An energy bar with a glass of white, please

I'm always on the lookout for cool, interesting white blends. So I was super excited when I stumbled across Clif Bar Family Winery's "The Climber" 2007 white blend recently while dining at two DC-area restaurants: Redwood in Bethesda, and Urbana in DC. Yes, the same folks who bring us Clif and Luna Bars make some decent juice.

This wine is a blend of 81% Sauvignon Blanc, 12% Pinot Blanc, 4% Chenin Blanc and 3% Muscat. So it's similar in profile to a Sauvignon Blanc with regards to the acidity, passionfruit and citrus flavors, but the other grapes do a great job of rounding out the blend with honeysuckle, peach and nectarine, and a fuller mouthfeel.

The best part is that it retails for around $14--definitely do-able as a house white. In Northern Virginia, you can get The Climber at Wegman's and Whole Foods.

Dishing it Out link...in case you missed it

In case you missed the Sunday morning broadcast of "Dishing It Out" with Nycci and David Nellis on Federal News Radio 1500 AM, here is the link (just click on the November 9, 2008 show link from this page.)

Nycci and David talk with Barton Seaver and Robert Eggers about the DC Central Kitchen and the Capital Food Fight, chat with Wolfgang Puck on the phone about the concept of the "celebrity chef", and I discuss "earthy" wines to pair with hearty, cool weather food.

You can hear Dishing It Out every Sunday morning at 11 AM on 1500 AM, or stream it on the internet.

Wines for Bivalves

Fresh Oysters + Crisp White Wines = Kelly's Culinary Heaven

I'm so excited to be serving as a judge for Old Ebbitt Grill's International Wines for Oysters Competition this evening, a precursor to the Ebbitt's hugely popular Oyster Riot next weekend.

During the competition this evening, wines entered from all over the world will be sampled with raw oysters judges (including myself) from the fields of politics, medicine, journalism and food. Each year a field in excess of 400 wines is narrowed through several rounds of blind tastings with the top 10 gold medal winners being announced and poured at The Riot.

To get an idea of the wines that typically perform well in the Competition, check out previous winners by clicking here. Usually crisp whites like Sauvignon Blancs, Sancerres and Muscadets are at the top--all of which are among my favorite wines...

The Oyster Riot itself is one of the greatest parties of each year in Washington. Always held the Friday & Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Riot is DC’s preeminent food and wine event. Each night, nearly 1000 people devour tens of thousands oysters while enjoying the worlds best oyster wines and ales backed by local blues band Mudcat.

If you didn't already snag your tickets to the Riot, forget about it--they typically sell out in less than an hour.

Kelly on the radio

I'll be appearing live on Sunday morning on Nycci and David Nellis' "Dishing it Out" radio show on WTOP radio Washington.

The show runs from 11 am to noon, and I'll be appearing during the last 10 minutes or so, discussing "earthy" wines that pair with the cuisine and cooking preparations of fall and winter. Those of you in the DC area can catch it on the radio on 1500 or 820 am. Anyone can also stream it live on the internet by going to http://www.federalnewsradio.com/ and clicking on the "Listen Live" button on the top section of the screen. If you miss it, you can listen to the show in .mp3 format once it's posted by clinking the link for the 11/9 show on the lefthand side of http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=1493006&nid=410.

Have a great weekend!

Come see me at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show!

On Saturday, I'll be doing a wine seminar at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show in DC. The 2-day show features cooking demonstrations; food, beverage and entertaining exhibitors; celebrity chefs like Giada deLaurentis, Paula Deen and Bobby Flay; and a beer and wine tasting tent (where I'll be.)

If you are at the show, stop by the beer and wine area on Saturday afternoon at 2 PM. Hope to see you there! For more info, go to http://www.metrocooking.com/2008DC/program/wine_beer.html.

Reston gets a dose of Passion

The restaurant scene at the Reston Town Center has slowly been improving, but it's still filled with too many ho hum chains for my liking. That's why I was excited at the recent opening of PassionFish, the newest restaurant from Passion Food Hospitality, whose owners, Chef Jeff Tunks, Gus Dimillo, and David Wizenberg, also run DC Coast, Ten Penh, Ceiba and Acadiana.

The look is sleek yet sea like, with lots of brushed metal, along with blues and tans. Bubble chandeliers hang from the light fixtures, and whimsical fish sculptures created from scrap metal dot the walls. (I saw one with a spatula for a tail, and the restaurant is waiting for the arrival of a much larger fish that will serve as more of a focal point.) One long blank wall will also have an abstract moving ocean or fish scene projected onto it. A second floor offers a bit more privacy--especially one cute romantic table just to the right of the top of the stairs. The back wall of the attractive bar has tiny multicolored tiles, and cute touches at the tables like flatware whose ends are shaped like fishtails keep the look casual and fun. PassionFish made its debut on October 25, and it was pretty busy last evening for a Wednesday night (maybe some of it was post-election celebration?)

The cocktail menu doesn't offer anything completely out of the ordinary, but there are classy choices like the French 75 (though the gin, sugar and lemon in mine could have served from 30 seconds or so in the shaker with ice before topping it with sparkling wine), along with a Caipirinha, Mojito, St. Germain cocktail and a handful of others. The wine list has a good selection of reasonably-priced wines by the glass, and for a restaurant that mainly offers seafood, they get it right--it's heavy on crisp whites like Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet and Vermentino; and lighter reds like Pinot Noir.

A small raw bar overlooks the kitchen, and guests can select a la carte from the raw bar menu. Larger appetites can select the "Big Daddy", which at $69 offers clams, oysters, shrimp cocktail, crab claws and lobster. The other appetizers are divided into cold and hot. The hamachi crudo was fantastic. Thinly sliced over a piece of red grapefruit, and topped with olive oil, sea salt and a slice of jalapeno, the fish was a culinary lesson in balance. Crispy fried oysters were delicate and not at all chewy or greasy, and served on an interesting celery root and green apple slaw with tarragon aioli. Even those who proclaim not to like oysters would polish off these.

The highlight for me on the entree side was butter poached lobster done in a red curry sauce. I'm typically a lobster purist--just steam it and serve it with drawn butter--but this dish was really tasty--rich, buttery and savory, with a curry sauce that added flavor and seasoning, but not heat that would overpower the delicate shellfish.

Just as at their other area restaurants, donuts make an appearance on the dessert menu (thank goodness.) Here they take the form of donut holes, served with a coffee bavarian cream. While the cream was delicious, I preferred to enjoy the warm donuts on their own. Other choices like a key lime meringue tart with ice cream, mango and pineapple may better serve those who want a tart ending to their meal.

Since I live in the Reston area, I welcome the arrival of restaurants like PassionFish that give me a taste of DC with a much shorter drive...For more information about PassionFish, check out their website.

The Candidates' Cocktails

Check out some cocktails inspired by the election, the candidates and their spouses in my online Wine Enthusiast article. Whip up some as you watch the results tonight.

Get out the vote today!

Savory Sips

Need a break from all the election hoopla? Read up about some great savory cocktails at DC-area bars.

Trick or Treat with some mulled wine

It's pretty warm today in the DC area, but it may get chilly tonight walking around while your little ghosts and goblins fill their bags with loot. If you have some time before Trick or Treat, why not mix up a batch of mulled wine? It's a great warmer upper while you are walking around the neighborhood, and it's also a nice way to end the evening--invite over a few neighbors, have the kids go through their stash and sip a cup of the warm, aromatic tipple.

Happy Halloween!

Basic Mulled Wine

One bottle (750 mL) of red wine (suggestions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot)
One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot)
¼ cup of brandy
8-10 cloves
2/3 cup honey or sugar
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp fresh or 2 tsp ground ginger (allspice can be substituted)
Serves 4-6

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in either a large pot or a slow cooker. Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (avoid boiling), for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that the honey or sugar has completely dissolved. When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have been well blended it is ready to serve. Ladle into mugs (leave seasonings behind) and enjoy!

5 for $50 at PX

On Sunday, November 9th, Alexandria's PX will have a "5 for $50" cocktail event to raise awareness of the mission behind NCMEC (The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children), which helps prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; helps find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them. NCMEC (http://www.missingkids.com/) is located nearby to PX in Old Town Alexandria.

Mixologist Todd Thrasher will join the creative minds of his 'friends in spirits'; Tad Carducci (Tippling Brothers), Eric Felten (Wall Street Journal spirits writer), Charlotte Voisey (Hendrick's Brand Champion and mixologist for William Grant & Sons) and Derek Brown (Komi, Cocktail Ambassador to New Orleans Cocktail Museum). "5 for $50" begins on Sunday, November 9th, at 6pm and concludes at 10pm. Entrance is through PX and the evening will take place on both the first and second floors. Eamonn's A Dublin Chipper will be closed for this private affair.

