I have wine tasting books filled with comments from many a night in Folsom at the now closed Bella Bru. For years, a group of us never missed wine tasting. The best of these events for me were always when the winemaker was there. The personal viewpoint that only a winemaker can share about his or her product brings the glass to life.
Now that I am no longer in Folsom, I have migrated my tasting to Bella Bru in Carmichael. I must say it is not the same without the laughter of friends and the conversational banter over the wines. I do not consider myself a wine critic of any kind. I am a wine enthusiast. And my evening at Bella Bru with Matt Powell of Draconis Wine from Lodi, was one of those special wine nights. I like my wines red. I like them to fill my palate with flavor. I loved Draconis wines.
Matt is quite a maverick and entrepreneur in his wine making style. He has a day job outside of the winery. But when he talks about his wine it becomes an alive and breathing entity. It is. All hand-made. Reductionist style. Old School Lodi. Timeless. He talks about "mouthfeel and texture". His wines develop in the glass.
He doesn't have a tasting room. No club. He only sells through his website via email.
Here is my humble take on his wines.
2007 Petite Sirah Classic
Usually my favorite wine but he had a surprise in store later. 18 months in the barrel. Snap dragon red in color. Nice chew and a pinch of sweet but I like it like that.
2007 Syrah Traditional
Low and slow as Matt described it. Scarlet color. Open full bite with smooth silky follow.
Grapeful. Scent of earth and life.
2007 Syrah Modern
Hot and fast says the winemaker. Medium bold with tacky undertones. My kind of wine. Better as it opened up. Just the right flavor of grapes and grit. This is the one I went home with.
2007 Zinfandel French Oak
Woody and astringent. All the wines have assorted goo in the neck since they spend time in the bottle and no filtering. Not a turn off for me. Shows they are earthy and true to the grape. I would have picked this from the list to be my favorite before tasting, but it wasn't.
2007 Zinfandel American Oak
Zap, bite, crunch. Best zin. Mineral slate and big. Matt calls the Zins his flagship wines. No doubt. I want more.
Bella Bru did their due diligence by inviting Draconis Winery to the table. Not only was the winemaker knowledgeable, he was genuinely excited to tell you about his wine. Having Matt's story added to the complexity of the tasting experience. His wines fill the mouth with flavor and excite the taste buds to desire more. He has a beautiful website. Please check it out.
www.draconisvineyards.com
www.bellabrucafe.com
Monday, February 8, 2010
Small Plates - Places to Try
I find that there are experiences that I want to share aside from the monthly dinner. So the Small Plates section will be a preview of some of the places I want you to try.
One Speed. Lovely. Lunchtime. Starting with the best focaccia I have had. The salty taste with the aromatic olive oil was sublime. And they have a $3.75 glass of wine. It reminded me of my Papa who used to drink his red wine in a small juice glass. The server told us it was inexpensive because it came in a bag...interesting. It was delicious with the pizza. Oh the pizza, light and fresh with a crunch. You have to go. Their menu changes this week for dinner and I can't wait to see what it will be.
www.onespeedpizza.com
Formoli's Bistro
Sacramento Magazine listed this as one of the 10 great burgers in town in the February issue. My dining friend is a burger officianado. So for Friday Fun Day, we set our sights on lunch in East Sac. Loved the interior. We had excellent service. We split the burger which was so juicy and flavorful we couldn't ask for more in a bite of burger. Yummy.
3260 J St. (916) 448-5699
One Speed. Lovely. Lunchtime. Starting with the best focaccia I have had. The salty taste with the aromatic olive oil was sublime. And they have a $3.75 glass of wine. It reminded me of my Papa who used to drink his red wine in a small juice glass. The server told us it was inexpensive because it came in a bag...interesting. It was delicious with the pizza. Oh the pizza, light and fresh with a crunch. You have to go. Their menu changes this week for dinner and I can't wait to see what it will be.
www.onespeedpizza.com
Formoli's Bistro
Sacramento Magazine listed this as one of the 10 great burgers in town in the February issue. My dining friend is a burger officianado. So for Friday Fun Day, we set our sights on lunch in East Sac. Loved the interior. We had excellent service. We split the burger which was so juicy and flavorful we couldn't ask for more in a bite of burger. Yummy.
3260 J St. (916) 448-5699
The Culinary Center at Whole Foods
Super Bowl Party with Sierra Nevada Brewing and the Fong Bros.
