WineUnleashed's Profile
Review of RGR’s Self-Guided LES Gustatory Tour
RGR, it was great fun and a great memory for my daughter. She had never tasted several of the foods—that is saying something for she is well traveled and eats anything. Many thanks for posting the tour. I'll leave the pics up so if you ever want to steer someone to your tour... you now have the pics. I wish I had taken more!!
Cheers,
Angela
Review of RGR’s Self-Guided LES Gustatory Tour
Before we left foggy San Francisco, I searched the Chow boards for some interesting fare for our family trip to NY. I came across a response from the great “Kathryn” to “Top Food Recs in the West Village.”
Kathryn wrote, “I highly recommend RGR's self guided Lower East Side Gustatory tour: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/493333.“
So I checked it out and thought it was the perfect thing for the family. I knew it would keep my adventurous palate happy, my husband’s pocketbook overjoyed, and a great food experience for my 12-year-old daughter. We started about 10 am or so and finished up at about 1pm. We followed all the recommendations, except for we took the nicer streets (less cars) and we added Sugar Sweet Sunshine based on a213b writeup, “3 Week Chowfest; Help!!!” http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/611116. If you have the time you really should read his WHOLE 3 week review. I had just a few days and a husband and daughter to keep happy, so I couldn’t indulge in many of his picks, but am so happy we added Sugar Sweet Sunshine to the list.
In addition to our tour, we went to 5 Napkin Burger (messy and quite delicious) and Bar Boulud. I am still seething from our snobby service at Boulud. The food was phenomenal but the service was appalling. I was tweeting the whole time and @rickGresh (a chef in Chicago) tweeted back, “every time I've been to boulud its the same, palm beach was the worst!” and “yep, worst service of my life, and both palm beach and bar b was the same manager! So sad, daniel deserves better!”
Check out our slideshow http://picasaweb.google.com/wineunleashed/NewYorkFood?authkey=Gv1sRgCOCyi52irtD_mAE&feat=directlink of the tour. Foodies eat with their eyes!! The last 2 slides are not from the NY tour, but I had to include them: The fantastic cupcakes at Crumbs Bakeshop in Huntington.
Cheers,
Angela Camacho
Summer Wines
For me, in the summer, I like a little levity on the palate—thus, the lighter white varietals. I usually reserve Semillon, Bordeaux Blanc & champagne for other times of the year. So glad I asked for it is interesting what people prefer.
ML and BB, I would opt for the colder temp for "heavier" fare. I have even chilled down some reds when it is warm outside.
Another addition, I will do flips for prosecco or cava during the summer.
Summer Wines
Ooohhh I forgot about Falanghina. I just LOVE that varietal. I should also list Albariño.
Summer Wines
Warm weather brings a yearning for certain wines. Living in San Francisco, the fog can dampen the feeling but when I do escape the fog I tend to reach for Rieslings, Chenin Blancs, rosés & Zinfandels. What about you? Do you have certain wines you like to have with warmer weather?
Wine with citrus?
One would need a high acid white in this situation. I would have reached for a Gruner Veltliner or something from Alsace (Pinot Gris, auxerrrois, Pinot Blanc).
cheers,
Angela
Why are organic wines so bad?
Angela just received a favorable review from The Boston Globe for Nordstrom's Blue Stove wine list.
There are many wines that are organic and biodynamic which are incredible. I would have to say, generally speaking, wineries that are dedicated to the land AND the wine can create great wines. But, if a winery wanted to be green just so they could package it as green... they probably aren't so good. I visited a winemaker in Italy this last summer and she has been biodynamic since 1963 and she one of the top winemakers in Italy. She does not label her wines as organic or biodynamic.
cheers,
Angela
Wine or Beer to go with Mole Poblano?
With mole I almost always have a big, juicy red wine from California. I'm not sure what you can find there but Zinfandel or a Syrah would be first choices. Basically the mole needs the big fruit to quell the spice. The tannin level of these wines also work with the acid of the tomatoes quite well. Sounds yummy.
