Happy Leap Day!
Legend has it that nothing you do on this day counts.
I say with all those quarter-days stacking up, only to burst out into a full-fledged calendar day every four years, it counts! It counts four times as much as a regular day.
So get outside, go for a jog. It's beautiful out. Call your mother and tell her you love her. Everything counts four times as much. For the lazy person, this day is "Gold, Jerry!"
Went to the Horn of Africa last night for Ethiopian flavors and came out liking it enough to possibly put it into the weeknight rotation. Easy to make and a nice diversion in our spice world.
Didn't love it but a solid balance that played well in the world of medium intensity flavors bouncing off each other rather nicely in a small box.
Food: Ethiopian beef and plantain stew over rice
- France
- Loire
- Vouvray
- '09 Vigneau-Chevreau Vouvray Sec Cuvée Silex
- NV Champalou Pétillant Vouvray Brut
- '09 Hélène d'Orléans Brut Millésimé
- NV Vigneau Chevreau Demi-Sec Sparkling (2)
- '05 Domaine Huet Clos Du Bourg Demi-Sec
- '02 Domaine Huet Pétillant Brut
- '05 Foreau Vouvray Demi-Sec Domaine Clos Du Naudin
- '07 François Pinon Cuvée Tradition
- '07 Vincent Carême Vouvray Sec
- Saumur
- Chinon
- Muscadet
- Sancerre
- '12 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Blanc (2)
- '10 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre Blanc
- '11 Daniel Chotard Sancerre Blanc
- '09 Patient Cottat Vieilles Vignes
- '08 Domaine Vacheron Blanc
- '06 Chateau de Maimbray
- '07 Thomas-Labaille Sancerre Chavignol Les Monts Damnés
- '08 Thomas & Fils Sancerre Le Crêle
- '09 Daniel Chotard Sancerre Blanc
- '09 Domaine Girard La Garenne Sancerre Rouge
- Pouilly Fumé
- Savennières
- Bourgueil
- Montlouis-sur-Loire
- Other Loire
- Vouvray
- Burgundy
- Champagne
- NV Egly-Ouriet Les Vignes de Vrigny - ChicagoNow
- NV Egly-Ouriet Les Vignes De Vrigny (2)
- NV Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition Grand Cru
- NV Larmandier-Bernier Rosé de Saignée - ChicagoNow
- NV Larmandier-Bernier Rosé de Saignée (2)
- NV Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Brut Nature Blanc de blancs
- '00 Gaston Chiquet Spécial Club 1er Cru
- NV Paul Bara Bouzy Brut Rosé
- NV Paul Bara Bouzy Grand Cru
- '06 Marc Hebrart Millesime Special Club
- '02 Pierre Gimmonet Spécial Club de Collection
- '03 Dom Perignon
- NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut
- NV Billcart-Salmon Brut Réserve
- NV René Geoffroy Rosé de Saignée
- NV Pierre Péters Blancs de Blancs
- NV Henriot Souverain Brut
- NV Gaston Chiquet Brut Tradition
- NV Varnier-Fanniere Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brüt
- NV Ayala Brut Majeur (4)
- NV Ayala Zero Dosage
- NV Marc Hebrart Cuvée de Reserve Premier Cru
- NV Pierre Peters "Pour Albane" Brut Rosé
- Bordeaux
- Rhône
- Northern Rhône
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- '10 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau" Blanc
- '10 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau" Blanc - ChicagoNow
- '07 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau" Rouge
- '07 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe "La Crau" Rouge - ChicagoNow
- '06 Domaine de Marcoux Rouge
- '09 Domaine Grand Veneur Les Origines
- '11 Domaine Chante Cigale Blanc
- '07 Chateau La Nerthe Blanc
- '07 La Fiacre du Pape
