TeknoFin's Profile
Best place to eat in Beaufort, SC
Last week Gabriele and I spent a very nice vacation at Harbor Island, SC. It's a peaceful and beautiful community just outside of Beaufort, SC: http://harborisland-sc.com/ They advertise it as a place that co-exists peacefully with nature, and it's obvious as soon as you get there. You share space with all sorts of creatures -- a huge variety of shore birds, big spiders, and the occasional alligator.
We asked around and did some online research on where to go for the nice dinner out, and decided to try Saltus River Grill. We had a really super dining experience. The restaurant just crushed it on all fronts -- atmosphere, service, food and of course, wine.
We were both having seafood, so were looking at their Pinot Noirs. Our server recommended a Domaine Carneros 2005, and I agreed. I always like it when the server makes a strong rec -- they should know, and it's definitely in their interest to have us love the wine. But bummer, she came back and said they were all out.
So we went with a Gundlach Bundschu Pinot Noir, also 2005. It was a strong choice. It started with a slightly earthy, burgundy-like nose that was a bit deceiving. Because it didn't taste of earth at all, it had really nice, smooth fruit that carried throughout the palate, not all at once then gone like some CA Pinots. I tasted a lot of cherry, and it was definitely on the assertive side for a Pinot. The vineyard web site is selling the 2006 for $34 -- well worth it.
The food at Saltus was truly top notch. Gabriele had a she-crab soup that she christined the best she's ever had, and she's had it at a bunch of places. Steamed clams were fantastic with chorizo and onions, as was the caprese salad. Grilled lobster tails were perfectly prepared, and seas scallops were matched with a ham risotto and mascarpone cheese, a surprising touch that worked.
So if you ever check out the gators at Harbor Island, or are just driving through on your way to Hilton Head or Savannah, highly suggest you stop at Saltus River Grill.
The place to eat in Atlanta -- Canoe
This weekend Gabriele and I were in Atlanta, and had the chance to visit one of our favorite restaurants. On Sunday night we had dinner at Canoe, a fantastic place we first visited in 2006 and had a very special meal with our friends Amanda and Russell.
Often a place where you’ve had a special meal can’t quite match your memories the second time around. There’s no place to go but down, in a way. Thankfully, that was not the case with Canoe.
We got there on the late side and decided to eat in the quiet bar area. At good restaurants you can usually do this and still get good service, and that’s what we got Sunday night. Tammy the bartender was also a super waitress, and had a lot of passion for the menu and the wine selection.
Canoe lets you order half glasses of whatever they pour by the glass, and their wine list is large. So we were able to have a lot of fun sampling various bottles to decide on the right wine with the meal. We had:
* Mongeard-Mugneret Bourgogne 2006 — A French burgundy started us off. It was light in color and body, on the mild side with very little of the funky, earthy flavor of some burgundies. It was a nice Pinot with a tart finish but not very impressive.
* Chateau Bellevue-Peychaneau Bordeaux, 2005 — This Bordeaux throws you a bit of a curve ball. It has a beautiful, big bouquet that leads to a very thin, mild wine. There’s nothing wrong with this wine but it’s almost not there, nothing memorable at all.
* Grenache Blend, Acoustic Montsant 2005 — This was a very interesting Spanish wine with lots of flavor. It was strong and almost thick in texture, delicious but definitely not right with any kind of subtle dish. It would be super with seasoned steak or chops.
* Anne Amie Pinot Noir 2006 — From Willamette Valley in Oregon, this Pinot had a bright, fresh bouquet. It tasted the same, very nice fruit and flavorable but also a little simple and straight-forward.
* Etude Estate Pinot Noir 2006 — This one was the winner of the evening. Bigger and deeper that the average Pinot, with excellent fruit. Lots of descriptions talk about black cherry and currants — with this wine you really taste them. Just a great tasting wine without being too big or powerful for food.
