davidbdesilva

Yes I have been doing exactly that! Currently I'm wiping up the drool from the puddle beneath my computer as I lust after the French Red Burgundies (Volnay's, Corton's and the like) and the Cognac and Armangnac XO's that pop up! (getting turned on by wine? ). But, the price tags act as a quick cold shower for my excitement I can see it now, "honey I'll be right back, I'm driving to Allegheny county to pick up a bottle of cognac!" Ha!

Thanks to you all for your input and wine wisdom. As I thought, this region appears to be more fickle, expensive, but potentially rewarding than any other in the world. The beginner wines I have had so far have been a revelation to me so I cannot fathom what the grand cru's are like (someday, someday). Thanks for the references and the great idea about tastings. My forte is more in Italian wines and experiencing the French more and more creates a very interesting comparison. With a limited budget, I always strive to find the best and most interesting representative wines of regions at the best price, but then again, don't we all? Thanks again and yes, I did mean Chambolle

I have really begun to discover and enjoy the world of French Burgundy but feel quite overwhelmed by the different types but especially by the prices! My education so far has been limited to reds such as Marsannay (Domaine Bertagna, Jadot), Santenay (Nicolas Potel 1er), Gevry-Chambertin (Drouhin), Nuits St. George (Roden) and whites such as Pouilly-Fuisse (Au-baine, Drouhin) and Grand Cru Chablis (Chablisienne?). I have thorougly enjoyed these wines and I want to continue to explore and discover these wines. So, can a knowledgeable person help me with what are good, inexpensive burgundies? Or have a done fairly well so far? Tell me about Beaune, Volnay, Chamboise, Chambertin and Corton if you can (and I've probably misspelled all of these!). I realize this topic is a lifetime of study but I need a quick condensed version if possible (and maybe a few good references to read). Thank you very much to anyone who can help out this burgundy lover and relative newby!

I have been playing around with this fun new tool (instead of working ) and have noticed that the Ardmore specialty shop seems to carry everything I've been entering (even hard to find French Burgundies). I hit the Doylestown specialty shop when I can, which is close to where I work and is pretty nice, but the Ardmore shop sounds pretty awesome. Can anyone comment on whether this store is as good as it sounds? Thanks Katie for clarifying things for me and for turning me onto this site. Now I can at least see where I can access hard to find wines even if I can't afford them!

This is very cool indeed, thanks Katie! Now I can readily see how much of a bloody mark-up I paid when I order a bottle of wine at a restaurant. Hmmmm... this site may make me even more appreciative of our BYOB's!

I'll add the Drafting Room in Spring House, 15 micro's on tap and pretty good bar food to accompany. Also Blue Horse in Blue Bell, lovely bar and good food.

I agree, and I think they have purposely gone for the minimalist vibe amidst an old Victorian row home, kinda a blending of the past with the present. There is the modern gas fireplace, which doesn't add much warmth either in terms of actual temperature or in allure. We sat on the front porch which was cozy but chilly even with two space heaters, it'll be delightful in warmer weather I think. We thought the two dining rooms were kinda loud actually, but then again it was prime time on a Saturday evening. The chicken liver croquettes were excellent and I thought enough. We had the mustard-crusted pork chop and coffee braised lamb shoulder and thought both were very good. Desserts I think are their weakest part, but respectable. We spent $75 for 2 apps, 2 entrees and 2 desserts with coffee, which I think is pretty amazing. We found the service to be quite professional but never hovering and the GM Jonathan very engaging. The stemware is a very nice touch. We'll be returning in mid-February with my brother and his wife. Maybe I'll try the cod, I've also heard the butterfish is quite good as well.

That was a great idea Katie and if and when you can plan it again we'll be there!

Places that really float my boat romance-wise: 1. Overtures (drop dead gorgeous BYOB) 2. Fri Sat Sun (it just twinkles) 3. Inn at Phillips Mill, New Hope (country inn BYOB) 4. Umbria, 7110 Germantown Ave, Mt Airy (like a private little lovers club) 5. Il Bar at Panorama (Katie is right, just an incredible romantic setting) 6. Southwark, 4th and Bainbridge (small and swanky) 7. upstairs at Rose Tattoo, 19th and Callowhill (and their newly added side room, too) 8. Macaroni's, Old Bustleton Ave, NE Philly (tiny little expert Italian, a total hideaway) ← Rich, is Southwark in the old Tartin space? What's the cuisine like? Good list,I especially agree with Umbria, one of our favs and under the radar. I would have definitely added Le Jardin until that debacle. I miss the old Pigalle for pure sexiness too. I find Figs in Fairmount to be romantic too.