For Christmas, I received a great gift for a foodie. A cooking class! Whole Foods has a culinary center and they present cooking demonstrations. My friend and I shopped the classes and chose the Super Bowl Party. We arrived early and there were people inside but we were told that they were not ready to seat until the start time of 5:00 pm. The facilities at the Arden Way store consist of a counter seating area directly in front of the prep and cooking space and long narrow tables on wheels that are set back from the front with pub style chairs. There are two video monitors and no microphones.
The line formed outside of the closed door as we anticipated our entry. We could see all the action going on inside setting up and prepping for the anxious crowd. Once the door opened, we were surprised to find out the counter section was reserved. So, we moved to the back and took our seats. Here is where I began to take offense to some of what followed.
As we waited for the class to begin, 5 men took the reserved seats. Unfortunately for us, one was very large and completely blocked our view of the cooking and prep area. One of them was texting the entire time so could not have been too interested in the demonstration. As a mother, I would have taken his phone away and told him to pay attention. They also brought in alcoholic beverages purchased at Whole Foods into the class. That is good to know if you have a special wine to enjoy with the meal. Someone in the crowd asked if they could turn the monitors on since our view was blocked. Only one of the cameras worked so we could only see the prep area on the screen. The group in general were friendly. Although it was difficult to be attentive with the distractions from the counter. I knew that the Super Bowl Party title invited the good old boys and they were in attendance with Tiger Woods jokes, loudly speaking to each other blocking out what the chef was describing and with an attitude that they were the only ones there. This was a distraction from the entertainment and enjoyment of the evening, for me.
The highlight of the event was the personable Molly, from Sierra Nevada Brewing. She made suggested food pairings with the brews that were interesting and educational. She spoke about the brewer, Joe Whitney and his visions beyond Pale Ale. She provided our group with the history of Sierra Nevada Brewing and brought her enthusiasm to the story. She informed us of the green side of the brewery and how they strive to sustain our planet while making their whole-cone hop beers. She spoke about the events Sierra Nevada Brewing hosts. I will definitely make the short trip to Chico soon to experience Sierra Nevada Brewing first hand.
Personally, I enjoy beer tasting as much as wine tasting. I long for the flavor distinctions and the pairings of both wine and beer. We tasted Torpedo Extra IPA first, not as her choice but someone else began to pour. Torpedo is beyond bold and so aromatic in the hoppy genre. Just the type of flavor that stands up and invites you to savor.
Next we tasted the Glissade, a golden bock, smooth and quiet. I liked the color and the overall softness of this beer. It would be delicious super cold and served in a smaller glass...my favorite way to drink beer.
The Kellerweis is a wheat beer, not one I would normally choose. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor produced in this beer. Delicious with a hint of banana. Lit up my taste buds and took me right to summer at the beach. Coppertone in the air and a cold beer in the hand.
Back to the food...Thank goodness for the beer since most of the food was so hot, pepper hot, that you needed a beer to calm down your tastebuds. My husband would say that I think everything is too hot. It takes away from the flavor that I look for in food. I am not going to review or discuss each item on the menu but rather give you the highlights from my perspective. We were served Southern Fried Wings that were cooked to perfection and not on the spicy side but really full of flavor. I enjoyed these much more than any hot wing or sweet sticky wing. These were tender and tasty. I tried the recipe at home and it was just as good.
Our chef Eddie is from Eddie's on Broadway. I heard a lot of great things about the restaurant but sadly never ate there. He prepared and served one of the best Turkey burgers I have eaten. They were made with Fuji apples and that kept them moist and tangy. This paired wonderfully with the Glissade.
Another favorite was the Honey-Lime Chipotle Prawns. The brining makes all the difference and carmelizes during the grilling. They packed some heat but the sweetness of the prawns provided balance. My choice of brew here was the Kellerweis. I'm a beach gal and the combination left me longing to fly to St. Somewhere.
The three hour tour of taste ended on a better note than it began. I got past the chef's comment early on, "Usually we are pretty on it!" When I asked how to reserve the counter seats, the response was "You have to be family." Too bad. They probably get to see and taste this food all the time. We observers in the back still got our money's worth. I especially want to recognize Molly from Sierra Nevada Brewing for tying up the loose ends dangling in the kitchen with her friendly beer-speak.
I also want to thank my friend for the gift of her friendship and sharing the pure enjoyment of dining.
For Christmas, I received a great gift for a foodie. A cooking class! Whole Foods has a culinary center and they present cooking demonstrations. My friend and I shopped the classes and chose the Super Bowl Party. We arrived early and there were people inside but we were told that they were not ready to seat until the start time of 5:00 pm. The facilities at the Arden Way store consist of a counter seating area directly in front of the prep and cooking space and long narrow tables on wheels that are set back from the front with pub style chairs. There are two video monitors and no microphones.