And oh what food! The smoked salmon came riding on crispy potato cakes along with traditional items. Tomatoes carpaccio were amazingly fresh and delicious, and the George’s Bank scallops were perfectly prepared and paired with a leek and bacon risotto. But maybe my favorite was the ruby red and golden beet salad, which came out looking like a fruit tart, riding on a bed of goat cheese.
The setting is beautiful inside and out, with a large patio and a garden right up against the Chattahoochee river. The next time you’re in Atlanta, check out Canoe — and tell them you read about them here!
Scarlatto's Mid-town
Just ate there last night -- hope this helps someone:
This Saturday Gabriele and I spent a fun day in New York City. We were staying in Stamford, Connecticut for the holidays so it was a short train ride into Grand Central. We saw a very funny play on Broadway we'd both recommend, Avenue Q: http://www.avenueq.com/about.html After the play we had drinks at the Campbell Apartment and then dinner at Scarlatto.
Campbell Apartment is a cool place for a drink, right next to Grand Central. We had cocktails but then decided to try a glass of the featured Bordeaux, Seuil de Mazeyres 2006. Turns out this is a second label of Chateau Mazeyres, and was not very good at all. It was thin and tannic, with a Merlot-y aftertaste that lingers on the palate. Lesson to take away here is stick to the cocktails at the Campbell.
We had better luck at Scarlatto. We had originally thought of eating at Carmines after the show, especially since Gabe had never been there. But they said they were totally booked. So we went a couple of blocks over to Scarlatto. The place was very busy on the early side -- clearly their main clientele are the pre and post show crowds.
Gabe and I wanted a Barbera. The waiter didn't know too much about the Barberas on the wine list, but went back to the bar for a recommendation. It would have been nice if he knew the list better, but I'll take that any day over a server guessing or trying to fake it.
The recommendation was for a Podere Ruggeri Corsini 2004 "Armujan" Barbera d' Alba. It was very tasty, with a fresh bouquet and strong fruit. The wine was medium bodied, with a clean finish that was quick off the palate. The markup was steep at 3x retail, but that's most places in NYC. Looks like it retails for about $20: http://tinyurl.com/897y8v One thing I'd like to see more of in NYC that we have in DC is restaurants with attached wine shops, so you can sample wines at retail price plus an additional $20 or so.
The Barbera went very well with our meals. The grilled calamari over arugula had excellent flavor but was a little chewy, and the carpaccio was good but a bit bland. For entrees Gabe had a well prepared sea bass with garlic and rosemary over broccoli rabe, and I had a very good Ossobuco alongside garlicky saffron risotto. Service was attentive and prompt.
It's always fun to be in NYC during the holiday season, and Scarlatto came through as a solid bet for dinner in the Theater/Times Square district.
Review of Overwood Restaurant in Alexandria
My wife and I have enjoyed this place often in the past year -- hope you enjoy our review:
Overwood has become one of our favorite local places in Alexandria. It opened in 2007 and offers something for everyone. The food is good, the decor is pleasant and bright, and the atmosphere is lively. We've been there maybe half a dozen times this year, and its time for a post.
Overwood is a few blocks north of the shops and restaurants on King Street. It's a big improvement over a long-time pizza place that used to be in the location, which is a former warehouse:
http://www.theoverwood.com/About_Us.html
Here's Sietsema's review from the Post: http://tinyurl.com/6jm5b4
I'm not a huge ribs guy, but Overwood's are incredibly good -- tender, falling off the bone and with a tangy, molasses and rum sauce. They are fantastic. They also come with the best coleslaw either of us have ever had -- fresh and light, not swimming in mayo. The calamari appetizer is also very strong, served with jalapenos, onions and lemon fried right in with the squid and with marinara sauce on the side. Gabriele likes their crab cakes, and I had a nicely prepared whole white bass with lemon butter last visit. Desserts are also very good -- we'd recommend the key lime pie and the Elvis Pie, a peanut butter in crushed oreo shell treat that's lighter and fluffier than it sounds.
