|
|
|
The 2010 NOWFE Grand Tastings--A Seafood Delight
Posted by perle0 on 2010-05-30 22:48:47
(11451 views) 
|
[Editorial]
[New Orleans] |
Once again, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) ended with its big event, the Grand Tastings. With one held Friday night and one Saturday afternoon, they have for the last few years taken place in the Superdome, where there's plenty of room for the massive amounts of wine and food. It's definitely the event of the year for wine-lovers and foodies alike (so often, the two are combined in the same person anyway), and this year was no exception. With hundreds of wines to sample and dishes for tasting from most of New Orleans's finest restaurants, what's not to love?
|
First, let's talk about the wine, as the wine is more or less the same on both days. As usual, the primary wines on offer were Cabs, Merlots, and Chardonnays. Sadly, these are not really my favorite varieties. My friend tasted a lot of the cabs and merlots, and I tasted some, but most were too tannic for my personal tastes. There was a high-end Ste. Michelle Merlot that was pretty tasty, though. It might have been this one. Only $40--not completely unreasonable for a Merlot I'd actually enjoy drinking. My friend's favorite Cabernet of the entire show was produced by Egelhoff wines. The winemaker, Bob Egelhoff, is a prestigious maker of top-rated wines for other wineries, and now he's finally gotten the chance to make his own label, and is wasting no time showing his stuff under his own name.
 
Another wine worth noting was a sparkling almond wine from Jan Kris. It smelled wonderful, just like almond extract. The taste was more subtle; it was a basic sparkling white with a hint of almond sweetness, but not as overpowering as the smell.
Another sweet wine that was a favorite of mine was the Capitello Dolcino Gewürztraminer. The winemaker described a grueling winemaking process which involved freezing the grapes, then pressing them outdoors once the weather was cold enough, slowly over five days. It was sweet and delicious, with the spice of the Gewürztraminer adding a note of interest to jazz things up a little. Not bad for a $20 wine.
I also tasted a number of other wines--mostly Champagnes, plus the occasional Shiraz or Grenache that managed to strong-arm their way into the show. D'Arenberg, as usual, came through with a tasty Grenache in The Derelict Vineyard. I was also pleased to see several
Moscato d'Asti available for tasting; this sweet frizzante wine is perfect for summer drinking and spicy food.
Oh, and there was this
Blueberry Blue semi-sweet blueberry wine from NOLA Tropical Winery, which tasted much better than it sounds. They apparently specialize in wines made from fruit other than grapes, from cranberries to guava to, yes, carrots. It looks like they have a little wine bar at the very foot of Poydras where you can get these unusual wines by the glass. I also very much enjoyed the Meletti Cioccolato Liqueur, a chocolate liqueur from Italy.
On Friday, these were the restaurant samplings I managed to try. At the top of the list with three out of three stars were M Bistro, with a quadruple-whammy. They had a savory threesome of small bites: smoked shrimp fritters with redfish creole sauce, crab cake biscuit, and crawfish cappucino with ghost pepper caviar. (Ghost pepper caviar is, apparently, Louisiana choupique caviar infused with the flavor of the ghost pepper,the hottest pepper in the world.) My bite of the last had such a tiny amount of this that I can't really vouch for the caviar itself. But the crawfish cappucino overall? Delicious. Out-of-this-world good. It was super rich and creamy, and I wanted to lick the little cup it came in. I managed to restrain myself, though. And no, it did not taste (to me) like coffee. As a dessert offering, M Bistro had the chocolate martini Ponschi topped with a hot donut. This was a sort of layered chocolate mousse, topped with a chocolate pudding layer, and a small still-warm donut on a skewer sticking out of it. Yum. There is a reason this restaurant took Best in Show in both the sweet and the savory categories.
Next on the list of Friday's favorites was RAMBLA's cured foie gras torchon with Marcona almonds, grapes, and fleur de sel. This was really good and rich, and the almond on top really made the dish.
Another top-rated (by me) dish was Stephane Derbord's le croque escargot de Bourgogne. This was a little grilled cheese sandwich with escargot added. It was deliciously cheesy and garlicy. I am usually hesitant about escargot--yes, I know, it's all mental--but somehow I didn't mind it in this form.
Then there was gulf shrimp and trofie pasta with thyme-mascarpone from the Grill Room at the Windsor Court Hotel. It looked like a basic pasta dish with shrimp and a creamy sauce--and it was. But it was a very delicate, well-balanced expression of pasta and shrimp with creamy sauce, and it ranked right up there with the other top-rated dishes. Wolfe's in the Warehouse offered a vanilla bean cheesecake with Ponchatoula strawberries, and this was another example of a simple-sounding dish that transcended itself into the top echelon.
