Wine Storage

My wine cooler broke, and the temp now reads 74 degrees. Is this an ok temp for my wine for the next few days until the new cooler arrives? Would storing my wine in the refridgerator be better, or would that be too cold?

Thanks.

mobtown hound in Wine

Napa and Sonoma Wineries

I originally posted this on the wine board, for some reason it got moved here...

mobtown hound in San Francisco Bay Area

Napa and Sonoma Wineries

I will spending a few days in wine country later this year, and am looking for recommendations as to which wineries to visit. I will definitely be going to Ridge, Martinelli, Domaine Carneros, Chateau Montelena, and Stags Leap Wine Cellars. I'm looking to visit an additional four. Since those are big and well known, I'd like the others I visit to be smaller boutique operations that I may not have heard of.

I like interesting, terroir driven wine. I'm much more familiar with French and Italian wine than I am with California wine, so please recommend your favorites. I'm open to all varietals. The only requirement is public tasting facilities.

mobtown hound in San Francisco Bay Area

Corkage at wine shop/restaurants (split from Washington DC & Baltimore board)

You just don't seem to get it. You don't have to drink the wine on premises. If you're so opposed to being "nickel and dimed" you can take your wine home without paying the corkage fee.

They are offering a service for a nominal fee. They provide space, glassware, and service. Also, they give up valuable retail space and must have a different liqueur license for open bottles.

As for choosing between bars with or without a corkage fee, its really simple. You either pay retail plus $7, or you pay retail x2. You don't get to simply pay retail at a bar. I don't see anyone complaining that their light beer is marked up.

Hawaiigrl2003 - This isn't the place to find out about wine in Baltimore, as this board is heavily skewed towards pub grub. Most posters recoil at the thought of spending more than $20 on a bottle of wine.

mobtown hound in Not About Food

August or Stella!

I have already made reservations for August this weekend, but it seems like there's mixed reviews of the restaurant. Would Stella! be the better choice for fine dining?

mobtown hound in New Orleans

best crabs in DC and MD?

I second Mr Bill's Terrace Inn, you won't find better crabs anywhere.

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

I may be in the minority, but...

There are two places that get a lot of love here and I don't understand why.

1. Yellow Dog Tavern. I think people are into the place because of the decor and ambiance. I've never been impressed with the food. I hope it gets better, because I live in the neighborhood, but as of now they have good ideas but lack in execution.

2. Mamas On the Halfshell. Its ok, certaintly better than the average meal had on the square, but not worth the heaps of praise it gets on this board. I would never make a special trip to go there.

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Do you need to provide staff with a rationale for a lower tip?

Tipping is part of the expense of dining out, and I think people will often cite some hiccup in service as a way to justify a poor tip in order to save money.

Low tips on good service are not uncommon, so your low tip will only get you labeled as another cheapskate. A low tip will not cause a server to re-evaluate their service. If you get bad service, talk to a manager and let them know of the problem. The manager will do what they can to make you happy, including comping food and drinks. They will also try to work with the server and fix their service problems.

Next time you deem your server unworthy of 20%, remember that you are affecting their livelihood. I doubt that you lose out on a day's pay at your job because someone was upset with you. More likely you will hear something from your manager.

mobtown hound in Not About Food

Butchers in Baltimore

I had a feeling that venison was unavailable. How about obtaining stuff like sweetbreads and pork bellies? Would any of those places you mentioned have the selection I'm looking for?

Thanks for the suggestions.

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Butchers in Baltimore

I am looking for a good butcher in Baltimore where I can buy a variety of meats, including all of the primal cuts of beef and veal, rabbit, venison, lamb and so on. Any suggestions where to find such a thing?

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Super Bowl at Wisp?

I am going skiing at Wisp this weekend, and wanted to find a good place to watch the Super Bowl. Somewhere with good drinks, decent food, and a comfortable atmosphere with lots of TVs (and not too smokey).

Any suggestions?

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Wine bar recs

I will be visiting Manhattan in early January, and I would like to check out a great wine bar. I'm looking for something that focuses on Old World wines, with a large by-the-glass list. I also want the place to have a menu of small wine-friendly plates. Good ambiance and friendly crowd also a plus.

Any recommendations?

mobtown hound in Manhattan

any info on Lemongrass in B-more?

$40 an hour for a lane is not bad at all. A group of four can play two games for $10 a person, with shoes included. Seriously, why should it be any lower? Bowling equipment is expensive to maintain.

I think the place is great, and will be going on a regular basis.

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

dependable baltimore restaurants

The Foreman/Wolf restaurants are probably the most dependable restaurants in Baltimore. Not only do they make excellant food, but a big emphasis is placed on the guest's experiance. They will go out of their way to ensure you have a memorable dinner. If you don't like something, they will replace it without question or attitude. Those who are intimidated by upscale eateries are made to feel at home.

Also, Matsuri never fails to turn out amazing sushi. I credit that to their commitment to quality fish and preperaton. I took a sushi making class there which was run by their head sushi chef, and you could tell both he and the always-friendly-staff were excited to be sharing their skills with the students. One of the more enjoyable food experiances I've had.

I think dependabilty comes from a combination of experiance and also the desire to be the best.

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Opinions on Blue Agave Baltimore requested

Blue Agave is one of my least favorite restaurants in Baltimore. I never went went when it was under the previous ownership, but it's current incarnation is the definition of bland food. Not one thing we ordered was any good. Plus the service was underwhelming.

Pazo is fun for a night out and great for a group because you can try so many differant things. I preferred Pazo's old tapas-only menu; I haven't had much luck with their entrees. Stick with the small plates and you should enjoy yourself.

Some people on this board really love Mamas on the Half Shell, and I've never understood why. The food isn't bad, but it's nothing to get excited about either. I certaintly wouldn't take cab across town to eat there.

I'd go to Pazo.

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area

Jack's Bistro - what to get?

I agree that their soups are fantastic. The Saigon Soup is great, but my favorite is the Cheeseburger Soup. It's so rich and creamy.

Jack's food is definitely on the heavy side, but I love rich food. I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a light meal.

As for the service, I too have had only pleasant experiences. It's apparent that the staff really loves food and they really enjoy talking about the menu.

mobtown hound in Washington DC & Baltimore Area