The Art Fair Starteth

Posted on July 30, 2016 by thewineraconteur

You may not be aware of the fact, but I am semi-retired and trying to acclimate to this new life style.  I guess that I am a clothier at heart and a merchant as well.  I was studying the calendar and realized that I had a two week window, where I would hardly have a chance to enjoy my blog and all of the readings of other writers, so I worked at a break-neck pace and almost wrote a whole month’s worth of articles before the two week interval that would be devoid of writing, but not of wine.  First up was the long weekend of the Wyandotte Art Fair, where the main street is blocked off to all traffic and I had to walk on the average of about ten blocks each way from where I parked my car, because of the Art Fair vendors and patrons.

Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc 2014

It was a very hot weekend temperature wise, and even the store had a whimsical flair to it, with big tents out on the main drag, and racks and racks of sportswear arranged to entice the shoppers that were afoot.  Thankfully my expertise is clothing, which in the Men’s Wear industry refers to suits, sport coats, trousers and all the other accessories to finish an outfit, and thankfully people other than myself still do dress in this manner.  We may have had the front doors open, but I was basically still in an air conditioned environment and for that I am truly happy.

MI Whiskeys on the Water Interior

While the street was a mixture of assorted scents from the different street vendors plying their trade, one could smell barbecued ribs, Italian Sausages and an assortment of other dishes.  When it came time to eat, I ventured out among the throngs, but made a determined walk to one of the newest restaurants that had opened, and I have already mentioned them in an article, but I was seeking sanctuary from the crafters and I decided that I would have a better chance dining in a finer restaurant and spending a few dollars more, and it was worth it.  When one is dining alone, which is the norm in the retailing world, one is interested in speed to a degree, and who wants a three or four course meal when one is by themselves with only the company of a Sudoko or a Crossword Puzzle as company.  I went back to Whiskeys on the Water and got a small table off to the side for myself.  I ordered a classic Reuben sandwich for my meal, and while the meat was cut properly, it did not have the heft that one would expect from a deli, and I do not mean the monstrous open face sandwich that one gets at the Carnegie in Manhattan.  It was a hot day and I was trying to decide what would work with a Reuben and I decided on a cold white wine that would not fight the spices of the corned beef and all of the fixings.  I had a glass of Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 from New Zealand and it was part of their “Regional Collection.”  Marlborough is probably the largest area in New Zealand and produces about seventy-five percent of all the wine, and Sauvignon Blanc is the king of Marlborough.   It is a wine that I tend to go to when I want something that will be light and crisp and an easy accompaniment to what ever I have to eat.  I even enjoy it with a Cheeseburger, there are days when I am not fussy at all, but just want to have a good safe drink with my meal.

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Lucy & The Wolf

Posted on July 28, 2016 by thewineraconteur

Lucy & The Wolf is next door to my favorite cobbler and artisan in Northville, Michigan. Lucy & The Wolf is one of the tapas style or small plate type of restaurants that are popping up here in the area and I am sure that elsewhere as well. We first encountered the restaurant at the last Culinary Extravaganza at Schoolcraft College. The odd thing about it, is that we made several attempts to get to this restaurant and never had success, as either something came up or we got there and they were closed, but we persevered and finally got there. One night the stars aligned and we finally got there, but as we made our reservations, we were informed that we only had an hour and a half window for dining, but that sounded like enough time, and it was.

Marquese de Murrieta Reserva 2010
The concept of tapas-style restaurants is that one shares the different plates, and that is fine, as my Bride and I have been doing that for years, even before it became in vogue. We started out with a couple of “chilled” dishes. The first was the Charcuterie Plate, which was listed as Capicolla, Iberico Ham, artisan cheeses, olive salad, pickled vegetables and raw honey. Of course the night that we were there they only had one “artisan cheese” and not plural, as the menu read, but it was Mancheco made from sheep’s milk, but it was described to us as cow’s milk cheese. We also tried a plate of Deviled Eggs, which seems to have had a surge in popularity around here, and these came with Iberico Ham and topped with pickled mustard seeds and they were delightful. Then we had the Charred Shrimp, which was described as Spanish style roasted shrimp, Arbol chili spiced, Sherry Vinaigrette and Micro Greens, and this had excellent taste, and we stopped there, as we were concerned about our time allotment for the table.

