A Weekend of Food

Metro Magazine recently came out with "The Food Issue".
I made a little checklist to go to the top four Best New Restaurants...(1) Northeast Social Club - check! (2) Sea Change - one of these days (3) The Anchor Fish and Chips - now! (4) Trattoria Tosca - Now!


On Friday THE ANCHOR FISH AND CHIPS, Northeast Minneapolis

Went with a couple of friends to this lil joint tucked away on 13th Ave in Northeast. I LOVE this block because it has Northeast Social Club, Erte, Modern Cafe and the best dive bar with some of the best live performances in town...331 Club. Anchor doesn't accept reservations and is not the largest place, so we hopped over to 331 for a drink while we waited.

Once our table was ready, we ordered some beer and perused through the classic and inexpensive menu. First on the menu - Fish and Chips. I was sold immediately on this Wild Alaskan Cod (plus this was what the reviews highlighted), and interested in the mushy peas. I subbed those instead of chips...because I was planning on stealing some of Brooke's anyway :) Crispy and covered an almost sweet batter, the fish was delicious! Megan ordered the grass-fed burger (which I had a bite of). WOW! I might have to order that next time! Tender, juicy and sandwiched between a big bun with just enough crunch.

Overall, great place with a casual, hip vibe. I'm a fan and will definitely be returning.


On Saturday TRATTORIA TOSCA, South Minneapolis

I'm happy I came here in a group because I wanted most of the menu! The reviews were all about the Winter Squash Soup and the Braised Beef Short Ribs so those were in! We chose to start with the soup, (AMAZING) wild mushrooms with shaved garlic, and 1/2lb of Caribbean white shrimp. The shrimp was ordered in error...but we weren't complaining...and they were complimentary ;)

2nd course consisted of Garganelli (Maine lobster, butternut squash, and brown butter) and Tagliatelle (braised short ribs, baby turnips and honeycrisp apples). I liked em both, but preferred the short ribs (which reminded me of a sweeter, more cinnamony version of beef stroganoff...in a good way). Brandon liked the lobster dish more for the tender lobster and sauce (which had a milder taste profile similar to the squash soup).

We then (because we hadn't eaten enough!) finished with the duck breast over polenta. I could have gone without it. It was nice, but the polenta was way too mushy and the duck was just not cooked to my liking. It had a nice crisp on the fat, but the meat just fell short for me.


Now, the wine! We had a bottle of Ben Marco Malbec. Fantabulous! This Malbec is from Mendoza, Argentina and retails about $22. Mainly sold in restaurants because the allocations are so small (this vintage is already sold out...I checked:(). The color was one the most vibrant hues of purple I've ever seen. Gorgeous! The taste profile was much juicier and less rustic than most other Malbecs I've tried. This wine was strong enough to stand up to the VERY rich flavors we were enjoying, and complimented the smoky flavors and garlic notes present throughout the meal. Robert Parker gave it 90 points.

I highly recommend this joint! Classy, trendy and comfortable. Very personal service, although a little pricey...but maybe that's because we ordered half the menu. What a weekend!

Wine with my mom

So, arrived late to Surdyk's wine sale with my mom and barely missed the samplings. Unfortunately, this bottle had been completely poured out so we didn't get to try it. We took their advice and bought a bottle based off it's apparent popularity. We got the last one! So, we opened it and here's our opinion...

Desert Wind, Ruah, 2006 ($17)
A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. My mom put it best when she said that you can tell this is a blend. Nothing really stands out, but there are hints of each variety the more you sip. Standing at 14% alcohol, this wine is pretty hot (lingers in the back of your throat). I found the Cabernet Franc gave this wine with a little more punch.

The soil is this area (Columbia Valley, Washington) imparts a slight minerality to the wine that I love! After a little time, the fruit steps up quite a bit and gets a little jammy. We had this with chicken breast over sauteed spinach topped with spicy peppers and tomatoes. The heat of the sauce and bite of the spinach was enough to stand up to this bigger wine.

On a scale of one to 100...
Mom: 89
Me: 88

Obscure Wines Class

Here is a summary of the "obscure" wine class I taught to seven other women. We focused on wines that don't always get the most attention, and also those on the rise.

-SPAIN Martin Codax Albariño, 2008, $15
The Albariño grape is a popular grape grown mainly in the Rias Biaxes (northwest corner) region of Spain. Brought by monks in the 12th century, this Galician white was named as the "White from Rhine". These vineyards have the best real estate in Spain, because they grow right along the Atlantic. Naturally, the wine is made for the diet of that region - seafood!

Albariños can be very volatile. They typically carry crisp, tart and slightly tropical characteristics. This one was definitely tart, more concentrated and possibly turned. Other occasions with this wine have been refreshing, filled with peach fruit and have carried a VERY small trace of sea salt. Went over as the least favorite of the three whites, but again, the bottle was not at its best.

-ARGENTINA Alamos Torrontes, 2008, $11
Argentina has two unique wines, Malbec and Torrontes. Malbec is the thunder, but Torrontes is a white wine indigenous to the region on the rise! Torrontes is mainly grown in the Salta region (very northern part of the country) in the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains.

The taste on this one was crispy, refreshing and very floral (a distinct taste profile for Torrontes). The ladies kept asking for more!

-FRANCE Viognier de Pennautier, 2008, $17
Pronounced Vee-oghn-yay, this white wine is from the Rhone region of France (although California has now outpaced France in plantings). Considered a "fickle" grape because often picked too early and unreliable at harvest.

