4 November 2010 Hermann J Wiemer – The Fame and Attitude are Warranted

Hermann J Wiemer – The Fame and Attitude are Warranted

November 4, 2010 By

Most fans of Finger Lakes wines and Mosel-style Rieslings have heard of Hermann J. Wiemer, and the fame, awards and accolades are well-deserved.

The winery’s history is rich with Hermann J. Wiemer’s mother coming from a family of Mosel winemakers dating back 300 years and a father who was a skilled nurseryman.  Hermann J. Wiemer is regarded as one of the pioneers of viticulture and winemaking in the Finger Lakes.

During a recent visit to the winery, I encountered an attitude I had not experienced at any other Finger Lakes wineries that was reminiscent of some French vineyards.  The attitude was pure – ‘you’re privileged to be tasting our wines in this space today’.  Do I think the attitude is warranted?  Mostly, yes for the following three reasons:

Wiemer Building

First, the ‘barn’ housing the winery is fabulous.  The winery was designed in 1982 by an award-winning team of Cornell architects. Enclosed within the shell of the 70-year-old scissor-trussed barn is the wine shop, the tasting room and the production facilities.

Second, our tasting was conducted by Michael, a catering company owner from Manhattan who makes weekend trips to Hermann J. Wiemer to share his passion and wine expertise with winery guests.  Loved him.

Third, most of the wines are simply great.  Our tasting included the following wines:

  • 2008 Dry Riesling: What Wiemer’s known for – crisp, light lime floral bouquet with a minerals-laden long finish. Around $17.50.
  • 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling:  Rich, peachy bouquet and an almost orangey flavor. Unctuous finish that lingers. Think – spicy Thai food. Around $17.
  • 2009 Gewürztraminer: Ripe pear with nice spicy finish. Around $22.
  • 2008 Frost Cuvee: A blend of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Cuvee of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, this is an easy-going wine that’d be perfect sipped on a warm summer day at an outdoor party. Not complicated, with peach aroma and a dry finish. Around $12.
  • 2009 Late Harvest Riesling: This Spätlese-style wine is full bodied, rich with a 5.9% residual sugar. Mouthful of honey and ripe green apple.  Around $23.
  • 2007 Cabernet Franc: This wine sees new and old French oak barrels and is bursting with bright fruit and offers soft tannins. Around $25.

Hermann J. Wiemer wines are relatively easy to find at local wine stores, at least compared to some other Finger Lakes wine brands.  You can also purchase wines online at http://wiemer.com/shop/ and at the winery’s story located at:

3962 Route 14

Dundee, NY 14837

Click HERE for driving directions

Telephone: 607 243 7971

Make a point to visit this winery when touring the Finger Lakes wine region.

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Dessert Wine, Red Wine, White Wine Tagged With: , , , ,
12 October 2010 Big Fat Chinese Wedding

Big Fat Chinese Wedding

October 12, 2010 By

Last weekend, I attended the wedding reception of two dear friends, Danny and Melissa.  They held their reception in New York’s Chinatown at award-winning restaurant, Royal Seafood on Mott Street.

First, I’ve never been to a Chinese reception, so this was an event I’d anticipated for a few weeks.  The banquet room was decked out in red and gold to accommodate over 250 guests.  The room was buzzing with the bride’s Irish family and the groom’s Chinese family and we were made to feel very welcomed to this special event.

For those of you who know me or have read me, you know I can’t allow the food not to be front and center in this post, so here it is.  Ten fabulous courses, creatively prepared and served by a team who knows what it’s doing.  Luckily for me, I was joined at my table by two former co-workers who are Chinese, so customs and traditions were shared along the way, and very much appreciated.  Some thoughts and photos about the food:

Course 1:  A platter of various meats and fish: pork belly, conch, jellyfish and cured meats.  Absolutely divine!

Course 2:  Lobster, lettuce and melon ‘salad’ with tons of eggy mayo.  How great a combination is that!?

