The Yum Yum Foodie | A blog about food, taste & life.

2013 Food and Wine Classic in Aspen Part 1: Chef Bruno Davaillon and New Zealand Lamb

June 18, 2013No comments

Pardon the Punctuation…If you have never been blessed with the chance of going to the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, get your 2014 tickets now!!!!! I’m in a daze after having just landed from this foodie haven just a few short hours ago. Gotta pinch myself. Rarely do you get the chance to rub elbows with some of the most innovative chefs and food peeps in the business. Over the next few days I’m gonna give you some of the highlights of my time at this fabulous event. There is so much to write about that I’ll get right to the point.

1.Silver Fern Farms Grass Fed New Zealand Lamb Chops: Can’t lie to you but I’m a sucker for a good lamb chop. Every food and wine event has dishes that come as a pleasant surprise and this was one of them. These are grass-fed, free range, and pasture raised lamb chops. Lambs is something I’ve had at some of the best restaurants in the world and these were the best I’ve ever had…there I said it and I stand by it. These lamb chops are so tender that your grandma can take off her dentures and gum them down…yum!!!!!

2.Chef Bruno Davaillon: The chef from Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas was the talk of the event as his creations were innovative and mouth watering. He held the throne at the Lexus tent and was killing the competition with every dish. These were my fav of his bites.

Beef Tartare: with tarragon aioli, horseradish, and pickled ramps. The flavors melded together perfectly and the tarragon aioli was the perfect touch.

Scallop Ceviche: with Jalapeno pudding, pickled mango, and crispy quinoa. Holy sh*t that was some amazing ceviche. A beautiful scallop with just a little heat and a nice texture courtesy of the crispy quinoa.

Pastrami Reuben: with braised cabbage, comte cheese, and russian dressing. I can’t lie…I ate like 3 of them. I think chef must have sprinkled crack on them or something. Purely addictive.

Beet-Cured Sturgeon: with quinoa yogurt and citrus pudding. First off the presentation was a work of art and the taste matched it. Beets and sturgeon aren’t two things I’d ever think to put together. What a creation…my compliments to the chef!

I need to get my hands on some of that lamb so I can do a video recipe for you guys. I have one in mind that will rock your world! If you’re in Dallas make sure to make your way to the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek and try Bruno’s food. Trust me, it will be a memorable experience in a good way. Can’t wait to get to the lone star state to have his food again!

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Beef Tartare

Scallop Ceviche

Pastrami Reuben

Beet-Cured Sturgeon

The Full Lexus Booth Killing it Texas Style!

“Firenze Osteria” A Taste of Florence In The Valley.

June 10, 2013No comments

Pardon the Punctuation…Being a fan of the show “Top Chef” I like to check out any restaurants related to contestants on the show. This past weekend I dinned at Firenze Osteria from “Top Chef” alumni Fabio Viviani. At the table I was greeted by executive chef Ken Biffar who asked about any food allergies…I said “Yeah I’m allergic to shitty food” and he chuckled, I knew the food was gonna rock my night. Lets get to the goods. A couple of great cocktails started my night as my bottle of Barolo opened up and they are worth mentioning.

Blackberry Old Fashioned: A great mixology spin on the traditional cocktail. Bartender knocked it out of the park and you can’t go wrong with this $7.95 drink of the week.

Lavender Lychee: talk about a great floral cocktail. The lavender infused lemonade took it to the next level. This is a dangerous drink that could sneak up on you and put you on your ass.

Pancetta Grilled Jumbo Shrimp: a pancetta wrapped Jumbo shrimp stuffed with gorgonzola on parmesan polenta and garlic sautéed spinach. If there is one app on the menu that you must order this is it. It’s smokey, savory, and shrimpy goodness all wrapped in one.

Grilled Pancetta and Burrata Crostino: toasted crostino with fresh Burrata, grilled pancetta, brown butter, and sage. This was a tasty dish. My mouth wanted a touch of sweetness on the finish. The Burrata was fresh, creamy, and hit the spot.