Damn, 73 people on her first dinner?! Amazing! The bar has been set very high indeed! I truly regret not being able to make it, it sounds like it was truly incredible. Speaking of Joseph Poon, I heard somewhere that he is closing his doors to focus on catering or something, true? If so, after the DDC dinner I hope?

You are forgetting, what I think is the issue in this whole thing: the union (and this is from someone who works for a union). It seems that they have an iron-clad grasp around someone's cajones and refuse to let go. They have already said that the sale of the state stores would bring billions in revenue to Pennsylvania but no budging seems in sight. Maybe I have it all wrong but that seems to be the issue here.

Thanks Jake, I'll have to try it some time. I have to admit to not really being that familiar with blends, as I usually stick with single malts. Seems like blends get a bad rap, but this one sounds great.

God bless Pappy indeed. I have found, to my pleasure, that Rye seems to be making a comeback. I have been seeing it more often, ranging from expensive small batch stuff (Michter's at $50 a bottle) to inexpensive stuff (one of my bargain favs, Old Olverholt at about $12 a bottle). Being a relative newby to Rye, I find it falls somewhere between Scotch and Bourbon. Not as intense and complex as single malt scotch and not as sweet as bourbon, but very good nonetheless. Cheers!

All of them look very interesting.. I am an avid scotch drinker and I still remember that my first experience with scotch was with a bottle of 10 yr. old Laphroaig. Wow, was that baptism by fire! I have come to savor speyside malts the most (Arberlour, MacCallan, Glenmorangie, Glenfarclas) but still like the peaty Islay malts as well (Bowmore, Laphroaig). This monster sounds even more intense than Laphroaig, which is saying something. One of my all time favs is Highland Park, which I think is a perfect balance between sweet and peat in a scotch.

I will definitely have to try the Moscato with a scoop of vanilla gelato! That sound utterly delish. Thanks for the help with the Ca del Bosco vineyard. I once found it at a speciality store (Maple Glen) but have not seen it since. I have seen Banfi Brachetto which I like.

At the risk of getting laughed at, I really enjoy a fine Moscato d'Asti. Incredibly sweet I know, but it's really liquid sunshine and really enjoyable. I also enjoy Brachetto d'Acqui as well with it's lovely strawberry nose. And Ca de Bosco (I think that's what it's called, help me out Katie) is my favorite red sparkler, but hard to find. This makes it sound that I only like sweet Italian sparklers, which is not true. I love 'em dry and toasty as well. Personally, I think that a good rule in life is that one should never pass up the opportunity to drink champagne (or any other sparkler for that matter).

Uh, I would move mountain and well, whatever else to attend...

I have a bottle of the 1977 Smith Woodhouse that I'm holding for my 60th birthday in 2009. I bought it in 1981 for $12.99. I know that S-W is considered a second tier port house, but at 32 years old (in 2009) it ought to be grand. David ← I love buying "second tier" bargains, because that's what they are, bargains for excellent wine. Smith & Woodhouse is excellent port at a fraction of what other "first tier" ports cost, good premier cru Chablis is excellent, again at a fraction of what the grand cru's run, 2nd growth Bordeaux's are another example, a fraction of what a 1st growth costs but excellent wines nonetheless. Your '77 should be wonderfully smooth and delicious by 2009 and a grand way to welcome your 60th.

I agree that both Dalmore's are fine whiskies and very good values. I find them to be on the sweeter side, which I like. Both are very good with a cigar (what single malt isn't when it comes right down to it?). I have drunk the cigar malt neat as well and it almost has a cognac taste to it. One of the better values out there!

