Sun Mar 29, 2009
Various Misused Wines
Please don't assume that I constantly drink interesting wine in the appropriate context. Most of the time I like to drink certain "session wines" (Muscadet, Touraine, etc.) while sitting at a table, snacking indiscriminately and shooting the bull with neighbors. Other times I "taste" wine in various trade settings; these are sterile, artificial evaluation exercises and they have a degrading effect on the senses of otherwise well-meaning gate keepers of the industry. I try not to let them affect me.
And then there are those occasions when I just misjudge the situation, opening certain wines at times and in contexts that preclude their maximum enjoyment. This 1999 Patrimonio from Antoine Arena is a good example.
More...
This Photo is for Sale
Now for the low low price of $10. It comes in a high resolution 3008x2000 pixel file. It is suitable for framing and the artist will personalize it with a message of your choice (within reason).
Twin Span Coast Guard Report - Public Comment
Matty Maroun wants a new bridge. He does have a monopoly to defend. The international border crossing between Windsor Ontario and Detroit Michigan is the busiest in human history and he practically owns it. Judging by the turnout and comments offered at the Public Comment meeting on St. Patrick's Day, neighborhoods in the immediate vicinity are vehemently and unanimously opposed to a second span, which Mr. Maroun would like to place next to the current one.
More...
Sat Mar 28, 2009
Kermit Lynch Vignerons in Warren Michigan
Jarred from Ferndale asked, "Do you want to go to a wine tasting on Friday?"
Sure. Why not. I like wine. And it's always fun to taste wine with Jarred. Companions force one to imagine wine from different perspectives. If you drink wine often enough with the same person you can see a low-resolution map of that person's mind. Jarred has scope. Isn't that an essential quality in a popular retailer?
Come. Taste!
More...
Sun Mar 22, 2009
Too Close to Home
Foodies interested in theories of economic collapse and how this might affect the food supply will want to tune in for chapters 7 and 8 (beginning roughly at minute 23:30 and lasting to minute 31:15.) But I think it is best to watch the entire talk. This is thought provoking.
Open Thread: What did you eat today?
Pieter Aertsen (1508 - 1575), called "Long Peter" because of his height, was a Dutch historical painter. He was born and died in Amsterdam, and painted there and in Antwerp, though his genre scenes were influential in Italy.
Fri Mar 20, 2009
Born in the USA Turns 25
Detroit has always loved The Boss. I didn't know much about him until this album came out. Like many people, I misunderstood it to be a chauvinist anthem. I guess mass media filtered out the bitterness and irony.
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said "Son, don't you understand"
I had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
More...
Thu Mar 19, 2009
Open Thread - Detroit Electric
What is the future of Detroit? Is it in the past somewhere? Perhaps we will go back to the time of ribbon farms, or earlier.
Preliminary Slows Wine List Suggestions
Segura Viudas NV Cava ($23)
Mionetto Il Prosecco ($28)
Francois Pinon NV Vouvray Brut ($37)
Veuve Clicquot NV Brut ($60)
More...
Tue Mar 17, 2009
Le Petit Zinc
There's a new crêperie in Detroit! It's called Le Petit Zinc and despite how difficult it was to find, the place was rocking during lunchtime today. Model D covered it. Then Sylvia Rector did. Molly and Jane have been too. Now, Detroit Drinks.
More...
Sun Mar 15, 2009
Local Posture - a Manifesto
I spent several hours yesterday sitting inside Supino's pizzeria reading the latest edition of Edible Wow. I didn't count, but it seemed like every fifteenth word of copy was "local," as in, "he is a great chef and he goes out of his way to buy local ingredients."
Supino's Dave Mancini uses imported Italian olive oil on his pizzas. And they could not taste any better. I wonder how they would taste with expeller pressed Hampshire Farms sunflower seed oil?
More...
Sat Mar 14, 2009
Rave Associates Beer Tasting
We resume our story of Rave Associates' beer tasting with the view inside our reallocated prison van. Slows is pretty big on professional development, so a busload of servers were compelled to attend this important symposium.
More...
Wine Notes
Yesterday I tasted 2006 Semi-dry Riesling from Peninsula Cellars with Mary and Giri of Everyday Wine in Ann Arbor.
I find very few Michigan wines that I would think about buying, but this is definitely one of them. At first - after a decent but boozy Chardonnay from Argentina - I thought the Riesling would confirm my prejudices. "There," I thought, "the finish drops off into oblivion. These Michigan wines just don't have the substance of their German counterparts." But actually I think it was just the effect of a residual contrast with the preceding wine, because the second and third drinks provided lots to chew on. The acidity was deliberate and apparently natural. Varietal character shouted from it. Wow. It's supposed to sell in the mid to high $teens. Totally worth it.
More...
Fri Mar 13, 2009
Sam's Loans
I took this picture yesterday while I waited in a reallocated prison van for a ride to the Novi Sheraton for a beer tasting.
After 86 years Sam's Loans is closing. According to a sign in front, many items are now 70% off.
I'm thinking about opening a wine bar there. Out of respect for tradition I think I'll name it "Sam's Wine Bar." Will Sam want a cut of the inevitable profits? Is that gentrification? Maybe I should run the idea by Jane Slaughter first.
Do Employee Hair Stylists Get This Letter Too?
I'm not sure my ego can take any more inflation at this point. O how it flatters me to imagine I might pose a threat to "Cloverleaf Acquisition LLC." (Just to be clear, I never copied any sort of list from the computer I used while I worked there. I did donate the computer itself though!)
More...
Wed Mar 11, 2009
Tasting Notes
As hoped, last night I was wined (and dined too!)
With Supino's Pizza last night we had a 2005 Etxegaraya (estate) Irouleguy (appellation in southwestern France) Cuvee Lehengoa (taken from 80+ year old Tannat vines, mostly.) I like fiercely tannic red wines with pizza. As long as the tannins are from the fruit. So this made me happy but ...
More...
Sun Mar 08, 2009
Epicurean Ecology
I drafted a rather long-winded essay this morning for Phillip, who is exploring exploring the idea of opening a wine and cheese bar. In the process of bouncing ideas for names off of him I wrote out my take on the recent history of wine appreciation; maybe it could be refined and expanded to contribute a paragraph or two to a marketing plan.
Here is the ONE word that truly expresses what I think is a distinctive and possibly quite marketable approach:
Ecology
The problem as I see it is combining that word with wine, coffee and cheese in a way that is clear and catchy. "Natural" gets close to the idea - with some unfortunate "granola" stigma attached. "Oenocology" is more precise, but problematic because it's rather opaque and sterile. But that's as close as I have come to the verbal synthesis I'm looking for. Also, there are no google results for "oenocology," so I think it is truly a brand new word ... trademark it!
More...
Tue Mar 03, 2009
I'm Sick
I can't blog about tasty wines and drinks and foods because I have a sinus cold.
I didn't say I couldn't eat and drink wines and drinks and tasty foods, I just can't blog about them. My brain says no.