tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29546750831638009032024-03-12T19:28:25.051-05:00shades of grapetwo wine (and food) dabblers grade grapes of all shades and shapesamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-58120111427966495542008-08-03T18:45:00.012-05:002008-09-29T23:20:43.228-05:00Chateau Julien Sangiovese Rosato Rosé 2007<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SJZ1g9DtHEI/AAAAAAAAA3U/ILUqbi66CpA/s1600-h/chateau+julien.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 226px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SJZ1g9DtHEI/AAAAAAAAA3U/ILUqbi66CpA/s320/chateau+julien.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230497226243775554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $18.00</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: 95</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">User Score: --</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: Carmel Valley, California<br /><br /></span>I honestly can't believe it's already August and summer is almost half over! It's even more reason to relish in the hot lazy summer days and that's what's been tempting me to open my last bottle of my most favorite wine from one of our favorite wineries, Chateau Julien's ros<span class="me">é</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SJZ2PwXbOPI/AAAAAAAAA3k/vkMDfeLzD3Y/s1600-h/rosato+rose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SJZ2PwXbOPI/AAAAAAAAA3k/vkMDfeLzD3Y/s320/rosato+rose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230498030290680050" border="0" /></a><br />First off, if you haven't vacationed in Carmel Valley/Monterey in the Central Coast of California, you really must fit this into your schedule- it's the perfect idyllic weekend getaway especially this time of year. Two quick suggestions for where to stay- Old Monterey Inn (French country chic) in Monterey and Tradewinds Inn (pure Zen relaxation) in Carmel Valley. And you must stop by Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley- it's one of the most charming vineyards you'll come across in the states. Friendly husband and wife owners who were so captivated by a winery in the South of France that they bought a vineyard and created a replica of the chateau.<br /><br />Now to their ros<span class="me">é- I think ros</span><span class="me">és aren't given enough credit in the states. Sure there are some ros</span><span class="me">és that taste like cardboard and should definitely be passed over, but a good ros</span><span class="me">é makes for one of the most refreshing drinks out there. Chateau Julien's is by far my favorite</span><span class="me">. M</span><span class="me">ade from the Sangiovese grape, it's bursting with the essence of juicy strawberries and is surprisingly sweet for a coastal wine but still crisp.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal: </span>shrimp scampi for dinner and big juicy strawberries for dessertamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-29853049109517619592008-07-17T15:53:00.012-05:002008-07-18T15:53:26.968-05:00Heidi's Minneapolis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SIDzU78L6cI/AAAAAAAAA28/wtJuSJFFrsU/s1600-h/heidi%27s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 242px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SIDzU78L6cI/AAAAAAAAA28/wtJuSJFFrsU/s320/heidi%27s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224443108762839490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">So</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">G Score: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food: A- </span><span>|</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ambiance: B+</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type: </span>American, modern<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address: </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">819 W 50th St</st1:street><br /><st1:city st="on">Minneapolis</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">MN</st1:state> <st1:postalcode st="on">55419</st1:postalcode></st1:address></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />612.354.3512</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $$$<br /><br /></span><span>We've been wanting to try Heidi's for some time now but hadn't gotten around to it 'til last weekend. Heidi's is Stewart Woodman's newest moderately priced endeavor- </span><span>he was named one of the best new chefs by Food and Wine </span><span>magazine in 2006 and had previously opened some high-end Minneapolis restaurants. He bills it as "familiar foods made </span><span>extraordinary" which I think is an accurate description. It's a ti</span><span>ny space, redecorated in rich colors with luxurious and artistic accents, including an ornate ceiling and a simple music stand as the welcome desk to create a romantic ancient/modern feel.</span><br /><span>For appetizers, I had the foie gras cr</span><span class="me">é</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><em></em></span><span>pe which was your typical melt in </span><span>your</span><span> mouth foie gras experience with the added bonus of sweet hibiscus syrup. The texture of the lentils was a little odd against the creaminess of the </span><span>foie gras but it took on some of the flav</span><span>or of the foie g</span><span>ras and made it feel like you were getting a bit more foie</span><span> gras than you paid for. Jeff</span><span> had the diver</span><span> scallop on a piece of bread with mustard seeds </span><span>which</span><span> had good flavor but the scallop was a touch overcooked.