Course 3:  Egg rolls and fritters filled with sweet egg custard.  These ain’t your local Chinese restaurant’s egg rolls!

Course 4:  HUGE t-bone steak cooked to perfection (if your perfection is medium-rare) with a flavorful sauce.

Course 5:  Seafood soup that’s accompanied by a tangy vinegar.

Course 6:  Deep-fried pork.  Need I say more???!

Course 7:  Perfectly moist, lacquered skin chicken.  Were the Pringles only served to the American tables?

Course 8:  Whole Chinese bass deboned and filleted tableside.  Can’t possibly have more food!

Course 9 and 10:  Yes, looks like I’ve still got room for  lo mein and fried rice.

What an experience.  So blessed to have been invited to not only share in this very special day for Danny and Melissa, but also in this foodie dream meal.  If you have an opportunity to visit Manhattan’s Chinatown, be sure to stop by Royal Seafood for not only an amazing feast, but a memorable adventure.

Royal Seafood Restaurant

103 Mott St, New York, NY 10013 (between Canal and Hester)

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
12 September 2010 Eating Solo on Business Trips – Making the Most of It

Eating Solo on Business Trips – Making the Most of It

September 12, 2010 By

As many of you know, I travel quite a bit for business, and as such, I often eat solo in hotels and/or nearby restaurants. Now, I could look at this as a drag and unpleasant experience, but I do not.

I love exploring local foods and restaurants I’ve heard about, so I make a point of not picking up the phone to order room service (although room service brekkie’s great), and instead, head out to find new foodie gems.

One thing I do often, is eat at the bar. This is specially great if the bar is quiet, allowing the bartender(s) to interact with me. Eating at the bar allows for any uncomfortableness about being alone to melt away. I’m just one of the people at the bar. Restaurants are typically grateful when guests do this as it ‘saves’ a table for larger parties.

Last night, I was bored in my hotel room so I decided to go down to the hotel bar for a glass of wine and an appetizer. The bartender was not busy and seemed appreciative for the company, and the business. In this post is a photo of what I was brought when I ordered the Charcuterie Board. How great does that look!? Not only was it tasty, it actually got a couple other bar patrons engaged with me in a foodie conversation. Two birds with one stone: tasty bites and interesting conversations.

Do you have any favorites domestically when you’re eating solo?

Share!

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: ,
8 September 2010 From Quebec with Food Love

From Quebec with Food Love

September 8, 2010 By

It was just Labor Day weekend and that typically means me heading up to Quebec to see my family. It’s one of a dozen trips I take each fall, but one that’s not work-related, so I try to enjoy every minute of it.

Smoked Meat

This year, food ran the gamut from Quebec’s famous/infamous poutine to smoked meat sandwiches to osso bucco. We celebrated my 7 and 5-year-old nieces birthdays on Saturday with a kids’ party in the afternoon and a family party in the evening. How fun are two cakes, two parties and two sets of people singing and wishing you a happy birthday when you’re little?! I decorated a cute cake made up of two half moons for the kids’ party that was a big hit and a two-tier, fondant-covered pink and blue girl-o-rama cake for the evening party.

Pied de Cochon Poutine

For those of you who haven’t had poutine yet, it’s a must-try when in Quebec. There are tons of variations, like the foie gras-covered version at Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal to the more common interpretation of french fries, brown gravy and fresh cheddar cheese curds. Was in Quebec three days and had this dish three times – thinking major thread mill’s in my future!

Another Quebec delicacy that I got to enjoy was a perfectly steamed smoked meat sandwich.  A 10-pound piece of corned beef was steamed for 3 hours in a restaurant-grade food steamer until perfectly moist.  Rye bread was also steamed to create THE perfect sandwich.  I hadn’t had a Quebec smoked meat for over 15 years and it was better than I remembered it, thanks to the steamer my father’s had since I was a little girl.