Gnocchi with Rabbit Ragu: house made potato dumpling and braised rabbit ragu. I’ve had my share of gnocchi and this is by far the best gnocchi to touch my tongue this side of the atlantic. Like giant buttery marshmallows with this perfectly seasoned duck ragu. Also the portion was extremely generous and they could probably charge double for this dish and it would still be worth it. Woke up thinking about it the next day. My favorite dish of the meal.

Dry Aged Rib Eye: an aged Nebraska rib eye served on a bed of asparagus. tender, tender, tender and with a ton of flavor. Can’t go wrong with aged steak.

Limoncello Ricotta Cheesecake: ricotta limoncello cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and raspberry coulis. I usually stay away from Lemon desserts. Don’t stay away from this one. Some amazing cheesecake. The limoncello was not overpowering and left you lingering for another bite. The consistency of the cake was perfectly creamy. Good stuff.

Flourless Chocolate Cake: with vanilla gelato and chocolate coffee cream sauce. I’m a chocoholic and this satisfied my addiction. Delish.

Firenze Osteria is definitely worth the trip into Toluca Lake. It’s a taste of Florence in a great part of the San Fernando Valley. It’s also good to know that if you live in the valley like me, you don’t have to drive into the city for some fine dining. I can’t wait to try some of chef Viviani’s other restaurants. Sorry about the darkness of some of the pics guys…my phone was acting up.

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Raspberry Old Fashioned

LAVENDER LYCHEE

PANCETTA GRILLED JUMBO SHRIMP

GRILLED PANCETTA & BURRATA CROSTINO

GNOCCHI WITH RABBIT RAGU AND TASTES WAYYYYYYYYY BETTER THAN THIS PIC LOOKS!

DRY AGED RIB EYE

LIMONCELLO RICOTTA CHEESECAKE

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Quintessa Winery in Napa Has The “Wow” Factor

June 3, 20131 comment

Pardon The Punctuation…If you’re part of my audience you already know that I have a thing for Napa valley. Great wines, food, scenery, and of course the people rock. I’m not easily blown away by a wine experience in Napa. Quintessa winery blew me away. Spanning 280 acres in Rutherford on the famed Silverado Trail, the winery focuses on making one wine….if you have all that land and focus on one wine it better be good. Quintessa wine is “Wow” good. At over $100 a bottle it better be. This was my first opportunity to sample this juice of the gods and the whole experience didn’t disappoint. First off the tasting room is gorgeous…I’d move in..like now. Marcelo and David were my two guides on this tasting experience and I commend them for doing such an amazing job. Here are the vintages I tasted and what I thought.

Quintessa 2010: This wine is still a bit young but it should great potential. Deeply colored and with bright bouquet with hints of vanilla. No joke, vanilla hits you right on the nose for this one. The finish was soft and silky…good stuff. I’d wait a few years before busting this one out at the dinner table.

Quintessa 2009: First thing that hit me about this one was the hints of clove. I love clove. Again there were some vanilla notes but not as prominent as in the 2010 vintage. Wine make Charles Thomas hit it out of the park with this one. You can drink it now but I’d still hold on to this one for a little bit.

Quintessa 2006: The silkiest most elegant wine in the bunch. I’d put my money on a bottle of this stuff. Mild tannins and this guy is going to age well. Hints of mocha and of course vanilla…again. A note on this guy is it was decanted for over an hour before I tasted so this isn’t the kind of bottle to order at a restaurant where you don’t exactly have an hour to wait around for it to open up. This is a wine you buy and drink it at home with someone special or your greedy self.

If you like a bordeaux style wine made right here in the good old USA, this is one for you. Take the time to visit them when you go to Napa. Make sure you ask for either Marcelo or David they rock!

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Yummy wine

One of the most amazing views in the Valley.

