One of the best things about being into wine is the people you meet and get to hang out with. Sometimes these people will even step up and drink wine for you if you're away (like Dan) or they'll take notes and send them even after moving all the way across the country. Hence the following notes from the Pacific Coast correspondent for the Random Oenophile blog, James Bassett, who is always happy to share about the wonderful wines he gets to drink in Seattle:
From a Washington wine tasting:
2008 Cavatappi Stimulus Package
white (blend unknown)
Plenty of ripe, bright peachy fruit. Easy to drink. Some minerality keeps it from being too sweet. Nice -- great summer quaffer! Wahluke Slope.
2008 Naches Heights Vineyards Riesling
Wide, faintly apricot nose. Short, buttery attack gives way almost immediately to a fruity Riesling palate.Great acidity, full-bodied. Off dry style. From the highest Riesling block in Washington.
2007 Naches Heights Vineyards Syrah
Beautifully smoky/dusty/plummy aroma. Licorice. Elegant, rich flavor, dark berries and pepper. Gold medal - Sunshine and Wine Competition. Grown at 1800’ elevation on the Goat Rocks Andesite lava flow.
2006 Willow Crest Cabernet Franc
Light yet flavorful bright red bouquet of berries and sweet cherry, faintly dusty undertones. Long, tantalizing finish, with vaguely citrusy afterhints of carambola or other tropical fruit.
2006 Ross Andrew "Glaze" Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Ciel du Cheval, Alderidge and Klipsun vineyards. Complex nose of dark fruit, toast, bacon and vanilla. Tobacco? Loads of plums, cassis, and raspberries finishing with spice and a touch of pepper. Dry but not necessarily tannic.
Other wines:
Corvidae Wine Company, Columbia Valley, WA
The Keeper 07 Cabernet Franc
From David O'Reilly, one of the brightest stars of PNW winemaking. A stunning, full-bodied Cab Franc, with a rich nose of tobacco and lush vegetation, like walking through deep forest after a rain. Smoky, smooth tannins. The flavor adds cedar, spice, bell pepper, cassis, and dark currants to the tobacco, and finishes with a surprising hint of olive. Powerful in ways beyond its 14.1% alcohol content. Tastes even darker and more mysterious than it looks, and the label is the best I’ve ever seen -- a true work of art by itself.
Sagelands Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Columbia Valley, Washington
Ripe fruit nose with a hint of licorice and chocolate. Dark black/blueberry and cherry palate. Smooth, subtle tannins with a leather/tobacco backbone lead into a lingering licorice and cocoa finish. Very very nice.
Go Girl Red 07
Working Girl Wines, Columbia Valley (WA)
71% merlot, 29% cab franc
Fruity nose. Exceedingly jammy -- blackberry, a hint of vanilla, light and yummy, but a bit too sweet. Long, strong finish, higher on the palate
Winery also makes Working Girl White (Chardonnay/Riesling), Rose the Riveter, and Handyman Red (Bordeaux). I'll try those next. The reds, at least....
Hedges CMS Red 2007
Hedges Family Estate, Columbia Valley (WA)
42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 51% Merlot and 7% Syrah.
Beautiful red-purple color with a deep, tannic nose. Bright vanilla fills the mouth on first taste, full of berries (red, black, and blue), cloves, and earthy coffee. The vanilla stays high on the palate as toast (yum!), cloves, and tannic earthiness develop into a long, slightly aggressive finish. Very, very nice -- probably ties with the Sagelands for my second favorite Washington wine (after The Keeper) so far. In a more European tradition, The winemakers apparently prefer minimal “intervention” with all of their wines, so this is only lightly filtered. (and vegan!); this may be responsible for that unexpected (but not at all unpleasant) aggressiveness at the end.
James is a sculptor, freelance editor, and author in Seattle, Washington. You can find out more about him at his web site.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Friday Flash: Sideswiped by Jesus
On Friday, writers on Twitter post links to stories of less than 1000 words, and some of them are really clever. You can find them by searching the hashtag #FridayFlash. This one has been knocking around my head for a couple of weeks. Gee, I wonder why.
Sideswiped by Jesus
Am I what? Sane? Oh, you said saved! Yes, that makes sense with all your "Jesus loves you" and "John 3:16" posters on sticks, doesn't it?
Yes, I would definitely say so. You see, just a couple of weeks ago, I was sideswiped by Jesus. Oh, come now, there's no reason to hold that "John 3:16" poster in front of you like a shield! I promise I'm not crazy, although that's exactly what an insane person would say, isn't it? Let me tell you what happened.
I was driving down Lexington Avenue in the left lane when – wham! – I found myself half in the middle turn lane. The driver of the truck who had bumped me pulled over into the parking lot of a chiropractor, who thankfully was not there or else he would've had us both on the table in a second.
I was shaking all over and angry, and I had my cell phone out to call the cops when the guy who hit me got out of his car. I wish you could've seen him! He had the most gentle brown eyes, shoulder-length wavy brown hair, and a plaid shirt. For a moment, all I could think about was sheep grazing peacefully by a stream, but then I heard my mama's voice in my head, fussing at me when I wanted to dress casually for church: "Jesus don't wear flannel!"
Well, this snapped me back to reality. I also noticed that the right side of my back and neck were tensing up and starting to ache.
"It's not really necessary to call the police," the driver of the truck said in a calm, deep voice with a trace of an accent. "I'll pay for your damages. Here's my information."