MI Lucy & The Wolf Facade

They had a very limited wine carte and I was surprised to only find one Spanish wine on the list, one would think that the restaurant would offer several different Spanish wines considering the theme of the restaurant. We ordered the Spanish wine and I was looking forward to it, as it was listed as a “Gran Reserva” with no vintage year listed. We watched as the help scurried about trying to find the wine and then they produced the wine, but it read “Reserva,” and I agreed to it, but I asked if there was a difference in price, and the manager came over and told me, that the price was proper for the wine that they were serving, and I suggested that they edit their wine carte. We had a bottle of Marques de Murrieta Reserva Finca Yguay Rioja 2010. The wine is a blend of Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnacha Tinta and the grapes are fermented separately in Stainless Steel vats and then blended and aged in American Oak for twenty-one months. This was a production of one million bottles, all done as one lot and required four months just for the bottling.

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A Couple of Magnums

Posted on July 26, 2016 by thewineraconteur

It was the last graduation party of the season, and it was a splendid time, even if we had to drive cross country once again. When we arrived, we saw the Honoree deep in thought as he was playing chess with his Grandfather and they had one of the coolest chess sets that I have ever seen, almost to the point of making me try playing the game again, but I think that I will stay with the games that I am already doing. There were two tents erected in the back yard, one to protect the guests and another fully zipped up tent to house all of the foods that were being laid out, and there were three full tables laden with food for the guests.

Frontera Cab Sauv Merlot 2015

The food was the normal food that one would find at most parties, but there was such an abundance that those that proceeded to have seconds or thirds would not feel guilty depriving others that came later of missing out. There was chicken and also assorted deli submarine-style sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs, multitude of salads, vegetables and side dishes that one could wish for to ladle onto the plates. I guess it is my ethnic background that makes me appreciate when I see enough food to feed several platoons of soldiers that make me smile, as I sometimes feel that I should curtail my food options and choices to make sure that others will not miss out. Then the sweet table was also amply stocked, so that no one had to leave hungry, and that is how parties should be.

Kirkland California Chardonnay 2014

As for beverages, they were also in evidence as well. Of course nowadays bottled water is always to the forefront and of course back in the day, good old tap water or even cold water from the garden hose worked to ward off a thirst. Then there were pops, or as some parts of the country call soda, and there was an assortment of beers, both popular and smaller craft beers that are now in vogue. Then there were some magnums of wine for the guests as well. There was the Kirkland Signature Chardonnay 2014, which may become one of the largest sellers in the country, due to the buying structure and power of Costco. This wine is a generic California Chardonnay, meaning the fruit can be harvested from all points of the state for a consistent taste year after year, depending on the winemaker. The other wine that was interesting was Concha y Toro Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2015 from the Central Valley of Chile. The Central Valley is an extremely large appellation for wine making and when one combines the two grapes together from one of the largest winemakers in the area, one knows that it will be harmonious and an easy drink. While both of these wines were in magnum bottles just made the moment feel more festive and the feeling of running out, less of an issue. Sometimes for festive large parties, good basic wines are what is needed, and one never knows when one these type wines may turn another individual into a wine devotee, from that one moment.

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July Birthdays

Posted on July 24, 2016 by thewineraconteur

While still in the eastern suburbs of the Detroit area, we were celebrating all the birthdays in the family that occur in July. This was going to be at one of my Bride’s Sister’s home. So not only did we go to a wedding on the east side and spend the night in a hotel, but we also took along a portable refrigerator that can go from the car to the house, as we were transporting the meats for the party. My Bride had ten pounds of pork tenderloin that she marinated in orange juice, soy and sesame oil and it was to be barbecued for the party. We also stopped and got some chicken and hamburgers, but they were never used, because we had more tenderloin then we needed, but it is always better to have more, than not enough.

Terra dOro Chenin Blanc & Viognier 2013

Since we got there early and my Bride and her Sister were getting the food prepared for later, I went with my Brother-in-Law for a drive to pick up a few last minute supplies. He also gave me a tour of the area that they had moved to, and it was a charming lakeside community with a couple block downtown area of stores and businesses. He also took me to Washington Street Wine House, which produces wines procured from concentrated wine juice from different parts of the world. We had a quick tasting while we were there, and while I laud them for their efforts, I tried their South African Pinotage and to be truthful I did not notice any taste of that unique grape in the wine by that name, in fact I was not sure exactly what grape it reminded me of. It was one of the few times that I ever left a wine shop empty handed.

