Fun on Bainbridge Island

Hi All,

As some of you know I have been staying in AirBNB's for the last four months in various spots around Seattle. The idea behind doing this has been to find a place for Lisa and I to buy a house. Any of you that know us are aware that we have a complex set of requirements for a new home. On a weekend trip to Bainbridge Island we decided that it would be a good place for us to look. So I found an AirBNB on the island and began to take in the islands charms. In fairly short order I fell in love with the island and its charms. I was lucky enough to find a great host and a near perfect location! My morning starts off with a 15 minute walk to the ferry, a short ride to downtown Seattle and a walk to the office. The evening is when things shined for me. Reverse the commute, with a short detour to the Town & Country market a family owned grocery store that puts Whole Foods to shame, a quick stop in the wine store, and a short walk to Kell's place. I usually see a couple of deer on the walk. I have been living there, but I think it is also a great vacation spot, quiet, hiking and outdoor activities, nice people, shops, restaurants, a short ferry ride to Seattle and all it has to offer. If you are thinking of visiting Bainbridge I would highly recommend staying at Kell's Place On Bainbridge Island, he has both a Studio and a Two Bedroom Apartment. Both are very reasonable priced (much cheaper than hotel). So we ended up buying a house just up the street from Kell. Here are two of my friends that I see on the walk home most nights.

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault

Okay, so I am a little slow getting back into the groove :). The good news is that I have had a few good bottles in the last little bit. I usually write about California wines, but have decided to switch it up for the next few posts. A few years ago Lisa and I had our first Meursault. Meursault is a village in the Burgundy region of eastern France. If you have been to Napa Valley, think of it as the Durell vineyard area of Carneros. These areas produce some exceptional chardonnays (as well as other great wines). What distinguishes them is two things, balance and texture. Balance to me means that there is acid,  not a lot, with slow a transition to neutral. Texture to me means a full round mouth feel, substance, not lite. The Domain Remi Jobard, has great apple and pear flavors, with medium acid on the tip of your tongue that transitions to a nice mineral texture. Its a little on the expensive side for typical chardonnays, but on the value side for Mersaults. That's the bad thing about anything good from Meursault, they are typically crazy expensive.

Food, Wine and Fun Restart (AKA Deck The Hall Ball Issue)

So, it has been a while since I posted to the blog (7ish years I think). I didn't stop writing because I stopped eating, drinking wine, or having fun. I think it was mostly because we found things that we liked and did those things pretty regularly. It is pretty boring for everyone reading my review of Aubert Pinot over, and over, and over, again. It is still a great pinot, but you already know that.

Anyway to the point, I am spending most of my time in Seattle now. Lisa and I are in the middle of relocating there. Most every day is a day of discovery for me! I am meeting new friends, eating at some new places, and having some new adventures.

So my first big time fun thing in Seattle was the Deck The Hall Ball. This was my birthday present to myself. The Ball happens every year (for over 20 years). This year it was on December 5th,  at the Key Arena, a somewhat long but reasonable walk from my office. For those of you who don't know, it is a show that features alternative music. This years lineup was:

The Killers
The Lumineers
Odesza
Portugal. The Man
Joywave
J. Roddy Walston and The Business

Honestly I am not a big fan of Joywave or J. Roddy Waltson, so I got to the venue late. My excuse is that I had some meetings that I needed to attend. I got there about midway through Portugal, The Man's set. What I saw was incredible! Extremely high energy and lots of fun. For me, Odesza was the hit of the night. I went from thinking the are okay, to being a big fan. The drum line crushed it! Super high energy, awesome visual effects (rivaling Pink Floyd), all in all a great performance. The Lumineers were good, but they are a little to country for me. And The Killers totally crushed it! The show ended a little weirdly because it ran over curfew.

Anyway, if your in Seattle next year around the beginning of December you need to check it out.

Many thanks to Alexa for going with me!

Here is one of my favorites from the evening.

Maybe the best Chardonnay of all time !

Unlike the last post, this one doesn't fall into the value category. Peter Michael Winery, Ma Belle-Fille Chardonnay (2007). I bought this about nine months ago from my Peter Michael allocation. What that means is they send you and email and you have a few minutes to decide what wine to buy at crazy high prices. This wine is off the hook. Not over or under done in any way, multiple layers of flavor that go together nicely. The balance is right on. The only problem is that I only could get two bottles and one is now gone. To me this is the truely fun and not fun thing about wine collecting (when to drink the last one).