New York and Napa, A Tale of Two Morimotos

May 28, 2013No comments

Pardon The Punctuation…I’m such a fan of chef Masaharu Morimoto that I went to two of his restaurants…in 6 days…and 3,000 miles apart. Yeah, I’m that guy. On my last night of a trip to NYC I went to Morimoto New York and on my last night in Napa a week later I dined at Morimoto Napa. That’s how friggin good his food is. Known for his innovate and creative dishes on “Iron Chef”, chef Morimoto brings that same innovation and creativity to these two restaurants. From the decor to the design of the menu, everything at these establishments touches all of the senses. Duh…and of course the food rocks. I’m gonna break down what I had starting with New York.

Morimotini: This is the chef’s spin on a martini made with vodka, sake, and thin slices of cucumber..don’t worry i’m adding the recipe for this at the bottom. These things are pretty addictive..had 2 of them with dinner and I was almost out for the count. Too bad they don’t have it on the menu at Morimoto Napa. They tried to make me one but it wasn’t the same. I was able to procure a recipe for it and included it below.

Spicy Tuna Roll: This is your basic spicy tuna roll but let me tell you that the quality of the fish they serve is primo stuff. Also they brew their own soy sauce….what other Japanese restaurants do you go to that brew their own soy sauce…yup..that’s Morimoto style. Also if you’re on a budget you can get a couple of sushi rolls and a Morimotini for under thirty bucks. Not too shabby

Crispy Rock Shrimp Tempura: with Kochujan sauce and wasabi aioli. One of the best hot appetizers on the menu. A nice mix of sweet and and spicy and perfectly battered. They are win win.

Braised Black Cod: with ginger-soy reduction. A perfectly cooked piece of fish full of flavor. Flaky, with a gorgeous hint of ginger. Every bite gets better and better.

Now lets talk about Morimoto Napa.

45 Day Aged Snake River Farms “Gold Label” Filet: with sweet onion and garlic jus. Holy mother….this is one of the most amazing steaks I’ve ever had. Served on a hot skillet with the jus poured over creating a steaming delicious aroma that can be smelled tables away. This is the kind of food that wars could be fought over.

S’more: with kurumitsu graham, smoked soy chocolate mousse, and toasted marshmallow. The layered flavors and the smoked soy chocolate mousse is so addictive it could probably bring Whitney Houston back from the dead.

Doughnuts: with asian inspired sugars, honey, and molasses. Lightly fried and the variety of dips make this feel like several desserts in one.

It’s good to know that no matter what side of the country you’re on, there’s a Morimoto close by. Also there are several items on the menus that won’t break the bank and I strongly encourage you to sit at the sushi bar at the Chelsea location. Fun chef watching. Morimoto has earned my time and money whenever I’m in a town with one of his establishments. He’s one of the best and his restaurants are a reflection of that. Go check any of his restaurants out…like now.

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Spicy Tuna Party of One?

Rock Shrimp Tempura

Black Cod

The Menu at Morimoto Napa

Snake River Farms “Gold Label” Filet

S’More

Abacus from ZD wines peeeeeerrrrfect with dinner. WOW!

Japanese Doughnuts

Highlights From Crush Food, Wine, and Art festival in Santa Monica

May 20, 20131 comment

Pardon The Punctuation…Santa Monica, California is mostly known for sunny beaches and as we heard in an episode of South Park, “Santa Monica is good to the homeless.” A great food and wine festival was not the first thing that came to mind when thinking of this town. Not anymore. “Crush” food, wine and art event has just made major strides to change that. First off lets find out about the location.

The 18th Street Arts Center: “18th Street Arts Center is an artists’ residency program that provokes public dialogue through contemporary art-making.” Basically the center supports local artists get their work out there. Pretty bad-ass stuff. I have to say the artist that stuck with me the most was Cheryl Walker. Beautiful work.

