Craig Camp

For me Josh Jensen has retained his passion and still makes the most interesting Pinot in California. I can only think that the problems you have referred to are a storage issue. As far as I know there were no general problems with his releases.

The impossible dream.

This system works quite well. The barrista is never tied up making change an so can concentrate on the work at hand - your coffee. I do not think it is the coffee they are afraid of being stolen.

The Italians love those places in the US too - its the other places they don't like.

"Maybe there is another issue that I haven't yet raised. I don't think there is a reason not to like any food. As long as a food is eaten by people who actually know and like food, I can't think of a reason why that food should be considered bad unless it is an isolated instance of some sort. Maybe food can be an acquired taste but, what is the argument for saying blue cheese is bad other then you don't like the taste? And that is describing preferrence? " What a great comment about understanding the diverse cooking styles and ingredients of the world. I think the comment 'actually know and like" is most appropriate. Can someone guess who wrote this - I forget the author?

Thats for the suggestion - I just ordered a copy!

It was cool and damp and the Christmas lights in the street had a glittery kaleidoscope look in the mist. It was about 8 p.m. and we left the hotel without an organized plan. After the required few minutes of being lost we found our friends hotel and then the four of us headed out to find a warm place for dinner. It was not a good night to be looking for a restaurant without a reservation but after an hour or so we were lucky to find the last table at a promising looking trattoria with a warm roaring fireplace that was sorely needed after more than an hour in the cold and damp. There was only one menu for the evening (in fact all of the restaurants were like this) – seafood prepared in almost a dozen different ways. I was a bit nervous as I did not know the place and this is a city where you can actually order spaghetti and meatballs in English. But as I looked around the room the food looked excellent and the smells where enticing. I asked for the wine list and was very encouraged to find a good selection of small producers at great prices. It was a good meal – not great – but good and prepared with care and pride. We had a wonderful time – everyone in the restaurant was having a wonderful time. It was time to get back to the piazza and we left the comfort of the restaurant, going back out into the cold, but the warm feeling of the grappa in our stomachs carried a little of the warmth of the fireplace with us. We were a long walk from the piazza and the streets where empty, but magically lit by the Christmas lights. At each turn of the maze that would take us back to the piazza more people joined as every restaurant in the city emptied simultaneously. Soon we were in a river of people all flowing to the same spot. Everyone was talking and laughing - all with full warm stomachs like ours. In the distance, I could hear increasing numbers of firecrackers exploding. We turned the last corner and the current of people carried us into the piazza. It as already full and the party was in full swing. Thousands carried bottles of prosecco, sang and lit firecrackers. Then it was midnight and the sky was filled with fireworks. Giant, golden explosions filled the air splashing color on the Duomo and the multitude of celebrants below. A feeling of magic filled my heart as the energy swirled around me. Then it was over and the current flowed back out of the piazza. We retreated to the bar of our hotel and ordered a bottle of Bellavista. Some moments live in your mind forever. Venice, New Year Eve, 1999

Steve, I think you don’t understand Italian culture. Each Italian is convinced that their individual opinion is worth being heard by the government. Italy is perhaps one of the most ‘democratic’ places on earth because of this attitude. This is why there are some many political parties – all who get their shot at stating their opinion on the many political discussion television programs. The strike is a method of political communication held dear by the Italian working class as a way to communicate their grievances not only to the government, but to leaders of all the political parties. This is why the strikes are frequent but brief. These strikes are not a surprise to Italians as they are reported on the news every evening in a ‘strike report’ much like a weather report here. All you have to do is watch the news or read a newspaper and you will know that the train conductors will be on strike tomorrow from 10:00 to 14:00 – it is all quite organized. The general strike is the granddaddy of them all. Everything closes down. You would think this is terrible, but in fact it is more like a holiday. Everyone knows it is coming and stocks up the day before and the day of the strike is filled with picnics and family gatherings while the workers who are making their statement hold their mass marches in the big cities. I quite enjoyed the last one, it was a beautiful day and we had a great cookout with friends. In fact, the strikes of the toll collectors on the Autostrade are quite popular, because the toll road becomes free. The agents just leave, close the door, put a sign up and you can just drive through. Not long ago I saved €25.00 driving home from a wine tasting in Friuli. Yes, all of this make a bit of a mess, but it is far more organized than you think. It’s because you don’t speak the language and perhaps because your mind is closed to the real beauties of the place. There must be a reason that Italy is the number one tourist destination in Europe.

I agree - funny story and well told.

I stand corrected. You are right.

Better put than I did. Please excuse my outburst of anger.

I accept your contention that you are not personally a bigot or racist. I have no reason not to believe you, but I still feel your comments were unnecessary to communicate your point. Perhaps in an attempt to be colorful you went too far. I think you can find better ways to communicate your considerable knowledge and experience. It is not uncommon for foreigners to have difficulties in foreign countries where they do not understand the system. If you think you are unhappy eating in Italy you should hear what Italians think about eating in the United States. Basta.

My post is an accurate assessement of how I interpret your remarks.