Stepping out of the stratosphere, but still worthy of note, Arnaud's had a mushroom sauté that was quite good, but simple. The Flaming Torch offered a Moroccan shrimp couscous that was much better than I anticipated, not being a huge fan of couscous, but this was very tasty. Serrano's Salsa Company offered a seared tuna with mango mint salsa that was nicely done. And finally, the Pelican Club had...take a deep breath...duck breast with asian pulled duck barbecue, 5-spice seared foie gras, toasted jalapeno sweet onion corn bread and Louisiana blueberry and cane vinegar.
And finally, there were the dishes that I just didn't find that personally appealing. The Astor Crowne Plaza had Louisiana smoked oyster with shrimp ragout over a corn tasso bread with Champagne sauce; it was good but I don't think I'm much on smoked oysters. Galatoire's offered lamb shank and lamb sweetbreads with southern-style flageolet beans. Maybe the beans weren't my cup of tea. The Meritage had miniature pulled pork tacos with a Louisiana corn salsa fresca; that was pretty good, but it was more adorably cute than delicious. The "taco shell" was also not really a taco shell, but I can't really describe what it was other than it was something fried and taco-shaped.
We also checked out the Actifry booth, where they were showing various kitchen appliances featuring the
Actifry, a machine for making French fries with only a tiny bit of oil. I tried the fries, because if such a thing were ever perfected, I would need to own it. The fries weren't bad, but they did taste like oven-baked, low-fat fries--ones that were well-browned on all sides and evenly cooked, and reasonably tasty. But $300 seems like a lot for getting to that point. They can apparently also be used to make granola, but I didn't try any of that. They were also showing a breadmaker that could make, among other things, a quartet of miniature baguettes. That might have been a better value.
That sounds like a lot of food, doesn't it? And yet, there were many great-sounding dishes being offered by great restaurants, and as always, you end up missing some of them. I am kicking myself for not trying harder to get to some of the ones that were only there on Friday and had yummy-sounding stuff, like Mr. B's Bistro, which was offering a seared scallop with pepperjack cheese grits that I heard were awesome.
And that was only Friday! The day ended with a small parade, followed by a short show by Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show. The music ends the day's tasting on a celebratory note, and gives attendees a little extra time to sober up before leaving the premises. It was a rockin' show, but sadly could only last a half-hour.
As I mentioned last year, the very best way to enjoy the Grand Tastings, if one is able, is to attend both the Friday and Saturday sessions. For one thing, some restaurants only participate on one of the two days. Also, all of the good swag tends to be gone by the middle of Friday. Plus, you have time to make sure that you taste a reasonable number of wines. Going both days, you can relax a little and not attempt to taste EVERY wine the first day. I tried to focus on the food items that would only be offered on Friday, and sample some wines in between, when we got thirsty. (We drank a lot of water, though, too.) And there are often a couple of little special things that are only offered on Saturday.
For example, in recognition of the whole BP oil slick catastrophe taking place in our gulf, NOWFE dedicated Saturday to a "celebration of Louisiana seafood," with a special appearance by Paula Deen and a special fund-raising dinner at Restaurant August on Saturday night. Though the oil spill has closed some areas of the gulf to fishing, many people may be unaware that fishing continues in unaffected parts of the gulf, including the Louisiana coastline. Most of the western coast of Louisiana remains free of oil, for example, and seafood harvested from there is perfectly safe. Seafood is highly regulated and carefully inspected, and it is highly unlikely that any contaminated seafood could come to market. So if you want to help Louisiana seafood, keep eating it! And reassure your friends that it's safe. Certainly the vast amounts of Louisiana seafood consumed at NOWFE was top quality and safe in every way. I for one will continue to eat Louisiana seafood as long as it can be obtained, just as before the incident.
So, on Saturday, after things had gotten rolling good, John Besh and Paula Deen took to the front stage to do a special cooking demonstration. This drew a good-sized crowd, but even if you couldn't squeeze in, the demo was being shown live on the big screens around the Superdome and the audio was piped in so that you could see and hear it from almost any spot at the Tasting. Paula was her usual good-natured self and joked around with her fellow cooks on stage, and a good time was had by all. Samples of the resulting dish were even passed out to those lucky enough to score a plate. You can watch a video of the whole presentation here.
Another Saturday special event was the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, featuring celebrated chefs from local restaurants and culinary schools. Some fine-looking dishes came out of that competition this year. Chef Chris Lusk from Café Adelaide won first place for his Louisiana shrimp and crab noodle bowl. Chef Diana Chauvin of La Thai took second place with her Louisiana seafood with spicy coconut green curry. Rib Room chef Anthony Spizale nabbed third place with sauteed Louisiana seafood with fine herbs, crab emulsion, and local zucchini and squash.
