September & October 2005
There is a
KFC commercial on TV that shows a young
woman walking down the street when suddenly she begins to point and
scream at a lone russet-hued maple leaf lying on the sidewalk…a sure
sign that summer is near its end. Wow, can I relate. I love summer, the
sunshine, the light clothing, the patios, the summer fruit and summer
tomatoes and the smell of barbeque sauce wafting past my window.
I don’t dislike fall. My birthday is in the fall; fall is harvest time,
wine festival time and cozy sweater time with quiet evenings by the
fire. But I love the early morning summer sunshine pouring through the
window, and the long summer days. Fall signals that the cold is coming,
short and rainy days and the onset of lethargy and… soup.
I don’t like soup, (must be a Wine Diva
thing) soup means its cold outside. But everyone else I have ever met
seems to like soup… and stew… and chili. Big pot foods that go well with
big wines, hearty wines, blood warming wines. I like these wines, wines
that are a meal in themselves and take the chill off, Syrah, Amarone,
Zinfandel, Malbec, Petit Verdot and so many others that get me through
the cold, dark winter months.
Dramatic yes, but I am after all the Wine Diva.
In this Issue:
Airing your Dirty Laundry?
I will admit, when wine agent Raymond Wong first asked me what I thought of a winery/wine named Dirty Laundry my response was, well let’s say not very positive. A raised Wine Diva eyebrow, and a, ‘Do you want me to be honest’? I thought it was a marketing ploy although to be fair, we’re all marketing ourselves and our businesses every day (look at this website…’nuff said). So when he finally brought me the finished package, I was floored. This has to be one the most innovative, modern and sexiest labels I have seen. Simple, clean and worthy of a second, third and fourth perusal. I kept picking up the bottle, reading the story on the back, (hush, hush, secret is out, brothels and dirty laundry et al) running my fingers over the simple white label and the embossed steam rising from a tiny, perfect strategically placed red iron. The red cap that tops the bottle matches the red iron and then with a smooth, quiet pop the cork slides free with the words ‘hush hush’ before you can even sneak a sample. Their website is still under construction www.dirtylaundry.ca, but you can check out the products under the previous name (some of you may recognize) www.scherzingervineyards.com .
The wines I tasted were fresh, fun and superb sippers. Dirty Laundry Vineyard is committed to sustainable farming, biodynamic practices and is pesticide free.
Dirty Laundry
Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Woo Woo Vines, Okanagan BC, 2004- Semi-dry
with a lovely pinkish Wine Diva-hue.
Aromas of candied rose petals, lychee, glycerine and orchard fruit. Less
sweet than expected in the mouth, with a good balance of fruit, Asian
spices, licorice and white pepper.
$15.90 at private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- August 2005
Dirty Laundry
Vineyard Chardonnay, Okanagan BC, 2004- An off-dry fruity unoaked
Chardonnay (Scherzinger was also an advocate of unoaked Chardonnay).
Tropical fruit, soap leaves, white flowers, fresh cream and candied
limes. The sweet, ripe fruit comes through on the palate fresh from the
orchard and is then washed down with a crisp citrus finish.
$17.90 at private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
More From BC
Mission Hill,5 Vineyard Gewurztraminer 'limited release', 2004-A
recent trip to the stunning Mission Hill Winery had me awestruck. I had
visited before, but the touring, dining and tasting I did during my
visit convinced me of several things. One, how serious everyone attached
to Mission Hill is about the wine they produce as well as the food they
pair with it.
Two, how committed they are to the future and the relationships they
create. Three, they are serious about making good wine.
The '04 Gewurztraminer has aromas of green apples, rose petals, tropical
fruit and sweet Asian spices (perhaps a hint of the old favorite
licorice flavored candies, sen sen?).
The mouth is bold and dry with lime zest, grapefruit, white pepper and a
mildly boozy (hot) finish. Serious.
$15.99 at specialty wine stores and VQA stores
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Gray Monk
Riesling, Okanagan BC, 2004- Just a tease of petrol on the nose with
minerals and white flowers. Round body with orchard fruit, lime zest and
a hint of spice on the finish. Great value sipper!
$13.99 at VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- September 2005
Gray Monk
Siegerrebe, Okanagan BC, 2004- This wine is listed as ‘sweet’ but I
found it to be less so than the ’04 Gray Monk Riesling. Highly almost
potently aromatic with rose petals, creamed corn, tropical fruit and
anise. Rich and fat in the mouth with a long citrus-y finish. A
memorable wine with lush, Wine Diva
attitude!
