Janjou Pâtisserie Revisited

17 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Birthdays, Bistro, Bistro - Janjou Patisserie, Brunch, Celebrations, Classic Cuisines, Coffee, Comfort Food, Cookies, Ethnic Foods, Food Photos, French Foods, Fruits, Idaho Chefs, Janjou Pâtisserie, Local Markets, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants To Try, Salads, Special Events, What's For Dinner?

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Today is Robin’s 43rd anniversary of her 29th birthday so when I asked her what she wanted for breakfast, she said a quiche from Janjou Pâtisserie. That sounded good, so off we went. (It’s only 2 blocks away from us!) If anything, it has gotten better. The Quiche Lorraine we had was delicious. The coffee is still excellent – we bought a pound – and the fruit tart we had was scrumptious. You must try it when you are in Boise. Make a special trip. You’ll love it. 5-Stars all the way. Enjoy these photos!

Wonderful fresh made and house made cookies!

Chocolate tarts

Fruit tarts

Raspberry Tart. We had one. Delicious!

Quiche Lorraine. Fresh made and scrumptious.

Robin enjoys her quiche!

Great Visit to Capitol Cellars

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Beef, Boise Adventures, Capitol Cellars, Dinner With Friends, Dinner With Robin, Food Photos, Idaho Beef, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Lamb, Idaho Polenta Floriani, Idaho Potatoes, Idaho Wine, Lamb, Photos By: Bob Young, Seafood, Shell Fish, Shrimp, Special Dinners, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wines - Idaho, Wines - Washington

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Capitol Cellars, lamb, seafood, shrimp

Really a good visit tonight to the newly opened – March 2015 – of Capitol Cellars at 5th and Main Streets in Boise in the Belgravia Building. (There is also an AirBNB in the building, Belgravia AirBNB.) The ambiance is like entering a “wine cave”. Dim lights; cool air and wonderful Waite Staff. In certain sections of the restaurant, it is like sitting in a wine cellar – because you really are! I have placed a permanent link in the sidebar of this blog so you can contact them, make reservations or check their manu. Definitely a 4-Star (out of 5-Stars) restaurant. My only comments about the food is that the risotto seemed to be a little gummy – undercooked. The crispy fries were not really as crispy as I had expected. I expected more of a twice fried Belgium style potato. Here are some photos from our visit. Enjoy! It is great to see that they use Idaho products and produce as much as possible. This would be a great Date Night restaurant or Special Occasion.

The entrance at 5th and Main in the Belgrade Building.

The entrance at 5th and Main in the Belgravia Building.

Part of the main dining room.

The wine cellar.

Wine cellar ambiance.

Shoup Pernod Shrimp
garlic, shallot, basil, Pernod cream sauce

Cheese plate
specialty artisan and local cheeses, fruit, spiced nuts, port-fig jam, imported olives, baguette & crackers

Borah Burger
Idaho Kobe beef, fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato, balsamic reduction, roasted garlic aioli, brioche bun

Risotto

The Senator’s Prime Rib
Idaho-northwest raised beef, Idaho bake potato, warm horseradish sauce, au jus

Pete’s Idaho Lamb Shank
Lava Lake Lamb. goat cheese polenta, seasonal vegetable, natural jus

Logan Smyser, Director of Operations, shows us how to use a sabre to remove the top of a champagne bottle.