- Lirac
- Beaumes-de-Venise
- Rasteau
- Tavel
- Gigondas
- Vaucluse
- Côtes du Rhône
- Provence
- Other
- Other Regions
- Loire
- Rioja
- '64 Heredia Tondonia Gran Reserva
- '68 Heredia Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco
- '70 Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva
- '91 Heredia Bosconia Gran Reserva
- '02 Heredia Bosconia Reserva
- '01 Heredia Bosconia Reserva
- '00 Heredia Bosconia Reserva
- '98 Heredia Tondonia Reserva
- '05 Heredia Cubillo
- '03 Heredia Cubillo
- '91 Heredia Tondonia Blanco
- '89 Heredia Tondonia Blanco
- '96 Heredia Gravonia Blanco (2)
- '99 Heredia Gravonia Blanco (2)
- '00 Heredia Gravonia Blanco
- '01 Heredia Gravonia Blanco
- '04 Heredia Gravonia Blanco
- '98 Heredia Tondonia Rosado (2)
- '04 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva
- '01 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza Reserva Especial (2)
- '01 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza RE - ChicagoNow
- '01 Bodegas Beronia Gran Reserva
- '96 Contino Gran Reserva
- NV Muga Conde de Haro Cava
- '01 Altún Reserva
- '05 Bodegas Ondalán 100 Abades Graciano
- Ribera Del Duero
- '00 Pingus
- '07 Flor de Pingus
- '06 Flor de Pingus
- '09 Pingus PSI
- '08 Pingus PSI
- '07 Pingus PSI (2)
- '01 Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5º
- '06 Dominio de Atauta
- '02 Dominio de Atauta Llanos del Almendro
- '05 Bodegas Astrales - ChicagoNow
- '05 Bodegas Astrales
- '04 Bodegas Astrales
- '05 Dominio De Atauta
- '04 Resalte de Peñafiel de Restia Crianza
- '06 Torres Celeste
- '04 Hacienda Monasterio
- '05 Alonso del Yerro
- '09 Protos Tinto Fino
- Penedès/Cava
- '05 Gramona Gran Reserva Brut Nature Ill Lustros
- '08 Gramona Gran Cuvée Cava
- NV Juvé y Camps Pinot Noir Brut Cava
- '03 Sasserra Malvasia de Sitges Penedès
- '07 Raventós i Blanc "L'Hereu Reserva" Brut Cava
- '06 Raventós i Blanc "L'Hereu Reserva" Brut Cava (2)
- '07 Raventos i Blanc Rosé Cava de Nit
- '12 Raventos i Blanc Perfum de vi Blanc
- '11 Raventos i Blanc Perfum de vi Blanc
- '09 Raventos i Blanc Perfum de vi Blanc (2)
- '05 Juvé y Camps Reserva de la Familia Cava
- NV Juvé y Camps Brut Rosado Cava
- '08 Torres Viña Esmeralda
- NV Peñalba López Cava Brut - Ribera Del Duero
- NV Albero Cava
- Rías Baixas
- '10 Raul Pérez "Muti" Albariño
- '11 Forja del Salnes Leirana Albariño
- '12 Orballo Albariño
- '11 Orballo Albariño
- '10 Orballo Albariño
- '08 Orballo Albariño (4)
- '12 Albariño Do Ferreiro
- '09 Albariño Do Ferreiro
- '07 Albariño Do Ferreiro
- '12 La Cana Albariño
- '08 La Cana Albariño
- '08 Valtea Albariño
- '10 Legado de Conte Albariño
- Other Spain
- '10 Raul Péréz El Pecado Ribeira Sacra
- '09 Adega Pena Das Donas "Almalarga" Godello Ribeira Sacra
- '04 Dominio do Bibei La Pola Ribeira Sacra
- '09 Tampesta Finca de los Vientos
- '11 Ameztoi Txakolina - Basque Country (2)
- '08 Viñátigo Verdello - Canary Islands
- '10 Viña Mein Domillor - Ribeiro
- '09 San Clidio - Ribeiro
- '07 Palacios Petalos-Bierzo
- '05 Jiménez-Landi - Méntrida
- '05 Jiménez-Landi Sotorrondero - Méntrida
- '05 Pico Madama - Jumilla
- '07 La Casa De La Ermita Viognier-Jumilla
- Portugal
- Quinta Do Vale Meão
- Quinta Do Vallado
- Quinta Do Crasto
- Other Douro
- Other Portugal
- '11 Luis Pato Ferñao Pires - Beira Atlantico
- '12 Luis Pato Maria Gomes Vinho Branco - Beiras