$13.99 at VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- September
2005
Domaine de Chaberton,
Gewurztraminer, Langley BC, 2004- Get it while you can! This Governor
General's award winner will not be made (at least not from this
particular vineyard site) next year. Gorgeous Gold-apricot hue with
aromas of candied rose petals, lychee, pineapple, mango, mineral and
anise. Sweet pink grapefruit, cardamom and cloves on the finish gives
lends zip to this slightly sweet charmer.
$14.90 at VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Township 7 White
Meritage, Langley/Naramata BC, 2003-
A white wine for red wine drinkers!
This is no dainty, delicate slip of a gal. None of that fluff and floral
or zingy palate cleansing acidity. Just a glance at the bottle shape and
hue of this 100% barrel fermented/aged liquid screams brawny.
67% Sauvignon Blanc, 33% Semillon with aromas of vanilla, tropical
fruit and buttery toasted oak. Creamy and mouth-filling with a powerful
lingering finish.
This is not an appetizer wine, its the main course!
$19.90 at VQA and specialty wine stores
*limited availability
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Arrowleaf Merlot,
Okanagan BC, 2003- A solid, well priced merlot from this very
northern Okanagan winery. Coffee, cedar, tobacco, green bell pepper,
earth and black fruit. Soft and round with smooth tannins and a long
finish.
$15.95 at VQA stores
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Granite Creek
Estate Ehrenfelser, Tappen Creek BC, 2003- New to the
Wine Diva who stumbled upon this
sweet little aromatic number recently and just had to take it for a test
drive. Ehrenfelser is a rare grape that we seem to do so well here in
BC, it's nearly overpowering aromatics, sweetness and slight booziness
combine to produce some of our best sippers. Golden hued with aromas of
sweet Asian spices, ripe tropical fruit, melon and minerals translate
into a rich, spiced, exotic fruit salad with a long ginger-lime finish.
Can you say, 'perfect with Asian dishes'?
$14.99 at specialty wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 2005
A rose is a rose is a rosé….
Always good for family dinners...Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Sumac Ridge
Private Reserve Rosé, Okanagan, BC, 2004- I’ve noticed a trend in BC
rosé this season, less sweet, made in a more old world style which in
turn makes it better as a food wine. I love the brilliant ruby hue and
aromas of fresh strawberries, lemon and lime zest, hints of mineral,
zingy, crisp and refreshing. Keep this one around for the Thanksgiving
dinner!
$10.99 (up $1.00 from last vintage but still a great deal)!
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Lang Blanc de Noir
(pinot meunier), Okanagan, BC, 2004- Candied red berries,
minerals and glycerin soap aromas. The sweet berry flavours really pop
in the mouth then clean up with a long and zippy, crisp finish.
$12.90 at VQA and private wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Easing into the cooler months…
Oak Bay Gamay
Noir, Okanagan BC, 2004- Blackberry, spice, toast, black pepper and
tobacco. Lean body with vague fruit, bone dry and peppery, a wine meant
to drink with roasted dishes, and yes, again think Thanksgiving.
$14.99 at VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Domaine de
Chaberton, Gamay Noir, Fraser Valley BC, 2004- Red and black berry
with some stemmy-ness (green aromas/flavours) and spice. Very light body
with a slight prickle on the tongue long licorice and pepper finish.
$13.90 at VQA wine stores
Wine Diva tasted- August 2005
White Knights
Sawtooth Riesling,
Idaho, 2003- Potatoes and Wine…why not? A lovely Riesling, well made
and a real crowd pleaser, like a pretty country gal who makes it big in
Nashville. Classic petrol nose supported by ripe orchard fruit and lime.
Lush mouth-feel in an off-dry Germanic style. Long crisp finish with a
hint of citrus pith.
Private wine stores-$19.99
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Sawtooth Viognier,
Idaho, 2002-(77% Viognier, 23% Rousanne) Soft fuzzy-peach aromas
shimmying around in orange blossom, minerals and sweet anise. Smooth and
velvety on the tongue with soft orchard fruit and a long slick finish
without the new world booziness. The 6mos. oak aged Rousanne adds a
complexity to the blend and gives it a round, smooth mouth-feel and
weight. Lovely and elegant!
