The Great American Takeout Is Tuesday, March 24: America’s Restaurants Need You

National Event Aims To Boost Business For Nation's Restaurants
These are challenging times. Our mindset is usually positive and optimistic, but it seems like the drumbeat of bad news about COVID 19 keeps on reverberating. As I write this, Ohio has just announced a shelter in place order. Here in North Carolina as well as other states restaurants have either closed or been restricted to takeout and delivery orders. The hospitality industry, in general, has taken a crippling hit. 

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As a result, America’s restaurants need our help! The coronavirus poses a significant threat to the future of an industry that employs more than 15 million Americans. Spearheaded by a coalition of restaurants, #TheGreatAmericanTakeout has been launched. Your help is essential in this effort to help restaurants and their employees. While we can’t enjoy a nice dinner at a local café or restaurant, we still can provide some needed support.

On March 24, we’re asking everyone in America to show their support for the restaurant industry by joining #TheGreatAmericanTakeout and eating at least one delivery or pick-up meal.

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Please join us in eating takeout or delivery on 3/24 and sharing to your social channels, tagged with #thegreatamericantakeout!

I hope that soon we’ll be able to gather in our favorite restaurants, shaking hands, embracing and enjoying a wonderful meal with a special bottle of wine. That time isn’t now, and it appears as if we’ll have to hunker down for a while. We can and will make it through by helping each other.
#Thegreatamericantakeout is the first step. Please join in this important event.

Santa Fe: Hub of Southwest Style And Culture

Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in North America. Its historic charm, cultural attractions, and Southwestern style makes it one of America’s top destinations

Article and Photos by Dave Nershi, CSW

Publisher, Vino-Sphere

The City Different

Dancing Ground of the Sun was the name for Santa Fe by early Native American inhabitants. Frontiersmen at the turn of the 20th century referred to it as “The City Different.” No matter what you call it, the New Mexico city’s abundant restaurants, vibrant art scene, and a mosaic of cultures make it a premier tourist destination.

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The historic Plaza is the central point for downtown Santa Fe, surrounded by shops, galleries, restaurants, and historic landmarks. The buildings are in the Spanish Pueblo Revival style, giving the community a unique and timeless look. Steps away is La Fonda on the Plaza. Like many sites in Santa Fe, it is burnished with rich history.

The hotel sits on the site of the city’s first hotel, established in 1607 when the city was founded by Spaniards. Over the years the hotel became the preferred lodging for trappers, soldiers, gold seekers, gamblers and politicians. The current structure was built in 1922 and the historic charm is evident in the hand-carved beams, terracotta tiles, and hammered tin chandeliers. Each guest room features a hand-painted headboard.

A Miraculous Stairway

Visitors can enjoy world-class museums, attractions, and dining all within a short stroll from the city center. The city's full name as founded is La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís ("The Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi"). A block from the Plaza is St. Francis Cathedral. The cathedral is a Roman Catholic basilica built of yellow limestone in the Romanesque Revival style.

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The Loretto Chapel is a former house of worship that features the Miraculous Stairway, a helix-shaped spiral staircase. The stairway has no central support and was built without any nails. The project is a seeming answer to prayer after uncompleted construction left the nuns with no way to reach their choir loft. The work was done by a mysterious stranger who worked in seclusion and disappeared without revealing his identity.

San Miguel Chapel is a Spanish colonial mission church and is the oldest known church in the continental United States. It was built between 1610 and 1626. The church is surrounded by history. It is adjacent to the oldest house in Santa Fe, a low-ceilinged structure with dirt floors and thick adobe walls.

Food And Fire

Across the street is a centuries-old adobe building that houses the Pink Adobe restaurant. Try their Enchilada Pink Adobe with earthy red Chimayo chile or green Hatch chile with onions served on blue corn tortillas with cheese, beans, rice and posole. The restaurant’s famed Steak Dunigan is another great choice.

Katherine Kagal is chef owner and driving force behind Café Pasqual’s, which serves up fare from New Mexico, Mexico, and Asia with aplomb. The restaurant has a warm and friendly fiesta vibe with a community table, painted tiles, colorful paper decorations and strings of red chile ristras.

While soaking in the joyful atmosphere, enjoy an appetizer of crispy Salvadoran Plantain chips with avocado and jalapeno sour cream salsa. For an entree, we recommend digging into Cohinita Pibil Yucatan Style, which is organic pork slow-cooked in achiote and orange wrapped in a banana leaf, with calabacitas, cilantro rice, habanero-marinated onions, and tostones with crema.

Fine dining establishments abound, such as Coyote and Geronimo. For a casual bite, check out the famous Plaza Café. Open since 1905, it is Santa Fe’s oldest restaurant. The restaurant features a mix of cuisine from New Mexico and Greece in a classic American diner setting. Try a stack of Blue Corn Piñon pancakes for a delicious start to your morning.

To take your culinary exploration one step further, plan a visit to the internationally acclaimed Santa Fe School of Cooking. The school offers hands-on cooking classes, demonstration classes, and an intensive three-day Southwest Culinary Boot Camp. According to SFSC Chef Jen Doughty, New Mexican cooking is about keeping true to traditions. That means plenty of peppers, including the famous Hatch chiles, and grilling. “We love food and fire,” she said.

Art, History and… Meow Wolf

Santa Fe can also satisfy your hunger for world-class museums. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum honors one of the most significant and intriguing artists of the twentieth century, known internationally for her bold and innovative art. The museum has more than 3,000 works in its collection. A docent tour provides a captivating look into the artist and her work, including include abstractions, large-scale depictions of flowers, leaves, rocks, shells, bones and other natural forms, New York cityscapes and paintings of the unusual shapes and colors of architectural and landscape forms of northern New Mexico.