Saturday also featured several Top Chef Season 5 contestants and winners, offering up a taste of the food that made them famous. More on that in a moment....
On Saturday, the mission was clear: visit all the remaining restaurants, while focusing on the ones that sounded best to me (because if you can't taste them all, taste the ones that sound best). Oh, and taste more wine--lots more wine.
On Saturday, I had a new plan of attack. The Top Chefs and the top prize winners seemed to be centered around the Mumm Napa Lounge at the very middle of the event, so I decided to start there and not stop until those were done. If last year was any indication, the Top Chefs would run out of food very early, and I didn't want to miss them. Unfortunately, their dishes weren't listed in the printed program, so I am going by my very shaky memory for what they served.
Top Chef winner Hosea Rosenberg offered a salad of some kind, with seafood on it. Top Chef Jaime Lauren served up something with shrimp, and Top Chef Jeff McInnis had a seafood salad. This last one was served in a cute little boat made of (I think) dried corn husk. It made for a nice, eco-friendly dish, lightweight and attractive as well. All were top-notch, of course. (You see? I need the printed menus desperately.)
A friend who'd missed M Bistro's offerings on Friday went on my urging, and due to his unfortunate allergy to crawfish, I was forced to eat his crawfish cappucino for him. O cruel fate! (Nom nom nom nom.) Yep, still awesome. Now let's move on to Saturday's highlights, food-wise.
At the top of the list, 5 Fifty 5 had a rotisserie wood-fired Fudge Farm's barbeque pork slider with creole coleslaw on brioche, and for dessert, a creole cream cheese Twinkie and peanut butter bacon s'mores. Was the line for this long? You bet it was. And it was worth it. The slider was great, while the desserts were inventive and also tasty. The "s'mores," which did not fit my definition of s'mores at all, was still delicious, with a piece of gooey, fudgelike chocolate-peanut butter with just a hint of bacon paired with a toasted marshmallow and chocolate sauce. The "Twinkie" was clever, but almost too rich to be great; I enjoyed it, but liked the other one better.
Also right up top was the American Sector, the restaurant of the National World War II Museum, with an heirloom tomato soup and grilled ham and cheese sandwich quarter. I don't even like tomato soup, but this was really good, and the paired sandwich was perfect with it. I may have to check this restaurant out in the future!
Café Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar had a buttermilk biscuit pudding with toasted pecans and Barq's Root Beer syrup. I liked this variation on bread pudding very much; the biscuit gave it a distinctive flavor, and it was moist and good. I couldn't really taste the root beer in the syrup, but that was a plus for me as I'm not keen on root beer. I would definitely enjoy this in a restaurant in place of the usual bread pudding.
Ruffino's Italian Restaurant had a roasted moularde duck breast with creamy mascarpone polenta, pickled cherry, and foie gras reduction. The duck I could take or leave, but the polenta (or as we know it, grits) was worth the price of admission. Rich, creamy, and good, I would have been happy just with that in its foie gras sauce. The pickled cherry really made the dish; it added a whole different dimension to the combination, while being very tasty in its own right.
Ruth's Chris Steak House was making sliced tenderloin with wild mushrooms. I must give them credit for not running out of a very popular dish until the very end, when most other restaurants had long ago shut down for the day. The steak was good and the mushrooms complemented it well. And this one definitely won the prize for best-smelling table, with the scent of grilling steak wafting over the long line of people waiting their turn....
At the Epicurean Collection, there was Delice de la Vallee cheese with red pepper jam (though when I made it by, that had turned into a choice of red raspberry jam or Steen's cane syrup). The cheese is a fresh triple-cream cow and goat milk cheese, sort of like cream cheese but with more body and texture; it was very good and went well with the various toppings. Put that on a cracker, and you have hors d'oevres fit for a king.
Besh Steak had a Pere Roux cake, consisting of "layers of white cake and a buttery banana filling with plenty of rum, all topped with a cream cheese frosting." It was good, but wasn't quite my thing.
Mila offered rice pudding with rum raisins. I don't know why I tried this, when I don't care for raisins. The rice pudding was good, but nothing special if you eat around the raisins. Probably it was much better with the intended raisins. (Hey, I ate sweetbreads and escargot. Cut me some slack on the raisins.)
Ralph's on the Park provided lamb cheeks braised in saffron and white wine. I'm a big fan of cheek generally speaking, having had some that was out of this world in New Orleans, but this one was too fatty. The flavor was good, though, and the meat itself was very tender and tasty.
And the ones I didn't manage to try? I understand there were some stand-outs. Zea had a spicy sesame tuna stack with avocado on the bottom that I was told was great. Ditto the Centerplate New Orleans Superdome's cornbread souffle with pan seared scallop with a cajun red bean sauce and saffron cream. But again, if you could try everything, even in two days, it wouldn't be the Grand Tasting.
