Where to to take an Austrian oenaphile?

[Zucchini Mama]

Hi folks,

I've got a friend coming in next week from Austria. She loves wine-is a member of an informal "ladies wine-tasting society" in Vienna, and has gone on wine tours in Italy. Where can I take her to taste the local wines and food for $$$? Does anyone do flights of local wine? Small plates would be great. A view would be great, but I really want to focus on the wine.

Zuke

[barolo]

Raincity Grill is the first place that comes to mind. You can read their entire wine list from the website: Raincity Grill .

They do flights and have a big BC wine list.

[Daddy-A]

Aurora's wine list is completely BC-focussed. Ling had dinner there recently. Her comments and pictures are HERE [CLICK].

A.

[SBonner]

I'd look at Aurora as well for 100% B.C. wine and food as well as Fiction Wine Bar and Vintropolis (wine flights).

Cheers,

Stephen

[ludja]

Offtopic:

Any chance she would be interested in joining e-gullet? It would be great to have some more commentary on egullet re: Austrian wine, food and Vienna...

Edited May 7, 2005 by ludja (log)

[Zucchini Mama]

Ludja,

That would mean taking her to the eGullet clubhaus at HSG for indoctrination. Wonder if chef Neil would wear his lederhosen to make her feel at home? And he'd have to cook that rindfleisch she's bringing me back in her suitcase!

P.S. Is that an Edelveiss I see as your avatar. Are you Austrian?

Zuke

[ludja]

Ludja,

That would mean taking her to the eGullet clubhaus at HSG for indoctrination. Wonder if chef Neil would wear his lederhosen to make her feel at home? And he'd have to cook that rindfleisch she's bringing me back in her suitcase!

P.S. Is that an Edelveiss I see as your avatar. Are you Austrian?

Zuke

←

Sounds like a good plan!

It is an Edelweiss... My mom is from Austria and so are and were both sets of grandparents.

Edited May 11, 2005 by ludja (log)

[Zucchini Mama]

Well if you go to Vienna, be sure to check out a restaurant near the Naschmarkt called Artner. They are connected to their own vineyard, where they also make their own cheese. They pour a wicked Zweigelt!

Zuke

[Zucchini Mama]

Dessert Instead: And the end of this story is...

Turns out my friend had made dinner plans :( and was to leave for Harrision Hot Springs in the morning, so we headed down to the Hamilton Street Grill Clubhaus for dessert. We managed to squeeze the rental SUV next to Neil's limo (his driver/bodyguard seems like a very nice man-longsuffering and patient). Iron Chef was playing on the tv screen and my friend Matt said "Oh gawd, this really is your sort of place!" So I had to explain to E from Austria what eGullet is (bunch of food nerds) what Iron Chef is (chefs judged by food nerds) and speed-dating (food nerds trying to meet other food nerds). She was puzzled by our culture, but impressed by the gingerbread pudding and especially the ginger ice cream. I was pleased with the wine menu-anyone who serves Nicol Pinot Gris gets the thumbs up from me. Of course, the dessert worked its way into my heart and I was bewitched bothered and bewildered, just like all the rest of you. Of course, in Vienna, where Elizabeth lives, Bohemian types have been known to become such frequent habitues of cafés that they actually received their mail at these establishments (in lieu of the garrets they were avoiding). So just keep a pile of my post at the door, will you Neil? (By the way, he's much taller in real life than in his centrefold.)

Reasons to love Austria: 1) whole menus devoted to ice cream and 2) Hummers are lobsters and not the most obnoxious vehicles on earth

[nwyles]

Of course, the dessert worked its way into my heart and I was bewitched bothered and bewildered, just like all the rest of you.

I have invented a secret drug that I put in the gingerbread that just makes you want more. Just be thankful I did not put it in a martini !