Jack’s Bistro, the hidden gem
September 29, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
By Greg B. I’ve basically lived in Baltimore for 8 years now, but only been outside of the college bubble for 4. In this time I had never heard of Jack’s Bistro, potentially because I rarely ate in Canton, but also for reasons I am not quite sure. This was a great restaurant with interesting atmosphere and a great menu. I strongly urge people to take a night out once and eat here. The food was very elegant, not overpriced and yet also well portioned, the beer list was tremendously varied and interesting, and the special deals this place puts forth are something not to miss!
Five Wines That Pair Best With The Fall Season
September 29, 2008 by michael · 3 Comments
Courtesy of Dreamstime.com
Fall is my favorite season. Yes, I do love skiing, I love the beach, I love spring time rain and cherry blossoms…but I am most happy in the fall. The almost-cold nights, cool days, earlier sunsets and piles of fresh leaves to tear through with my huskies are just a few things that come to mind. Yet nothing can beat a night on the back patio covered in sweatshirts around a warm grill, or a late-fall camping trip to the Shenandoah with a bottle (or few) of the wines listed below. Each to me provides a sense of earth (or minerality), spice or warmth which to me pairs best with the crisp fall air, scent of fallen leaves and transition to more hearty cuisine!
1. Gruner Veltliner: Hands down one of the most food-friendly wines in the world, Gruner Veltliner (Austria’s most planted grape variety) can be medium bodied with ripe fruit flavors, minerally-earthniess that represents its terroir, and good acidity which makes it a go-to food wine. In fact, I find that most Austrian wines tend to go great with a plate of food- especially pork, fried chicken, roast meats and especially schnitzel! Gruner Veltliner is generally consumed in its youth but has great potential for aging and when it matures becomes quite the wine expereince. Especially excitng is that in general, these wines are outstanding values- often being well under $20. While I love Riesling from all over the world for it’s versalitity and variety, I often recommend people to try Gruner as a cool-weather alternate. A few producers to look for are Alois Kracher, Weingut-Steininger, and Loimer Lois.
2. Gewurztraminer: Ok, so I just did a show on Gewurz (as it’s often referred to) but it’s for good resason- it’s “that time of year”. These spicy, medium bodied white wines are almost designed for fall weather. Enough fruit and zest to keep you remembering the summer, but enough spice and texture to warm you up on a cool night. I recommend going out and buying a bunch of different Gewurztraminer’s and seeing what you like- Alsace (E. France), German, Alto Adige or even the US/Canada. There are many to choose from and they range quite a bit stylistically, so get to tasting and let me know if you come across any you like. One more thing- NO Thanksgiving table is complete without a few bottles of Gewurz. Gewurztraminer is the perfect match for ANY dish that ends up part of a classic Thanksgiving feast (have a bottle of Pinot Noir or Zinfandel on hand as well!).
3. Cru Beaujolais (Burgundy, France): I am NOT talking Beaujolais Nouveau- that light, uninteresting red that is released on the third Thursday in November of its harvest year and which is celebrated around the world. I am talking about the 10 Crus of Beaujolias which produce wines that are light to medium (even to more full) bodied and loaded with fruit and elegant tannins. Each Cru has a different style ranging from light and fresh (such as Brouilly) to spicey and concentrated (St. Amour) to full bodied, rich and showing best with 5 or more years of age (Moulin-a-Vent). Lighter style Beaujolais can pair nicely with a variety of poultry or even an oily fish, whereas the more structured versions do well with wild game, ham, or even beef carpaccio. Though diverse in style, they all tend to have some level of earthiness to them which to me pairs best with all things autumn!