Once again, the day ended with a parade and this time, the musical end-piece concert was performed by Big Sam's Funky Nation.
The more experience I have with the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience, the more I appreciate it. It's simply an unparalleled opportunity to try out new things, from restaurants you want to visit to wines and liquor you may not have heard of before. With its hundreds of wines and dozens of restaurants, you're sure to find something interesting...and to go home tipsy and full. |
The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is a non-profit organization. The Board of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience donates 100% of the events' profit to support their programs and foundations. Proceeds from the 2009 event benefited University of New Orleans School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism, the Louisiana Restaurant Association's ProStart Program, The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, Delgado Community College Culinary Arts Program, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, Girls First, Cancer Crusaders, Animal Rescue of New Orleans, Coach Sean Payton's Play It Forward Foundation and Fore! Kids Foundation. |
|
|
|
Tapas Tuesday at Swirl Wine Bar
Posted by bevo vino on 2010-05-20 10:01:41
(7153 views)
|
[Events]
[New Orleans] |
| Back by popular demand! Geoff Worden from Wines Unlimited will present our annual tasting of wines from the Jorge Ordonez portfolio including the highly rated, award winning Bodegas El Nido Clio (94pts). And recently back from a trip to Spain, Chef Dan Esses is inspired to create new tapas dishes to pair with the wines. $24 includes a tasting of 5 wines paired with 5 tapas courses. What a deal! $24 per person, reservations and prepayment are required as attendance is limited to 40 people. Please call 504.304.0635 to reserve your spot. |
|
Swirl Wine Bar & Market
3143 Ponce de Leon Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
504.304.0635
http://swirlandsavor.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Annual Tre Bicchieri Italian Wine Dinner
Posted by perle0 on 2010-05-16 14:17:24
(8042 views)
|
[Events]
[New Orleans] |
 Each year, Swirl Wine Bar & Market celebrates the best of Italy with an Italian wine dinner featuring the highest award-winning wines of the Gambero Rosso Vini d'Italia, those given the "Tre Bicchieri" or 3 Glass designation. Given to less than 300 wines yearly, the Tre Bicchieri award is the highest and most prestigious honor that can be bestowed upon an Italian wine and is highly coveted by producers.
To best present the wines, we choose an Italian restaurant each year that demonstrates the same commitment to superior quality and match these amazing wines with their cuisine. We are excited to hold this year's dinner at Chef Adolfo Garcia and Chef Joshua Smith's southern Italian restaurant, a Mano. Chef Joshua Smith's menu will feature 6 tasting courses paired with 6 wines representing their respective regions. (As these wine are produced in limited quantity,
one 5 oz. glass of wine will accompany each course) Antonio Molesini, Italian Wine Specialist from Republic National Beverage, and a native of Cortona, will join us in hosting the event.
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
6:30 p.m. Cocktails (cash bar)
7:00 p.m. Dinner
$100 per person, tax and tip included
a Mano
870 Tchoupitoulas Street
Reservations:
(504) 304-0635 |
|
Menu
Fish crudo, citrus, and fennel
paired with
Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala, Umbria
Cured duck breast with seasonal berry conserve
paired with
Michele Chiarlo La Court Barbera d'Asti
Sformato di Porcini (savory mushroom mousse/custard)
paired with
Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico, Toscano
Fresh pasta with lamb ragu
paired with
Feudo Maccari Saia Nero d?Avola, Sicilia
Red wine braised wild boar with polenta
paired with
Antinori Guado al Tasso, Tuscany
Bittersweet chocolate budino, hazelnuts, olive oil, sea salt
paired with
Sella & Mosca Villa Marina Cabernet, Sardegna |
Swirl Wine Bar & Market
3143 Ponce de Leon Street
New Orleans, La 70119
(504) 304-0635
http://swirlinthecity.com |
|
|
|
Swirl Hosts the Empson USA Barolo and Brunello Tour
Posted by bevo vino on 2010-05-15 19:16:32
(8194 views)
|
[Events]
[Louisiana] |
 Empson USA is one of the premier importers of Italian wines in the country. Each year, their famous Barolo and Brunello tour hits the major US cities and finishes with a trade tasting in New Orleans. Knowing our love for all things Italian, they have asked us to host a second New Orleans event in the store on Wednesday May 19th that will give our customers a chance to taste these incredible wines. This famous tasting will feature the 2004 Brunello Riservas, 2005 Brunellos, 2006 Barolos, as well as other wonderful wines from the most prestigious wineries in Italy. |
|
For a mere $20 you'll be tasting more than 25 wines from an extremely elite group of producers such as:
Piedmont: Bongiovanni, Conterno Fantino, Einaudi, Marcarini, Poderi Colla
Tuscany: Costanti, Fuligni, Lisini, Poggio Antico, Cignale, Boscarelli.