Isn’t it funny how foods from one’s youth can bring back memories decades later?  How is it that a trip ‘home’ to Quebec wouldn’t be complete without Yum Yum-brand All-Dressed chips or an Aero chocolate bar?  Hope that whatever you did this Labor Day weekend, it created memories you can think back on fondly.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , ,
31 July 2010 Foodie, Hoppy Weekend in St Louis

Foodie, Hoppy Weekend in St Louis

July 31, 2010 By

Food and wine fans,

I’m spending the weekend with dear friends in St Louis and they’re committed to introducing me to local foods and beer.
Last night, we dined out and I got to sample meat-filled “toasted raviolis”. Yum! Perfect compliments to cold pilsners.
Today, I’ll be savoring a lasagna made with a cheese loved by locals – Provel. More to come on that. Our evening will involve making a trip to Ted Drewes for its famous Concretes (frozen custards).
Tomorrow’s day will entail a visit to a local winery, Villa Antonio in Hillsboro. Later, we’ll sample famous stuffed pork chops with Gooey Butter Cake for dessert.
While I’m attempting to stay away from the local brew as ‘crafted’ by the King of Beers, I’m enjoying my foodie tour of the Gateway to the West.

Cheers from STL!

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales Tagged With: , ,
19 June 2010 Casa Mono – Spanish Tapas and Wine Eden

Casa Mono – Spanish Tapas and Wine Eden

June 19, 2010 By

Photo by ZagatBuzz

Casa Mono is a cozy Spanish tapas restaurant in Gramercy Park and the brainchild of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich.  The superb cooking is creatively prepared by chef Andy Nusser.

The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive at this restaurant is that the space a small.  Not small as in “I’m going to feel claustrophobic and won’t be able to hold a conversation with my dining partner(s)”, small as in “This place is great!  I’m going to get to rub elbows with other enthusiastic diners while watching the action in the open kitchen”.  The place has so much energy that diners immediately begin to relax upon being seated.

The food at Casa Mono is served tapas-style – small plates meant to be shared among guests.  Dining in this manner allows for a completely interactive experience for the diners who can share what they’re tasting while trying several dishes they’d normally not have the opportunity to sample.

The menu at Casa Mon is extensive.  There are around 40 tapas to select from, and one sounds more appetizing than the next.  Some clear winners are the snapper crudo ($16), the pumpkin and goat cheese croquetas ($9), the soft shell crab with gazpacho dressing ($16), the pulpo with fennel and grapefruit ($13), and the lamb chop with garbanzos and harissa ($16).  There are also four strong dishes prepared from whole Hudson pigs that are crowd pleasers: a charcuterie plate ($18), pork belly with salsa Jamaica ($16), pork croquetas with green tomatoes ($15) and the chorizo with spring beans and aged Manchego cheese ($16).

Casa Mono Tapas

The snapper crudo is served with micro greens and a tangy dressing that’s worthy of praises.  The pumpkin and goat cheese croquetas are fried to a perfect crunchy dark brown exterior and feature a great balance of sweet pumpkin and tart cheese.  The soft shell crab has a thicker batter coating similar to English fried fish, that could have been lighter, but was served with a flavorful gazpacho sauce.  The pulpo is served with shaved fennel and sections of pink grapefruit and might be the winner at Casa Mono.  The baby octopus in this dish are tender and perfectly cooked and pair beautifully with the licorice fennel and the sweetly acidic grapefruit.  The lamb chops are expertly cooked to a medium rare and are ultra flavorful due to the addition of harissa.  The pork dishes can’t be missed, specially the moist chorizo served with a generous sprinkling of aged Manchego cheese.

There are several desserts offered at Casa Mono like the bread pudding with pear sorbet ($9), the burnt vanilla custard ($9) and the chocolate torte with apricots ($9), but the focus is on savory options at this establishment.