Now lets get down to the food and wine. These are my highlights and faves from it.

Chef Becky Reams: of “MasterChef” fame had a wonderful potato dish that was the perfect dish to start my day.

Spring Street Smokehouse: Greeeeeeaaaaaaat Carolina style BBQ. Rockin hot links and bourbon bread pudding….that’s right bourbon bread pudding.

Savour this Moment Catering: threw down vegan roasted vegetable tacos and Thai chile cilantro lettuce tacos. Lots of TLC and fresh ingredients. Full of flavor. Can’t wait to try them again.

Maestro Sausage Company: Purveyor of fine Italian sausages. I could use a box of these to enjoy some sausage and peppers and a coronary every morning of my life. Deeeeeeelish.

Library Ale House: served a short-rib slider with garlic aioli, arugula, gorgonzola, on a brioche bun. By far my favorite of the day…had 3 of them…..”Fat foodie in a little shirt…..fat foodie in a little shirt.”

Krave Jerky: Seven samples of gourmet jerky is what they came with. All of them great. My faves were the basil citrus, pineapple orange, and the sweet chipotle. I need cases of this shipped to me stat! Awesome stuff and gluten free!

Beachy Cream: Hip pin up creamery making yummy ice cream sandwiches. I had the strawberry surfer girl which is strawberry balsamic swirl ice cream on a sugar cookie. Lets just say I had four of them. I also got to try the Surfin’ Safari Chocolate Chip a vanilla bean ice cream on a chocolate chip cookie. I need an extra freezer in my house just to fill it up with their stuff. They rock.

Wise Coffee: great micro-roasted single origin organic coffee. Check them out they are work giving a go. The best part about it was the espresso was prepared on an amazing machine. The Nuova Simonelli “Musica” machine made an exquisit cup of coffee. Top notch premium machines. I’d be posing for pics with this machine every day if there was one in my possession.

Turiya Wines: Small boutique wine from the central. Tasted their Syrah, Cabernet, and Perpetual Bliss blend. I love me some boutique wines. All three were fruit forward and ready to drink right now. I’d have to say the perpetual bliss blend would be the one I’d buy if I have to chose one. Good stuff.

Topanga Vineyards: Their Syrah was by far my favorite wine of the event. 100% Syrah aged in old french oak. Peppery with notes of berries. The perfect summer red meat grilling wine. I see a case in my near future. Get yours now before I get them all.

This is an event that’s worth every penny. Follow them on line and put Crush on your calendar for next year. Who knows, you might see TheYumYumFoodie pounding wine next to you!

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Guests enjoying the great Crush event

Chef Becky Reams taking charge and servin it up.

Some Yummy Spring Street BBQ

Lettuce wraps from ‘Savour This Moment” catering

Nick proudly serving some Maestro Sausage

That is some serious Krave Jerky

The lovely young lady serving up some Beachy Cream organic ice cream sandwiches.

A fine selection of Turiya wine.

Foodie and wife enjoying a Great event. Come on by next year and say hi!

Top Pet Friendly Coffee Places in Los Angeles

May 13, 2013No comments

Pardon The Punctuation…If you’re a dog owner like myself and you actually care about your dog, you might be the kind of person who enjoys taking your pup out with you for coffee. Southern California is a pet friendly part of the country and here my favorite places to bring my dog Indie. Yes even Korea town is pet friendly…insert joke here____.

M Street Coffee: This Sherman Oaks coffee shop is awesome. About 6 tables outside are perfect for you and Fido to sit down and enjoy a beautiful Cali day. Patrons are always bringing their dogs so there is always a new pup around for your dog to make friends with. Besides that their coffee rocks. Try the MStreet latte or the cold brew….yum! They epitomize “Mom and Pop.” Great local coffee house.