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span>For our entr</span><span class="me">é</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><em></em></span><span>es, I had the Australian sea bass with</span><span> parsley, parsnips, and m</span><span>us</span><span>sel foam (pictured right). This was prepared beautifully- the first bite was bliss-</span><span> creamy, milky, buttery. I</span><span>'m not the biggest fan</span><span> of butter, so around halfway through I couldn't stomach any more butter, but it was definitely a delicious dish. Jeff had </span><span>o</span><span>ne of the evening specials- a beef tender</span><span>loin with a heavenly sauce made of foie gras (pictured left)- pure perfection.</span><br /><span>We'll have to stop by again for a c</span><span>hees</span><span>e </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SIDzrynkKbI/AAAAAAAAA3E/Fdx97KvA--M/s1600-h/seabass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 198px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SIDzrynkKbI/AAAAAAAAA3E/Fdx97KvA--M/s320/seabass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224443501397420466" border="0" /></a><span>pl</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SIDzxOnfMhI/AAAAAAAAA3M/cD_Ze6eVJ3g/s1600-h/beef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 198px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SIDzxOnfMhI/AAAAAAAAA3M/cD_Ze6eVJ3g/s320/beef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224443594812633618" border="0" /></a><span>ate and dessert as we were too full to eve</span><span>n</span><span> t</span><span>hink about it.</span><br /><span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the good:</span></span><span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span>I think Stewart Wood</span><span>man </span><span>g</span><span>ot it ri</span><span>ght, it really is familiar foods made extraordinary, well-priced: a</span><span>ppetizers average </span><span>arou</span><span>nd $8 and entr</span><span class="me">é</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><em></em></span><span>es around $18. </span><br /><span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the not so good: </span>we were seat</span><span>ed</span><span> right away with our reservation, but rumor is even with a reservation you should be prepared to wait.</span><br /><span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Overall:</span> definitely recommended: </span><span></span><span></span><span>don't forget to visit my new favorite store, <a href="http://www.patinastores.com/">Patina</a>, right next door.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-47985040459227612972008-07-16T16:31:00.008-05:002008-07-18T17:53:09.404-05:00Muscadet Sevre et Maine, Domaine de la Pepière 2005<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SH50qie_VMI/AAAAAAAAA2s/45dowLlBpkI/s1600-h/1022676x.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SH50qie_VMI/AAAAAAAAA2s/45dowLlBpkI/s320/1022676x.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223740891956466882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $10.99</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: 90</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">User Score: --</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: Loire Valley, France<br /><br /></span>Muscadet is a musky white wine that comes from the fertile Loire Valley in France. There are several types and Muscadet Sevre et Maine is supposedly the best of the muscadet varietal. It's crisp and refreshing and as it comes from a coastal region it has a sweet seaside saltiness that is comforting as we're stuck in landlocked Minnesota. We had it with sea bass which was good but it really seems like it was made to be eaten with clams, mussels, or crab. The brininess is balanced by a hint of sweet honeysuckle which adds a fragrant touch. One sip takes you to a calming afternoon on the porch of a seaside cottage in France.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal: </span>a chilled glass of Muscadet with moules frites.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-71623113877557510912008-07-02T21:06:00.014-05:002008-07-18T08:22:59.109-05:00Pizza Nea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGxP3VHhBBI/AAAAAAAAA2k/IRWZWOwldiE/s1600-h/100_0027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGxP3VHhBBI/AAAAAAAAA2k/IRWZWOwldiE/s320/100_0027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218633880195630098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">G Score: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food: B+ </span><span>|</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ambiance: B+</span><br /><div class="post-body entry-content"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type: </span>Pizza<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address: </span>306 East Hennepin<br />Minneapolis, MN 55414<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $</span><br />Twin cities pizza lovers can't seem to ever agree on where to get the best pizza. While I still haven't tried enough Minneapolis pizza shops to give a definitive answer, I can at least <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGxKyAT40SI/AAAAAAAAA2U/KdqjNaG4iLc/s1600-h/100_0026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 194px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGxKyAT40SI/AAAAAAAAA2U/KdqjNaG4iLc/s320/100_0026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218628291152892194" border="0" /></a>comment on the ongoing Punch Pizza and Pizza Nea debate. Punch Pizza all the way! Nevertheless, Pizza Nea was a fun and tasty stop for us. We had the margherita pizza, my personal favorite, and a pizza bianco with porcini mushrooms (both pictured). The cheese and ingredients are fresh, generously proportioned, and absolutely delicious. The crust is crisp and perfectly cooked but a bit thicker than I typically like for Neapolitan style pizza.