Everyday Wine(s) in the City - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo by Azienda Agricola Masciarelli and Woodbridge by Mondavi

Because I worked from home 2 days this week that is why we've been eating-in. This also meant more opportunities to sample an everyday wine to pair with our snacks or dinners.

On Thursday, we opened a red wine from the Abruzzi region of Italy called Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.  For food pairing, we made enchilada casserole and spanish rice. The thick fruit flavors of this red wine is perfect for the cheesy and meaty flavors of the enchilada casserole with a hint of cumin.  Here are my notes:

Tasting Date: April 18, 2011.

Tasting Partner: Mijo

Wine Name: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Producer: Azienda Agricola Masciarelli

Region/Appelation: Abruzzi, Italy

Grape Varieties: Montepulciano

Vintage: 2007

Alcohol: 13%

Color Hue: red, purple

Aroma Intensity: aromatic

Developments: youthful

Aromas: plum, berries, cherry, 

Dry/Sweet: medium sweet

Body: Medium

Acidity: Smooth

Tannins: medium level, soft

Flavors: plum, berries, cherry

For our light lunch, or more like a snack really, we made something quick - my all time favorite - steamed mussels.
We opened a bottle of California Chardonnay, sauteed some garlic, onions, cilantro, lemon juice, lemon zest, and then added a cup of the chardonnay. After it simmered, we added the mussels. It was done only after a few minutes. Heated the cast iron grill and toasted the buttered ciabatta bread.  Voila!  Perfect pairing especially since we used the same wine in the steamed mussels. 

Here are my notes:

Tasting Date: April 21, 2011.
Tasting Partner: Mijo

Wine Name: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi

Producer: Robert Mondavi

Region/Appelation: Lodi, California

Grape Varieties: Chardonnay

Vintage: 2008

Alcohol: not known

Color Hue: white, light yellow, off gold

Aroma Intensity: aromatic, fruity

Developments: refreshing

Aromas: mangoes, vanilla, cream, cologne

Dry/Sweet: medium sweet

Body: Medium

Acidity: Smooth

Tannins: very soft

Flavors: mangoes, 

Afternoon Salsa in the City

Mijo called to tell me he's got 40% discount coupons from his favorite store and asked me if I want to go shopping later today. He said the coupons are only valid for today.  It didn't take a lot of talking by mijo to convince me to play hookie today. Besides, I've already put in a week's worth of work hours so I thought this is a perfect break.

 I got to Union Square 2 minutes before mijo did. Good thing the salsa band playing in Union Square and the dancing crowd entertained me while waiting for him. Strangely enough, how ever excited I was earlier to leave work, I only found a couple of items that I wanted to buy and as always, I will have to sleep on it.  Mijo got more discounts coupons for next week.

I was surprised that I can be this spontaneous.  I had a great time walking around and and the best part was watching mijo shop.

~rl

A Conversation Piece in the City

We've been in the market for furnitures that we're thinking of shipping to Manila to furnish the condo we bought there three years ago. We are looking for something modern, urban and small.


Well, I found one the other day but it is not for sale.  Even if it was, we probably couldn't afford it. 

This one is called the Meltdown Chair by Tom Price and can be seen at the SF MoMA.

Everyday Wine in the City - Beaujolais-Villages by Louis Jadot

When I started reading about wines, though I don't like to admit, I became sort of a wine geek.  Years later, I had forgotten most of what I had read but a few things I can still remember. I recall that Beaujolais-Villages is a young wine and it is meant to be drunk that way.

For the pairing, we seared a couple of salmon fillets smothered with dried italian herbs, grilling spices with capers. The burnt flavor of the salmon's skin goes so well with the red burgundy.