To whet your palate, here's a few of the wines we'll be tasting:
2004 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino - WA, 94pts. The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is simply awesome in the way it marries a gorgeous expression of ripe, dark fruit and a classic sense of structure. A rich, enveloping wine, it flows onto the palate with masses of black cherries, minerals, spices, tar, new leather, and smoke. This is an exceptionally well-balanced and finessed Brunello full of character. The tannins remain rather firm but there is enough sheer density of fruit that opening a bottle on the young side is still likely to be rewarding. Simply put, Fuligni's 2004 Brunello di Montalcino is not to be missed.
2006 Poderi Colla Barolo Bussia Dardi le Rose - WA, 94+pts. Poderi Colla's 2006 Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose is a bombastic, textured wine made in a surprisingly full-bodied style for this domaine. Though somewhat aromatically closed at first, the wine's pedigree is impossible to miss, as waves of dark fruit meld into grilled herbs, rosemary, spices, and dried roses. Sweet, mentholated notes add complexity arise as this majestic Barolo continues to open up in the glass. This is without question one of the standouts of the vintage, and readers who appreciate a firm, cellar-worthy style of Barolo will want to give the Bussia Dardi/Le Rose serious consideration.
2004 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino Riserva - WA, 94pts. The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva reveals impressive richness in its wild cherries, sweet herbs, spices, minerals, and tobacco that meld with a high-toned bouquet. This gorgeous, medium-to-full-bodied Brunello blossoms on the palate as intricate layers of fruit continue to emerge with a wonderful classiness. The long, harmonious finish leaves a lasting impression. This is a terrific effort from Costanti.
2005 Orma Toscano Orma - WS, 91pts. Dark in color, with intense aromas of blackberry and black licorice, with hints of oak and an earthy undertone. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins, a long finish and a round, caressing texture. The debut wine for Sette Ponti from Bolgheri. Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wednesday May 19th, 6 to 8pm.
$20 per person
Reservations and prepayment are required as attendance is limited to 40 people.
Please call (504) 304-0635 to reserve your spot. |
Swirl Wine Bar & Market
3143 Ponce de Leon Street
New Orleans, La 70119
(504) 304-0635
swirlandsavor.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
Jazz'n the Vines 2010
Posted by perle0 on 2010-04-28 13:19:42
(7202 views)
|
[Events]
[Louisiana] |
 Pontchartrain Vineyards, Louisiana's premier producer of fine artisan Wines in the classic French tradition, continues its 11th Year of Jazz'n the Vines on Saturday, May 8, 2010 with Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys. The immensely popular outdoor concert series takes place at the vineyards and winery, located north of Covington in northern St. Tammany Parish, and will include seven concerts in the Spring (April, May, June,and July) and five concerts in the Fall (August, September, October, and November). |
|
April 17--The Charmaine Neville Band
The Diva of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues and her band
May 8--Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Classic Cajun group led by the first of the 'young' traditionalists
May 22--Rick Trolsen and The New Orleans PoBoys
World Renowned trombonist & his group spotlight traditional New Orleans Jazz
June 12--Big Daddy "O" Review
Unpretentious Blues/Folk sounds of South Louisiana
June 26--Jeff & Vida
Nashville duo with their group featuring the sounds of edgy and "bluesier than blue" Bluegrass
July 10--Sentimental Serenaders
Big Band/Swing Classics from the American Songbook
July 24--Chuck Cavette and the All Stars
Good-Time New Orleans Rhythm & Blues
******************Harvest Break *****************
August 28--Don Vappie and the Creole Jazz Serenaders
This world-traveled ensemble of peerless jazz musicians plays beautifully arranged early New Orleans Jazz with grace, style, and uncommon energy
Sept. 11--Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots
Two-steppin? Zydeco music
Sept. 25--Larry Garner
Lower Mississippi Delta Blues with lots of soul
October 9--Benny Grunch & the Bunch
Humorous and world-renowned sounds of New Orleans
October 23--Louisiana Purchase
Traditional and contemporary Bluegrass
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Admission: $10.00/person
81250 Hwy. 1082 Bush, LA (just north of Covington)
Bring: Lawn chair, picnic dinner, flashlight, and umbrella
Pontchartrain Vineyards wine will be for sale
Food by Windfield Farm will be available for purchase
Do not bring outside wine, beer, or sprits
Sorry no pets, BBQ or fire pits |
For additional information see:
Pontchartrain Vineyards
Phone & Fax: (985) 892-9742
E-mail: winery@pontchartrainvineyards.com
Mailing address:
P. O. Box 275
Covington, LA 70434
Pontchartrain Vineyards is located at 81250 Hwy. 1082, 6.5 miles from the juncture with Hwy. 21, just north of Covington, LA. |
|
|
|
Do Glasses Matter?