Chateau de Leelanau Cabernet Franc Rose 2013

At the party during dinner we had several different wines, but the wine that I want to discuss is another wine that we had bought at a wine tasting dinner at a restaurant and I just wanted to see if I still liked it, and I did. When we attended a Terra d’Oro wine dinner, some of the wines that we bought, I have been trying again recently like their Pinot Grigio that I wrote about a couple of articles earlier. Terra d’Oro was established in 1970 as Montevina Wines and is now part of the large Trinchero Family Estates and Terra d’Oro means Land of Gold. The Terra d’Oro Chenin Blanc and Viognier 2014 was perfect on that hot July day. The wine was a blend of 87% Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg and carries the Clarksburg appellation and 13% Viognier form the Voteau Vineyard in Amador County. Clarksburg is an appellation that is seldom seen, as most of the fruit produced there is bought by larger firms for blending, and Clarksburg is prominent for their production of Chenin Blanc.  I also want to mention the other wine that we had just bought at Michigan by the Bottle and it was Chateau de Leelanau Cabernet Franc Rose 2013 that we had bought for one of my Bride’s cousins.  I am a big fan of Michigan wines, and we both love Cabernet Franc wines when we can get them, but this wine, even though it was a rose, was a bit sweeter then I would have expected, but the cousin loved it.  So all was great and the day was a perfect July day and the family get-together was just relaxing.

 

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Michigan by the Bottle

Posted on July 22, 2016 by thewineraconteur

We were staying in one of the far eastern suburbs of the Detroit area, because of the wedding, and the next day we were going to celebrate the monthly birthdays, which we do often at our home, but one of my Bride’s Sisters wanted to do it at her house. So as we were packed up from the hotel, my Bride wanted to pick up another bottle of wine for one of her cousins to enjoy. I was not aware of the area, and lately when we are out and about, I will check my phone to see if there are any wineries in the area, because wineries have been growing in numbers here in Michigan. My phone led us to Michigan by the Bottle.

Chateau de Leelanau Muse 2012

The shop had the feel of a tasting room at a small winery. There was a large selection of wines on the walls and racks around the shop, and then there were the usual gift type items as well. The name of the shop is actually derived from a wine blog, and now the owners of the blog have opened three tasting rooms for retail. As the name implies they only feature Michigan wines and some of the wineries are small start up companies, some are boutique wineries and some are full blown wineries. I was looking at some of the brands and smiled because we had been to some of them, and I pointed out to my Bride a bottle and she remembered that we had been to one of the wineries in Jackson the year before and even had lunch there. Since we were not going to be there for long as we had other errands before the birthday party, we opted for the “Mini Flight.”

Verterra Rose of Pinot Noir 2015

I will discuss two of the wines that we tried. The first wine was Chateau de Leelanau Muse 2012 from Leelanau County near Traverse City. This was “frizzante” and our server informed us that the wine was carbonated, rather than even the Charmat Method. The wine was a blend of Pinot Grigio and Bianca. Bianca was a new grape for me; in fact it is very new and only recently developed in Hungary and is known as a Cold Hardy grape varietal, suitable for the colder climates. This wine was listed on sheet as Limited Availability and we did pass on it, as I was not keen on the aftertaste, and since we have had such great sparkling wines from Michigan, I was not impressed. The second wine that we tried was Verterra Winery Rose of Pinot Noir 2015 also from the Leelanau area and a new winery to me. This wine had limited time in Stainless Steel before bottling and it had a very young taste to it and it was slightly sweeter then what I expected. All in all, I wish that we would have had more time to spend there, as there were some other wines that I would have been interested in trying, so maybe I shall try again at one of their other locations that is closer to my house.

MI Michigan by the Bottle BC

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A Beautiful Wedding

Posted on July 20, 2016 by thewineraconteur

We recently went to a beautiful wedding at a public golf course complex that did not appear or act like a public course. The accommodations at Cherry Creek Golf Club were delightful and it was a pleasure to be there. The ceremony was outdoors near where the reception hall was, and the nuptials were even officiated by the Groom’s Cousin and the walk way was strewn with petals covering the grass, and the grass as to be expected at a golf course was lush and verdant, while everyone I know is cursing that there home lawn’s are burning up from the Summer Sun. The weather was perfect, and even the duffers that were out that day, did not over shoot the pin and there were no errant golf balls to disturb the ceremony.

