OnlyTheBest

Katie.... I think I accidently bought the wrong wine. I was in a hurry and picked up the snoqu. cab.....it was on sale for $7.99 a bottle...BUT... when i got home. I realized that I had bought a cab/merlot instead. It did say columbia valley on the label. When I went back to look for the cab... the only cab they had was a cab reserve and it was $24. Was there another cab then? I ddn't see any others. I will keep this one and try it. I grabbed it because I saw Cabernet first and did not read the label further. Well.....so much for being in a hurry. If you have had this wine let me know what you think....thanks

Thanks... I guess Mario must have some favorites from there. Thanks so much for your response.

When Mario Batalli did his discussion here...a week or so ago....I asked him about wines and he mentioned the Zillah area here in Washington state. Has anyone had any of these wines and if so what did you think. Thanks.

GREAT guys...thanks so much can't wait to go look for all of them.

great Katie...I will take the suggestions.... Really nice you were talking about that cinnamon teal wine and that you like it alot do you think it is avilable here in stores? And what did you like so much about it?

thanks for your post...I really don't know that much about wines and I am certainly not ashamed to admit it. So I will try the wine you suggest as I may like it. Is it tannic? Guess I should really try to learn more about wines so I can articulate the things that I am looking for. I do like a wine that is rich in flavor though. Any more suggestion would be greatly appreciated. thanks again.

I have shopped at whole foods for years and they have always had a great cheese counter and always willing to let you taste or cut anything you would like. Last time I was there the chesse guy let me taste all kinds of things so I could make my selection. The only trouble is that they carry alot of the standards....so if you are looking for something REALLY special...they may not have it. But yes I agree...they are a good alternative if there is no real cheese shop around. Have not been to Larrys yet. Do you think it's better than whole foods...also has anyone been to the new whole foods cheese department.... at the new store in Bellvue? I wonder if it has a bigger selection.

Thanks for all your suggestions...I will check everything out. I got really spoiled by fabulous local red table wine in Calif that sometimes cost no more than a liter of coke. Anyway...I really would love to support Washington state wines now that I live here....hope I can find some decent ones I can afford to drink everyday. Thanks again

Since I have just recently moved here.... I would love to suppot the local wine production. But i am having trouble finding a rich(think BIG chargrilled steak) and fruity red table wine that is under $10....does it even exist? I drink alot of wine with meals everyday and i need something really good to use on a regular basis...without spending a fortune. I try to keep the good stuff down to a few times a month....but for everyday...I need something cheaper. Does anyone have any suggestions.....is there even anything from Washington state in that price range?.....or do I have to fall back on my old standbys from Calif. Thanks so much.

Thanks for link to PCC...now I see what it is. Thanks again for everyones suggestions...I am going up to pac. importers tomorrow to check it out....and pop over to the new whole foods in Bellvue. I have shopped at their markets for years all over the country and they are the go to guys, for me, if there is no cheese shop around. Their selections are ususally decent. I don't mind paying good money for REALLY good cheese....the trick is to find it...and find it in good condition if it is not being sold in a shop that knows how to take care of it. Alas...I think the really interesting funky cheeses will only be handled by places that can sell them. I will check out DiLaurenti again as well. Thanks again everyone.

Is PGI the same as PCC? If not what is PCC then? Thanks

well... I am really disappointed to hear that...but I suspected as much...the selection at whole foods is not bad...I have not been to PCC...can someone tell me what that store is then. I will chek out the rest of them. Too bad ....I love a great cheese shop and I do think that Seattle would support one..... well maybe some day. Thanks for your opinions.

I have been wondering for a while if there are any real cheese shops in the area...I know there are places that have good selections of cheeses but is there a good stand alone shop with a person that really knows their stuff. SOmewhere like the cheese board in Berkley. If there is one I would love to know where...if not...where do you like to shop for your cheeses the most. I love the English ones...they seem hard to find out here. I like the farmhouse cheeses best of all the English...and the soft French cheeses too. Any help you can give me would be great...thanks so much.

I know that sometimes stores tend to carry only what sells...does the long island store carry the same great selection the other does? I have heard alot about the Fairway cheese selection which store has the most? Thanks

I really would much prefer a tour with maybe just a few other people and someone who knew exactly where to go and knew the cheese makers. I like to wander around when I have the time but lately there is not much of that so no...I would absolutley prefer a tour with someone who knows alot. I wish Steve would offer a tour...I would sign up immediately.

