizo burrito is the shit.)

[Fiona]

that sounds outrageously goodThe chocolate is very good, but the Kriekbier is what's outrageously good.
I couldn't score Liefman's here, but have some Boon Kriek cooling in the fridge...

galvs, costieres de nimes, 2004
9000, how'd you find this one? The Chateau de Surville is one of my favourite finds of the year. I believe it's sold as Chateau de Valcombe outside of the chain from which I purchased it.

[9000]

9000, how'd you find this one? The Chateau de Surville is one of my favourite finds of the year. I believe it's sold as Chateau de Valcombe outside of the chain from which I purchased it.

just walked into a wine shop, liked the blurb about it, and then went from there. i thought it was nice, although not entirely special. what are the varietals: syrah and grenache?

[Fiona]

just walked into a wine shop, liked the blurb about it, and then went from there. i thought it was nice, although not entirely special. what are the varietals: syrah and grenache? Reds are usually carignan, syrah and grenache. This particular one is 80% syrah and 20% grenache. I love that is has lots of oak, is spicy and peppery yet still has a fruity, cassis element to it.

[9000]

Reds are usually carignan, syrah and grenache. This particular one is 80% syrah and 20% grenache. I love that is has lots of oak, is spicy and peppery yet still has a fruity, cassis element to it.

i recall it being a little tamer. maybe we're talking about different bottles.

i think you'd definitely enjoy what i'm having at the moment:
andezon, cotes-du-rhone, 2004 --> 100% syrah, organic. pretty big and fruity with a nice little kick. very solid "value" wine.

[Fiona]

i recall it being a little tamer. maybe we're talking about different bottles.
Yes, by the sound of things very different examples of the appellation. Not that I've kept an eye out in particular for Costières de Nîmes/Costières du Gard over the years, but the Château de Surville aka Château de Valcombe caught me and every sinner whose home I've brought it to since. It's certainly an appellation I'll be digging for in the pote ntialden of iniquity that is my new local market... Btw without wishing to harp on, the 2004 vintage was a medal-winner last year.

Côtes du Rhônes I'm a little cynical about. Think it's to do with the fact it's the eternal appellation at work. As long as I've been with the company (and I definitely wasn't a grumpy old woman back then) Belleruche CDR rouge and blanc have been the staple. It's not the worst, but not conducive to drinking without a suitable accompaniment, and have yet to have it matched to an appropriate meal.

I recommend you try some of the many CDR-Villages - my particular favourites are Cairanne (spicy, with lots of berry, one of my favourites), Chusclan (fruity, v highly regarded), and Rasteau.
A lot of folk are cynical about terroirs, but seriously, exploration into the Villages wines, the Costières de Nîmes... or pretty much any region if you want to look at it in depth will reveal a world of difference within a small production area. It's fascinating.

Happened upon a bottle I couldn't leave behind y'day - a 2004 Shiraz-Viognier from S Australia, sounded too wacked to leave behind. Had typical Australian Shiraz characteristics, and v little Viognier to justify the experiment. Could've been worse.

[9000]

brooklyn brewery pigfest (!) snuck up this year--sixth annual this saturday. sadly, locals appear to be doing the cooking this year, as opposed to the big boys who've come up from the south in years past. whatever: roasted pig and unlimited beer.

[the Pawnbroker]

Gahh, been so busy I totally got behind on this thing.

Did the traditional tasting menu (8 courses) at Babbo a few weeks back. We splurged and got the wines paired with each course, which was great. It was very good, but the one complaint was that four of the courses were, in essence, desert (cheese, semifreddo, chocolate thing, and desert sampler). This was a little much -- especially because the wines became more powerfull as the night went on.

Favorite course was the lemon semifreddo with huckleberries, paired with a Moscato d'Asti. Just an amazing combo.

Going to Rome in 10 days for vacation -- I'm going to drink and eat myself silly.

[9000]

drink:
domaine lafage, red, cotes catalanes, 2003
planeta la segreta, rosso, sicily, 2004 --> nice.
fattoria a valentina, rosso, montepulciano d'abrusso, 2003 --> eh.
jacques & francois lurton, sauvignon blanc, cotes du tarn, 2005 ->guzzler.

eat:
brooklyn brewery pigfest '06 --> five hours of all you could eat and drink under the brooklyn bridge. pretty kickass even if the roasted pigs would have benefited from the north carolina treatment of previous years (local cooks this time). too bad you can't post pictures here or i'd throw one up of mr. hcp (horribly charred pig).

[mixtapegrrl]

has anyone ever been to monkey town in williamsburg brooklyn?

[Fiona]

The latest in the Guinness Brewhouse series landed in the last couple of days, and it's called "Toucan Brew"! Again, lovely variation, much sweeter than regular draught, maybe the hops aren't toasted as much? Lighter and easier to drink (not necessarily a good thing) - maybe they had summer in mind. It's also a completely different colour - it's a chocolately brown hue.

[Oogie's]

This popcorn you speak of sounds intriguing. Where in ohio can I obtain it?????????? *

I apologize if I sound like a commercial, but Oogie's is now available on Amazon.com, so if you're in an area (like Ohio) where we haven't gotten to yet, you can now get us at the Amazon site- and at a much better price than we have on our own site.

To be clear, though, we did just put Oogie's into one Ohio market- Miles Farmers Market in Solon, which is a suburb of Cleveland. Hope this helps.

[Patrick]

The Oyster Bar last night: 2 glasses of Muscadet with a half dozen Pemaquids (Maine) and half a dozen Umamis (Long Island). They say no oysters in R months or on Saturdays, and I generally agree with that sort of stricture if only because it makes more special and trad feeling when you have them, but these were superb.

With the Muscadet there was no need for any kind of sauce, even lemon. We sat at the (drinking) bar, quaintly called the saloon, just by a pass-through window from the actual shucking bar.

The so-called "New England clam chowder" that followed, however was a corn-starchy disgrace. When are New Yorkers going to learn that real New England clam chowder (as opposed to the tomato-drenched "Manhattan" kind) is a delicate production, with almost no thickness, bursting with clams, and based on milk (not cream) with runnels of golden butter delicately tracing their way across the surface of the soup?

Patrck

[9000]

the grand central oyster bar itself is so wonderful, but i recall the food being lackluster. at least you lucked out with the oysters and muscadet.

new yorkers like to make shitty new england clam chowder on purpose. just because.

[Patrick]

Yeah 9000 I think the ticket is to stick with the oysters and wine. I've had a couple other dishes there that were OK, including lobster much to my surprise (I only eat Maine lobster and in my experience the quality drops off geometrically with every mile in distance from Maine), and those "pan bakes" they do of various seafood - quite nice. But overpriced as hell. And I bet those lobsters vary dramatically in freshness and quality.

OTOH you could make a nice meal of 24 oysters and 2-3 glasses of muscadet, with some decent bread to sop up the drippings as you yourself sop up the atmosphere!