Fire Pie Pizza at Houston Winery

07 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Baking, Basil, Boise Adventures, Buy Idaho, Chardonnay, Cheese, Classic Cuisines, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Dinner With Robin, Dinner With The Winemaker, Healthy Eating, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Pie Crust, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Italian Food, Local Harvests, Locavore, Main Dish, Merlot, Organic Foods, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Release Parties, Smoking and Grilling, Special Events, Special Information, Spice Blends, Tomatoes, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Tasting, Wines - Idaho

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Basil Pizza, fire pie pizza, Fresh Margarita Pizza, Houston Wine, Houston Winery, release party

Such a great Idaho afternoon with great Idaho pizza and some great Idaho wines from Houston Winery in Caldwell, Idaho – it was their Merlot release party. Superb Merlot was released today and it is well worth buying some. It went very well with the Fire Pie Pizza made by Jamie and Kitty Martin of Hagerman, ID. (See their link in the sidebar.) If you are looking for a treat at your next party, be it family or work, try Firepiepizza! Fresh made. Local products – and you know how I am with Buying Local – cooked in a fire oven. They will make any kind of pizza that you want, providing they have the supplies on hand. Enjoy these photos of the afternoon. Cheers!

Firepiepizza Banner

Kitty Martin creates a masterful pizza. And all from scratch and using local products, especially the vegetables. Jamie Martin tends the oven.

Pizza making

An extremely hot oven completely designed and built by Jamie Martin.

Pizza is ready!

More orders are coming in!

Margherita Pizza ! Add a glass of Houston Wine and Yummers!

Fresh Pepperoni and Sausage Pizza. I need more wine!

Robin discusses wine.

Gregg Algers, Winemaker at Houston Winery, Larry and Elaine Gibson, TVWS members, all enjoy the pizza and the wine.

There was a great crowd at this release party.

More fire baked pizza, please!

“Edible Idaho” Spring Brunch Party

14 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Rye, Black Beans, Boise Adventures, Boise Restaurants, Boise Weekly, Breakfast, Breakfast With Robin, Brunch, Buy Idaho, Chevre, Crème fraîche, Eggs, Eggs Poached, Hopi Blue Corn Polenta, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Dairy, Local Harvests, Locavore, Lox, Meadowlark Farms, Moroccan Food, Organic Foods, Party Time, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Photos By: Robin Young, Purple Sage Farms, Restaurants, Seafood, Special Events, What's For Dinner?, Whats For Breakfast?

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Acme Bake Shop, Crème fraîche, Earthly Delights Farm, Homestead Natural Foods, hotel, lox, Meadowlark Farm, Rollingstone Chevre

This morning, it was great to join Guy Hand, Edible Idaho Managing Editor, and friends at the The Modern Hotel for an awesome breakfast and the Spring Brunch Party. And from the menu for the brunch, The Modern states that “… thanks EDIBLE IDAHO, Earthly Delights Farm, Loganics, Rollingstone Chevre, Meadowlark Farm, Coiled Wines, Idaho Kombucha Co, Acme Bake Shop, Peaceful Belly, Homestead Natural Foods, Waterwheel Gardens, Next Generation Organics, Sweet Valley Organics, Gaston’s Bakery, and Miss Mona’s Chicken Ranch for their local products.” It’s just great to Eat Local and to support your local agriculture! Robin and I try very hard stay local! Enjoy these photos from this morning. And if you are in the area, The Modern serves some great meals. Try them and check out their website as listed above. They are definitely a solid 4-Star out of 5-Star restaurant.

Guy Hand and friends.

Guy Hand

Tara Morgan, Edible Idaho Editor and food writer for the Boise Weekly.

Guy Hand and Tara Morgan

A. Minskoff and Angie Shaltry from Coiled Winery

Sandy and Rich Ostrogorski and Meagan

Scone with Riesling Jelly

"Rizza" Cured Steelhead Lox Loganics Farm baby greens salad, Acme Bake Shop German rye toast, creme fraiche

“Rizza” Cured Steelhead Lox
Loganics Farm baby greens salad, Acme Bake Shop German rye toast, crème fraîche

Moroccan Black Beans and Poached Eggs
Organic Idaho black beans, Earthly Delights Farm heirloom Hopi blue corn polenta, preserved Meyer lemon crème fraîche, Meadowlark Farm poached eggs

It was a great breakfast!!

