Happy Leap-Day!

I figure I may as well wish everyone a happy Leap-Day…since I won’t have a chance to do this for another 4 years (hopefully this website is still around then!).  I’m not that creative though, Tom Wark over at Fermentation put a nice post up about Frog’s Leap wines - how witty and appropriate.

Anyone have big weekend plans?  I’m thinking DC tonight for dinner and drinks, a few wine tastings tomorrow, and a relaxing Sunday working on a project that I’m going to tell you all about in the near future!

Have a great weekend, and for those of you getting it, enjoy the snow!

An underdog story? MD Direct Shipping Bill: The Final Round: 03/07/2008

I’m a big fan of the Rocky movies (well, I - IV anyways!). They are the ultimate underdog story - a local Philadelphia boxer who is mediocre at best in his amateur career is given a shot at the champ. Everyone counts him out, the champ hasn’t prepared well, and in the end, he fights a great fight to the final bell and almost pulls off the greatest upset of all time.

Our fight isn’t for glory or money, it’s for market freedom and let me tell you, we Maryland consumers are the major underdogs. The wholesalers and their lobbyists have spent a lot of money and time to make sure this bill goes down. But there’s one round left and perhaps we have some fight left in us. The date and venue? The state capital building in Annapolis next Friday at 1:00 PM. It doesn’t matter what got us to this hearing, the only thing that matters now is we give it our all.

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Recipe: Mint/Saffron Poached Shirmp

Here’s an easy recipe I came up with last week that went great with a bottle of Champagne, bread and cheese for a first course.

Saffron Poached Shrimp

Ingredients

• 6-8 extra-large jumbo shrimp, split and deveined (shell on)
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon savory
• 1 teaspoons dried/crushed mint
• 2 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/5 teaspoon Saffron fibers

1. Be sure shrimp are properly de-veined- gently rinse in cold water. Pat dry and sprinkle with salt/pepper.
2. In medium sauce pan add olive oil and all herbs/spices (except not saffron) over medium heat.
3. Add butter in small pieces to mixture and allow time to melt. Once butter has completely melted, stir in crushed saffron working the spices into the oil mixture.
4. Allow the oil/butter mixture to infuse with flavors for 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
5. Increase heat to medium and add shrimp in small batches so shrimp are completely covered by liquid. Gently stir occassionally over the next few minutes.
6. After 7-8 minutes, remove shrimp and repeat as necessary.
7. To serve, drizzle shrimp with poached liquid and plate with with fresh mint and plenty of bread to dip!

Wine pairing advice: This dish would be served with an appertif, I’d go with a N.V. Champagne, perhaps the Charles Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top ($35), which has good acidity, crispness, and subtle fruit flavors which won’t take away from the delicateness of the mint and saffron.

MD Cru February 2008 Recap: Traditional Pairing of French Cuisine and Big Cali Wines!

On Sunday February 24, 2008 the MD-Cru (previous events: Big Wines, Chateauneuf du Pape) met up for it’s monthly gathering of friends, new and old, to talk wine, catch up on politics, and drink a few bottles of wine with a light meal. This month’s venue was familiar to many of us in the “Cru” - Cafe de Paris in Columbia, Maryland with the wine theme familiar to any serious wine enthusiast: California Wine.

When I say “few bottles of wine”, I mean 20 outstanding wines, including 2 barrel samples from Stefania Winery. And by a “light meal” I mean onion soup, fois gras, ratatouille on crustini, ribeyes, lamb chops and duck breast finished off with decadent chocolate moouse and other delectable desserts. Classic French Cuisine with the traditional pairing of big Cali wines…at least we started the evening with Champagne!
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a food and wine blog - dicussion forums have been updated!