Private wine stores-$30.00
Wine Diva tasted-October 2005
Jermann Pinot Grigio, Venezia Giulia Italy, 2003-Like beautiful
food or art, when visually stunning things are put in front of you the
reaction is immediate. As long as the follow up is there. Follow up is
not a problem with the gorgeous golden-salmon hued Jermann Pinot
Grigio's . Ripe orchard fruit, herbs, minerals, smoke and citrus on the
nose segue into a lush oily mouth with a hint of spice and peach pit.
Elegant Italiano!
Specialty wine stores-$45.00
Wine Diva
tasted-October 2005
J Bookwalter
Chenin Blanc, Columbia Valley Washington, 2003- If you are a Vouvray
style Chenin Blanc fan stop reading now. The moment this wine hit my
mouth I though Viognier! Lush nearly oily mouth feel bursting with
floral aromas and peach pit. Off-dry style with a hint of spice, citrus
and mineral. Why did it take so long for the
Wine Diva to finally get to taste this wine?
Private Wine Stores-$22.99
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
And as always... Pinot!
Bouchard Pere &
Fils Santenay, Burgundy France, 2002- Stock your cellars with the
2002 vintage…well whatever you can find here in BC as they are few and
far between. I believe in letting Burgundy breathe (just in your glass
usually is fine) and this Santenay was no exception. Boozy to start we
let her sit a bit, open up and release her vibrant, fresh, red berry and
sour cherry aromas, fresh mountain stream, wet stone and earth. A light
bodied pinot noir with fresh berry flavours, tobacco, pepper and spice.
I would let this wine settle down for a couple of years at least to
soften those chewy tannins on the finish.
BC LDB $40.00
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Clark & Telephone Vineyard, Santa Barbara Calif. 2002- I fell in love with this wine last winter when I stumbled upon it in a boutique wine store in Winnipeg. Visually stunning with its bowling pin bottle shape with claret hued wax draped over its head and neck it is also sensually stunning to the palate.
Opaque ruby colour with blue undertones. Chocolate covered cherries, sweet cedar box and wet stone aromas. Richly elegant, simultaneously juicy and velvety in the mouth with
ripe cherry, dried
fruit and tobacco. OMG this wine is yummy, a big, masculine pinot noir
that literally screams…made in California!
Private wine stores $49.00
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Peregrine Pinot Noir, Central Otago New Zealand, 2002-A gorgeous
rich nose showing smoke, black cherry, leather and sweet grass. Fresh
sweet berry flavours cedar, spice, earth and tobacco in an exceptionally
long and lucious finish. Another new Wine Diva
fave!
$50.00 at specialty wine stores
Wine Diva tasted-October 2005
Domaine Carneros, The Famous Gate, Pinot Noir, Carneros Valley Calif., 2001- Another stunning California Pinot Noir which hit arrived this past spring at a great discount. Classic pinot aromas of barnyard, tobacco, earth, sour cherries, ground berries and fruit leather. The flavours sing with red berries, sweet grass, tobacco and cedar and finishes with refreshing acidity and smooth tannins.
Limited availability at private wine stores approx. $90.00 LTO $50.00
Alex Gambal, Nuits-Saint-Georges,
Beaune Côte d'Or France, 1999- This wine was a surprise to me in
some ways and not in others. Firstly 1999 was a great year
in Burgundy and the wines were drinking exceptionally well in their
youth, therefore I was expecting a well structured, juicy, fruit forward
wine forgetting the powerful masculine style Pinots that are produced in
the Nuits-Saint George.
This was one powerful wine, strutting its stuff with smoked
cherry, cedar, tobacco and bacon aromas and asserting itself with thick
tannins, herbs, smoked meat and orange peel liqueur. Keep for another
3-5 years or if you are able save some for even longer term cellaring.
$60.00 at Marquis Wine Cellars
Wine Diva tasted- October 2005
BIG REDS
Ram's Leap Shiraz, Western Australia,
2003- Organic wine. The 2002 was good, the 2003 is great! Chocolate
cherry and chocolate mints...hmmm a diet food? Ripe fruit jamm-y yet
still austere with earth, pepper and eucalyptus, soft and seductive with
fine tannins.