The line formed outside of the closed door as we anticipated our entry. We could see all the action going on inside setting up and prepping for the anxious crowd. Once the door opened, we were surprised to find out the counter section was reserved. So, we moved to the back and took our seats. Here is where I began to take offense to some of what followed.
As we waited for the class to begin, 5 men took the reserved seats. Unfortunately for us, one was very large and completely blocked our view of the cooking and prep area. One of them was texting the entire time so could not have been too interested in the demonstration. As a mother, I would have taken his phone away and told him to pay attention. They also brought in alcoholic beverages purchased at Whole Foods into the class. That is good to know if you have a special wine to enjoy with the meal. Someone in the crowd asked if they could turn the monitors on since our view was blocked. Only one of the cameras worked so we could only see the prep area on the screen. The group in general were friendly. Although it was difficult to be attentive with the distractions from the counter. I knew that the Super Bowl Party title invited the good old boys and they were in attendance with Tiger Woods jokes, loudly speaking to each other blocking out what the chef was describing and with an attitude that they were the only ones there. This was a distraction from the entertainment and enjoyment of the evening, for me.
The highlight of the event was the personable Molly, from Sierra Nevada Brewing. She made suggested food pairings with the brews that were interesting and educational. She spoke about the brewer, Joe Whitney and his visions beyond Pale Ale. She provided our group with the history of Sierra Nevada Brewing and brought her enthusiasm to the story. She informed us of the green side of the brewery and how they strive to sustain our planet while making their whole-cone hop beers. She spoke about the events Sierra Nevada Brewing hosts. I will definitely make the short trip to Chico soon to experience Sierra Nevada Brewing first hand.
Personally, I enjoy beer tasting as much as wine tasting. I long for the flavor distinctions and the pairings of both wine and beer. We tasted Torpedo Extra IPA first, not as her choice but someone else began to pour. Torpedo is beyond bold and so aromatic in the hoppy genre. Just the type of flavor that stands up and invites you to savor.
Next we tasted the Glissade, a golden bock, smooth and quiet. I liked the color and the overall softness of this beer. It would be delicious super cold and served in a smaller glass...my favorite way to drink beer.
The Kellerweis is a wheat beer, not one I would normally choose. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor produced in this beer. Delicious with a hint of banana. Lit up my taste buds and took me right to summer at the beach. Coppertone in the air and a cold beer in the hand.
Back to the food...Thank goodness for the beer since most of the food was so hot, pepper hot, that you needed a beer to calm down your tastebuds. My husband would say that I think everything is too hot. It takes away from the flavor that I look for in food. I am not going to review or discuss each item on the menu but rather give you the highlights from my perspective. We were served Southern Fried Wings that were cooked to perfection and not on the spicy side but really full of flavor. I enjoyed these much more than any hot wing or sweet sticky wing. These were tender and tasty. I tried the recipe at home and it was just as good.
Our chef Eddie is from Eddie's on Broadway. I heard a lot of great things about the restaurant but sadly never ate there. He prepared and served one of the best Turkey burgers I have eaten. They were made with Fuji apples and that kept them moist and tangy. This paired wonderfully with the Glissade.
Another favorite was the Honey-Lime Chipotle Prawns. The brining makes all the difference and carmelizes during the grilling. They packed some heat but the sweetness of the prawns provided balance. My choice of brew here was the Kellerweis. I'm a beach gal and the combination left me longing to fly to St. Somewhere.
The three hour tour of taste ended on a better note than it began. I got past the chef's comment early on, "Usually we are pretty on it!" When I asked how to reserve the counter seats, the response was "You have to be family." Too bad. They probably get to see and taste this food all the time. We observers in the back still got our money's worth. I especially want to recognize Molly from Sierra Nevada Brewing for tying up the loose ends dangling in the kitchen with her friendly beer-speak.
I also want to thank my friend for the gift of her friendship and sharing the pure enjoyment of dining.
Monday, February 1, 2010
What you have to say...
I posted all the comments I have received from you via email. I encourage you all to post comments on the blog site. I want you to know how much I appreciate your support. I have spent many hours with most of you sharing fine dining experiences and I value your opinions.
P.S. I made you anonymous since I know some of you are not internet savvy and don't care to be!
P.S. I made you anonymous since I know some of you are not internet savvy and don't care to be!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
To Matteo's or Not to Matteo's
January. A new year of dining experiences. The choice was Matteo's located in Five Points on Fair Oaks and Arden. Although this was not my month to choose, I looked forward to going there. I knew that the owners also ran The Supper Club on Del Paso. When dining at Fran's, sadly no longer there, I would see the patrons out in the courtyard and they raved about the dining experience.