Cheers,
Angela
Wine Pairing for Savory Short Ribs?
I would reach for almost any red from the Rhône or southern France.
Yum!
Cheers,
Angela
Want to learn more about wine - community style
I would strongly suggest a subscription to Decanter Mag and buy some good wine books. My favorite wine author is Jancis Robinson. Look for "Vines, Grapes and Wines" by her. Not sure if it is still in print but many moons ago... this was my bible.
Cheers,
Angela
Pairing pork and green chili stew
Can you give us more info. on the stew? What are the spices exactly? Is this a Mexican-style stew? Chicken broth? If so, I a, leaning more towards a Sauv/Semillon blend (bordeaux blanc). But it has to be one with neutral oak or none. The riesling is an easy-go to but perhaps the stew needs more body to support it. Anyway, not enough info here to clearly send you down a path.
cheers,
Angela
Sideways do-over????
Couldn't agree more orlwine. Attention to the wine market is generally a good thing. Have you all seen Bottleshock!! I just loved it!
cheers,
angela
Sideways do-over????
Not quite Monodovino...
I like Vinquire and and Chinon's ideas. I am all for the little guy!
Cheers,
Angela
Portuguese Wines?
Just wanted to share some info. on one of my favorite varietals from Portugal...
Fernão Pires is a white varietal distinctive to Portugal that is medium bodied and typically blended into Portuguese dry white wines and sherry. Pires was an actual person from Portugal, aka Fernão Pires de Andrade. He was part of the Portuguese government and worked on opening up trade relations with China in 1517. What his exact tie in to wine is unknown. However, special to note is that the same grape can also be called Maria Gomes. It is unclear what relation the two names have, if any. One blogger (can't remember where I got it from but it stuck in my head) speculated that perhaps, “we are dealing with some crazy historical cross dressing viticulturist”.
TN: 1987 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon
Oh my heart aches for you!! What a bummer. Interesting post. Thanks.
Cheers,
Angela
TN: 1987 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon
Oh, my heart aches for you! What a disappointment. Interesting post.
cheers,
Angela
TN: More wines (Champagnes, Table wines, Vintage Porto) for a 50th birthday party
Ok, read your Ridge TN first... my heart is aching less ;-)
Sounds like an incredible evening.
Cheers,
Angela
My Friends are Insaner than Your Friends
ok... saw the original post. I finally showed my husband so he doesn't give me such a bad time about our dinner parties. We must have the same friends!!
Sounds like GREAT fun!
Cheers,
Angela
Vernaccia di San Gimignano?
Just returned from 4 days in San Gimignano! I had a glorious meeting with a winemaker in that area. Vernaccia is capable of being a GREAT wine and can also be insipid. Varies quite a bit by producer.
Cheers,
Angela
Awesome Riesling!
Wow.. even beats Muller-Catoir (my favorite). great notes.
Cheers,
Angela
Help with a wine list
I would hands down reach for the Falanghina... the most food friendly and enjoyable. I also would reach for the Dolcetto given your price range.
Cheers,
Angela
what roses are you drinking?
This site frustrates me for I have to play by the rules (I sell wine, besides being a wine author, so I cannot mention any specific names). But I am dying here!! I just have to mention the rosés (in general) from the south of France. I just returned from Tuscany and from Cannes. The very first day off the plane we headed for the beach and enjoyed some rosé at the legendary Martinez Hotel. And yes, the credit card bill from that day is also legendary in my house. Anyway, much cheaper to enjoy rosé back home but it was a fabulous day on the beach!! I LOVE THE PINK STUFF!!
Cheers, Angela
Wine for Peking Duck
I have done extensive tastings on this... yes rieslings and champagnes will work but really the beauty is created with Pinot Noir. I would try to find a Pinot Noir from Alsace (hard to find here), a burgundy or an Oregon Pinot Noir.
But, I have a feeling you are having more than Peking Duck. If it is a special course then I would reach for Pinot Noir. If you are pairing with other asian dishes... Riesling and Champagen (or Gruner Veltliner, or Pinot Blanc from Alsace).