He pulled out a beat-up brown wallet and took out his driver's license. Sure enough, it said "Jesus Josephus," and the address was in Nazareth, Georgia.
"Sorry, mister, but I don't know if you're lying to me. I'm going to have to call the cops."
"Don't you believe me?" he asked, a sad look on his face. "It's the everyday miracles that allow the Son of Man to communicate with his flock in this crazy world." For a second, I saw those sheep again.
I fingered the "9" button on the phone. "How do I know you're really that Jesus and not some guy named Hey-Soos who texts while he drives?"
"I know your back and neck are hurting. If you had faith the size of a pain pill, you would allow me to do great things." He stretched out his hands toward me. "Be healed!"
I felt better, I truly did! It was like I had been given a shot of some sort of drug in my neck, and the little muscles loosened up all the way down my spine.
"I had to get your attention," he said like he was reading my mind. "You've got a lot of noise in your head between your work, podcasts, and worries. It is not yet time for me to reveal my presence to the Earthly authorities, but I am looking for apostles. I would like for you to be the first of the Twelve."
But then I remembered how the Bible says that in the end times, there would be many imposters. Jesus don't wear flannel, my mama had said, and he wouldn't have run into me.
I called the police. I had second thoughts about it later, sure, and my neck and back pain came back, so I did end up on that chiropractor's table. Still, God gives us those childhood messages for a reason, and my faith was being tested.
And you know what y'all say, how Jesus saves? Well, he might, but he sure doesn't have insurance! Or maybe he's the best insurance of all because he did send me a big check that didn't bounce, and I gotta tell you, that's what finally made me a believer. Guess he did know how to get my attention after all.
So yeah, I'm saved, and I'm running Apostle Auditions next week. Are you interested? I could get you to the front of the line. Just leave the posters at home.
Sideswiped by Jesus
Am I what? Sane? Oh, you said saved! Yes, that makes sense with all your "Jesus loves you" and "John 3:16" posters on sticks, doesn't it?
Yes, I would definitely say so. You see, just a couple of weeks ago, I was sideswiped by Jesus. Oh, come now, there's no reason to hold that "John 3:16" poster in front of you like a shield! I promise I'm not crazy, although that's exactly what an insane person would say, isn't it? Let me tell you what happened.
I was driving down Lexington Avenue in the left lane when – wham! – I found myself half in the middle turn lane. The driver of the truck who had bumped me pulled over into the parking lot of a chiropractor, who thankfully was not there or else he would've had us both on the table in a second.
I was shaking all over and angry, and I had my cell phone out to call the cops when the guy who hit me got out of his car. I wish you could've seen him! He had the most gentle brown eyes, shoulder-length wavy brown hair, and a plaid shirt. For a moment, all I could think about was sheep grazing peacefully by a stream, but then I heard my mama's voice in my head, fussing at me when I wanted to dress casually for church: "Jesus don't wear flannel!"
Well, this snapped me back to reality. I also noticed that the right side of my back and neck were tensing up and starting to ache.
"It's not really necessary to call the police," the driver of the truck said in a calm, deep voice with a trace of an accent. "I'll pay for your damages. Here's my information."
He pulled out a beat-up brown wallet and took out his driver's license. Sure enough, it said "Jesus Josephus," and the address was in Nazareth, Georgia.
"Sorry, mister, but I don't know if you're lying to me. I'm going to have to call the cops."
"Don't you believe me?" he asked, a sad look on his face. "It's the everyday miracles that allow the Son of Man to communicate with his flock in this crazy world." For a second, I saw those sheep again.
I fingered the "9" button on the phone. "How do I know you're really that Jesus and not some guy named Hey-Soos who texts while he drives?"
"I know your back and neck are hurting. If you had faith the size of a pain pill, you would allow me to do great things." He stretched out his hands toward me. "Be healed!"
I felt better, I truly did! It was like I had been given a shot of some sort of drug in my neck, and the little muscles loosened up all the way down my spine.
"I had to get your attention," he said like he was reading my mind. "You've got a lot of noise in your head between your work, podcasts, and worries. It is not yet time for me to reveal my presence to the Earthly authorities, but I am looking for apostles. I would like for you to be the first of the Twelve."
But then I remembered how the Bible says that in the end times, there would be many imposters. Jesus don't wear flannel, my mama had said, and he wouldn't have run into me.
I called the police. I had second thoughts about it later, sure, and my neck and back pain came back, so I did end up on that chiropractor's table. Still, God gives us those childhood messages for a reason, and my faith was being tested.
And you know what y'all say, how Jesus saves? Well, he might, but he sure doesn't have insurance! Or maybe he's the best insurance of all because he did send me a big check that didn't bounce, and I gotta tell you, that's what finally made me a believer. Guess he did know how to get my attention after all.
So yeah, I'm saved, and I'm running Apostle Auditions next week. Are you interested? I could get you to the front of the line. Just leave the posters at home.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Travelin' Oenophile: Montgomery -- We Dare Defend Our Wine Rights!
This week's blog posts were a little delayed because we were running around on Friday getting ready to go to Montgomery for the wedding of one of Hubby's high school friends on Saturday. Normally I don't like going to Montgomery. I survived four years of college there, and just in case you were wondering how boring it was, we were all terribly excited when the Barnes & Noble opened because there was finally something to do past 9:00 p.m.