<br />The outside patio is relaxing on a sunny day and Hennepin Avenue offers <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGxK7Vz_ssI/AAAAAAAAA2c/ygt7xpXLxPc/s1600-h/100_0025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 206px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGxK7Vz_ssI/AAAAAAAAA2c/ygt7xpXLxPc/s320/100_0025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218628451543528130" border="0" /></a>a great way to spend an afternoon with an eclectic mix of shops. <a href="http://www.surdyks.com/">Surdyk's</a> Wine and Cheese shop, the largest wine store in the midwest, is right across the street. Be sure to stop by one of my favorite stores, the neighboring <a href="http://www.bibelotshops.com/Store_Northeast.html">Bibelot</a>, after your pizza.<br />That being said, <a href="http://shadesofgrape.blogspot.com/2008/06/punch-pizza.html">Punch Pizza</a> is right down the street and offers a spacious beautiful patio, a hip and fun atmosphere, and authentic Neapolitan pizza. Both pizza joints are definitely worth a try.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the good: </span>fresh ingredients, fun neighborhood<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the not so good:</span> not much to complain about<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Overall:</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> </span><span>recommended: worth a try,</span><span> but I still prefer Punch.</span></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-90190577096251304842008-06-28T10:35:00.010-05:002008-07-17T14:29:36.649-05:00Chaucer's Ollalieberry Wine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGakGvVHIJI/AAAAAAAAA18/DlagSk2OTIo/s1600-h/chaucers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 283px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SGakGvVHIJI/AAAAAAAAA18/DlagSk2OTIo/s400/chaucers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217037654046482578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $10.99</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: 90</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">User Score: --</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: Santa Cruz, California<br /></span><br />Jeff and I first tried this dessert wine in the Bargetto winery tasting room on Cannery Row in one of our favorite getaway spots, Monterey, California. This dessert wine is a dessert in itself- it is really like drinking a sweet juicy slice of blackberry pie in a glass- or maybe blackberry jam in a glass. Drinking pure sugar couldn't be sweeter. It almost tastes more like juice than wine. Ollalieberries are a hybrid cross between the loganberry (raspberry and blackberry cross) and the youngberry (blackberry and dewberry cross). Basically ollallieberry= larger sweeter blackberries. It's particularly good with anything chocolate.<br />It won a double gold at the California State Fair and gold at the Salinas Valley Fair and the Tasters Guild International among others. If you like sweets, you'll want to try this one.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal:</span> a piece of flourless chocolate cake sprinkled with fresh berries and confectioner's sugar with a glass of sweet olallieberry wineamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-14162782781803747762008-06-22T14:49:00.015-05:002008-07-18T08:24:07.629-05:00Evergreen Chinese Restaurant<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SF7c3smfr-I/AAAAAAAAA1c/ZoZcuICfpys/s1600-h/logo_footer.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 98px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SF7c3smfr-I/AAAAAAAAA1c/ZoZcuICfpys/s400/logo_footer.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214848267965149154" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food: B++ </span><span>|</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ambiance: B</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type: </span>Chinese, Taiwanese<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address: </span>2424 Nicollet Avenue<br />Minneapolis, MN 55404<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $<br /></span><br />I didn't think it was possible to get authentic Taiwanese style home cooking and breakfast items in the twin cities until we tried Evergreen. The owner acts as your host, server, and cashier, while his wife makes classic home cooked meals in the kitchen. The decor (or lack of) is very basic, reminiscent of small family run restaurants in Taiwan. Visit for the authentic food not the decor. They also serve Let's Tea boba- we had taro tea with boba, boba was hard tea had good flavor but taro was made from powder.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SF7d59jZChI/AAAAAAAAA10/W1CIVhlDSRc/s1600-h/asset_upload_file400_33426.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SF7d59jZChI/AAAAAAAAA10/W1CIVhlDSRc/s400/asset_upload_file400_33426.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214849406386899474" border="0" /></a><br />We had delicious steamed and fried dumpling and spicy beef noodle soup <span class="itemTitleChinese">紅燒</span><span class="itemTitleChinese">牛</span><span class="itemTitleChinese">肉麵</span> with homemade noodles. We'll have to make it back on a weekend morning for the ultimate Taiwanese breakfast: sweet and salty soy milk with my favorite, fan twan <span class="itemTitleChinese">飯</span><span class="itemTitleChinese">糰</span> (rice rolls) and the greasy but oh so yummy shao bing you tiao <span class="itemTitleChinese">燒餅</span><span class="itemTitleChinese">油條</span> (crispy sticks of fried dough wrapped in a sesame biscuit). Oh I can't wait!