grandcru

Get thee to BG Emilio's, northeast corner of El Toro & Muirlands in Lake Forest. Great NY thin crust pizza. I kid you not. You can probably find better in NYC, but not without a hunt.

Awww, it-shay! I'm gonna be in Paso Robles on a wine tasting day. Have some sticky rice in lotus leaf for me. Hopefully I'll make the next trip.

Needing a "throwaway" Italian white to go with my light dinner of herbed flatbread and a duo of formaggi italiani, Taleggio from Lombardia and Piave Vecchio from Friuli, I perused the rack for bottles I didn't mind sacrificing to such modest circumstances. Since I purchased this bottle a couple of years ago, and knowing nothing of nosiola's aging curve, I thought I might be popping the cork on a simple, over-the-hill white. Perhaps I should have kept on searching for another throwaway. A lilting but lively body reminiscent for me of a Muscadet with plenty of green apple and plum skin, cleansing acidity, and a subtly nutty finish. This latter point makes perfect sense as nosiola means "nut" in Trentino dialect. Far from a throwaway wine, this is one I'll be revisiting time and again.

The fact that the server's comment doesn't faze 99.9% of the dining and drinking world illustrates just how alone in the universe we really are. To steal a movie tag line, in wine space, nobody can hear you scream.

Shameless! Boooo! Ms. Taurasi hails from Chino, CA, the town right over the hill from my hometown of Diamond Bar. She could have plied her hoops trade anywhere she wanted, but Storrs was about as far away from her hometown stank as she could get. Although much of the well-fertilized soil has been claimed for the housing boom, it's still a semi-serious cow town. When the wind was wrong, the unmistakeable bouquet would waft over the hills. "Ahh, smell that fresh derrière" One could easily write that as "dairy air", but it really did smell like moldy ass.

For a great rosé, look for Billecart-Salmon's Cuvée Elizabeth Salmon, their top rosé produced only in exceptional years. The 1997 is on the market now for between $80-100, and the 1995, while rarer and more expensive, will still get you a mind-blowing bubbly from a sought-after vintage.

The Castello di Ama rosato is also a delicious, year-in-year-out winner. I just hate to see the price creep up along with the rest of the Ama line-up.

It was exactly that Winchester Cheese company out there in the Inland Empire sticks that I had in mind when I mentioned "well-done Dutch style." I dunno if you can get it up there fast enough from down here if you can't find anything else sooner, but it's worth a try. On another wild hare, call the good folks at Vella Cheese Co. in downtown Sonoma. They're right in GunBun's neighborhood, as you well know. See if they have a good suggestion with the gewurz.

Carolyn, if you can find a real Dutch (or well-done Dutch style) Gouda with cumin seeds, you could have an intriguing pairing for the gewurz. You're chock full of cheese shops up your way that should be able to fit the bill. Let us know what you wind up picking, sounds fun.

Another vote for feijoas. Nothing quite like them. Good thing they thrive in So Cal.

I have been enjoying some exquisite Flowery Pekoe white tea I purchased in L.A.'s Chinatown a few weeks ago. It has a subtle but persistent flavor which appeals to the wine lover in me. Today, I thought I'd mix things up a bit by throwing in a small pinch of Lapsang Souchong, hoping to marry the pros of each into an irresistible blend. Big mistake, as those of you who have mixed with LS are probably saying to yourselves. LS is just too overwhelming, and if I were ever to attempt it again, a couple of threads would be all I'd throw in. I am just beginning to explore high-end tea, so my blending skills will be on a heckuva learning curve. I will be loathe to adulterate my white tea with anything else after this.

Glad you liked Haleiwa Joe's as much as I did. I still love Roy Yamaguchi's restaurants, but I feel HJ offers a similar quality dining experience at a lower price. Thanks for the report.

If I may offer a tangent that nobody else has, might you consider taking one of your Venezia days and hopping on a quick train northward into Friuli-Venezia-Giulia? You could take in either Trieste, a great and historic city combining the elements of Romance, Germanic and Slavic cultures (plus, the home of Illy espresso!); or you could go to Udine, a pleasant, semi-urban jumping-off spot for the charming towns of Cividale and San Daniele, the latter of which is justly famed for its prosciutto. There is plenty of great food, wine, and history to be absorbed with either tack here. I really enjoyed the area when I was there in August, despite the killer heat. Submitted for your consideration...

If you see it in your neck of the woods, try the Malan pinotage, which sports a sleeker profile and an almost-Italianate acid structure. It remains true to the variety, and comes in below US$10.

Sorry I've rejoined the fray so late. I'm in for one, too.

Have done the Arthur's burger, and yes, they are worth a shot.

Though decidedly not in the value range, I have to put a word in for an amazing Champagne a friend was generous enough to share last week. the 1997 Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose "Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon". I can't recall more precision and length of flavor in a sparkling wine. Truly a treat if one can find it.

Okay, game over: you MUST try a Cerdon de Bugey, a light, slightly sweet pink sparkler from the Savoie region of France. One of the leading examples is that from Renardat-Fache, and that one is available at Chambers St. Wines in Manhattan. Ask around and you may find it more locally. Another example I tried and enjoyed over Thanksgiving was the Thierry Troccon "Clos de la Bierle", but I got that here on the West Coast and don't know if/where it may be available there.

If you get to taste Huet's Cuvee Constance, you may not be held responsible for your actions. Some of the most sinful juice ever put under cork.

I wanted to put in a good work for the newish Rancho Mirage branch of the Hawaii-based Haleiwa Joe's, at 69934 Hwy 111. It's in the old Chart House location, wedged into the side of a hill facing the highway. I went with my parents two weeks ago for an early Sunday meal, and was very pleased with the experience. I had two apps, the huge, very fresh coconut-battered shrimp, and the addictive Emma's Poke, marinated ahi served on a bed of onions and cabbage. My parents shared a dinner salad and a massive hunk of monchong (which I've since found is a type of pomfret) fish in a zippy thai green curry sauce garnished with island fruit chutney. The service was efficient and friendly, and I thought the value was very good given the quality and quantity of food. There was a Roy's restaurant just down the road, and I'm glad we decided to go here. I think Haleiwa Joe's trumps Roy's at their own game. Haleiwa Joe's

Yes, definitely more than Torcolato, but very competitive with top Sauternes and Barsac, where the standard is set, and indeed cheaper than many German TBAs and eisweine.

It isn't moscato - though Maculan do a nice job with their Dindarello moscato-based dessert wine - but you should make the effort to find a bottle of Maculan's Acininobili. This is a special version of their high-end Torcolato, released only in botrytis-affected vintages. If you like d'Yquem, this should be right up your alley. In fact, it is often called the d'Yquem of Italy. I'll leave you to decide for yourself whether or not it's just hype. Acininobili info

Thanks for cluing me in on another Ciro producer, Alberto. I've been drinking Librandi wines for years, and have also enjoyed Odoardi and Fattoria San Francesco. I went to Linardi's website, and their gaglioppo imbianco, Galio, looks like something I'll search for. I hope it makes it to California.

I'm in for one. See you there.

Unfortunately, if it were lunch, I'd have to bow out. I have an annual family party in the mid-day. I'm hoping it stays dinner, but do what you must. There will be other bulgogi and galbi moments for me if I should miss this one.