That saloon bar especially is out of time (with the secret side entrance down the private flight of steps) - though not the '10s and '20s of the main oyster bar - more like the late '60s with its black ceiling tile and bakelite (earlier?) light fixtures. It just needs to be avoided during commuter time.

8 PM Saturday night (they close at 9) was perfect.

Patrick

[9000]

yeah, the saloon is a trip! enjoy it while you can. unfortunately, that kind of charm is relegated to the outer-boroughs, where even there it's a dying breed now. sad.

[the Pawnbroker]

Got back from Rome last weekend -- here is my journal:

21/05/2006

Lunch/Dinner – [Did not get name]

Fried Zuchini Blossoms (stuffed w/cheese)
Salad Caprese
Tagliolini w/ arugula, basil, and parmagiano
Tagliolini w/ porcini mushrooms and parmagiano

{Producer Unknown}, Tocai Friulano, Colli dei Orientale, 2004 (light crisp white, mineral-ly with high acid)

This place was average at best. Not much was open on Sunday afternoon.


22/05/2006

Lunch/Snack – Forno Il Campo Fiori
Pizza Rosso (thin, chewy crust with thin veil of fresh red sauce and oil – no cheese)
Pizza Bianco (thin, chewy crust with thin veil of olive oil and salt)

Lunch – Il Gochetto (our favorite wine bar discovered)
Mixed cheeses, including talleggio (gooey soft and rich).
Mixed meets (proscuitto, sopprasetta, etc.)
Smoked Salmon rolls stuffed with cheese-herb mixture.

{Producer Unknown}, Franciacorta Brut, 2001 (Champagne-method Italian sparkler from Lombardia – complex, crisp, and fantastic).
Heba, Morrellino di Scansano 2004 (red, grape is similar to sangiovese, really good, basic red).
{Producer Unknown}, Quaranta/Sessanta “40/60” (this was a Lazio wine with 40% Caesanese/60% Syrah – cheap, fruity and really drinkable).
Racaro, Tocai Friulano, Collio 2005 (again, lighter and crisper than other Tocais I’ve had).

Snack – San Crispino
Gelato (crema di caramello and strachiatella)

Dinner – Al Moro
Spaghetti Al Moro (carbonara – supposedly this restaurant invented it).
Tagliatelle with butter and mushrooms

Mastroberardino, Greco di Tufo, 2005 (1/2 Bottle)

Veal Chop
Fried artichokes and lamb brains (brains!)

Vignamaggio, Terre di Prenzano, Chianti Classico, 2003 (1/2 Bottle)

Zabaglioni with berries


23/05/2006

Lunch – Forno Il Campo Fiori
Pizza with roasted tomato and olive oil
Pizza with zucchini blossoms and anchovies

Wine Snack -- Il Gochetto
Terre Rosse, Pigato 2004 (lovely white, sweet, full-bodied).
Garofoli, Verdicchio Jesi, 2004 (white)
Venessa Betulle 2004 (pinot bianco, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and tocai friulano – tremendous white blend – rich but nice, mineral bite).

Snack – San Crispino
Gelato (banana and honey)

Dinner – Eden Hotel (this is a really swanky hotel with a rooftop restaurant with views of the city – tremendous sunset)

Froie gras with pistachio crust and spinach bread – paired with a simple sweet desert wine that tasted like apples)
Zuchini blossoms stuffed with walnuts

Risotto with prawns
Gnocchi with pears and parmagiano
Lo Scalo, Gavi 2003 (1/2 Bottle – never realized Gavi could be so good).

Baked Rack of Lamb
Rabbit medallion
{Producer Unknown}, Barbara d’Asti, 2004 (1/2 Bottle)


24/05/2006

Lunch – Cul de Sac (wine bar)
Pheasant and black truffle pate
Berlucchi Cuvee Storico, Franciacorta (NV champagne-method sparkler).

Assorted meats and cheeses, including toronino
Tuna, green beans, and cherry tomatoes

Caccia al Piano 1868, Bolgheri Ruit Hora, 2003 (reserved, light red with light dry finish).
Pedere La Borla, Monsupella, Otrepo Pavese, 2001 (forward fruit, pleasant finish).

Tete de Moine (French hard cheese) with honey
Don PX, Pedro Ximenez, Montilla-Moriles, 2002 (great Spanish desert wine, dark amber, strong).

Dinner – Matricianella
Frito Misto (mixed fried vegetables, including zucchini blossoms stuffed with anchovies and fried ricotta)

Cacio e Pepe (pasta with cheese and black pepper – so rich and creamy)
Tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and spinach

Poliziano, Rosso di Montelpuciano, 2004
Castel de Paolis, Fascati, 2004 (light Roman white wine).

Gelato (baci and pistachio)

25/05/2006

Lunch -- Picnic in Ostia Antica with assorted meats, cheeses (piave) and bread
Colle Moro, Montelpuciano D’Abruzzo, 2004 (1/2 Bottle)

Wine Snack – Rooftop of hotel
Berlucchi Cuvee Imperiale Brut, Franciacorta (NV sparkler)

Dinner – Al Moro
Frito Misto (mixed fried vegetables including zucchini blossoms, fried ricotta, and a fried veal and vegetable mixture).

Spaghetti Al Moro (carbonara).
Gnocchi with butter and sage

Mastroberardino, Fiano di Avellino, 2005 (1/2 Bottle)
Carafe of house white – may have been a Frascati)

Baba con zabaglione (rum-soaked buns in custard – there must have been nearly a shot of rum in each one).


26/05/2006

Lunch – Il Gochetto
Cavalleri, Pa Dose, Franciacorta, 2002
Giacoso, Extra Brut, 2001
(both nice champagne-method sparklers)

Fresh bread (the baker passed us to deliver the warm tray of bread as we arrived – you could smell it)
Pepperoncino stuffed with tuna
Bruschetta
Assorted mixed cheeses and meats (mortadella, parmagiano, robiola)

Oberto, Nebbiolo, Langhe, 2004
Aglianico del Vulture, 2003
(both these wines were much lighter than expected).

Gorgonzola with honey
Moscato Passito Pantelleria, 2004 (wonderful peachy light desert wine – I brought a bottle home).

Dinner – Maccheroni
Ravioli with pumpkin flowers
Maccheroni Amatriciano

Carpaccio with arugula and paramagiano
Chicory with anchovy sauce

Poderi di Luigi Einaudi, Dolchetto di Dogliani, 2004


27/05/2006

Lunch – Trattoria di Romolo (meh -- probably the worst meal we had)
Carafe of house white wine
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti Vogole Varaci (butter and clams)

Dinner – Cul de Sac (with friends)
Berlucchi Cuvee Storico, Franciacorta (NV champagne-method sparkler).
Assorted Pate (including pheasant, and one with raisins)
Prosciutto with cantaloupe

Assorted meats, including prosciutto, bresaola, hot soppreseta.
Assorted cheeses, including talleggio, fresh mozzarella, parmagiano, a semi-hard cheese with fennel seed crust, and a soft cheese with imbedded peppercorns.
Luigi Giordano, Barbaresco, Montestefano, 2000 (yum)

Gorgonzola and marscapone (this was a weird mixture – didn’t quite dig it)
Moscato Passito Pantelleria, 2004

That’s all she wrote.