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the good:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>serves up unexpectedly authentic Chinese and Taiwanese classics hard to come by in the twin cities<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the not so good:</span> lack of decor<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Overall:</span> recommended: grandma's kitchen Chinese cooking that won't dent the pocketbookamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-26803233119434553322008-06-16T15:58:00.010-05:002008-07-17T14:49:53.475-05:00Barefoot California Cabernet Sauvignon 2005<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFbcBnKYnGI/AAAAAAAAA1M/2bcq5_gA9wc/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFbcBnKYnGI/AAAAAAAAA1M/2bcq5_gA9wc/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212595538978446434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Price: $6.99</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: 85</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">User Score: --</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: Napa Valley, California<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>For those that know me, the stinky foot on the label is enough to keep me far far away from this wine, but the 5 gold medals for a $6.99 wine were just too tempting. It's not bad for a cheap bottle of cab that is available everywhere- you can pick it up off any supermarket shelf (well except in Minnesota where supermarkets don't sell wine). Very fruity and jammy, complementing well with a juicy savory steak or meaty red sauce pasta. Its strong cherry aroma also makes it especially good with dark chocolate. A little too sweet for a Cabernet for my taste. Worth a try for the price but not sure if it deserves quite as many gold medals as it has won.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal:</span> sprinkle sea salt and fresh pepper on a marbled steak and grill to medium rare perfection, enjoy with sips of barefoot cab.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-31256385185876978432008-06-01T21:06:00.025-05:002008-07-22T17:10:38.051-05:00Redstone American Grill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFHxPvNpNdI/AAAAAAAAA0k/WH7Fh2-BysI/s1600-h/Picture+8.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211211496518399442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 328px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 269px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFHxPvNpNdI/AAAAAAAAA0k/WH7Fh2-BysI/s400/Picture+8.png" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">SoG Score: </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Food: B </span><span style="font-size:+0;"></span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> Ambiance: A</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Type: </span>American<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Address: </span>8000 Eden Road<br />Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (multiple locations)<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Price: $$$<br /></span><br />Classically American, Redstone offers simple American favorites in an upscale Midwest lodge setting. If you're lucky to find a thunderstorm-free day to go, the patio (at the Eden Prairie location) itself makes it worth the visit, overlooking a pond with a few Bellagio style fountains. It's an ideal versatile setting guaranteed to impress for a business lunch, a night out with fri<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFHwfCpKepI/AAAAAAAAA0c/Jcj2hUUgdCQ/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211210659920509586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 159px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFHwfCpKepI/AAAAAAAAA0c/Jcj2hUUgdCQ/s400/Picture+7.png" border="0" /></a>ends, brunch with your in-laws, or a dinner date.<br /><br />The food is reliably decent but not spectacular. Appetizers were very artfully presented, and the buffalo shrimp was particularly good. The sea bass was a little fishy, lacked imagination, and was a touch overcooked. Their twists on banana creme pie and fresh berry tart were the highlight.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">the good:</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> </span>patio, beautiful setting, live music<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">the not so good:</span><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"> long</span>-wait on weekends, pricey for quality of food<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Overall:</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic"> </span><span style="font-size:+0;">recommended: worth a visit for the atmosphere<br /></span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-6041038646084932652008-05-25T21:10:00.016-05:002008-07-18T08:23:54.945-05:00Punch Pizza!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGMEoEOzfI/AAAAAAAAAzs/J9TkCluuu60/s1600-h/Picture+5.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGMEoEOzfI/AAAAAAAAAzs/J9TkCluuu60/s320/Picture+5.