Matteo's is beautiful on the inside. Or maybe I had the former Steve's Pizza etched in my mind. The flower paintings on the wall and the mirrors that the hostess pointed out were there to make the room look larger. They worked! I was impressed with the dramatic change of atmosphere.
We had one of the group missing, so the four of us were seated and handed a 3 page printed paper menu. Mine had the third page second...small detail. The wine selection by the glass was limited and the one I ordered was not available. Annoying. The $5 dollar house was barely drinkable so the other wine drinker and I jumped to the $7 glass which was. It shouldn't be that difficult to update a wine list but I find this offensive. You look at the list, choose your wine and then are told it isn't available. You start the process over while the server is waiting for you to decide again. It puts you and the server in an awkward place.
We ordered the calamari appetizer. It was such a surprise when it was served on a bed of onion strings. Very little calamari. I re-checked the menu and the description did not mention the onions. Not a big problem for me but would be for someone who disliked onions. Truth in menu. So far, Matteo's 0 for 2.
We always wait to order as I have mentioned before and are never in a hurry to dine. This night it seemed like the food was not going to arrive. When it did, one pizza was lukewarm and the other burnt on the bottom. The other two meals were okay. Matteo's 0 for 3. I am reminded of a quote in Elizabeth David's collection, South Wind Through the Kitchen. Norman Douglas talking about restaurants in general states, "No sense in growling when it is too late." For me, it was too late after the appetizer.
The service was attentive, food mediocre and the ambiance was the highlight of the dining experience.
We collectively decided that we would not return to Matteo's any time soon. A strikeout.
January. A new year of dining experiences. The choice was Matteo's located in Five Points on Fair Oaks and Arden. Although this was not my month to choose, I looked forward to going there. I knew that the owners also ran The Supper Club on Del Paso. When dining at Fran's, sadly no longer there, I would see the patrons out in the courtyard and they raved about the dining experience.
Matteo's is beautiful on the inside. Or maybe I had the former Steve's Pizza etched in my mind. The flower paintings on the wall and the mirrors that the hostess pointed out were there to make the room look larger. They worked! I was impressed with the dramatic change of atmosphere.
We had one of the group missing, so the four of us were seated and handed a 3 page printed paper menu. Mine had the third page second...small detail. The wine selection by the glass was limited and the one I ordered was not available. Annoying. The $5 dollar house was barely drinkable so the other wine drinker and I jumped to the $7 glass which was. It shouldn't be that difficult to update a wine list but I find this offensive. You look at the list, choose your wine and then are told it isn't available. You start the process over while the server is waiting for you to decide again. It puts you and the server in an awkward place.
We ordered the calamari appetizer. It was such a surprise when it was served on a bed of onion strings. Very little calamari. I re-checked the menu and the description did not mention the onions. Not a big problem for me but would be for someone who disliked onions. Truth in menu. So far, Matteo's 0 for 2.
We always wait to order as I have mentioned before and are never in a hurry to dine. This night it seemed like the food was not going to arrive. When it did, one pizza was lukewarm and the other burnt on the bottom. The other two meals were okay. Matteo's 0 for 3. I am reminded of a quote in Elizabeth David's collection, South Wind Through the Kitchen. Norman Douglas talking about restaurants in general states, "No sense in growling when it is too late." For me, it was too late after the appetizer.
The service was attentive, food mediocre and the ambiance was the highlight of the dining experience.
We collectively decided that we would not return to Matteo's any time soon. A strikeout.
Monday, December 28, 2009
No Reservations
For years we did not go out in December. There were too many events and obligations that made a night out a luxury. Only recently have our lives slowed down enough to take a night in December to dine. Our plan was to go to Opa! Opa! Historically, we find that Tuesday nights are usually slow and reservations are not required. So we headed to East Sacramento for a Greek dining experience. Upon arrival, the first indication of a problem was no parking in or near the restaurant. As we walked up we were told it was their annual holiday party. It sounded like a great deal, $10 all you can eat buffet. The only problem was standing room only. We were offered an outdoor seating area with heating but the night was cold so we stood outside deciding what to do next. Across the street looking warm and inviting was The Corner Restaurant and Bar, formerly Sweetwater. We collectively thought, "Why not?".