This time, we had a mission. In August, Alabama's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board banned Cycles Gladiator wine from sale in the state because of the "obscene" label. For my letter of objection, click here. To protest this stupid ban, we decided to take the Cycles Gladiator wine nymph on a tour of the capital city. The first stop, of course, was the welcome center, where I've always wondered about these stone thingies:
Well, Alabama, we dare defend our wine-drinking rights!
To be fair, I hadn't noticed them until a friend from Tennessee pointed them out. He said they frightened him. He's a Tennessee fan, so I didn't reassure him too much.
Saturday morning brought us to the state farmers' market:
And if you think the wine nymph is obscene, you should check out these squash!
We tried to get close to the Capitol itself on Saturday, but they had set up road blocks, and it was impossible. We thought they'd been reading our tweets and knew we were coming, but it turns out that there was a marathon. We had more success on Sunday. So, here is the Cycles Gladiator nymph innocently riding by the Alabama State Capitol:
And here we are at the first White House of the Confederacy:
I particularly like that one because Gen. Robert E. Lee, one of the heroes of the Confederacy, was from Virginia, which is a state that makes great wine. We're pretty sure he would think the ban is silly. Maybe his ghost will rise up and scare some sense into the Alabama legislators, many of whom probably revere him and still refer to the Civil War as "the woh-wah of Nohthen aggression (because there wasn't nothin' civil about it)." No, my butt isn't that big; the breeze is billowing my jacket.
If you'd like your own shirt to protest Alabama's ban, check out the offerings at Cafe Press (nope, not getting paid to advertise this).
Want to see what trouble I'm getting into in real time? Follow me on Twitter (@RandomOenophile)!
This time, we had a mission. In August, Alabama's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board banned Cycles Gladiator wine from sale in the state because of the "obscene" label. For my letter of objection, click here. To protest this stupid ban, we decided to take the Cycles Gladiator wine nymph on a tour of the capital city. The first stop, of course, was the welcome center, where I've always wondered about these stone thingies:
Well, Alabama, we dare defend our wine-drinking rights!
To be fair, I hadn't noticed them until a friend from Tennessee pointed them out. He said they frightened him. He's a Tennessee fan, so I didn't reassure him too much.
Saturday morning brought us to the state farmers' market:
And if you think the wine nymph is obscene, you should check out these squash!
We tried to get close to the Capitol itself on Saturday, but they had set up road blocks, and it was impossible. We thought they'd been reading our tweets and knew we were coming, but it turns out that there was a marathon. We had more success on Sunday. So, here is the Cycles Gladiator nymph innocently riding by the Alabama State Capitol:
And here we are at the first White House of the Confederacy:
I particularly like that one because Gen. Robert E. Lee, one of the heroes of the Confederacy, was from Virginia, which is a state that makes great wine. We're pretty sure he would think the ban is silly. Maybe his ghost will rise up and scare some sense into the Alabama legislators, many of whom probably revere him and still refer to the Civil War as "the woh-wah of Nohthen aggression (because there wasn't nothin' civil about it)." No, my butt isn't that big; the breeze is billowing my jacket.
If you'd like your own shirt to protest Alabama's ban, check out the offerings at Cafe Press (nope, not getting paid to advertise this).
Want to see what trouble I'm getting into in real time? Follow me on Twitter (@RandomOenophile)!
Tasting Notes: Chilean Wines at JavaMonkey
My first week back at work full-time after my surgery felt longer than it was. By the time I got to the Thursday night tasting at JavaMonkey, I was exhausted. Thank goodness for wine!
The theme of this tasting was Chilean wines, and five of the six came from Odfjell Winery, which is located in the Maipo Valley, a traditional red wine growing area. Dan Odfjell, the owner, is Norwegian, and apparently the wine maker consulted with Napa's Paul Hobbs when the winery first got started.
Here are the wines. Again, you get mine and Hubby's reactions, which are sometimes different. I like it that we can still keep each other guessing about what the other one is thinking after so long together.
2008 Odfjell Armador Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca, Chile):
Nose has flower stem, seashell, and lemon. The floral and mineral continue on the palate, but it has a slightly bitter finish. Hubby noted the mineral aspects and suggested it would be good with something like Ceviche.
Rating: Good
2009 Tormenta Viognier (Central Valley, Chile): Certified Organic, not Odjfell
Gardenia nose, but bone-dry mineral with a hint of lime.
Rating: Meh to Good
2007 Odjfell Armador Merlot (Maipo Valley, Chile):
60% stainless, 40% oak
Lovely dark fruit nose. Medium-bodied wine with the fruit continuing, but subtle.
Rating: Good
This was Hubby's favorite.
2007 Odjfell Armador Carmenère (Central Valley, Chile):
Mild nose with hints of leather and fruit. Dark berry on the palate with more butter. Had a greenish/herbal backbone that added complexity.
Rating: Very Good
2006 Odfjell Armador Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley, Chile):
This one has a funky nose with some fruit. It's smooth and earthy with tobacco, and the mouthfeel is that it slides off one's tongue. I almost feel naughty for liking it. Actually, I always feel naughty when I use "mouthfeel" in a sentence. I think I'll stick with "texture" in the future.
Rating: Good to Very Good
2005 Odfjell Orzada Malbec (Lontué, Chile): Organic, from 50-year-old vines
Okay, I had to put aside my preconceptions about Malbec for this one. I'm used to Argentinian Malbecs, which are smoky, oaky fruit bombs. This one has a very light nose with a burst of dark fruit. The palate is berry/vanilla with acidity that moves to fruit as it opens. Overall, elegant and understated.