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211100254946905586" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food: A </span><span>|</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ambiance: A</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type: </span>Pizza<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address:</span> <strong style="font-weight: normal;">3226 W Lake St</strong><br />Minneapolis, MN 55416 (multiple locations)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $ </span>($$ if you go all out)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>We love Punch pizza!! This place is really reminiscent of eating pizza in Italy, wood-fired, simple, fresh ingredients. They have a crazy oven that cooks your pizza in 90 seconds at 800 degrees Fahrenheit.. wild! They also have options where you can have your pizza D.O.C. or doppio style which is buffalo mozzarella, extra tomatoes and olive oil (although to be honest, there wasn't much difference to us between our regular and D.O.C. pizzas). Punch also belongs to the <a href="http://www.fornobravo.com/vera_pizza_napoletana/VPN_guideline.html">Vera Pizza Napoletana</a> the pizza poliza which certify authentic Naples style pizza. We also had the chopped Italian salad which was excellent- the finest ingredients, bursting with flavor! Definitely up there with Mozza Pizzeria as one of the best pizza places.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGIwYFa0CI/AAAAAAAAAzc/rvlhj_jAZTo/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 205px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGIwYFa0CI/AAAAAAAAAzc/rvlhj_jAZTo/s320/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211096608524652578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGI1s0wvII/AAAAAAAAAzk/w8AdXGcl1tM/s1600-h/oven_beauty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 206px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGI1s0wvII/AAAAAAAAAzk/w8AdXGcl1tM/s320/oven_beauty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211096699991276674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the good: </span>super yummy pizza, quick, cheap, fun atmosphere<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the not so good:</span> none<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Overall:</span> </span>definitely recommended! we'll be back often=).<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tip: if you order starters/salads, you're pizza will probably be ready before your starters, so chow down on the pizza while it's hot!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-19459177751256035932008-05-19T14:19:00.016-05:002008-07-18T08:23:24.150-05:00Jun Bo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGMqX86RDI/AAAAAAAAAz0/uPEvYift6YQ/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 233px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SFGMqX86RDI/AAAAAAAAAz0/uPEvYift6YQ/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211100903456261170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food: C+ </span><span>|</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ambiance: C-</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type: </span>Chinese, DimSum<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address: </span>7717 Nicollet Avenue<br />Richfield, MN 55423<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $$ </span>(count on around $15 per person for dim sum)<br /><br />After having a couple of people recommend Jun Bo for dim sum and browsing through the quite nice website, we were really excited to try Jun Bo. We probably shouldn't have gone on a Monday afternoon as the servers told us that they had run out of many items since they were so busy during the weekend. Luckily, we were able to try most of our favorites including the shrimp dumplings, shui mai, and Jeff's favorite, turnip cake. The quality of the ingredients and flavor were decent but the temperature of the food was at best lukewarm and by the end of the meal, we felt like we were eating leftovers that they barely had time to reheat (which unfortunately I think was the case). As for decor, it feels like you're eating in a rundown ballroom although the aquarium in the entryway is beautiful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the good: </span>dim sum all day everyday, easy parking<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the not so good:</span> cold food (on weekdays at least), poor decor<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Overall: </span>Not recommended, might be worth a try on a weekendamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-78288643021702542282008-05-16T00:26:00.014-05:002008-07-17T15:37:54.669-05:00Folie à Deux Ménage à Trois 2006<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SDNYkYyktSI/AAAAAAAAAzM/9nVUuw4Shr4/s1600-h/92079d.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202599376696161570" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 82px; height: 265px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SDNYkYyktSI/AAAAAAAAAzM/9nVUuw4Shr4/s320/92079d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $10.99</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: 91</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">User Score: --</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: Napa Valley, California</span><br /><br />Folie à Deux winery blends Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet for a well-balanced ménage à trois of flavors creating a perfect table red. It goes down easy- silky and smooth, without being too bland or uninteresting. This is the perfect wine to have a case lying around to sip on with whatever you whip up for dinner, to serve at a potluck or picnic, or to grab as a hostess gift as there is nothing this wine doesn't go with. We enjoyed it while snacking on almonds, dried raspberries, cranberries, and chocolate- what a beautiful combination!