The IAIA (Institute of American Indian Art) Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is the country’s only museum for exhibiting, collecting and interpreting the most progressive work of contemporary Native artists. The works were all created in 1962 or later. Currently on display (through January 2020) is the powerful Reconciliation exhibit, featuring collaborative visions of Hispano and Pueblo artists, characterized by their notions of reconciliation, healing, and transformation.

The New Mexico Museum of Art and the New Mexico History Museum are also great choices for museum-goers in downtown Santa Fe. The New Mexico Museum of History recalls 500 years of history and is the state’s newest museum.

While Santa Fe is wrapped with centuries of multicultural history, it also is a trendsetter in the art world. Meow Wolf is an immersive art experience and museum that almost defies description. Created by art collective and 400 employees, its first permanent installation is the House of Eternal Return. Guests wander a multi-level mystery house with secret passages, portals to parallel worlds, and a mysterious narrative amidst surreal, maximalist, and mesmerizing art exhibits.

It was launched in March 2016 with support from Game of Thrones creator, George R.R. Martin. Additional Meow Wolf locations are planned for Las Vegas (2020) and Denver (2021).

Whatever your interests, Santa Fe continues to entice as it has since the 17th century. Make some history of your own in Santa Fe.

Technorati Tags: Santa Fe,New Mexico,Travel,Museum,Art,Restaurants,Dining

Knoxville Offers Best Of Tennessee Sights And Flavors

Known as the Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Knoxville offers visitors plenty of outstanding eats and attractions.

Destination Knoxville

I didn’t know much about Knoxville before our visit over the Labor Day weekend. After three days of exploring this dynamic eastern Tennessee city of about 180,000, I now wonder why it took us so long to visit.

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For those in the Raleigh area, Knoxville is a “straight shot,” about five-and-a-half hours of driving due west on I-40. The drive itself is enjoyable, as we passed through the scenic areas of Asheville, NC, and the Great Smoky Mountains on our way.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Knoxville Downtown, which is in a prime location, just a few blocks from downtown’s Market Square and only a 15-minute walk from the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium. Our trip was planned to spend time with Diane, a classmate of my wife’s, and her husband John. On John’s bucket list was to see a major college football game. As luck would have it, the UT Volunteers opened the season that Saturday.

UT Vols Excitement

Getting to the stadium involves an enjoyable stroll through the World’s Fair Park. Knoxville hosted the World’s Fair in 1982 and it sparked a revitalization of the city. The most visible reminder is the Sunsphere, the iconic 266-foot golden tower that stands above surrounding fountains, waterways and festival grounds.

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Neyland Stadium is the fifth largest in the US with a capacity of 102,455. It trails only Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State and Texas A&M in stadium size. The Vols fans are fanatical and the stadium was filled with a sea of orange and ringed with enthusiastic tailgaters. Each touchdown was accompanied by fireworks, a rousing chorus of Rocky Top, waving flags and an appearance of the old blue tick hound mascot.

The stadium is located on the Tennessee River and the Vols Navy, an assortment of fancy yachts decked out in UT colors, was out in force. Unfortunately one caught fire and sank on Friday night. That disaster was only a foreshadowing of the one coming the next day as the Vols were upset by Georgia State, a 25-point underdog.

Market Square Munching

Downtown Knoxville is highly walkable, with plenty of interesting shops, restaurants and outdoor art. Two main areas of interest are Market Square and Gay Street. Market Square is a tree-line square with a variety of restaurants and shops. The farmer’s market, held there Wednesday and Saturday, is huge and adds a festive atmosphere.

Gay Street is home to Knoxville’s theater district. The historic Tennessee Theater and Bijou Theater are two of the finest regional performance centers. The street is vibrant with shops, restaurants and Cruze Farm Ice Cream. The ice cream, served up by Farm Girls in red checked uniforms, is a delicious treat. The variety of flavors and toppings is seemingly endless.

There are many dining options on Market Square. For vegetarian or vegan diners, we suggest Tomato Head, which has a bevy of salads, sandwiches and pizzas in a bright and casual setting. Tupelo Honey is a popular spot for scratch-made Southern comfort food. The biscuits alone are worth the trip.

The gastronomic highlight of our trip was Oliver Royale, which dubs its food as comfort food with a cultural kick. I opted for the Kurobuta Porkchop with parmesan polenta, braised apples, crispy brussel sprouts, hoguera chorizo, and plantain chip. The rest of our party ordered the Petite Filet, Sous Vide Swordfish and the Spaghetti Pesto.

Every dish was presented artfully and each bite was an explosion of flavor. I opted for the 2016 Santa Rita 120 Reserva Especial Carmenere to accompany our meal. This is a light bodied red from Chile that blended nicely with the wide range of our meals.

There was no letdown with the desserts. The flourless chocolate torte was a deconstructed masterwork. The lemon bar dessert included a nice dollop of ice cream.

Great Smoky Beauty

A trip to Knoxville would fall flat without enjoying the spectacular scenery. On the way into town, we detoured to Gatlinburg (about an hour away). Note to self: Don’t visit one of America’s top tourist sites during Labor Day weekend. Once we battled through the traffic and pedestrians, we took off on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. My wife was determined to see a black bear. We had visited here a few years ago and spotted a few. Guess what? We saw another bear, but I learned that a bear frolicking through the woods is faster than me getting my camera ready to take a shot.

The mountain vistas are fantastic. The Roaring Fork is picturesque and there are plenty of pull-offs to enjoy the sights.