$18.00
Wine Diva tasted- September 2005
Langmeil Cabernet
Sauvignon ‘Blacksmith’, Barossa Valley Australia, 2002- Intense and
opaque in the glass, creamy ultra ripe blackberry, sweet tobacco,
chocolate and eucalyptus, long smooth finish with soft tannins. Drinking
exceptionally well right now!
Private wine stores $30.00
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Langmeil ‘Three
Gardens’ GSM (grenache/shiraz/mouvedre), Barossa Valley Australia, 2003-
Robust layers of black fruit, green aromas, earthy tobacco and leather
and spice with a long smooth finish. Well integrated tannins, a very
sophisticated wine.
BCLDB $30.00
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Heartland
'Stickleback Red' Australia, 2003-(Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz,
Grenache)
Wine Diva loves a good Aussie nose.
What I mean is jammy black berry fruit and sweet eucalyptus aromas which
I found in abundance in this wine along with pepper, choco-mocha and
spice. Smooth round and spicy is how the bottle label describes its
contents. I agree!
$14.99 *excellent
value
Wine Diva tasted-October 2005
Bodegas San
Alejandro 'Baltasar' Garnacha Vinas Viejas (old vines), Spain, 2003-
Deep ruby-purple with aromas of plum, smoked meat, black pepper,
jalapeño and spice. Smooth and full bodied with cherry, black fruit and
peppery tannins. A good value wine, intriguing and unique to impress
your guests.
$21.99
Wine Diva tasted-October 2005
From the Cellar
Schloss Reinhartshausen, Hattenheimer
Wisselbrunnen Riesling Spatlese Qmp, Rheingau, 1994er-As much as I
enjoy these wines I cry every time I deplete my cellar stock. I love to
open them for Riesling fanatics so we can share a
Wine Diva moment together. Lush,
honeyed mango petrol, green apples fresh citrus and just a hint of
minerality.
A perfect example able to convert even diehard red drinkers.
Wine Diva tasted-September 2005
Batasiolo ‘Rosso’, Langhe Italy, 1999- Stemmy aromas rounded out with black cherry, violets and bluberry. Rich dried fruit and fresh cherry flavours and coffee with a long velvety finish and soft dusty tannins. Amazing that a wine simplified by the label ‘red wine’ could truly be so ‘not simple’.
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Gualdo al Luco, Toscano Rosso, Castelli Del Grevepese, Tuscany Italy, 1997- A superTuscan style IGT Italian red wine with beautiful aromas of leather, cherry, earth, dried fruit, violets and mushrooms with a hint of the barnyard. Sophisticated and elegant in the mouth with bright red berry flavours, tobacco, and cedar and finished off with fine dusty tannins.
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
Beringer, Knight’s Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Appellation Collection’, California, 1997- Cedar box, blackberry, tobacco, plum, dried fig and coffee aromas leap out of the glass and slap you upside the noggin. Rich black fruit and spice with still firm tannins that will hold strong for another 5 years. Or if you are an impatient Wine Diva like me…drink now.
Wine Diva tasted-August 2005
British (Columbia) Invasion
Recently, the Wine Diva was tasting a selection of BC wines with a group of doctors who were visiting from various parts of the U.K. What better than to showcase BC wines to a captive audience who were hardly aware that BC made wine, forget that we make great wine! We put together a quick tasting with wines we could get our hands on quickly, wines that showed elegance, terroir and impressibility! I am proud and pleased to announce that they were stunned with the quality and flavour of our local wines. Wine after wine after wine was poured, and the Wine Diva spent three hours answering questions about the winemakers the terroir and the grape varieties that make BC wines so brilliant. What did we pour you ask? Here goes…
Mission Hill 2003
Five Vineyards Riesling-$15.99
Cedar Creek 2004 Dry Riesling-$14.99
Quails’ Gate 2002 Family Reserve Pinot Noir-$35.00
Cedar Creek 2002 Estate Pinot Noir-$24.99
Sandhill 2003 Borrowing Owl Vineyard Merlot-$17.99
Township 7 2003 Syrah-$25.00
Cedar Creek, 2002 Meritage-$39.99
Everyone had their
favorite…seriously each wine was well received and this
Wine Diva managed to convert a few
United Kingdom’ers into Riesling lovers at the same time. Sad how many
people have to be convinced to let go of their old riesling stereotypes,
but I will make it one of my missions in life to change the perception
of Riesling.
