jparrott

Pretty much only KWV uses Steen any more. The use of "Chenin Blanc" corresponds with a rise in the understanding that it can make serious wines in SA.

Attention bourbon drinkers...the Burtonsville MonCo liquor store (in the same stripmall as the "Amish" market) has the best selection and prices in the area (better than the other MonCo stores, even). edited: for clarity

I love the texture of Carl's, but methinks the vanilla skimps on the flavor.

Admin: split from the discussion on Rittenhouse Bonded Rye. In a related development, a recently spotted (in La Plata, MD) bottle of Pikesville rye (same distiller, slightly younger, different mashbill, I believe) is fueling an excellent Manhattan right now. Much better than Beam rye, and a little higher-toned than the similar Overholt. Great value at $15.99 for a 1.75!

Any sightings outside of NYC? DC/MD/VA?

I wonder if they're having the same problem that Blue Smoke had when it began--the chimney was sucking smoke out so fast that the meat was getting blow-dried, not smoked.

It's under the red wines...it's DOC Gragnano, a frizzante aglianico-based blend.

Something white and unspectacular...shoot, I can't even recall. ← Unfortunate. The list has some real gems, including the aforementioned sparkling aglianico and a very nice rose.

Dude, it's all about the sparkling Aglianico. And the markup is quite reasonable, actually.

Any chance they'll have a free corkage night?

Arugula (incorporated or piled) makes a great pizza topping. What did you drink? (How do they open so many bottles of Gragnano without sputtering?!?!)

Funny, I heard their sardines were from California. Guess my snitch was wrong. Not that there's anything wrong with Portugese sardines (which were on special at Zaytinya last weekend, BTW). They used to be a staple of my boozy Friday lunches at Equinox in a past life.

Hey. I'm neither balding, nor middle-aged.

Oven roasted olives. Porcini pizza. Doooooooughnuts. Mmmmm. But at the end of the day, it's still all about the sparkling Aglianico. Geekily yours, JHP

Or go at 9:30. Look, you pay ten bucks less than Cap Grille for a bigger, more aged, better cooked, seasoned, sauced steak, PLUS better mash, PLUS spinach just as good or better. You pay probably 50% less markup on much much more interesting wine, in stems that are quite a bit less than 50% less good. The coffee's better. The apps are much better, and almost half the price. You've got the former number two at Citronelle cooking (for those who haven't been recently, a certain Mr. Hartzer is slinging the righteous chow). If you want to linger, Guajillo has a couple good after-dinner sipping tequilas or you can walk a block to Rhodeside or Cafe Asia and have a scotch (you want a walk after that kind of meal, anyway). But it's a steak place. To me, eating a properly-aged, seasoned, and cooked steak is like eating a great cheese. It's not a dining experience, it's a singular appreciation of nature and craft. It's supremely geeky. I don't take people to Ray's when we want to chat. Edit: Feel free to move this to the other thread.

The. Most. Aged. Tasting. Steak. Ever. Last night. Major league yummers.

Twasn't me. I was at Jaleo last night.

Anyone got an extra ticket for Mondovino tonight? I just got the hall pass and the event is sold out. Grrrrrr....

Wide World's real distinction is their champagne selection (at least most of the year--they blow out a lot in December/January and the stock lags for a couple of months). Boutique negociants and lots of growers, at reasonable prices.

And come see us! We'll have three tables. (Can someone bring us extra mace? Or at least a beer about 2:30 each afternoon? Please?)

Man, I didn't have that kind of dosh before I started importing! And they don't pour that stuff at trade tastings.

Please, please continue to badmouth the Kracher TBAs, so we can get some of the incredible Wachau and Kamptal TBAs in this market!

In VA, Rick's, Arrowine, and The Vineyard (under new, more aggressive management) are all solid. They all do a good job of playing off of DC retailers' weaknesses. Arrowine is "geekier" than the other two, with more interesting Loire and Champagne selections. The Wine Cabinet in Reston is up-and-coming. I haven't been to Curious Grape in years (somehow with my new gig, I guess that's going to change, though).

Since people buy them and refuse to have them tailored, or wear refuse to have the jacket retailored after their gut has grown. ← That's me! Oh yeah, they're warm too. No problem wearing a tie, though. Of course, I just back from South Africa, where shorts are de rigueur in summer unless it's a Relais Gourmands. (Shameless plug: My cohort Rich and I are pouring some of our wines at Rick's in Alexandria this Saturday afternoon).

Hama has more exotic stuff (white toro, orange clam, live scallop, bluefin etc etc) than the others, and I find the sushi chefs to be more engaging. Their rice can be a bit sweet at times, which is annoying, but I take much of my meals there as sashimi.