Urth Cafe on Melrose: If you want to go Celeb sighting with your pup this is the coffee shop for you. I’ve seen everyone from the likes of Will Ferrell, Mandy Moore, Jennifer Hudson, Billy Corgan, and Michelle Pfeiffer at this West Hollywood trendy spot. Don’t let the trendyness fool you. They make some of the best organic coffee beverages in town. Their “Spanish Latte” is still my favorite latte of all time and is an LA must have.

Kings Road Cafe: I was heart broken when their Studio City location closed but luckily the location on Beverly still packs an amazing coffee punch. The Coffee here is like rocket fuel. I’m Cuban and I still think that King’s Road Cafe coffee is the stronger than any of the stuff they brew down in Miami. I’ll take the Pepsi challenge with that shit. They’ve got plenty of tables outside for you and your pooch and besides the rockin coffee they have the best Blueberry Muffin on the planet…there I said it.

Coffee Commissary: Discovered this this great spot on fairfax yesterday. Had to add it to the list. Great artisan coffee and a laid back atmosphere. It’s also nice there is a great little pet store just a few doors down. Be sure to bring your hipster repellant, this place is worth the trip.

These are my top 4 pet friendly coffee places in LA…and yeah I’m sure Korea town is pet friendly. I’m just not taking my dog down there. You can’t go wrong at either of them and I say you give them all a try.

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Main Entrance at M Street Coffee

Some of the Goodies Inside MStreet Coffee

A Yummy Mocha at M Street Coffee

My Dog “Indie” Loving Some Shade Under a Table at Urth Cafe on Melrose. Gotta Love that Underbite

Some Gorgeous Coffee Art on My Spanish Latte at Urth Cafe. Best Latte Ever!

The Amazing BlueBerry Muffin and Rocket Fuel Coffee at King’s Road Cafe

The Friendly Hat Wearing Baristas at Commissary Coffee

My Phallus Shaped Cappuccino at Commissary Coffee.

Chimney Rock Winery, a Slice of Heaven in Napa.

May 5, 2013No comments

Pardon The Punctuation…Located in the Stag’s Leap district of the famed Napa Valley this stunning property creates equally stunning wine. Being a Lexus owner means I’m able to go on LexusDrivers.com and set up complimentary tastings at several of the best wineries in Napa. So when Chimney Rock Winery popped up on the list I jumped at the opportunity like Adele on a twinkie. The property is serene and absolutely gorgeous. Off in the distance you can see the actually chunk of mountain called “Chimney Rock” that gave the winery it’s name. Right off the bat you’ll notice that everything here is about TLC. From the South African style architecture to the style of wine making…they do it right. Enough of the fluffy stuff, lets get to the wine. I’m just going to tell you about the star of the show for me. The 2008 Elevage. Every other wine I had was delicious. From the Tomahawk vineyard to the Alpine vineyard they all kicked ass. But I’m going to focus on the Elevage.

2008 Elevage: This is a Bordeaux style of wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. To quote their website,”serves as an artistic portrait of the vintage at the Chimney Rock estate. Experience this blend that evokes finesse and complexity, depth and dimension, and truly highlights the singular nature of the Stags Leap District.” The 2008 vintage consists of %56 merlot, %38 Cabernet, and %6 petit verdot. Aging in new french oak for 18 months really helps build the french characteristics of this wine. Smooth finish with silky soft tannins and a clean soft finish. This wine is perfect. You can drink it now and store it for a few years and rock it out then. This wine is a testament to one of my favorite wine makers Elizabeth Vianna.

When you make a trip to Napa make sure to put Chimney Rock winery on your list. They know how to do it right in every sense of the word. This is definitely a winery that’s worth becoming a member of. So many of their wines are so limited that only wine club members get to taste them. Worth every penny.

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The main entrance to the tasting room.

A lovely vertical of their estate cabernets.

The lovely display in their new wine club member tasting room.

Barrels during nap time

In the distance the famed Tomahawk Vineyard.

