Friday, April 30, 2010

A Calm Little Friday

Sometimes all I want to do after a long week is just kick back on the couch, listen to some music & relax a with a couple glasses of wine. This breezy, overcast Friday is just perfect for that & I had a few wines that I'd been dying to try. I flipped open my MacBook & bought the new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club album that I've been DYING to hear. For those of you who don't know this band I highly recommend that you go check them out immediately. Think T Rex meets early Jesus & Mary Chain. Good music, now time for some good wine.

The first one I popped open was Manoir de la Tete Rouge Chapitre 9 2006 Saumur. Ahhh, there is nothing like the Loire Valley. The savory, salty, mineral tinge is something that just can't be replicated. It has this slightly waxy texture that is incredibly unique & pleasing. I just kept going back to glass again & again. The earthy, savory quality is something I don't get a lot of but I wish I did.



Up next was one of my New World friends. Tandem Van Der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005 Sonoma Mountain. It was rich with pungent cherry fruit, hints of smoke, vanilla, & bit of mushroom & cola. The texture is luscious & palate filling. Very masculine pinot here. I can easily see pairing this with duck confit or even lamb.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Live Web Chat Wine Tasting

Join me tonight at 7 p.m. CST on the Whining & Dining blog for a live webchat wine tasting of Seven Hills Viognier 2008 Talcott Vineyard $19.99. Pick up a bottle at Joe's Wines & Liquors & taste along with me!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Underground part 2

Check out how much fun I had Sunday.

eaTABLE, you know you want to get into it!

This is such a welcome addition to the food & wine scene in Memphis!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The Underground

I've been thinking about vegetarian food & what to pair with such cuisine...even more so that usual since I live with a vegetarian. I think that even more so with this kind of eating I have to take the texture & seasoning into account. With an animal protein based dish I think about the wine's acidity acting as a knife through the fat & meat. With veggie stuff, all bets are off. With the gorgeous food of my friend Justin to play with I really felt a creative license to use whatever I wanted. This was fun! Of course being the Pacific NW obsessive that I am I instantly reached for Washington State.



For the first course enoki mushroom ceviche with smoky black beans & tostones I immediately thought of a cocktail. The very cuban nature of the dish made me desire a mojito. I used an ounce & a half Cruzan light rum, one half of a lime, a small handful of mint & one teaspoon of raw sugar for this recipe. Muddle that all together, top off with ice & club soda & BANG! Instant cuban vacation. Justin, Amy & I all thought it worked pretty well if I do say so myself.



Next we had corn elote soup, a take off of roasted corn elote which is an incredible dish at Las Tortugas. Justin prepared it with roasted corn, queso fresco, lime & mexican crema. The sweetness & richness of corn needed fruit & acidity so I paired this up with Seven Hills Viognier 2008 Talcott Vineyard.



The notes of jasmine, lime, honeysuckle, orange peel & ginger worked deliciously with the sweet/spiciness of the soup & the acidity matched perfectly against the lime as well as cutting through the richness.



We finished up with a six minute duck egg over crisp tortilla nests & a smoked chili-tomato sauce. The rich yolk & spicy earthy nature of the dish needed spice & earth to match with it. Chateau La Colombiere Coste Rouge 2006 just sang with this dish. Great sensual aromas & textures on this bad boy, almost haunting in the way it just lingered on my palate & made me want more.

Monday, April 05, 2010

First Event of the Brooks Museum's Art of Good Taste

This is going to be incredibly fun. My advice? Buy the VIP ticket!

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Restaurant Iris Hosts An Evening with Cooper Mountain Winery

Anyone who reads this blogs knows that I love love LOVE Cooper Mountain Vineyards in Willamette Valley. There wines are pure, elegant but luscious & so full of life & expression. Couple that with the amazing food & service at Restaurant Iris & I'd say you have the perfect evening! Sign up for this dinner soon because it WILL sell out. Don't miss this. I'll be there for sure.