el prado

What’s for Sipper, Dylan Bean?

by whit on January 31, 2012

Introducing the man with a name fit for a movie title. The Curious Case of Dylan Bean. The Legend of Dylan Bean. Dylan Bean & The Chocolate Factory. The Dylan Bean with A Dragon Tattoo. All right. I’m finished. So. Dylan is a recent NYC transplant and works with me at good ole Domaine LA. He also shuffles (stylishly and with purpose) around town slinging some mighty fine juice representing Amy Atwood Selections.

Here we go!

Name: Dylan Bean // Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT // Current location: Los Angeles

Favorite Winter beverage: This winter I’ve been drinking a lot of white wine from Spain. Thanks to Domaine LA, I’ve discovered some cool white and orange wines from Spanish winemakers like Laureano Serres, Pedro Peciña, and Fabio Bartolomei from Vinos Ambiz.

Favorite cocktail or spirit: Pastis

Favorite place to grab a drink: Lately it’s been El Prado in Echo Park. The mood there is just right – simple, cozy, and the bartenders spin vinyl all night long.

Favorite toast: I like the Chinese toast “gan bei”, which means “dry the cup”.

Favorite post-dinner quaff: Limoncello

Favorite food & beverage pairing: Buttered popcorn and Muscadet that I smuggle into the theatre. I’m really into the salty/sour combo. And wine always tastes better while in the dark, watching the big screen.

 

If you could travel to one region of the world right now for its food and/or drink where would you go? Hong Kong. I like all the dim sum dumplings, pork buns, haa gow, shu mai — basically any food that is wrapped. And I like ordering from a cart, it all feels so democratic.

What’s for sipper? A fresh and grapey Cabernet Franc from Domaine des Sablonnettes in the Loire Valley. This wine reminds me that life doesn’t have to be so serious.

Movie title: The Bubbly, The Blade & The Bean. PS- real men wear Top-siders.

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Year in Review: A Glass-by-Glass Play-by-Play

by whit on January 2, 2010



I had a great year. There is no denying that. Mostly due to a spectacular summer in Los Angeles followed by an even more spectacular solo journey through Italy. Also known as “the trip of my dreams.” In keeping with the obligatory New Year’s blog post of something along the lines of Best Wines of the Year, My Top Ten Bottles of 2009, etc. I thought I would take a look back at some of my favorite drinking experiences as seen through the lens of my Blackberry’s handy little camera. It is, dare I say, a Brunello Behind the Scenes.  Perhaps, True Hollywood Story: Brunellos Having Too Much Fun. Maybe even True Life: I’m ubriaca. I shall end there, lest I get carried away.

But, to further clarify, I say favorite experiences and not favorite drink or wine or bottle because sometimes the best glass of wine has not so much to do with what is in the glass but everything outside of it.  It is the company, the laughs, the stories told, the favorite neighborhood bar, old friends reuniting, new friends being made, impromptu guitar solos and heavenly pasta dinners. The level of enjoyment of the wine and of the moment fuse together, simultaneously enhancing the other. So, without further ado…

bazaar

The magical mojito from the Bazaar in Los Angeles. Followed by one of the more interesting dining experiences I've ever had. Proof of artistic expression and innovation on a plate and in a glass.

summer staple

The staple of my summer at my favorite bar seat in town, Pizzeria Mozza. This was a Bastianich refosco rose from Friuli.

fizz & friendship

Plastic cups and lambrusco. I know how to make it classy. In the first days of my trip in Italy with one of my best friends. We were starving and had our aperitivo hour furnished by a campsite grocery. It was cheap, delicious and entirely satisfying.

remains of the day

A not at all unusual lunchtime spread while working the harvest at De Conciliis. That day was the pinot noir battle in which we raided Bruno's cellar for 3 different pinots: one from Italy (1998 La Palazzola), one from France (2005 Domaine d l'Arlot) and one from Oregon (2006 Drouhin). Italy won! And we were not at all biased, of course.

winner declared

A Saturday night lamb bbq at my boss Bruno's home where we proceeded to open up 8 different fantastic Italian wines (and way too much grappa). At the end of it all, he stuck his knife in the neck of the winner (we liked having competitions, if you couldn't tell.) A 2005 Langhe Nebbiolo from Bartolo Mascarello.

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