We were welcomed at the door and seated quickly. Menus were handed out and our server took our drink order. The menu was comfortable with good choices for our hungry group. The wine list included $5 house that was more than satisfying. When the server came back to take our order, she apologized by saying that they did not expect the crowd from across the street and were trying to call people in to help out. She did this with a smile and sincerity. We told her we were not quite ready to order but would appreciate our drinks. It was another 10 minutes before they arrived and we had an incorrect wine. She quickly fixed the error and we ordered dinner.
I should say that we are never in a hurry on our nights out. We typically like to be seated, order a drink, talk, then order dinner. It is not uncommon to be hounded by the server to order. We have no problem telling them we need more time. I understand that the business of the restaurant is to move tables. This sometimes conflicts with our purpose to converse and relax with friends. And this was not the case at The Corner Restaurant and Bar.
The dining experience I would classify as metro casual. With an inviting interior steeped in wood and Sacramento historical sports pictures it feels like a bar but the food is fine dining worthy. The Reuben was one of the best in town. The meat was just the right amount of juicy without ruining the bread. It was delicious. The other dining choices were equally good, fish and chips, animal friendly burger and the chicken sandwich. We were all pleased with our dinner selections. We typically divide the bill five ways. I budget $40 for a Ladies Night dinner. It was a nice December gift that each diner's portion was only $23.
The crowning glory to a cold December night was the news that one of us is going to be a Grandmother! What joy to share with good friends.
Happy New Year!
The Corner Restaurant and Bar
5641 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
We were welcomed at the door and seated quickly. Menus were handed out and our server took our drink order. The menu was comfortable with good choices for our hungry group. The wine list included $5 house that was more than satisfying. When the server came back to take our order, she apologized by saying that they did not expect the crowd from across the street and were trying to call people in to help out. She did this with a smile and sincerity. We told her we were not quite ready to order but would appreciate our drinks. It was another 10 minutes before they arrived and we had an incorrect wine. She quickly fixed the error and we ordered dinner.
I should say that we are never in a hurry on our nights out. We typically like to be seated, order a drink, talk, then order dinner. It is not uncommon to be hounded by the server to order. We have no problem telling them we need more time. I understand that the business of the restaurant is to move tables. This sometimes conflicts with our purpose to converse and relax with friends. And this was not the case at The Corner Restaurant and Bar.
The dining experience I would classify as metro casual. With an inviting interior steeped in wood and Sacramento historical sports pictures it feels like a bar but the food is fine dining worthy. The Reuben was one of the best in town. The meat was just the right amount of juicy without ruining the bread. It was delicious. The other dining choices were equally good, fish and chips, animal friendly burger and the chicken sandwich. We were all pleased with our dinner selections. We typically divide the bill five ways. I budget $40 for a Ladies Night dinner. It was a nice December gift that each diner's portion was only $23.
The crowning glory to a cold December night was the news that one of us is going to be a Grandmother! What joy to share with good friends.
Happy New Year!
The Corner Restaurant and Bar
5641 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Why Blog?
For 19 years, I have gone to dinner once a month with ladies that met when our children were in pre-school at Cottage Park. In those early years we sat at swim meets and shared our lives with each other. School, sports, careers and vacations were our topics. Now that our kids are almost all grown, our discussions include caring for our parents.
We call ourselves, Ladies Night, not too original but it works. We rotate whose month it is. It is usually a surprise destination announced on the way. Initially our purpose was to dine where our husbands wouldn't and where we weren't surrounded by children. Through the years we have many favorites and have observed the coming and going of some fine establishments. We have memories of meals where presentation was the focus and some that were all about the ambiance. And we have had some glorious meals where every part of the dinner was exceptional.
The best part of these meals is the company. We have shared our life events and provided encouragement and comfort along the way. Often we don't talk between dinners but we catch up each month as we dine.
Why the name, I dine, I whine!? I love these dining events. I savor every piece of conversation. The sharing and caring each one shows for their family and each other is the sweet crackling sound of the creme brulee. I don't whine. But it rhymes.
We call ourselves, Ladies Night, not too original but it works. We rotate whose month it is. It is usually a surprise destination announced on the way. Initially our purpose was to dine where our husbands wouldn't and where we weren't surrounded by children. Through the years we have many favorites and have observed the coming and going of some fine establishments. We have memories of meals where presentation was the focus and some that were all about the ambiance. And we have had some glorious meals where every part of the dinner was exceptional.
The best part of these meals is the company. We have shared our life events and provided encouragement and comfort along the way. Often we don't talk between dinners but we catch up each month as we dine.
Why the name, I dine, I whine!? I love these dining events. I savor every piece of conversation. The sharing and caring each one shows for their family and each other is the sweet crackling sound of the creme brulee. I don't whine. But it rhymes.
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