Happy Monday Everyone:
When I originally launched the site, we had pretty good participation on the forums. At one point we had almost 100 registered users, although only 10-15 regularly posted! That being said, a major part of what I had hoped to do with this blog is bring together friends and strangers to talk about food, wine, travel, arts, and Baltimore!To create a more interactive site, I’ve updated the discussion forums with a lot of interest in creating a place for us Marylanders to come and talk about Baltimore and the surrounding area. I’m hoping a lot of you will register on the forums and actively participate. I feel this could be a great place to learn more about dining and wine in the city, as well as discuss culture and art in Baltimore.

So, get over there and sign up: http://www.foodandwineblog.com/forums

PS: Incentive to participate: First person to 50 posts (spam posts will result in disqualification and banning) wins a bottle of 2006 Chameleon Cellars Petit Sirah, which I rated at 91 pts and a great value!

Tasting Report: Wines from the Vin Divino Portfolio: Austrian Wines

These are my tasting notes from a recent tasting of the wines of Vin Divino. The tasting reaffirmed my belief that within a few years, Austrian wines will be considered the up and coming wine region offering incredible values and unique styles and flavors. Most of the wines in this tasting were good to very good, with a few being outstanding. The majority of the wines are even better with food as they are structured to stand side by side with a variety of cuisine. (Image taken at Austrian Cultural Forum in New York City)
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Russian Vodka and Caviar Tasting at Morton’s The Steakhouse

This sounds like a great way to start off the week (Monday night in Baltimore) or a weekend (Friday night in Annapolis):

Vodka and Caviar Tasting Features Imperia Vodka Cocktails Matched with Caviar and Morton’s Signature Hors D’Oeuvres.Cost is $45 per person.

Morton’s The Steakhouse in Baltimore and Annapolis host Russian Vodka and Caviar tasting events featuring Imperia Vodka cocktails matched with caviar and Morton’s signature hors d’oeuvres. The Baltimore event is Monday, March 3, 6 – 7:30 p.m., and the Annapolis event is Friday, March 7, 6 – 7:30 p.m. The two nights of indulgence pair two complimentary Russian delicacies. Cost to attend is $45 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made by calling 410-547-8255 for Baltimore or 410-280-1170 for Annapolis.

Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 300 South Charles Street in Baltimore and 100 Westgate Circle in Annapolis. For more information and to make reservations, call 410-547-8255 for Baltimore, 410-280-1170 for Annapolis, or visit www.mortons.com

February 23, 2008 - Open That Bottle Night!

This Saturday marks the 9th edition of the annual Open That Bottle Night (OTBN). Started in 2000 by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, OTBN is perhaps the largest wine tasting event in the world, calling upon wine enthusiasts to bring together their loved ones, families, friends and even strangers to open up a few bottles of wine. The catch? The wine should be something special! The event is designed to provide a special occasion for which you are to drink a bottle of wine you’ve been holding on to.
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Maryland Wine Shipping Bill - UPDATE!

A good source (user John Fones) posting on the Mark Squires Bulletin Board was able to attend the hearing yesterday and posted an update here: Maryland Considers…
Summary of his findings:

•  The hearing was a draw.
•  Proponents for the bill had a better arguement, but poorly executed.
• Opponents presented a weaker argument, but well executed.
• The Comptroller of Maryland is for the bill.

All that is left to do is be patient and wait for the vote…it still doesn’t look great, but perhaps a few committee members will change their mind.

Happy President’s Day - Now let us Marylander’s order wine online!

In just a few hours the House Economic Matters Committee will meet to discuss the fate of HB1260 (better known to us Maryland wine consumers as the bill that will make buying wine online legal) If accepted into law, the bill will benefit  Maryland wineries by allowing easier export of wines to other states, while benefiting consumers by giving them the freedom to purchase wine online from out of state retailers and wineries. If you missed my previous posts on the subject and want to learn more, check out these links:

• http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=304
• http://foodandwineblog.com/?p=320

Look for an update on today’s meeting to be posted here as soon as I hear anything.

TN: Three Champagne’s: One good, one not-bad, one ugly.