Posted by perle0 on 2010-04-21 16:54:45
(6779 views)
|
[Editorial] |
 It's an eternal question...does it matter what kind of glass you drink your wine from? The consensus from the experts is that it does matter a great deal. The shape of a glass can concentrate the aromas (which are so very vital to the wine's taste), and allow for the best air-surface-to-wine ratio. But how much does it matter? |
|
A wine lover tries to answer this question by holding his own tasting using four different levels of glass, from jelly jar to Riedel's finest stemware. Check out his conclusions, complete with tasting notes for each individual glass.
You may or may not agree with his results, but wouldn't it be fun to try this kind of tasting at home and see what degree of difference you can detect for yourself? If the wrong glass can make a great wine taste bad, wouldn't you want to fix that, even if you just buy one glass for yourself? |
|
|
|
|
19th New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
Posted by perle0 on 2010-04-20 17:46:22
(6584 views)
|
[Events]
[New Orleans] |
 It's that time of year again...time to make your plans for the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience! This 5-day event will take place May 25?29, 2010, in various locations throughout New Orleans. NOWFE, which Wine Enthusiast names as a "perennial 'Top Ten' Wine and Food festival," features over 15,000 glasses of wine being poured from 1000 different wines from over 200 winemakers from around the world, not to mention participation by 100 New Orleans restaurants. This will be the 19th NOWFE, and over the years this non-profit organization has raised nearly $1 million for worthy New Orleans charities.
You'll need to buy tickets and make reservations for wine dinners early, so make sure to plan ahead for this unique and wonderful event. |
|
NOWFE kicks off this year with a Premium Fine Wine Dinner featuring Chef John Folse.
Tuesday, May 25, 7:00 pm
$125 per person (Inclusive)
625 St. Charles Avenue (4th Floor)
On Wednesday, NOWFE sponsors Wine Dinners at New Orleans? premier restaurants, where Winery Principals, often the winemakers, are present to share their wines with each course. Chefs and Vintners plan the menus together, ensuring outstanding food and wine pairings. Contact the restaurants directly for reservation and payment information. Credit card confirmation may be required. NOWFE cannot guarantee reservations in any restaurant. Jackets suggested. Visit www.nowfe.com for a list of participating restaurants, prices, and menus. It looks like they're still finalizing that list, but remember--the restaurants sell out quickly! If you have your heart set on a particular one, make that reservation today.
Wednesday, May 26, 7:00 pm
$75-$125 per person
At restaurants in New Orleans and surrounding areas
Vinola, NOWFE?s premium tasting event, is a rare opportunity for 200 wine enthusiasts to mingle with notable winemakers while sampling elite wines from around the world. Approximately 40 wineries will be pouring their most revered and highly-rated wines (each exceeding a retail value of $75.) Vinola will be immediately followed by a Live Auction!
$150 per person
Thursday, May 27
Harrah's Theatre.
Tasting 2:00 pm ? 4:00 pm
Auction 4:00 pm ? 5:30 pm
A definitive evening event of the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, the Royal Street Stroll brings together New Orleans? greatest gifts: rare antiques, fine art, live jazz, and stunning historic architecture, along with the world?s outstanding wines. Shop the enchanting galleries of Royal Street while experiencing wine offerings at each stop, as live jazz music fills the air. As always, the Stroll will be led by the Krewe of Cork, as they parade down Royal Street.
$75 per person in advance ($90 on?site)
Thursday, May 27, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
On Royal Street
The 2009 NOWFE Wine and Food Seminar Series offers up tastes from celebrated local chefs and exciting discussions about what's hot in the wine world. Each year NOWFE adds new programs, seminars and events to the schedule-- keeping the seminars fresh, relevant, and exciting. This year?s seminars will include: "Magazine, the Street of Dreams," "Charmed by Charcuterie," "Gone Gulfing," "Think Outside the Bento Box!," "Big Red Seminar," "Wines with Altitude," "Let Them Eat Cake," and "Romancing the Rhone."
These seminars vary in price and location, and generally take place on Friday and Saturday before the Grand Tastings.
Friday and Saturday are NOWFE's signature events: the Grand Tastings.
A truly ?grand? experience for both foodies and wine connoisseurs, these events pair extensive offerings from New Orleans? finest chefs and selections of wines from around the world. 75 Chefs and 1000 vintages are accompanied by some of Louisiana?s best musicians, d?cor that showcases the local flavor, and new, exciting festivities! The food offerings are different on each day, and the wine is overwhelming in its quantity, so plan to attend both days if you can swing it. You'll be glad you did, and your liver will thank you.
