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Category Archives: WINE
Mistral lunch in Gigondas
The village of Gigondas is located at the foot of the impressive Dentelles de Montmirail. We were warm in the car when we drove to the center of town and saw that the terrace of l’Oustalet was open. Beautiful May … Continue reading
Posted in 2008, 2009, FOOD, France, Red, Restaurants, Rhone, TASTE TRAVEL, the road
Tagged 2009, CDR, Cotes du Rhone, Dentelles de Montmirail, France, Gigondas, l’Oustalet, Les Deux Albion, Longue Toque, May, Rhone, rosé, Rouge, St Cosme
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Veronica’s spring risotto
One of Veronica’s long time dreams was to buy food and cook it in her own kitchen in Paris. Her dream came true this spring. Saturday morning found us at the Bio market on the boulevard des Batignolles loaded down … Continue reading
Posted in 2009, FOOD, Recipes, Rhone, White
Tagged 2009, asparagus, Bio market, Blanc, Boulevard des Batignolles, Chateauneuf du Pape, chive flowers, Clos du Mont Olivet, peas, rice, risotto, Sabon, taleggio
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Behind the scenes @ Le Jardin Gourmand
They were just back from Rome, to get away while the work was being done. Work being a total make over of the restaurant Le Jardin Gourmand. « We had to do it to be ready to face the next 10 … Continue reading
Posted in 1996, 2002, Burgundy, FOOD, France, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, What is in my glass?
Tagged 1996, 1er Cru, 2002, Ambonnay Rouge, Auxerre, biscuit, bitterness, Bousserau, Chassagne Montrachet, chizeaux, dayton de cuba, Egly Ouriet, fatty, foie gras, France, garden, Gourmand, Heinz Beck, Italy, Jardin, La Pergola, La Romanée, Le Jardin Gourmand, leaves, liquorish, mustard, olive, Olivier, Olivier Laplaine, Pierre, Pierre Boussereau, Rome, roquette, smoked, speculos, spiciness, spring, tannins, truffle, Verget
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Colette and the sea urchins
No one picks out sea urchins like Colette. She’s got it down to an art. Picking them up delicately and with the slightest shake of the wrist, she weighs each one in her knowing hand. Oui, là, ils sont bien … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, France, Paris, TASTE TRAVEL, White, WINE
Tagged buttery, Chardonnay, cold water, Colette, collette, fishmonger, floral, France, gamy, ginger, Iceland, mineral, Montmartre, Norway, oursins, Paris, Poissonerie Pepone, Red, sea urchins, Spain, violet, yellow
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Saturday morning breakfast @ Batignolles Organic Market
On cold blustery days (the kind we’ve had a lot recently) the tarps covering the market stalls look like they’ve been pulled extra-tight together, huddling up close in solidarity. On the nicer, sunnier days, there is a little jazz trio … Continue reading
Tang, Coquilles and St Julien
I’ve mentioned Resturant Tang before as one of my absolute favorite places in Paris. I know a lot of his dishes, but on my last visit, he surprised me with this scallop and spicy soy sauce recipe. Scallops (Coquilles St Jacques, … Continue reading
Posted in 2004, FOOD, France, Paris, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, what am I drinking with this dish?, WINE
Tagged 1er Grand Cru Classé, 2004, 2eme Grand Cru Classé, 2nd wine, balance, bitterness, Bordeaux, Charlie Tang, Chateau de La Tour, Chinese, Clos du Marquis, Coquilles St Jacques, Leoville Las Cases, Medoc, mouth feel, Paris, Pauillac, Red, restaurant, Restaurant Tang, scallops, soy sauce, spice, St Julien, Tang, vintage
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Did I mention the 2009 beaujolais?
I’ve been tasting a lot of 2009 Beaujolais recently, everything from Crus like Régnié, Brouilly and Morgon to plain Beaujolais. Some are just bottled or just before bottling. Everytime I stick my nose in a glass of the stuff, I … Continue reading
Posted in 2009, Red, What is in my glass?, WINE
Tagged 1949, 2009, Beaujolais, Brouilly, Burgundy, Cote de Nuits, Gamay, Morgon, Régnié
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Christian Etienne and unexpected truffles…
The streets of Avignon are dead on this wintry night with the exception of a few Chinese tourists. How did they get here? Where is everyone else? We arrive late at Christian Etienne, but when we open the door, we … Continue reading
Posted in 2007, FOOD, France, Restaurants, Rhone, TASTE TRAVEL
Tagged 2007, Alary, apple, apple pie, Avignon, beets, bitterness, Cairanne, Christian Etienne, citronella, consommé, desert, harmony, ice cream, lobster, Oratoire, Oratoire St Martin, pistachio, Provencal cooking, Provence, Rhone, scallops, South of France, soy, sprouts, sweetness, truffles, vanilla
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Sidewalk inspirations: alternative foie gras
It happens when he is walking down the street. Who knows what is going through his mind. And then, suddenly, something emerges. Clear. Precise. A mission. Monkfish liver and oysters… It has to do partially with a dish that Antoine … Continue reading
Truffles and Chardonnay @ Le Chassagne
The 2004 Bernard Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embrazées, was a little disappointing because it was reduced (needed air) and never fully expressed its potential, both of terroir and vintage. Chardonnay, even if disappointing on its own, tends to … Continue reading
Posted in 2004, Burgundy, FOOD, Restaurants, what am I drinking with this dish?, WINE
Tagged 1er Cru, 2004, artichoke, Bernard Morey, bread, Burgundy, butter, Chardonnay, Chassagne Montrachet, cream, egg, Le Chassagne, Les Embrazées, pepper, reduction, salt, Stéphane Léger, truffle
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Haddock and beets @ Le Chassagne
I have a soft spot for chefs who use beets. Surprisingly complex aromatically with an interesting mixture of red fruits and earthiness, beets are an under-rated vegetable. My most recent visit to Le Chassagne, chef Stefane Léger brought out a … Continue reading
Posted in 2001, Burgundy, FOOD, Restaurants, what am I drinking with this dish?, WINE
Tagged 2001, acidity, beetroot, beets, bitterness, Burgundy, Chassagne Montrachet, chips, Corton Clos du Roi, crunch, Le Chassagne, orange rind, peach, Pinot Noir, Pousse d’Or, smoke, smoked haddock, Stéphane Léger, texture
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What are we drinking in Vietnam?