Here are tasting notes on three Champane’s we had recently:

The good (the Huskies approve as well!):

1998 Duval-Leroy Champagne Blanc de Chardonnay Brut - $42: Light pale in color with a lot of tiny bubbles that seem endless. Initial dough/yeastiness (brioche), some citrus, a lot of banana peel, some caramel, just a lot of great stuff going on with the nose. Immediate and large dose of grapefruit and yeast on the palate, followed by pear and lime that carries through the finish when a touch of almond appears for a short while. Good focus, solid acidity and balance. Solid effort - drinking well now. My rating: 92 pts, GV (Good value)

The not-bad:

N.V. R. L. Legras Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut -$38: Light pale in color with grapefruit, melon, lime, apple, apricot flavors. Light style through the finish but crisp and refreshing enough. My rating: 86 pts, OKV (OK Value)

The ugly:

N.V. Jean Vesselle Champagne Brut Réserve - $36: Light/medium amber color - it began with a good nose of citrus, some vanilla, a lot of pear and apple, and a very little touch of brioche. On the palate the wine was very light and lacked any sort of body or finish. Granny smith apples and a lot of green pears stood out…which was pleasant. After 30 minutes though, the wine completely fell apart. Perhaps flawed? There was no finish and the fruits became quite sour. It started out fine (86 pts?) but really fell apart quickly. My rating: 82 pts, PV (poor value)

Outstanding Charity Wine Event

This event sounds AMAZING! The price is steep, but it’s a great cause and you’ll be tasting some of the best New World wines being made today!

Great Grapes for a Great Cause

In Support of The Community Development Outreach Fund

The proceeds from this event benefit the Community Development Outreach Fund. The organization’s goal is to raise funds providing scholarships to financially impaired college-seeking high school students in the Shenango Valley, Pennsylvania area.
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Wine Pairing Advice For The “Men’s Health Top 10 Worst Foods in America”

Disclaimer: Following the food and wine pairing advice below involves ingesting large amounts of calories, fats, carbohydrates and sodium and is not recommended for those suffering from heart disease, hypertension, or renal or hepatic disease! Side effects may include nausea, upset stomach, dizziness, weight gain, loss of sex drive, and obesity!

American’s are overweight. As a nation, our obesity rate is very high, especially compared to other industrialized nations. Not surprising, the rate of Type-II diabetes, heart disease, and a handful of other serious ailments, is through the roof. Our poor health can be attributed to the combination of an overall lack of physical activity and poor diets - many of us eat 2 or more meals at fast food or other PNLP (Poor Nutrition Large Portions) establishments. It’s far more convenient to pick up carry out food, run through a fast food window, or head to the local neighborhood diner than to prepare a healthy meal at home. Unfortunately, these meals out (which often involve large portion sizes filled with 2-3 times the daily requirement for calories, fats, carbs and sodium) may be one of the biggest problems when it comes to our obesity rates as a country.
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Happy February 14th!

You all know what today is…it’s my friend Carlos’ birthday! Oh, and it’s Valentine’s day. This “Hallmark Holiday” (Valentine’s day, not your birthday, Carlos) is a day perfectly marketed to those who generally  don’t show their love and appreciation for their spouses, boyfriends/girlfriends, or other loved ones, on a regular basis. What better way to show someone how much you care than to do something nice for them when the corporations and society tells you to?

So take my advice: save your money today/tonight and just tell that special someone how much you love them. Sure, maybe open a bottle of Champagne with dinner (which I recommend doing at least weekly anyways), even a Rose’ but don’t go all out with flowers, chocolates, gifts and a fancy dinner reservation. Use this as a reminder that you should be doing things for your mate frequently- buy them a random gift when you’re out shopping, make them a card when you have a few minutes at work, clean the house and make dinner without their help to remind them how much they mean to you! It’ll mean a lot more than a cheesy heart shaped box filled with lousy chocolates!

