KatieLoeb

Update on Mandolie. As of 11/5/06 Mandoline will be open Sundays for dinner only from 5-9PM. The amazing $30 Monday-Thursday dinner deal continues. Here's the latest menu update: Mandoline 3 courses for $30 Monday- Thursday Appetizers (choice of one) Humbolt Fog and roasted beet “Salad” with balsamic glaze Appareled- venison ragu and grated Parmesan House Smoked Salmon and Frisee Salad- bacon lardoons and mustard vinaigrette Entrees (choice of one) Slow Cooked Veal Breast- caramelized salsify and pear compote Pumpkin Ravioli- broccoli rabe and Grana Padano Sautéed Salmon- butternut squash risotto, beet essence, and horseradish crème fraiche Dessert (choice of one) Ask server for dessert selections Coupons do not apply to this menu Mandoline · 213 Chestnut Street · 213 Chestnut Street · Philadelphia, PA (215) 238-9403 www.mandolineoldcity.com Cash Only

Finally cranked open my bottle of Kaiken Malbec Ultra 2004 this evening after a long night of slinging prime rib and lots of wine. Tasty stuff. The Price/Value Quotient is pretty high for this bottling. It's definitely more intense than the regular Kaiken malbec that was around last year. Very concentrated fruit and you can smell a bit of alcohol on the nose. Very deep dark and chocolate-y. Pretty smooth tannins considering how young it is, too. I wish I'd bought a whole mess more of this.

I can't answer for the warehouses, but I don't think they're using refrigerated trucks. Not such a problem at this time of year but my heart aches for the shipments in June-September.

The Butternut Squash and Chestnut soup I made for a Roast Goose dinner party several years ago was excellent. I just made a standard pureed squash soup after adding some unsweetened chestnut puree and garnished it with a drizzle of pumpkin seed oil and toasted pumpkin seeds. Easy and very delicious.

Thanks Bob! You beat me to the punch.