Smoke Screen Chardonnay (2007)

By far the best low cost wine I have had in years. Apparently the economic down turn has hit the wine business as well. The is a second label wine from the folks at Cakebread which has been a long time favorite of mine and Lisa's. We have not drank much of it lately because the price got out of wack with the quality. This wine is great, easily as good as wines that cost four times as much. When people figure this out it is gone. As for the taste classic over oak'd, big mouth fell, nice and buttery.

Another Singapore Trip Comes To An End

My last evening in Singapore. I wanted to get something nice for Lisa, since she has been so good about putting up with these trips, and keeping the train on track at home. Anyway she loves all things Prada, and there is a Prada store about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. I head over, make my purchase, start walking back. It is now about 8:30 PM on a Friday night. Let's just say I learned a valuable lesson, don't walk past the "Orchard Towers" if your a guy by yourself carrying a Prada bag at that time or later on a Friday night. If you don't get this, google "Orchard Towers Singapore". Time to board my flight home.

TTFN

15 Years Later At the Farallon

I have lived in the bay area going on 25 years now (off and on). I have moved away twice and come back twice. But that is a story for another post. Alexa did a sleepover last night, so Lisa and I did something we have not done in years. Headed for the city (San Francisco) after 8:00 PM. We tried for a table at Gary Danko (good luck on that) but ended up at my fav "The Farallon". As we were dining last night we figured out that we have been going to the Farallon for 15 years at least. We found it by working our way through the 100 best places to eat in San Francisco. Each time we seem to have a unique experience that includes a mix of fab food, ambience, people, wine. They range taking the parents out for great seafood, celebrating a business success with an endless stream of Billicart, to bumping into the Metallica guys. What a great night with my babe, we sat, ate, reminisced, drank a stellar Pahlmeyer 2006, and took a trip down memory lane. If your in SF don't miss it.

http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/

Saffron Orzo with Asparagus and Prosciutto

This is an old one but a good one. Not sure when or where I got it, been in my notebook since we lived in Boston 7 or 8 years ago. I have another Saffron Orzo recipe, but this one is much richer and seems to go over much better. I like the prosciutto and butter (two of the magic ingredients). Alexa loves it as well, Lisa not so much.

Makes 8 Servings

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into thin strips
1 1/4 cups orzo (about 8 ounces)
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, crushed
1 pound slender asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese


Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add prosciutto and sauté until almost crisp, about 3 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in same skillet over high heat. Add orzo; stir 1 minute. Add broth and saffron; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until orzo begins to soften, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add asparagus; cover and simmer until tender, about 5 minutes. Uncover; simmer until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Mix in prosciutto and 1/2 cup grated cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir 2007

This is one of those cases of wrong bottle right choice. During a dinner party I reached into the chardonnay bin, and pulled out what I thought was a Paul Hobbs chardonnay. The label looks the same, so I pulled the cork and started to poor a taste and had an "Oh S*%#" moment. Long story short, this is a great pinot. Perfectly balanced, nice fruit but not over powering. I have been drinking on the bottle for over a week (small glass per night). Bottom line this is an outstanding example of a Russian River Pinot. If you see it, go for it.

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Tour

Miley rocked the house, at least the kids think so.

The ticketless entry seemed to work fine for me. It is pretty clear that a number of people didn't understand the rules (e.g. The person who bought the tickets needs to show up with the credit card they used). The "show" started an hour early with "Metro Station" Mileys brother, they played well, but the kids were off getting shirts when the show started and missed the first few minutes. Miley started promptly at 8 PM, used most every concert effect I have seen ever, except for lasers. Sound was not the best, loud but not clear. I am not a big fan of her music, took the kids cause they wanted to go. They loved it!!!! Give it four stars because of the sound quality, five if the sound was better.

Opening act: Metro Station (Miley's Brother)
Favorite moment: Miley flying over the crowd during "Fly"
Least favorite moment: Trying to get out of Oakland.

Would I go on my own, no way. But if you have a teen or pre-teen girl they will think you are the greatest parent on a the planet for at least a couple of days if you take them.