I know I’ll be celebrating February 14th, but not because of Valentine’s day: ¡Feliz cumpleaños Carlos!

WBW #42 - Italian Wine in Just Seven Words

This months Wine Blogging Wednesday theme was “Italian Wines in Just Seven Words” and is hosted by Spittoon (they spit so we can swallow!). This creative theme asks us wine bloggers to choose an Italian wine and sum it up in seven words. Although it sounds easy, for a bunch of people who love wine and really love writing (often so much that we just go on and on and on…) this task was a good challenge. I found it particularly challenging due to my love of Italian wine. Eventually I chose a wine and threw out some words that I feel best represent my experience. Be sure to check out Spittoon in the next few days to read a recap of what everyone tasted!

The wine I chose is the 2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano. This Chianti Riserva consists of the following grape varietals: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorino, Malvasia Nera, Merlot and costs around $18 USD.  I gave the wine a very respectable 89 pts.

2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano:

“Closed for business - opens in three hours.”

You can see my full tasting note here. 

MD Wine Shipping Bill

It looks like a hearing will be held on February 18, 2008 at 1:00 PM to discuss the MD Wine Bill. If the bill (read the bill here) is passed into law, we Marylanders will be allowed to order wine online and have it shipped to our homes. This would be great for those of us that can’t find wines we want on the shelves of our local wine shops, or for those wines that are available by mailing lists only.

The deadline less than a week away means we have little time to write our congressmen and congresswomen showing our support for the bill. As pointed out by “Irwin” on the Wine Spectator forums, you can write a letter using the following:

From the WS Forums:
If you are motivated to write a letter in support of the Md. wine bill, which is either HB-1260, or SB 616, you could write to:
Del. Tom Hucker
House of Delegates
Suite 220
6 Bladen Blvd
Annapolis, MD 21401
ATTN: Maria Topper
tom.hucker@house.state.md.us
If you email an attachment in “Word”, it will be sent to the Senate committee.
The House committee is “Economic Matters” and has scheduled a hearing on 2/18 at 1PM. Letters should be received by them prior to that.

Also, as Irwin points out: “It costs nothing to express your opinion”

Finally: Thanks to Chris from the forums for this information:

Here is the link to the senate version:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2008RS/billfile/sb0616.htm

Here is the link to the house version:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2008RS/billfile/hb1260.htm

Here is a link to contact your local legislators:
http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/

Another great link provided by Tom Wark, of the SWRA:

http://capwiz.com/freegrapes/issues/alert/?alertid=10980121

TN: 2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano

2004 Marchesi de Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano: 2/12/2008 (tasted for Wine Blogging Wednesday: Popped and poured. The wine has an ink-deep purple color. The nose was completely closed during the first hour…initial flavors were some sour cherry, a lot of wet forest, not much fruit showing on the palate.

Decanted. After 2+ hours of sitting, the wine completely changed. Now on the nose I get cola, cherry, a cedar component and possibly a smoky vanilla component. The palate has opened up quite a bit- still a good mineral/earthiness to the wine, but now the cherry really comes through, as does a hint of raspberry and burnt wood near the finish. The tannins are noticeable, but not too tough, and the finish lasts a while. Good wine overall - good balance. Decant for a long time or sit on this for a few more years. Good value for the price. My rating: 89 pts, GV (good value)