For a destination closer to downtown Knoxville, try the Ijams Nature Center. Ijams has 315 acres of hiking, biking, paddling and climbing. It is one of Knoxville’s top attractions. We enjoyed a hearty hike along the Tower Trail to the River Trail Boardwalk. The nature center itself has several interesting displays.

Following a buffet breakfast at the Holiday Inn, we were set to leave on the trip back. Honestly, we didn’t want to leave. Knoxville is a city loaded with delectable food, world class attractions and fun activities. We’re already planning our next visit.

Technorati Tags: Tennessee,Great Smoky Mountains,Tennessee Vols,restaurants,dining,travel,parks

Maitia 2018 Weon Carignan, Maule Valley, Chile

What to pair with an eclectic assortment of Latin dishes? How about a Carignan from Chile.

Wine From The Dude

I swear I had no idea as the phrase came out of my mouth. We had been seated at our table at so.ca in Raleigh for a few minutes. It was long enough for our server to give us the menus and start perusing the wine list.

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As we were trying to unscramble the very delectable small and large plate offerings we were waiting for the server to return. Green Dragon asked if I had ordered wine. I replied, “I’m waiting for the dude to come back.” Little did I know that “dude” would play an important role in our meal.

I decided to go with the 2018 Weon Carignan from Chile. I thought the name was a bit odd, “Weon.” I later learned that in the Chilean culture, this means “dude” or “bro.” Conveniently, the word can be used as a noun or adjective. Whoa!

Pairing With The Plates

So.ca focuses on Latin cuisine and we began ordering a wide assortment of dishes to share and asked our server to pace them out. We ended with a continuous string of stunningly presented small plates that were delicioso.

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Our dishes included Ensalada de so.ca, Crab Stuffed Avocado, Dominican Empanadas, Jamaican Lamb Patties, Jerk Coconut Prawns, Argentinian Charred Pork Cheeks, and Guatemalan Ceviche de Camaron. Phew! You get the idea – plenty of amazing cuisine.

Carignan is a grape that is widespread in the south of France, used mostly in blends. In Spain, where it is called Cariñena, it is also popular.  It’s rare to see it as a single varietal bottling, so I jumped at the opportunity. The price point was also quite reasonable for such a unique wine.

Weon comes from Chile’s Maule Valley, one of the country’s larges wine growing regions. Reds are the specialty of the area. This is a light and limber red, not a big bombastic thing.

The Weon is soft with round tannins. It’s a young wine and harsh tannins are further avoided by fermentation in concrete vats, instead of oak. It is an organic wine and uses wild fermentation.

Weon is light and would do well with a slight chill to enjoy during the hot weather. It’s “redness” is beyond reproach, however, as it was a mind-blowing pairing with the Argentinian Charred Pork Cheeks served on amazing polenta. The wine is versatile and pairs adroitly with seafood and salad as well as spicy meats.

Dude! We highly recommend the Weon Carignan and so.ca for your drinking and dining enjoyment.

Technorati Tags: Carignan,Chile,wine,wine tasting,red wine

Willamette Valley Overflows with Dining and Lodging Options

Shrimp and Stoneground Provolone Grits with King Estate Willamette Valley
Pinot Gris at Oregon Electric Station - Photos by Dave Nershi

Planning a trip to Oregon Wine Country? Here's where to stay and eat.

By Dave Nershi, CSW – Publisher

Willamette Valley is a slice of wine heaven nestled 30 miles south of Portland, Oregon. Oregon is the fourth largest producer of wine in the US. Most are small, family-run operations that produce less than 5,000 cases yearly.

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The lush valley, is 150 miles long and 60 miles wide, and produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. Its agricultural bounty includes hazelnuts as well as hops for the burgeoning craft beer industry. Whether you are visiting Oregon Wine Country’s more than 500 wineries or taking in its other many attractions, we’ve got the scoop on where to stay and eat.

The good news is this scenic locale is overflowing with great lodging and dining options. There is something for every budget and every palate. Here are some top picks from our recent visit.

Abbey Road Farm features silo sleeping accommodations

You've Never Stayed Anywhere Like This Before

Abbey Road Farm in Carlton is home to the Silo Suites Bed & Breakfast. The farm has goats, sheep, chickens and ducks and some of the most unique sleeping accommodations you’ll find in the region.

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The five suites are in three recommissioned grain silos and feature foam topped beds, Jacuzzi tubs, luxurious bedding and ambient floor heating. Breakfast by innkeepers and chefs Eric Bartle and Sara Kundelius is sumptuous. Enjoy selections such as huckleberry pancakes, Porchetta and breakfast frittata – prepared beautifully in cozy surroundings with a scenic view.

A salmon starter at Subterra in Newberg

Within a short drive from Carlton is Subterra – A Wine Cellar Restaurant in Newberg. Subterra is a noteworthy dining experience in an unruffled, relaxing cellar setting. Service is impeccable and the wine list is award-winning. The menu is a masterful mix of classic and Northwest contemporary cuisines with an emphasis on farm-to-table ingredients.

You can warm up your palates with small plates such as melted brie and maple bourbon fig jam and the devilishly good crispy pork belly confit with ginger pineapple relish.

Entrée choices includes cassoulet, the hearty French white bean stew, and Seafood Zarzuela. The wine list has ample variety to perfectly pair with each dish. Two selections we especially enjoyed were the 2017 Illahe Willamette Valley Gruner Veltliner and the 2014 Coeur de Terre Vineyard Heritage Reserve Pinot Noir, McMinnville.

Dining In Dundee

Dundee is the location for two other standout dining picks. The Babica Hen Café buzzes with activity and serves up breakfast until 2 o’clock, with eight different waffle choices including Banana Chocolate Crunch and Lemon Berry Almond Crumble. Lunch, featuring an assortment of salads and filling sandwiches, and dinner are also served.

