Drink Eat Love

To NYC: Vino2010

I am headed to New York CIty for a week long wine conference called Vino2010. It is an exhibition presented by the Italian Trade Commission focusing on all things Italian. Over the next four days I will be attending seminars on the terroir of Brunello di Montalcino, the native grapes of Friuli, the future of Prosecco and learning about the Calabria. So, be on the look out for the new posts on what Vino2010 is all about...FYI - I am writing this all at 39,000 feet! Wi-Fi on the plane is pretty amazing.

Monday Night Wine: Family Meal

(Image from Relief Society Presidents)

Monday Night Wines: Ohhhhhh Brovia how I love thee

It is hard to control myself when it comes to Nebbiolo. Last week I introduced a Langhe Nebbiolo that I recommend you seek out today! If you need help finding it in your neck of the woods try Wine Searcher, it is an internet portal that is very helpful in hunting down wine. So, in finding it difficult to give up my love for this amazing grape I'm going big with my wine...I'm going to Barolo and specifically Brovia Barolo 2005.

Finding the time

Wine and Poi - nah...Poi is gross

As life has caught up with me the past few weeks, I have neglected one of my favorite pastimes...my blog. Well, on Saturday evening Shauna and I met up with my Dad and his wife for a week on Maui.  So it is back to the blog.

It has been over 20 years since I have been to any island of this fair state and I have now realized it has been too long. We have only been here two full days and it really is heaven on the Pacific. Of course, we have added to our piece of heaven with a case of wine. We have only had a fourth of it so far with two days left, so we will have to get to drinking.

Sausage Fest III - Damn good!

Carbs and fat be damned! EVEN IN L.A.

Los Angeles has a very misunderstood image. Now, as with all stereotypes there is some truth to the vapid, self-conscious, and self-obsessed culture in L.A. but times are a changing. This weekend I was in LaLa-land for a wedding and got to explore a new trend in the dining scene: FAT and BREAD!

When I arrived into L.A. we headed over to my sister-in-law's place and putzed around thinking of a place to eat when the in-law's boyfriend pulled out the most recent edition of Los Angeles Magazine  which had a cover story about the best new bars in L.A. He said there was this place that I only thought could be in the movies. A  restaurant that ONLY serves sausage, buns, toppings, dessert, and beer! The moment he uttered these words I had to go.

This place of fat, bread and yeast is located in Downtown. A place that for years had been forgotten but has in the past few years become a bastion of the hip, hungry and  thirsty. Our sausage adventure took us to Wurstkuche and I must say I was impressed. When we arrived there was a line of about 25 to 30 people, by the time we got to the counter there must have been close to 100 people in line. The concept is brilliant. There are a plethora of sausages to choose from (I got Rattlesnake and Duck), you then choose two toppings, a great beer list all on tap and if you are up to it and we were, Belgium style fries with a choice of two dipping sauces! Heaven on Earth for us meat eaters, beer drinkers and lovers of not using utensils. The sausages are sourced from all around the country but the majority are from the west coast, choosing very high quality sausages from the classic Brat to the exotic alligator.

Wine, Food, and Music: Outside Lands Music and Art Festival

(All photos by Shoshauna Leytus)

When Outside Lands was conceived the organizers wanted to bring great music to the park from around the world while highlighting the foods, wines, and arts that make the Bay Area such a special place. The ability to draw from so many amazing farms, restaurants, and wineries gives the region an "unfair" advantage over the rest of the country...maybe world but that is exactly what was found this weekend. The moment you walked through the gates you were not given options of traditional "fair" foods and nasty beer but fresh oysters from Tomales Bay shucked by Hog Island Oyster Co, gourmet sausage sandwiches by Fatted Calf,and of course wine...lots of really good wine.

I made the right choice

(The view from Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg, Alsace)

Finally! I get to use German