Rating: Good to Very Good
Random note: It's not just wine drinkers that get toasted!
During this tasting, we learned that barrels are toasted, and the amount of char will impart smoky notes to the wine. This prompted mental pictures of large barrel toasters that have round holes, knobs on the side to control degree of toastiness, and grids that pop out the barrels when they're done. This is not the case. As I learned on Cellarnotes.net:
During the construction of the barrel, a step takes place where the partially assembled barrel is placed over a small wood fire. During this step, the inside of the barrel is charred or 'toasted'. The amount (depth) of char in the barrel has an effect on the wine that is aged in it. Winemakers can normally order their barrels with Light Toast, Medium Toast or Heavy Toast. The 'toast' decision will be made based on the grape variety to be used in the barrel as well as the style of wine to be produced.
How did we not know this before now? I promise that no one has mentioned it to this point, and I know that we've had wine from Heavy Toasted barrels. One particular Cardonnay comes to mind, but that's a different story. Barrel toasting: yet another fascinating aspect of wine making.
The theme of this tasting was Chilean wines, and five of the six came from Odfjell Winery, which is located in the Maipo Valley, a traditional red wine growing area. Dan Odfjell, the owner, is Norwegian, and apparently the wine maker consulted with Napa's Paul Hobbs when the winery first got started.
Here are the wines. Again, you get mine and Hubby's reactions, which are sometimes different. I like it that we can still keep each other guessing about what the other one is thinking after so long together.
2008 Odfjell Armador Sauvignon Blanc (Casablanca, Chile):
Nose has flower stem, seashell, and lemon. The floral and mineral continue on the palate, but it has a slightly bitter finish. Hubby noted the mineral aspects and suggested it would be good with something like Ceviche.
Rating: Good
2009 Tormenta Viognier (Central Valley, Chile): Certified Organic, not Odjfell
Gardenia nose, but bone-dry mineral with a hint of lime.
Rating: Meh to Good
2007 Odjfell Armador Merlot (Maipo Valley, Chile):
60% stainless, 40% oak
Lovely dark fruit nose. Medium-bodied wine with the fruit continuing, but subtle.
Rating: Good
This was Hubby's favorite.
2007 Odjfell Armador Carmenère (Central Valley, Chile):
Mild nose with hints of leather and fruit. Dark berry on the palate with more butter. Had a greenish/herbal backbone that added complexity.
Rating: Very Good
2006 Odfjell Armador Cabernet Sauvignon (Maipo Valley, Chile):
This one has a funky nose with some fruit. It's smooth and earthy with tobacco, and the mouthfeel is that it slides off one's tongue. I almost feel naughty for liking it. Actually, I always feel naughty when I use "mouthfeel" in a sentence. I think I'll stick with "texture" in the future.
Rating: Good to Very Good
2005 Odfjell Orzada Malbec (Lontué, Chile): Organic, from 50-year-old vines
Okay, I had to put aside my preconceptions about Malbec for this one. I'm used to Argentinian Malbecs, which are smoky, oaky fruit bombs. This one has a very light nose with a burst of dark fruit. The palate is berry/vanilla with acidity that moves to fruit as it opens. Overall, elegant and understated.
Rating: Good to Very Good
Random note: It's not just wine drinkers that get toasted!
During this tasting, we learned that barrels are toasted, and the amount of char will impart smoky notes to the wine. This prompted mental pictures of large barrel toasters that have round holes, knobs on the side to control degree of toastiness, and grids that pop out the barrels when they're done. This is not the case. As I learned on Cellarnotes.net:
During the construction of the barrel, a step takes place where the partially assembled barrel is placed over a small wood fire. During this step, the inside of the barrel is charred or 'toasted'. The amount (depth) of char in the barrel has an effect on the wine that is aged in it. Winemakers can normally order their barrels with Light Toast, Medium Toast or Heavy Toast. The 'toast' decision will be made based on the grape variety to be used in the barrel as well as the style of wine to be produced.
How did we not know this before now? I promise that no one has mentioned it to this point, and I know that we've had wine from Heavy Toasted barrels. One particular Cardonnay comes to mind, but that's a different story. Barrel toasting: yet another fascinating aspect of wine making.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Restaurant Review: Flip Burger Boutique
When I was a kid, going out for good hamburgers meant driving down to Crestwood Boulevard and going to Hamburger Heaven, where I'd emulate the characters in (almost ashamed to admit this) my favorite comic series Archie and get a cheeseburger, fries, and shake. I called that the Comic Book Combo.
Now Richard Blais has elevated the Comic Book Combo to almost ridiculous heights with Flip Burger Boutique. I say almost because the restaurant and menu skate the line between creative and ridiculous with a wink.
The building itself looks like a converted diner, complete with patio. Inside, there's another wink with the colors, which are fast-food reminiscent reddish-orange balanced with elegant-modern white. The bar has mirrors in heavy white frames with two flat-screen t.v.'s in the same frames that play music videos. Unfortunately, the music on the screen does not match what's on overhead, which annoys me. Seriously, what's the point?