- '11 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Branco - Beiras
- '12 Quinta do Ameal Loureiro Vinho Verde
- '12 Quinta Casal do Monteiro Branco - Tejo
- '11 JPR Lima Loureiro Vinho Verde
- '11 Vera Alvarinho Vinho Verde - ChicagoNow
- '11 Vera Alvarinho Vinho Verde
- '08 Quinta do Feital Auratus Alvarinho-Trajadura
- '09 Quinta do Cardo Síria Beira Interior
- '09 Quinta do Cardo Síria Beira Interior - ChicagoNow
- '09 Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho Vinho Verde Muros Antigos
- '03 Monte d'Oiro Reserva Lisboa
- '08 Loios Tinto - Alentejano
- Wachau
- '06 Prager Riesling Smaragd Bodenstein
- '05 Prager Riesling Steinreigl
- '03 Prager Riesling Bodenstein
- '02 Prager Riesling Kaiserberg
- '99 Prager Riesling Steinreigl (3)
- '07 Prager Riesling Steinriegl Federspiel
- '09 Prager Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Bodenstein
- '03 Franz Hirtzberger Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Axpoint
- '07 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Hochrain
- '04 Franz Hirtzberger Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Rotes Tor
- '07 Rudi Pichler Riesling Federspiel
- '06 Rudi Pichler Riesling Federspiel
- '04 Loimer Langenlois Riesling
- Kremstal
- Kamptal
- Südsteiermark
- Burgenland
- Rheingau
- Mosel
- '10 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese
- '10 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
- '10 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken
- '10 Selbach Incline Riesling
- '09 Selbach-Oster Riesling Spätlese
- '08 Dr. Loosen Riesling
- Rheinhessen
- Pfalz
- Napa/Sonoma
- '06 Venge Cabernet Family Reserve
- '08 Merryvale Starmont Chardonnay
- '09 Orin Swift Veladora
- NV Mumm Napa Cuvée M
- '09 Freeman Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
- '07 Seghesio Zinfandel
- '06 Seghesio Old Vine Zinfandel
- '04 Joseph Swan Syrah Trenton Estate
- '06 Capiaux Pinot Noir Widdoes RRV
- '09 Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Pinot Noir - RRV
- Paso Robles
- '06 Villa Creek Mas De Maha (6)
- '08 Villa Creek Mas De Maha (2)
- '08 Villa Creek Mas De Maha - ChicagoNow
- '10 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée
- '12 Villa Creek Rosé
- '11 Villa Creek Rosé
- '11 Villa Creek White
- '10 Villa Creek Garnacha
- '09 Villa Creek Granadina
- '09 Villa Creek Avenger
- '09 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée
- '07 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel
- '07 Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas
- '11 TJ's Reserve Syrah
- Santa Barbara
- '12 A Tribute To Grace Grenache - SBH
- '12 A Tribute To Grace Grenache - SBC
- '07 Tensley Syrah Tierra Alta Vineyard
- '13 Palmina Sparkling Malvasia
- '13 Palmina Sparkling Barbera
- '12 Palmina Botasea Rosado de Palmina
- '12 Palmina Dolcetto - Santa Barbara
- '10 Palmina Arneis - Santa Ynez
- '11 Palmina Malvasia Bianca
- '07 Palmina Malvasia Bianca - Santa Ynez
- '09 Palmina Barbera
- '06 Palmina Nebbiolo Honea
- '07 Palmina Nebbiolo
- '11 Palmina Pinot Grigio
- '10 Palmina Tocai Friulano
- More Central Coast
- '12 Broc Cellars Cab Franc - Central Coast
- '12 Birichino Malvasia - Monterey
- '13 Matthiasson Tendu Red/White - Yolo (2)
- '10 Neyers Carignan Evangelho - Contra Costa
- '10 Neyers Mourvèdre Evangelho - Contra Costa
- '09 Neyers Syrah Old Lakeville - Somona Coast