Canyon Road Wines

After the ceremony there was a reception outside for everyone to enjoy the wedding and the weather. There was a well stocked bar, even offering the Bride’s favorite cocktail, as well as all of the other drinks that one would expect. There were also servers walking around with appetizers before dinner; the appetizers were Thai Chicken, an Italian Antipasto on skewers and Bruschetta. After the cocktail reception we all entered the main dining room for dinner and the continuation of the festivities. The “Cherry Creek” salad was a nice mixture with a light vinaigrette dressing, and there were bowls of crumbled bleu cheese and crumbled walnuts if one wanted to add them to the salad, and this was to accommodate any potential food allergies of the guests, and I thought that it was a nice touch.  The next course was a bowl of Farfel Pasta in a Palomino Sauce that circled the table in a family style setting. Then we went back to full service for the entrée, which was a plating of Filet Mignon, Chicken Caprese, Roasted Ratatouille and Whipped Potatoes. For dessert they were serving slices of the Wedding Cake, which had three tiers; Banana Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Marble Cake with Raspberry Mousse and Yellow Cake with Strawberry Mousse. A dessert buffet table was also set up in another room for more sweets. My eternal question that I ponder at every wedding is why is there such great dance music played during dinner and is never heard again? My Bride and I broke Wedding protocol and went to one of the side rooms out of the view of everyone and we danced several dances before the couple actually danced, and our music disappeared.

Douglass Hill Pinot Grigio 2015

There was a mix of wines being offered and during the Cocktail reception after the ceremony, since we were outside; I went with some chilled white wines. The white wines were from Douglas Hill Winery, part of the Bronco Wine Company umbrella company. I first tried the Douglas Hill Pinot Grigio 2015, and it was the sweetest Pinot Grigio wine that I had ever had. Luck had it that I was talking to one of the cousins that I knew that likes sweeter wines, so I gave her my glass to enjoy, and then I went to get a glass of Chardonnay. Unfortunately the Douglas Hill Chardonnay 2015 was sweet as well, so I just nursed it, under the sun, until we went in for dinner. The red wines were all from Canyon Road Winery, and just like the Douglas Hill Winery, the wines all carried the broad California designation. The Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 was fine with the dinner, and I actually had a second glass of it. Later on after dinner I walked over to the bar and asked for another glass of the Cab, and they poured me a glass of the Canyon Road Merlot 2014, and there was a marked difference, as I found this wine to be on the sweeter side, which was a bit disconcerting. The Cabernet Sauvignon was the high point of the wine for the evening, and I have to say it was a beautiful wedding. My Bride and I did get out and dance a couple of times later in the evening, but I guess the disc jockey had lost most of his society dance music by then.

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Finally Another Call

Posted on July 18, 2016 by thewineraconteur

Just when I thought that I was going to have to file a Missing Person Report, I received a text from The Caller. It had been some time that I had heard from him, though my Bride keeps in touch with him quite often, though when he and I connect, it is more fun, because it concerns food and wine. The Caller and his wife are always on the go, and they are always having fun. I enjoy when he thinks of us, or finds a restaurant or wine that they really have rave reviews about.

Meeker Roller Coaster Red NV

Turns out that they were in Okemos, Michigan which is a suburb of Lansing, Michigan and my Bride and I have been there a couple of times together. The Caller was at a new restaurant, to me, called Tannin, which is a great name for wine lovers. Tannin specializes in contemporary Italian Cuisine and there motto is “Delicious Wine, Intoxicating Food,” and that sounds like the perfect venue for The Caller. He texted me that his wife had the Gnocchi with Morel Mushrooms and vegetables and I guess he had the Chef’s Tasting Menu, because he sent me a copy of it. The First Course was Watermelon and Pear Gazpacho with Ginger and Thai Basil. The Second Course was Candy Stripe Beet and Duck Salad with Nasturtium Pesto. The Third Course was Lamb and Morels with Mint Chimichurri and Purple Potato Puree. The Fourth Course was Fig and Almond Chevre with Mostarda. The Fifth Course was Citrus Chiffon Cake with Coffee & Cream Buttercream, Rhubarb and Blueberries. I know that he had to good naturedly tweak my nose, because he knows how much I enjoy Duck, Lamb and Morels, and that was a great tweak.