Five cocktails for $50 lets patrons taste specialty handcrafted concoctions and enjoy the 'cocktail magic show' behind the bar. The show begins every 30 minutes when one of the savvy tastemakers takes the bar over at PX creating their cocktail for the evening. ***As this is a fundraising benefit, all tip jar goodies will go directly to NCMEC.

Reservations for this special affair are very limited. Please R.S.V.P to Host Clinton Terry at 703-299-8385 or e-mail him at Clinton@restauranteve.com

A poll that really DOES require a straw...

A few weeks ago, I posted about TenPenh's election-themed cocktails. Guests have been casting their votes by ordering a drink named for their favorite candidate or spouse.

With just under a week to go, about 1000 votes have been cast, with the breakdown as follows:

Barack Obama 24%
Sarah Palin 22%
John McCain 16%
Joe Biden 16%
Cindy McCain 12%
Michelle Obama 10%

The TenPenh Presidential Cocktails are available through election day, November 4, 2008, at TenPenh, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue at 10th Street in DC.

Capital Food Fight

Top area chefs will take the stage to combat hunger at Capital Food Fight on November 11. Ted Allen, will co-host with event chair José Andrés as hot chefs Stephen Lewandowski (Tribeca Grill NY), David Deshaies (Citronelle Michel Richard), Tony Conte (The Oval Room) and Peter Smith (PS 7’s) vie in on-stage cooking battles to take the championship from last year’s Capital Food Fight winner Barton Seaver, who will be there to defend his title. Guest judges include “Chef Rock” Harper and David Lieberman. While the Battling Chefs duke it out, guests will savor fantastic dishes from 50 of the best restaurants in town—think of it as a 50-course dinner!

This is the fifth year for the Capital Food Fight, which has raised over $1,000,000 to combat hunger and create opportunity through the programs of DC Central Kitchen, a national model program that uses the existing ingredients of society to satisfy hunger, promote self-sufficiency and change lives. Locally, the Kitchen recycles 1 ½ tons of surplus food daily to make 4,500 meals for area social service organizations. It also empowers chronically unemployed men and women in the kitchen and life skills they need to get and keep good jobs in the food service industry. Campus Kitchens on 15 college campuses use the DC Central Kitchen model to serve their community and train young leaders.

Where:
Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC, 20006
(photo ID required)

When:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Tickets:
Ticket purchase or sponsorship on-line at http://www.capitalfoodfight.org/

How much:
Individual tickets $175; sponsorship opportunities $1,000 - $25,000

Website:
http://www.capitalfoodfight.org/ Purchase tickets on line.

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS offering tastes of some of their best dishes
1789 Restaurant – 701 Pennsylvania Avenue - Agraria – Aria – Argia's Italian– Art and Soul – Bastille – Bebo Trattoria – Berliner Speciality Distributors – Black Salt – BLT Steak – Bobby Van’s Grill –- Cacao Fine European Chocolate – Charlie Palmer Steak – Chef Geoff’s – Chipotle – Citronelle Michel Richard – CommonWealth Gastropub – Darlington House – Farrah Olivia by Morou – Firefly - Fresh Start Catering – fyve – Grille at Morrison House – Hank's Oyster Bar – Hook – Hudson – Indique – IndeBleu – Kaz Sushi Bistro – Lebanese Taverna – Mie N Yu – Neyla – Oceanaire Seafood Room - Olives – The Oval Room – Oyamel – Poste Modern Brasserie – PS7's – Rasika – Rock Creek – Ronald Reagan Building – Santa Lucia Estate Coffee – Spezie – Taberna del Alabardero – Tallula / EatBar – Vermilion – Vidalia / Bistro Bis – Volt – Wegmans Market Café – Willow – Zengo – Zola

Fresh Pick: Creme de Violette

Indispensable in classic cocktails like the Aviation and the Blue Moon Cocktail, Creme de Violette adds a gorgeous hue to drinks, not to mention a whiff of floral and a touch of the exotic. Read all about it in my Wine Enthusiast article, Fresh Pick.

Shaken, With a Hint of Goat Cheese

I've blogged several times about my love for Gina Chersevani's inventive cocktails at Arlington's Tallula and EatBar. Read a bit more about her inspiration and her concoctions in Shaken, With a Hint of Goat Cheese, my recent article in Wine Enthusiast.

Enjoy the weekend...

Ginger all evening long...

I've been enamored with Domaine de Canton, the French liqueur made with VSOP cognac and flavored with Vietnamese baby ginger, since it made its way onto my radar months ago. So I jumped at the chance to attend the official DC launch dinner of DdC at Michel Richard's Central the other night.

I love the smell and taste of fresh ginger, and I've been experimenting with DdC since I got my hands on a bottle six or so months ago. My favorite drink remains a simple Champagne cocktail, with a splash of DdC and a few pieces of crystallized ginger in the bottom of the flute. (The bubbles bring the aromatics right up to your nose...and it's just heady, exotic and sublime.)

At Central, mixologists Phil Greene (of the Museum of the American Cocktail), DC Beverage Consultant Derek Brown (also affiliated with the museum) and Central's mixologist Justin Guthrie took the gingery elixir and created some fantastic drinks to pair with each dinner course.

Phil's Gingerly Fashion was a modern twist on the Old Fashioned, and in my opinion, it went down a lot easier than the original. (I did see a recipe for a vanilla bean Old Fashioned in a magazine recently, and I can't help but think that the addition of DdC to that drink would be amazing, too):

Gingerly Fashion
1.5-2 oz (to taste) rye or Bourbon whiskey
1 oz. Domaine de Canton
1/2 ounce brown sugar simple syrup
2 dashes Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Bitters
Orange Slice

In a pint glass or shaker, muddle orange slice with sugar syrup and bitters, then add ice and all other ingredients. Stir very well, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with fresh orange wheel. Note: this drink may also be served on the rocks, in an Old Fashioned Glass.


Next up was Derek's Ginger Apple Margarita. The inclusion of smoky, brooding Reposado tequila gave the otherwise fresh and crisp drink some enticing dark notes:

Ginger-Apple Margarita
1 oz. Domaine de Canton
3/4 oz. Partida Reposado Tequila
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. unfiltered apple juice
Cinnamon-salt rim*

*Mix equal parts cinnamon sugar and kosher salt. Flame with torch to help heighten cinnamon aromatics. Rim glass. Add the rest of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, shake until chilled, strain into cocktail glass already rimmed with cinnamon salt.

Finally, with dessert, was Justin's CDG (Chiquenaude de Gingembre) or Ginger Flip. I recently wrote a piece on flips, and I've been enjoying them more and more lately, especially in the cooler weather. Salmonella be damned--the risk of eating raw eggs is very, very low, and the alcohol pretty much kills anything anyway...

CDG (Ginger Flip)
1.5 oz. Domaine de Canton
1 oz. Sauternes
splash Cognac
1 whole egg (1 egg is typically enough for 2 flips, in case you are doubling the recipe)
1/2 tablespoon powdered sugar
splash half and half
nutmeg garnish

Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain. Grate nutmeg on top.


I had the pleasure of sitting next to DdC's founder John Cooper at dinner. He agrees that his product is not for everyone, but it does have a niche, both in cocktails and in cuisine (several chefs, including Eric Ripert, have created recipes that contain DdC.) Booze runs in Cooper's blood, that's for sure. His grandfather owned Jacquin's liqueurs, and his brother created that other aromatic, exotic and oh so trendy liqueur St. Germain, flavored with elderflowers from the Alps.

Domaine de Canton is available at select DC-area restaurants and bars, including Central and Arlington's EatBar.

Urbana's new drinks

A friend and I stopped by Urbana the other night to sample Alexander Bollinger's new menu. Our server came up with some great food and wine pairings, including an 2006 Argiolas “Costamolino” V Vermentino alongside mussels in white wine and garlic, and a Domaine Joguet Chinon with seared duck breast with mission figs.

We also sampled some of their new fall cocktails. The Autumn Harvest mixes Jacopo Poli Merlot Grappa, Gamay, apple cider, sparking pinot noir and muddled red grapes. The distinctive kicky Grappa flavor still shines through, but it's tamed by the apple and berry flavors.

On the dessert drink menu, a highlight for me was the sparkling apple cider, with Calvados, sparkling wine, allspice dram, apple cider and an apple slice. Mixologist Kevin Rogers uses a light hand with both the Calvados and the dram, keeping the drink light, crisp and totally sippable.