Dundee Bistro spaghetti with halibut

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The Dundee Bistro is a gourmet delight that is part of the Ponzi family enterprise that includes Ponzi Vineyards. The bistro menu includes superb pasta dishes and acclaimed pizza as well as classic cocktails, microbrews, Italian coffee and an inspired wine list with an emphasis on local Pinot Noir.

Try the oyster of the day with apple and shallot mignonette sauce for starters with the 2017 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Gris and finish with the Cascade Natural New York Steak and a hearty red. For a glass of wine with friends, try the adjoining FratelliPonzi Food & Wine Bar and browse the selection of artisan foods including the FratelliPonzi extra virgin olive oil from Michel and Rebecca Ponzi's estate in Italy overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

McMinnville Top Lodging Picks

Youngberg Hill is a premier Willamette Valley destination

You can indulge yourself at Youngberg Hill, a wine country inn and vineyard in McMinnville. Perched on a hilltop with sweeping views of rolling vineyards, the inn is part of a 50-acre estate. The on-premises tasting room features award-winning wines from the organically farmed estate vineyards.

The inn features nine luxuriously furnished guest rooms, many with panoramic views. The breakfast room and wrap around deck are ideal for watching the sun rise over the vineyards. Breakfast selections may include savory French toast or their famed salmon hash.

Quality is impressive with the Youngberg Hill wines. Don’t leave without picking up a bottle of the Aspen Chardonnay and Jordan Pinot Noir. The inn is convenient to 100 different wineries and tasting rooms in Willamette Valley.

Luxurious accommodations at the Atticus Hotel

If you prefer to stay in historic McMinnville, consider the Atticus Hotel. This boutique hotel opened in Spring 2018 and provides a luxury option within walking distance to 18 tasting rooms and 35 restaurants in this vibrant small town. The Atticus rooms feature fireplaces with handcrafted mantles, original pieces from local artists and enough panache to make your stay a memorable one.

An attractive dining option in downtown McMinnville is The Barberry. Located on “America’s Favorite Mainstreet,” the restaurant sources 95% of its ingredients locally. Its mission is to become the best restaurant on the West Coast and it’s the place to come whether you dress up or go casual.

Elegant dining at The Barberry in McMinnville

The menu includes fresh seafood and steaks as well as oysters on half-shell year-round. Wine pairing meals are available, and the wine list is award-winning. The Barberry is also known as a Great Bourbon Bar of America. It has a collection of 225 whiskeys and bourbons. Upstairs the 1882 Grille has a rooftop deck and 15 beers on tap.

Eugene? You Bet

Stellar food and lodging make Eugene a must-visit destination at the southern end of Willamette Valley. The Inn at the 5^th is a AAA 4 Diamond award winner located within the historic 5^th Street Public Market. With complimentary wine upon arrival, a fireplace in your room, and luxurious amenities, you may never want to leave this urban resort. If you do, you are only steps away from a wine tasting room and boutique shops and eateries.

Inn at the 5th is an urban resort in Eugene

A nearby dining favorite is the Oregon Electric Station, located in a 1912 former train station. It’s easy to get on board with their standout seafood, beef and pasta dishes. Try the Shrimp & Stoneground Provolone Grits with a glass of King Estate Pinot Gris for a perfect pairing. Finish up with the Peanut Butter Bar, with layers of ganache, peanut butter and Oreo cookie crust.

A stylish omelette at Marché 

For French-inspired cuisine, Marché is just steps away from the Inn at the 5^th. The menu is based on foods you would find at a farmers market, with the emphasis being fresh and local. Get a jump start on your morning with a breakfast of croissant French toast with caramelized bananas, toasted coconut and crème fraîche. With a cup of Coffee Plant Roaster espresso, you’ll be ready to face the day.

Whatever your plans, there’s a bounty of dining and lodging opportunities in Willamette Valley. For additional information, check the resources at the Willamette Valley Visitors Association.

SoCa Cocina Latina Restaurant Rocking Raleigh With Eclectic Food And Wine Options

Drawing its culinary inspiration from the region South of the Tropic of Cancer, Raleigh’s SoCa, offers a delightful mashup of Latin and Caribbean inspired street food paired with an outstanding selection of wine.

Elevated International Cuisine

We’re always up for exploring unique restaurant experiences. Last month was Triangle Restaurant Week, so we headed to SoCa, a Latin-inspired Raleigh restaurant that we viewed through the windshield, but had never visited..

Check out our reports on more than 200 wineries

SoCa has carved out a unique culinary perch, focusing on cuisine from locales south of the Tropic of Cancer, a geographic dividing line that runs just north of the equator. That adds up to an eclectic menu that includes dishes from more than 20 different countries. Dishes include Guatemalan Ceviche de Camaron, Jamaican Lamb Patties, Peruvian Tiradito de Pescado and Brazilian Feijoada, to name just a few.

The restaurant is one of just 11 Wine Spectator Award winners in Raleigh. We were all smiles as we saw the finely crafted wine list featuring a wide array of southern hemisphere wines.

Outstanding Vibe And Vittles

SoCa, located at 2130 Clark Ave, Raleigh, in the Cameron Village area, has an inviting energy. Servers whisk past with trays of food, guests unwind with friendly chatter at the bar, wine bottles are opened and food sizzles as cooks work in view of the customers.

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It was a hot summer day in Raleigh (imagine that!) and so we first wanted a drink to chill down. What better way than a sparkling Brut rosé? We selected the Viña Underagga from Chile’s Central Valley. Not only are South American wines delicious, but they are typically great values as well.