4. Syrah from St. Joseph (Northern Rhone Valley, France): Sryah from the Northern Rhone can be truly remarkable. Peppery, earthy, rich fruits, and when mature, integrated, smooth tannins that keep your palate begging for more. These wines go well with a variety of meats and hearty dishes and in to me are some of the most exciting wines in the world. The problem is, they can be pretty expensive. The appelations Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, and Cornas bring wines with some seroius bang…but also some serious buck (entry level is $40-50). But, there is an area of relative value to be enjoyed- St. Joseph. Syrah from St. Joseph (which can have some Marsanne and Roussanne blended in) is a very rustic, old-world example of how the Syrah grape can perform. These wines make you think of chewing on bell peppers covered in raspberry, cherry and dirt- which to me is a thing of beauty. There are some pretty poor examples out there that are flat, lack fruit and really can turn people off. But, from producers such as St. Cosme, Philippe Faury, Ferraton Pere & Fils, or Michel Chapouteir you can expect good examples of the beauty in wines from St. Joseph.
5. Negro Amaro (Salice Salentino, Salento, Puglia, Italy): Deep, dark color, rich fruits, earthy attributes, slightly tannic and really pretty aroma’s sum up a lot of wines I’ve tasted recently from the Negro Amaro grape. I’m specifically talking about Salice Salentino (a blend of primarily Negro Amaro and a touch of Malvalsio Nero) which comes from Puglia in the heel of southern Italy and to me is the most elegant example of what the Negro Amaro grape can do. That said, I recommend trying any Negro Amaro based wine from the Salento region which is in Pulglia, where Negro Amaro has been grown for over 2600 years!. These wines can be medium to very big in fruit and structure, are often described as bitter and having sizable tannins, and go great with tomato based sauces, pizza, or red wine braised beef. Look for examples from producers Le Veli or Azienda Agricola Taurino.
Food, Wine, Culture TV: The War IS ON!! Episode 13: Beer vs. Wine(s)
September 25, 2008 by michael · 6 Comments
In this 13th episode, Greg and Mike taste two wines and a beer to determine what goes best with Mike’s recipe of Fried Chicken. Will it be the German ale? Or perhaps the Cali Zin? You’re going to have to tune in to find out!
Do YOU have a favorite beverage for fried chicken? Have suggestions for an upcoming show? Leave a comment and let us know!!!
Clipper City Brewing Company
There probably are not enough accolades I can give to the Clipper City Brewery line of beers, employees and, basically everything related to them. But I sure am going to try. Located in an, easy-to-get-to-if-you-know-where-you’re-going location, just south of Baltimore city, on weekends you can visit for a tour of the facility. Reserve tickets online, and $5 will get you a pint glass with a logo of the brewery and a few beer tokens to try the beers. This is an excellent opportunity to try them out, pre-tour. I have to say hello and thanks for the great time to the people we met, Chris, Chris, Mackenzie and Alec. Mackenzie was manning the door upon entry, Chris and Chris working the bar and helping with knowledge on the tour, and Alec giving an excellent tour filled with information, which I’ll get into now!
Food, Wine, Culture TV- Episode 12- Beer, Portuguese Cocktail and Fried Chicken
September 23, 2008 by michael · 2 Comments
Food, Wine, Culture TV- Episode 12: In the first episode in over a week (I’ve been quite busy!) Greg Bissonette (our beer expert) has accepted my challenge of “Battle Fried Chicken beer vs wine.” In this first episode in the series of three, we taste a beer, one of my favorite spring, summer and fall cocktails (from Portugal) and I share my simple recipe for delicious fried chicken. Be sure to check back soon to see the showdown in Episode 13, and a drunken “Battle Apple Pie” in Episode 14.
Cheers!
Otter Creek Brewery
September 21, 2008 by Greg · 4 Comments
I tasted some beers they had available at the Perfect Pour on Saturday and wanted to give you all a run down, since fall is upon us and this is classic beer drinking time, everyone needs to be properly informed on what to drink!
Sotto Sopra Wine Tasting
I realize this is a bit late in coming, but I finally found my list of wines from that evening and as best I can remember them, I figured I should write something, at the very least! The first of the monthly, 1st Thursday Tasting events at Sotto Sopra went off very well, with a large crowd, interesting people, along with good wines and good foods. I’m looking forward to October’s wine tasting!
