Even before I was into wine, it seems that “wine and cheese” have gone together in the public mind as if they are a perfect match. In reality, it is hard to find wines and cheese that truly elevate each other. At least for my palate. My wife and I enjoy “cheese dinners” where we’ll … [Read more…]
If you like foie gras, there’s something incredibly decadent about searing your own at home. In part, you are not limited to the invariably tiny pieces that you get for eighteen bucks at a restaurant. We got a whole lobe, wacked off about a third of it, cut slices about about 3/8-inch, and then seared … [Read more…]
I wanted to make ravioli with a machine (I made it by hand a week ago and it was so thick that it was almost inedible). I had little idea that to whip up a little mushroom ravioli with cream sauce would take 2 hours. And I almost sliced off my finger in the process. … [Read more…]
TASTING MENU NITRO-POACHED GREEN TEA AND LIME MOUSSE (2001) ORANGE AND BEETROOT JELLY OYSTER, PASSION FRUIT JELLY, LAVENDER POMMERY GRAIN MUSTARD ICE CREAM, RED CABBAGE GAZPACHO JELLY OF QUAIL, LANGOUSTINE CREAM, PARFAIT OF FOIE GRAS OAK MOSS AND TRUFFLE TOAST (Homage to Alain Chapel) SNAIL PORRIDGE Jabugo Ham, Shaved Fennel ROAST FOIE GRAS “BENZALDEHYDE” Almond … [Read more…]
2008 ended in a flurry of activity, as work was incredibly busy the last quarter. On top of that, I had an appendectomy a few days before Christmas. Thankfully I was able to celebrate a bit on New Year’s Eve with a fantastic 2005 Araujo which is one of the best Cabernets I’ve ever had. … [Read more…]
We had a fairly simple meal tonight–pan fried salmon; spinach, garlic, and pine nuts sauteed in olive oil; and potato/celeraic mash. Opened the ’05 Sine Qua Non Over & Out (their last Pinot Noir) due to the salmon. What a great combination. The salmon was good by itself, and the SQN was good by itself, … [Read more…]
Made rack of lamb tonight, and opened a ’95 Whitehall Lane Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was amazingly young tasting, with loads of black currant left, and it paired quite well with the lamb. There’s something about lamb and Cab that just works, no matter how many times I have it or how much of … [Read more…]
I can’t believe it’s already the 3rd of October. I know, I know, the 3rd always comes after the 2nd, and October always follows September, so how can I be surprised? Well, each year just seems to go by faster than the year before. I think it’s because our perspective (we’re always in the “now”) … [Read more…]
Pizza (from Pizza Port, courtesy of Charlie Fu), was the best part of the evening for me. I confess to not enjoying Italian wines in general (although I do enjoy an Amarone, even if it’s not served with liver). The bummer tonight was that the ’96 Allegrini Amarone was horribly corked. Even so, the palate … [Read more…]
Zinfandel! Had an ’06 Turley Juvenile. A very tasty Juvenile, and totally worth the price of admission ($20 IIRC). And, surprisingly, went well with the food! I’m always concerned having red wine with chili, since there’s usually a bad reaction between the spiciness of the chili and the wine, but tonight they meshed well.