Here's how my first visit went:
We arrive at 8:00, just a few minutes ahead of the beginning of the rest of our party. It's a going-away dinner for one of Hubby's friends, who is leaving next week for a contract position in Ohio. Our party gradually trickles in and ends up being a whopping fourteen people. I nurse a 5 Alive, which is a potent antioxidant combo in a glass. I don't remember what's in it besides cranberry and grapefruit juices, but it tastes like a grapefruit screwdriver. One of our friends gets a Ginger Margarita, the first of many for him, and it prompts a discussion of what's more (or less) manly: an Appletini, or a Ginger Margarita? Our friend doesn't care.
I'm looking around thinking, "There's no way we're going to get a table," and, indeed, we get two of the "cubes" on the left wall. The recessed tables in white plastic-upholstered cubes (adult play center, anyone? wink, wink) supposedly seat ten. We can get seven in comfortably, which works out for us in spite of having mostly long-legged people.
We had all had (liquid) appetizers at the bar, so we order meal drinks and burgers. One of the nice things about being in a large party, unintentional footsie games notwithstanding, is that we should have a variety of things to try, at least until three of the seven at our table order the Butcher's Cut, which has caramelized onions, blue cheese, and red wine jam. After trying it, I can see why it's a popular burger: lots of savory flavor with a little bit of sweetness.
One of the guys at our table is a former line cook, and another one is a former chef. Both get the Steak Tartare burger. If you're not familiar with Steak Tartare, that infamous dish that lurks to surprise and dismay unsuspecting American tourists in Europe, it's raw meat finely chopped and seasoned, in this case with garlic, chili, capers, and Worcestershire. It comes topped with pickled onion and frisée salad, and smoked mayo. I try a bite, and the capers make it along with other smoky and bright flavors. It doesn't taste like raw meat, and it's obvious that the ingredients are all fresh and of top quality.
Hubby is a fish freak and gets the Tuna Burger, spicy yellow fin tuna topped with pickled ginger, smoked mayo, and Vietnamese herb salad. The tuna isn't really spicy, which is fine with me. It's a good choice for a burger because the tuna used is meaty, and the marinade highlights that aspect of it.
The "Burger of Today" is a Korean BBQ burger: meat and meat! All the right flavors on a bun without the menu in two languages and the "did I really eat all that?" feeling at the end. It comes topped with a US kobe short rib, Kimchee ketchup, shredded cabbage, pickled cucumber, onion, and radish salad. Okay, maybe I do get the "did I really eat all that?" feeling at the end in spite of trading bites.
One of the others in the party gets the Farm Burger, but she doesn't share. She and I do, however, split a Nutella and Burnt Marshmallow Liquid N2 Milkshake. It's not overly sweet, and in spite of not really liking marshmallows, I find myself dunking the burnt marshmallows into the milkshake to get that one-two punch of hazelnut-chocolate and gooey sweetness. Hubby observes us eating/drinking them and comments to my friend's husband that he knows that look on a woman's face, and it means that she's not going to need sex for two months. My friend and I agree that we may need to go outside for a cigarette after we finish them.
No Comic Book Combo would be complete without sides. No one at the table gets the fries because when we ask what's special about them the server says they're hand-cut and not frozen. Sounds good to me, but everyone but me goes for the Vodka-Battered Onion Rings with Beer Honey Mustard because of the two magic words: vodka and beer. I order the Tempura Fried Okra, which comes with Sriracha Ranch. The onion rings are tasty, but not overly impressive. The okra is fresh, but the tempura itself is a little oily, and one bite of the Sriracha Ranch sets my mouth on fire. There's the spice for those who need it.
The wine list is short, but it has a good variety. I drink a glass of the Bianchi Malbec, which is a fruit bomb with blackberry/blueberry nose but ends up being a little green until it opens, and then it still has a white pepper kick on the end.
For such a specialty restaurant, Flip has a great range of flavors and things to try. Also, almost everything on the menu is less than ten dollars, although sides come a la carte and are not included with burger prices. Cocktails can be right around ten bucks as well.
So that brings us to the final question: what would Archie and the gang think? Well, just like the combo of Archie and Veronica, who are now married, by the way, Flip has reasonable prices for those who may have champagne tastes but who are on a beer budget. They even have a Comic Book Combo, which they call the Lunch Combo: burger, fries, and milkshake (Foie Gras extra) for $12. Yep, it's a good place for us grown-up kids.
Score card:
Atmosphere: Medium noise level, decor as described above, dark lighting
Food: Very Good to Excellent
Wine list: Good
Wait staff: Very Good; handled our large party of grown-up kids (and there was no doubt of that!) very well
Desserts: Milkshakes! Very Good
Vegetarian friendly? Limited
Kid friendly? Maybe, but would stick with older kids. Like us.
Would I go back? Yes
Now Richard Blais has elevated the Comic Book Combo to almost ridiculous heights with Flip Burger Boutique. I say almost because the restaurant and menu skate the line between creative and ridiculous with a wink.
The building itself looks like a converted diner, complete with patio. Inside, there's another wink with the colors, which are fast-food reminiscent reddish-orange balanced with elegant-modern white. The bar has mirrors in heavy white frames with two flat-screen t.v.'s in the same frames that play music videos. Unfortunately, the music on the screen does not match what's on overhead, which annoys me. Seriously, what's the point?
Here's how my first visit went:
We arrive at 8:00, just a few minutes ahead of the beginning of the rest of our party. It's a going-away dinner for one of Hubby's friends, who is leaving next week for a contract position in Ohio. Our party gradually trickles in and ends up being a whopping fourteen people. I nurse a 5 Alive, which is a potent antioxidant combo in a glass. I don't remember what's in it besides cranberry and grapefruit juices, but it tastes like a grapefruit screwdriver. One of our friends gets a Ginger Margarita, the first of many for him, and it prompts a discussion of what's more (or less) manly: an Appletini, or a Ginger Margarita? Our friend doesn't care.