- '10 Neyers Sage Canyon - Napa Valley
- '09 Verdad Tempranillo Edna Valley
- '11 Three Wine Co. Mataro
- '10 Rock Wall Tannat The Palindrome
- '07 Sanguis Oracle Of Delphi
- '05 Sanguis Bossman
- '05 Sanguis Optimist
- '06 Lucia Syrah Gary's Vineyard
- '08 Quinta Cruz Touriga San Antonio Valley
- '08 Bonny Doon Ca' Del Solo Albariño
- '05 Graff Family Consensus
- '07 Edna Valley Pinot Noir
- '08 Babcock Identity Crisis
- '06 Rosenblum Mourvèdre
- '04 Terre Rouge Sentinel/Pyramid - Shenandoah
- '10 Calera Viognier Mt. Harlan
- North Coast
- '12 Arnot-Roberts Trousseau (2)
- '13 Arnot-Roberts Rosé
- '13 Broc Cellars Valdiguié Solano
- '12 Broc Cellars Carbonic Carignan
- '13 Donkey & Goat Carignane - Mendocino
- '12 TJ's Reserve Barbera - Mendocino
- '07 Enotria Arneis
- '07 Gregory Graham Zinfandel
- '07 Francis Ford Coppola Votre Santé Chardonnay
- '06 M. Cosentino Pinot Noir
- NV TJ's North Coast Sparkling
- More Regions - Culled
- '12 Mark Herold Acha Blanca (2)
- '12 Forlorn Hope Que Saudade Verdelho - Sierra FH
- '10 Forlorn Hope La Gitana Torrontés - Lodi
- '13 Forlorn Hope Ost-Intrigen St. Laurent - Carneros
- '12 Scholium Rhododactylos - Lodi
- '04 Twisted Oak Tempranillo - Calaveras County
- '08 Twisted Oak Ol' Chumbucket - Calaveras County
- '08 Twisted Oak The Spaniard - Calaveras County
- '06 Twisted Oak The Spaniard - Calaveras County
- '07 Twisted Oak River of Skulls - Calaveras County
- '07 Twisted Oak Parcel 17 - Calaveras County
- NV Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot #61
- NV Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs Brüt
- '08 Orin Swift Saldo - Culled (2)
- '06 Bokisch Graciano-Lodi (3)
- '07 Bokisch Albariño-Lodi
- '08 Chariot Gypsy-Culled
- '04 Chariot Sangiovese-Culled
- '07 JRE Tradition-Culled
- 'NV Thackrey Pleiades XVII
- '08 Bogle Phantom
- Yamhill-Carlton
- Dundee Hills
- McMinnville
- Eola-Amity Hills
- More Willamette - Culled
- '06 Archery Summit PC
- '10 Antica Terra Pinot Noir
- '09 Antica Terra Pinot Noir
- '08 Antica Terra Pinot Noir
- '07 Antica Terra Pinot Noir
- '05 Ken Wright Elton Vineyard Willamette
- '05 J.K. Carriere Pinot Noir
- '07 A to Z Pinot Noir
- '07 Anne Amie Pinot Noir Willamette
- '07 Ken Wright Pinot Blanc
- '07 Gypsy Dancer Pinot Gris
- '08 Hamacher Pinot Noir "H" Series
- '08 Castle Rock
- NV Sokol Blosser Evolution (15th)
- Ponzi
- '06 Ponzi Pinot Noir (4)
- '08 Ponzi Pinot Noir (3)
- '08 Ponzi Pinot Noir Reserve
- '09 Ponzi Pinot Noir (4)
- '09 Ponzi Pinot Noir Tavola (2)
- '12 Ponzi Rosato Rosé of Pinot Noir
- '10 Ponzi Rosato Rosé of Pinot Noir
- '11 Ponzi Pinot Noir Rosé
- '09 Ponzi Dolcetto
- '11 Ponzi Arneis (5)
- '11 Ponzi Pinot Gris (3)
- '11 Ponzi Pinot Blanc
- '10 Ponzi Vino Gelato
- Southern Oregon
- Columbia Valley
- Yakima Valley
- '08 Efesté Syrah Jolie Bouche Boushey Vineyard
- '08 Efesté Syrah Ceidleigh - Red Mountain
- '09 Owen Roe Cab Franc Rosa Mystica
- '09 Owen Roe Cab Franc Slide Mountain
- '10 Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah
- '08 Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah
- '08 Owen Roe Yakima Valley Red
- '08 Owen Roe Merlot Dubrul Vineyard
- '09 Owen Roe Sinister Hand
- '11 Maison Bleue Jaja
- '08 Gramercy Cellars The Third Man
- '07 J. Bookwalter The Protagonist
- '06 Long Shadows Sequel
- '08 Chateau Ste. Michelle Eroica Riesling