My baby…the 2008 Elevage

Chef Gordon Ramsay Hits a Homerun with “The Fat Cow”

April 30, 2013No comments

Pardon The punctuation…Being a huge fan of Chef Gordon Ramsay means that whenever I see a deal to eat at one of his establishments, I jump on it like Taylor Swift on a Kennedy. So when I saw there was a special on GiltCity to have dinner for two with a bottle of wine at “The Fat Cow” in Los Angeles, I was in. For $68 I received two appetizers, two main dishes, and two desserts. This was a great value as the bottle of wine alone was $47 on the menu. We were blessed with an awesome server “Brad” who had great recommendations and knew his shit. Lets break down the chow.

Meatballs: pork, veal, and pancetta meatballs with tomato sauce and parmesan. These weren’t on the Gilt City menu but Brad told me we had to have them. Thank God for Brad. These are probably the best meatballs I’ve had west of the Hudson river. Not too full of breadcrumb and the veal made all the difference in the balance of the dish. Also I think you could probably wrap dry bark in pancetta and it would taste good.

Squash Blossoms: tempura style and stuffed with ricotta, corn, and dressed in a pine nut and roasted corn vinaigrette. I never tried squash blossoms before I moved to Los Angeles and now I try them wherever I see them on a menu. These did not disappoint. Crunchy deliciousness and the corm was sweet and blended well with the ricotta.

Chicken Wings: with beer, soy and chili. Found out they are soaked in “Blue Moon” beer for a day and fried like yummy wings need to be fried. Could’t get the taste off my mind. I’m not the traditional chicken wings guy and I will definitely have these again. I only wish there were at least a couple more of them on the plate.

Pan Seared Salmon: with bok choy, miso, and citrus. Served crunchy skin up and a dazzling aroma and cooked medium rare…just the perfect piece of fish.

Root Beer Glazed Short Rib: with cheddar polenta, and pickled onions. Personally I can’t stand the taste of root beer and thank God this short rib tastes nothing like it. At least now I know that if a can of root beer ever ends up in my fridge, I can glaze something with it. Great dish and a generous portion. The cheddar polenta works perfectly with the sweetness of the glaze in the meat. This is a dish you can easily share.

Chocolate Pot Au Creme: This is basically on of the most addictively delicious custards I’ve ver had. I was stuffed and couldn’t stop shoving more down my throat.

Sticky Toffee Pudding: This dish is made differently at every single one of Chef Ramsay’s restaurants. My favorite is still the rendition of it at his steak house in Las Vegas at the Paris hotel. I’m not knocking this dish by any means. It’s rich, decadent, and could easily be a substitute for sex.

Before coming here I read some mixed reviews on the place and wasn’t sure what to expect. Anyone who didn’t like the food at this place must have to palate of a sheep dog. It goes to show that never believe everything you read….I guess that means don’t believe this too. If you like the way I write you’ll dig “The Fat Cow.” They Rock.

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The sign tells you exactly how you’ll feel on the way out.

Our Menu for the night

The Yummy bottle of Warwick wine from South Africa that came with dinner.

Meatballs….wow

Squash Blossoms

Love me some chicken wings

The Salmon with Bok Choy

Root Beer Glazed Short Rib

Chocolate Pot Au Creme

The Amazing Sticky Toffee pudding with a little glass of creme!

Dinner at “Bella Via” in Long Island City with my “Stern Show” friend Ronnie Mund.

April 24, 2013No comments

Pardon The Punctuation…If you’re not in the mood to deal with the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and want some home style Italian cuisine, Just one stop on the subway towards Queens is Bella Via in Long Island City. This spot was recommended by my dear friend Ronnie Mund aka “Ronnie The Limo Driver” from the “Howard Stern” show and he knows his Italian food. After a long day walking around Manhattan I hopped on the 7 train and got off on the Vernon exit to meet up with Ronnie and his lovely girlfriend Stephanie for this lovely dining experience. Being the super punctual person that I am, I got there about 30 min early and made my way to the bar where bartender “Carmine” gave me the low down on what I had to have there. First off they serve Johnny Walker Gold at the bar for $12 a drink. For you scotch drinkers out there that is a friggin awesome price for what is usually at least a $20 drink. Here’s the rub.