Behold! The latest and greatest to come... Upcoming Chairman's Selections 89 Points in Wine & Spirits Magazine, October 1, 2006 "N" Malbec Alto Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina 2003 Quoted at $30.00... Now $17.99... Save $12.01 ETA late November Code 29036 Arrowood Chardonnay Sonoma California 2003 89 Points by Robert Paker in The Wine Advocate, February 2005 Quoted at $29.00... Now $17.99... Save $11.01 ETA early December Code 16507 Arrowood Grand Archer Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Quoted at $22.00... Now $8.99... Save $13.01 ETA early December Code 11687 Arrowood Syrah Saralee's Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, North Coast 2001 93 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, December 2003 Regularly $44.99... Now $17.99... Save $27.00 ETA next delivery late November Code 14654 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 91 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, December 1998 Regularly $105.00... Now $59.99... Save $45.01 ETA next delivery mid November Code 11302 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 94 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, December 2000 Regularly $105.00... Now $59.99... Save $45.01 ETA next delivery mid November Code 11307 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 93 Points in Wine Spectator, June 15, 2003 Quoted at $100.00... Now $59.99... Save $40.01 ETA next delivery mid November Code 11238 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 89 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, February 2005 Regularly $105.00... Now $59.99... Save $45.01 ETA late November Code 11685 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay 2004 92 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, December 2005 Quoted at $35.00... Now $24.99... Save $10.01 ETA late November Code 16462 Blackstone Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley 2002 88 Points in The Wine News, August 2005 Quoted at $28.00... Now $13.99... Save $14.01 ETA late November Code 11997 Blackstone Reserve Syrah Dry Creek Valley 2002 92 Points in Connoisseurs' Guide, November 2005 Quoted at $28.00... Now $12.99... Save $15.01 ETA late November Code 14672 Blackstone Reserve Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2002 90 Points and EDITOR'S CHOICE in Wine Enthusiast, December 15, 2005 Quoted at $28.00... Now $12.99... Save $15.01 ETA late November Code 13813 Burgess Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2002 Quoted at $38.00... Now $14.99... Save $23.01 ETA next delivery late November Code 11525 Chateau de Tracy Pouilly Fume, Loire, France 2004 91 Points in Wine Enthusiast, July 2006 Quoted at $35.00... Now $14.99... Save $20.01 ETA next delivery late November Code 21700 Chateau Laforge, St. Emilion, France 2003 89 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, April 2004 88 Points in Wine Spectator, March 31, 2006 Quoted at $150.00... Now $49.99... Save $100.01 ETA early December Code 18817 Chateau Lascombes, Margaux Grand Cru Classes 2003 95 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, April 2005 Suggested Retail $59.99... Now $39.99... Save $20.00 ETA next delivery early December Code 18988 Chateau Le Dome, St. Emilion, France 2003 93 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, April 2006 Quoted at $250.00... Now $149.99... Save $100.01 ETA early December Code 18972 Chateau Mont Redon L'Aire du Rossignol Rose Provence, France 2005 Suggested Retail $14.99... Now $8.99... Save $6.00 ETA next delivery mid November Code 21360 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 92 Points in Wine Spectator, November 15, 2004 Regularly $79.99... Now $39.99... Save $40.00 ETA next delivery mid November Code 11300 Chateau St. Robert "Poncet Deville" Bordeaux Blanc Graves 2004 Quoted at $34.99... Now $17.99... Save $17.00 ETA early January Code 21207 Collazzi Toscana 2002 91 Points in Wine Spectator, October 31, 2004 Quoted at $50.00... Now $24.99... Save $25.01 ETA late November Code 23233 Domaine Pavillon Bel Air le Chapelain, Lalande de Pomerol, France 2003 Quoted at $49.99... Now $29.99... Save $20.00 ETA early January Code 18805 Domaine Rouge Garance Cotes du Rhone Village, Rhone, France 2003 Quoted at $19.00... Now $9.99... Save $9.01 ETA early December Code 18824 Dry Creek Vineyards Mood Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Quoted at $30.00... Now $15.99... Save $14.01 ETA early December Code 11690 Ehlers Estate "Chairman's Selection" Meritage, Napa Valley 2005 Quoted at $30.00... Now $14.99... Save $15.01 ETA early January Code 11689 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2003 90 Points in Wine Enthusiast, December 1, 2006 Quoted at $33.00... Now $19.99... Save $13.01 ETA early December Code 11688 Emu Wine