It’s a Wine Diva’s job!
Tastebites
caffè Sette
espresso galleria- ‘Java by day. Martini by night’.
I’d never ventured into this prime piece of Vancouver real estate
located on the corner of Burrard and Robson back when it was Death by
Chocolate, but on a friend’s suggestion we met one sunny August
afternoon for a cup of coffee. By day it is a bright and airy room,
windows front and side highlighting the cherry red settees and amber
lucite tables. It feels like a café at this time of the day with the
matching red espresso machine and the display case full of savoury lunch
bites, panini, salads, bruschetta and coffee treats from Death by
Chocolate. At night it turns into a groove lounge with a drink menu
to match, muddled drinks (all the rage these days), martinis and sexy
margarita fusions. They call themselves Vancouver’s first European
espresso lounge and host ‘Sette Sundays’ where they
suggest you ‘join us on Sundays as we groove in style to sexy house
music on the turn tables’. If you are in the industry it is 15% off menu
items and there is free ‘Champagne’ for the ladies between 7-9pm and
draft beers are only $2.50 7-9pm. I can see this room being pretty sexy
by night, as you venture further into the restaurant, past the bar and
settle into the banquettes near the back, perfect soft lighting ladies,
for all you Wine-Diva's-in-training!
caffè Sette espresso galleria 818 Burrard Street 604-688-8234 www.caffesette.com
Watermark
on Kits beach- If you haven’t been yet, the view alone is worth the
trip. There are comments and critiques’ flying north, south, east and
west about Watermark and everyone has an opinion. We'd been twice and
thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, the third time was a strike out with three
hostesses standing around the desk gabbing, no clue what was going on in
the lounge. True, Watermark was still new, expectations high and kinks to
be worked out, like any new business.
Love the west coast design, where the focus in on nature and the
elements rather than sexy lighting and funky colours. Watermark has
broken it down to the basic elements, concrete, wood and metal. The
entire focus is on the beach, on the ocean and on the Pacific backdrop.
The small plates we all shared we nicely presented and tasty, the
service was friendly and quick. The room was rockin’ even in the
afternoon when the rest of the country complains we should still be
working (eat your hearts out; this is Vancouver after all where we work
harder, not longer). My only decorative complaint so far…bar stools,
whose butt did they measure for those stools…
an eight-year-olds?
Check out the lounge first, order a glass of wine (need more by-the-glass options please) and the smashed fava, chickpea and mint dip with flatbreads and check out the view. Personally this Wine Diva can’t wait for the stormy winter months, seated warm and cozy wrapped in one of the complimentary blankets watching the west coast waves crash in.
Watermark-1305 Arbutus (but if you don’t know where Kit’s beach is you need to get out more often) 604-738-5487 www.watermarkrestaurant.ca 7days 11am to 11pm
What is NU?
Have you heard enough about the city’s favorite nu see-and-be-scenic hot spot?
Not until the Wine Diva’s had her say you haven’t!
Love it or hate it décor, (everyone seems to be in one camp or the other) be it cruise ship, 1970’s airport lounge or retro Miami casino (I’ve heard it all and everyone has an opinion) the location and well priced menu will keep the glitterati coming back. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Vancouver's favorite bartender, the gorgeous-tattooed-bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold, Mr. Jay Jones was scooped from West and now takes up residence at the bar, front and centre! But none of this is news to all you hip Vancouverites so I need not wax on…but hey when I think about planting a Wine Diva seat at a bar, having a small nosh an a glass of wine or a cocktail the first place that springs to mind…Nu!
Nu naked+casual
1661 Granville Street
(under the bridge) 604-646-4668
www.whatisnu.com
Bought
‘Grazing’ by
Julie Van Rosendaal-Not a lot of photos (sometimes an issue for the
more 'visual' male gender) but I could swear, this woman has been
swimming around in my Diva brain.
She cooks, experiments and creates like I do in the kitchen. There are
recipes in this book that I have been making for friends for years by
memory or from slips of paper I’ve collected, floating about in numerous
binders and boxes around the house. But Julie has managed to put them
all into one little cookbook/entertaining Wine Diva
bible. She also provides a version of the beloved Lesley Stowe
Raincoast Crisp which we ALL know and love.
