Archives for 2010

2006 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel

2006 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel

Chateau Montelena Zin

I had the pleasure of tasting this wine at a small event hosted by Chateau Montelena winemaker, Bo Barrett earlier this year and thought it was a solid wine for a winery mostly focused on Cabernet Sauvignon.

The wine is beautiful in the glass with the darkest purple hue.  On the nose, it’s oaky with tons of black fruit: blackberries, ripe raspberries and currant.  On the palate, it’s what makes Zinfandel fans so loyal to the grape, spiciness, dried cherry with a big meaty mouthfeel and just the right amount of tannins.  Well balanced with a long spiced finish.

Affordable for most and an ideal wine for those late afternoon BBQs where grilled red meat’s the star.

Around $30.

2007 Loimer Riesling Langenlois Terrassen

2007 Loimer Riesling Langenlois Terrassen

Loimer Riesling

I first had the pleasure of sampling this outstanding wine at an Austrian wine event I attended in New York.  Although I’d tasted over 30 wines that day, this Riesling, from the Kamptal region of Austria, stood out from the pack and I was thrilled to find it readily available at several stores in my area.

The nose of the 2007 Loimer Riesling is of ripe apple and juicy peach. Peach turns to pear and ripe apple to baked apple on the palate.  This wine is concentrated, luscious and rich with spicy undertones.  The finish is long with mineral notes and nice acidity.

Around $29.

Upscale Taste Hits Fast Food at Smashburger

Upscale Taste Hits Fast Food at Smashburger

Smashburger Fried Egg Burger

When Smashburger moved into Montclair New Jersey, I just had to see what the hype was all about.  Could a fast food joint possibly serve up tasty quality burgers?  I soon found out that the answer was: YES!  I was hooked from the first juicy bite.  The concept is simple: Fresh, never frozen, 100% Angus Beef, smashed, seared and seasoned on the grill.

On a recent visit, I sampled some of the items on a new menu it’s testing and wasn’t disappointed.

Smashburger Beef Chili

First, I tasted the Beefy Chili ($2.59), then I feasted on the Taylor ham, egg and cheese Smashburger ($5.99 for 1/3 pound or $6.99 for 1/2 pound).  The chili, which was served with slices of jalapeno peppers, was meaty and rich with chunks of beef instead of the more commonly-served ground meat chili served in the northeast.  It was really pretty outstanding and would be perfect ladled atop a Smashdog.  The burger’s the true reason for being here and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this new twist on the perfectly prepared classic.  Smashburger’s managed to take its Certified Angus Beef to the next level by topping it with a generous slice of Taylor ham, a fried egg, American cheese and haystack onions.  The juiciness of the meat, the crunch of the onions and the slightly runny egg are a combination that would have even the strictest of herbivores drooling.  Smashburger makes some of the best milkshakes ($3.99) I’ve ever had.  Haagen-Dazs is the ice cream they use and vanilla, chocolate and strawberry are the flavors they offer.  Basics, done well.

Smashburger Milk Shake

Some of the other limited-time menu options being served are the Smashchicken sandwiches ($5.99) (grilled or crispy) and the Smashsalads ($6.99 whole and $4.39 half) (Honey-Mustard, Chicken Caesar or Harvest Chicken).

Did I need to get a couple extra workouts in after eating this meal? Yes.  Was it completely worthwhile? Absolutely.

The Denver-based chain hopes to have over 500 franchise locations in the next five years and I’m praying for a location nearer to my home.  Are you lucky enough to have a Smashburger location in your neck of the woods?  See for yourself: www.smashburger.com

5 Refreshing and Affordable Wines for 4th of July

5 Refreshing and Affordable Wines for 4th of July

It’s hot and humid outside and white, rose or sparkling wines seem to be what most people crave during the Summer month.  Here are five wines to add to your 4th of July celebrations that won’t break the bank but will please your guests:

Enjoy and let me know if you try any of these!

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there and ‘bonne fete des peres’ to my dad, Jean-Guy, who lives in Quebec.

I’m actually going to be spending Father’s Day a bit late this year as my dad and his spouse will be visiting me for 4th of July weekend.  Now that I live closer to Quebec, these impromptu trips by my family and friends have proven to very special.

I have tons of things planned for their weekend visit: 4th of July fireworks, sightseeing, Nascar watching (yes, don’t hold it against me), shopping, good food and of course, some pretty darn good wines.

Here are some of the wines that will be in the lineup for the weekend (yes, I’ve been making a list):

  • 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
  • 2009 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2007 Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
  • 2006 Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
  • 2007 d’Arenberg The Dry Dam Riesling
  • 2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
  • 2006 Tantara Bien Nacido Pinot Noir
  • 2006 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel
  • 2009 Ameztoi Rubentis Rose Getarioko Txakolina
  • 2009 Gaia Estate Assyrtiko
  • 2005 Villadoria Barolo

What ever you’re doing today, make it a great day.  Happy Father’s Day!

Casa Mono – Spanish Tapas and Wine Eden

Casa Mono – Spanish Tapas and Wine Eden

Photo by ZagatBuzz

Casa Mono is a cozy Spanish tapas restaurant in Gramercy Park and the brainchild of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich.  The superb cooking is creatively prepared by chef Andy Nusser.

