Foodie Wannabe

Falesco Vitiano Umbria 2009

Name: Falesco Vitiano Umbria 2009
Vineyard/Winemaker: Falesco
Origin: Umbria, Italy
Varietal: Merlot
Pairs with: lamb... or beef stew (like we had!)
When I drank it: Oscar night with pot stew
What my friend Erin thought (after cleansing her palate): Nice bouquet, nice medium mouth-feel, tastes goooood.  Very drinkable. 
What the minemaker says: Deep ruby-red in color with sensual aromas of blackberry, tobacco and vanilla, which carry through on the palate into a lingering finish.
Approximate cost: $15.99
Where to buy: Wine.com, Saratoga Wine Exchange, Buy.com

Sono Wood Fired: Lincoln Park, Chicago

Anyone who knows me knows that I love a sampler. Specifically, I love getting to try a lot of different things, especially when it comes to food. If you weren't aware, the classy version of the sampler is a flight. And up until now, I've only had flights of wine and cheese (and actually tacos, if you can believe that). Sono Wood Fired, a pizzeria in Lincoln Park, takes the idea of flights across their menu. Because I'm such a lucky duck, I was invited to dinner where Chef John treated me and a group of other Chicago-area food-focused social media peeps to a generous dinner of all kinds of flights!

The Chopping Block Grilling Class

When Husband's parents were in town, we packed our days with lots of stuff, but since we're sort of known as the foodies in the family, there's a lot of pressure to go to cool places to eat. Our best idea was to not just eat but also cook our own food at The Chopping Block.

Onyx Restaurant: Budapest

Michelin-starred Onyx Restaurant in Budapest was a wonderful treat on our first night in the city (and on our vacation).

Tabor Hill Lake Michigan Shore Chardonel 2009

Name: Tabor Hill Chardonel
Vineyard/Winemaker: Tabor Hill
Origin: Michigan, USA
Varietal: Apparently Chardonel is the variety (a hybrid between Chardonnay and Ceval Blanc)
Pairs with: Crab cakes, olives, oysters, stuffed clams, and smoked salmon (yum!)
When I drank it: I can't remember when I drank it, but I bought it driving back to Chicago from Michigan.
What I thought: Meh. I'm usually ho hum about Chardonnay, and this hybrid didn't help its cause.
What the winemaker says: This hybrid Grape has become a consistent winner for the Midwestern growing appellations and ours follows suit displaying bright citrus characters in the nose giving way to a lightly oaked fruit forward mid pallet of melon, lime, and refreshing lemon on the finish.
Approximate cost: $12.00?
Where to buy: Exit 16, I-94, Bridgman, Michigan

Giarola Bardolino Saint Valery 2007

Name: Giarola Bardolino Saint Valery
Vineyard/Winemaker: Giarola
Origin: Bardolino, Veneto, Italy
Varietal: 65% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, 10% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Pairs with: Roasted and grilled white or red meats, especially poultry or rabbit or appetizers of sausage, salami and ripe cheeses
When I drank it: When we had some visitors at the house, we drank this with some light bites before heading out to dinner. I'm not so sure that they were ripe cheeses.
What I thought: I like a spicy red, and this one gives me both spice and fruit. I can get behind this one for sure.
What the distributor says: This Bardolino shines a deep ruby red with violet reflections. It offers a fruity vinous bouquet with a hint of spice. Typical of reds from this region, this wine showcases classic ripe strawberry, raspberry and black cherry fruit and a pleasing finish with a character that only results from the very best vinification practices.
Approximate cost: $17.99
Where to buy: WineTasting.com, OnlineLiquorStore.com

Restaurant Martin Stein: Vienna

On our recent European vacation, we hit some great restaurants, notably in Vienna. One place was Restaurant Martin Stein (or just Stein), which was the only time we ventured outside the main city center (Ringstrasse). 

A word on Next (that super duper popular restaurant)

Husband and I were very fortunate to get tickets to Next during their first menu rotation, Paris 1906, Escoffier at the Ritz. In case you haven't heard of it, it's Chef Grant Achatz's new, heavily praised restaurant on Fulton Market. You buy tickets in advance for a specific date and time, everyone gets the same multi-course menu, and you can add wine pairings (regular, special, or non-alcoholic beverage pairings) to your meal (all paid in advance). The menu changes every three months, and they are already on their second menu, Tour of Thailand. I really just wanted to sit back and enjoy my dinner, so I made a point of not taking photos (and I know Chef Grant is not fond of the photo-taking either). After the fourth (or so) course, and many reserve wine pairings later, I got a little less shy.

Food Tour of Romania: More than cooked food

As I mentioned in a previous post, we recently returned from a vacation, and like any good food blogger, I took lots of photos to share with my readers. We were in Romania (and took the trip) because our dear Romanian friends got married. Adrian, the groom of the couple, was Husband's roommate in grad school, and Husband likes to tell the story of the day he asked Adrian about the food in Romania.

Mumm Napa Cuvee M NV

Name: Mumm Napa Cuvee M NV
Vineyard/Winemaker: Mumm Napa
Origin: Napa Valley, California
Varietal: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier
Pairs with: Everything, absolutely everything.
When I drank it: March Maddness? What can I say? I'm a classy gal.
What I thought: I can be a little snobby about my bubblies, but this one surprised me. Maybe because it's a sister of the French Mumm, but it would have passed for champagne for me! This will be my lower-cost sparkling in a crunch.
What the critic says: "This is a delicious, brut style wine, based on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It's very rich in strawberry, raspberry and lime flavors, with vanilla and toast complexities, and the finish is honey-sweet and spicy. Great price for a bubbly this elegant." Wine Enthusiast
Approximate cost: $18.99
Where to buy: Retail grocery, BevMo!, Wine Accees, Grand Wine Cellar