$89 each day per person in advance ($100 per day at the gate)
Friday, May 28, 6-9 pm
Saturday, May 29, 2-5 pm |
For more information about the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience, or to purchase tickets, get information about wine dinners, find discounts on hotels, etc., go to www.nowfe.com.
The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is a non-profit organization. Proceeds from the 2009 event benefited the University of New Orleans School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism; the Louisiana Restaurant Association?s ProStart Program; the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute; Delgado Community College Culinary Arts Program; New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts; Girls First; Cancer Crusaders; Animal Rescue of New Orleans; Coach Sean Payton?s Play It Forward Foundation; and Fore! Kids Foundation. |
|
|
|
Gary Farrell Wine Dinner at Galatoire's Bistro
Posted by perle0 on 2010-04-19 18:06:37
(7441 views)
|
[Events]
[Baton Rouge] |
 Galatoire's Bistro is having a wine dinner featuring Gary Farrell wines on Friday, April 30th, at 7:30 p.m.
The dinner is $75 per person (inclusive of tax & gratuity). |
|
Menu
Hors d' oeuvres
2008 Gary Farrell Sauvignon Blanc
Premier
Oyster Artichoke Bisque
2007 Gary Farrell Chardonnay
Intermédiare
Duck Confit over Arugula with Goat Cheese,
Louisiana Strawberries, and Toasted Pecans
2006 Gary Farrell "Russian River" Pinot Noir
Principal
Braised Pork Cheeks with Fried Green Tomatoes
and Black-eyed Pea Relish
2005 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
Finale
Chocolate Bread Pudding with
Blackberries and a Caramel Sauce
Grahams Six Grapes Port |
Reserve your seat today by calling (225) 753-4864. Please be sure to indicate what event you would like to attend, as well as the number of guests attending.
Galatoire's Bistro
17451 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
(225) 753-4864 |
|
|
|
Ex-Saints Player Makes Extraordinary Wine
Posted by bevo vino on 2010-02-17 11:39:10
(6716 views)
|
[Events]
[New Orleans] |
 Swirl Wines is excited to have former Saint Terry Hoage and his wife Jennifer at Swirl Wines on Tuesday, February 23, at 6:30pm, for an informal, walkabout tasting of his wines. Meet the Hoages, taste some great wine, get your bottles signed and have a little fun with the folks at Swirl.
Terry's Story
What do you get when you combine an ex-NFL safety with a degree in genetics and a passion for farming? Terry Hoage, the two-time All-American from Georgia, actually spent a year with the Saints after being drafted by Bum Phillips, but was waived the next year by new coach Jim Mora. He then went on to a very successful 5 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, followed by another 6 years playing with Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals. Terry retired from football in 1996. So how did Terry get into the wine business? Read on.... |
 |
From Football to Wine
Terry Hoage's transformation from highly regarded NFL safety to highly regarded vintner began like a bad joke: "A guy walks into a bar. . . ." In 2000, the guy--Hoage--moved with his wife, Jennifer, and two children from Phoenix (his 13-year career with six teams had ended with the Cardinals in 1996), to California, eventually landing in Paso Robles, a burgeoning wine center two hours north of Santa Barbara. Hoage stopped by a local watering hole and hit it off with a group of thirtysomethings who happened to be oenophiles--"the wine geniuses of Paso Robles," he calls them. Under the guidance of his new friends, Hoage bought a 26-acre plot, where one of the geniuses, Justin Smith, helped him plant vines and provided him with the facilities and equipment to make his wine. Within a few years Hoage had his own 3,000-square-foot winery; his first vintage, in 2005, produced 100 barrels.
Hoage does everything from marketing his product and leading tours (with Jennifer's help) to fixing the tractor. He produces roughly 2,000 cases a year of wines that bear sly names like The Hedge Syrah, referring both to a pruning technique and to a fabled feature of the stadium at Georgia, where Hoage was an All-America both on the field and in the classroom. (He graduated with a degree in genetics and a 3.8 GPA.) Far from being an aspiring Mondavi, Hoage has capped his production and says he's happy to remain a boutique winemaker. For him, the business is less a moneymaking venture than a means to challenge himself. "I tend to get bored pretty easily," he says. "But here I get to be a scientist, an engineer, a marketer--I even taught myself to weld. I can be killing gophers in the afternoon and leading a wine tasting at night!" (Article source: Sports Illustrated)
One of the true "Rhone Rangers" of California, Terry's small production of highly rated wines made exclusively from Rhone varietals Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre, Counoise, Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, and Roussane are extraordinare examples of gorgeous, rich, lush wines that embody the spirit of the Rhone, in a ripe, California style. The wines blew the folks at Swirl away when they tasted them, and with Parker scores rarely under 90 points, we think you'll be very impressed as well! In his August 2009 edition of the Wine Advocate, Parker says of the 2006 Block Five, "This is the kind of wine the Central Coast should be producing more of, an intriguing blend that is both hedonistically and intellectually pleasing."