Hi Steve I love your book and have used it for years. It is my cheese bible. Even though I have done alot of traveling I would still love to find a great tour of French and Italian cheeses. DO you know of anyone who is offering a few weeks or so touring the French or Italian countryside visiting places making these cheeses. I have looked and looked and found nothing at all. If you know of anyone offering a good one I would appreciate it. Thanks so much.

yes...I have tried it..and corn oil as well. There is no taste at all compared to using olive oil. I am looking not for a way to cut corners with oil....and I am not looking for cheap oil. I am not looking to dilute oil ...I am looking for a reasonble place to by whatever olive oil I feel is best suited to the purpose I need it for. I have run out of good olive oil to cook with. I Like Frantoia..unfiltered but I would like to find a place to buy it that will not tack on and extra $10 dollars. Fancy shops with high rents tend to add on to the price. I prefer to buy from a place that has a good selection of great oils but leaves the price at what it should be. Cheap oil...like cheap anything is not worth it. I pay the price when I have to. for somethng good....but not when it's just so I can shop in a fancy store. I am sure i will turn up a place that has a good selection as people on this board have been very helpful. And...on your suggestion...I will go and look at Dilaurenti again.

WHAT on EARTH are you all talking about? I cook Italian food with ONLY olive oil... I use lard and criso and all the other lipids for OTHER things! I made this post about WHERE to find good olive oil ...NOT for some assine advice about using crisco or whatever to cook Italian food with. If I wanted cooking advice I would have asked for it...now this discussion has degenerated to this. AND FOR NO REASON! And as far as the oil losing some flavor ...it does a little but as I SAID!..it is still better to cook with it for the flavor it imparts the food! If you don't use olive oil to cook Italian food that is YOUR business! And don't tell me I am missing out by not using canola oil to cook it with. When I was a teenager and didn't know any better I used whatever oil was handy...then I was shown and was taught the proper way to cook Italian food...using olive oil. So...if you think that's all wrong then go talk to Mario Batalli about it. It is certainly YOUR CHOICE! ALL the fats have their place...even lard. BUT... when cooking MOST of the foods of my family... we use olive oil. I am talking ONLY about Italian food here...and maybe Greek. IT IS my CHOICE! I am 100% Italian....first generation...and THAT'S how we cook. If you want to change it around it is YOUR kitchen...and YOUR business.

Excuse me Miss but if you read my post in response to his suggestion you will see I do address it. LIKE I SAID...... however little the heat may degrade the flavor...it is STILL far better to use a good olive oil to cook in for the the flavor it imparts to the food. I have never heard of real Italian food being cooked with anything but olive oil. If it is your taste to use another oil to do so...then DO IT! For me ...I find things like canola oil tasteless for Italian cooking.....but if you like it ...use it. All I was asking in this post was where to find a good selection of olive oils...I was NOT asking for some kind of crude cooking lesson. Thanks for your comments.

Thanks..I'll check it out... and REALLY NICE can use the can of crisco to eat with his $200 wine.

CANOLA OIL? your kidding.... right? I use extra virgin olive oil for cooking AND for finishing. The difference is for cooking I use a less costly oil in the $10 to 15 dollar range and for finishing I use a KILLER EVO in the $30 to 40 range...which makes the dishes sublime! Canola oil? You have GOT to be kidding! I am shocked. However the heat may degrade the olive oil there is still NO substitute for cooking with REALLY good olive oil when you are doing Italian food. Even the years I spent in Greece I saw them boiling things in olive oil....even PASTA! The flavor it imparts to to food is fabulous. Uh....so...NO canola oil for this Italian girl. My Italian grandmothers would come back from the dead to wack me over the head with their rolling pins. I will indeed look into Dilaurenti again. Thanks for your post.

No...you are not late... I have not had a chance to go find the oil I need yet...so thanks for the post. I will have to find Pacific Place....still getting use to the area.

That sounds great....I'll look into it as you really need to be able to taste them before you buy. Thanks so much.

Really Nice...I have found that over the years in fancy stores...you can sometimes pay more for the same quality item you can find somewhere else. As I am new to this area I am sure there are places to find things I have not yet discovered. Olive oil is a good example. A few months ago before I moved...while looking for a particular oil ...I saw the same oil ,priced at $35 in a fancier store , going for $26 dollars in a little family Italian grocery. It depends where you shop and what you are looking for as to wheather you will needlessly pay more. I would rather not pay the rent on somebodies fancy shop if I can avoid it. Sometimes you pay the price for something because THAT is the price...if you want that thing. Which is fine. I have been a fool for all kinds of pricey foods that cost what they cost....including some smashing olive oils. But...at the moment I am looking for a good cooking oil ..not one to drizzle for finishing a dish. But still something really nice.

I may have checked...I don't remember now if I did....I was in there when I moved here about 4 weeks ago. I'll check again...thanks.