I'm looking around thinking, "There's no way we're going to get a table," and, indeed, we get two of the "cubes" on the left wall. The recessed tables in white plastic-upholstered cubes (adult play center, anyone? wink, wink) supposedly seat ten. We can get seven in comfortably, which works out for us in spite of having mostly long-legged people.
We had all had (liquid) appetizers at the bar, so we order meal drinks and burgers. One of the nice things about being in a large party, unintentional footsie games notwithstanding, is that we should have a variety of things to try, at least until three of the seven at our table order the Butcher's Cut, which has caramelized onions, blue cheese, and red wine jam. After trying it, I can see why it's a popular burger: lots of savory flavor with a little bit of sweetness.
One of the guys at our table is a former line cook, and another one is a former chef. Both get the Steak Tartare burger. If you're not familiar with Steak Tartare, that infamous dish that lurks to surprise and dismay unsuspecting American tourists in Europe, it's raw meat finely chopped and seasoned, in this case with garlic, chili, capers, and Worcestershire. It comes topped with pickled onion and frisée salad, and smoked mayo. I try a bite, and the capers make it along with other smoky and bright flavors. It doesn't taste like raw meat, and it's obvious that the ingredients are all fresh and of top quality.
Hubby is a fish freak and gets the Tuna Burger, spicy yellow fin tuna topped with pickled ginger, smoked mayo, and Vietnamese herb salad. The tuna isn't really spicy, which is fine with me. It's a good choice for a burger because the tuna used is meaty, and the marinade highlights that aspect of it.
The "Burger of Today" is a Korean BBQ burger: meat and meat! All the right flavors on a bun without the menu in two languages and the "did I really eat all that?" feeling at the end. It comes topped with a US kobe short rib, Kimchee ketchup, shredded cabbage, pickled cucumber, onion, and radish salad. Okay, maybe I do get the "did I really eat all that?" feeling at the end in spite of trading bites.
One of the others in the party gets the Farm Burger, but she doesn't share. She and I do, however, split a Nutella and Burnt Marshmallow Liquid N2 Milkshake. It's not overly sweet, and in spite of not really liking marshmallows, I find myself dunking the burnt marshmallows into the milkshake to get that one-two punch of hazelnut-chocolate and gooey sweetness. Hubby observes us eating/drinking them and comments to my friend's husband that he knows that look on a woman's face, and it means that she's not going to need sex for two months. My friend and I agree that we may need to go outside for a cigarette after we finish them.
No Comic Book Combo would be complete without sides. No one at the table gets the fries because when we ask what's special about them the server says they're hand-cut and not frozen. Sounds good to me, but everyone but me goes for the Vodka-Battered Onion Rings with Beer Honey Mustard because of the two magic words: vodka and beer. I order the Tempura Fried Okra, which comes with Sriracha Ranch. The onion rings are tasty, but not overly impressive. The okra is fresh, but the tempura itself is a little oily, and one bite of the Sriracha Ranch sets my mouth on fire. There's the spice for those who need it.
The wine list is short, but it has a good variety. I drink a glass of the Bianchi Malbec, which is a fruit bomb with blackberry/blueberry nose but ends up being a little green until it opens, and then it still has a white pepper kick on the end.
For such a specialty restaurant, Flip has a great range of flavors and things to try. Also, almost everything on the menu is less than ten dollars, although sides come a la carte and are not included with burger prices. Cocktails can be right around ten bucks as well.
So that brings us to the final question: what would Archie and the gang think? Well, just like the combo of Archie and Veronica, who are now married, by the way, Flip has reasonable prices for those who may have champagne tastes but who are on a beer budget. They even have a Comic Book Combo, which they call the Lunch Combo: burger, fries, and milkshake (Foie Gras extra) for $12. Yep, it's a good place for us grown-up kids.
Score card:
Atmosphere: Medium noise level, decor as described above, dark lighting
Food: Very Good to Excellent
Wine list: Good
Wait staff: Very Good; handled our large party of grown-up kids (and there was no doubt of that!) very well
Desserts: Milkshakes! Very Good
Vegetarian friendly? Limited
Kid friendly? Maybe, but would stick with older kids. Like us.
Would I go back? Yes
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tasting Notes: Macedonian Wines & Restaurant Review: Saba
If you'll pardon a little whining... I got sideswiped this evening while driving home on Clairmont just north of Buford Hwy (where the QT is). I was going south in the left lane, and suddenly, WHAM! I was knocked partly into the center turn lane. The other driver and I turned off into the parking lot of a chiropractor, who, surprisingly, did not immediately run out and offer assistance (they were closed). So now my back and neck are sore, and luckily I've got some good stuff left from my surgery. I'll be seeing my own chiropractor tomorrow. If anyone happened to see a gold Honda Civic get bumped by a large green truck in the location described above at around 7-7:15 this evening, I'd love it if you'd contact me: cecilia(AT)ceciliadominic.com The other driver swore he was "going straight in his lane." I don't think so, not if he knocked me out of mine.
Okay, on to the fun stuff...