- '08 Tamarack Firehouse Red
- Walla Walla
- Horse Heaven Hills
- Other Wash - Culled
- McLaren Vale
- Barossa
- '06 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra
- '03 Hobbs Gregor Shiraz (3)
- '04 Two Hands Beautiful Stranger
- '04 Two Hands Beautiful Stranger - Chicago Now
- '10 Yalumba HP Shiraz-Viognier
- '05 Yalumba HP Shiraz-Viognier - ChicagoNow
- '05 Yalumba HP Shiraz-Viognier (2)
- '04 Schild Estate Shiraz
- '05 Schild Estate Shiraz
- '09 Schild Estate GMS (3)
- '05 First Drop Two Percent
- '08 Langmeil Grenache The Fifth Wave
- '05 Colonial Estate Exile
- '05 Colonial Estate Envoy (2)
- '08 Yalumba Viognier
- '08 Turkey Flat Rosé
- '07 Turkey Flat Rosé
- '08 Peter Lehmann Layers
- Other Aussie
- New Zealand
- North
- NV Fattoria Moretto Lambrusco
- '13 Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco Fondatore
- '10 La Spinetta Vermentino Toscana
- '10 La Spinetta Vermentino Toscana - ChicagoNow
- '12 Bastianich Rosato di Refosco Venezia Giulia
- '11 Bibi Graetz Casamatta Bianco Toscana
- '06 Kris Pinot Nero
- '07 Prá Soave
- '08 Gini Soave
- '00 Tommasi Ca'Florian Amarone DV
- '07 Monte del Fra Amarone Classico
- '06 Conte de Bregonzo Amarone
- '05 Colli Di Parma Sparkling Malvasia
- NV Lini 910 Lambrusco Bianco Sparkling
- '09 Monastero Suore Cistercensi Coenobium
- '05 TJ's Sagrantino di Montefalco
- '10 Paitin Roero Arneis
- South
- Frank Cornellisen Susucaru #5 (4) - Sicily
- '11 Arianna Occhipinti IL Frappato Sicily
- '11 Arianna Occhipinti TAMÌ Frappato Sicily
- '10 Centonze Frappato Sicily
- '09 Sella E Mosca Riserva Cannonau di Sargedna
- '12 Terre Nere Etna Rosato Sicily
- '07 Archeo Nero d'Avola - Sicily
- '13 San Salvatore Falanghina - Campania
- NV Taburno Falanghina Spumante (3) - Campania
- '10 De Falco Falanghina - Campania (3)
- '05 Villa Carafa Asprinio - Campania
- '09 Argiolas Rosado - Sardinia
- Sangria
- Greece
- Hungary
- Other
- Argus Tepache Pineapple Wine (2)
- '09 Alain Graillot Syrah Syrocco - Morocco
- NV Vipava Extra Brut - Slovenia
- '09 Matosevic Alba - Croatia (2)
- '11 Domaine Douloufakis Malvasia - Crete (2)
- '06 Slavyantsi Rosé - Bulgaria
- '08 Neuchátel Oeil de Perdrix PN - Swiss
- '09 The Wolftrap - South Africa
- '07 Dr. Konstantin Frank R-SD - NY
- NV Gruet Brut Rosé - New Mexico
- Extebarri - Basque Country
- Mugaritz - Basque Country
- Arzak - San Sebastian
- El Trujal del Abuelo - Cihuri
- Astrid y Gaston - Madrid
- Las Tortilas de Gabino - Madrid
- Ad Hoc - Napa
- Ubuntu - Napa
- Chez Panisse - Berkeley
- Zuni Café - San Francisco
- DC - Komi, Jaleo, Minibar, 2 Amy's
- Lola - Cleveland
- Bacchus - Milwaukee
- Blackbird (4)
- Elizabeth
- Moto
- Mado
- Taxim
- Avec
- The Purple Pig
- Ceres Table
- The Bristol
- The Girl & The Goat
- Urban Belly
- Anteprima
- Semiramis
- Indie Café
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
#255 - Jerk Chicken, Biscuits & Pineapple With Two Wines
Here's jerk a Rastafarian would respect.
Heat that permeates every level, delicious citrus complementing the heat with spice and herbs that keeps everything in line.
Not surface heat here. This went deep along with everything else seeping deeply into the chicken while the heat never crossed the line into eye-watering, mouth-blazing territory. Marched right up to that line but never crossed it, allowing every other flavors to take its turn at bat.