Scones and Mimosas

Awesome Dinner For The Boise Farmers Market

06 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Appetizers, Beef, Beets, Boise Adventures, Boise Farmers Market, Bread, Butternut Squash, Buy Idaho, Cheese, Classic Cuisines, Coffee, Dinner With Friends, Dinner With Robin, Healthy Eating, Heirloom Squash, Heirloom Tomatoes, Idaho Beef, Idaho Breweries, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Wine, Interesting Information, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Organic Foods, Party Time, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Purple Sage Farms, Restaurants, Restaurants To Try, Rice Family Farms, Saint Lawrence Gridiron, Salad, Soup, Special Information, Vegetables, What's For Dessert?, What's For Dinner?, Wines - Idaho

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beef short ribs, eat local, micro greens, neckar coffee

Yes it was! And many thanks to all of the Boise Farmers Market producers for supplying the awesome meal items and the Saint Lawrence Gridiron, at 703 W Bannock in Boise (208) 433-5598, for supplying the space, the Waite Staff and an awesome Chef! Just a super, super night!
I do believe that this was the first of dinners like this to raise funds for the Boise Farmers Market. And I do hope that they continue to do this Fund Raising Dinner next year and many years to follow. When you look at the menu and photos below, you will see the superb meal that we had. Congratulations to all who worked so hard to make this a success! Left-Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.

The flyer for this year’s event.

Delightful table center pieces added to the Fall theme.

The wonderful menu!

Butternut Agnolotti with Sage Beurre Monté

Fraiche Tartine open faced gougere chipotle fraiche cucumber

Fraîche Tartine
open faced gougére, chipotle fraîche and cucumber

Yellow Tomato Gazpacho heirloom tomatoes brown butter crouton

Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
heirloom tomatoes and brown butter crouton

Harvest Vegetable Salad seasonal root vegetables candied walnuts local greens

Harvest Vegetable Salad
seasonal root vegetables, candied walnuts and local greens

Short Ribs
smoked and braised short ribs, Carolina grits, salt roasted carrots, braised leeks and pan jus

Apple Galette cinnamon custard brulee with fresh grated nutmeg whipped cream

Apple Galette
cinnamon custard brûlée with fresh grated nutmeg whipped cream

Neckar Coffee added some delightful coffee to our dinner. Thank-You!

Snake River Winery offered wines with the dinner and beer was also available from Woodland Empire Brewery.

The Check-In table

The Chef for the meal and on the right owner Brian Garrett. Thank-You both for this delightful evening.

Robin enjoys some Neckar Coffee.

Thank-You everyone for this event. It takes a lot of hard work to arrange this. Karen Ellis – Thank-You!

Robin’s 32nd Anniversary of her 39th Birthday!!

18 Thursday Sep 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Ahi Tuna, Appetizers, Beer and Food, Caesar Salad, Celebrations, Chandler's Steak House, Classic Cuisines, Classis Sauces, Dinner With Family, Dinner With Robin, Idaho Beef, Idaho Chefs, Joseph Swan Vineyards, Kobe Beef, Oysters, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurants, Restaurants To Try, Seafood, Spanish Wines, Special Dinners, What's For Dessert?, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wines - California, Wines - French, Wines - Idaho

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Chandlers, kobe beef, oysters, tuna

When one reaches a given year, let’s say 60 or there abouts, one really should celebrate ones birthday over several days. And one should have plenty of food and wine! I do believe that Robin had just that this year!! Happy Birthday, Honey! Let’s start the celebration on Sunday, September 14 with a dinner that Marnie and Mac made. Thanks to Sophia and Chris, too, for helping with this event. Look what we had.

Mac’s 2010 Mead!

Some pretty good IPA.

All the makings for some really good tacos. Pork, onions and tomatoes. Along with salsa and avocado.

And add some grilled flank steak and one has a delicious taco.

Stuffed Peppers for a side dish.

And Robin really likes Marnie’s Carrot Cake. (So do the rest of us!)