I opted for the three-course Triangle Restaurant Week special and my first dish was Caramelized Pear Empanadas, with savory pastry, Manchego cheese, chorizo and toasted almonds. This dish was not only a sweet and savory explosion of flavors, it was artistically plated. It was a treat for the eye and the palate – something that was true for each dish we had at SoCa.

The evening was a bit toasty outside, but we plan to sit out on the patio during our next visit. It looks like an ideal vantage point to watch the world go by while sipping a glass of wine. SoCa also offers free valet parking, something greatly appreciated by us and certain to remove the “do you see any parking spaces” anxiety from your evening.

Done with my ruminations while gazing out the window, I was ready to pick a red wine to go with my entree. We like to try new and different wines (hey, it’s what we do!) but SoCa has you covered even if you don’t. They offer lists of SoCa reds and whites, focusing on countries in their geographic bullseye, but also have lists of global reds and whites featuring outstanding choices from the rest of the world. For example, they feature Cabernet Sauvignon by Sleight of Hand in Washington State and Ty Catton in Moon Mountain, Sonoma, as well as Albariño from Rias Baixas in Spain and a good selection from France.

To accompany my Grilled Adobo Pork Tenderloin I selected the 2015 Alto Limay Pinot Noir from Patagonia. I’ve been wanting to try a Pinot from this up and coming Argentine region. At SoCa I was able to do so by the glass. The pork dish had poblano pepper slaw, charred pineapple, salsa verde and lime. The Pinot had notes of cranberry, minerality and a touch of cocoa. It was a nice pick to go with my entree as well as my wife’s seafood dish.

A Sweet Ending

It was no contest for the dessert selection. The Restaurant Week menu offered Choco-Latte which, by its description, promised to raise the bar on decadence. Videri dark chocolate cake is topped by whipped mascarpone and Brazilian brigaderos (a chocolate fudge ball!) and accompanied with raspberry purée and chocolate chunk coffee ice cream.

The dessert delivered in spades. Rich chocolate accented with tart berries and creamy coffee goodness – an outstanding way to end our dinner.

There’s a lot to like about SoCa. The cuisine is at a very high level: well prepared and beautifully presented. The menu is also thoughtfully composed with surprising and inviting dishes, most of which you won’t encounter elsewhere and certainly not all together. The wine list is well designed and contemporary in style. Other restaurants may have more voluminous lists, but they likely don’t have some of the great selections featured at SoCa. It has everything to make a wine lover keep filling glass after glass.

SoCa Cocina Latina gets our highest recommendation. Whether you want to explore the world or just have a great meal, head south of the Tropic of Cancer!

Technorati Tags: Raleigh,dining,restaurant review

Vidrio Dishes Up Style Along With Tapas And On-Tap Wine

Looking for the “wow factor” in Raleigh dining? Look no further than Vidrio, a Mediterranean restaurant that delights the eye and the palate.

The Art of The Meal

Deciding to avoid conventional choices, we recently opted to try out Vidrio on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh. It was a memorable evening for all the right reasons.

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Vidrio means “glass” in Spanish and you won’t wait long to discover why it is an appropriate name. The feature attraction in the expansive main dining room is a soaring wall of more than 350 glass discs created by an Ohio artist.

In every direction it is a visual treat with unique lighting fixtures, a hanging rope sculpture, intriguing textures and a setting that exudes style. Even if we didn’t eat a bite, a visit to the restaurant would be satisfying.

Of course, we were there to eat (and drink). So we did.

Tip Top Tapas

We are tapas aficionados. The main reason being that you end up with what amounts to a tasting menu. In some restaurants if you don’t like your entree, you’re out of luck. You can come back in a month or two and try something else. With tapas, if you don’t care for one small plate you can sample one of the other four or five dishes.

Check out our reports on more than 200 wineries

The Vidrio mantra is “earth, flavor and wine” and we were ready to experience it all. Although it took a while to get service and wade through the many options, our ticket was soon on the way to the kitchen. Our picks included green chickpea humus, Moroccan beef skewers, charred octopus and a fig flatbread.

I told my wife that I wanted to treat her to dinner at a very special restaurant – and Vidrio met that expectation. Of course, the fact that Vidrio also has more than 50 wines on tap was certainly at top of mind!

There are a couple of problems with wine by the glass in restaurants. First, you are usually much better off buying a bottle because if you each have two glasses, you’ll pay more and get less ordering by the glass. The second disappointing problem is that in many restaurants partially consumed bottles sit around in less than ideal conditions, sometimes for days.

Enter wine by the keg! Wine by the keg dispels those issues. The kegs are pressurized so each glass should be good to the last drop. I also like the sustainability angle. There’s much less packaging involved with a reusable keg versus a glass bottle, label and cork for every 750 ML of wine.

Tapping The Wine

For the hummus and octopus, we went white. With the flexibility of the wine on tap program, and very reasonable costs ($8 for a 6 oz. pour of many great wines and half that for a 3 oz. pour), we went by the glass.

The charred octopus was stellar! When in Spain, the octopus I tried was cut into medallions, usually served with olive oil and potatoes. At Vidrio, the tentacles were charred whole and we sliced them to enjoy with our chorizo vinaigrette and beans. We started with a glass of Greek Asyrtiko and French Muscadet. My wife assumed that the Muscadet would be sweet, but this great wine made from Melon de Bourgogne was fresh, delicious and off-dry.

For our later plates, we enjoyed a glass of Truth or Consequences Wahluke Slope (Washington) Merlot and a glass of Spanish Garnacha. Each of the glasses we enjoyed was fresh, fresh, fresh! Like a new bottle was just opened.