[Patrick]

Jealousy! I wanted to go to Italy for vacation this spring but went to Scotland instead.

What was the best meal of them all?

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

What was the best meal of them all?
Patrick

As you can see, I loved just getting meat and cheese at the wine bars and nibbling on as many tastes as possible.

For a full meal, my favorite was probably the first night at Al Moro, which is around the corner from the Trevi Fountain. It's an ultra-traditional, old-school Roman place (foreigners sit in the back room, Romans in the front). All waiters in outfits (those jackets that button all the way up to the neck). Phonebook sized wine list that you had just a short time to read because they needed to give it to someone else (there was only one, you passed it around). Plus, I sort of ordered the lambs brains by accident (they came with the artichokes), and didn't tell my wife until after she had tried them.

First time in Rome, but definitely going back. It's a really great city -- the energy reminded me of NYC in a way.

[9000]

and the oscar goes to... damn, pawnbroker, you turned it out.

wine list:
langhe, barbaresco, nebbiolo 2004 --> (pb, did you have the same on your trip..?) light with wicked spiciness; somewhat tart. the nebbiolo grape does not fuck around.
chateau arnuton, bordeax 2001 --> way too much merlot in this caught me off guard.
chateau lamothe de haux, bordeax white 2005 --> guzzler.
libra, orvieto classico 2004 --> decent cheap italian white.
sileni estate selection, hawke's bay, semillion 2004 --> enjoyable new world experience.
domaine petrassol, somewhere france, no year --> don't remember.
georges vigourox, cahors 2004 --> tasted like syrah. enjoyed with good company...

restaurant:
dressler -- swanky place under the williamsburg bridge. i love dumont (same owners), so i wasn't surprised to thoroughly enjoy the more upscale cuisine here.

[Patrick]

First time in Rome, but definitely going back. It's a really great city -- the energy reminded me of NYC in a way.

I agree, one of my favorite cities in the world. I think it's NYC Paris and Rome. And that's not to put down London, Venice, Tokyo or LA... just to say that those three are better.

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

langhe, barbaresco, nebbiolo 2004 --> (pb, did you have the same on your trip..?) light with wicked spiciness; somewhat tart. the nebbiolo grape does not fuck around.


Probably not, but you never know. I was really surprised the Langhe I had was so light -- I was expecting something with more bite.

Barbaresco and Langhe can be two entirely different wines. Barbaresco is a refined aromatic style (think pinot noir) using 100% nebbiolo within the barbaresco DOCG strictures. Langhe is a slightly larger DOC (not G), which also encompasses the barbaresco area, and also uses the nebbiolo grape, but also permits more variation in blending/aging.

For instance, Angelo Gaja, one of the most famous Barbaresco producers, now uses the Langhe DOC instead of the Barbaresco DOCG, because it allows him greater flexibility. Of course, I've never seen a Gaja Barbaresco/Langhe wine for under $140, so I wouldn't have any first-hand experience.

Italian wine is crazy, confusing world.

Patrick: Since Italy is closer to my heart, I've had a bias against Paris, but I think Paris is now on my to do list. Have you ever done Spain?

[Patrick]

Madrid and Vigo only, through a fog of wine and drugs. I really need to see those cities more thoroughly (well, not Vigo, but definitely Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Seville and Santiago de Compostela. And the Extremadura region).

[9000]

i'm such a rube. italian wine labels are by far the most difficult to understand, at least for me. the whole region and sub-region thing throws me off, especially when some makers seem to market the sub-region more than the vineyard itself.

[Fiona]

I've been taking it easy (by my standards, and definitely by all your lot's) recently...

Oxford Landing Shiraz, 2005 <--- much better than the cabernet sauvignon-merlot disaster, which came of not remembering which was recommended.

Louis Josse, Bourgogne, 2003. Was just perfect with roast lamb, mmmm. Finished the meal off with Epoisses, from the same region.

[9000]

Oxford Landing Shiraz, 2005 <--- much better than the cabernet sauvignon-merlot disaster, which came of not remembering which was recommended.


that article recommended the shiraz-cabernet sauvignon blend, i think.

[Fiona]

that article recommended the shiraz-cabernet sauvignon blend, i think.

Derrrr, it was the Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz (no merlot blend) I had before and didn't like too much. Even tried it a second time to be sure... I preferred the Shiraz. There's a merlot in the range too and that's wots got me all confused.
Anyway, whichever the article recommended, I'm backing the shiraz!

[Miss Tasty Princess]

My husband brought home a case of Coca-Cola Blak that he got free at work and I seem to becoming rapidly addicted. It tastes strange so I may quickly tire of it, like I did with the vanilla and lime varieties.

[Moon Pix]

At the moment its Ribena. Not exactly rock n' roll I know but I like it.:)

[the Pawnbroker]

I just put nearly an entire garbage can's worth of wine bottles out for recycling, and was too lazy to catch up and write down specifics. Suffice it to say, pretty much all Italian: Barbara d'Alba, Barbara d'Asti, Tocai Friulano, Dolcetto d'Alba, Dolcetto di Dolgiani (this was really really good for $13), and a bunch of sub-$10 whites (fiano from sicily, some others).

Dolcetto is an interesting grape. Really fruity, almost purple-black, oily, with a mouth-drying finish. I found a 2005 for $6.82 that was fun.

I know there are good wines from other places, but I'm trapped.

[9000]

sounds like a great place to be trapped, pb. short of a trip to italy, i'm lovin' getting lost in the new astor wine center.

wine list:
chateau de pourcieux, cotes de provence, rose' 2005 --> nice and dry rose. 60% syrah, 20% grenache, and 20% cinsault.
bodegas baldeaguila, viña salamanca, rosado 2004 --> definitely sweeter and more to the red side than the aforementioned rose, which i prefered.
domaine pela quie, rhone, white 2004 --> cheap kick-butt rhone white.
portal do fidalgo, moncao portugal, alvarinho 2004--> cheap and fun! went great with thai.
la nunsio, barbera d'asti 2002 --> mild red w/ hints of truffle. subtle character. okay.

pre-summer hangin':
LIC water taxi beach bar - closer than the rockaways with ample booze!

[Fiona]

Evans & Tate, Margaret River, Cabernet Merlot, 2004 <--- solid red from Margaret River.

Scipione Giuliani, Popolino rosso, Sicily 2005 <--- Blend of Sangiovese and Nero d'Avola. At Eur5, as cheap as it gets. I've paid more for poorer wine, but don't think I'll bother with this again, nothing to really distinguish it.

La Ghersa, Camparó, Barbera d'Asti Superiore, 2003 <--- a lot more tannin and less fruit than other Barbera d'Asti's I've had - expected more.

Phillipe Grange, Sauvignon, Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2005 <---might as well have paid Eur10 for a bottle of water.