I follow Hudson Rouse of Two Friends Import Company on Twitter (@2FriendsImports), and he was kind enough to come introduce himself to us when I was in the blogger's tent at the Decatur Book Festival. I've been curious about the Macedonian wines he distributes (if I recall correctly, his business partner and best friend is Macedonian). He poured three last night at a tasting at Saba in Oakhurst. All three came from the Popova Kula winery, and all are the 2005 vintage. One thing that we noticed was that the nose was always harsher than the wine itself and mellowed out with swirling.
1) Vranec, a native grape varietal that should make Pinot Noir fans happy
Bright fruit/sharp cherry nose; smooth cran-cherry with a light butter finish
Rating: Very Good
2) Merlot:
Clove, cedar, and dark fruit nose; dark cherry and tobacco, dry with a mildly spicy finish. I thought it was really interesting and complex. Macedonia was outside of the area of the phylloxera epidemic, so these are non-cloned Merlot grapes.
Rating: Very Good
3) Cabernet Sauvignon:
Blackberry nose; dark fruit, and not really oaky; less complex than the Merlot, but would probably go really well with food
Rating: Good
To be fair, Hubby and I disagreed on the last two. He liked the Cab better.
We stayed for dinner after the tasting. No, I don't turn my nose up at reviewing places that could be considered chains because every restaurant has its strengths and weaknesses.
Saba in Oakhurst, unlike the now dead and departed one in downtown Decatur, has full table service. The mixed green salads are, as advertised, mixed greens tossed with an orange vinaigrette that balances out the bitterness of some of the greens. Hubby had the spaghetti and meatballs. I had a bite and was surprised by the amount of fennel flavor in the meatballs. I had the special Chicken Parmesan, and although the chicken itself was a little overcooked, the cheese used tasted like it had a good measure of Parmesan and not just some sprinkled over Mozzarella. The generous chicken breast was served with spaghetti and marinara sauce, and the pasta was cooked to "just right" al dente. We each had a glass of Da Vinci Chianti, which is a good Chianti with enough acidity to stand up to food, but not enough to put in batteries like some table wines. We finished with the chocolate chip Cannoli, two small crispy shells with Italian cream and chocolate ships, and Red Velvet Cake. Both desserts were finished and were good representations of their respective dessert genres (yeah, sorry, I've been doing a lot of writing lately).
Score card:
Atmosphere: Cozy; pretty much the same layout as the space's previous incarnations (Oakhurst Grill, Calavino's), but darker
Food: Good to Very Good
Wine list: Good -- has something for every taste
Wait staff: Very Good
Desserts: Very Good
Vegetarian friendly? Yes
Kid friendly? Probably
Would I go back? Yes
So, thanks, Hudson, for doing the tasting and for introducing me to wine from a region I was not familiar with! I'll definitely seek out Macedonian wines in the future.
Okay, on to the fun stuff...
I follow Hudson Rouse of Two Friends Import Company on Twitter (@2FriendsImports), and he was kind enough to come introduce himself to us when I was in the blogger's tent at the Decatur Book Festival. I've been curious about the Macedonian wines he distributes (if I recall correctly, his business partner and best friend is Macedonian). He poured three last night at a tasting at Saba in Oakhurst. All three came from the Popova Kula winery, and all are the 2005 vintage. One thing that we noticed was that the nose was always harsher than the wine itself and mellowed out with swirling.
1) Vranec, a native grape varietal that should make Pinot Noir fans happy
Bright fruit/sharp cherry nose; smooth cran-cherry with a light butter finish
Rating: Very Good
2) Merlot:
Clove, cedar, and dark fruit nose; dark cherry and tobacco, dry with a mildly spicy finish. I thought it was really interesting and complex. Macedonia was outside of the area of the phylloxera epidemic, so these are non-cloned Merlot grapes.
Rating: Very Good
3) Cabernet Sauvignon:
Blackberry nose; dark fruit, and not really oaky; less complex than the Merlot, but would probably go really well with food
Rating: Good
To be fair, Hubby and I disagreed on the last two. He liked the Cab better.
We stayed for dinner after the tasting. No, I don't turn my nose up at reviewing places that could be considered chains because every restaurant has its strengths and weaknesses.
Saba in Oakhurst, unlike the now dead and departed one in downtown Decatur, has full table service. The mixed green salads are, as advertised, mixed greens tossed with an orange vinaigrette that balances out the bitterness of some of the greens. Hubby had the spaghetti and meatballs. I had a bite and was surprised by the amount of fennel flavor in the meatballs. I had the special Chicken Parmesan, and although the chicken itself was a little overcooked, the cheese used tasted like it had a good measure of Parmesan and not just some sprinkled over Mozzarella. The generous chicken breast was served with spaghetti and marinara sauce, and the pasta was cooked to "just right" al dente. We each had a glass of Da Vinci Chianti, which is a good Chianti with enough acidity to stand up to food, but not enough to put in batteries like some table wines. We finished with the chocolate chip Cannoli, two small crispy shells with Italian cream and chocolate ships, and Red Velvet Cake. Both desserts were finished and were good representations of their respective dessert genres (yeah, sorry, I've been doing a lot of writing lately).