MI Tannin Logo

They must have been really having a grand time, because they had two bottles of wine, so I am hoping they were with friends. The wine was a blend and it sounded very interesting, an offering from Mustang Wine Works of Healdsburg, California. The wine was Meeker Roller Coaster Red NV, and as the back label reads “please keep your hands and arms inside at all times,” and it was very appropriately named. This Roller Coaster Red was a blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Barbera, Petit Verdot, Carignan, Merlot, Malbec and Grenache. One of the bigger blending of wines that I can recall, and since they had two bottles of it, it must have been quite good, as I know that he would not have had the second bottle, if it wasn’t. So I guess that I don’t have to call the State Police, and we will have to try to work out a date with them, if they can fit us into their busy schedule.

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Another House Guest

Posted on July 16, 2016 by thewineraconteur

Less then a week after my Brother-in-Law stayed with us, his charming wife and her daughter and came by. She left her daughter to stay with us, and we also had two of our grandchildren stay at the house as well. There was a baby shower that they came in for during their visit. Naturally the house was in constant flux, as the house became a secondary kitchen as some of the food was being prepared, and the women then proceeded to the shower.

Charles & Charles Chardonnay 2014

I was fortunate that I was not attending, as I was off to work, and when I got home that evening, the house was calm, but not for long. My Sister-in-Law stopped by first, after getting some groceries and she was going to prep some dishes for a brunch that they decided to have the next morning at their Mother’s home. I may appear to be familiar with the kitchen and all its intricacies, but I almost felt like a fish out of water, as she was searching for certain types of utensils as well as some culinary ingredients. I was able to find most, and by that time, my Bride showed up with the girls, to take over in the kitchen and I went to bring all the stuff from the car, which she had schlepped over for the shower. Sometimes I think we could be party suppliers, but that is for another day. The women were in the process of making some assorted quiches for the brunch. My job was to get the secondary refrigerator set up, so that the next morning they could take the orange juice, Korbel, assorted meats to be cooked, and of course the quiches. My job was much easier than theirs, I felt.

William Hill Chardonnay 2013

Of course when one is in the kitchen preparing culinary dishes, the old adage “I love to cook with wine…and sometimes I even add it to the dish” comes to mind. The bottles of wine that my Brother-in-Law had left for his wife came into play, and I had placed them in the main refrigerator earlier in the day, after all, one must be prepared. The two wines were both Chardonnays, hence they were being chilled. The first was an old stand by that all of us have had in the past, sometimes even in restaurants. The William Hill Estate Winery Chardonnay 2013 from the North Coast of California is just a great every day wine. The fruit came from Sonoma, Solano and Mendocino; hence the North Coast designation. A great way to get the evening started. The next bottle of wine that we opened was a new one for me, but I am told that it is one of their personal preferences when they want a Chardonnay in the evening at their home. Charles & Charles Chardonnay 2014 is a Washington State wine that is a joint effort between Charles Smith and Charles Bieler and the wine that they produced was more of a Continental Chardonnay rather than the big oakey Chardonnays of Napa Valley and it was very refreshing. I am glad that it was the second wine that we opened, though I almost opened it first, out of curiosity. The next morning, the family all had brunch at my Mother-in-Law’s house, while I worked again. Then our guests left to go back home and my Bride took the grandchildren back, and when I got home the home had only traces of the big weekend that had occurred.

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MWWC #26: Solitude

Posted on July 14, 2016 by thewineraconteur

“It’s quarter to three, there’s no in the place except you and me
So set ‘em up, Joe, I got a little story you oughta know
We’re drinkin’, my friend, to the end of a brief episode
Make it one for my baby and one more for the road.”

wine-stain Monthly Wine Challenge

It is that time again for another Monthly Wine Writing Challenge. Beth of The Traveling Wine Chick won the last Challenge and her “win” allows her to pick the theme of the new Challenge and her choice is the word “Solitude.” Your humble Raconteur is stymied, and the only song I can think of that combines adult beverages and solitude is Frank Sinatra’s legendary saloon song “One For My Baby (and One More For the Road), and one knows this is an old song, as when was the last time anyone uttered “one more for the road.” Back in the day, that was a statement that was made, when one was among friends and enjoying the evening, and didn’t want the night to end. How times have changed, now one would never entertain that thought unless they had a designated driver, a chauffeur or a cab waiting outside.