Alain Brumont, Gros Manseng-Sauvignon, VdP des Côtes de Gascogne 2005 <--- I loved this, don't come across gros manseng too frequently and this is a super blend.

Reguengos, Alentejo branco, 2004 <--- so, so and at inflated restaurant prices.

Had some lovely bolo brigadeiro, traditional Brazilian cake, which along with caipirinhas, were the most enjoyable parts of dinner Saturday night.

[the Pawnbroker]

sounds like a great place to be trapped, pb. short of a trip to italy, i'm lovin' getting lost in the new astor wine center.


I've only been once, but that store is crazy fun.

Zaccagnini "Chronicon", Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 2001 <--Took it on a picnic and the wine kind of disappeared in the heat; tasted great later that night when closer to room temperature.

Dei Feudi di San Gregorio, Fiano di Avellino, 2004 <-- nice match with grilled shrimp and scallops with tamarind marinade.

[9000]

a little catching up...

WHITE:
chateau graville-lacoste 2003 white bordeaux--> really nice. not sure if it was semillon or sauvignon blanc or both.
selaks premium selection 2005 marlborough sauvignon blanc --> very new world, very refreshing. this one had hints of that "cat-pee" that you favor, fi...
frederic mallo 2002 reserve speciale riesling alsace --> pretty fabulous (although not as wonderful as their pinot gris). bought bottle direct from vineyard family member in red hook, brooklyn!
blanck 2004 pinot blanc alsace --> sort of like champagne without the bubbles.
chateau jolys 2003 white jurancon sec --> gros manseng and petit manseng varietals. not memorable.
domaine labbe 2005 abymes savoie white wine ---> stoney and chaulky white. not bad depending on your preferences.
pichon 2004 somewhere france viognier --> decent very cheap wine. nice chardonnay substitute.

RED:
paul jaboulet aine 2002 crozes hermitage-->100% syrah. was okay, but i wanted more velvety smoothness and flavor. i'm on hiatus from rhone syrah, man.
viticcio 2003 chianti classico --> dark, hints of chocolate, not bad.
cascina orsolina 1997 barbera d'asti --> okay.
belle vallée cellars 2005 whole cluster oregon pinot noir--> picked this disaster at a restaurant in an attempt to please, um, not me. bottle needed serious decanting tasted like fruity bubble gum. good grief.

EATS:
best grilled salmon sandwich ever --> kingston ny. name of diner escapes me at moment.

[Fiona]

selaks premium selection 2005 marlborough sauvignon blanc --> very new world, very refreshing. this one had hints of that "cat-pee" that you favor, fi...

Floral bouquets are more your thing I guess, 9000.

[9000]

WHITE:
paul zinck 1999 alsace riesling -- not bad at all for $8.
cave des vignerons 2005 samur white -- another decent $8 french white.
domaine des roy touraine white -- unmemorable.
metiusco 2004 salento white -- 40 malvasia bianco/60 verdeca. fuller, honey-ish italian white.
graf hardegg "veltlinsky" 2004 gruner veltliner -- nice alternative to savignon blanc.

ROSE:
chateau soucherie rose de loire -- i remember tart cherries.

BUBBLY:
nino franco prosecco di valdobbiandene -- nice, but champagne is nicer.

RED:
la corte 2003 salice salentino (puglia) red -- lived up to it's billing as deep, dark and dirty. fuggin' good. dominant grape is negromaro.
cantina venosa aglianico del vulture 2002 -- another dark one.
pascal janvier 2005 loire cuveee du rosier -- dirty pinot noir-ish. nice.
chateau puy bardens 2003 bordeaux -- cabernet franc dominant bordeax. okay

FOOD:
best lobster roll i've ever had (not that i've had many) -- some church in martha's vineyard. god is great!

[Fiona]

Domaine Le Grand Retour, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Reserve 2003
Domaine Des Jougla, Saint Chinian 2003
Les Senteurs, Côte de Nuits-Villages 2003 (I had a far superior Côte de Nuits-Villages over lunch a few days earlier but can't recall the details, this calls for a return visit)
Bouchard Aîné & Fils, Pinossimo, Pinot Noir 2003
Château La Roca, Côtes du Rousillon 2004
L'Orangerie De Carignan, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux 2002
Chanson Père et Fils, Pouilly-Fuissé 2003

The Pouilly-Fuissé and Côtes du Rousillon were nice, but the only one that wowed me was the forgotten Côte de Nuits-Villages. I'm on it...

[9000]

RESTAURANTIN':
wolfgang's steakhouse -- solid luger's clone. you're much better off with the real deal though.
blue smoke -- nice and all, but it's just overpriced BBQ.

[Patrick]

Man, you guys are serious on the wine! Not just the drinking, but the cataloguing.

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

I've been suffering/recuperating from illness for the last 3-4 weeks, which has prevented me drinking alcohol during that time. Wow, reality is a crazy place.

Anyway, back on the road to health and planning on cracking open some serious wine next weekend.

9000: I picked up Italian Wines 2006, which is the Slow Food/Gambero Rosso phonebook-sized buying guide, rating thousands of Italian wines. You should check it out.

Yesterday: walked the Brooklyn Bridge and had dim-sum at Golden Unicorn in chinatown.

[9000]

Man, you guys are serious on the wine! Not just the drinking, but the cataloguing.

Patrick

mbb: where alcoholism and ocd run amuck.

pb: dude, get better and back to drinking soon! i'll have to check out that book. did you know that there's a store in the lower east 20's devoted entirely to italian wine? not sure what it's called--i'll have to get the deets.

[Patrick]

Last night:

A Provençal rosé that was fine, a bit tart, 2005
1982 Haut-Brion
1996 Simon Bize Aloxe-Corton 'Les Suchots'

Now obviously, one of these wines is one of the world's most famous, recognized bottles in a great vintage that is drinking superbly. And it certainly held its own with a simple meal of 2-inch thick rib steaks (i.e. on bone) charred on the outside and rare in the center.

That said, I was completely amazed that the Bize kicked its ass in every way. Maybe Burgundy just interests me more than Bordeaux. Yes, the Haut Brion had the requisite Graves tarry, tobacco flavors and matched the steak. But the Aloxe-Corton was incredibly complex, perfumes of raw manure and dried rose petals and berries creating a stinky mixture that lengthened and changed on the tongue and in the mouth.

Listen, I'm not complaining about the Bordeaux (a 40th birthday present from last year) - but search out any Bize that you can find. It's not easy - its annual production is probably about 1% of Haut-Brion's.

Patrick

[9000]

Last night:

A Provençal rosé that was fine, a bit tart, 2005
1982 Haut-Brion
1996 Simon Bize Aloxe-Corton 'Les Suchots'

Now obviously, one of these wines is one of the world's most famous, recognized bottles in a great vintage that is drinking superbly. And it certainly held its own with a simple meal of 2-inch thick rib steaks (i.e. on bone) charred on the outside and rare in the center.