Barack on the Rocks and the McCain Martini

Arlington's fyve Restaurant Lounge is one of many DC-area bars offering libations inspired by candidates, spouses and political parties. Here are the recipes for their concoctions:

Barack on the Rocks
Courtesy of fyve Restaurant Lounge, Arlington, VA
1 ¼ oz. vodka
¾ oz. tropical fruit juice
½ oz. simple syrup
Club soda
2 basil leaves

Add ice to a rocks glass. Add first three ingredients. Stir, top with club soda and garnish with basil leaves.


McCain Martini
Courtesy of fyve Restaurant Lounge, Arlington, VA
2 oz. Hendricks gin
½ oz. cointreau
½ oz. cranberry juice

Add ice to cocktail shaker. Add all ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.


Bar Managers Maria Habershon and Robert Taylor said the addition of basil to the Barack drink was designed to represent something a bit different and out of the norm, while the cosmo-like McCain sipper has a nostalgic, you-know-what-to-expect vibe.

Let the voting begin!

Think Pink!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I'm all about giving some publicity to wine-related companies who donate proceeds to the cause. (I did a roundup of several in an article last year.)

Napa Valley's Domaine Chandon is thinking pink this month, too. For the entire month of October $1 from every bottle of rosé (of which the winery sells four varieties) sold at the winery will go to Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation. In addition to Chandon Rosé, you can purchase another pink sparkler— a one-carat pink sapphire pendant that Shreve and Company custom-created for Domaine Chandon. Chandon offers this item through an eBay auction which will continue through the month of October. All proceeds from its sale will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Kelly live on DC's Fox 5!

I'll be doing a live on-air spot this morning DC's Fox 5, discussing wines to pair with snack foods for football season. Those of you in the DC area can catch it on Channel 5. There will be a 1-minute teaser around 11:20 AM, and then a 3-4 minute segment around 11:40 AM.

Those of you not in the DC area, or away from a TV at that time, can watch the spot live online. Just go to http://www.myfoxdc.com/ and click on the "Watch Now" button (this button only appears when the channel is broadcasting news and local programming, so try checking for it at 11 AM or right before the spot). If you miss it live, the segment will be posted on the site.

***Updated: here is the link to the clip, in case you missed it live.

What's so great about "interesting wines?

Tired of the obligatory listings of all the Chardonnays and Cabernets fit to print on restaurants wine lists? Some DC sommeliers are too, and are beefing up their "Interesting Wines" section. Read about their picks and philosophies in my Bottle Rockets article, appearing in the October issue of Modern Luxury DC, and find out how they are avoiding oeno-ennui.

Vino under the radar

Find yourself reaching for the same bottles everytime you head to your local wine store? For some inspiration and new grapes to try, look no further than my article in the October issue of Washington Woman.

Have a great weekend!

From the ground to your glass...

On Tuesday evening, I headed to Arlington's Tallula/EatBar to sample their fall menu. Since I just included one of mixologist Gina Chersevani's new fall concoctions in an article on savory cocktails, I was looking forward to finally sampling her new drinks in person.

We started with Beetiful Bubbles, which was Cava topped with beet simple syrup and a dried beet chip. (This replaces her other take on the Champagne cocktail on the restaurant's menu, which was Cava topped with horseradish syrup and a piece of dried horseradish.) I love love love beets, so I just knew I'd gravitate towards this drink. Of course the color was beautiful. The sweetness and earthiness of the beets struggled with each other (in a good way), but kept the drink pretty balanced (the bubbles helped too.)

Next was Forest Fauna--or what guests were calling "alcoholic broth." Gina simmer porcini mushrooms with Pernod, coriander, and fennel seeds to make a consomme, to which she adds Bluecoat Gin and Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, and garnishes it with a dried mushroom piece and sprig of thyme. The Pernod aroma is intoxicating, and since it's served heated, it warms you up inside pretty quickly (or was that from the gin???)

Finally we sipped Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, which was lovely (the crowd favorite, it seemed to be). Gina takes fresh pumpkin, cooks it, juices it and strains it several times to get fresh pumpkin juice. Next she simmers it with cinnamon, sugar and cardamom. Finally, she adds spiced rum (she prefers Captain Morgan or Myers), and garnishes it with a touch of creme fraiche on the side of the cocktail glass, grated nutmeg, and a toasted, curried pumpkin seed (I could have eaten an entire bowl of those...along with whatever Cava happened to be leftover from the beet cocktail...)

Gina told us that her inspiration for these creations was fall ingredients that happen to grow in the ground. These and other great liquid options are on Tallula and EatBar's menu.

Events in the Gateway to VA Wine Country

Virginia's Loudoun County, 40 minutes or so west of DC, is being touted as Washington, DC's wine region--there are a handful of really great wineries here, including one of my faves, Fabbioli Cellars. You gotta drive through Fairfax County to get there. And my home county is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Virginia Wine Month with some great events:

* Reston’s Oktoberfest festival on October 10th -11th will feature traditional fare and a selection of classic German beers and wines provided by The Wine Cabinet.

* Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro in Reston is offering half-priced wine flights during the month of October starting at $12.00 for three varieties.

* To compare Virginia wines to other renowned international wines, stop into the new Wine House in Fairfax City, home to 500 wines from around the world, where guests can taste and contrast some of the finest selections on the market

* The Steak House at The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner allows guests to enjoy wines from the cellar of award winning Wine Director, Vincent Feraud.

* Evo Bistro in McLean offers a wide variety of wines by the bottle and glass and features an automated self-serve wine tasting station.

Basil beyond Pesto

I'm a basil fanatic, and I have 3 kinds growing in my garden this year: sweet basil (the tradition Italian variety), Cuban basil and Thai basil. When frost is forecasted, I'll cut it all and dry it to use in cooking this winter. Although it's not quite as tasty as fresh, it's much better than the commercially dried stuff...

Since I've done a few articles recently about infusing simple syrups with fresh herbs, I thought I would try my hand at it. I took a half cup of sugar and 1 cup of water, and simmered until the sugar dissolved (FYI--traditional simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio, but several mixologists have recommended to halve the amount of sugar when infusing so the herb flavor--not the sweetness--remains front and center.)

I added a bunch of basil leaves, and let the mixture cool. I then put it in a container and steeped it overnight in the fridge. The result was a fragrant, enticingly fresh syrup. I did a little research online, and mixed up a modified Basil Gimlet recipe I found:

Basil Gimlet
Makes 1 drink

2.5 oz. vodka
1 oz. basil simple syrup (see recipe above)
3/4 oz. fresh lime juice

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake until chilled, and then strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with several fresh basil leaves.

Mmm..it was refreshingly delicious. Next up, I'll try a similar recipe with lemon verbena/lavender syrup I whipped up the same day. Stay tuned...

TenPenh's Presidential Cocktails

I'm currently compiling info for an article about presidential/election-themed cocktails. So I was thrilled to receive the latest press release from TenPenh--just a few blocks from the White House--about their new cocktails. Though I can't say I support her husband, the Cindy McCain drink sounds fantastic:

2008 Presidential Cocktails

Barack Obama: Bombay Sapphire, Lemongrass, Simple Syrup, Fever Tree Bitter Lemon Soda, Emerald Caviar

John McCain: Wild Turkey 101, Ginger Lime Tea, Thai Basil

Joe Biden: Jack Daniels, Amaretto, Cranberry, Frozen Blueberries

Sarah Palin: Svedka Clementine, Inniskillin Icewine, Fever Tree, Ginger Ale, Swedish Fish, Dry “Iceburg”

Michelle Obama: Patron XO Café, Patron Citronge, Orange Juice, Orange

Cindy McCain: St. Germaine Elderflower Liquor, Cava, Ginger and Thai Basil Pearls

Wonder if Free Super Saver Shipping is included...

MSN.com is reporting that Amazon will soon be selling wine. Amazon is always my go-to site for book, CD, DVD and home product reviews...looking forward to seeing how this will play out.

Vinifera Wine Bar celebrates VA wine month

Reston's Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro is taking guests on a tasting tour of Virginia’s best vintages throughout the month of October to celebrate “Virginia Wine Month.”

Vinifera, named after the vine species that produces almost all of the world’s wines today, is offering half-priced wine flights designed to showcase the best of Virginia during the entire month. Two new flights featuring three white or red Virginia wine varietals will be priced starting at $12.00. “Since we are located at the gateway of the Virginia wine country, it is only fitting that we celebrate ‘Virginia Wine Month,’” said Sami Zeitoun, General Manager of Vinifera. “Our local wineries are producing numerous award-wining and highly regarded wines, and this is a great opportunity for our guests to come in and try some new local products without traveling very far.”