The tap system serves not only the bar on the first floor, but also runs up to the bar on the second floor. No matter what unique space you enjoy at Vidrio, you’ll have the freshest wine. There is also a wealth of craft cocktails and craft beer available.

Vidrio is a destination restaurant. You can hang in the downstairs bar, which opens to the night air, soak in the aesthetics in the main dining room or explore the upper regions. Meals are artfully prepared and the vibe combined with the great food and drink means we’ll be returning to Vidrio in the very near future.

Technorati Tags: Restaurant review,Raleigh,wine,wine on tap

Rolling Into Raleigh, NC, With a Knife And Fork

After a couple of decades in Ohio, we are making the move to North Carolina. We decided to check out the culinary scene in Raleigh. Here are a few great finds.

Going Aloft In Raleigh

After 22 years in the Toledo, Ohio, area we are on the move to North Carolina – the Raleigh area to be more specific. Before this can all come to pass, we need to have a new world headquarters building for Vino-Sphere (or, as my wife would put it, we have to buy a new house).

Recently we flew into Raleigh to meet with a Realtor and tour a few homes. Green Dragon (my wife) gave me two options for our hotel stay – an econo-budget hotel or aloft Raleigh for just a few dollars more. As much as I love drying off with towels that feel like sandpaper to save a few cents, we decided to stay in aloft instead.

Aloft is part of the Starwood family of hotels, which includes Sheraton and Westin, among others. Aloft brings a funky, eclectic style to its hotels that is refreshing. You have to love a chain that has a pool table in every hotel. It also offers bicycles for use by guests. Bright colors are splashed throughout the sleekly stylish property. The WXYZ bar was hopping on Saturday night  and their Refuel area (a food station open 24/7) also offers made to order breakfasts.

The rooms have high ceilings befitting their “loft” status and are done in cool gray tones with upgraded finishes throughout. We had a nice perch located across the from NC State campus and the iconic Memorial Bell Tower. When we tired of the view, we could pull down shades decorated with colorful, modern art graphics.

A nice feature of aloft Raleigh is the outdoor terrace on the fifth floor on the front of the hotel that extends the bar seating area over Hillsborough Street. We enjoyed a nice glass of wine while observing the comings and goings on one of Raleigh’s main avenues.

Hitting Downtown Raleigh

After a long day visiting houses on the market, we finally were ready for some dinner. Raleigh is a city of about 450,000 people and is part of the Research Triangle, which has a population of about 2 million. Raleigh has a vibrant foodie scene.
We had gotten a tip that Gravy was a “do not miss” restaurant experience. When we arrived downtown, we discovered that it was swarming with people out on the town during this pleasant weekend night. We also would have had a two-hour wait to get into Gravy.

No problemo. We noticed an appealing restaurant next door, Sitti, an upscale Lebanese restaurant and slipped inside. We had about a half hour wait, but the time was passed pleasantly with some newly-made friends who just recently went through the house hunting process.

Having a comfortable house is critical when making a move, but so is having a city with a good vibe. We got that in plentitude at Sitti – the restaurant was buzzing with an energetic crowd enjoying the evening and some very tasty food. We enjoyed an appetizer of kibbee mikli – ground beef and lamb with pine nuts fried in cracked wheat with a labneh yogurt sauce. My entree was the kafta kabob, a lamb dish served with their delicious rice which had vermicelli noodles and roasted almonds.

The service was excellent and the quality of food superb. To accompany our dish we ordered two Lebanese wines, mine from Chateau Ksara. Sitti is a sure thing when you are looking for a great dining experience in Raleigh.

A Hunger For More

The next morning we decided to take a stroll and go out for breakfast. About four blocks away we strolled into the Flying Biscuit. This is a fun environment with bright artwork and funky Americana strewn throughout the restaurant. It was clear that this was the place for a Sunday brunch or a lingering weekday breakfast.

I’ve had a lot of biscuits in my day, but these surely rank with the best. They were served with cinnamon apple butter and I would have been content to eat a half dozen. I restrained myself and instead saved room for my short stack of buttermilk pancakes and applewood smoked bacon – now that’s great down home cooking (with a side order of funk!).

After another grueling real estate marathon, we regrouped at aloft and prepared for dinner. This time I had prepared ahead and made reservations at Gravy. Of course, since this was Sunday night, the crowds were much diminished. So there is no misunderstanding, Gravy is an Italian restaurant, not a good-old-boy home-style buffet. Gravy, to an Italian-American is the pasta sauce that their mother and grandmother would cook fresh every night.

Gravy is a boutique style fine dining establishment. It has an intimate dining room with the focus on local ingredients. I selected the lasagna after an online tip that this was their best dish.

For the wine we went by the glass, not wanting to navigate an unknown city with numerous traffic circles in a rental car. I ordered the Terradoro di Paolo Anglianico and the Green Dragon had the Massa Fuso Reserve Barbera from Piedmont. The Sunday crowd in Gravy was a little more subdued that the one we saw through the window pane the night before – but the service and food was exceptional. Each bite was a luxury – and the portions were perfect in size.

We’re looking forward to exploring the culinary haunts of Raleigh. At some point, we’ll need a house – but in the meanwhile, we’ll be well-fed.

Destination Aruba: One Happy Island

We dodged and danced past Hurricane Matthew for a visit to the island of Aruba. The island is only six miles wide, but packs in plenty of hospitality and attractions.

