Articles for April 19th, 2012

Attention Pinot Noir Lovers….This One Is For You!

posted by Hayley Hamilton | April 19th, 2012 4:08pm | filed under Wine & Spirits, Wine Pairing |

If you love the feisty, difficult, rebellious, beautiful, seductive, sultry Burgundian grape that has made wine makers weep in both joy and sorrow, pay attention as there are some great opportunities to enjoy a glass of Pinot in the coming weeks.

The amazing Mac McDonald

Earlier this week Andrew Chalk noted the wine dinner next Wednesday night, April 25, at Abacus with owner/winemaker Mac McDonald of Vision Cellars, pairing his wines with produce from Farmer Lee Jones of The Chef’s Garden.  I want to add a bit to the notes on this dinner as it really isn’t one to be missed.  The first time I tried Mac’s wine was at a similar dinner thrown by Kent Rathbun pairing Mac’s single vineyard Pinot Noir wines from Russian River, Marin County and Santa Lucia Highlands with his Southwest inspired cuisine, and at first sip I knew I had found a friend.  Not only are Vision Cellars wines interesting, layered and distinct with character and personality, the passion, joy and humor within Mac McDonald is contagious.  I am honored to call Mac and his lovely wife, Lil, friends and know with one taste of his wine shake of his hand you will feel the same way, especially when paired with fresh from the garden produce from The Chef’s Garden.  There is nothing about Rosemary Roasted Niman Ranch Pork Loin, Roasted Baby Cauliflower Wilted Root and Tropical Spinach, Mustard Cream paired with Vision Cellars Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Rosella’s Vineyard 2008 that doesn’t sound inviting.  The dinner starts at 6:30 at Abacus, reservations required -214-520-0151 Continue reading "Attention Pinot Noir Lovers….This One Is For You!"

It’s Not Too Late to Sign Up for the DFW Truck Farm 5K Race Happening on April 22

posted by Carol Shih | April 19th, 2012 11:30am | filed under AgriBusiness, Earth Day, Holidays | 1 Comment »

The DFW Truck Farm started off as a container garden in the bed of an old 1985 Dodge D150 (photo provided by the Truck Farm)

Earth Day Dallas is hosting the DFW Truck Farm 5K Race on April 22 at 8:30 AM, right before it kicks off Sunday’s festivities at Fair Park. Proceeds from the race will go to the Truck Farm, which is used as a teaching tool to help kids in the community learn how to grow local foods and garden in small spaces. Marilyn Simmons and her daughter, Donelle, drive the Truck Farm around, organizing workshops in their mobile classroom.

Kids of all ages are welcome to participate in the 5K Run (you’re allowed to walk, too), but they must be accompanied by their parents. Donelle says there will be four different learning stations for the kids as well, so there’s also a learning component involved! Continue reading "It’s Not Too Late to Sign Up for the DFW Truck Farm 5K Race Happening on April 22"

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Worst Hangover Ever?

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 19th, 2012 10:58am | filed under cocktails, Cult Cuisine, Mixology is fancy for bartender, Uncategorized | 26 Comments »

High Tide Cocktail at The Chesterfield. (Photography by Elizabeth Lavin)

I was talking with a friend of mine who recently spent an evening sampling cocktails at The Chesterfield. She was in a group of four gals and they decided to try one too many. Knowing her, it was more like four too many, but here is her dilemma.

“I don’t know if it is a factor of age [she’s 55!] or the fact that I ingested rum, vodka, gin, bourbon combined with various liqueurs, bitters, flowers, juices, and twists, but I couldn’t get out of bed the next day. I swear all totaled I had maybe 3 drinks. The mixologist deal is out of my league I guess. Do you pick one and stay with it or switch. Am I just too old for this trend?

I say pick one and stick with it and stick to one. But this subject brings up the obvious, time-wasting question: What alcohol combination resulted in the worst hangover of your life? Mine? Tequila Sunrise: the movie and the drink. Twenty years later I still shudder at the sound.

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What To Drink Now: Drink Green for Earth Day

posted by Hayley Hamilton | April 19th, 2012 10:33am | filed under Silly Reasons to Celebrate, Texas Wine, Wine & Spirits | 3 Comments »

Biodynamically, organic and sustainably grown grapes at Benziger Winery

Earth Day is this Sunday and what better way to think green than through a glass, and the options run the gamete from high end to every day table wine, and come from all over the world.  Yes, I suppose if you are really focused on reducing that carbon footprint than look within 100 miles of where you are now for your wine source, but I am a firm believer in supporting wineries all over the world that are making a conscious decision to work greener, organic and/or sustainably, keeping the environment in mind.  Here are a few suggestions, including a few from Texas, to consider this weekend or any weekend.  A few selections were sent for editorial consideration. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Drink Green for Earth Day"

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Melissa and James: Two Master Sommeliers Review Victory Brewing Company Dinner at Meddlesome Moth

posted by Nancy Nichols | April 19th, 2012 10:26am | filed under beer | 9 Comments »

Scarlet Fire Rauchbier with Scrapple, Smoked Apple Butter, and Sunny-Side-Up Egg.

Melissa Monosoff is a Master Sommelier who moved to Dallas in January to become the Director of Wine and Education for Pioneer Beverage Company. She is the 17th woman in the world to gain MS status. Before coming to Dallas, Melissa created the largest wine list in Pennsylvania, and was a multi-year recipient of Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence, both at Savona Restaurant in Philadelphia. Her presence in Dallas brings our female Master Sommelier population up to two: Barbara Werley, of Pappas Bros. is also a MS. Only San Francisco has more: three. And we are tied at two with Southgate, Michigan. For those of you scoring at home, Texas now has seven Master Sommeliers. (Wine sabermetricians will enjoy this site.)

James Tidwell, the MS at the Four Season’s Resort and Spa and co-founder of TexSom, knows Melissa. “She has a palate that is scary sensitive and accurate; much better than mine,” Tidwell says. “In short, she’s a badass.”

Which is why I am pleased to announce that Melissa and James have teamed up to write together. I hope to make them the new “Dottie and John,” the duo who, for 12 years, wrote a tasting column for the Wall Street Journal. Their first column is a review of the recent Victory Brewing Company dinner at the Meddlesome Moth.

Bill Covaleski, co-founder of Victory Brewing Company, was in town on Monday evening to host a beer dinner at Meddlesome Moth. Bill was a homebrewer who went on to complete beer studies at the Doemens Institute in Munich. Despite his vast technical knowledge, Bill relays information in a way that even non-hopheads can understand and he is entertaining in front of a group. He has grown Victory to become a leader of the craft brewing movement, and a staple of the Pennsylvania brewing culture. Pennsylvania native and the Moth’s  new executive chef Nick Amoriello provided the food pairings. Based on this dinner, we have to say Amoriello is a talent to watch for food and beer pairings. His grasp of flavors and textures between the food and beer was remarkable.

Hop here.

Continue reading "Melissa and James: Two Master Sommeliers Review Victory Brewing Company Dinner at Meddlesome Moth"

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