Company Riesling Tasmania 2005 Suggested Retail $20.00... Now $9.99... Save $10.01 ETA late November Code 28645 EXP Late Harvest Viognier 2005 (375 ml) Quoted at $20.00... Now $9.99... Save $10.01 ETA late November Code 17800 EXP Viognier Dunnigan Hills, California 2005 Regularly $13.99... Now $8.99... Save $5.00 ETA late November Code 10184 Felton Road Pinot Noir Central Otago, New Zealand 2004 90 Points in Wine Enthusiast, December 1, 2005 Regularly $46.99... Now $29.99... Save $17.00 ETA early December Code 27724 Feuille de Garance, Cotes du Rhones, Rhone, France 2003 Quoted at $17.00... Now $8.99... Save $8.01 ETA early December Code 18866 Flora Springs Cabernet Sauvignon Wild Boar 2003 90 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, December 1, 2005 Quoted at $85.00... Now $39.99... Save $45.01 ETA late November Code 11675 Flora Springs Club Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Quoted at $35.00... Now $17.99... Save $17.01 ETA late November Code 11676 Flora Springs Club Select Merlot 2003 Quoted at $28.00... Now $11.99... Save $16.01 ETA late November Code 12215 Flora Springs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Quoted at $30.00... Now $17.99... Save $12.01 ETA late November Code 11680 Flora Springs Pinot Grigio 2005 Quoted at $13.00... Now $8.99... Save $4.01 ETA late November Code 17815 Flora Springs Poggio del Papa 2003 90 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, December 1, 2005 Quoted at $35.00... Now $15.99... Save $19.01 ETA late November Code 14631 Flora Springs Sangiovese 2004 Quoted at $16.00... Now $11.99... Save $4.01 ETA late November Code 14670 Flora Springs Select Cuvee Chardonnay 2004 Quoted at $35.00... Now $17.99... Save $17.01 ETA late November Code 14675 Fra Guerau Monsant 2004 Quoted at $12.00... Now $7.99... Save $4.01 ETA early January Code 25746 Fra Guerau Rosato 2005 Quoted at $15.00... Now $7.99... Save $7.01 ETA late November Code 25747 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard 1999 91 Points in Wine Spectator, November 15, 2003 Quoted at $68.00... Now $24.99... Save $43.01 ETA early December Code 11699 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 1999 Quoted at $43.00... Now $17.99... Save $25.01 ETA early December Code 11700 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyard 2001 89 Points in Wine Spectator, November 15, 2005 Quoted at $55.00... Now $19.99... Save $35.01 ETA early December Code 11702 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvingnon Bosche Vineyard 2001 89 Points and EDITOR'S CHOICE in Wine Enthusiast, December 15, 2005 Quoted at $65.00... Now $29.99... Save $35.01 ETA early December Code 11701 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay Rutherford California 2003 90 Points in Wine Enthusiast, March 1, 2005 Quoted at $20.00... Now $12.99... Save $7.01 ETA early December Code 16523 Gary Farrell Merlot Sonoma County 2002 Quoted at $32.00... Now $18.99... Save $13.01 ETA early December Code 12217 Gary Farrell Un-Oaked Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California 2004 Quoted at $32.00... Now $19.99... Save $12.01 ETA early December Code 16447 Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2002 Quoted at $17.00... Now $8.99... Save $8.01 ETA late November Code 11268 Geyser Peak Shorenstein Vineyard Block Merlot 2001 Regularly $33.89... Now $17.99... Save $15.90 ETA early December Code 12218 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Chardonnay 2003 Quoted at $18.00... Now $10.99... Save $7.01 ETA late November Code 16473 Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir 2003 (375ml) Suggested Retail $18.99... Now $9.98... Save $9.01 ETA next delivery late November Code 13134 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee 1997 Suggested Retail $29.99... Now $17.99... Save $12.00 ETA next delivery late November Code 29201 Gloria Ferrer Syrah 2001 Quoted at $24.00... Now $9.99... Save $14.01 ETA late November Code 14663 Goundrey Offspring Shiraz 2003 89 Points in Wine Spectator, October 15, 2005 Quoted at $16.00... Now $7.99... Save $8.01 ETA late November Code 28607 Grant Burge "Chairman's Selection" Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004 Suggested Retail $19.00... Now $8.99... Save $10.01 ETA next delivery early January Code 19211 Haywood Los Chamizal Zinfandel 2003 Quoted at $39.29... Now $17.99... Save $21.30 ETA early December Code 13820 Henri Abele Brut Champagne NV 89 Points in Wine Enthusiast, December 31, 2004 Regularly $32.29... Now $17.99... Save $14.30 ETA next delivery late November Code 29718 Kenwood Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2005 Suggested Retail $19.99... Now $9.99... Save $10.00 ETA next delivery mid November Code 17385 Kenwood Reserve Pinot Noir 2005 Suggested Retail $28.00... Now $19.99... Save $8.01 ETA mid November Code 13131 Kenwood Reserve Zinfandel 2004 Suggested Retail $23.00... Now $14.99... Save $8.01 ETA mid November Code 13799 Lake Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley 2005 Regularly $16.99... Now $9.99... Save $7.00 ETA next delivery mid November Code 17522 Lake Sonoma Zinfandel Port 2003 Suggested Retail $35.00... Now $17.99... Save $17.01 ETA mid November Code 10190 Lindeman's Pyrus Coonawarra, Australia 2001 Quoted at $30.00... Now $9.99... Save $20.01 ETA late November Code 27625 Louis Latour St. Aubin Cote de Beaune, Burgundy, France 1999 Quoted at $25.00... Now $14.99... Save $10.01 ETA early December Code 21237 Luce della Vite MAGNUM Tuscan Blend, Toscana 2000 92 Points in Wine Enthusiast, October 1, 2004 91 Points in Wine Spectator, October 15, 2003 Quoted at $150.00... Now $59.99... Save $90.01 ETA next delivery late November Code 24624 Mastroberardino Radici Fiano di Avellino 2004 90 Points and Editor's Choice in Wine Enthusiast, September 1, 2005 Quoted at $25.00... Now $14.99... Save $10.01 ETA late November Code 25141 Merryvale Chardonnay Reserve Carneros 2003 88 Points in Wine Enthusiast, May 1, 2006 Quoted at $29.00... Now $14.99... Save $14.01 ETA late November Code 16476 Merryvale Merlot Reserve Napa 2002 Quoted at $35.00... Now $14.99... Save $20.01 ETA late November Code 12216 Montes "Leyda Vineyard" Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Quoted at $17.00... Now $9.99... Save $7.01 ETA late November Code 28822 Montes Alpha "M" Chile 2003 94 Points and Highly Recommended in Wine Spectator, November 30, 2005 Quoted at $82.00... Now $49.89... Save $32.11 ETA next delivery late November Code 29003 Murphy-Goode "All-In" Claret 2003 Quoted at $45.00... Now $19.99... Save $25.01 ETA early December Code 11623 Murphy-Goode "Wild Card" Claret 2002 Quoted at $19.00... Now $9.99... Save $9.01 ETA early December Code 14704 Murphy-Goode/Pedroncelli "Friends" Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2001 Suggested Retail $18.99... Now $8.99... Save $10.00 ETA next delivery mid November Code 13757 Newton Puzzle Napa Valley 2001 90 Points by Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, December 2003 Quoted at $55.00... Now $22.99... Save $32.01 ETA next delivery late November Code 11083 Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva la Forra, Tuscany,Italy 2001 90 Points by Daniel Thomases in The Wine Advocate, April 2006 90 Points in Wine Spectator, October 15, 2004 Quoted at $40.00... Now $15.99... Save $24.01 ETA early January Code 23351 Nozzole Il Pareto 2001 91 Points in Wine Spectator, October 15, 2004 Quoted at $70.00... Now $39.99... Save $30.01 ETA next delivery late November Code 23471 Raymond Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2002 88 Points in The Wine News, June/July 2005 Quoted at $20.00... Now $9.99... Save $10.01 ETA late Novemeber Code 11682 Rutz Cellars Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir 2004 Quoted at $38.00... Now $17.99... Save $20.01 ETA late November Code 13144 Rutz Cellars Martinelli-Burnside Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002 Quoted at $80.00... Now $39.99... Save $40.01 ETA late November Code 13140 Rutz Cellars Pinot Noir River Road 2003 Quoted at $38.00... Now $19.99... Save $18.01 ETA late November Code 13137 Rutz Cellars Windsor Gardens Pinot Noir 2003 Quoted at $60.00... Now $24.99... Save $35.01 ETA late November Code 13142 Sandeman's Vau Vintage "Quinta do Vau" 1999 88 Points and EDITOR'S CHOICE in Wine Enthusiast, December 1, 2004 Quoted at $36.99... Now $19.99... Save $17.00 ETA early November Code 10200 Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, California 2005 89 Points and "Top Value" in Wine Spectator, October 31, 2006 Quoted at $18.00... Now $12.99... Save $5.01 ETA late November Code 17454 Segura Viudas Mas D'Aranyo Riserva 2001 88 Points by Josh Raynolds in International Wine Cellar, September/October 2006 Quoted at $15.00... Now $9.99... Save $5.01 ETA late November Code 25744 Silverado "Chairman's Selection" Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2005 Regularly $45.00... Now $19.99... Save $25.01 ETA mid November Code 11514 Stonestreet Merlot Alexander Valley 2002 Quoted at $25.00... Now $11.99... Save $13.01 ETA early December Code 12222 Valdubon Cosecha Ribera del Deuro 2005 Quoted at $18.00... Now $8.99... Save $9.01 ETA late November Code 25745 Vine Cliff Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 88 Points in Wine Spectator, June 30, 2002 Quoted at $75.00... Now $29.99... Save $45.01 ETA early December Code 11696 Vionta Albarino 2005 Regularly $18.99... Now $11.99... Save $7.00 ETA next delivery late November Code 25981 Wild Horse Syrah 2003 Quoted at $18.00... Now $9.99... Save $8.01 ETA early December Code 14740