Pahlmeyer 2007 "Jayson" Chardonnay

Jayson is the "off label" version of "Pahlmeyer" chardonnay. They started releasing this label a few years ago for barrels that weren't quite of to the standards they wanted. Today it has grown a bit of a following "Me for one". It is half the price of the flagship product, same grapes, same barrels, slightly different blend, and one killer chardonnay. The other good thing is that it is ready to drink now, no putting it in a dark cool place for six months until the "bottle shock" wears off. The taste is mostly citrus and melon, nice layering of flavors. It is full-bodied, very intense and nice earthy mouth feel, long lingering finish. If you want a great bottle of wine, at a price far less than great bottle pricing jump on this one.

Jackson Browne Concert Review

Well I have this saying "Trips down memory lane usually end up off in the ditch in flames". This is the exception that proves the rule. Jackson was in top form, he played two sets, no warm up band. Lots of old stuff, lots of new stuff. He really seems to care about our men and women oversea's and expressed it in a way that was very non political. The last time I saw Jackson was on the "Running On Empty" tour back about 30 years ago. His musical skills and ability to excite a crowd have improved, he is much more upbeat than the last time I saw him. Played almost everything I really wanted to hear. And of course he ended the show with "The Load Out / Stay" a.k.a. "The Roadie Song". So if you get the chance it is a great evening out with your honey.

Jackson Browne, August 19th, Paramont Theatre, Oakland

Jackson Browne is an old favorite, and there are few places better than the Paramont to go see a concert. Tickets are still available, hope to see you there.

PS: Take BART if you can, the station is just a few steps from the theater.

2006 Tudor Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

Needed a nice bottle of wine to take to dinner two weekends ago and stopped at a wine shop off of Union Square. The guy who runs the shop is/was very knowledgeable and took me down to his basement storage area, what I found was a site to behold ~8500 (year x winery x variatel) different California wines. This is the only store that I have seen that has everything (almost, no LWC Pinots). Anyway he recommended the 2006 Tudor Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. This wine is very subtle, lots of flavor but not overpowering like some Santa Lucia pinots can be. Even though it has just been released it is ready to drink.
2,497 cases made, most likely won't last long.

Silver Oak Cellars Relase Party Time Again (August 1st)

I have written about this many times, gone to it even more times, had fun always. If you like great cabernet, great food, great music, and a great time, you need to go. The new building in Oakville is open, so no need to make the trek to Geyserville this year.

Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009
Time: 9 am to 3:30 pm; sales continue until 4 pm
Locations:
Alexander Valley: Geyserville Estate
Napa Valley: Oakville Estate

Dave Matthews Band at Outside Lands Festival August 29th

August 29th at Golden Gate Park.
Get your tickets at http://sfoutsidelands.com

Here is the lineup for the day.

Dave Matthews Band
Black Eyed Peas
The Mars Volta
Jason Mraz
TV on the Radio
Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band
Mastodon
Raphael Saadiq
Os Mutantes
Street Sweeper Social Club
JJ Grey & Mofro
Deerhunter
Lila Downs
Zion I
Bat For Lashes
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Groundation
Dengue Fever
The Dirtbombs
Portugal. The Man
Ryan Bingham
Extra Golden
Infantree

Back from the break !!!!

Thanks to all of you have emailed or asked what happend to the blog. I was suffering from a lack in insporation, and lack of good wines, and recipes to write about. I have a bunch of new ideas, and new things to write about now. As always many thanks to the Alpha and Beta testers.

Todd K.

1997 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

In a few words "This is the mother of all nineties Cabs". I stole this line from the wine maker Bo Barret (see the movie Bottle Shock if you don't know who he is). It is big, bold, nice mouth feel, lots of fruit, long lingering finish. Of all the 1997 cabs I have, and have tasted this is my favorite to date. The perfect pairing is grilled pineapple and foie gras.

Grilled Pineapple

This is good with most anything, it is a hit around our house.

Core, peel, and slice a ripe pineapple into half inch slices. In a 9x13 glass baking dish add 1/2 cup of water, 1/2 cup of dark rum, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 2 table spoons of cinnamon. Stir until mostly dissolved. Marinade the pineapple slices for 30 minutes to one hour. Throw them on the grill at medium head (~350) for about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Happy Holidays From Us To You

Lisa, Alexa and I would like to wish you, your family, and friends a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous holiday season.