While dining at Vinifera, guests can explore the ‘terroir’ and flavor profiles of the area’s most highly regarded wineries, including Loudoun Valley Winery, Chrysalis Winery, Barboursville Vineyards, Fabbioli Cellars, Doukenie Winery, Tarara Winery and more.

Vinifera’s staff will be available to help guests pair their chosen Virginia wine flight with Executive Chef Seth Eldridge’s seasonal, local and sustainable menu which features dishes like Seared Sea Scallops with Pea Puree and Chili Oil, Eastern Shore Rockfish with Fava Beans and Seared Natural Lamb with Lime Risotto, Pomegranate Glaze and Muscat Marmalade. Guests can also choose from the restaurant’s wine list, which features over 300 local, domestic and international wines by the bottle and more than 30 wines available by the glass and half glass. In addition to the main dining room, dining options include a seasonal outdoor patio that seats 70 as well as private dining.

Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Hours of operation are: 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (breakfast), 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (lunch), 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. (dinner). The restaurant is located in the Westin Reston Heights at 11750 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191. Dress is casual chic. For more information, or to make reservations, please visit http://www.viniferabistro.com/ or call 703.234.3550.

Poste's new after dinner sipper

After dinner at Poste Brasserie the other evening, mixologist Rico Wisner brought us out a sneak peak of a new after dinner drink he's designed for the menu. Called the XO Macchiato, his new cocktail contains Patron XO Tequila, Fernet Branca (a bitter Italian digestivo), and a shot of espresso, and is topped with steamed milk and a coffee bean and served straight up in a cool cocktail glass.

The first thing that hit me was the aroma of eucalyptus. Fernet Branca's full ingredient list is a guarded secret, but includes myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and saffron (and there's gotta be something minty in there too...) Since the after dinner, coffee-esque drinks I'm used to are typically sweet (with Kahlua, Frangelico, Bailey's, etc.) this was pleasantly bitter and stays true to the purpose of a digestivo in the first place--to settle your stomach after a big meal. Albeit with a nice little espresso and milk kick.

Rico is working on his fall cocktail menu, and the XO Macchiato, and lots of other great options, will be available soon.

Great Hotel Bars, Part 1

Mark your calendars for what will definitely be a fantastic event on October 14. Derek and Phil are knowledgeable and fun hosts, and Chantal is quite the expert on classic cocktails--her Sazerac is the best in town (just don't be disappointed if you make it at home and it doesn't turn out quite as good...just head to the Tabard for the real deal.):


The Great Hotel Bars, Part I
Presented By: Derek Brown and Phil Greene
$45.00 per person pre-register
The 'at-the-door' fee may be higher.
Tuesday, October 14 2008, 6:00 - 7:30
Hotel Tabard Inn, 1739 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036

Join Derek Brown and Phil Greene (a co-founder of The Museum of the American Cocktail) for this introductory discussion of the classic drinks of the great old hotel bars, those palaces of hospitality. Along with delicious appetizers, sample and learn the histories of such classics as the Vieux Carre Cocktail (Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans), the Rob Roy (Waldorf = Astoria, New York), the Singapore Sling (Raffles Hotel, Singapore), the Bloody Mary (St. Regis Hotel, New York), and the Side Car (The Ritz, Paris). Join mixologist Chantal Tseng of the Tabard Inn for a demonstration of the Tabard Cocktail made in honor of the event and listen to her share stories of the District's oldest continuously-operated inn. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

La Dolce Vita and some bubbles

When I need reliable wine recommendations, I always know I can turn to my friend Neil Smith, owner of WineSmith in Ashburn. He's friendly and knowledgeable, and his shop is just a really attractive place to hang out in.

So when I asked him for a demi-sec sparkling wine to go with a birthday cake, he had the perfect bottle. Adami "Giardino" Prosecco is a single vineyard, single vintage (2007) Prosecco from one of the area's top producers. Though typically Prosecco is pretty dry, this one had just a touch of lovely sweetness, making it a bit soft and a delight to sip. And since it's produced with the tank method, like all Proseccos, it had some crisp apple notes and a clean finish. It's perfect all by itself, with cheese and fruit, or with that birthday cake.

Adami Giardino Prosecco is $24.99 at WineSmith. And say hi to Neil for me.

Have raspberry syrup, will mix

I've been reading a lot of mixology books lately (Imbibe, The Joy of Mixology, The Craft of the Cocktail), and one ingredient that's present in a lot of classic recipes is raspberry syrup. While it's definitely best to make it fresh by using macerated raspberries, sugar and water, in a pinch the commercial brands can be fine, too (try to look for one that's labeled "natural"--Smucker's makes one.)

I grabbed a bottle the other day while at the supermarket, and I immediately went to my cocktail books to find a drink to use it in. I'm working on an article right now about flips, which reminded me of the fizz--a related drink that uses just the egg white. I found this recipe and whipped it up last night:

Chanticleer Cocktail
Makes 1 cocktail

2 oz gin
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp raspberry syrup
1 egg white

Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker 3/4 filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds or more to whip up the egg white. Pour into a rocks glass half filled with cracked ice.

I used North Shore Distillery's Gin Number 6, an interesting choice because the aromatics to me hinted of savory/sweet fall spices like cardamom. It made a drink that definitely had an "old school" taste to me. I used 1 egg white for 2 cocktails, which was more than enough. And I cracked ice by wrapping some in a clean kitchen towel and whacking it on my concrete garage floor. :-)

My husband and I gave the Chanticleer two thumbs up. Though next time we'll try a more citrus-y gin, which I'm sure will yield a completely different drink.

Eve's Plumb Rocked Adam's Apple

When it comes to cool weather drinks, the use of mulling spices and cider typically signify a warmer-upper, steeped and served still steaming. Not at Nage in Washington, DC.

Recently, mixologist Galen Johnson mulled over the restaurant's new cooler weather menu, and created a tantalizing tipple that speaks to fall...but is sipped cold, not warm. The base for the drink is high proof rum that packs a potent punch. Using fresh plums, apples and spices, Johnson creates homemade cider. He then adds house made bitters crafted from oranges and that fall herb favorite tarragon, tops the drink with Champagne, and serves it in a small stemmed cocktail glass. The result is a sweet, spicy and fruity concoction that evokes sweater weather, but more easily pairs with food than warm sips (Johnson likes to serve it alongside their Smoked Acorn Squash and Apple Soup with Maple Marshmallows.) The drink's name is quite striking as well: Eve's Plumb Rocked Adam's Apple, a take on the real name of the middle Brady Bunch daughter.

I got the chance to sip one the other evening while previewing Nage's new fall menu (the Seared Scallop and Pork Belly with Celery Root Puree, Pickled Grapes and Beluga Lentil Vinaigrette is delish by the way...I loooooooove pork belly!)

Head to Nage and check out more of Galen's concoctions.

The bottle is always three-quarters full with this zesty, friendly white

On Monday evening, I dined at the new Redwood in Bethesda. It's a gorgeous spot--lots of dark (red)wood, slate, marble, high windows that look out onto a pedestrian-only street. Strikingly handsome.

Wine Program Manager Brian Cook really wants to encourage wine experimentation during a dinner at Redwood. So wines are offered in somewhat unconventional sizes: 100 ml, 250 ml and 500 ml. In visual terms, that's a decent-sized taste, a glass and a half, and 3/4 of a bottle, respectively. (The restaurant employs a handy nitrogen-based wine preservation system to reseal opened bottles, but Cook says most move in a day or two.)

We had several great wine and food pairings, but a standout wine for me was the 2006 Anne Amie Cuvee a Amrita from Oregon. I am a sucker for cool blends of white grapes, and when I saw the laundry list of those included in this juice (muller-thurgau, pinot gris, riesling, chardonnay, viognier and melon), I had to grab a glass.

It was zesty and fresh, with key lime and gooseberry notes. The viognier added a touch of richness and orange blossom aroma, and the riesling--a bit of stone fruit. It had a lot going for it from start to finish, and paired well with their heirloom tomato salad with goat cheese.

Redwood's website is not yet fully functional, but the site does give the address and phone number. I'm not sure yet where I can get the wine in the DC area, but Cook says it is available...and definitely worth the search.

Chill it down...stat

Ever stuck with a warm bottle of white that you need to chill in a hurry because company was arriving in 15 minutes? Sure, you can use a bucket of ice water to cool it off pretty quickly. But there are also a bunch of great gadgets and tools out there to do with with more style...and less of a dripping mess.