Instead of cooking the chicken under a brick, this one was roasted upright in the oven in the cast-iron. The results were something spectacular, bringing a more dirty-delicious caramelization to bits of the chicken skin.
This was one glorious looking chicken when it came out of the oven and the taste delivered on that promise.
Food: Jerk chicken, cheddar-scallion biscuits and pineapple with radishes
Heat that permeates every level, delicious citrus complementing the heat with spice and herbs that keeps everything in line.
Not surface heat here. This went deep along with everything else seeping deeply into the chicken while the heat never crossed the line into eye-watering, mouth-blazing territory. Marched right up to that line but never crossed it, allowing every other flavors to take its turn at bat.
Instead of cooking the chicken under a brick, this one was roasted upright in the oven in the cast-iron. The results were something spectacular, bringing a more dirty-delicious caramelization to bits of the chicken skin.
This was one glorious looking chicken when it came out of the oven and the taste delivered on that promise.
Food: Jerk chicken, cheddar-scallion biscuits and pineapple with radishes
Monday, February 27, 2012
#254 - Sausage, Rapini & Tomato With '09 Palmina Barbera
Everyone frets over the authenticity of foods: its provenance, its ingredients, its handling, the people behind it, etc.
All those things are important but we prefer terrible and terribly funny instructions on the back of, say, a package of orecchiette that tells us to stir "approximately carefully" to tell us what's in the package and who made it.
No faceless corporation or mass-produced factory product allows that! That's some tremendously small operation that goes to freetranslation.com, cuts and pastes and calls it a day. Good for them.
Orecchiette, sausage and rapini is a house favorite. We don't know what we did before discovering it a few years ago and promptly put it in wide rotation.
The joy comes in its simplicity and rusticity. Soul-satisfying stuff to the nth degree.
Last night's Oscar food was a diversion from the well-worn path, incorporating tomato, carrot, celery and onion, making a stew and mixing it into the traditional form. A Mario Batali recipe taken from the Palmina site, it's a good one, deep and rich and tasty. We just ever so slightly missed the rustic, simple Love of the more simple version and its delicious white wine accompaniment.
That said, we ate and drank very well here.
Food: Orecchiette, sweet sausage and rapini with a mirepoix and tomato base
All those things are important but we prefer terrible and terribly funny instructions on the back of, say, a package of orecchiette that tells us to stir "approximately carefully" to tell us what's in the package and who made it.
No faceless corporation or mass-produced factory product allows that! That's some tremendously small operation that goes to freetranslation.com, cuts and pastes and calls it a day. Good for them.
Orecchiette, sausage and rapini is a house favorite. We don't know what we did before discovering it a few years ago and promptly put it in wide rotation.
The joy comes in its simplicity and rusticity. Soul-satisfying stuff to the nth degree.
Last night's Oscar food was a diversion from the well-worn path, incorporating tomato, carrot, celery and onion, making a stew and mixing it into the traditional form. A Mario Batali recipe taken from the Palmina site, it's a good one, deep and rich and tasty. We just ever so slightly missed the rustic, simple Love of the more simple version and its delicious white wine accompaniment.
That said, we ate and drank very well here.
Food: Orecchiette, sweet sausage and rapini with a mirepoix and tomato base
Thursday, February 23, 2012
#253 - Bison With El Jefe & Lamb Curry With Tavola
Sandwiched between these two meals was a drunken trip to Bar Toma and the Gambero Rosso wine tasting at Union Station.
We're glad we went to Bar Toma. It's a beautiful space offering an interesting, pan-Italian collection of vittles (revolving around Rome and broadening out) with a nod to something a touch more Mediterranean. Didn't love it. Some salting and temperature issues (really across the board on temp) kept it firmly in the world of Like while never sniffing Love.
But the sandwich bread, these two meals along with Shrimp Lunch, brought enough goodness to keep the food weekend (Monday thru Wednesday) in the camp of "That's a break from the workweek and that's the point!"
And I think we wrote off the Ponzi Tavola way too soon a few years ago.
Meal #1: Bison flank steak with chimichurri and yuca fries with smoked paprika mayo
We're glad we went to Bar Toma. It's a beautiful space offering an interesting, pan-Italian collection of vittles (revolving around Rome and broadening out) with a nod to something a touch more Mediterranean. Didn't love it. Some salting and temperature issues (really across the board on temp) kept it firmly in the world of Like while never sniffing Love.