A Visit To The Dutch Caribbean

When we were invited to attend a conference in Aruba, we leapt at the chance. Who wouldn’t want to visit the sun-kissed sands of this tiny island 18 miles off the coast of Venezuela? What we hadn’t planned on was the destructive path of Hurricane Matthew. As we were preparing for our trip, Matthew was wrecking Haiti and plotting a threatening course up the east coast of the US.

Luckily for us, Hurricane Matthew missed Aruba. As we flew south, Matthew twisted north. Our flight into Queen Beatrix International Airport was uneventful and were soon rolling towards the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino. The Hyatt Regency is a top shelf property located on the beach in Noord.

Aruba is a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. It is part of the Netherlands Kingdom (along with Curacao and Saint Maarten). The currency is the Aruban florin – however, US dollars were accepted everywhere we went. English is also widely spoken, although Papiamento and Dutch are the official languages. Papiamento is a mash up of Portuguese, West African languages, Dutch, and Spanish.

Our hotel was the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort and Casino. The Hyatt is right on the beach and has an amazing pool. Our room had an outstanding view of swaying palm trees and the ocean. There are nine different restaurants or bars – so no one is going thirst or hungry. The Alfresco lobby bar gives a spectacular view of the sun setting on the water.(The lobby is open-air, and so the lobby bar is outside.)

The Palms Beach bar is perfect for relaxing after a day of activities. Mexicado or Ruinas del Mar are perfect for dinner or lunch. Outside the restaurant you’ll see black swans (yes, they do exisit) floating in a nearby waterway.

The pool is outstanding and features the swim-up Balashi Bar. Balashi is the locally brewed beer. The pool was important because Hurricane Matthew, although it bypassed the island, left the usually pristine beaches a mess – with piles a seaweed and debris and an unpleasant odor.

Be sure to make a reservation for a spot at the pool. If you wait too long, you could end up without a lounge chair.

Activities Abound In Aruba

As part of our conference activities, we had a Jeep tour of the area. A word of caution, use only reputable outfitters for tours such as snorkeling, fishing, and sightseeing. At the Hyatt, they have a concierge that can make arrangements for you. You might save a few bucks (or Florians) by going with a discount operation, but there is no guarantee of the quality of your experience, vehicles or equipment.

Our Jeep tour took in the beautifully rugged western coast, the California Lighthouse, the Alto Vista Chapel,  Bushiribana Gold Mill ruins and the Natural Bridge. We enjoyed climbing around the gold mill ruins, but the Natural Bridge is a bit anticlimactic. It collapsed in 2005, but that hasn’t prevented tour bus operators from continuing to visit the site (and the gift shop located there).

The landscape of Aruba is fascinating. It is mostly desert, rock and Yatu cacti. Of course, the water and beautiful beaches are a main attraction. So close to the equator (Aruba is about a dozen miles east of Venezuala) the climate is very hot, but the constant Trade Winds keep things comfortable. Aruba is outside the hurricane belt, so is mostly safe from the severe weather than rocks other Caribbean islands.

Beach lovers must visit Eagle Beach, one of the top beaches in the south Caribbean. The powdery white sand is perfect as you gaze at the multi-hued ocean waters. There are stands nearby if you wish to jet ski or do other activities. Our friends Jay and Sharon opted for the jet ski and soon discovered that ocean waves can make life very interesting! We also went on a snorkeling cruise, notable for its open bar and a chance to snorkel around the sunken German freighter SS Antilla. At various points we were surrounded by schools of hundreds of colorful, friendly fish.

Aruba Dining And Nightlife

You could spend your days and nights at the Hyatt Regency resort and casino and never feel you are missing anything. However, there’s an abundance of great food and night life in Aruba.

One of my favorites was Diana’s Pancake Place. It was a short walk from the Hyatt – but we must have passed at least a dozen bright green iguanas. They specialize in Dutch pancakes, which are the size of large dinner plates and they have goodies inside them (I had bacon and cheese in mine). Scrumptious!

In addition to the great dining at the Hyatt, we visited La Trattoria El Faro Blanco (next to the California Lighthouse). La Trattoria offers spectacular views and great Italian food. We visited at night, but would suggest having lunch there to enjoy the majestic view.

Le Petit Café was another dinner stop for us with a group of friends. We enjoyed dining outside while taking in the Aruba street scene. The café truly rocks by allowing guests to cook their own entree on hot lava rocks at their dinner table.

Our culinary pinnacle was Madame Janette restaurant. Located in an out-of-the-way neighborhood, the main dining area is open-air with strings of lights draped throughout. The service is impeccable but not stuffy. The food is superbly prepared and the menu unique.

I dined on Cordon Bleu, stuffed with ham and Dutch gouda cheese. Jay ordered the signature Burgerloin, which is beef tenderloin cut in half and stuffed with onions, mushroom and cheese topped with Béarnaise sauce.
The wine list was superior and very interesting. Since we were near South America, the old standbys you see on US wine lists were absent. I opted for a 2013 New Zealand Sileni Pinot Noir from Hawke’s Bay since our spouses were having seafood.

For evening entertainment, there is Senor Frog and a variety of bars and clubs. We ventured to +297, a hip bar and restaurant with ultra-modern design. We were able to enjoy a bottle of Prosecco from their outdoor, sunken seating area. Very cool and just steps away from our hotel.

Aruba is a carefree travel experience with exotic touches and familiar luxury. It’s natural beauty and inviting climate make it an ideal destination for sun-seeking travelers.