Explore your cool options in my Imbibe article, Cold as Ice.

Grape Stumpers

Ever wonder if a deep punt in a bottle signifies a higher quality wine? Or if a wine that's been on your rack for years is still drinkable?

Then check out Grape Stumpers, a recent piece I did for Wine Enthusiast.

Remembering...

On this seventh anniversary of 9/11, as we all remember what happened on that day, and as the Pentagon memorial is dedicated this morning--a beautiful spot that I hope to visit shortly--here is post from 9/11 a few years back that describes some of what I feel every year on this day.

May everyone who lost someone that day find a little bit more peace as time goes on. And may the rest of us give pause and be grateful for the times we happily spend with family and friends.

Reds and Whites for Reds and Blues

Andrew Stover is always doing something cool at DC's Oya. Inspired by the upcoming election, he's currently featuring a "Road to the White House" politicial wine round-up, with three wine flights:

The Conservative
Black Star Farms ‘Arcturos' Pinot Gris 2006,Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan
Dos Cabezas Wineworks ‘DC Red' Cabernet/Sangiovese/Grenache 2004,Cochise County, Southeastern Arizona
Sawtooth Winery Syrah 2004, Snake River Valley, Idaho

The Liberal
Brooklyn Oenology Chardonnay 2007, North Fork, Long Island, New York
Galena Cellars Frontenac 2006, Illinois
Stuart Cellars Cabernet Franc 2004, Temecula Valley, California

The Battleground
Black Star Farms ‘Arcturos' Pinot Gris 2006,Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan
Jack Rabbit Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2007,North Fork Valley, Colorado
Cardinal Point ‘A6' Viognier/Chardonnay 2007, Monticello, Virginia

The restaurant will also continue offering wines from the candidates' home states featuring wines from Arizona (McCain) and Illinois (Obama).

The Road to the Wine House selections will be featured by the glass and bottle until the Presidential Election in November.

Farmers' Market Supper Wine Pairings

Recently, Lauren DeSantis, host of the DC area's Capital Cooking show on public access, asked me to suggest some wine pairings for her recent episode featuring dishes cooked with items purchased from local farmers markets. Read my picks here.

Exotic cocktail seminar

If you are interested in learning how to make exotic cocktails, then be sure to check out the amazing seminar offered tomorrow evening at Mie N Yu:

"The Pacific Rim to The Silk Road"
How to Make Exotic Cocktails
September 9, 2008 6:00 - 7:30
Mie N Yu Restaurant
3125 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.Phone: (202) 333-6122

Join Phil Greene and Derek Brown of the Museum of the American Cocktail on this trek into the world of exotic cocktails. They'll take participants through a brief history of exotic ingredients in cocktails and how bartenders have used those ingredients over time, demonstrating a range of exotic cocktails from the Indian-inspired Bombay Government Punch of 1694 to the original Tiki-classic, "Mai Tai, Roe Ae." Mixologists Chris Kelley of Mie N Yu and Tom Brown of Cork will demonstrate some contemporary approaches to making exotic cocktails for professionals and amateurs alike. Chef Tim Elliot will provide light fare and participants will sample several of the cocktails, including the Bombay Government Punch, Mai Tai, Moscow Mule and Chris and Tom's original creations!

This event is sponsored by The Museum of the American Cocktail, Mie N Yu, Depaz Rhum Agricole, Finlandia Vodka and Domaine de Canton French Ginger Liqueur.

Tickets are $50. To buy them online, please go to:
https://www.mienyu.com/giftcard.shtml#events

Or call 202-222-0948, and ask for Mike Cherner.

Strawberry Fields Forever...and hold the pulp

Last evening I headed to Restaurant 3 in Clarendon for a sneak peek at their fall menu. (It's kind of hard to think fall when it's 90 degrees outside...but several dishes, including the Mero--Japanese sea bass--with spring pea risotto, were to die for.)

We had some lovely J. Winery bubbly and Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir with dinner. During cocktail hour, two fresh options were passed. Their featured "Farm to Glass" drink, the Clarendon Peach, featured bourbon and peach puree. Fresh tasting indeed, but it was a bit too pulpy for me. But then again, I seek out pulp free OJ at the grocery store--can't stand that mushy feeling in my mouth. If I were making it, I would have strained it first. But that's just me. :-)

A better choice for me was their Strawberry Fields (and being a huge Beatles fan I just had to smile inside every time I took a sip...) This cocktail mixed Absolut Citron, Cointreau, Strawberry-Lemongrass puree, and a squeeze of lemon. Blessedly unpulpy, this drink was light, fruity and lemony--a great late summer sipper for a warm evening.

In a sea of other options, Restaurant 3 is a welcome addition to the Clarendon neighborhood.

August's wines in September

DC's 701 Restaurant will be featuring the wines of August Briggs in a wine dinner on Tuesday, September 9, at 7:00 PM. Executive chef Bobby Varua will be pairing dishes with the Calistoga, CA winery's offerings. The cost is $75 per person, and the dinner will feature:

Buttered Popcorn Dover Sole
August Briggs “Leveroni Vineyard” Chardonnay 2007

Pork Belly with Green Apple Cassoulet
August Briggs “Napa Valley” Zinfandel 2006

Muscovey Duck with Açaí Bordelaise
August Briggs “Monte Rosso” Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Smoked Gouda Crème des Financiers
August Briggs “Napa Valley” Syrah 2004

Restaurant 701 is located at 701 PennsylvaniaAve NW,Washington, DC. Their phone number is (202) 393-0701.

Five Bites on Friday recap

Thanks so much to Metrocurean blog writer Amanda McClements, who featured my list in her weekly "Five Bites on Friday" posting. If you missed it, you can catch it here.

Back from OBX

Just got back in town from a great, relaxing week in the Outer Banks. The remnants of Hurricane/Tropical Storm/Tropical Depression Fay made the weather less than stellar for two days, but we still managed to get on the beach every day.

I've been lucky to have tried lots of great craft beers and classic cocktails as of late, but our drinks at the beach were a bit simpler. Our go-to beach beer is always Miller Chill, (or as I like to call it, the lazy man's Corona, when cutting up a lime to squeeze a wedge into the bottle is just too much effort...) It's tasty, light and damn refreshing when you are sitting under the hot summer sun.

We also enjoyed some G&T's with Junipero Gin (one of my current fave gins for the G&T--very citrusy). And I recently got my hands on a bottle of Chateau Ste Michelle's Nellie's Garden dry rose. With a gorgeous pink-reddish color and hints of strawberry and cranberry, it proved to be a great late summer sipper.

Sorry for not posting while I was gone, but while I was certainly enjoying my share of drinks every day, I had sand and surf on the brain more so than vino and cocktails. But I'll be catching up this week!

Point, click and bid on bottles

Each year, oenophiles in the Northern California area anxiously await the Sonoma Valley Harvest Auction. This year, anyone with an internet connection can take part...

Beginning in August, anyone can bid online on selected lots. As part of the 2008 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, this first-ever online auction will offer approximately forty lots from Sonoma vintners and businesses to raise money for local charities. For this year’s inaugural online auction, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend teamed up with cMarket, an on-demand, online auction platform designed solely for organizations engaged in fundraising for nonprofit causes, to create a virtual auction experience to complement the weekend’s festivities.

Starting on August 1st and continuing throughout the month, visitors to http://www.winecountryweekend.cmarket.com/ can bid on select lots that will vary in value from $100 - $3,000. Sample lots include a special jeroboam (6L) bottle of 1991 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon, a romantic weekend in the wine country, and terrior tasting from La Crema featuring four large-sized bottles from the family owned estate in the Russian River Valley. All money raised will benefit more than fifteen charities that support students, children, farm workers and people in need.

Wine lovers, hit those keys!

Sweeter, Kinder Gin

New Amsterdam gin is billed as a Dutch style gin that's "distinctly smoother, and with crisp citrus notes." Like other new offerings on the market, it's designed to appeal to the non-gin drinker, who may have been overwhelmed in the past by harsh, very juniper-y spirits. Makers claim that it's so smooth it's really meant to be drunk straight (hence its full name, "New Amsterdam Straight Gin.")

Before sampling any of it neat, I used it in a gin and tonic. Now, I'll admit that I didn't use any of the less sweet, more gourmet tonics on the market like Q Tonic or Fever Tree (I used that old standby Schwepps.) But the resulting drink was really sweet. Too much so for me. But rather than judge it prematurely, I thought I'd sample some of it solo. It still tasted really sweet, at least to my palate (and that of my husband.)