But the sandwich bread, these two meals along with Shrimp Lunch, brought enough goodness to keep the food weekend (Monday thru Wednesday) in the camp of "That's a break from the workweek and that's the point!"
And I think we wrote off the Ponzi Tavola way too soon a few years ago.
Meal #1: Bison flank steak with chimichurri and yuca fries with smoked paprika mayo
Monday, February 20, 2012
#252 - Mantuano Shrimp, Sheep Feta & Arugula With Two Wines
Shrimp Lunch!
We finished up the Argiolas Rosado with this meal, which was the wine served with red beans & rice, my first tweet on the Twitter machine for this here blog (look over there --->). I'm late to things but still patently refuse to Facebook. No need in my world to know what Johnny McDouchington from high school English is doing these days (Johnny McDouchington, you know who you are).
Today's shrimp recipe is brought to you by Tony Mantuano, he of Spiagga fame (and The Purple Pig collaboration). We'll be partaking in Bar Toma before the Tre Bicchieri tasting at Union Station tomorrow. My expectations are...tempered.
But Mr. Mantuano is some crazy genius. When taking into account the time it takes to prepare black garlic shrimp (infuse the oil, let it cool, blah, blah, blah), this one is too easy-peasy for words. Five minutes and it's summertime refreshing and delicious.
Food: Ouzo-flamed shrimp with lemon, parsley and garlic, sheep feta with pink peppercorns and honey and an arugula salad
We finished up the Argiolas Rosado with this meal, which was the wine served with red beans & rice, my first tweet on the Twitter machine for this here blog (look over there --->). I'm late to things but still patently refuse to Facebook. No need in my world to know what Johnny McDouchington from high school English is doing these days (Johnny McDouchington, you know who you are).
Today's shrimp recipe is brought to you by Tony Mantuano, he of Spiagga fame (and The Purple Pig collaboration). We'll be partaking in Bar Toma before the Tre Bicchieri tasting at Union Station tomorrow. My expectations are...tempered.
But Mr. Mantuano is some crazy genius. When taking into account the time it takes to prepare black garlic shrimp (infuse the oil, let it cool, blah, blah, blah), this one is too easy-peasy for words. Five minutes and it's summertime refreshing and delicious.
Food: Ouzo-flamed shrimp with lemon, parsley and garlic, sheep feta with pink peppercorns and honey and an arugula salad
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
#251 - Blood Orange & Black Olive Tuna With '08 Antica Terra
Boy, the 2008 Oregon pinots are going to be a fun follow.
I have no idea if I'm going to love them but the development and life should be a long, great romp.
If only a touch more fresh acid on the finish existed. IF. ONLY.
Right now...right now...the 2007 Antica Terra seems to be more together, more composed and expressive of what it is and is going to be.
The 2008 is a bit scatterbrained but precocious. The talent is there but too many thoughts are floating around in its brain to know what it wants to be. "I want to be a scientist! I want to be a astronaut!"
There's no doubt this is going to be a good wine. Right now, it's a waiting game. Delicious stuff but too all over the place to enjoy it by itself. With food, with the best freakin' tuna on the planet, the wine followed the food lead like a good little soldier waiting for its time in the sun.
Food: Blood orange, black olive and pomegranate seed tuna over frisée with Seeduction bread, rose petal jam and Kerrygold butter
Still. Best. Tuna. Ever.
I have no idea if I'm going to love them but the development and life should be a long, great romp.
If only a touch more fresh acid on the finish existed. IF. ONLY.
Right now...right now...the 2007 Antica Terra seems to be more together, more composed and expressive of what it is and is going to be.
The 2008 is a bit scatterbrained but precocious. The talent is there but too many thoughts are floating around in its brain to know what it wants to be. "I want to be a scientist! I want to be a astronaut!"
There's no doubt this is going to be a good wine. Right now, it's a waiting game. Delicious stuff but too all over the place to enjoy it by itself. With food, with the best freakin' tuna on the planet, the wine followed the food lead like a good little soldier waiting for its time in the sun.
Food: Blood orange, black olive and pomegranate seed tuna over frisée with Seeduction bread, rose petal jam and Kerrygold butter
Still. Best. Tuna. Ever.
