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 The days are flying by so quickly. Most of the fun things I wanted to do this summer didn’t happen. My energy and concentration was diverted to more practical and necessary issues. However, there are still a few weeks left to plan a quick trip here and there.  In the meantime, let me tell you about the wine I tasted last night. A few of us gathered around sunset, which was beautiful! We sat outside and enjoyed a 2012 Peter Lauer Barrel X Riesling. It was pale straw in color, with fruit and citrus aromas. It had a nice kick to it with fennel, grapefruit, tart apple and lemon on the palate. It was just bordering on “dry”. If you are a fan of the grape, then you will definitely enjoy this wine. It was a nice accompaniment to the platter of cheeses and fruit. http://lauer-ayl. I have a long day ahead of me, but I’m looking forward to a late day swim!
Enjoy your Sunday. Cheers! Penina  It was a non stop but productive Thursday. So, it was a welcome treat to meet up with my friend at the end of the day for a leisurely drink. We sat outside and exchanged stories while I sipped my Grey Goose vodka and he drank Samuel Adams beer. It was a nice way to end the day.  We said our good-byes before the sun set. As I was driving home I had visions of kicking off my shoes, having a light bite and then watching Jon Stewart take his final bow as host of the Daily Show.  However, my plans took another direction with a phone call from a friend. He met me at my house with pizza and a bottle of wine. As much as I was interested in tasting the 2012 Banfi Chianti Classico, I shelved it for another evening. My friend settled for a beer and I drank water. I never got to see the Jon Stewart show. My eyes were half-mast by the time my company departed. I guess I’ll have to watch the show online before I go out to dinner tonight. And…I will definitely be tasting wine!
Happy Friday Cheers! Penina  About a week ago, I wrote about having drinks with friends at Jean-George. One of the drinks that I mentioned was Passion Chili Whiskey Fizz made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon and Passion-Chili. Since I didn’t get to taste it that particular evening, we decided to go back last night so that I could sample it.  With the first sip, the chili hit the back of my throat with quite a shock. I was not expecting it to be so spicy. After clearing my palate, I took a “gentler” sip. Although the chili seemed to dominate, I was able to pick up a little of the vanilla flavor in the bourbon, which offset the spiciness. I have not been able to find out what the ingredients are in the passion-chili, but I’ll keep researching it! This is a drink with a real kick to it! And speaking of kick…  We decided to stay for dinner. We ordered the Maine Lobster roasted in the shell with oregano and chili, with a side dish of sautéed local corn with manchego, chilies and lime. I think that the chef is having a love affair with chili. The lobster was excellent and done to perfection. The presentation was beautiful. The corn was succulent and sweet. And, I loved the combination of flavors. Although some of the dishes on the menu have chili in it, there is much more to choose from for those with a more conservative palate! Have a wonderful Thursday!
Cheers! Penina  It was a productive but long day on Monday. I rewarded myself with a 30-minute swim before heading out for the evening. I was looking forward to a nice and relaxing dinner with a friend.  We dined on grilled swordfish basted with teriyaki and sesame seeds. The asparagus and mushrooms were seasoned with herbs that I brought from my garden.  I also brought a bottle of I Balzini Cabernet, but he wanted to open a 2012 Pinot Noir CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs from the Sonoma Coast. It was heavenly. The color was deep ruby with a nose full of ripe fruit, anise and spice. The palate offered layers of dark cherry, raspberry, plum, licorice and oak. The texture was velvety with a long finish of lingering licorice, spice and berry. The grapes were hand-harvested from select vineyards across the Sonoma Coast AVA and the wine was aged in 10% new oak for 10 months before bottling. This was a real treat! http://www.crossbarnwinery.com I have another non-stop day ahead of me.
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina It was a low key, but fun filled weekend. It was a mixture of work, swimming, grilling and enjoying friends, thanks to the cooperation of the weather.  However, after my little fright on Friday evening with beer and coriander, I decided to take a break and stick to water for the last few days. I also did some homework pertaining to coriander ingredients in many popular spirits.  For instance, coriander seeds are the second ingredient added to most distilled gins, obviously juniper berries being the first. Here is a direct quote from Bombay Sapphire “ It might be surprising to know that coriander seeds are the key citrus flavor contributor in any gin.” I guess I won’t be drinking gin and tonic anytime soon! Coriander seeds are also used in perfumery and tobacco products. Who knew?