I picked this as a way to diversify the whites, because it tends to air on the sweeter side. This particular one was more acidic with only a slightly sweet finish. I LOVED IT! The sweet notes were that of honeysuckle and pear balanced with a bright, crisp acidity. Try with ahi tuna salad. Yum.

-FRANCE L'Ancien Beaujolais 2008, $18
Grown in the southernmost region of Burgundy, Beaujolais is made from 100% Gamay grapes. Beaujolais Nouveau is a sweeter, lighter style of wine that is released right away as a preview of the next year's harvest. Those same grapes would be aged longer for the first tier of Beaujolais...which is what we had!

This wine was medium-bodied with some darker fruits than I would have expected. The color was very transparent, but the wine had more body than what my eyes told me. Went over well with the ladies and I would definitely recommend this wine for events with many different food pairings...think gobble gobble.
NOTE: Beaujolais Nouveau will be released the third Thursday of November. Mark it!

-PORTUGAL Crasto Douro 2005, $20
I brought this one in because I've heard for some time that Portuguese wines are ones to watch. This country is interesting because before joining the EU in 1986, they were in complete isolation and subsequently left the wine industry undeveloped. Subsequently, they maintained a rich and diverse pool of indigenous vines. All the grapes used in their wines are the same ones they use in port.

This wine was a blend of Touriga Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Cão. This is a softer version of port. The reviews were mixed, but in the end, if you want to try something different, sweeter and fuller, this is for you!

-SOUTH AFRICA La Cave Pinotage, 2004, $27
Similar to Portugal, South Africa's wine history has been affected by its politics. During the Apartheid from the 60s-80s there was a trade embargo that isolated the country. Some of the wine in this region are incredibly unique. Pinotage in particular is the one of their signature grapes - an accidental hybrid from the '30s. This rich, dark red is truly something different!

This wine was awesome (although not everyone agreed). Referring back to my previous posts, I definitely prefer this after the Vinturi. Leather, DARK fruit and smoky notes make this wine very bold. I think some of the ladies would like a fruitier version. In this instance I would recommend a Cabernet-Pinotage blend. Those tend to soften and bring fruit to the forefront. In my opinion, this wine is rich and wonderful! Enjoy it with a big ol' steak.

The Second Sampling

Glatzer Gruner Veltliner 2007, $11

So here is the second addition to the wine review section. Sitting down with three other friends, we all tried a nice glass of Gruner. This Austrian white is known for its crisp minerality and citrus fruit.

The nose and taste were very similar. Not an upfront wine, and the strongest fruit was grapefruit (similar to that of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc). Very straw-like in color. This wine definitely has bright acidity that would compliment a fatty fish, like Salmon or a fried dish like Falafel. I think the wine is nice, but would serve best with food rather than alone.

On a scale from 1-10:
Megan 7
Bettina 4.8
Dana 5
Cari 6

Vinturify!

I went to Napa last August and was fortunate enough to go to Cliff Lede Winery. The fact that this winery makes the best Sauvignon Blanc I've ever had was fabulous, and then to hear their vineyard blocks are named after famous classic rock songs was even more of a trip. I loved every bit of it. While pouring their Cabernet for us, they mentioned our wine had been put through the Vinturi. I had no idea what they were talking about.

Back in Minnesota I found out what it was. The fabulous Vinturi aerator. These little hand held gems are great!

Wine needs to breathe. Over time, oxygen makes the wine release more aromas and flavors. Aerating wine speeds up this natural process. Decanters are used to do so, but take longer, need the whole bottle to be poured out, and don't make the same cool noise this little guy does. When wine is poured through the Vinturi, the increased pressure draws in air to mix with the wine for ideal aeration.

This process helps to smooth out the wine and bring the fruit to the forefront.

It's a fun tool that runs around $35, and I think it's worth it. I'll test it on some of my friends and let you know how it goes.

So here it is...the analysis of the first wine!
From the rack, three rows up and from the Cotes du Rhone Villages.

Feraud-Brunel Cotes du Rhone Villages 2005, $18

This is a Cotes du Rhone varietal, which is mainly Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre.

So the consensus was wonderful. To start you see this rich ruby red wine swirl around your glass. Smell leather, cherry and a hint of vanilla. The taste profile takes on a candied apple quality and subtle spice. Evan mentioned flower and Dana liked the brighter fruits.

Then we tried it through the Vinturi. This was used to soften the wine and push up the fruit. Some liked it better, others preferred the more concentrated flavor in the beginning. Just thought the results were interesting. Either way, the wine won over the majority. The minority still needed a little more convincing. Maybe have a bite of chocolate and a sip to send it soaring?

THOSE WHO LIKED IT BEFORE THE VINTURI
-Cari
-Cassie

THOSE WHO LIKED IT AFTER THE VINTURI
-Evan
-Katie
-Dana

Cheers!

Here I am blogging world!

Alright. Excited to be here. Thanks for having me.

To begin, I would like to introduce myself. I am Cari, a 25 yr old wine rep. The wine and food world fascinates me. I want to share with you all that I can about it, for I keep learning everyday.

I am going to have a couple of ongoing tabs. The first one being "Cari's Wine Rack". The above picture is my fabulous wine rack full of little treats and surprises that we can walk through together. One day it will be a cellar, but until then, I have this fine setup (or at least until Hilary comes back from Spain and takes this rack back). I'll have a new post tonight after some friends come over to "research" one of these wines.

A couple of other ongoing posts will be "Restaurant Reviews". This will be as constant or as sporadic as my life allows. Also, I tend to dabble in a couple of at-home wine classes for my friends or other willing parties. I'll post what worked and what didn't. Hope you're as excited as I am.

Thanks for stopping in!