Then we had to rest for a while after eating all of this. This is the Birthday Rule: When it is your time to celebrate, YOU get to choose where you want to go for dinner. Any place in town. U-Pick-It! Robin chose Chandler’s Steak House this year. Good Choice. Look at this spread, and they knew it was her Birthday! Thank-You for a great dinner. The food, The Staff and the Wine were all super!

Robin at out table studying the Wine List.

We did have some great wine.

And it went very well with our dinners.

Start with these two delicious wines. Went very well with our seafood appetizers.

These two also went quite well with the appetizers.

Pacific Oysters
Freshly shucked oysters on the half shell, served on shaved ice with housemade mignonette sauce.
Kumomoto, Humbolt Bay, CA
Shigoku, Willapa Bay, WA

Tower of Tuna
Fresh ahi and hamachi tuna, diced and towered with avocado, tomato, red onion, red chili, ginger, and sesame seed vinaigrette with
Asian sesame crisps.

Now for these two awesome red wines with our entrees. Great choice!

Chandler’s Caesar Salad
Whole crisp leaves of romaine with our classic anchovy caesar dressing and garnished with parmesan cheese crouton and white anchovy.

American Kobe Beef
Snake River Farms crosses the premiere Japanese Wagyu breed with American Black Angus to create the American Kobe beef. This richly marbled beef is considered to be America’s best grade.

Veal Picatta
Scallopini cuts of fresh veal in a lemon,
butter and caper sauce, served with broccoli
raabe and orzo with sundried tomato

An awesome dessert wine.

Chocolate Volcano Cake with Grand Marnier Whipped Cream and Hot Fudge Sauce

Chocolate Volcano Cake
Grand Marnier Whipped Cream and Hot Fudge Sauce

Fresh Fruit Cobbler
Fresh, seasonal fruit baked in a vanilla crust
with house-made cinnamon ice cream

So there you have it. Several awesome meals. Here’s to next year!! Cheers.

Cafe Vicino – Italian Night

31 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Antipasto, Appetizers, Dinner With Friends, Idaho Chefs, Italian Food, Local Farmers Markets, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Salad, Seafood, What's For Dinner?, Wild Game, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wines - Italian, Wines - Tuscan

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cafe vicino, Chef Richard Langston, Italian food, italian wine, wild boar

Wow! Such a great evening having some outstanding wines and an outstanding dinner prepared by Chef Richard Langston, a James Beard Award Nominee! A total of 7 courses and 7 wines. This superb restaurant is located at 808 W Fort St, Boise, ID 83702, (208) 472-1463. It might be a good idea to call for reservations. We had a Dover Sole dish that was absolutely wonderful. So I asked the question, “What is the difference between Dover Sole and Flounder?” The answer is here from Chef Richard and from E-How.

Sole and flounder are both types of flatfish, and because the texture is similar, they are considered interchangeable in recipes. However, they are two separate species with slightly different looks and tastes.
Species
Sole is a type of flatfish. Dover sole, the most common type, is a member of the Soleidae family. Flounder is also a type of flatfish categorized under Heterosomata.
Features
Both fish are flat, with both eyes on one side of their face so they can hide on the ocean floor and watch for prey. While both are oval in shape, flounder is more rounded.

Here is what we had and the wines that went with each course. Thanks to Cafe Vicino for such a great evening and to Chef Richard and his Staff for great service. It was good to see “old” friends again. Enjoy these photos! Left-Click any of the photos to see them enlarged.

This is what we had to eat and drink over the next 4 1/2 hours!

Robin getting ready to sample some superb wines from Italy.

James Beard Award Nominee and super Chef, Chef Richard Langston, our Host.

Chris Zimmerman, the Wine Host and great Commentator.

The opener –

Frico
(parmesan crisps)
served with
Bisol Jeip Prosecco

Salumi e Focaccia sliced prosciutto, mortadella, spec, soppressata, rosemary-sea slat focaccia

Salumi e Focaccia
sliced prosciutto, mortadella, spec, soppressata, rosemary-sea salt focaccia

Pederzana Lambrusco
served with the plate above.