A little maple syrup is in my chile recipe. It doesn't exactly cut the heat, but slows down the attack a bit. It's a trick I learned from Chef Robert Delgrande of Cafe Annie. He's a real chile expert. The sour cream suggestion and serving it on rice will dull the heat more than something sweet.

You can buy edible tea roses for drink garnishes. They're used at Amada to garnish a Hendrick's, cucumber and rosewater drink. Find an edible flower vendor in your area and ask if they can get you small roses. I will say that I never saw anyone actually eat one.

Mei, thank you so much for the photos. Weesp is lovely and reminds me of Leiden with the lovely houses on the canals. I spent a summer there playing au pair for my cousins' little daughter who now has a baby of her own. I must be getting old! I was 15 then and I was just old enough to know how much fun I might be having if I'd been allowed out on my own, but just a little too young for them to let me do it!

Tonight's effort. Kind of an easy one, but I wasn't in the mood to fuss much. 2 oz. Cabo Wabo Anejo tequila .75 oz. Apricot syrup Grapefruit soda (I used Wegman's Wedge) Wedge of lime Mix together tequila and apricot syrup over ice, fill with soda and squeeze in lime wedge. Stir gently and enjoy.

Did you get to meet all the other contestants? I see that Jack McDavid, a local Philly restaurateur (owner of the Down Home Diner at Reading Terminal) is in the competition as well. I suspect he makes some mean 'cue.

Finally made it up to the Penzey's today whilst running errands on my day off. What a nice shop and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I bought about 6 or 7 small jars of various spice blends and a couple of other things I needed as well as a 4 oz. bag of their Roast Beef seasoning that I just love. Got out of there for less than $20! Miraculous! And I now have a whole bunch of new spice mixes to play with. The Mural of Flavor (a blend of shallots, onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, basil, coriander, lemon peel, citric acid, black pepper, chives, green peppercorns, dill weed, and orange peel) is delicious on popcorn!

Awesome!! More peeks into our fellow Dutch Egullet compatriots lives and a tour of one of those infamous coffeeshops with spacecakes! Woo-hoo, this is going to be fun. Last time I had a spacecake (1985-ish) I woofed it down on a train beacause I'd forgotten I had it in my backpack and was crossing the border into Belgium. In my idiotic little mind, my bag was going to be searched and I was going to be thrown in jail. I simply had to destroy the evidence! Yeah! I was a mess for half a day afterward. What can I say? I was young and stupid... Your little charge is criminally cute. What a great smile! I could almost hear him giggling...

The Grand Archer is one of the better "second labels" from a very reputable winery, and the wines are often made from the very same grapes as the Arrowood Reserve level wines at a fraction of the cost. The Grand Archer chardonnay has always been reliable for me in the past, as well.

When I got married we had a barbeque at our house the night before the wedding for our closest family and friends and had a blast. Since my (ex)husband is European we had a lot of not only out of town guests, but folks that had travelled an awfully long way to attend our wedding. Since the wedding reception was a five course formal dinner with paired wines, we decided that low key and casual was the way to go for the rehearsal. It was a chance for his side and mine and the various and sundry friends from hither and yon to get to know each other before the big event the next day. If only his Grandmother hadn't fallen down the stairs (I should have realized it was an omen) and kept us in the ER until 2AM, the evening would have been perfect.