It’s a secret, but I have it on good authority that come October a new
Raincoast Crisp flavour for the fall/winter season
arrives…cranberry &
hazelnut…perfect for a winter
Wine Diva soiree.
Remember, you heard it here first!
(Maybe not by the time you read
this. The cherry
red boxes can now be found around town. The taste, not as
delicate and crumbly as the original or the rosemary pecan but with a
smear of whipped chevre and a dollop of cranberry compote…yummy!)
Get Jammin’
Juicy Jam-You
have to taste these fresh from the freezer jams! Pure, brilliant
flavour, fresh and intense. Keep them in the freezer and scoop out what
you need (the Wine
Diva has been known to just dip and
spoon in to satisfy a magnum sized sweet tooth). I love the concept and
the adorable, whimsical green & purple labels, and my guest proclaim me
to be brilliant when I serve them!
Flavours like:
Bronx's Blueberry-
Warm it up for your carbs-be-damned pancakes or waffles. Or add some
bourbon and black pepper and use it as a marinade.
Nessi's Strawberry
Angel's Raspberry
Bennini's Blackberry
Mango Peach Mambo-Make it into fresh
chutney add some raisins, cardamom, cinnamon and chili peppers and
impress your guests with your culinary prowess!
Luscious Kiwi –Love the tiny black
seeds floating in pristine lime green.
Saideh's Rose Petal- I love this on
cheese… A Lesley Stowe original with a slice of Chevrotina,
or Poplar Grove Tiger Blue top with a dollop of Saideh’s Rose
Petal, this is a slice of pink Wine Diva
heaven.
Coming soon- Ginger Jam, Apple Raspberry, Wasabi Jam...
Check out these pretty products at
www.juicyjam.com or check out the pretty ladies who sell them
(and give free samples) at Granville Island Market on these
dates!
October 7, 8, 21, 22,
November: 2, 4, 18, 19/2005
Stock up!
How Cheese-y !
In my never-ending quest to sample the world of cheese I managed to liberate three new styles from the cooler at my local cheese monger Les Amis du Fromage, and visited the fourth.
PICDON carte noire- Goat's milk
from France-A lovely crottin sized puck of gorgeous buttery, earthy and
herbaceous its dense and creamy white interior surrounded by a firmer
rough exterior.
Comte Grand Reserve- Cow's milk from France-Soft earthy-yellow
hue surrounded by a rough grey rind. This firm, aged Comte (similar to
Gruyere) has bold earthy (hints of truffle) ripe and nutty flavours is
salty and intense and pairs beautifully with Alsatian white wines.
The Farm House Brie-Cow's milk from Agassiz BC- A lovely, creamy
and runny puck-sized wheel of Brie hand made by a local artisan cheese
maker. Brie can be very uninspiring, rubbery and flavourless, but take
the Wine Diva's advice on this one, sweet cream, fruity with loads of
hazelnut flavour. Individually wrapped and perfect for a picnic or road
trip.
Carmelis Chabichu- Goat's Milk from Kelowna BC-Ripe, wildly
herbaceous and buttery with a hints of ash on the finish. If you
remember I wrote about this Cheese maker in a newsletter last summer
when I visited them during a trip to wine country. The
Wine Diva
recently made a return visit to this quaint farm and cheese shop and
once again walked away with an armload of cheese. This is a good sized
piece of goat cheese formed into a barrel/pyramid shape with a rough
white exterior and creamier center.
www.carmelisgoatcheese.com
Trendspotting
Purple-
Call it indigo, lilac, violet or lavender found this season in cosmetics,
clothing, accessories, drinks and interior decor. You name it purple is
the it colour!
Not that I would insult your intelligence as if you hadn't
already noticed.
But I swear I am seeing purple morphing into that favorite '90's...burgundy!
Smears- As you all know
trends are not always a good thing (remember UGGS). Well word is the
worst new trend in 'foodie' circles is the plate smear. I have
been hearing complaints about this disturbing trend where the chef
smears a puree (usually a lovely bold colour) across the plate like a
thick, coagulated brush stroke as the base of a dish to add a hint of
flavour and additional complimentary colour component to the dish. The
result usually turns out to be a dried-on, flaking annoyance that gives
diners the vapors as they try to clean it off their otherwise pristine
plate.
Gee and I thought fingerprints on my plate were bad enough, now I have
to try and chip off a smear?
Coming up:
Fall in wine country
Cornucopia