Fruity and bone dry. Goes great and calls out for salami.

Sfogl in Saor sole in sweet and sour sauce

Sfogli in Saor
sole in sweet and sour sauce

Suavia Soave Classico
The wine served with the sole.

In Italy, no wine is served without food. These vines are located 1000 feet above sea level in volcanic soils; oyster shell. We asked for a little parmesan and this seemed to help the wine. This will go great with asparagus.

Insalata Mista
local greens, tomatoes, carrots in a vinaigrette Raisins and onions
Very good salad.

Bruni Plinio Vermentino
A good Tuscan from the west central coast. Went very well with vinegar in the salad.

Quaglia e Risotto all’Amarone
stuffed quail, Amarone riotto
This was superb! The risotto was cooked in red wine.

Le Salette Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Went superbly with the quail and risotto. From Verona, “Valley of many Cellars”. Superb, full bodied red wine at 15% alcohol.

Cinghiale Arrosto Con Rosmarino e Ginepro
wild boar with rosemary and juniper, currant sauce, zucchini
Great pairing with the Montalcino wine.

Fossacolle Rosso di Montalcino
Great paring with the boar. Great Tuscan wine. Produced on 6 acres and 1000 bottles a year. We bought a bottle. (We’ll worry about our meds next month!)

Bonet alla Piemontese
chocolate-coffee Amaretti terrine, fresh local strawberries
The best I can say about this is, “Is there any more? I want more!”

Marenco Scrapona Moscato d’Asti
From the Piedmont region. This is described as “A rainbow in your mouth.” Yes, it is well worth getting some. We did.

Such a grand night! Such a grand meal and wines. If you are in Boise, be sure to try this superb restaurant. One of the better ones in Boise and deserves the 5-Star rating I gave it. Superb! It would give the now defunct Andrae’s a run for their money. Cheers!

Sushi Joy in Boise Tonight – Wow!

24 Saturday May 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Android Photos, Appetizers, Asian - Sushi Joy, Asian Food, Avocado, Blue Crab, Chicken, Cooking Styles, Crab, Dinner With Robin, Idaho Chefs, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants, Salad, Seafood, Sushi Joy, What's For Dinner?

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avocado with she crab, salad, sashimi, soft shelled crab, Sushi Joy

Tonight we took a break from our kitchen and went tro our favorite Japanese/Chinese/American restaurant – Sushi Joy! And once again, it was 5-Stars out of 5-Stars! Super good. Super delightful. And here Tiger, one of the owners, is doing a super job in making some sashimi and it is fantastic! He does a great job.

Robin is at Sushi Joy awaiting here order. It's all made to order.

Robin is at Sushi Joy awaiting her order. It’s all made to order.

Robin had this Avocado – She Crab Salad.

I still love the house salad. So simple, yet so delicious. Especially their House Dressing.

For an appetizer, I had this delicious Shof Shelled Crab. The batter was so very light and the crab so delightfully mild and delicious.

For an appetizer, I had this delicious Soft Shelled Crab. The batter was so very light and the crab so delightfully mild and delicious. This dish was truly Goût de la mer – Taste of the sea!

My entree was Mango Chicken which was also great. But I think I am going back to the sashimi plates.

And Robin had the Lemon Chicken. This was big enough for two, even maybe three. Deliciously different.

Yvonne Does a Food Truck Round-Up

29 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Brown Shuga, Buy Idaho, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Friends, Idaho Chefs, Local Markets, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Soul Food, Special Events, What's For Dinner?