That said, I was completely amazed that the Bize kicked its ass in every way. Maybe Burgundy just interests me more than Bordeaux. Yes, the Haut Brion had the requisite Graves tarry, tobacco flavors and matched the steak. But the Aloxe-Corton was incredibly complex, perfumes of raw manure and dried rose petals and berries creating a stinky mixture that lengthened and changed on the tongue and in the mouth.

Listen, I'm not complaining about the Bordeaux (a 40th birthday present from last year) - but search out any Bize that you can find. It's not easy - its annual production is probably about 1% of Haut-Brion's.

Patrick

you need start signing off on your food & beverage posts with "checkmate".

i'm assuming that '96 Simon Bize Aloxe-Corton 'Les Suchots' was 100% pinot noir. sounds as though it was intense enough to live up to your steak dinner (hmmm, awfully luger-esque...). as a safe bet, i would have gone the bordeaux route, but the burgandy sounds nice as well, especially if you know what you're in for. i've really been meaning to explore more burgandies, it's just that there's little to sample without breaking the bank. also, you really need to know what you're picking out, as there's a lot of shit out there that is just overpriced because there's such a scarcity in the region.

[the Pawnbroker]

mbb: where alcoholism and ocd run amuck.

pb: dude, get better and back to drinking soon! i'll have to check out that book. did you know that there's a store in the lower east 20's devoted entirely to italian wine? not sure what it's called--i'll have to get the deets.

Italian Wine Merchants (Batali and Bastianich have a piece) is on E. 16th. Never been, but I'm planning on making a run sometime within the next month.

You and Patrick (and Fiona) have me stymied on the French stuff -- I have no clue.

[Fiona]

You and Patrick (and Fiona) have me stymied on the French stuff -- I have no clue.
I feel exactly the same when it comes to Italian wine. From my perspective the resurgence in popularity of French wine here over the last few years has been fantastic in that a greater variety and quality is available - but I do believe it's to the detriment of other wine producing countries. If you fancy anything other than a Chianti, Valpolicella/Classico, Asti, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Nero d'Avola, Barolo or Amarone for home consumption in Dublin, prepare to do some legwork.

Domaine des Lauziers, Minervois, 2000 <--- super sub Eur15 bottle, classic Minervois characteristics
Château des Fesles, Anjou Rouge, 2001
Banrock Station, Sparkling Shiraz <--- very nice, the dry-then-sweet really throws the palette. Fun, and attention grabbing, like other bubbly reds, 9000.
Montana, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2005 (again)
Château de Respide, Graves, 2003 <--- I enjoyed this a lot. Had it at a restaurant, but I think Berry Bros carry this producer so a trip will probably be in order.
Also had some Muscat and Monbazillac (no details for the moment) the same evening. Who needs dessert when you can have dessert wine?

[9000]

Italian Wine Merchants (Batali and Bastianich have a piece) is on E. 16th. Never been, but I'm planning on making a run sometime within the next month.

You and Patrick (and Fiona) have me stymied on the French stuff -- I have no clue.

oh yeah, i forgot about that other italian place. there's an interesting new "next-gen" wine shop on W. 19th called bottlerocket that's worth checking out. they have lots of details about all the wine they sell and provide printouts about whatever bottles you pick up, which is all rather meta.

the stuff fi and i are drinking is swill compared to those '82 bordeauxs.

[9000]

end of summer edition:

WHITE:
charles schleret 2002 sylvaner, alsace -- really can't go wrong with any alsatian whites.
cuvee roucaillat 2003, languedoc -- fuller white. good stuff.
domaine dalicieux 2004 beaujolais blanc (chardonnay) -- okay.
salviano 2004 trebbiano --very nice fuller italian white.
santa maria la palma aragosta 2005, sardinia -- nice light italian wine with some minerality. good with fish as evidenced by the lobster on the bottle.
cortese 2005, piemonte --> hints of grapefruit and apple, with slight savignon blanc tendencies. okay.
man vinters 2005 chenin blanc, south africa -- very grassy. not my thing.

ROSE:
muga 2005 rioja -- mediocre.
castano 2005 monastrell -- pretty bad. my last rose of summer--adios until 2007.

RED:
cusamano nero d'avola 2005 sicily -- nice dark and tasty table wine. good stuff.
chateu maris 2004 minervois -- liked a lot. nice value.
a to z 2003 oregon claret -- had low expectations for this, but was pleasantly surprised. very bordeaux-like and a lot better than most in the same price range.

[Patrick]

you need start signing off on your food & beverage posts with "checkmate".

i'm assuming that '96 Simon Bize Aloxe-Corton 'Les Suchots' was 100% pinot noir.

Correct, I think, for all red Burgundies.

sounds as though it was intense enough to live up to your steak dinner (hmmm, awfully luger-esque...). as a safe bet, i would have gone the bordeaux route, but the burgundy sounds nice as well,

Well, technically we drank the Bordeaux with the steak... the Aloxe-Corton was afterwards. And I made a mistake - it's 2001 not 1996! Big Burgundies are good to drink much younger than big Bordeaux, which is convenient in certain ways... only some of them age as well or as long as Bordeaux (the really super-expensive ones, basically).

especially if you know what you're in for. i've really been meaning to explore more burgundies, it's just that there's little to sample without breaking the bank. also, you really need to know what you're picking out, as there's a lot of shit out there that is just overpriced because there's such a scarcity in the region.

Yes, absolutely - tinier region than Bordeaux with about 100 times the producers. Quality control is a big problem. Also, the name of the vineyard is larger on almost all Burgundy bottles than the producer (obsession with terroir is the excuse), so a bad producer in a famous vineyard can trick you. And pinot noir is much more susceptible to extreme hot, extreme cold or too much shaking in transit. I only buy from Burgundy Wine Company in NYC, who refuse to even have Burgundy shipped in the summers.

Speaking of BWC, since you're a New Yorker, you should check them out. Visit their storefront on W. 26 between 6th and 7th... they're really nice, always have wines to taste, and always have "reasonable" wines. They carry any wines made from Burgundy or Rhone grapes, New or Old World, but they really can introduce you to real Burgundies. Starting at $15 and going skyward. Unfortunately they only have a small selection of their stuff on display - it's more showroom/tasting room than store - but it's a great way into the wines.

Patrick

[9000]

Speaking of BWC, since you're a New Yorker, you should check them out. Visit their storefront on W. 26 between 6th and 7th... they're really nice, always have wines to taste, and always have "reasonable" wines. They carry any wines made from Burgundy or Rhone grapes, New or Old World, but they really can introduce you to real Burgundies. Starting at $15 and going skyward. Unfortunately they only have a small selection of their stuff on display - it's more showroom/tasting room than store - but it's a great way into the wines.

Patrick

oh wow, cool. bwc sounds encouraging for navigating the terroir! i'll have to get over there.