What he said, better than I could. (Love the pimply metaphor, Charlie)

Carolyn: I tasted something this evening that made me think of you and search out this thread. It's an Italian Espresso liqueur called Borghetti Liquore Caffe. It's even more bittersweet than the Starbucks. Delicious if you can find it. I had a sample bottle of it that a vendor had given me to play with and it took me a while to break it out and experiment. It was delicious mixed with Voyant Chai liqueur and a little vodka as a dessert drink and I'm enjoying a little bit now mixed into a Black Russian as a nightcap. Quite tasty and I think exactly what you were looking for.

The Appleton's V/X is my "house pour" rum. I always have that around. The Appleton's white blows the doors off Bacardi when I can find it for a light rum. I personally like Gosling's Black Seal better than Myers for a dark rum. I just like the real blackstrap molasses-ey taste of it better than the Myers, which I personally find too "sweet" for me. But maybe that's just me. The Gosling's is certainly sweet also, but somehow tastes more "rummy" to me.

Cheap Blue Curacao is hideous stuff. I prefer to make my own by using blue food coloring and Luxardo Triplum, which is a dead ringer for Cointreau. You can use less too, because it tastes better. Katie's right, of course, but for those of us unfortunate enough to have a bottle of blue curacao languishing in the cupboard this is probably the best idea I've heard for getting rid of it. I've had one since well before I'd ever heard of eGullet, Drinkboy, Chas. Baker, Embury, Wondrich, DeGroff, Regan et al, and I can't quite bring myself to dump it down the drain. I wonder if mixing blue curacao with one of the good triple secs or curacaos will make for an equally black drink? IIRC the bottle I have is very, very blue. I imagine a 50/50 mix would still do the trick while leaving the drink only slightly marred. Kurt ← Kurt: You could probably definitely improve the bad stuff with a small dose of the good stuff to bump up the flavor profile. It certainly couldn't hurt. Another way to use up the blue curacao is to use a couple of drops in a basic cosmo to turn it a lovely shade of lavender. Looks really pretty in the glass, especially garnished with an orchid on the side. Actually any drink that needs regular triple sec or Cointreau and has a red juice element to it like cranberry or pomegranate would turn a lovely shade of lavender/purple in the glass. Or a couple of drops in a clear drink for a nice sky blue color is good too.

Aha!! The infamous "sweating pineapple" from the Rick Nichol's article of so many months ago! I'd always driven past there in the hopes of it being opened and always found it closed. Glad to hear someone has tried it. I'll be there very soon, now.

Sandy: Sorry I missed the meatfest. Looking forward to the pix and report. I had to work. Next time I'll make it. This is the second local rodizio run I've missed. Great blogging so far! You're doing us proud. Carry on...

Cheap Blue Curacao is hideous stuff. I prefer to make my own by using blue food coloring and Luxardo Triplum, which is a dead ringer for Cointreau. You can use less too, because it tastes better.

Oops! I stand corrected. I meant the corner of Passyunk & Catharine that you mentioned, across from Sud. I got confused because all those streets meet right there...

Could we at least wait for the opening for the shilling to begin?

Yes - that used to be Sala Thai, sight of the worst Pad Thai I've ever had in my life. I've never been sorry that was gone. And yes - heaven knows there aren't enough Italian restaurants in Philly, no less just in that neighborhood. I can think of almost a dozen within a four block radius. And obviously we need one more. I just noticed a sign in the window of the long abandoned looking space at the northeast corner of 5th & Passyunk that says "Coming soon - Ristorante La Costiera" I want to go check out those killer ricotta gnocchi Chris Cognac had on his Hungry Detective Philly episode at Mezzaluna. Those looked gooooood.