Swirl Wines Tasting Details
Swirl Wines welcomes Terry and his wife Jennifer for an informal, walkabout tasting of his wines on Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30pm at Swirl. Meet the Hoages, taste some great wine, get your bottles signed and have a little fun. Here's what we'll be tasting:
The Gap Cuvee Blanc 2008 - Fragrant jasmine and marmalade mingle with dried apricot and perfumed powder. This medium-bodied white blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne has a juicy intensity and a lingering floral honeysuckle finish with terrific crisp acidity. 60% Grenache Blanc and 40% Roussanne. 100 cases produced.
Bam Bam Estate Rose 2008 - Aromas of juicy ripe strawberry and cherry blossom from this lovely pink rose entice the nose. Showing nice weight on the palate, and displaying excellent fruitiness and great acidity. Excellent for enjoying on a hot evening. 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache. 110 cases produced.
The Hedge Syrah 2006 - (RP 89, WS 92) Pure ripe chunky fruit with boysenberry, ripe black cherry,and wild blackberry. Layered with Vosges chocolate and dried black ?g, and nuances of sweet tobacco, loamy earth, and perfumed purple violets. Finishes with pure fruit and spicy licorice. Firm tannins mellow with airing. Long and lingering finish. 100% Syrah. 405 cases produced.
5 Blocks Cuvee 2006 - RP 90, WS 90) Uncommon depth and concentration of huge blackberry, huckleberry, and cassis, with subtle notes of smoke and creamy stewed caramelized morel mushroom. This lovely blend is fleshy and concentrated, with a long spicy pepper and anise finish. Firm ripe tannins will further smooth with cellaring. 57% Syrah, 29% Grenache, 7% Mourvedre, and 7% Cinsault. 365 cases produced.
The 46 Grenache-Syrah 2006 - (RP 90, WS 92) Has amazing fruit, purity, and range of flavors, including freshly picked blackberries and ripe plums, kirsch, mineral, spice, and earthy truffle. Graceful mouthfeel with velvety tannins on the intense lingering finish that has a touch of bittersweet chocolate and just the right amount of acidity to carry the long finish. 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. 485 cases produced.
The Pick Cuvee 2006 - (RP 90, WS 89) Bright fruit of wild blackberry with cranberry notes that are vivid and youthful, yet intense and focused, herb de Provence, white peppery spice, earthy mushroom fill the palate. Finishes long and persistent with forest mushrooms, spice, and smoky toast. 54% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 8% Counoise. 310 cases produced. |
Swirl Wine Bar and Market is located at
3143 Ponce de Leon Street
New Orleans.
Reservations are recommended for this event as it is limited to 40 people. Please call (504) 304-0635 for reservations. $12 |
|
|
|
Martins Announces Haiti Fundraiser Tasting
Posted by perle0 on 2010-02-10 13:35:58
(5908 views)
|
[Events]
[Louisiana] |
 Help Us Help Haiti, a tasting of the nations to help a nation.
Martin Wine Cellar will host Help Us Help Haiti on Thursday, March 4th, from 6:30 until 8PM. This wine and food event is a fund-raiser to support the Haitians as they recover from their devastating earthquake. |
|
You can be a part of this effort by purchasing a ticket and joining Martin's for a tasting of 20 wines from around the world complemented by delectable delicacies from their Catering and Gourmet Food departments for only $35 per person.
As patrons stroll through Martin Wine Cellar from table to table enjoying wine and food, they will have the opportunity to donate more by participating in a silent auction or giving a cash donation. 100% of the proceeds from tickets sales, silent auction, and cash donations will be donated to Doctors Without Borders Emergency Relief Fund.
MPress New Orleans, Entercom New Orleans, Guaranty Broadcasting Company of Baton Rouge and others also support this event. |
Tickets to this event are limited, sold in advance only and are on sale now at all Martin locations (3500 Magazine Street in New Orleans, 714 Elmeer Avenue in the 1200 block of Veterans in Metairie, 2895 Highway 190 in Mandeville, and 7248 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge) or by phone at (504) 894-7420, (504) 896-7300, (985) 951-8081, or (225) 610-1190.
The price for each guest is $35.
Guest must attend the event at the location where tickets are purchased. (You must be 21 years old or older to attend.) |
|
|
|
