It's Friday, 01/23/2009...What Is On Deck For The Weekend's Consumption

What a day. Great lunch and great dinner. I had a nice Barolo, a powerhouse of a Brunello, and a 2005 Shafer One Point FiveCab that ROCKED!

Tonight I tried the 2006 Lucia Susans Syrah. Was not the biggest fan. The '05 was and still is amazing. (still have 5)
A good day all around.

Saturday:

Wines

Champagne

1985 Bollinger RD 1985 in Jeroboam


White Rhone Chateauneuf du Pape

1999 St Benoit Blanc 750
2007 Raymond Usseglio Blanc CNP
2007 Clos des Papes Blanc CNP



Red Rhone Chateauneuf du Pape

Tasting of 1998's

Vieux Telegraphe
Charvin
Mont Olivet
Clos du Caillou
Pierre Usseglio
Pierre Usseglio Mon Aieul
Vieux Donjon
Pegau Reservee



White Burgundy
1995 Bouchard Chevalier Montrachet
1996 Bouchard Chevalier Montrachet


Dessert

1995 d'Yquem... maybe a surprise here too



Food


Appetizer

Popcorn with Truffle Salt
Duck Rillettes

First Course

Chestnut Soup

Entree

Cassoulet Two Ways with Salade aux Gesieres de Canard Confit

Cheese Course

Thomasville Tomme
Thomasville Gouda
Thomasville Sweetwood
Pierre Robert
Epoisses (Henri Germain)
Aged Comte 15 Monte

Dessert

Hot Madelines

Dinner party tonight at my house:

Marcona Almonds and Dried Apricots
Francois Cotat, Rose of Pinot Noir, Sancerre

Caponata, Burrata & Grilled Garlic Ciabatta
2006 Beinto Ferrara Greco di Tufo

Panko Crusted Calamari with Remoulade Sauce
nv Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose

Sicilian Chicken with Home Made Fettuccini
2006 Nero d’Avola

Wild Blueberry & Zabaglione Gelato
Strawberries with Balsamic, & Pine Nut Cookies

Change in plans.
The lamb shanks have been replaced with massive and awesome looking beef short ribs purchased by the GF. (is she trying to tell me something?)

I'll do a traditional type braise, onion/celery/carrot/garlic, in red wine and beef stock. I thicken braise at the very end with reduction and a bit of cornmeal. I'll serve it with a creamy polenta finished with mascarpone.

We drank a 2003 Couroulu Vacqueyras last night, I have an '05 to open tonight, but I may opt for something a little Cabbier.

Livin large Michael!

Last night I made a simple dinner with flank steak and a bulger wheat salad (with turnips, carrots and parsley). The flank steak was marinated for a couple hours with olive oil, ground cumin, garlic, chipotle chile powder, and salt & pepper. Consumed a 2004 Realm Cellars "The Tempest" and a glass of 2003 Core "Coreferment".

Tonight is dim sum for Chinese New Year...some place way out in the avenues in San Francisco.

Friday Night - Southern Italian wines and food at Tr. Nostrani

Saturday Night - Chicken Vegetable soup with old Viognier

Sunday Night - Miso Soup, Sashimi, and Nigiri Sake

Friday: at a friend's house in the valley. His wife was doing some jewelry party so he needed company. Basic appetizers and some solid but unexciting syrah.

Saturday: Duck confit at Terra in Albuquerque. Nice stuff. Started with a wild mushroom soup with truffle oil which was disappointing but the duck was great.

Sunday: no clue yet

Otto Dobre wrote:My usual Penne Salsiccia at Antica Tratorria, the best Italian in San Diego. Nancy, if you read this, we have to get together either at this Italian place or Wine Vault. Since the Italian is only 1 mile from my house, we could stop here for some nice wines afterwards.

BTW Mel can't wait to see you.

Otto

Well, I'm still trying to find my way around this new board but I found your message, Otto!

I've been trying to find a time to go to Wine Vault and have told my friends about it. Maybe some Saturday evening soon! Antica sounds good, too.

We had a light supper of crab cakes and beef tenderloin strips at Lou and Mickey's after Tosca last night (what a performance!).

Looking forward to seeing you and Mel...

Nancy