Restaurant Reviews: Orchard Market and Cafe (Baltimore, MD) - BYOB

Orchard Market and Cafe

Ambiance: Middle-Eastern inspired, casual yet intimate setting.
Food: Traditional Persian food
Service: Excellent
Wine List: BYOB, no liquor license so you have to bring your own.
Pricing: $$ ($50 for two people, with dessert)
Corkage: No corkage fee - BYOB establishment.
Attire: No specific dress code.
Overall: Very good, recommended. BYOB and some of the best Persian food outside of Iran!
Location/Contact Info:
Website: http://www.orchardmarketandcafe.com/
8815 Orchard Tree Ln
Baltimore, MD 21286
(410) 339-7700
Click here for a map to Orchard Market and Cafe
Summary:
The Orchard Market and Cafe provides traditionally prepared and extraordinarily delicious Persian cuisine in a casual, friendly and intimate Middle Eastern setting. The quality of the food is very good, the service is great, and the prices are more than fair (entrées range from $13-$18), especially when factoring in $0.00 for corkage! I would highly recommend lunch or dinner here, especially for people seeking a unique dining experience or who are unfamiliar with Persian food. If you’re looking for burgers and fries, or a grilled Filet Mignon and potato’s, this might not be your place. If you’re looking for a restaurant that features a variety of exotic spices and flavors that you won’t find in many other local restaurants, this is spot on.

FULL REVIEW:
Let me just get this out of the way: this place isn’t easy to find! The restaurant is situated among a few shops off of Joppa Road on what is technically Orchard Tree Lane. Unfortunately, Orchard Tree Lane is also the same turn off of Joppa Road as the parking lot for Gardiner’s furniture, so it can be confusing. That being said, it’s worth the time it takes to find and once you arrive there is more than enough parking for you and everyone in your party.

We have eaten at the Orchard Market over half a dozen times now and it has been consistently very good. A reservation is always recommended (only permitted for parties of 5 or more), as it can be quite packed especially on the weekends. Walking through the first set of doors, you arrive in a waiting corridor that features statues, rugs, paintings and other Persian art that’s fit for a museum. Beyond the next set of glass doors lies a main dining room which when packed in pretty tight seats around 40 people (by my estimation). Once the hostess has your table, you’re met with a very outgoing, entertaining, and experienced server whom it is rumored speaks 6 languages, including, of course, Farsi.

The server/owner is Jason Bulkuley, former head waiter under previous owner Michael Mir. Jason took over the Orchard Market and Cafe in 1997 and with the help of Mrs. Nahid Vaezpour (chef since 1990) and his Persian wife, Sharareh, Bulkuley has successfully turned the restaurant into a great place for those unfamiliar with Persian cuisine to sample homemade, authentic Iranian dishes.

Once seated, you’ll be given the tools to open your wines as well as appropriate glassware. Now is a good time to make sure you have both your Champagne and wine glasses on the table: on a busy night as we had trouble tracking down help to swap our glasses when the bubbly ran out (this aside, service is outstanding). Looking over the menu, there are many great appetizers to choose from. The cuisine is quite traditional, with hummus, eggplant and artichoke spreads served with traditional pita bread. For those feeling adventurous, a braised veal tongue with portabello’s is very flavorful, amazingly tender and has a bit of spicy bite to it. Appetizer portions are generous, but with so many interesting dishes to choose from, I recommend one per person(for parties of two), or 3 per table of four people.

For entrées, there are a number of different things to choose from ranging from a delicately tender duck Fesenjune (orange poached breast of duck in a pomegranate glaze) to braised veal tongue in a tomato, garlic/curry sauce. The Soltani, a dueling kabob of tenderloin, has outstanding flavors, but was a bit dry without the help of the homemade Maast (a cucumber/yogurt sauce that goes great with meats and rice dishes). On more than one occasion someone in our party has enjoyed the seafood Advieh, which features shrimp, mahi mahi and scallops served with a sauce (Advieh) of mango, honey and a Persian allspice. That being said, the seafood dishes have more than once tasted “fishy” and may be a pass considering the outstanding poultry and meat options.

As far as dessert goes, no one can turn down the saffron ice cream which is both unique and delicious. Homemade Baklava has consistently received good feedback from people in my party and recently I thoroughly enjoyed a homemade fruitcake featuring walnuts and fresh pomegranate seeds. To finish the meal, a Persian tea with flavors of licorice has been loved, and hated by those in our group (Kim dislikes it saying it has a “medicinal” quality, while I love it for its simplicity).