Score card:
Atmosphere: Cozy; pretty much the same layout as the space's previous incarnations (Oakhurst Grill, Calavino's), but darker
Food: Good to Very Good
Wine list: Good -- has something for every taste
Wait staff: Very Good
Desserts: Very Good
Vegetarian friendly? Yes
Kid friendly? Probably
Would I go back? Yes
So, thanks, Hudson, for doing the tasting and for introducing me to wine from a region I was not familiar with! I'll definitely seek out Macedonian wines in the future.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Tasting Notes: Freedom, thy name is Tempranillo
I've got a confession to make. Next to Zinfandel, Tempranillo may just be my favorite grape. Consequently, I was really ready to enjoy this past Thursday's tasting at JavaMonkey, for that reason and because I hadn't been out of the house all day.
The wines are all 100% Tempranillo and come from Spain, so I'll just list names and regions:
2007 Campos Reales (La Mancha):
This one has been a favorite in the past, so I'm wondering if this vintage may not be quite as good as previous ones. The nose is buttery and a little musky, and it opens up to blackberry. It is light to medium-bodied with a lot of cranberry and a little pomegranate. Someone designated it as "Ocean Spray [juice]" wine.
Rating: Good
Note: According to my blog archives, I reviewed the 2008 Campos Reales in April. It was bigger, fruitier, and more complex than this 2007. So, if you're looking for a good, basic Tempranillo, go for the 2008.
2006 Sierra Cantabria (Rioja):
Although it's from Rioja, it's not a Crianza. Blue/blackberry nose, and the middle has a nice structure from the oak. The problem with this one is the major pepper kick at the end that someone described as "caustic."
Rating: Good
2007 Emilio Moro Finco Resalso (Ribera del Duoro):
Dark fruit with a little toasted almond on the nose. Sour cherry and currant with a silky texture that again went a little rough on the finish. A second tasting later revealed that it had smoothed out, so just let it open.
Rating: Good to Very Good
2005 Urban Ribera (Ribera del Duero):
Can tell on the nose that this will be a "hot" one with 14.5% alcohol. The dominant flavor is blueberry. Someone designated it as "blueberry pie," but I didn't get enough butter for that.
Rating: Good to Very Good
2006 Codice Tinto (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla):
This one has a hot nose, too, but it smoothed out with some good swirling. In addition to its dark fruit, it has some clove, spice, and a little butter. This medium-bodied wine could have come earlier in the tasting.
Rating: Very Good
2005 Venta Mazzaron (Tierra del Vino de Zamora):
With its smoky nose and bacon overtones on the palate, this was the table favorite. The combination of fruit and smoke made me want to pair it with a Belgian entree, maybe cherries and meatballs (yes, that's a real Belgian dish).
Rating: Very Good
Random Thoughts:
A trio of Emory students came to the previous wine tasting, Blends, armed with camera and notepads to do a feature for the student paper. The next to the last paragraph cracked me up:
Although the relaxed venue was enjoyable, wine aficionados may not want to head to JavaMonkey. A fellow taster sitting next to me was rather pretentiously swirling and sniffing his wines, a behavior that may be common at many wine tastings, but which seemed out of place at this one.
Don't worry, wine aficionados, you can come sit with us. We sip and swirl non-pretentiously.
The wines are all 100% Tempranillo and come from Spain, so I'll just list names and regions:
2007 Campos Reales (La Mancha):
This one has been a favorite in the past, so I'm wondering if this vintage may not be quite as good as previous ones. The nose is buttery and a little musky, and it opens up to blackberry. It is light to medium-bodied with a lot of cranberry and a little pomegranate. Someone designated it as "Ocean Spray [juice]" wine.
Rating: Good
Note: According to my blog archives, I reviewed the 2008 Campos Reales in April. It was bigger, fruitier, and more complex than this 2007. So, if you're looking for a good, basic Tempranillo, go for the 2008.
2006 Sierra Cantabria (Rioja):
Although it's from Rioja, it's not a Crianza. Blue/blackberry nose, and the middle has a nice structure from the oak. The problem with this one is the major pepper kick at the end that someone described as "caustic."
Rating: Good
2007 Emilio Moro Finco Resalso (Ribera del Duoro):
Dark fruit with a little toasted almond on the nose. Sour cherry and currant with a silky texture that again went a little rough on the finish. A second tasting later revealed that it had smoothed out, so just let it open.
Rating: Good to Very Good
2005 Urban Ribera (Ribera del Duero):
Can tell on the nose that this will be a "hot" one with 14.5% alcohol. The dominant flavor is blueberry. Someone designated it as "blueberry pie," but I didn't get enough butter for that.
Rating: Good to Very Good
2006 Codice Tinto (Vino de la Tierra de Castilla):
This one has a hot nose, too, but it smoothed out with some good swirling. In addition to its dark fruit, it has some clove, spice, and a little butter. This medium-bodied wine could have come earlier in the tasting.
Rating: Very Good
2005 Venta Mazzaron (Tierra del Vino de Zamora):
With its smoky nose and bacon overtones on the palate, this was the table favorite. The combination of fruit and smoke made me want to pair it with a Belgian entree, maybe cherries and meatballs (yes, that's a real Belgian dish).
Rating: Very Good
Random Thoughts:
A trio of Emory students came to the previous wine tasting, Blends, armed with camera and notepads to do a feature for the student paper. The next to the last paragraph cracked me up:
Although the relaxed venue was enjoyable, wine aficionados may not want to head to JavaMonkey. A fellow taster sitting next to me was rather pretentiously swirling and sniffing his wines, a behavior that may be common at many wine tastings, but which seemed out of place at this one.
Don't worry, wine aficionados, you can come sit with us. We sip and swirl non-pretentiously.
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