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal: </span>a perfect accompaniment to an after dinner cheese plate.<br /><div><span></span></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-37544395674941608862008-05-08T19:54:00.017-05:002008-07-18T08:22:32.606-05:00Bisol Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Crede NV 2005<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCOhETVuFKI/AAAAAAAAAzE/gnn34eUi_eg/s1600-h/BisolCrede.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198175490198607010" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right; width: 135px; height: 301px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCOhETVuFKI/AAAAAAAAAzE/gnn34eUi_eg/s400/BisolCrede.jpg" border="0" height="337" width="150" /></strong></a> <strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> $18.99</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score:</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 92</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold;">User Score:</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> --</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Region:</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Valdobbiadene: Venice, Italy</span><br /><br />Prosecco has always been my favorite sparkling wine so when Jeff and I were looking for a celebratory drink to commemorate our first wedding anniversary, choosing the Bisol Prosecco at Hatfield's was a no-brainer.<br /><br />I love prosecco for its light refreshing quality especially delightful when served chilled. The Bisol embodies the best of these qualities with the added excitement of hints of apple and sprinkles of pear with every sip. Prosecco can sometimes be a little too dry for me as the prosecco grape ripens late but this one was just right. Bring it along on your next summer picnic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal: </span>goes perfectly with any reason to celebrate=)amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-76545313912797595852008-05-06T19:19:00.023-05:002008-07-18T08:20:08.874-05:00paulette| la passion du macaron<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEIca4CV3I/AAAAAAAAAyc/MJQu1rEXr84/s1600-h/our_macarons_lowerleft4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197444729305978738" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 159px; cursor: pointer; height: 154px;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEIca4CV3I/AAAAAAAAAyc/MJQu1rEXr84/s200/our_macarons_lowerleft4.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food: A </span><span>|</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ambiance: A</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type: </span><span>French </span>macarons<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address: </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="style7">9466 Charleville Boulevard at Beverly Drive</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="style7"><br />Beverly Hills, CA 90212</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: </span>$1.50 a pop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEIBK4CV2I/AAAAAAAAAyU/cSPEfb3CCY4/s1600-h/almond_wedding.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197444261154543458" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 182px; cursor: pointer; height: 126px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEIBK4CV2I/AAAAAAAAAyU/cSPEfb3CCY4/s200/almond_wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Finally got the chance to go back to LA to try some of paulette's macarons- still haven't found any in the twin cities yet...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Five Stars</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;" >*****</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> perfection<br />Rose:</span> my favorite- light and fragrant, perfect with some jasmine tea, makes me really want to try a Pierre Hermé rose lychee macaron.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sweet wedding almond</span> (pictured): the ganache filling tastes like sweet chinese almond jello.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Caribbean chocolate</span>: decadently rich chocolate with just the perfect amount of sweetness.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEJTK4CV5I/AAAAAAAAAys/58TISnz5mu8/s1600-h/chocolate_coconut.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197445669903816594" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 183px; cursor: pointer; height: 125px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEJTK4CV5I/AAAAAAAAAys/58TISnz5mu8/s200/chocolate_coconut.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Four Stars </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;" >****</span><span style="font-style: italic;">would definitely have again</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Peach </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Chocolate coconut</span><span style="font-size:0;"> (pictured)</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Columbian coffee</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">New Orleans praline</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Three Stars </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;" >*** </span><span style="font-style: italic;">mediocre at best</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Violet cassis:</span> the macaron is fragrant and delectable but the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEIqq4CV4I/AAAAAAAAAyk/uHBsR2xUWbg/s1600-h/sicilian_pistacio.