We've found two good reds on the list. Kunin's Pape Star 2006 is a Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend like a Chateauneuf du Pape but from the Santa Barbara region in California. It is medium bodied, with nice fruit balanced with some earthiness and a hint of pepper. It has nice acids but low tannins, making it work with a lot of food. The cost was $41, so it probably retails for under $20.
The other winner for us is an Australian, the Longview Vineyards 2007 Red Bucket Shiraz/Cabernet. This is a delicious wine that is very easy to drink. It's round and soft like most Shiraz/Cab blends, but richer and with nicer fruit flavors than most. It's a great wine to order for the table if some don't regularly drink red. Costs $34 at Overwood, we've found it locally for $15 retail.
You can ask to taste any wine Overwood pours by the glass, which is a nice touch and one I think all restaurants should do. Service is friendly and efficient. One thing we've noticed is that since expediters take the food out, they never seem to know who ordered what. Not a big deal for a two top, but I can see that being a little irritating for a larger party.
That small wrinkle aside, Overwood is a very satisfying dining experience.
-----
Overwood
220 N Lee St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Moved to Alexandria instead!
alkapal -- sorry for belated reply. We liked it, but it had been years since i'd been. Had calamari and nicoise salad to start, then boullabaise and rack of lamb. Lamb was good, little small portion wise.
Cork Wine Bar
Just ate there and had a very nice experience.
When Gabriele and I eat out we almost always order wine. But except for a very fun evening at Evo Bistro back in April, we haven’t checked out any of the wine bars popping up around the DC area. So when the October Washingtonian magazine gave Corked its highest “four glass” rating (along with Evo and Grapeseed), we decided to check it out: http://www.corkdc.com/about.html
We were there on a very busy Saturday night, and the evening didn’t start off smoothly. The Corked web site suggests you call them about 30 minutes prior to arrival so they can add you to the waiting list. We did this, and the woman on the other end said “see you soon.” But when we arrived, our name was not written down. I told the hostess what happened, but apparently she has never read this blog and it was end of the list for us. Kind of frustrating, since the place was packed and clearly there would be a substantial wait.
Another little bump in the road happened when I ordered some wine while we waited. The glasses were $2 more than the menu stated. I pointed this out, and the waitress produced another menu that had the higher price. I didn’t really care about quibbling over $4, but the prices should be standardized. Not the smoothest start to the evening to say the least, but we shook it off and enjoyed the fun, urban DC vibe of the place.
The glasses were Bodegas Berton, Lorinon Rioja Crianza 2003, a mixture of grapes with Tempranillo dominating. It had strong fruit, lots of tannins and a sharp bite that lingered on the palate.
We were seated after about an hour, and that’s when things started to soar. Everything we ordered was excellent, with the exception of a flight of three Barbera wines that were being featured. But to be fair our waiter didn’t highly recommend the flight, we ordered anyway since we usually like Barbera. But the Vietti Barbera d’ Asti Tre Vigne 2006 and the Marchesi di Gresy Barbera d’ Asti 2005 were very mediocre, not horrible but not good. Only the Renzo Seghesio, Barbera d’Alba 2006 was good, with a deeper, rich aroma, more body and a smoother texture.
The food was well done, and its arrival was timed very well. We started with the lemon and pepper dusted calamari with caper remoulade. Even factoring in how hungry we were by the time we sat, it was some of the best we’ve had in the area. We also had the flat iron steak with roasted brussel sprouts and pancetta, the hearts of romaine salad, kale with pecorino and garlic, mushrooms with madeira and marjoram and chicken with olives, prunes, lemon and tarragon jus. Not a flat note in the bunch. Portions were on the small side, except for the calamari.
We had two glasses of Vajra, Lange Rosso 2006 at our server’s recommendation, an Italian from the Piedmont region. It was a tasty combination of grapes including Niebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, with nice fruit and a smooth finish. An easy drinking wine that was food friendly. After dinner we had a nicely presented cheese platter and a glass of Domaine de la Rectorie, Banyuls 2005. It was a French Grenache Noir, a dessert wine. It had a huge nose and port-like fruit, but without some of the heaviness of port.