[Fiona]

White/Rosé/Dessert
Martin Codax, Albariño, 2005
Roger Sauvestre, Les Bouchots, Montagny 1er Cru, 2003
Botter, Pinot Grigio Rosé 2005
Château Jolys, Cuvée Jean, Jurançon, 2003
Yalumba "Y Series" Riesling (australia), 2005

Red
Château Mas Neuf, Cuvée Traditionelle, Costières de Nîmes ??
La Valentina, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2004
Château Tour de Montrabech Corbières 2003
Château Jouclary, Cuvée Tradition, Cabardès, 2003
Château de la Bottière, Juliénas, 1999
Olivier Leflaive, Pernand Vergelesses, 2002

Can't believe I've actually cause to have a separate section for non-reds! Even a few from outside France thrown in there... Still the two Burgundies and the Beaujolais were were my favourites of the bunch, and the Cabardès was super. The Albariño was well up there too though.

[Fiona]

I was given Riedel Bordeaux glasses today - something I've ogled from a distance for a while but could never justify buying for myself. Have any of you tried out Riedel or Spiegelau glasses with the appropriate wines before? I'm curious as to whether you felt there was discernible difference between them and bog standard glasses. My unrefined palate's liable to yield to the placebo effect.

[9000]

I was given Riedel Bordeaux glasses today - something I've ogled from a distance for a while but could never justify buying for myself. Have any of you tried out Riedel or Spiegelau glasses with the appropriate wines before? I'm curious as to whether you felt there was discernible difference between them and bog standard glasses. My unrefined palate's liable to yield to the placebo effect.

i think glassware shape and texture are very important when it comes to drink, although i'm not sure how materially different wine tastes using a $5 wine glass vs. a much more expensive variety. generally, my understanding of wine glassware is that thinner glass helps place emphasis on the wine as opposed to the lip of the glass. i guess i could sort of see (taste) that. certainly, there are breathing considerations as well.

enjoy your fancypants glasses and report back soon.

[9000]

White/Rosé/Dessert

Can't believe I've actually cause to have a separate section for non-reds!

clearly a very black and white issue for you.

[Fiona]

clearly a very black and white issue for you.
9000, I'm fairly certain that the only things in my life which are black and white are pints of Guinness and the majority of my wardrobe.

[9000]

RED:
crosby california cabernet savignon 2004 -- cheap cali cab. decent with burgers and whatnot. gonna give california reds more table time this winter.
ferrando canavese rossso 2004 -- cotes du rhone masquerading as italian red.
vinadrian rioja 2004 -- hint of bordeaux from this spanish red.
michele chiarlo barbera 2004 -- mellow red table wine.
casa castillo monastrell 2005 -- teeth staining bruiser. a bit overwhelming and lacking character. could use a blending grape.

WHITE:
hugel alsace riesling 2004 -- okay. have had better alsatian rieslings.
vernacci di dan gimignano 2004 -- nice italian white.
tariquet savignon 2005 -- solid cheap french sav blanc.
chateau bonnet bordeaux 2004 -- hot piss.
elvenglade oregon pinot blanc 2005 -- okay, but unfortunately nothing special.
hirsch austria veltliner #1 -- cheap ($7.50 at astor wine..) fun little veltliner white with the coolest wine label going (below). dare i say, i am not afraid of you and i will beat your ass.

[Patrick]

Red:

Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 - very nice, rusty color, lost most of its tannins, still some length, a bit sweet. Rich and thick for steak (which we had with it), no unpleasant new oak or vanilla as one often gets with California cabs. A 40th birthday present from a friend, and I think I was supposed to drink it last year - just a bit past its prime.

Confuron-Cotetidot Echézeaux 2002 - swallow after swallow of exploding complex magnificence, tons of berry fruit nicely balanced by light acidity, transforming in the mouth to flavors of dried rose petals, cinnamon, tobacco, earth... I have one more bottle of this wonderful wine. I think it's just starting to drink well now, and potentially has another 6 years to go. But there's no way I'll be able to hold out that long.

I'm starting to think that Echézeaux are some of the world's greatest wines (and priced to boot, though nowhere near as expensive as some of the other vineyards in that tiny village of Vosne-Romanée). As with all Burgundy you must be highly attentive to the producer's name, typically printed in much smaller type... both the geniuses and the charlatans are allowed to call their wine Grand Cru if it emanates from the same precious ground, whether or not they have any winemaking ability. And the usual warnings as to transportation and storage apply (i.e. know your distributor and retailer).

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

Rionolo, Prosecco, Veneto IGT <-- lightly fruity prosecco
Feudi dei San Gregorio, Flanghina Sannio, Campania 2004
Gradis 'Ciutta, Bratinis, Collio 2003 <-- 20%Chard/20%Sauv. Bl./30%Pinot G./30%Tocai Fr.-- less than $10 but pleasant, even interesting
Feudi dei San Gregorio, Greco di Tufo Capania, 2005
Jermann, "Vinnae", Friuli 2004 <--Ribolla Gialla based "super-white" -- awesome autumn spice/fruit (cinnamon/apple) and a lot of minerality
Altanuta, Pinot Grigio, Alto-Adige 2005


Bastianich, "Vespa Bianco", Friuli 2003 <---Chard/Sauv. Blanc/Picolit <--part fermented in stainless steel, part fermented in oak -- rich, "oily" white.
Cascina Degli Ulivi, Gavi "Filagnoti", Piemonte 2004 <--cortese grape used in Piemonte's most famous white -- light with nice acidity.
Scacciadiavola, Montefalco Sagrantino, Umbria 2003

These last three were carafes with lunch at Lupa.

Mascarelli, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Abruzzo 2003 <-- this was awesome -- mouth-filling berry/fruit flavor, hints of leather/earth, followed by super-dry (but pleasant) finish.

[Patrick]

Olivier Leflaive, Pernand Vergelesses, 2002

I know Leflaive's wines and I've had many Pernand Vergelesses.... I bet this was REALLY yummy.

Patrick

[Patrick]

hirsch austria veltliner #1 -- cheap ($7.50 at astor wine..) fun little veltliner white with the coolest wine label going (below). dare i say, i am not afraid of you and i will beat your ass.

Man you guys are drinking a shitload of wine these days! So am I - more dining at home and no drinking hard liquor at the moment. Climbing down the heights (my little wine fridge is getting sorely depleted), we had a $10 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo that went really well with steak (again) the other night. Of course the bottle's gone and I can't remember the name, but I have a feeling we'll be getting a bunch more. It was Salice Salenterno style, if you're familiar with that one.

I've heard a lot about tasty grüner veltliners from Austria 9000... had one at a Hunanese restaurant in London last week that was fantastic with the meal, could easily have drunk 2 or 3 bottles. It was more than $7.50 at the restaurant needless to say! but still cheaper than most other bottles. Sounds like I should get a bunch of these. Hirsch you say, and Astor Wine is around the corner from the office...

Patrick

[9000]

Man you guys are drinking a shitload of wine these days!

heck yeah!



I've heard a lot about tasty grüner veltliners from Austria 9000... had one at a Hunanese restaurant in London last week that was fantastic with the meal, could easily have drunk 2 or 3 bottles. It was more than $7.50 at the restaurant needless to say! but still cheaper than most other bottles. Sounds like I should get a bunch of these. Hirsch you say, and Astor Wine is around the corner from the office...

