Saturday, June 27, 2009

Tiny Bubbles


Is there anything better than drinks at work on a Saturday afternoon?

We are an office that occasionally indulges (it all started with Derby Day mint juleps a few years back...), and it's a nice, um, team-building exercise.

Today it was a celebration of summer (as well as still being employed), and the indulgence was Collalbrigo Brut, a snappy prosecco from Conegliano, Italy (about $11, 11 percent alcohol). I got a pleasant yeasty aroma, and tasted notes of pear in this one. (Thanks, Jesse!) He even brought strawberries, the perfect pairing.

I just love the sound of a cork popping in the office.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

From the Vineyard to My Lips

A tasty souvenir from Laura's recent trip to California was a bottle of the 2005 Consilience Falcone Vineyard Syrah (Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County), $38.
Actually, a few bottles, since she liked the wine so much she signed up for regular shipments after her visit to the vineyard!
This was a very full-bodied wine (15.2 percent alcohol), with notes of black pepper and something approaching chalky/powdery (in a good way), and a thick texture in the glass.
It was just the companion for an evening of girl talk about engagements, babies, house-hunting and other assorted topics.
I think I may have to play Let's Make a Deal with her when her next batch arrives. Got to get another taste of this one.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Hanging in the 'Hood

Last night we got together with some Minnesota friends at one of our favorite wine bars in Hell's Kitchen (I will never call it "Clinton"): Riposo 46, on Ninth Avenue at 46th Street. It's a tiny scrap of real estate (three tables, maybe a dozen seats at the bar), but always top fun. Bobby and I both enjoyed the 2005 Marques de la Concordia Rioja Crianza, an engaging, snappy little red. It was $10 a glass, but a pretty healthy pour. I love that their bottles are reasonably priced for Midtown -- their featured wines are mostly $30-50.
The menu is simple but fulfilling: I had the goat cheese flatbread with rosemary and lemon zest (it was better a few other times I've had it, but I was so hungry I devoured it). Next time I'm not sure I will be able to resist their hypnotic cheese plate.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

East Side Eats

For Jane's bon voyage dinner the night before she returned to Minneapolis last week, we ate at Felidia on East 58th, which has quickly become one of our favorite Italian restaurants. (We love that delightful bartender, Patrick Joy!) ... Trying to pace ourselves, Jane and I shared the lemon garlic shrimp appetizer, and at first bite, I wished I had ordered my own. I could eat a feedbag of that creamy deliciousness. I also had their signature pasta dish, the pecorino and pear ravioli, which never disappoints.
On the wine front, I ordered a 2006 Barbera d'Alba Brunate, which I found rich and earthy ($48).
My only lament is that we can't eat there more often ($!). Unless we took out a second mortgage.