Wining and Dining In Cape Town, South Africa

Continuing the saga of our recent wine and safari adventure in South Africa…
After our long two days of travel, which began Thursday morning in Ohio and ended Friday afternoon in Johannesburg, South Africa, we were on the plane again, this time a Mango Airlines plane to Cape Town. Cape Town is cosmopolitan city of more than 3 million which lies at the foot of the landmark Table Mountain. Table Mountain is a constantly changing panorama of colors and shadows, sometimes shrouded in its cloud “tablecloth.”
We had three nights to spend in Cape Town and our home base was Waterfront Village, a condo-like accommodation at the V&A Waterfront. Cape Town is the international gateway to Africa and the V&A Waterfront has hundreds of upscale shops, gourmet dining and entertainment. At the mall I was able to pick up some important tools of the trade:

• My Wineroute South Africa, by Mike Froud, an excellent guide to SA wine trails including maps and profiles of the top 100 wineries.
• Map Studio Winelands of the Western Cape wine map. This lists hundreds of wineries and was indispensible during our winery visits.
• Pocket Guide to Birds of Southern Africa, by Burger Cillie and Ulrich Oberprieler. What can I say, there are some awesome birds in Africa.
• I was also able to pick up an inexpensive cellphone with a small package of airtime for about $40 US.

After walking for a few hours, we decided it was time to grab some dinner before returning to Waterfront Village. The multitude of choices made the selection difficult. Finally I decided to explore a Belgian restaurant I had spied earlier. We stopped in to Den Anker, which has a prime location next to the waterway, a drawbridge and the waterfront’s signature clock tower.

We couldn’t have made a better selection. Not only did the restaurant offer a selection of Belgian beers, but it had a wide selection of South African wine. The Green Dragon decided on a Jordan Sauvignon Blanc, while I got a Pinotage.
Due to the strong US dollar, meals were incredible bargains. My beautiful salad with poached egg, bacon and cherry tomatoes cost about $6 US. Wine by the glass was the equivalent of $3 or $4. The food was spectacularly presented and delicious. Meanwhile we had a superb view of the water and the full moon rising behind the clock tower.

The next day we ventured to Cape Point and traveled up the funicular to the lighthouse at what seemed like the edge of the world. Along the way we saw baboon, ostrich, and blesbok (antelope). We also had a stop to visit the penguin colony near Simon’s Town.
That evening was our wedding anniversary. We had scouted a number of restaurants and decided on Sevruga, a rather swanky restaurant with a view of the water and a reputation for excellent seafood. We were fortunate to have Samuel as our server.

He suggested the starter of crayfish tian with avocado and tomato salsa and baby leaf salad. What an explosion of creamy flavor. His next recommendation was the Kingklip and langoustine with crushed potato and tarragon butter. Kingklip is a local delicacy and langoustine is a type of small lobster. It was heaven on earth. To pair with our meal, we quizzed Samuel on the SA Sauvignon Blanc. Green Dragon likes hers with minerality and some tanginess. He recommended the Iona Sauvignon Blanc from Elgin and this deliciously refreshing white paired perfectly with our seafood.

We finished with a chocolate fondant dessert and the anniversary evening was perfect in every way. Since the V&A Waterfront is an active harbor, we were surprised when walking to the restaurant that the bridge that was there the day before was gone. Instead there was a ship in for repairs. Apparently there is a floating walkway that is pulled away by tugboats when that part of the seaport is needed.
Our final day in Cape Town was a bit rainy. We stopped in for breakfast at the Signal, a cool restaurant in the Cape Grace Hotel. Then we paid a visit to the aquarium, which was magnificent.
Still suffering from drizzly weather, we went to the diamond museum, but were disappointed to learn they weren’t giving away free samples. We did see diamond cutters at work, which was fascinating indeed.
Even before we were wheels up in the States, Green Dragon had ID’d Stardust as a “must” for one of our evening meals in Cape Town. After trying to orient myself to driving on the left side of the road and battling through numerous traffic circles the previous day, we decided to take a cab there. Bongani was our driver and he smoothly brought us to Stardust.

Stardust is not just a restaurant or nightclub, it provides musical theater with the waiters taking the stage to perform. We opted for their signature dish, the tagine dinner. For starters we had an assortment of flat bread and crudité with dipping sauces and cheeses. Then it was on to the savory tagine.

Tagine is a North African dish which is slowly cooked in an earthenware dish along with spices and fruits. For our dinner we chose chicken, seafood and lamb tagines.
Of course we wanted to pair it with great South African wine. We selected the 2012 Meerlust Estate Pinot Noir from Stellenbosch. Here’s a bit of an oddity. Our waiter delayed serving the Pinot until he could chill it down. Say what? It apparently is common to chill Pinot Noir in Africa, because we would encounter this again. I certainly don’t want warm, wimpy Pinot. But anything beyond a “cellar” temperature chill masks the flavor, in our opinion.

We’re glad we had a chance to sample the Meerlust. It was superb. Ripe and flavorful with great perfume on the nose, rich cherry flavor with ruffles of earthiness. I had no idea South Africa had such great Pinot Noir. When we were at Sevruga, Samuel said he had heard there was good Pinot in California, but in his opinion, SA Pinot was better. It certainly was good. We also let Samuel know about Willamette Valley, Oregon, as another standout Pinot location.
This was a spectacular evening, with fun, great music and entertainment, exotic food and excellent wine. As we polished off dessert, I phoned Bongani and he soon whisked us back to our Waterfront Village digs.
How to sum up our visit to Cape Town? I’ve been to many great cities in the US and abroad and now Cape Town is at the top of the list of favorites. It is world class in terms of dining, entertainment, scenery and attractions. With the strong US dollar, the values are incredible – you can enjoy the pinnacle of fine dining for about the cost of a couple dinners at Applebee's.
Cape Town is also surrounded by the Cape Winelands. Our trek to Franschhoek and then Stellenbosch began the next day…

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