Patrick

yah, there are some tasty veltliners out there--a nice alternative to savignon blanc, in my opinion. generally, i find that when you're willing to go with "less popular" varietals and appellations, you can nab more value with the right bottle. i'd wholeheartedly recommend going to astor to pick up a few bottles of hirsch--crisp and tasty and probably as good as you're gonna get at the price. definitely a suitable replacement for water.

[9000]

deep fried pizza! siiiiick! (http://www.sliceny.com/archives/2006/10/deepfried_pizza_3.php)

[Fiona]

I know Leflaive's wines and I've had many Pernand Vergelesses.... I bet this was REALLY yummy.

Patrick
It most certainly was. I harped on about it for days after. The shop stocks quite a few of his wines, so need to make a return visit.

Meanwhile...

Eating:

Pierre Marcolini chocolates: I'm not a chocolate freak like some people (there's an untouched easter egg in my kitchen cupboard. in fact the only readily edible item in the cupboard), and would never have touched these only for they were a gift, but wow, they're incredible. So far Thym Orange (bitter ganache with thyme from Provence and orange zest), Thé Citron (bitter ganache with earl grey tea and green & yellow lemon zest) are my favourites.

Cheese:
Mont d'Or, Delice d'Argental, Petit Jurassic, Majorero, Smoked Gouda.

Good things about cold weather pt 1: Delicious pumpkin & sage and sweet potato, coconut & chili soups from Fallon & Byrne's deli.

Beverages:
Good things about cold weather pt 2: the variety of alco-coffees the cafe-bar across the street from my office serves. Which are, incidentally I stress, available TO GO.
However, to counterbalance that an unseasonal addiction to Innocent pineapple, banana and coconut smoothies has developed. I'm betting that a dash of Amarula into a glass wouldn't hurt none.

Good things about cold weather pt 3: Latest in the Guinness Brewhouse Series - North Star brew. Has a definite kick to the finish, nice pint of porter for winter.

White wines:
Domaine de Pellehaut, Harmonie de Gascogne, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne 2005 <--- Chardonnay, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng blend. Strong tropical bouquet and VERY fruity, though mildly acidic. Not to my taste.
Kaimira Estate, Nelson, Riesling 2004 <--- nice, off-dry riesling from NZ with great lime flavours. Good value at Eur16/bottle.
Domaine Raimbault-Pineau, Sancerre, 2005 <--- perfectly okay

Red wines:
Fleurie 'La Madone', Domaine de la Madone, Jean-Marc Despres, 2005 <--- way too much in the way of tannins for my liking. Would have benefited from a few hours decanting.
Domaine de Monte de Luz, Tannat, 2005 <--- Uruguayan red, produced by a Frenchman. Strong plummy bouquet, very round palette with a lovely soft finish. Another good value bottle, worth looking out for.
Naughton's Flight, Paarl, Shiraz, 2003 <--- This one's produced by an Irishman in South Africa. A bit too much for me, could stand to hang around a few years.
Aranleón, Crianza, Utiel Requena, 2003 <--- Blend of Bobal, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Big wine, though the Bobal softens things a bit.
Château de Respide, Graves, 2003 <--- again, this time for my fancypants glasses.
Les Genets, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Chusclan, 2003 <--- again, just because

[Joel]

I had some amazing beers last night at Spuyten Duyvil in Brooklyn, but - alcohol being what it is - I can't remember what I had!

Except I do remember the Three Floyds (http://www.threefloyds.com/) Gumballhead Beer (http://www.threefloydspub.com/GH.html). That's right, a beer named after the cat hero of Skin Graft Records (http://www.skingraftrecords.com/)!

[the Pawnbroker]

Bartolo Mascarello, Dolcetto d'Alba, Piemonte 2004 <-- From one of the top Piemonte producers; best dolcetto I've had.
Nando, Pinot Grigio, Isonzo del Friuli 2004

[Patrick]

PB, is that one of the Dolcettos covered by Eric Asimov in his recent Times piece on those wines?

Patrick

[Fiona]

Patrick, don't know how long you're in London for, but if you get the chance I recommend you visit Morgan M, my friend's brother's restaurant. He's based in Islington - was voted third best chef in London in Harden's Guide's annual survey a couple of months ago.
Shameless promotion :)

[Patrick]

Wow, thanks for the reco Fiona. I don't know if I'll have time to go there, though I'm having dinner at a friend's place in Islington tomorrow night.

I went to St. John's on Thursday, which was fabulous as always. We had native oysters, bone marrow with parsley and rock salt, egg mayonnaise with anchovies, brains on toast (yes!) and pate to start.

Then I had lovely wild partridge - whole roasted bird as a main course. Jesper had middlewhite with roasted swede which was also fantastic. Mike had saddle of hare.

Wine as always at St. John's was overpriced - I find it best to order from low-to-middle of the list here - we had a decent Bordeaux that I'm very familiar with but yet can't remember at this moment, and 2004 Givry (unnamed on menu, and was unfamiliar with the producer) that was lovely. Followed by two rounds of marc de champagne for me.

The only downside was that I had a reservation at Moro on the same night, with the Islington friends, whom I totally blew off! Jetlag had left me confused on dates and I'd thought I was dining with them on Friday. Fortunately they were very understanding about the whole thing. But I'm really disappointed I didn't get to Moro, which you have to book a month in advance and which I've wanted to go to for years.

Patrick

[the Pawnbroker]

PB, is that one of the Dolcettos covered by Eric Asimov in his recent Times piece on those wines?

Patrick

Yes. I had already purchased it from IWM a few weeks back, but decided to bust it out after seeing it mentioned. It's pretty much at the top of the price range for that grape, as they can usually be had for well under $15.

[earl grey]

deep fried pizza! siiiiick! (http://www.sliceny.com/archives/2006/10/deepfried_pizza_3.php)

i actually had a slice of this last night. it was actually pretty good, though the grease soaked through two layers of wax paper and left the table nice and slick. you need to eat it pretty quickly ... once it starts to cool off, it goes downhill. but when it's fresh, it works surprisingly well.

oh and dessert was a fried twinkie, naturally. no lunch today.

[Fiona]

oh and dessert was a fried twinkie, naturally. no lunch today.No deep-fried coke (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061027/od_nm/life_coke1_dc) with that, then?

[9000]

i actually had a slice of this last night. it was actually pretty good, though the grease soaked through two layers of wax paper and left the table nice and slick. you need to eat it pretty quickly ... once it starts to cool off, it goes downhill. but when it's fresh, it works surprisingly well.

oh and dessert was a fried twinkie, naturally. no lunch today.

nice. i haven't had a fried slice yet, but have finally gotten around to trying the donut plant (on grand st) and have been on a tear since. otherworldly.

other notable eats:
dumont burger - pretty decent, but not A-league.
craftsteak - a big letdown
al di la - finally got around to here too. absolutely fantastic.