You do not think a statement like this is bigoted? Perhaps I miss your whole point then. I understand from what you wrote that you think all Italians are incompetent idiots - what else do you think the Three Stooges are? What do you mean by this? Doesn't 'they' in this context mean everyone in Italy is incapable? What do you call this type of blanket statement about 59 million people? You will forgive me if I take offense and statements like this made about "Lario, Curlissimo and Moe" as these people are my family, friends and neighbors. I would suggest that you are the one that is incapable of understanding Italian culture. You should admit your own bias to yourself and refrain from such comments which I consider below the obvious education and experience you display so eloquently in many previous posts. I will be more than happy to delete my post and return to discussing the topics we come here for if you will delete your offensive post.

A few weeks ago I was at Malpensa airport, outside of Milan, far earlier than I wanted to be, to catch a flight. I headed to the bar to grab a coffee and a croissant as I had left home in to much of a rush to have breakfast. As I dunked a croissant that would embarrass the best places in the United States into my coffee, an overweight and poorly spoken American next to me said to his wife, “gawd, I can’t wait to get back to Dunkin’ Donuts – these rolls suck.” Steve I hate to say it but your response sparkles with the same sort of intelligence. I asked you what I thought was a reasonable question and you respond with a barrage of racist insults at the people of Italy. It is great that you are not inhibited by the political correctness of the time, but your racist and bigoted comments towards the people of Italy are unwarranted and inexcusable and totally negate your credibility as critic of their cuisine. Bigots are blind. As you are obviously filled with hate towards the Italian culture and cuisine perhaps it would be best if you refrained from commenting on either as it is clear that someone as bigoted as you can in no way offer an opinion that is a useful criticism. Perhaps you should reread the comments of Joe H. to learn what constitutes useful and informative criticism. I like to participate on boards like this because of spirited debates – both for the intellectual stimulation and the fun of the debate itself. To this point, I have found your participation in these topics great fun and enlightening, but this response of yours goes to far and is in incredibly poor taste. You obviously think this is quite cute and funny, but I assure you it is not. I was most disappointed to read the type of remarks you made from someone who should have the experience to know better. It is a shame because obviously you have much to offer in these discussions. What a waste to take all the knowledge that you have acquired and waste it. There is much I could have learned from you. I wonder what the Italians call you. I am sure that it more insulting than "tre Stogari", but as you don’t speak Italian you never realized what they were calling you. I can guess.

Parione is a nice place and a great deal! Italy is full of places like this. Steve - may I ask a sensitive question. It is obvious I should respect your experience from your notes. The question is: How much of your dislike of Italian cooking today (not in the past) is due to your allergy? To have to avoid the pasta course in Italy must have some sort of effect on your appreciation of Italian food as this is so essential to the progression of tastes and textures.

My god Steve - you use the L'Espresso guide??????????? Would you use the Mobile guide in the USA!

Hey Steve - try to remember to write down the name of the wine for us wine geeks. You seem to have a good palate for nebbiolo and I like to see your comments.

Joe H. Thank you for your insightful and well written and obviously educated comments. I can tell from your tone that you have an open mind for excellent food – wherever you find it. This obvious open-mindedness gives your opinions great credibility as you will dismiss nothing untill you taste it. From your comments I feel as if I understand what these restaurants are doing. Please keep your contributions coming.

We live in a small town called Varano Borghi just outside Varese about 20 minutes from Malpensa airport. We spend about 7 months a year there and the balance based out of Chicago.

I am confused What does this mean? Are we judging Barbera based on California Barbera? What about--oh never mind.

Cims de Porrera - from Priorat - made mostly from ancient Carignan vines.

I would agree with this, well said - I also agree with you on Shiraz. You think Zinfandel tastes like mouthwash - I think most Aussie Shiraz tastes like grape jam.

Our house in Italy is only a 45 minute drive from Milano - and we never go there to eat. The only time we eat there is when someone is visiting from the United States and we do the Duomo/Castello tour. Perhaps Milano has become to much of a city of business. Watch the people rushing at lunch time to get back to the office in an hour and you feel like you are back in the United States. The fashion industry also does nothing for promoting great restaurants - they are more interested in being seen at a good table at Bice than the quality of the food. Then the suburbs are such a depressing place - grey and dirty. It Italy I always seem to find the best new restaurants run by young chefs in the middle of nowhere - like Osteria dell'Arancia in Grottammare in the Marche.

Isn’t it alright to drink good wine with good food? That $100.00 bottle often does not match well with simple food – like pizza? What is the difference between well made, good simple wine and beer in the scheme of the universe? Your $100 bottle or 5 - $20 bottles theory makes sense only if you are talking about one meal. What if you enjoy wine with your meal every evening but can’t afford $100 a night but you can handle the $20? Should they give up enjoying wine? Most $20 wines may stink, but quite a few don’t. Most $10 wines suck – but a very few don’t. What’s wrong with enjoying these wines if they make your meal more pleasurable? Let’s not forget there are more than a few $100 (or more) out there that stink too.