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197444974119114626" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 183px; cursor: pointer; height: 127px;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SCEIqq4CV4I/AAAAAAAAAyk/uHBsR2xUWbg/s200/sicilian_pistacio.jpg" border="0" /></a> ganache filling tastes like grape jelly and is too overpowering <span style="font-style: italic;">Sicilian pistachio</span><span style="font-size:0;"> (pictured)</span>: slightly disappointing for one of the classic macaron flavors<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One Star<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">*</span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;" > </span><span style="font-style: italic;">save yourself from this one!<br />Orange blossom</span>: perhaps it deserves half a star- promising flavor but tastes like soap.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Overall</span>: delicate texture, not overly sweet, and ahhh so reminiscent of paris (depending on which macaron you try that is)<br /><span style="font-family:webdings;"></span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-87242149033984644642008-04-28T21:47:00.021-05:002008-07-18T08:22:10.874-05:00Hatfield's | Croque Madame<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-ixV9s4vg6tdarSrWRHoQYduZXdg6MrtwFv-QfzebvzcLlWahyphenhyphenh-_4ptl5iFcyUaqXkqAIyXybGFv3FeAFOs6LRZ6gTTjBv0z4Q8SyCJZckgQBmrzy4TJ0ALREKMv-8abmZJIlV_KvvB/s1600-h/croquemadame.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197464190521504354" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 249px; height: 195px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-ixV9s4vg6tdarSrWRHoQYduZXdg6MrtwFv-QfzebvzcLlWahyphenhyphenh-_4ptl5iFcyUaqXkqAIyXybGFv3FeAFOs6LRZ6gTTjBv0z4Q8SyCJZckgQBmrzy4TJ0ALREKMv-8abmZJIlV_KvvB/s200/croquemadame.jpg" border="0" height="165" width="213" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Score: </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food: A- </span><span>|</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Ambiance: A-</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Type: </span><span>California/French</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Address: </span><span style="font-size:100%;">7458 Beverly Blvd</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="style7"><br />Los Angeles, CA 90036</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: </span>$$$<br />For our one-year anniversary, Amy and I got to try one of the best up-and-coming restaurants in Los Angeles: Hatfield's. Rated 28/30 in the most recent Zagat Survey. The most memorable dish that we had was the Croque Madame: Hamachi (yellowtail tuna) on grilled brioche (special French bread) with prosciutto (Italian cured ham) and a quail egg (quail egg) on top.<br />Literally, it was heaven in your mouth. You could eat this dish by using your tongue only and that's exactly what we did. Mmm, definitely worth returning for.<br /><br /><span>amy's take:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>definitely share jeff's enthusiasm about the croque madame and loved the panna cotta<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">the good</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">: </span>fresh ingredients from local farmer's markets, creative menu, tasty amuse bouche, good value for the high quality of food and service, also has a 3 course daily market menu for $46 and a 7 course tasting menu for $79.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">the not so good:</span> no cheese plate, skip the branzino as it was way too salty and was paired with an even saltier and overly buttered swiss chard.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Overall: </span>definitely recommended: fine dining in a relaxed socal atmosphere<br /><div><div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04703265523108301762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-13183969198426944512008-04-22T12:55:00.003-05:002008-07-17T15:20:16.420-05:00Boony Doon Ca' del Solo Big House Red 2003<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SA4q5q4CVtI/AAAAAAAAAxM/jnibRourSvk/s1600-h/Ca.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192134590654994130" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SA4q5q4CVtI/AAAAAAAAAxM/jnibRourSvk/s320/Ca.jpeg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: $9.99</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />SoG Score: 87</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />User Score: --</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Region: Central Coast, California</span><span style="font-size:0;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Big House Red</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"> is like the perfect pair of jeans (or for me the perfect pleated skirt)- it goes well with anything you pair it with and it's great for almost any occasion. It makes a great everyday table wine and the screw cap is just an added bonus for convenience.</span><br />It may not cause fireworks to go off, but it's a solid, dependable wine that never tires and I just might be tempted to buy a case.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal: </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>enjoy a glass with a juicy bleu-cheese burgeramyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-18094756644648236872008-03-28T17:15:00.003-05:002008-07-17T15:21:12.763-05:00Trellis Chardonnay 2005<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SAkhNyNj4RI/AAAAAAAAAwU/Ouk-UcWQej0/s1600-h/62297.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190716566221873426" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 65px; height: 240px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SAkhNyNj4RI/AAAAAAAAAwU/Ouk-UcWQej0/s320/62297.