However, if you shy away from super strong, botanically filled gins, New Amsterdam may be one to try. A 750 mL bottle retails for about $14, and once they ramp up their website, they should have availability listed.

Regardless of my tasting experience with the stuff, I still have that "They Might Be Giants" song lyric (and melody) stuck in my head: "Even old New York, was once New Amsterdam..."

Lots and lots of suds

I dined at Alexandria's Rustico a few nights ago, where encyclopedia of beer and all-around super nice guy Greg Engert paired suds with dishes on their current tasting menu. I had some memorable plates, including goat cheese stuffed figs that were to die for, fried pork trotters, Cornish hen under brick, and 2 of their fantastic pizzas--mushroom and spinach; and gulf shrimp with fontina cheese.

Greg's choices took me all over the beer world, to likely places like Belgian and Germany, and more unlikely ones like Italy. To end the evening, he selected a Gouden Carolus, a Belgian Blond Ale, to pair with warm blueberry pie with whipped cream and ginger syrup. The beer had some nice fresh fruit, without being at all sweet, as well as some spice. The yeast strain used in the brewing gives aromas of overripe bananas.

***If you go, try to reserve the chef's table--four seats that overlook the kitchen and guarantee lots of attention from Greg and Chef Morales.

Bubbly and Takeout

No need to save the sparkling wine for special occasions--bubbly is the occasion. I enjoy it with everything from fried chicken or potato chips (the bubbles cut the fat and grease), to Thai and Indian curry (the effervescence tames the heat).

For some more casual food matches with sparklers, check out my article in the latest issue of Modern Luxury DC.

The Jupiter Cocktail

If you happen to have a bottle of Parfait Amour on hand and are looking for recipes that use it (a little goes a LONG way), try the Jupiter cocktail. It's a classic concoction featured in Ted Haigh's book "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails.). Chantal Tseng whipped up one last week at The Tabard Inn:

Jupiter Cocktail
1 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz dry vermouth
1/4 oz orange juice
1/4 oz parfait amour

Shake in iced cocktail shaker & strain Serve in a cocktail glass (4.5 oz)

Grab the bottle opener...I need some bubbly

I was lucky enough to receive some bottles of Domaine Chandon a few weeks ago to sample for a sparkling wines piece I wrote. Two of the bottles were curiously missing the cork, foil and cage typically of most traditional method sparkling wines...

Domaine Chandon's Etoile Brut ("star" in French) prides itself on having "freedom to break from all traditional limitations and commonly accepted rules in sparkling winemaking." Thus, they use a crown closure (AKA a beer cap...) with some lovely ribbon on top, to seal their bottles.

I was actually a bit nervous to keep this on my wine rack. Would it hold? Would it explode in the middle of the night, leaving precious (and sticky...) bubbly residue on my walls? I mean, I figured the winemakers knew what they were doing, but it's just a bit...unconventional. But c'est le point, I guess...

It was refreshingly easy to just grab my bottle opener from the side of my fridge and pop open the bottle. I thought maybe the wine wouldn't have that much effervescence--a safety precaution for the lack of a cage. But it was fully sparkling. And delicious, with some ginger and honey, and some apple and pear.

Etoile also comes in a rose version, which retails for $50. (The Brut retails for $40.)

So, next time you crave a bottle of the fizzy stuff, embrace the beer cap, and grab the bottle opener. Cheers!

Etoile

Politics is not the only game in town...

There's lots of great drinking to be had as well! Catch up on what's happening at four DC-area hotspots: Zola, Brasserie Beck, EatBar and The Source, in my article in Patterson's The Tasting Panel magazine.

It's always better with bitters

I spent an enjoyable (and enlightening) time last week at the Tabard Inn, where Chantal Tseng whipped up some delicious cocktails, and Derek Brown gave me a lesson in bitters. Derek carted his personal stash of bitters to the bar--both store bought ones from Fee Brothers, The Bitter Truth and Regan's, as well as homemade ones that he and his mixology friends whipped up, like smoked chocolate, holy mole and black strap sassafrass.

No, we didn't taste most of them, which would have rendered our palate numb and pretty much useless. Since bitters are all about the aromatics, we just put a few dashes in the palm of a hand, rubbed our hands together, and sniffed. It's amazing how potent they are, and how just a dash or two can change a cocktail from being one-dimensional to incredibly complex. I've added several kinds to my own bar at home (I really like Fee Brothers orange), and I'm really glad more and more mixologists are once again turning to these classic cocktail ingredients.

Chantal makes a mean Sazerac, the New Orleans standard made with Peychaud's bitters. You can watch her in action on this video. She throws and twirls the glass in the air to coat it with Absinthe, and uses a decent amount of lemon peel to add citrus flavor and more aromatics--heresy to some Sazerac fans, but I think it adds a beautiful brightness to a drink that otherwise may be a bit heavy for some. I'm not a whiskey fan, but I was digging it.

The other eye-opener for me was to taste a traditional martini--she made one with Beefeater--with a few drops of orange bitters added. Again, these bitters add a fresh brightness to the classic libation. Bitters are included in the original martini recipe, but somehow over the years they fell out of favor. I'll never look at the martini the same way again.

Go to The Tabard Inn on Thursday evenings to check our Chantal's featured concoctions--she's been known to pull inspiration from her well-marked copy of "Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails" (to which she referred last week to find with a recipe that used Parfait Amour, which she happened to have a bottle of. She whipped up the Jupiter cocktail.)

Derek Brown is the Sommelier at Komi Restaurant. You can also see him on WineTasteTV.

Oh rickey, you're so fine (I couldn't resist...)

The basic recipe for a rickey calls for 1.5 oz of gin (or whiskey, if you prefer), and a half ounce of fresh lime juice over ice in a highball glass. You can sweeten it with sugar, simple syrup or agave syrup if you like, or keep it tart, and top with club soda and a lime wedge.

The rickey actually originated in DC in the late 19th century by "Colonel Joe" Rickey, a lobbyist whose favorite watering hole was Shoomaker's off Pennsylvania Avenue. Joe preferred whiskey, but many fans (myself included) prefer gin.

July was the first annual Rickey Month, and eight of DC's top bars created their own versions, including Bar Pilar, EatBar and Hudson. My fave was Chantal Tseng's of The Tabard Inn, whose Rive Gauche Rickey really had everything I love: Aviation gin, St. Germain, Lucid Absinthe, lavender, fresh lime and sparkling wine (Charles de Fere).

Head to the Adams Morgan location of Bourbon tonight between 6-8 PM, where the best rickey in town will be revealed. There's no cover, and Bourbon is located at 2321 18th Street NW.

One Margarita with air, please

Every once in awhile, I enjoy a well-made Margarita on the rocks. I love the flavor of the salt rim, but not the unsightly look of flakes left on my upper lip.

Washington, DC's Oyamel Cocina Mexicana, owned by Jose Andres, found an inventive solution to my cocktail pet peeve. They top their Margaritas with salt air--kind of like a seafoam, if you will. Read about it in my recent article in Cheers magazine.

Loire Valley Wines and Summer Foods

I just got a useful postcard in the mail from the Loire Valley Wine Bureau, giving wine suggestions for popular summer foods. I've always been a huge fan of wines from the Loire. Unfortunately, they often stand in the shadows of their more popular sisters from Bordeaux and Burgundy, but LV wines have such a fresh quality to them--perfect for summer foods. They are usually more approachable much earlier one, too, which is great for someone like me who is all about instant gratification. Here are their suggestions, with some comments from me:

Oysters and Muscadet (**The mineral notes in the wine match those in the bivalves, and the refreshing bit of spritz is akin to squirting a lemon wedge on the shellfish)

Seared scallops and Sancerre, Anjou or Saumur Blanc (**All great matches, but my fave is the racy, crisp Sancerre.)

Lobster rolls or crab cakes and Vouvray (**What's great about this white winner is that styles range from dry to sweet, but even the sweeter styles retain acidity well. And as with Muscadet, there is a bit of spritz. An off-dry style will go well with the sweet lobster meat. If the variation in style is frustrating for you, ask someone helpful at your local wine store, find a producer or two you like, and stick with it.)

Burgers and grilled sausage and Chinon or Bourgueil (**I just love Chinon. It's bright and fresh, and a great example of a well-made Cabernet Franc-based wine.)

Barbecue and Rose d'Anjou or Cabernet d'Anjou (**Rose wines, with their strawberry or raspberry notes, nice acidity and bit of spice, are perfect for barbecued ribs or chicken. Roses are a great compromise between a white and a red, especially during summer.)