Forget about wine. There is no wine here. Most people haven’t even heard of wine and wouldn’t know how to serve it if they did. Not that I hold it against them, they have other priorities. It used to be … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, TASTE TRAVEL, Vietnam, What is in my glass?, WINE
Tagged 333, Fosters, Heineken, Saigon, Tiger, Vietnam, WINE
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Unexpected Beaujolais Nouveau 2009
When he handed me the bread, and I realized that it was warm, I thought, “this is too good to be true”. How can you have a Beaujolais nouveau day without a glass (or three) of Beaujolais? Someone with some … Continue reading
Posted in 2009, Beaujolais, FOOD, WINE
Tagged 2009, Beaujolais Nouveau, Bordeaux, bread, charcuterie, delicious, Duboeuf, Gamay, pork, SNCF
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The Pyrenees, Petit Manseng, and Cauhapé
Pyrenees watch over Petit Manseng It’s a five-hour ride from Paris to Pau on the TGV. The train flies down as far as Tours, then medium speed to Bordeaux, before slowing even more until Pau. It is as if someone … Continue reading
Posted in 2007, WINE
Tagged 2006, 2007, Alluviale, Cacao, Cauhapé, Chez Ruffet, Clos Girouilh, Domaine de Souche, Gillardeau, Gros Manseng, Henri Ramonteu, Jurançon, Jurançon Sec, La Canopée, New Zealand, Nicolas Ramonteu, Paris, Pau, Petit Manseng, Pyrenees, Raviole, TGV, tomme de brebis, Utah Beach
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2009 harvest @ Domaine de La Madone
Posted in 2009, Beaujolais, WINE
Tagged 2009, Beaujolais, Bererd, de-stemmer, Gamay, Harvest, La Madone, sorting table, vineyard, winery
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2009 vintage: what ripe Chardonnay looks like: gold
We didn’t have to go far with Alexandre Moreau to see some of his ripe Chardonnay in Cote de Beaune (Burgundy), we just crossed the street from his cellar and into Chassagne 1er Cru La Maltroie vineyard. Here, too, the … Continue reading
Posted in 2009, TASTE TRAVEL, WINE
Tagged 2009, Alexandre Moreau, Bernard Moreau, bunch, Burgundy, Chardonnay, Chassagne 1er Cru La Maltroie, Chassagne Montrachet, Cote de Beaune, flavor, flower, golden, grapes, Harvest, juice, magic, pips, ripe, shot grapes, skins, vine
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A revelation: Foie gras with raspberries and red bell pepper jelly
How do you make foie gras go with Beaujolais Villages? Start by giving the chef a glass or two. Just so that he can get the creative juices flowing… The young chef at Auberge de Chantemerle came up with an … Continue reading
Posted in 2006, Beaujolais, FOOD, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, Uncategorized, what am I drinking with this dish?
Tagged Auberge de Clochemerle, Beaujolais, Beaujolais Village, complex, digestable, Domaine de La Madone, electric, foie gras, Gamay, juice, Le Perreon, new wood, pepperiness, Pinot Noir, raspberry, red bell pepper, red fruits, toastiness
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2009 vintage: tasting pinot noir grapes
Driving through Burgundy last week, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the beauty of the vines. Everything was so lush, and green, it just radiated health and vibrancy. The color of the vines was almost spring-like. No yellow, brown … Continue reading
Posted in WINE, 2009
Tagged Michel Magnien, Morey St Denis, Burgundy, Pinot Noir, complexity, sweet, 2009, Frederic Magnien, bitter, tannic, beauty, vines, green, vintage, grapes, taste, pips, skins, Cote de Nuits, 1er Cru Les Chaffots, Clos St Denis, hail, vineyard, de-leaf
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