Cheers,
Angela
Favorite Dish(es) and what they say about Wine Preferences
I agree on the mood... sometimes I feel like having something cool, crisp and refreshing while other times... dark and earthy will fit the bill.
cheers,
Angela
Favorite Dish(es) and what they say about Wine Preferences
I think you are definitely headed in the right direction with your thinking. But I think it is more complex than that.
Dishes you like and wines you like are definitely tied together. It all relates back to your own personal hormone levels. For example, take Jancis Robinson, in one of her books she basically admits (not really) to cheating on the MW for she was PREGNANT. Sorry men, I can't begin to explain how sensitive your nose and palate are when you are pregnant. Think about teenagers and all the “white” foods they eat. Anytime your hormones are raging you typically cannot think about eating anything intense. As you grow older, hormones start to mellow as does the palate. You can handle bitter foods, such as broccoli rabe, when your hormones are in calmer waters.
There are many other influencers upon taste. But I firmly believe if you start with hormones you can then start to target preferences.
The other big influencer is.... can the person cook and what is their STYLE. If they can cook what types of things do they prepare and do they vary? I have one friend…she is fabulous at making traditional meals (prime rib, filet mignon). She excels at this style of “steak house” feasting. Her and husband have very traditional tastes when it comes to wine. She likes her Chardonnay and he likes his big fruit forward California red wine. There is nothing wrong with this scenario. They know what they like and like to have it over and over.
Alternatively, another friend, again a phenomenal cook but varies cuisine and is always UP for trying something new. You could pour her ANY type of wine and she would offer an opinion and drink it. She has no favorite style of food or wine. She likes it all. She has a very discerning palate and is open minded.
Then think about the person who doesn’t cook and is a picky eater. They typically don’t drink (yea, more for us) or they have ONE beverage of choice. Think about their personality…. Do they travel, are they pretty set in their ways, are they controlling? (sorry, I digressed, I was thinking about someone in particular with the last one).
So, I would venture to say there are scientific reasons as well as social influencers. All in all, a topic I find continually fascinating. Thanks for posting.
cheers,
Angela
How About A New What Are You Drinking ?
Glad to see a new string.
Just returned from France and Italy. I will be posting soon of the amazing meeting I had with an Italian winemaker. Great wines I had from simple and direct to the complex. But, I am very happy to be home.
Need white wine suggestions for summer guests
Just a comment on the "no Chilean wines due to allergic reaction to their sulfites".
Chilean wines are not the only wines to have sulfites. Almost all wine has sulfites. Your reaction is probably due to something else. It is absolutely impossible to say only Chilean whites give you a reaction.
Sorry to be a buzzkill... ;-)
Cheers,
Angela
Winery Visit Suggestions for St. Louis & Kansas City?
I authored a special "Wine Wheel" for the state of Missouri. I would concentrate on the whites. The reds are interesting but I think the whites are very Alsatian and the most interesting. Go to my website and email me your info. and I can mail you a Wine Wheel® for exploring the world of non-Vinifera wines. The link of http://www.missouriwine.org/default.htm will also get you going in the right direction.
Cheers,
Angela
The Miss
TN: Two older California "Rhône-esque" wines
Last Friday night we actually had a Clos Severi 2002 Priorat (35% Carinena, 30% Garnacha, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Syrah aged for one year in a mix of French and American oak). It was beautiful and evolved quite a bit in the glass. I have two more bottles in my cellar and I don't think I will keep them past 2010. It is drinking beautifully right now. I would have thought a tad longer but 02 was also a difficult vintage.
Again, vintage and winemaker come into play. Clos Severi has an incredible winemaker but 02 was just tough.
Alcohol-Free Wine
When I was pregnant... 11 years ago. All I drank was water, Navarro and my ONE GLASS OF WINE a WEEK!!!!! My husband and I were so happy those Sunday nights when I drank my ONE GLASS of wine. All the other non-alcoholic wines and beers just didn't measure up.