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Ethnic Foods, food truck, food truck rally

What a great start to a great season – Food Truck Round-Up! Thanks Yvonne for sponsoring this event. It looks like it might be monthly and maybe the last Friday of the Month? And this from Yvonne at Brown Shuga,

Thanks to all the customers who came out and supported us yesterday at our First Food Truck Roundup! Even with Spring break vacations,and not the nicest weather you still pressed your way out. For that I truly Thank you. To Burgerlicious, Slanted Rock Brewing, Scottys Dogs and the Gyro Shack, I couldn’t do it without you. Love you all.

Here are some photos I took of the event. I got there early – 5:30pm. I did not get a photo, but Slanted Rock Brewery was there serving their beer along with Scottys Dogs.

Yvonnes Brown Shuga Soul Food Food Truck

Gyro Food Truck

Burgerlicious Food Truck

Valentines Wine Dinner at the Buzz

12 Wednesday Feb 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Chocolate, Chocolate and Food, Dinner With Friends, Healthy Eating, Idaho Chefs, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Special Dinners, Special Events, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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petite sirah, The Buzz Coffee and Wine, Two Angels Petite Sirah, Valentines Day, wine dinner

Another superb wine dinner at the Buzz in Boise! So far this year, the dinners have been great. Tommy’s Asian Dinner last month and now this dinner for Valentines Day. And then too, it is Cristi’s birthday at the end of the month. Oh yes. I forgot. She was born on February 29th. But I bet she will have something. As for the dinner tonight, most of the wines were pretty good. Out of 7 wines, 3 were scored [19], 2 were [17], 1 at [16] and one at [15]. Thanks to Michelle and Cristi for this great dinner. Here are some photos from the dinner. The wine above, 2008 Two Angels Petite Sirah, was probably my favorite of the night with a score of [19]. Enjoy and see you at the next dinner! Cheers!

Assorted Chocolates

Caponata Crostini reall a good appetizer. Too bad the wine was not up to the spiciness. 2012 Heritage Cote du Rhone 14% alc. definitely not the best wine of the evening. not enough body and finish to go with the appetizer [15] $14.00

Caponata Crostini
really a good appetizer. Too bad the wine was not up to the spiciness.
2012 Heritage Cote du Rhone
14% alc. definitely not the best wine of the evening. not enough body and finish to go with the appetizer [15] $14.00

Tomato and Chocolate Soup such a good soup! 2012 Heritage Cote du Rhone 14% alc. not my favorite. [15] $14.00

Tomato and Chocolate Soup
such a good soup!
2011 Tomero Cabernet Sauvignon
15% alc. went very well with the soup. good body and finish. [17] $16.00

Pear and Spinach Salad
truly a great salad that went extremely well with the wine.
2011 Jack Cabernet Sauvignon 13.8% alc. This wine went superbly with the salad! great body and finish. [19] $18.00

Pasta Marinara and Beef Kabob
I really enjoyed this entree. Great sauce on the kabobs made with beer.
2008 Two Angels Petite Sirah
14.1% alc a superb wine with this plate. great taste, body and a good finish. [19] $21.00

Brownie Tiramisu Such a delight to end the dinner with this. Great ending! 2011 Renwood Zinfandel 14.5% alc. just OK with the dessert. Almost to big for the chocolate. [17] $15.00

Brownie Tiramisu
Such a delight to end the dinner with this. Great choice!
2011 Renwood Zinfandel
14.5% alc. just OK with the dessert. Almost to big for the chocolate. [17] $15.00

And as a side note and information that Cristi presented last night, the Thursday before Labor Day is known as Cabernet Day and Cristi said she might think of a wine dinner that goes along with this event. And another, Zinfandel is a great partner with curry and hard cheeses. And as for a Petite Sirah, which is not by any means a small grape or wine, “… goes well with any food with which you would normally pair a big red wine: grilled meats, roast duck, lamb, pot roast, rabbit in mustard sauce (ed note: I have a great recipe for this), mushrooms and chocolate. Petite Sirah can age for years. Even decades.” (Cristi Takeda, the Buzz) Hope you make the next wine dinner. They are really fun and informative. Cheers!