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Price: </span><strong>$3.99</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />SoG Score: </span><strong>88</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />User Score: </span><strong>--</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Region: </span><strong>Sonoma, California</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>An enjoyable and fragrant chardonnay with hints of fruits from the tropics balanced with the silkiness of vanilla. As far as flavor, it's definitely on the lighter side.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal: </span>chilled Trellis chardonnay with a cool crisp avocado and shrimp salad on a lazy summer afternoon. Oh, how I wish winter would end!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-10322282347420133782008-03-16T11:55:00.003-05:002008-07-17T15:23:31.493-05:00Rheingau Pinot Noir Edition Maximilian 2005<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l_nqkgq0WzDqQ2PJvTLvVlbUaMm2bKPuqD_HxiyPTV_D-9p1-ukITvPd_1P_NfQj0UqYFzaigB1SJwjvtw8P6uDaq69K8k64QUdKDB9m06vldIx8YG6QUn9SqMLdt-E_9eCYfC8pe7Ck/s1600-h/rheingau.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178385797885911362" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 264px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l_nqkgq0WzDqQ2PJvTLvVlbUaMm2bKPuqD_HxiyPTV_D-9p1-ukITvPd_1P_NfQj0UqYFzaigB1SJwjvtw8P6uDaq69K8k64QUdKDB9m06vldIx8YG6QUn9SqMLdt-E_9eCYfC8pe7Ck/s320/rheingau.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Price: </span><strong>$5.99<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Wine Score:</span> 84<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Avg User Wine Score:</span> --<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: </span>Traben-Trarbach, Germany</strong><br /><br />From the winemaker: Medium-dry, full bodied Pinot Noir with ruby red color, characterized by well-balanced oak flavors, earthy and delicate tones. A wine which matches grilled beef, pasta dishes, wild poultry and strong cheeses perfectly.<br /><br />We tried a handful of Pinots after the whole 'Sideways' push, but found this one to be mediocre. The Germans ought to stick to BMWs and such as they can't touch a nice Californian Pinot.jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04703265523108301762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-73014299410160457282008-03-16T11:47:00.005-05:002008-07-17T15:33:23.294-05:00Archeo Nero d'Avola Ruggero di Tasso 2005<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNxvpzlQeD0Ui6Xvij8ONe7R8EUSmf9IDH7TmKgJ5B2tW6YSBgCLzB9IvND2LkPDn5h5epaUV8a9M94-ik4WYju3m-HSXGJi2kPlSBmcESz-USDACgycUN355ttnMSuny8b7ffUs5qbnA/s1600-h/Nerod'Avola.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178384084193960242" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 219px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNxvpzlQeD0Ui6Xvij8ONe7R8EUSmf9IDH7TmKgJ5B2tW6YSBgCLzB9IvND2LkPDn5h5epaUV8a9M94-ik4WYju3m-HSXGJi2kPlSBmcESz-USDACgycUN355ttnMSuny8b7ffUs5qbnA/s320/Nerod'Avola.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price: </span><strong>$5.99<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Wine Score:</span> 89<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Avg User Wine Score:</span> --<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: </span>Sicily: Nero d'Avola grape<br /></strong><br />From the winemaker: Lots of berry character with soft tannins and a lightly jammy finish. Pair with red sauced dishes and grilled meats. Nero d'Avola is "the most important red wine grape in Sicily."<br /><br />Overall, we thought this wine to be on par with the high praise.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">the ideal meal: </span>we had this bottle with our trademark classic marinara pasta with hot Italian sausage.jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04703265523108301762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2954675083163800903.post-26108695897740363632008-02-26T20:36:00.004-06:002008-07-27T10:55:41.243-05:00Dominio Del Plato Ben Marco Malbec 2005<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SAk_DyNj4SI/AAAAAAAAAwc/uYQWh_4jiXY/s1600-h/benmarco.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190749379772014882" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 76px; height: 256px;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_y35dbE6_wO0/SAk_DyNj4SI/AAAAAAAAAwc/uYQWh_4jiXY/s320/benmarco.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Price: </span><strong>$17.99<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SoG Wine Score:</span> 87<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Avg User Wine Score:</span> --<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Region: Mendoza, </span>Argentina</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />The Argentinian sun and crisp mountain air bring out the best in the Malbec grape, creating an earthy complexity with notes of berries and plums and a silky texture. The malbec grape makes a mild medium bodied wine, somewhere between a cab and a merlot. Malbec wines are definitely worth trying and this one offers a great taste and quality at a reasonable price. Makes a great complement to steak, chorizo, and other stronger flavors.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">the ideal meal: </span>would be heavenly with a chorizo pie, kind of like an empanada from <a href="http://www.portosbakery.com/">Porto's bakery</a> in Glendale.<br /><a href="http://www.portosbakery.com/"> </a>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01386385656045922268noreply@blogger.com0