[earl grey]

craftsteak - a big letdown


yeah, i haven't heard much good about craftsteak. i've always been underwhelmed by colicchio's places - they get a little too much hype IMO. craftbar was my favorite but i think they revamped the menu/approach some time back, after i went. 'wichcraft is great but too pricey for what it is.

the law firm wining and dining process, which is now winding down, put me in all sorts of fancy restaurants over the past couple months ... veritas, lever house, the harrison, del posto, sapa, the rainbow room, town, eleven madison park, the tribeca grill, dona, others. i'd never really gone on a run like that before. not good for the gut. also surprising how similar and/or mediocre some of these places can be. (eleven madison park and veritas were prolly my favorites.)

[earl grey]

bring it on. (http://nymag.com/daily/food/2006/11/sandwich_of_the_week_philly_sl.html)

[the Pawnbroker]

bring it on. (http://nymag.com/daily/food/2006/11/sandwich_of_the_week_philly_sl.html)

I visited friends in Philly last weekend, and had a Sunday morning Jim's Steaks with extra whiz. Normally, I'm Pat's guy, but damn if that wasn't one of the best cheesesteaks I've ever had.

[9000]

tariquet savignon 2005 -- solid cheap french sav blanc.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/22/dining/22france.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Fiona]

A big thanks to everyone who offered suggestions as to what to order at Peter Luger. I sampled each and every one of your suggestions and felt like twice the woman I was before I walked into the place. And that was after the first visit.

Left drifting off into sweet reminiscences of that steak at frequent intervals thereafter, I was more than happy to accept an invitation to make a return visit before the end of my trip. Burger on the second visit. Good burger.

Now, who's sending me a meat package (now now) for Christmas? :D

[bitterfruit]

My personal food discovery this weekend:

Indian style mango pickles inside of a grilled cheese sandwich. It's an amazing mix of sour/spice from the mango pickles with the crunch/cheese of the sandwich.

[9000]

just a little...

RED:
chateau leoville poyferre. red 2000. st julien >> a gracious friend shared this second growth with me. decent and all, but not all that for the duckets. good thing said friend expensed it.
o'shaughnessy. cab 2002?. CA >> had this the same night as the aforementioned bordeaux. like a punch in the mouth. big.
sagelands. cabernet sauvignon 2002. columbia valley, WA >> pacific northwest goodness. kickass cheap bottle.
clos siguier. red 2003. cahors >> decent table wine. better a day later.
chateau d'eau. pinot noir 2004. nuits-st-georges >> poor man's burgundy. nice table wine.
chateaux lavison. bordeaux 2005 >> really good shit for $6.99. someone else here needs to try this.

WHITE:
chiorri. grechetto 2005. umbria, italy >> lived up to billing of cannibus flavor. a bit dry and harsh, but interesting.
domaine de roquefort. clairette 2005. provence, france >> never had this little-known varietal, but would again.
gaujal de saint bon. picpoul de Pinet 2005. picpoul de pinet, france>> quirky varietal w/ lots of minerality. another great deal.

STRONG ISLAND:
paumanok. riesling 2005. long island, NY >> far too sweet for me, but i can see how people would like this. lots of fruit flavors. maybe better as a dessert wine?
paumanok. chenin blanc 2005. long island, NY >> nice. nothing too crazy.
paumanok. merlot 2002. long island, NY >> this was surprisingly good and by no means a lame merlot. nicely concentrated with hints of coffee (i think i remember)

MEAT PACKAGES:
will leave to fiona

[Patrick]

I really like L.I. reds, though I haven't had any recently. Had quite a few Paumanok, Schneider and others back in the late '90s. Cabernet francs showed strongly as I recall.

Patrick

[9000]

I really like L.I. reds, though I haven't had any recently. Had quite a few Paumanok, Schneider and others back in the late '90s. Cabernet francs showed strongly as I recall.

Patrick

i hear the finger lakes region upstate has strong contenders as well. road trips to both areas are in order at somepoint in the future.

tonight:
trimbach. pinot gris special reserve 2002. alsace >> tastes alsatian! lots of grapefruit flavor and rather full bodied for pinot gris. fi, i know you were pushing the trimbach riesling when you were here. their pg is solid, although i prefered the "special delivery" alsatian pg and riesling (maker name escapes me at the moment) that i listed here in the past. regardless, i will eventually try trimbach's riesling. last time i checked, it was sold out at astor.

[Fiona]

tonight:
trimbach. pinot gris special reserve 2002. alsace >> tastes alsatian! lots of grapefruit flavor and rather full bodied for pinot gris. fi, i know you were pushing the trimbach riesling when you were here. their pg is solid, although i prefered the "special delivery" alsatian pg and riesling (maker name escapes me at the moment) that i listed here in the past. regardless, i will eventually try trimbach's riesling. last time i checked, it was sold out at astor.
Oh, that's a pity the riesling's out of stock. Let me know what you think if you manage to track it down. Another Alsatian producer worth looking out for is Domaines Schlumberger. And going back to that conversation, I picked up a riesling from Washington State during the week! A rare find around these parts.

[Moon Pix]

2006 was the year that I started drinking a bit. Id not really done it before because of the fact that when my dad was a lot younger he drank a lot and regrets it. I figured that I might be missing out on something good though and this is what Ive learnt in 2006 about drinking:

1) I love red wine, especially straight merlot.
2) I hate white wine.
3) I love Southern Comfort.
4) I love Stella Artois.
5) Murphys tastes like what I imagine piss must taste like.
6) Castlemaine is bottled water from Australia.
7) Budweiser is overpriced bottled water from the United States of America.
8) Jim Beam is putrid.
9) 4 glasses of wine is enough (Im a lightweight).

Thats pretty much my drinking report for 2006.:)

[the Pawnbroker]

Livio Felluga, Tocai Friulano, Friuli-Giuli Venezia, 2005 <-- good showing from a giant of the region. Acid combined with a ton of minerality.
Dubreuil-Fontaine, Corton-Perrieres (Grand Cru), 1998 <--gorgeous pale ruby-orange color, earthy fruit flavor, everything in balance.
Miner, Roella's Vineyard (Pinto Noir), Santa Lucia Highlands, 2004 <--not as good as the French pinot, but not completely outclassed either.
Attilio Ghisolfi, "Carlin", Langhe, 2004 <-- good, but very dry. Probably needs some heavier food to stand up to it.
Colossi, Rosso, Sicillia, 2004
Bruno Giacosa, Roero Arneis, Piemonte, 2005

Patrick, as per Eric Asimov's latest, LI merlot is starting to get noticed. Haven't had a chance to check any out yet.

[9000]

i recently had another solid LI:

lieb cellars. 2005 pinot blanc. north fork, long island >> subtle hints of fruit and sweetness peeked through this very quaffable white. it was nice to taste the local take on a grape that gets shamefully inadequate attention as a stand-alone varietal outside of oregon and alsace. held it's own with LI style.