spending and the 'r' word

So spring is very close, as you can see from this shot I took this morning looking out over Columbus Circle from the view at Cafe Gray. Blind tasting today was chenin blanc for whites and Italian reds from the northeast. A refosco was the standout red and an Anjou for the white. I went to Adour last night, Bar Boulud last week, and a few other places... I'm not acting like we are headed for recession.

lush or golddigger?

I will not be afraid...

"Whatever is it, some convergence of attitude, chemical, alcohol, love, lust, it is working for you,
take full advantage, no false humility, be brave and brazen, outspoken and assured in your work." MCM, my cousin

" ...time fails. Yes, time does not touch some. Time is repelled like a fresh coat of turtle wax... " Desmond Hall, my friend

A calling from God and my liver

Happy New Year and I know it's been too long since my last post. I've dusted myself off and I'm ready to do it again. I mean all of it. Since my last post in April (sheesh), I went down for a dark period and way back up and can say that I've survived a very tough year. Things are looking good.

I wanted to write about how I landed the job of a lifetime... well maybe that's a bit dramatic, but it's a freaking great job with some great people. I was going to tell you about my new bed and how I finally sold my car. I was going to tell you about all the great wine I tasted (DUH THAT'S WHAT THIS BLOG IS ABOUT) and all the celebs with bad hair that I've waited on... I was going to tell you about my niece Racheal having a baby, so my sis Marcella is a GRANDMA. I was going to tell you about the ASA blind tasting class and the Court of Master Sommelier Certification test I took. I got 2 new pins and now know how much more I need to know. I was going to tell you about my dental work and love life, and how I thought I lost my mojo... fear almost ate me alive. I was going to be really funny and sad. I was going to tell you that buying my new bed was a turning point. I was going to tell you how wine is like music is like art is like people, with layers and complexity, flavor and texture. I was going to tell you about the trip I just took to California to sell off the end of that chapter in my life. Oh well, let's see what happens this year.

I've had some bottle age and I know I'll be better in 2008.

A Burgundy for cereal lovers

There are some wines that pair well with anything...

In the attempt to make my New York life permanent, I finally made a trip to the DMV to surrender my California driver's license and get a new one. The new picture is so bad I might be forced to move away in a few months. I've not sold my car and sort of decided to keep it for now. If you want to make an offer, however, I'm still open.

This week in booze, I had the chance to meet sake expert John Gauntner and hear him speak about rice, water and the regions in regard to sake production. He's awesome and so is the idea of sake terroir.

I spent 2 days learning about wines from Greece... you bet your Assyrtiko, Agiorgitko and Xinomavro. That's one white grape and two reds.

In the wee hours of the morning I heard a woodpecker outside my window and can see the signs that spring has arrived. I will pursue bird watching when I get older (I'm not older yet). A couple weeks ago I was stuck inside with 3 movies, 2 soups and non-stop rain and lightening.

Please check out my esteemed colleague, sommelier and wine writer Jim Clarke, who I'm excited to be working with more this week.

At the last minute, I got turned onto an angel that helped me get some tax money back. I've been living by the skin of my teeth, and relief should come in a few weeks by mail from the Feds and the State of NY (payback for the picture I guess), so to celebrate I bought a bottle of Hendrick's gin and several ice cube trays. Piper laughed when I referred to this purchase as a "staple."

What does it mean to dream about frogs and donuts?

Champagne. Pleased to meet Olivier Krug as he released his '96 vintage Champagne at my restaurant. So golden in color and the palette matches. Wow. Along with the Dom Perignon Oenotheque 1993, drinking it from a regular wine glass versus a flute brings so much more out of the wine. Please try side by side.

I also met Loire winemaker François Chidaine and his wife Manuela at the Polaner tasting and they accepted an invite to visit my restaurant. Lovely people and lovely wine.

The Mother Hips are coming to play in NYC this week. Love the California Soul. Shout out to Dud Chaney, I love and miss the Chaney clan. I hope your back is better and Jen's belly is healthy and happy. Congrats to Danny and Michelle on the arrival of Charlotte, she's beautiful.

Things are cool in general (with the exception of missing my financial cushion) and I'm fantasizing about stuff I've done instead of things I didn't do (as I have a nightcap and look at old pics). I must remember to brush my teeth; the wine is creating an ugly sediment. I'm well and having fun (as you can see). Mixing it up with a young one and gearing up for wine tests and a career move (TBD).

maybe you wanna buy it?

While I'm trying to drink more wine from Spain and not pine for my stuff back in storage in California, I've posted my car for sale.

The Spanish red I'm drinking is Caracol Serrano Tinto Joven 2005, Jumilla blend of Monastrell, Cab, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Rich in fruit, bright and great price from Thirst Wine in Ft. Greene, new-ish store that loves Kermit Lynch imports (Bay-Area people should look up Kermit for the wine connection).

Buy my car.

I'm feeling much better btw and looking forward to St. Patrick's day which is the 1-year anniversary of me leaving Napa (and California as a whole for that matter) onto my Sommelier journey...

sick and lucky

I'm home home, sick in bed and I just got Borat in the mail from netflix, yay! Thursday night I got to taste Nicolas Joly's Savennieres 'Coulee de Serrant' 2003. Very ripe and exotic with honey and hay. I decanted it for 5 very cool guys. I wish I could have tasted it a few hours later, even the next day. It had nice structure while it was nice and ripe.

gung hay fat chow and laissez bon ton roulette