Annapolis Homebrew Tasting
September 17, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
I have to give a tip o’ the hat to Shar, for organizing this little fiesta. He arranged several of his friends to get together, bring some food and their home brews and drink and talk about beer. Rarely in the history of mankind as a more simple, yet elegant and functional idea been had. This having been said, the tasting went extremely well, and I feel (without spilling all the beans already!) that another one should be in the works for a few months from now, after more beer has been brewed. Read more
Fall 2008 - What makes a good dinner great? 1/2 off bottles of wine!!
September 17, 2008 by michael · 2 Comments
How familiar is this conversation:
“Where do you want to go for dinner.”
“I don’t care”
“Well what are you in the mood for?”
“It doesn’t matter, what do you feel like eating?”
“I really have no preference”
Etc, etc, etc, etc…
Well let me make it easier for you. Below is a list of some great Baltimore restaurants that provide half-off wine nights in Baltimore. I’ve added a few notes on the places I’ve been to and have enjoyed. Don’t forget about Baltimore’s BYOB (Bring your own bottle) scene, of which you can find here: Baltimore’s BYOB. If I missed your favorite spot, leave a comment below!
Sunday Night:
La Tasca (Inner Harbor) - 1/2 price bottles of wine until 9 PM.
Monday Night:
Sotto Sopra (Mt. Vernon) - 1/2 off wine by the bottle (excluding Champagne). Outstanding Chef, new wine program coming this fall (which I am helping with), and fresh, local ingredients make this one of Baltimore’s best restaurants.
Wine Market (Locust Point) - 15 dollar select bottles and 20% off entries
Tuesday Night:
Cinghiale (Inner Harbor East)- 1/2 off wine by the bottle in the Oesteria. A ridiculously good wine list and lots of great appetizers make this an easy Tuesday night choice.
Corks Restaurant: 1/2 off wine by the bottle. All American wine list that offers some interesting, lesser known labels.
Pazza Luna (Locust Point): 1/2 off wines by the bottle.
Vespa - (Mt. Vernon) - 1/2 off wines by the bottle.
Wednesday Night:
Hon Cafe (Hampden) - This Hampden favorite is relaxed with a small but sufficient wine selection. Get the meatloaf and a nice big red wine!
La Tavola (Little Italy) - 1/2 price bottles (up to $100) of wine
Thursday Night:
Helen’s Garden (Canton) - $14 bottles of wine
MARYLANDER’S WAKE UP!! Great free tasting for a GREAT cause!!
September 15, 2008 by michael · 5 Comments
I don’t usually cut/paste press releases or announce events on a main post, but this is a win-win event. An OUTSTANDING wine tasting for a great charity with silent auctions and proceeds go to help kids! Please check this out - I’ll definitely be in attendance so if anyone wants to meet up, let me know!
Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 11- Who’s Drinking Sagrantino di Montefalco (a lesser-known Italian powerhouse)?
September 11, 2008 by michael · 6 Comments
Sagrantino di Montefalco is one of those wines I wish I could get people to try more often. These rich, dark, spicey, unique wines are only made on 400 acres of land in Umbria (around the town of Montefalco) which is one reason not too many people have tried one. Join me today for a tasting of a major producer in the region as I talk about the grape, the wines, and some food pairings! Read more
Smashing Protons: A great reason to pop the cork on a bottle you’ve been saving!
September 10, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
Sometimes I am reminded of the reasons I became a scientist…it can be very frigging cool! As of around 4 AM EST this morning, the largest scientific experiment ever conceived or attempted is now underway. Deep under the Swiss-Franco boarder, a proton beam was launched into a 17 mile long tunnel that is housed in a 12 foot thick concrete casing that makes up the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the worlds largest particle accelerator. This beam won’t be alone for very long, since in an adjacent tunnel a second beam will be launched with the intention of creating conditions in which the two beams will collide (the first scheduled collision is on October 21, 2008) creating enough energy to excite any science geek or sci-fi fanatic. Read more
A great new liquor store
September 7, 2008 by Greg · 4 Comments
On Saturday, 9/6, I headed down to Elkridge on a tip from a local beer expert that there is a new store with a fantastic selection of hard to find beers, in particular Belgian ales that cannot normally be found out side of Belgium! The liquor store is “the perfect pour” . It is in this shopping plaza at the intersection of 175 and 95, and though it is hard to find (the perfect pour name isn’t on the storefront, it just says ‘liquor’ or something) it is well worth the effort.
Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode10: Part2- Mike vs. Greg “The Showdown”
September 5, 2008 by michael · 4 Comments
Food, Wine, Culture TV: In Episode 10-Part 1 Michael invited beer expert and close friend Greg Bissonette to come by for a beer vs. wine with mussels tasting. Well in this episode, the mussels are ready, the beers and wines are poured, and the boys are ready to duel- Beer vs. Wine. Greg vs. Mike- The SHOWDOWN! Who’s pairing is the best match? You’re going to have to watch to find out!
Food, Wine, Culture TV: Episode 10: Beer (Greg) vs. Wine (Mike)- Mussels Part I
Beer vs. Wine. Mussels vs. Mussels. Michael vs. Greg. Good vs. Evil..well you get the picture. Today Michael has friend and beer expert Greg Bissonette over for a friendly dual of mussels paired with beer and wine. Don’t forget to check back for Part II- “The Battle Continues”!
(Main image credits: wikipeida.org commons: Photograph taken by Mark A. Wilson (Department of Geology, The College of Wooster). [1]) Read more
Fall 2008 - Food and Wine Events in Maryland!
To have your event added for free, contact: Michael@foodandwineblog.com
Wine Events:
- Sotto Sopra: A Taste Tour of Italy’s Wine Regions: Thursday, September 11th- 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Limited to 18 guests. $25 per person* (plus tax and gratuity) Reservations Required – 410 625 0534
http://sottosoprainc.blogspot.com/2008/08/tour-of-italys-wine-regions-with.html - Harford Friends School: A Taste of Excellence: November 9th 2008: Great wines from around the world for a good cause! Live music, silent auction and more. Definitely worth attending!
Dining Events:
- MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAY SEASON BY OPENING FOR LUNCH ON SIX DAYS IN DECEMBER: Annapolis Restaurant Opens for Lunch on December 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, and 19. The Annapolis restaurant, which normally opens nightly for dinner service (except for private functions), is offering à la carte holiday lunches on Wednesdays, December 10 and 17, Thursdays, December 11 and 18, and Fridays, December 12 and 19, from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Valet parking is available. For more information or to make reservations (required), call 410-280-1170 or visit www.mortons.com. Morton’s is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Food Events:
Harbor East Farmers Market Events: The market is located between the Inner Harbor and Fells Point on the 1000 block of Lancaster Street (between South Exeter Street & Central Avenue).
Hours: Saturdays, 9:00am-1:00pm, through October 25th, 2008.
- Saturday, September 6th: Chef at Market, Kevin Miller of Ixia at 11:00am. Making Butternut Squash Risotto with Mascarpone & Crispy Sage
- Saturday, September 13th: BUGS Kids from Living Classrooms Foundation at Market and Whole Foods Kids’ Activities
- Saturday, September 20th: Sofi’s Crepes at Market
- Saturday, September 27th: Chef at Market, Kerry Dunnington, Chef & Author, at 11:00am. Recipe TBD
- Saturday, October 11th: BUGS Kids from Living Classrooms Foundation at Market and Whole Foods Kids’ Activities
- Saturday, October 18th: Chef at Market, John Shields, Chef/Owner of Gertrude’s at the BMA, at 11:00am. Recipe TBD
Episode-9: The Wines of Henry’s Drive
September 1, 2008 by michael · Leave a Comment
Food, Wine, Culture TV- Episode 9: I recently had a chance to have dinner with the very talented wine maker Renae Hirsch- the newest wine maker at well known producer Henry’s Drive in the Padthaway region of Southeast Australia. I was very impressed with Renae’s passion and love of wine and good food, and look forward to watching her integrate her style, personality into the wines of Henry’s Drive. Today I have chosen three of my favorites to talk about. So please join me as I taste through the wines of Henry’s Drive and tell the story of where the vineyard gets its name!
(main image credit: Original uploader was Mfunnell at en.wikipedia) Read more