A party on the beach and Cremant de Loire or Saumur Brut (**I never turn down a sparkling wine, and the Loire makes some elegant ones. They can be a bit more difficult to find than other French bubblies, but they are definitely worth seeking out.)

For more info about Loire Valley wines, go to the bureau's website.

Looking for something to do tonight?

Why not head to Mrs. K's in Silver Spring for:their Sunday night special?

Located just outside the nation’s capitol at 9201 Colesville Road, Mrs. K’s Tollhouse Restaurant, with its exquisite gardens and terraces, and cool stone and brick wine cellar aptly named The Wine Press, is an ideal escape. To help combat the rising temperatures and cost of travel, Mrs. K’s is offering the perfect way to spend Sunday evenings from 5 PM to 8 PM, with half price bottles of wine and half price, tempting small plates. This seasonal savings offering includes 30 selected vintages such as Catena Alta, Malbec; Hartford Court, Pinot Noir and Vineyard 29, Cabernet Sauvignon ranging in price from $17.50 to $177.50 per bottle. Small plates normally priced between $8 and $24, are available for $4 to $12 each. Mrs. K’s also serves 45 wines by the glass ranging in price from $7 to $18. The “Wine & Dine” offering is available now through October 15th.

The Baobab Tree, Cape Gooseberries and Juniper, Oh My!

In my continuing quest to sample all the amazing new gins out there, my search recently led me to Whitley Neill. The slogan says it all: "Inspired by Africa. Made in England." Botanicals beyond the typical juniper include cape gooseberries and the the citrus fruit from the African baobab tree. (If you can't quite picture the flavor of the former, think of the taste of a really aggressive, racy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc--it usually has some gooseberry notes.) As for the citrus fruit from the baobab tree--I've never had that before, though just the mention of that tree reminds me of one of my favorite childhood books: Le Petit Prince.

To give a brief history: founder Johnny Neill's family's distilling and brewing links go all the way back to 1762 when his ancestor Thomas Greenall formed a company called Greenall Whitley. Neill was born less than half a mile from the Greenall's family distillery in Warrington, England. His father was Director of the distillery and ran the brewery and his Great grandfather was Managing Director. The Greenall family currently distills Bombay Gin and Bombay Sapphire Gin under licence for Bacardi.

Two years ago, independently, and after much research and experimentation with botanicals at a separate distillery, Neill launched Whitley Neill London Dry Gin into the on-trade in London.
The company donates 5% of their net profits to Tree Aid, a charity which helps some of the poorest people in Africa secure an income from Trees. They also donate $1.00 from every bottle sold at Hyatt hotels to the charity.

It's a great backstory, and a great cause, but the proof is in the pudding (i.e. does it make a good G&T?) Neill claims it makes the best one in the market, and I have to agree that it's damn good. The gin has wonderfully refreshing citrus flavors, which mix so well with (my preferred tonic) Fever Tree (whose quinine, incidentally, is sourced from the bark of a rare tree in Africa...)

Whitley Neill has racked up a bunch of awards since its launch, including a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Check the website for more info and cool recipes to try. I'm not sure how readily accessible it is in the DC area, but I'll check and repost...

Cucumber White Sangria Recipe

Here is the recipe for the Cucumber White Sangria that I enjoyed the other evening, courtesy of Blue Duck Tavern.

***If elderflower syrup is hard to come by, I would recommend using St. Germain Elderflower liqueur if you have it, or just using simple syrup. The floral flavor wasn't overwhelming, so even though it adds a cool note to the drink, it's not the end of the world if you omit it.

Cucumber White Sangria
Courtesy of Blue Duck Tavern, Washington, DC

5 slices cucumber
3 oz Sauvignon Blanc (St. Supery or another crisp SB)
1 oz Van Gogh Vodka (or another vodka)
1 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Lime Juice
2 oz White Cranberry juice
1/2 oz Elderflower syrup

Mix all ingredients and pour into large wine glass. Add ice.

Ducking Out of the Heat

Last evening, I had a wonderful dinner at Blue Duck Tavern, located inside the Park Hyatt in DC. Yes, the lovely patio was open, but we opted to stay out of the heat, and instead took a table right by the kitchen. (Calling BDT's culinary space an "open kitchen," by the way, is a major understatement. I felt like at any given moment I could have stepped over, grabbed a saute pan and made my own scallops. Not that I could have done a better job than the chefs, mind you.)

The food was sublime--sauteed crispy softshell crabs, sauteed scallops with fennel and anise, Mettwurst (fermented sausage, new on the menu), fries tripled fried in duck fat (they are the antithesis of "frites," and pretty much looked like mini 2x4s. Delish.), homemade cornbread, and the best succotash I have ever had in my life.

And to start off the evening, I tried their Cucumber White Sangria. Anyone who knows me or reads this blog knows that I absolutely cannot turn down a cucumber-based drink. Case in point: I've gushed over Gnome's Water at EatBar, and the Gordon's Cup from Bon Appetit, and anything else I can get my hands on that contains the slender, cool veggie.

This cocktail was made with Sauvignon Blanc, Van Gogh vodka, Triple Sec and Elderflower Syrup. It was served in a large wine glass, over ice, with several cucumber slices as garnish. Very. very. refreshing. Run to the Tavern and ask for one.

Sip Some Tomato Air

Recently I wrote an article for Cheers about the margaritas topped with salt air (instead of rimmed with salt) at Jose Andres' Mexican kitchen Oyamel in Washington, DC (it's not in print yet, but I'll post it when it is). They are visually striking, and unusually delicious.

To celebrate Spain's La Tomatina Festival, his restaurant Jaleo will be offering tomato-inspired drinks, one of which will have that air garnish.

(For those of you unfamiliar with La Tomatina, it's a 63 year-old Spanish tradition that takes place the last Wednesday of August in the small town of Buñol. This epic food fight begins when more than 300,000 pounds of ripe tomatoes arrive to the center of the town at the Plaza de Pueblo. Thousands of people then gather each year to participate in this wild batalla as the delicious seasonal treats become missiles leaving everyone and everything splattered with tomato pulp. You may have seen it sometime in the news--super messy, but it looks really, really fun.)

Along with some fantastic-sounding tomato-based dishes, Andres will be offering the Dirty Tomatini topped with tomato air; and the Tomato Mimosa with Tomato Granite.

These specials will start on July 28, and continue through August 10. For more info, go to Jaleo's website.

Celebrate with Belgian Brews

Today is Belgium's Independence Day. Why not head to DC's Brasserie Beck for the celebration? From 11:30 AM until closing time at 11 PM, Chef/Owner Robert Wiedmaier’s popular 165-seat restaurant is offering up 18 delicious Belgian draft beers, at half price, ranging from $3-$6 each, to toast Belgian Independence Day. It commemorates Belgium’s anniversary of separation from the Netherlands in 1831, and the formal establishment of the kingdom with the crowning of Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg, who agreed to support the constitution drawn up by the National Congress. This one-day only celebration is Beer Specialist Bill Catron’s brainchild and the “knighted” beer expert is offering up the following beers available in the restaurant, bar and outdoor patio.

Beers featured include the following: Delirium Tremens; Gouden Carolus Ambrio; St. Louis Framboise; Gouden Carolus Hopsinjour; Gouden Carolus Tripple; Gouden Carolus Classic D'or; Kasteel Tripple; Kasteel Donker; Blanche des Bruxelles; De Koninck; Hoegaarden; Leffe Brune; Stella Artois; Bavik; Piraat; Kasteel Rouge; Brigand and Gulden Draak. Brasserie Beck exemplifies a traditional, chic image of old Europe’s Belgium train stations. The spacious bar boasts over 126 Belgian Beers and ten different beer taps, making it the most comprehensive Belgian Beer list in the city and the restaurant recently opened its expansive patio that is also friendly to those wishing to enjoy a good cigar.

Brasserie Beck is located on 1101 K Street, NW and serves lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 AM to 5 PM, dinner Monday-Thursday 5 PM to 11 PM, and Friday and Saturday, from 5 PM to 11:30 PM; Sunday brunch is offered from 11:30 AM to 8 PM. For reservations call 202.408.1717 and visit http://www.beckdc.com/

The Wine *Rack*

So I was watching Jay Leno the other evening, and he did a segment called "Sold or Not Sold," where inventors looked for markets and distributors for their products.

