by whitney on August 31, 2010
Luis Moya is the owner/importer of Vinos Unico and he brings in some great value (and delicious) wines from Portugal, Spain and Argentina as well as making wine right here in California. Luis is Cuban…but he sure knows how to make a mean paella. He and his crew were in LA making the rounds this past weekend showcasing the portfolio and they made a stop at Rosso Wine Shop. Luis arrived hours before the tasting with a car full of fresh seafood, spices and rice from The Spanish Table in Berkeley, some giant paella pans and a bad ass double ring burner made just for paella cookin’.
And now- the evolution of the paella…
One of the wines of the night- 2007 Luis Pato Baga from Portugal. And yes, baga is the name of the grape!
Also on hand for pouring- 2009 Murahlas Vinho Verde rosé (one of my favs this summer), 2009 Luis Pato Maria Gomes, NV Capote Velho and many more. Safe to say everyone had a full belly and always a full glass.
And then these wine loving guys pulled up and decided to play an impromptu live concert!
Fun times! Gracias Luis for your hospitality, contagious energy and lively spirit, great wines and of course- your paella.
by whitney on August 8, 2010
Us On The Lamb ladies were hired to put together a Puglian wine tasting yesterday. Puglia! The clients had just returned from an amazing trip to the Southern part of the region and wanted to celebrate and remember the adventure. Since I just traveled there a few shorts weeks before them, it was right up my alley (or should I say, vicolo.)
I chose 4 wines from Puglia to taste and Rachel threw down some delicious food pairings for the most spectacular aperitivo hour ever. In history. My friend Ginger just happens to be the importer for Castel di Salve which is the winery these fine folks actually visited and fell in love with while in Puglia. How perfect! I presented 3 of their wines along with a Malvasia from Vinosia.
The pairings! Let’s get to it:
- Prosecco toast with grape & rosemary focaccia. Also house pickled walnuts and zucchini with lupini beans, olives, rosemary and orange peel to nibble on.
- Wine 1: 2007 Vinosia Malvasia with peach and burrata caprese topped with chiffonade of basil and Puglian olive oil.
Wine 2: 2009 Castel di Salve Santi Medici rosato (100% negroamaro) with zucchini fritters topped with arugula ricotta cream, heirloom tomato, fried scallion and key lime zest (tomato and key lime foraged from the client’s backyard!)
Wine 3: 2009 Castel di Salve Armécolo (80% negroamaro, 20% malvasia nera) with homemade black olive, onion & roasted cherry tomato flatbreads complete with fried anchovy.
Wine 4: 2007 Castel di Salve Cento su Cento (100% primitivo) with handmade orecchiette in slow braised lamb ragu finished with 12 yr aged pecorino. I must say- this pairing knocked our collective socks off. And I also must say- I made the orecchiette (with Rachel’s guidance) and am giving myself a rather large pat on the back. The lamb ragu though….damn. I could bathe in that stuff.
Sorry for the lack of more food porn pictures, but I was a busy bee working and the natural light quickly dwindled….but I think it’s safe to say everyone had a great time and, most importantly, full and happy bellies.
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Where to buy: the Vinosia malvasia and Sommariva prosecco can be found at Rosso Wine Shop. The Castel di Salve Armécolo (my fav) can be purchased at Domaine LA, as well as Venokado (they have the full Castel di Salve line-up.)
by whitney on July 15, 2010
I have a friend. Her name is Logan Tracey. And she’s kind of fabulous.
She just spent some time living it up in Paris (and Ireland) and she wanted to share her eats and drinks on Brunellos. I’m proud to have her be my first ever guest blogger! Take it away Logs…..
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I have the great fortune to be friends with this here blogger, Ms. Whitney (how lucky for me?!) So when I found out that I had an international-celebrity-nanny gig and I was going to Paris and Ireland for two weeks, I sent an email to my favorite Somm and asked her what I should drink. She replied with, “Drink a ton of rose (not the flower….the wine. I am lacking an accent ).” Ok, done. She mentioned other things about natural wine, the Loire valley, and Beaujolais, but when I got the go ahead with the rosé, I was all set. And super excited.
It turns out that I didn’t get a chance to drink as much wine as I would have liked. I mean, I like wine.
A lot.
And I like Paris.
A lot.
But as I was there on a work trip and not a va-cay, I only drank a few wonderful times. [editor's note: sad face.]
So I was off on this crazy adventure. The best story involves the stunning and SUPER French restaurant, Le Relais de Venise son Entrecole. Apparently there are a few of these places in Paris, but I was told this is the original – and the best.
The best what?
Steak Frites.
This is a restaurant where all they serve is steak frites.
There is no menu.
There are only fries and meat.
You can only order rare, medium, or well. Medium-rare is impossible according to the waitress. (And I’m pretty sure that if you order a steak well-done you get punched in the face.)
[click to continue…]
by whitney on July 12, 2010
What: A Lebanese feast (and birthday celebration for moi)
Where: Marouch
Eats: hummos, dolmas, tabbouleh, kibbeh, falafel, labneh, fattouch, fatayer…. basically, every Lebanese (and some Armenian) food you can think of- we ate it. And it was damn good. Serge- you’re the man!
Dranks: NV German Gilabert cava, 2009 Moulin de Gassac Guilhem rosé, 2008 Chateau d’Oupia Les Heretiques (all carried in a case by me to the restaurant…with high heels and all.) Please note- yes, Chateau Musar was on the list at the restaurant. And yes, it was too expensive for our broke asses. Other than that- go to Marouch for the food….not the wine.
Photos: by dear friend (and hot sexy mama) Marisa of Marisa Q Photography
Thanks to all my pretty and funny pals! Love you lots. And to the winemakers who so beautifully made the wine in which I imbibed. And to Matthew and Dustin at Covell for letting me close the place down post-dinner. If you haven’t been there yet people- get with the times! Go now.
All right- I promise not to bore you with anymore bday related posts. Birthday week officially over. Sad face.