Here are my notes:
Tasting Date: April 9, 2011.
Tasting Partner: Mijo
Wine Name: Beaujolais-Villages
Producer: Louis Jadot
Region/Appelation: Beaujolais, France
Grape Varieties: 100% Gamay
Vintage: 2009
Alcohol: 13%
Color Hue: red, purple
Aroma Intensity: aromatic
Developments: youthful
Aromas: berries, cherry, banana
Dry/Sweet: medium sweet
Body: Medium
Acidity: Smooth
Tannins: medium level, soft
Flavors: berries, cherry

NOPA in the city

I knew what to order weeks before we got the late Saturday night dinner reservation. When I say late night, think of 9:15pm.  It was probably the latest dinner reservation I made and it was not even on a Valentine's or New Year's Eve!  NOPA is one of the more popular places we haven't dined in. Even though we're content eating at what we call 20-to-30-bucks-meals at ethnic restaurants dotting the city, but once in a while, we crave for the nice, hip and trendy night out.

The restaurant was still crowded at 9:15p. In fact, I noticed that people were still coming in well after we had finished our desserts. The restaurant has ornate high ceilings, lots of windows, a good mix of crowd but very noisy.

For starters, we ordered two glasses of Tempranillo from Rioja and the fried sardines. I've heard of their sardines. It is what I call a dressed-up sardines because it came glazed and garnished with capers, raisins (they could very well be glazed fruits) and crostini. The combination of the flavors is amazing - the fishy, bitter, salty, sweet and nutty into one! The fried sardines went very well with the Tempranillo.

For the entree, Mijo decided he'll get the halibut. I ordered the duck breast. Both were very good. I've had ducks before but not this juicy, not this tasty. Probably the best duck in town? Half-way through the dinner, Mijo and I switched plates so I sampled the halibut in asparagus and fennel broth. I've never had this elsewhere so it was something new. It was very good too.

For desserts, we shared the homemade citrus sorbets. Simple yet flavorful. It is not your regular sorbet, it is something extraordinary.  Our waiter was very attentive, very helpful and is knowledgeable about the menu. I noticed that the couple to our left and right have ordered the fried sardines and the seared duck as well.

Except for the sediments we found at the bottom of our wine glasses, we were very satisfied with the food and service in NOPA. We both agreed that this is a good restaurant and it is in our we-will-be-back list. I recommend this place to locals and tourists alike.


~rl

Stamps in the City

Just recently, I received a birthday card from my mom, my siblings and their kids. It was so touching and absolutely unexpected. (Thanks Ma and sibs!) It could easily be one of the best birthday gifts!


Call me traditional or old fashioned but I enjoy getting (and sending) cards via the postal mail. In the age of email, sms texts and Facebook message, it is great that the messages are sent and received almost instantaneously. However, there are elements missing in electronic messages.

There is something personal, classy and timeless in a card with a postmark on it.  Imagine and compare these - getting an email from a friend who is visiting Paris or getting a postcard mailed from Paris by the same friend. 


It must be the smell of the ink, the texture of the paper, the distinguishing quality of the stamps that have been worn out by the arduous process of stamping the letters, sorting, then delivering them. 


Did you know that I send myself postcards when I travel abroad? Part of my touristy experience is a visit to the postal office and of course, sending the postcards complete with the stamps.

The birthday card I just received came in an envelope with five or six small stamps affixed. Not just metered stamps but real stamps! I get excited about things like this.  Why not try sending a postcard when you travel and rediscover the difference?


To see the rest of my stamp project, click here.

Everyday Wine in the City - Malbec by Alamos

After a series of rain the past weeks - I am referring what felt like a monthlong non-stop rain in Northern California - the weather this week has been gorgeous, sunny, springlike.  On Tuesday,  Mijo grilled some chicken thighs, skirt steaks, and Salvadoran chorizos for dinner so we opened a bottle of Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.   We usually don't finish a bottle in one sitting so a bottle is extended for the rest of the week.  


On Friday, I brought home some meat and cheese empanadas from Chile Lindo to finish the remaining Malbec before we head out for happy hour.

Tasting Date: Week of April 4, 2011.

Tasting Partner: Mijo

Wine Name: Alamos Malbec

Producer: Alamos

Region/Appelation: Mendoza, Argentina

Grape Varieties: Malbec

Vintage: 2009

Alcohol: 13.5%

Color Hue: red, brown, purple

Aroma Intensity: aromatic

Developments: youthful

Aromas: berries, chocolate, coffee

Dry/Sweet: medium sweet

Body: Medium

Acidity: Smooth

Tannins: medium level, soft

Flavors: berries, coffee