The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive at this restaurant is that the space a small.  Not small as in “I’m going to feel claustrophobic and won’t be able to hold a conversation with my dining partner(s)”, small as in “This place is great!  I’m going to get to rub elbows with other enthusiastic diners while watching the action in the open kitchen”.  The place has so much energy that diners immediately begin to relax upon being seated.

The food at Casa Mono is served tapas-style – small plates meant to be shared among guests.  Dining in this manner allows for a completely interactive experience for the diners who can share what they’re tasting while trying several dishes they’d normally not have the opportunity to sample.

The menu at Casa Mon is extensive.  There are around 40 tapas to select from, and one sounds more appetizing than the next.  Some clear winners are the snapper crudo ($16), the pumpkin and goat cheese croquetas ($9), the soft shell crab with gazpacho dressing ($16), the pulpo with fennel and grapefruit ($13), and the lamb chop with garbanzos and harissa ($16).  There are also four strong dishes prepared from whole Hudson pigs that are crowd pleasers: a charcuterie plate ($18), pork belly with salsa Jamaica ($16), pork croquetas with green tomatoes ($15) and the chorizo with spring beans and aged Manchego cheese ($16).

Casa Mono Tapas

The snapper crudo is served with micro greens and a tangy dressing that’s worthy of praises.  The pumpkin and goat cheese croquetas are fried to a perfect crunchy dark brown exterior and feature a great balance of sweet pumpkin and tart cheese.  The soft shell crab has a thicker batter coating similar to English fried fish, that could have been lighter, but was served with a flavorful gazpacho sauce.  The pulpo is served with shaved fennel and sections of pink grapefruit and might be the winner at Casa Mono.  The baby octopus in this dish are tender and perfectly cooked and pair beautifully with the licorice fennel and the sweetly acidic grapefruit.  The lamb chops are expertly cooked to a medium rare and are ultra flavorful due to the addition of harissa.  The pork dishes can’t be missed, specially the moist chorizo served with a generous sprinkling of aged Manchego cheese.

There are several desserts offered at Casa Mono like the bread pudding with pear sorbet ($9), the burnt vanilla custard ($9) and the chocolate torte with apricots ($9), but the focus is on savory options at this establishment.

Casa Mono offers an extensive Spanish wine list by the cuartos de vino (small carafe with enough wine for two pours), the copita (smallish Spanish sherry glass) and the bottle. Some recommendations are the 2009 Santiago Ruiz Rias Baixas – a complex Albarino blend perfect for shellfish ($46 for a bottle), 2009 Ameztoi Rubentis Rose Getarioko Txakolina – a great example of Spanish rose ($17 for a cuartos de vino) and the 2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino – a versatile creamy, floral wine ($19 for a cuartos de vino). Sample servings allow diners to try several of the affordable Spanish gems featured on this list.

Casa Mono is a Certified Two Star Green Restaurant in accordance with the Green Restaurant Association’s rigorous guidelines, and a hot spot that foodies shouldn’t miss.

52 IRVING PLACE

NEW YORK CITY 10003

212.253.2773

www.casamononyc.com

2009 Santiago Ruiz Rias Baixas

2009 Santiago Ruiz Rias Baixas

The 2009 Santiago Ruiz is a blend of 70% albarino, 20% loureiro and 10% treixadura. This wine is straw yellow in the glass and offers a vibrant floral nose full ripe peach and lemons.  It is a well-balanced wine with many layers of intensity that could serve as an aperitif and also pair well with heavier shellfish.  This wine has a long and strong mineral finish.

Santiago Ruiz is known to many as the “Father of Albarino” and the 2009 is a great example of Albarino that’s affordable enough to be a go-to every day wine.

Around $20.

2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino

2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino

’09 Pazo Senorans

Although light in color, this wine from Rias Baixas is anything but that in bouquet and aroma.  Party in a glass is what you get from the first sniff.  Nose is vibrant and screams of honey, tropical notes with lemony undertones. The 2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino is intense, creamy and well-balanced with an enjoyable crisp finish.

Around $20.

2009 Ameztoi Rubentis Rose Getariako Txakolina

2009 Ameztoi Rubentis Rose Getariako Txakolina

'09 Ameztoi Rubentis

This beautiful pale pink wine is both light and bold!  Big mouthful of the typical strawberry one is familiar with in roses, but in this case, pungent wild strawberries.  The wine is creamy yet floral and contains tons of tiny bubbles that lead to a dry finish.  Nice as an aperitif, but could also hold up to a fattier fish like salmon. Actually had this wine paired with lightly seasoned lamb chops and it held up.

match.

Style: Rose

Grape Type(s): 50% Hondarribi Zuri and 50% Hondarribi Beltza

Region: Pais Vasco, Spain

Around $20

 

Herb Garden Box

Herb Garden Box

Herb Garden Box

I just love Summer – sunshine, BBQs, fresh produce and my herb garden box.  My guy built me a 7-foot wide and 4-foot tall garden box two Summers ago where I can grow herbs and a few small vegetables.  I love the fact that I can simply walk onto my deck and pick fresh herbs to enhance our Summer foods.  This year, I planted: flat leaf parlsey, cilantro, sage, sweet and Thai basils, rosemary and Greek oregano.

What herbs are you growing this Summer?