Monday, February 6, 2012
#250 - Oxtail Ropa Vieja Over Rice With '08 Villa Creek Mas De Maha
Super Bowl dinner.
I'd like to thank NBC for delivering a broadcast so much less LOUD than anything FOX has ever done. And no dancing robot. Life is better without dancing gladiator robots (though the trumpets before the trophy ceremony was a bit much).
I'd like to not thank NBC for being less loud because I rather enjoy hating on the Super Bowl. Haters always be hatin'. And I'm a hater. I admit it. It's just so much spectacle for spectacle's sake.
Cassoulet with pink wine used to be Super Bowl tradition. It's a riff on ropa vieja with Villa Creek Mas de Maha now. Last year was ropa without the vieja and a 2006 Mas de Maha. This year, it's oxtail ropa vieja with our second drinking of the 2008.
Food: Oxtail ropa vieja over white rice and an arugula salad
I'd like to thank NBC for delivering a broadcast so much less LOUD than anything FOX has ever done. And no dancing robot. Life is better without dancing gladiator robots (though the trumpets before the trophy ceremony was a bit much).
I'd like to not thank NBC for being less loud because I rather enjoy hating on the Super Bowl. Haters always be hatin'. And I'm a hater. I admit it. It's just so much spectacle for spectacle's sake.
Cassoulet with pink wine used to be Super Bowl tradition. It's a riff on ropa vieja with Villa Creek Mas de Maha now. Last year was ropa without the vieja and a 2006 Mas de Maha. This year, it's oxtail ropa vieja with our second drinking of the 2008.
Food: Oxtail ropa vieja over white rice and an arugula salad
Thursday, February 2, 2012
#249 - Fregola 'Risotto,' Borlotti Beans & Pancetta With '05 Colonial Estate Exile
We had something close to pairing perfection two days ago.
Right after cracking the Colonial Estate Exile, taking a sip and tasting a chunk of Rogue Smoky Blue, I thought we were going to beat it. At least approach it.
We didn't beat it but got close.
Tons of extreme like here.
Blood marinated in balsamic. Who doesn't want that?
Drink it with a big mound of slightly goopy goodness and you got yoself sum lovin'.
Food: Fregola 'risotto,' borlotti beans, La Quercia pancetta, fennel, shallots, pine nuts, pearl onions, carrots, chicken stock, basil and Rogue Creamery Smoky Blue Cheese
Right after cracking the Colonial Estate Exile, taking a sip and tasting a chunk of Rogue Smoky Blue, I thought we were going to beat it. At least approach it.
We didn't beat it but got close.
Tons of extreme like here.
Blood marinated in balsamic. Who doesn't want that?
Drink it with a big mound of slightly goopy goodness and you got yoself sum lovin'.
Food: Fregola 'risotto,' borlotti beans, La Quercia pancetta, fennel, shallots, pine nuts, pearl onions, carrots, chicken stock, basil and Rogue Creamery Smoky Blue Cheese
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
#248 - Braised Endive & Tomato Stew-Salad & Scallops With '02 Michel Brégeon Muscadet
Putting the scallops at the end of the title description was on purpose. They weren't needed and weren't particularly good.
What was good, even great, was everything else.
A Jonathan Waxman recipe, the stew-salad tasted like a garden in the best possible way. Braised endive! Who knew?
Mrs. Ney gussied it up with preserved lemon, sunflower seeds and sprouts, lemon thyme and parsley leaves. While Mr. Waxman might guffaw at such piling on to his more simple, 3-4 ingredient approach to things, with the scallops so lacking in scallopy goodness, we both think the end result might have been better than if the recipe was followed to a tee.
That's because this wine drinks so freakin' well and I'd venture to say this pairing sits in the top 1% of pairing perfection in our world.
What was good, even great, was everything else.
A Jonathan Waxman recipe, the stew-salad tasted like a garden in the best possible way. Braised endive! Who knew?
Mrs. Ney gussied it up with preserved lemon, sunflower seeds and sprouts, lemon thyme and parsley leaves. While Mr. Waxman might guffaw at such piling on to his more simple, 3-4 ingredient approach to things, with the scallops so lacking in scallopy goodness, we both think the end result might have been better than if the recipe was followed to a tee.
That's because this wine drinks so freakin' well and I'd venture to say this pairing sits in the top 1% of pairing perfection in our world.
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