SCHIACCIATA CON ROBIOLA E` OLIO DI TARTUFO: with robiola cheese and truffle oil. This is a cow’s, goat, and sheep’s milk cheese that is rich in flavor and the truffle oil compliments the rich cheese seamlessly. Make sure you order it because it’s one of those dishes you won’t find on every menu and it’s definitely worth a try.

POLIPO IN INSALATA ALLA CIPOLLA ROSSA: Octopus salad with potatoes and red onion. The octopus was fresh and the dish had the right amount of acid to cleanse the palate before my main course. Solid menu item.

STINCO DI AGNELLO BRASATA AL BAROLO: Lamb Shank braised with Barolo wine. They had me at Barolo! Slowly braised to perfection with fresh vegetables on the side. It’s a lot of food so I recommend sharing on this one. Would order this a hundred times over.

If you want to venture out of the city and don’t want to be surrounded by the Brooklyn hipster vibe, make your way over to Bella Via and who knows…you might hear someone say “Whoa whoa whoa..stop the clock” just a table away. Thanks to Ronnie for suggesting them and Carmine for takin such good care of us. I’ll be coming back for sure the next time I’m in New York.

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SCHIACCIATA CON ROBIOLA E` OLIO DI TARTUFO WOW!

Octopus salad with potatoes and red onion

Lamb Shank braised with Barolo wine. My mouth was watering while I posted this pic.

ZD Wines, What an Amazing Tasting Experience in Napa.

April 18, 2013No comments

Pardon the Punctuation…When it comes to the full tasting experience in Napa, ZD winery does it right in every way, shape, and form. Right in the heart of the Silverado Trail sits this family owned and operated winery and I love the fact the family is involved in every aspect of their wine making. They epitomize the american dream. I scheduled a “Vineyard View” tasting of current and library wines where each wine was complemented with some cheese action and finished with a yummy chocolate truffle. Upon arriving I was greeted by the friendliest staff in the biz. My host was Emily and she rocked! Super knowledgable and just a pleasure to be around. Emily loves what she does for a living and represents the winery that way. She gave me a tour of the wine library, barrel room, and bottling line. Let me tell you this has to be cleanest winery I’ve ever been to…and I’ve been in my share of wineries. Those rooms were probably sterile enough to perform open heart surgery if need be. Anyway at the end of the walking segment of my tour I was treated to and great barrel tasting which was a nice touch. They aren’t BS-ing when they call it the “Vineyard View” tasting…Emily guided me up a flight of stairs to a dining room with a stunning view of the vineyard. I could move into that room if they ever need to someone to look over it…like…forever. There was a dining room table set up with wine, cheese, and chocolate. Three of my favorite things. After getting to sample all of these stellar wines, I was blessed with the opportunity of drinking some Abacus. Abacus is one of the rarest wines in Napa and is ZD’s “Ultimate Cabernet Sauvignon, combining the best qualities of an aged wine with the best of a youthful wine, together in one sumptuous mouthful.” To create this “Solera Style” wine, the winemaker blends every ZD reserve cabernet ever produced and barrels it until bottling. So you are basically tasting over 20 years of reserve vintages layered in one bottle of wine. Holy shit this is the Ferrari of wines. Elegant, refined, and with years of extraordinary pedigree. That kind of TLC gives this wine a $525 a bottle price tag which is worth every penny. If you have the means to get your hands on some I strongly suggest you do. The only warning I have for you is that Abacus is so good it may ruin most other wine for you. I can’t reveal how I came to taste this greek god of wines, but I CAN say it’s good to be TheYumYumFoodie.