It’s a new week and I’m ready to taste some wine....without the coriander! Happy Monday! Cheers! Penina  In between negotiating deals yesterday, I took a little time to honor a friend and colleague’s birthday. Although it was too early to have champagne, we devoured the most incredible strawberry shortcake. And, I was delighted to learn that the cake came from a bakery around the corner from where I live. As the workday came to an end, my goal was to make a beeline for the pool and work off the cake. However, a few friends ran interference and invited me to celebrate the “blue moon”. I assumed that included a great bottle of wine…I was wrong. My friend, who follows my blog daily, saw my recent post about beer. Having a great sense of humor, he decided that there was no time like the present to start me down the path of tasting beer. Hence….  I was introduced to Blue Moon Belgian White. The beer is a Coors product made from white wheat, oats, Valencia orange peel and coriander. I will elaborate on the last ingredient later. The color was orange, bordering on copper. The aromas were orange, spice and dough. I immediately tasted oranges with undertones of spice and wheat. It was quite interesting and not like any beer I’ve ever tasted. http://www.bluemoonbrewingcompany.com  Fortunately, I only had a few sips of the beer, because 20 minutes later my palms started itching and I started coughing. I knew I was having an allergic reaction, but couldn’t imagine to what. My friend went on line and discovered that I had just ingested coriander, a life threatening food allergy of mine. Great! I popped a few Benadryl, refusing to even look at the Epipen. The rest of my evening was spent drinking water and watching everyone else drink wine. My exploration into beer tasting is on hold for now. However, the full moon was beautiful!
Happy Saturday! Cheers! Penina  I woke up this morning to a cool breeze and no humidity…finally!  Celebrate the full blue moon tonight! I’ll be celebrating tonight and be back tomorrow with a review.
Happy Friday! Cheers! Penina  It was another scorcher yesterday. I tried to get all of my obligations out of the way early so that I could immerse myself in air conditioning for the rest of the day. I had every intention of staying home for the evening. However, my friend coaxed me out of my “cool” cocoon to join him for dinner, promising me a nice bottle of wine. He did not disappoint me.  In addition to a wonderful meal, we opened a 2012 Freemark Abbey Viognier from Napa Valley. Wow! It was the palest of straw with floral aromas, stone fruit and lemon. This medium-bodied wine was layered with flavors of honeysuckle, citrus, peach, tropical fruits and a hint of oak. It was rich and very decadent, with a touch of spice lingering on the finish. http://www.freemarkabbey.com An interesting note: Freemark Abbey was the only California winery to have both a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon selected to compete at the Judgment of Paris in 1976! I will look forward to tasting more of their wines. Busy day…must run.
Happy Thursday! Cheers! Penina  As the day came to a close yesterday, I got together with a friend for a late afternoon/early evening swim and drink. As he drank his beer and I my vodka, I realized how little I really know about beer. I never developed a taste for it and am always overwhelmed by the choices when purchasing it to keep on hand for company.  My introduction to beer came at the age of 15, when I was handed a bottle of Rolling Rock at a party. I remember how cold and refreshing it was, but also sour and bitter at the same time. I think that I might have taken 3 sips and moved on to fruit juice.  I didn’t try beer again until I was in my early twenties and it was out of necessity. I was on a boat, out on the ocean on a very hot day in Miami. The only beverage in the cooler was beer. I was extremely thirsty and drank a whole bottle of Heineken. No…I didn’t enjoy it.  My last foray into “beer drinking” was about 8 years later, when a group of us went to Little Italy to dine on very hot and spicy calamari. My mouth was on fire and I grabbed the closest liquid to me…a Miller Lite. I gulped it down without really tasting it. I’ve certainly taken a sip of beer here and there over the years, but still have no idea what it’s all about! Perhaps it’s time to explore the world of beer and educate my palate!
Happy Tuesday! Cheers! Penina  Thunder in the distance and threatening skies couldn’t keep me home last night. I met some friends for a quick bite and a drink at Jean-Georges’ Restaurant.  We wanted to shake things up a little bit and order some fun drinks. I opted for the Vodka Thyme Lemonade. My friends had Ginger Margaritas and Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Passion-Chili. It was festive and quite enjoyable.  The drinks at Jean-George are always interesting. He enhances the classic cocktail with seasonal ingredients and interesting house-made syrups. Some of the cocktail recipes can be found on line. Others remain a mystery, such as the Maker’s Mark Bourbon cocktail. The cocktail menu is very eclectic and inviting! http://www.jean-georges.com Happy Monday!
Cheers! Penina |
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