One proposed product was billed as the "Wine Rack." A little web search led me to their website. I'll let the text on the site tell you what the product does:

"Turn an A cup in to double Ds AND sport your favorite beverage for yourself and your friends! Better than a boob job and cheaper too! Not to mention the savings on over priced drinks. Take a bottle of wine, a mixed drink or even a fifth of your favorite hard stuff to the movies, concerts, ball games, even PTA meetings. Sporting a rack that will turn heads and serving a beverage that will have guys standing in line for a sip of your secret stash! With a simple blow into the tube it's easy to keep that full look even as you drink from your secret stash."

So basically, you fill this gadget with your favorite beverage, strap it on, and enjoy drinking up to more than a bottle of wine, hands free. And as the beverage depletes, just inflate to keep your rack looking perky.

Apparently, there is a market for this product, and it sells for $29.95. Interested? Check out the site.

Lots of Wining in DC

Over the past year, wine bars have been popping up all over in DC and the surrounding area. Coincidentally (or not), many of them start with V--Veritas, Vinoteca, and Vinifera--which can make it difficult to keep them straight.

Never fear. Just refer to my primer in Modern Luxury DC which gives the best of the best of DC's wine bars.

Cheers to Eight Years of Wedded Bliss...

Just wanted to send a virtual toast to my husband Mike. We are celebrating eight wonderful years of marriage today...

How to *Produce* a Great Cocktail

The other night, I stopped by Vegetate, the vegetarian restaurant and bar in DC's Shaw neighborhood, to sample some specialty cocktails that mixologists Jonathan Harris and Mina Shahriary were whipping up specifically for that evening. (Coincidentally, Metrocurean also stopped by, so we sipped and chatted a bit.)

The first drink I tried was one I covered for my recent article in Modern Luxury DC about floral elements in cocktails--it was cool to finally try it in person. The Scotland Yard uses Noilly Prat dry vermouth, Tanqueray gin, whatever fresh herbs happen to be in Vegetate's garden at the time (included that night were lavender, thyme, basil, lemongrass and cilantro), local cucumber and lime. It tasted (not surprisingly) very herby--pretty much like a fresh salad in a glass. Very refreshing.

Next up was the Heirloom Tomato Martini, with Square One organic vodka, Noilly Prat dry vermouth and tomato water. I love tomatoes, and do enjoy a Bloody Mary during brunch once in awhile. But the thickness sometimes gets to me. Mina told me she strained the juice for this cocktail, and while it wasn't as thin as water, texturally it was a big improvement over tomato juice. And the drink had a delightful salt and pepper rim.

Since the first two drinks I sampled were savory, I ended the evening with a sweeter choice. Sex on the Mountain has Goji berry infused Square One Vodka, Grand Marnier, muddled local peaches, and Regan's orange bitters. Goji berries lend an earthy/woody flavor to the vodka, which is countered by the sweetness of the peaches. Served over ice, it's a great choice to sip on a hot summer evening.

To nibble with my libations, I ordered mini grilled cheese sandwiches, made with sourdough bread, chive butter, Vermont cheddar and bitter greens. Drizzled with balsamic vinegar, these little sammies were the best grilled cheese I've ever had. Yum.

This past Wednesday was the first in what Jonathan hopes to be a special monthly cocktail party. For more info, check out Vegetate's website.

Flower Power!

From lavender and candied violets to St. Germaine and Creme de Violette, a current drink trend this summer is floral components in cocktails. Read about it in my article in Modern Luxury DC.

Calimocho when it's Caliente

So I finally got around to whipping up that ubiquitous cocktail found all over cafes in Spain, the Calimocho. For those of you unfamiliar with it, the drink is Basque in origin, and it contains equal parts red wine and Coke, served over ice with a lemon slice or wedge. I had been on the fence about this drink, but my curiosity finally won out.

My verdict? Well, I used some leftover wine we had the night before for dinner, and I think it was a bit too dry in style. It seemed to take away the Coke's effervescence, and the the Coke didn't really add anything to the wine's flavor. Since it's ice cold, it's unquestionably refreshing. Next time I'll try a bottle a bit fruitier in nature, maybe a Rioja or a jammy merlot.

For more info on the Calimocho, just Google it. You can also look it up by its Basque spelling, Kalimotxo.

A variation on a Brazilian fave

So last evening, I was browsing through my copy of Dale Degroff's The Craft of the Cocktail, looking for a recipe to inspire me. This book is filled with really helpful information about cocktails and liquors, and a wealth of recipes both classic and contemporary. Unfortunately, we were missing a single ingredient for so many of them.

I have these tasty dark cherries in merlot syrup from Robert Lambert that have been in my fridge for a month or so. They are somewhat tart, with some spice and deep berry flavor from the merlot, and I've just been dying to try them in some liquid creation.

I've always enjoyed a good Caipirihna, the cachaca-based drink from Brazil. Unfortunately, I don't have a bottle of it right now in my liquor cabinet. So last night I substituted rum, and it turned out quite nicely. Here is the recipe:

(Variation) on the Cherry Caipirinha
Make 1 drink

* 3 pitted dark cherries
* Half of a lime, cut into small wedges
* 1.5 teaspoons brown sugar
* 2 oz. light rum

Fill a cocktail glass with ice. Muddle the cherries, lime and brown sugar in a cocktail shaker. Add the rum and ice from the cocktail glass. Mix well, then pour entire contents back into the cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

The Robert Lambert cherries added a nice complexity to the drink, balanced by the tartness of the lime juice and the sweetness of the brown sugar. And the drink just looked pretty, too.

Since cachaca is a bit more "rough" and rustic than rum, I'm thinking next time I could substitute half rum and half vodka to give it more of a bite. Or, of course, I could also just buy a bottle of cachaca...

Happy Fourth of July!

The *Other* Pinot

While in Phoenix last week for a Convention at the breathtaking mission/art-deco style, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Arizona Biltmore, I got the chance to stop by one of the free wine tastings offered at the hotel every Friday afternoon from 5-7 PM (other cool activities included in a hotel stay are make-your-own-s'mores around a HUGE firepit, and "Dive-In Movies" where guests relax on floats in the largest of eight pools and watch movies on a screen suspended by palm trees...)

One of the two wines being poured was the 2006 Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc. A close DNA relative to Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc is a lovely alternative to other crisp whites like some CA Sauvignon Blancs, Spanish Albarino and Pinot Gris/Grigio. This wine had honeysuckle aromas, along with some lime on the palate, and a crisp apple finish. If you are serving seafood for the fourth, this would be a winner. Grapes are sourced both from the Russian River Valley and the Southern Sonoma County, and the wine is fermented in stainless steel. 10% of the wine sees a bit of new French oak, which adds a bit of finesse and body, but the wine overall is crisp and refreshing. A bottle retails for about $13.

Proof takes it outside

If you (like me) are a fan of Proof restaurant in DC, you'll be excited to know that you can now enjoy their phenomenal wine list and cuisine al fresco, including the excellent service of Sommelier Sebastian Zutant, as the restaurant recently opened its 50-seat patio.

Chef Haidar Karoum has added several dishes to his menu of small and large plates, including a chilled seafood and hearts of palm cocktail, grilled house-made lamb sausage with cucumber, mint, and feta, and a chilled asparagus and nettle soup served with lemon crème fraîche.

Wine Director Sebastian Zutant complements these additions by offering a "Rosé of the Day" for $9 a glass, rotating the wines to offer domestic and international selections such as the Lauderbach, a Syrah from California's Russian River Valley, and the Suzanna Balboa, an Argentinian Malbec. Other summer specialties now stocked in the restaurant's unique Enomatic wine serving system include The Black Chook, a Viogner blend from Australia priced at $9, and the Northern Italian Livio Felluga Tocai Friulano for $12.

Zutant has also added a few twists to his inventive cocktail list that are sure to beat the heat. Mixed drinks such as the Coquette, a concoction made with Tanqueray Rangpur, Elderflower, grapefruit bitters, and Zutant's house-made Rosé syrup, as well as the Chupa Cabra, made with Machu Pisco, yuzu sour, crème de violet and fresh lime juice are now available for $11 each.

I look forward to trying his Coquette cocktail creation, which sounds fun, floral and fabulous.

One Wine Cocktail, Hold the Wine

Cafe Atlantico's Jill Zimorski created a cocktail that evokes the aromas and flavors of a Northern Rhone red, but doesn't contain a drop a wine. Read about it here.

114 degrees and wine's not on my mind...

This week, I'm staying at the gorgeous Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix for a (non wine-related) convention. Yesterday it was 114 degrees, though I did get in some much-needed pool time. Posts will probably be spotty at best this week, so if I just don't get a chance to create some, I invite you to go back and look at some old posts you may have missed. I'll pick up the blog next week.

Have a great week!