Happened upon a bottle of this liquid gold in my Pennsylvania state controlled wine and spirits store and snapped up a bottle. At $35 a bottle I consider this an incredible value and an incredible bourbon. Potent at 107 proof, it is loaded with vanilla and caramel and warm on the palate. It is scored higher than its 20 year old sibling and at half the price, is well worth getting if you are a bourbon lover. I also bought bottle of Michter's straight rye whiskey, which though pricey ($50) is also quite lovely. Both go very very well with a fine cigar!

After having it for about 10 years, I finally cracked open my 1983 Smith & Woodhouse Port on New Year's day with my family and it was well worth the wait. Described as "lighter in style" it was indeed lighter than others I've had (such as my favorite, Grahams, which is incredibly viscous) but it was still medium bodied. Very enjoyable port that I picked up at a reasonable price 10 years ago (around $35 I think) and rated a 90. Vintage port is a beatiful thing and defintely worth waiting for!

Thats great to know Rich, we'll definitely have to give it a try. I think the location was making me shy away, don't know why. There's nothing quite like great French bistro cooking, except great homemade Sicilian cooking!

I agree a Sicilian restaurant would be great. There even hard to find in NYC (authetic that is). Sicilian food is fantastic in it's delicious simplicity and freshness. Very fresh ingredients that combine unique flavors and produce hearty fare. The best of Italian, Spanish and North African fare combined (I don't see that much Greek to be honest). I think the biggest shame is that Philadelphia really doesn't have a true French bistro, I mean something like Le Gigot or Balthazar in NYC. I've never been to Caribou Cafe but it looks a bit too commercial for a true bistro. We had Tartin and that closed, we had Le Jardin and that's been all screwed up, how come we can't get a real French bistro in a city like this?

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all who gave suggestions, we had an awesome weekend! The Raddison-Warwick is a lovely hotel and walking distance to so much, and such a beautiful area. Rittenhouse Square looks magical with all the globe lights in the trees, it made for very romantic strolls. Saturday night we had an incredible meal at Le Jardin. Robert Capella is incredible and we got to chat with him as he worked the floor. Lobster salad with white asparagus and sauteed skate wing with lemon and walnuts for apps, slow roasted duck breast with a foie gras filled apple and lamb bolognese with paper thin tagliatelle for entrees. Desserts were very good tarte tatin and an absolutely huge cheese plate of cow, sheep and goat cheeses. An awesome Marsannay (forget the vineyard Katie) accompanied this all. Quite an evening. I would highly recommend this very romantic restaurant. Being too full the next day, we unfortunately had to cancel brunch at The Fountain but will experience this someday. Sunday afternoon the wife had a lovely surprise massage (thanks Katie) at Adolf Biecker spa at the Rittenhouse Hotel (while I had eggs benedict at the Black Sheep pub and watched the Iggles). Sunday night was a lovely late dinner at Django. Beef cheeks over fresh pasta for app, grouper with mussels in a bouillibaisse (sp?) sauce and pork loin with pork ragu over polenta for entrees. Madeline cakes for dessert were very nice. What can one say that already hasn't been said about Django? I'll leave it at that. Bonte for Belguim sugar waffles and La Colombe was fantastic as were the pastries at Miel! Cigars and scotch while listening to Sinatra at the bar in the Prime Rib at the Raddison was an added delight. All in all a very relaxing and fattening weekend. Thanks again!

You all are being so extremely helpful, I really appreciate it! I'm starting to get things in place: after two recommendations here and being called one of the best deals in town on citysearch, I have decided to go with the Adolf Biecker spa at the Rittenhouse hotel for a late afternoon massage on Sunday after letting brunch digest a while. That brings me to another question about Brunch though, I'm hearing Four Seasons and LaCroix, the fantastic description in the last post told me a lot of brunch at the 4 Seasons, what is it like at LaCroix? I'm imagining somewhat smaller and more intimate? (though the jazz at the 4 Seasons is a nice addition). And, what does brunch run at both places? Is there a price fixe or is it determined by what you get? I do want to splurge and pamper my wife, but $125 for brunch may be a bit much. Thanks for the coffee and pastry recs, I think that Bonte and Miel will be definites. I'm also thinking that Chris' will fill the bill for some honest and home-grown jazz. Thanks Rich for the Barclay Prime rec, sounds like a great place for a romantic nightcap. You guys (and gals) are awesome!