Casa Mono offers an extensive Spanish wine list by the cuartos de vino (small carafe with enough wine for two pours), the copita (smallish Spanish sherry glass) and the bottle. Some recommendations are the 2009 Santiago Ruiz Rias Baixas – a complex Albarino blend perfect for shellfish ($46 for a bottle), 2009 Ameztoi Rubentis Rose Getarioko Txakolina – a great example of Spanish rose ($17 for a cuartos de vino) and the 2009 Pazo Senorans Albarino – a versatile creamy, floral wine ($19 for a cuartos de vino). Sample servings allow diners to try several of the affordable Spanish gems featured on this list.

Casa Mono is a Certified Two Star Green Restaurant in accordance with the Green Restaurant Association’s rigorous guidelines, and a hot spot that foodies shouldn’t miss.

52 IRVING PLACE

NEW YORK CITY 10003

212.253.2773

www.casamononyc.com

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Restaurant Reviews, Spanish, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

5-Course Highlands Menu at Restaurant Latour in Northern NJ

May 14, 2010 By

Wanted to share this amazing value from Wine Spectator Grand Award Winner, Restaurant Latour at Crystal Springs:

New! 5-Course Highlands Menu Paired With Wine

Local Farmed John Dory Vermicelli
Nature Valley Swiss Chard, Root Vegetable Saffron Sauce
Union Home Chardonnay, Unionville, New Jersey, 2008

Vernon Valley Suckled Grass Fed Veal
Appaloosa Bean And Black Dirt Onion Cassoulet

Plaid Piper Farm Smoked Chicken Dumplings
Crystal Springs Tomato Fondue, Parmesan Broth, Basil Oil
Cam Jam #1, Pinot Noir & Chambercin, Unionville, New Jersey, 2008

Bobolink Farm Aged Cheddar
Rosemary Poached Winter Fruits
Port, Vat #15, Unionville, New Jersey, NV

Pan Fried Tomkins Apples
Nutmeg Ice Cream, Cinnamon Tuile
Vat #15 Port Wine Sabayon

$85 Per Person*
Reservations Required ~ 973.827.5996, Ext. 3

Chef de Cuisine ~ John Benjamin
Sommelier ~ Susanne Lerescu

*Prices Do Not Include Applicable Tax & Gratuity. Member discounts do not apply.
Restaurant Latour ~ One Wild Turkey Way, Hardyston, NJ 07419 ~ 973.827.5996, Ext. 3

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , ,

Napa & Sonoma Trip Photos

May 4, 2010 By

I’ve posted 26 pictures from my winery tours trip to Napa and Sonoma on the Food & Wine Chickie Facebook fan page: http://bit.ly/aEZeUh

What are some of your favorites?

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: ,

Off to Napa and Sonoma We Go

April 22, 2010 By

The time is finally here. My guy and I are off to Napa Valley and Sonoma tomorrow for a five-day wine-filled whirlwind.

Our two nights in Napa Valley will include nine tastings and some fabulous meals, including dinners at Bistro Jeanty and at La Toque.

Our two nights in Sonoma have us going to nine tastings and a much-anticipated tasting dinner at Cyrus in gorgeous Healdsburg.

I’ll be posting to Twitter and Facebook along the way, so get engaged with me on those platforms if you aren’t already and be on the lookout for an extensive recap blog post when I return.

Cheers,

Veronique Deblois – Founder, Food & Wine Chickie Insider

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , , , ,

New York Austrian Wine Tasting at a Discount

March 25, 2010 By

UPDATE: Use Special Code: AUSTRIANNYC for an increased discount of $10 off the cost of the event!

I’d like to let you know about an upcoming Austrian wine tasting on May 5th in New York City.  This is going to be the biggest Austrian wine event to ever hit the states and will feature over 100 Austrian winemakers.  The event also features food from top New York restaurants.

Readers of Food & Wine Chickie Insider get $5 off admission via the Austrian Trade Commission by using Special Code: BLOGAUSTRIA when reserving tickets at: http://bit.ly/cug2iV.

Join me for some interesting wines, great food and fun crowd!

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , ,
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