Pesky Food Snob disagrees about pairing wines with McDonalds paper- or plastic-wrapped anything. (See previous post.)
Complicated grape blends and top vintages are not a match for this straight-on salted, sweetened, melt in-your-mouth fare.
But blue agave may be worth a try.....Aka tequila, on ice. Mixers include fresh lime juice and Cointreau. Numero uno pairing choice: French fries.
Baseball Cap, have you tried absinthe with McDonald's? What happened?
Tickets are on sale for "Palette to Palate, A Unique Local Art, Fine Wine and Gourmet Beer Tasting Experience," 6 to 9 pm, June 16, at Rochester Art Center.
Tessa Leung, sommelier and co-owner of Sontes, one of Roch's top restaurants, will present a global selection of more than 30 wines and microbrews. The evening will also feature a group exhibition of new work by local artists. Proceeds benefit the art center; all attendees must be 21 or over.
Bryce Lamb, the chef who took the helm at Sontes Restaurant, Rochester, last December, will hold his first Chef's Dinner March 26. The lavish nine-course Italian meal will include locally raised roasted leg of lamb, housemade spinach pasta, and handmade canolli.
Also at Sontes this month--and for those less than thrilled with typical St. Patrick's Day offerings--is a California Zinfandel wine class March 17. Among topics to be explored: "What really is Zinfandel?"
More on both events: http://www.sontes.com/information/events.html
One associates a bottle of wine with a cork. But nowadays, a synthetic cork or even screw cap can be found on many wine bottles, particularly for lower priced wines.
GG recently discovered that the cork industry is fighting back with a sassy media campaign. See more: http://www.100percentcork.org/
Sontes, Rochester, is taking reservations for a May 14 winemaker's dinner with guest Shane Finley, a Minnesota native who's making notable wines on the West Coast. Reservations/info: 507-292-1628
More here on Finley:
http://worldclasswineblog.com/2009/04/16/hanging-out-with-shane-finley-shane-wines/
and his wine cellars:
http://www.shanewines.com/main/index.htmlWhen it comes to wine, Sontes, Rochester, is Great Taste's favorite restaurant in Minnesota south of the Cities. It is arguably best in the state for wines by the glass.
Now Sontes is offering a little guessing game in a bottle of selected wine. If the consumer can name the mystery wine's grape or region of origin (appellation), the $20 bottle will be reduced to $15.
Whoa. Is this a dream? Many top restaurants charge $15 or $20 for a glass of wine!
Having experienced some of the beautiful wines on owner Tessa Leung's list, Great Taste suggests that this is a fine opportunity to enjoy the mystery and try a bottle. While you're at it, order a cheese plate (more to come on Sontes' cheese selection) and escape from the world for a while....Hope you solve the mystery, too.
GG
Warm steak and mushroom salad, kalamata olive soup, crab-stuffed chicken breast, hot and spicy cauliflower, and....blackberry pie (!) will be on the menu at the Winter Wine and Wonder Gourmet Dinner, 6:30 pm March 6, at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, Lanesboro.
Wines to be sampled include: Napa
Cellars (2006) Merlot, Chalone Vineyard (2007) Chardonnay, Montevina Pinot Grigio, and Montevina
Zinfandel Port.
To register call 888-800-9558 by noon tomorrow. Cost is $50 per person.
Hmmmm....kalamata olives. Wonderful in Greek salad, but soup? If you go, hope you'll let Great Taste know what you think of it.
GG
That is the question. Slate's Mike Steinberger investigated.
http://www.slate.com/id/2244439/
Readers, any suggestions for really luscious California wine under $20 and available in Minnesota? (To date Great Taste has had no luck.)
GG
New and highly original ideas for toasting in the New Year....
http://www.boston.com/thingstodo/special/firstnight/champagnedrinks/<br>
Great expectations for '09:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/10/big-year-for-bordeaux.html
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