Chateau Cheval Blanc 1985

I tried and I tried to picture myself looking over a panoramic vista with the proverbial glass of wine in my hand in solitude pondering the view. I am sorry, but no matter how awe-inspiring the view, drinking in solitude is anathema to this road weary Raconteur. The only image that I can see is Paul Giamatti as Miles drinking Chateau Cheval Blanc ’61 in a “to-go” glass. To be totally truthful the scene of Gene Wilder as Doctor Ross at the end of his career in a Woody Allen film drinking Woolite out of a brown paper bag is funnier, but just as sad.

Ch Mouton-Rothschild 1961 Pauillac

As I have stated earlier and often, I think wine is to be shared. I have been in the retail industry all of my life, and may I say that there is nothing worse then having lunch or dinner alone, and while I may have a glass of wine on occasion with my meal in that setting, it is not as enjoyable as having a dining companion across the table from you. The only other time that I will have a glass of wine alone, if there is some left over from dinner, as I attempt to pen an article; and while one will think it is a likely Muse, it is not that stimulating.

Ch Margaux 1961 Margaux

Wine is better with people. The conversations as well as the meal all seem enhanced and the meal is not solemn. The dinner that we enjoyed with my Sister-in-Law to celebrate her Fortieth Birthday with wines from her birth year of 1961 was spectacular. I mean would you really enjoy Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour and Chateau d’Yquem all by yourself? Of course not, and it would be the height of selfishness.

Chateau Latour Pauillac 1961

Wine encourages conversations and off course I tend to be a talker, even with complete strangers when it comes to wine. We have been up in resorts in Michigan discussing the great Clarets with total strangers. There was the time when I ended up getting a Third Degree interrogation while we were having dinner at another resort in Carmel Valley, much to my Bride’s chagrin and ended up being treated with a fine glass of Screaming Eagle. How often does that happen in one’s life? It would never occur if one was drinking alone.

Ch d'Yquem 1961 Sauternes

So as for me, solitude would really be negated, because even if one is enjoying a beautiful sunset at the Pacific’s Edge as we have, it is with my Bride and never alone. And I would never have it any other way.

screamingeaglelabelv2

“Well that’s how it goes and Joe, I know that you’re getting pretty anxious to close
So, thanks for the cheer, I hope you don’t mind me bending your ears
This torch that I found must be drowned or it soon may explode
So, make it one for my baby and one more for the road
That long, long road.”

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Loving Spoonful

Posted on July 12, 2016 by thewineraconteur

I am going to talk about the restaurant and not the singing group and if you remember them, you are probably as old as I am. The other day I ended up in a discussion about restaurants and chefs and Chef Loving’s name popped up and I was able to add to the discussion that the last I had heard was that he was an instructor at the Culinary Arts program at Schoolcraft Community College where my Bride and I go to almost every year for their Extravaganza. Some of the people had remembered going to his restaurant, but couldn’t remember where it was. I told them, that it is now another restaurant and that one has been going strong for some time.

Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay 2002

The restaurant had an eclectic mix of dishes and I thought it had if I may coin the expression a “Soul Food Fusion” to it, nothing that I could really put my finger on, but it had a Southern feel to some of the dishes when I was there. I remember having his Five Onion Soup, which was the dish that almost everyone had and it had Vidalia onions which were not seen often here at the time. My Bride had Rye and Pistachio Encrusted Whitefish that was baked in a cast iron skillet with potatoes and snap peas. I had the Chicken and Andouille Sausage Pasta, kind of reminiscent of New Orleans and it was nice and spicy. I remember that they had Sweet Potato Pie for dessert, but we opted to share an order of Bread Pudding with a Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

MI Loving Spoonful Logo

With all of the spiciness of the dinner, I could have gone with a red wine, but I chose a white wine, because it would be chilled and I thought it would fight the fire of the dishes. The wine was one of the popular priced wines that one still encounters quite often now, but then it was rather novel. We had the Lindeman’s Bin 65 Chardonnay from South Eastern Australia. Australia was the hot country at the moment, so most restaurants and even some bars would try to have some wines from Down Under. Australia is now what I would consider a mainstay on many wine cartes especially in the popular price category, though the majority of their great wines are not encountered that often here. People always joke that I can remember stuff, and I remind them that I only remember the extra stuff in life that makes me happy.

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