It was extremely noisy at Corked that night, which may be a factor for some. And of course the tab can add up quickly, especially when some of the small plates have entree-like prices. But if you like interesting pairings of good wine with well prepared foods and an “it place” vibe, you have to check this place out. Just get the name of the person you talk to when you call ahead for the wait list.
The Majestic Cafe Review
Just went a couple of weeks ago -- here's my take:
Gabriele and I recently had an excellent dinner at the Majestic, in the heart of Old Town. Last year Cathal Armstrong and his wife Mechelle took over the Majestic, along with a few other partners that include former Governor Mark Warner. The long time landmark delivers good food, strong service and a fun vibe:
http://www.majesticcafe.com/maj_new.html
Like other Armstrong restaurants, The Majestic takes its cocktails very seriously. We sampled two as we waited for a table, even though we showed up after 9:00PM. We were both in the mood for seafood, but started with an excellent house cured meat appetizer. The main courses were also prepared very well, scallops over an avocado mousse and a top notch seafood stew. Service was very good and included new silver after each course, something not enough places do.
Since we both prefer red over white, we were thinking Pinot Noir. There were a number of choices on the menu, and we asked our waitress for a recommendation. She didn't hesitate to suggest the Allan Scott 2006 Pinot Noir. From the Marlborough region of New Zealand, it had a fresh, crisp aroma with vibrant fruit led by blackberry. It was light bodied but not weak, and fruit forward without being simple. The finish is dry and lingers on the palate. It's an extremely food friendly that should go well with a range of meals. Probably retails for about $25.
Next time your head spins at the prices some Oregon Pinots go for on restaurant wine lists, give this Kiwi a try. You won't be disappointed.
Moved to Alexandria instead!
Second the Restaurant Eve suggestion for a high end night. Le Galois (sp?), long time French place on King near Vermillion, has a very nice wine bar upstairs now.
Overwood is consistently good, get the ribs even if you're not a huge rib fan. Had a nice meal at the Majestic recently, looking for best place to post my review. If you go to Evening Star, get the Coleman Estate Pinot, it will blow your doors off. Also Tallula in Arlington, same family of restaurants.
In DC, we just ate at Cork, the hottest wine/tapas place in the area. We had a long wait, but the buzz is justified. If possible don't go on a Fri/Sat night, small place.
CIA Greystone Restaurant, St Helena
My wife and I had dinner there last week. Here's my take:
Gabriele and I are just back from a visit to San Francisco. Of course we did a Napa Valley day, and that will soon provide content for a nice long post. We finished a fun day of vineyard visits and tastings with dinner at Greystone restaurant, a fantastic place operated by the Wine Spectator and the Culinary Institute of America: http://www.culinary.edu/restaurants/wsgr/
Close friend and noted local gourmand Manik Rath strongly suggested we have dinner there, and we're glad he did. The beautiful building was constructed in 1889 and was once the largest stone winery in the world. It was sold to the CIA in 1990 by the Heublien company for a fraction of its value, and the CIA has been operating there since 1995. It's a beautiful setting for a meal, right on Rt. 29 in the heart of Napa.
Inside the dining room was a broad expanse of tables on one level, with pleasantly muted lighting and a low hum of contented diners. We both had fish -- Gabe had a grilled mackeral and I had onion crusted halibut. Both were excellent, as were the apps -- an artichoke salad and french onion soup, a Greystone specialty with a full gruyere cheese souffle on top. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. We wanted a pinot to go with the fish, so we chose one of the "flights of fancy" 3 ounce tastings, sampling a Schug 2006 Caneros, a Londer 2006 Anderson Valley and a Merry Edwards 2006 Russian River Valley.
The Merry Edwards blew the other two totally away. The Schug was sharp and a bit astringent, and the Londer was a bit better but similar. The Merry Edwards had better, more balanced fruit and was much smoother. It's a great buy IMHO at $42 a bottle off their website: http://www.merryedwards.com/
It was the perfect dinner to conclude a wonderful day in Napa.
