2001 Ramirez de la Piscina Rioja Reserva

2001 Ramirez de la Piscina Rioja Reserva

'01 Ramirez de la Piscina

What a great example of a medium-bodied Spanish Tempranillo.  This aged wine is brownish brick in color with a spicy, earth-like nose.  The wine is concentrated with enjoyable vanilla undertones and rich berry flavors.  The only thing I was missing when I enjoyed this wine was a fabulous paella. Around $20.

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There’s Nothing to Eat in this House Part 2

There’s Nothing to Eat in this House Part 2

Anchovy & Tomato Pasta

This is the 2nd installment in the “There’s Nothing to Eat in this House” series (see part 1 here: http://bit.ly/dbucAf). As typical for me, Friday is the day before my weekly trip to the grocery store, so the fresh food on hand is limited.  Here’s a quick and VERY tasty dish I whipped up using […]

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2007 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc

'07 Dog Point

Not the limeade-watery Sauvignon Blanc typical of many affordable bottles.  This wine from Marlborough, New Zealand, is medium to full-bodied and offers pleasantly intense herbal and ripe fruit flavors.  This wine has a longish finish and some texture to it. For fans of Cloudy Bay, this is perhaps a better wine and a must-try. Pairings: […]

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I Trulli – Cozy Spot in Midtown Manhattan

I Trulli – Cozy Spot in Midtown Manhattan

I Trulli

Greek food god Michael Psilakis highly recommended this place, especially the pasta and rabbit ragu dish, so I had to visit (plus, it’s a 5-minute walk from my office). I lunched at I Trulli during New York Restaurant Week and was somewhat underwhelmed. Upon arriving, we were greeted with soft bread pieces and ricotta (instead […]

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2004 Gundlach Bundschu Pinot Noir

2004 Gundlach Bundschu Pinot Noir

'04 Gundlach Bundschu PN

Was given this wine as a birthday present and really enjoyed it.  This wine is a gorgeous, dark ruby color in the glass.  It’s simply pure velvety silkiness with tons of ripe cherries and a hint of vanilla.  Good wine on its own, but especially great with food.  Served this with roast chicken and it […]

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2008 Hirsch Gruner Veltliner Heiligenstein

2008 Hirsch Gruner Veltliner Heiligenstein

2008 Hirsch Gruner Veltliner

Sampled this wine as part of a tasting menu at Bouley last weekend.  For those of you who enjoy fresh and crisp Gruner Veltliner, this is a good rendition.  This Weingut Hirsch wine has a citrus, apple, herbal aroma that had me sniffing for several minutes before taking a first sip.  This wine offers a […]

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2008 Zuccardi Mendoza Chardonnay Viognier Serie A

The 2008 Zuccardi Mendoza Chardonnay Viognier is light, citrusy and made with very little to no oak.  It’s crisp and dry and perfect for seafood or fish.  The thirst-quenching quality of this wine makes it ideal for Summertime get-togethers. Nice wine for folks like me, who don’t enjoy big, buttery Chardonnays, but who enjoy that […]

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My Birthday Adventure

Every year, my guy sets his Outlook calendar to ping him 30 days before my birthday.  He does this so that he can call the restaurant he’s picked for my big day within the 30-day range set by the restaurants for reservations. Every year, after booking the restaurant, he then gives me weekly clues as […]

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There’s Nothing to Eat in this House

There’s Nothing to Eat in this House

Shrimp Cappellini

I’m always amazed to hear people say that they can’t find anything to eat at their house.  Anyone with a decent pantry should be able to turn up a simple delicious meal in minutes. Today, Friday, is the day before my weekly trip to the grocery store, so the fresh food on hand is limited, […]

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2009 Chickie Award – And the Winner is….

The 2009 Chickie Award contest featuring top recipes for 2009 has selected its winner: Manicotti with Red Sauce submitted by Annelle Williams of Annelle’s Table from Martinsville, VA.  Annelle wins a $100 Visa Gift Card. The following recipes made the final list for consideration: Grilled Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Chicken:  http://bit.ly/6XKZxa @jdecurtins Stuffed Black Bean Poblano […]

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