The Orchard Market and Cafe provides traditionally prepared and extraordinarily delicious Persian cuisine in a casual, friendly and intimate Middle Eastern setting. The quality of the food is very good, the service is great, and the prices are more than fair (entrées range from $13-$18), especially when factoring in $0.00 for corkage! I would highly recommend lunch or dinner here, especially for people seeking a unique dining experience or who are unfamiliar with Persian food. If you’re looking for burgers and fries, or a grilled Filet Mignon and potato’s, this might not be your place. If you’re looking for a restaurant that features a variety of exotic spices and flavors that you won’t find in many other local restaurants, this is spot on.

Born on Leap-Year? You NEED to take advantage of this offer from Morton’s!

MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE CELEBRATES LEAP YEAR BY OFFERING A FREE DINNER FOR THOSE BORN ON FEBRUARY 29

February 29 Might Only Come Once Every Four Years, but Morton’s Baltimore and Annapolis Restaurants are Helping Those with this Special Leap Day Birthday Make it a Night to Remember

To make reservations, please call 410-547-8255 for Baltimore or 410-280-1170 for Annapolis and specify “Leap Year Birthday”

(BALTIMORE/ANNAPOLIS, Md., February 6, 2008) – Morton’s The Steakhouse is celebrating Leap Year and those born on February 29, referred to as “leaplings,” by offering a free steak and seafood dinner to people with this special birthday on Leap Day, Friday, February 29, 2008. Morton’s Baltimore and Annapolis restaurants are offering a free, birthday dinner to “leaplings” who make advance reservations to dine in the restaurant on their birthday.

The free, birthday dinner consists of a single-cut filet; choice of Morton’s jumbo lump crab cake, shrimp Alexander, or broiled sea scallops; choice of Caesar salad or Morton’s salad with blue cheese dressing, chopped egg and anchovies; choice of Morton’s Legendary Hot Chocolate (Birthday) Cake or key lime pie; and a complimentary glass of champagne for “leaplings” at least five and one-quarter years old (otherwise known as 21 and older). Complimentary valet parking will also be also provided for the birthday celebrants.

Morton’s is asking that all “leaplings” show proof of date of birth (valid I.D.), as well as make advance reservations. Morton’s reserves the right to limit the number of free birthday dinners. To make reservations, please call 410-547-8255 for Baltimore or 410-280-1170 for Annapolis and specify “Leap Year Birthday.”

Ron McNeill, General Manager at Morton’s in Baltimore, said, “With Leap Year only coming once every four years, we wanted to do something special to highlight those with this unique birthday who can’t celebrate on their actual birthday each year. What could be a better birthday present than a free dinner at Morton’s?”

In addition, from now until June 30, 2008, Morton’s Baltimore location is offering the special steak and seafood dinner for two. For only $99, the dinner includes two single-cut filets; choice of two seafood options, Morton’s jumbo lump crab cake, shrimp Alexander, or broiled sea scallops; choice of two salads, Caesar salad or Morton’s salad with blue cheese dressing, chopped egg and anchovies; and choice of two desserts, Morton’s Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake or Key Lime Pie.

Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 300 South Charles Street in Baltimore and 100 Westgate Circle in Annapolis. Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Bar 12·21 at Morton’s in Annapolis opens at 5 p.m. Valet parking is available. For more information and to make reservations, call 410-547-8255 for Baltimore, 410-280-1170 for Annapolis, or visit www.mortons.com.

TN: Cristalino Brut Cava - Excellent QPR Cava

You all know how much I love Cava…here’s an excellent QPR (quality-to-price-ratio) sparkling from Spain (all Cava is from Catalina , Spain) Hazelnut, dough/yeast, grapefruit on the nose. Crisp acidity that becomes quite refreshing with some citrus notes. Very good Cava and great QPR (Quality to Price Ratio). Excellent with some spicy Thai food! My rating: 88 pts, OV (outstanding value)

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