"the Buzz" – wine and Food

14 Thursday Jan 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Things To Do, Wine Dinners, Wine Tasting

So another night of awesome food and awesome wines at the Buzz on 12 January. And for you Treasure Valley Wine Society folks, on 30 January from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, the TVWS is having a mixer at “the Buzz”. With a membership it is free! Wine! Appetizers! Fun! And Conversation!

On the 12th, we started out with a good Jalapeno Cranberry and Cream Cheese dip that went very well with the crackers provided.

And then there was a great Broccoli Slaw.

And I don’t know where Debbie got the recipe for these Crab and Shrimp Cakes, but they were the Hit of the Night, so far as I am concerned. But then, I do like my seafood. Especially crab cakes that have some crab in them and not all filler! You outdid yourself on these, Debbie, and there are some Chefs and restaurants in Boise that need to take your preparation to heart! These went great with a 2008 Walnut Block Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that we had. We also had a Walnut Block Reserve Sauvignon Blanc that did not really impress me. Oh well, that’s why there are more than one wine made.

Then Debbie also provided a Beef and Pork Chili with Spicy Cornbread Muffins that was really good and contrasted the cold, rainny, yukkie night outside. Top it with Green Onion and Cheddar Cheese and you have a dinner entre that will “stick to your ribs”. We had a 2007 Les Jamelles Merlot and a 2007 Leese Fitch Merlot that went extremely well with this chili.

But now, top that dinner off with a scrumptious slice of Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake and glass of a Hungarian Merlot, and you have completed a Feast For A King, or Queen.

So there you have another fascinating evening of Wine With Dinner at “The Buzz”! Contact the “the Buzz” – look in the Sidebar or on Facebook – and get on their mailing list for these parties. Well worth it. I don’t think the 30 January event will be as “in depth” as this, but I bet it will be as every bit as good. See you there. Cheers!

Andrae Bopp’s "La Porte Brune"

19 Saturday Dec 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in La Porte Brune, Restaurants, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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If you are traveling to Walla Walla, WA over the Holiday Season, you may want to contact Andrae Bopp about la porte brune. You can probably contact him through Dusted Valley Winery. In the mean time, here is some more information for you to ponder.

our ethos
La Porte Brune, has come forth from passion, not from obsession. In a day when the culinary unenlightened are herding to troughs of food at chains and uninspired local restaurants in a fervor for quantity over quality, La Porte Brune wants to reset the “American Way” by bringing the art of dining back to the culinary enlightened.

In a world of frozen, pre-cooked, pre-portioned and and “I don’t care where my meal comes from as long as it is big and cheap”, we intend to slow it down a little. Food truly “farm to table”, simple in approach, refined in flavor and with every plate prepared with a passion for the ingredient rather then the almighty dollar.

If this is describes your perfect meal well then, you have stepped through the right door.

These meals will be presented in a tasting format and family style. They will move from location to location, never stopping at the same place twice. You will sit at communal tables and share your experiences with friends and strangers alike, all coming together over the perfect union of food and wine.

Those brave souls on the list will receive an e-mail detailing the night’s events. You will be given the address a few nights prior to the event, not before. Prepayment is required. No bill will be presented.

So, what do you think? Tell us your thoughts, suggestions, concerns. Whatever you would like to share about the ethos of la porte brune, we want to hear. Leave your comments below (on our web site at La Porte Brune Website). Thanks!

And if you have the inkling, here is an email I received from Andrae.

You have been chosen to receive this email as it has been determined that you are a FOODIE!

So with that out of the way, you are personally invited to La Porte Brune’s 1st Underground Dinner, for those that need help, reading between the lines, Andrae(Yes that Andrae from Andrae’s) is cooking and there are not a lot of seats. This dinner will happen on January 23rd, 2010 at a yet to be disclosed location in Walla Walla, Washington. There are only 20 seats available for the first dinner, though if the demand is high or exceeds our limit we could add a second night on Sunday the 24th, but don’t count on it. Sign up on the menu page and purchase your dinner passes ahead of time on the La Porte Brune website. No numbers to call, no favors to cash in, just the first 20 peeps that sign up (at La Porte Brune Website). The dinner will be 5 courses paired with wines of the world. The menu will be posted in the next few weeks!

See you soon in the Deuce!

If you can make it, it will be well worth the time. Cheers!

la porte brune

12 Saturday Dec 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Classics, Interesting Information, Things To Do, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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Guess what? Andrae is back in business!! No, not in Boise, but in Walla Walla. Look at this –

La Porte Brune, has come forth from passion, not from obsession. In a day when the culinary unenlightened are herding to troughs of food at chains and uninspired local restaurants in a fervor for quantity over quality, La Porte Brune wants to reset the “American Way” by bringing the art of dining back to the culinary enlightened.

In a world of frozen, pre-cooked, pre-portioned and an“ I don’t care where my meal comes from as long as it is big and cheap”, we intend to slow it down a little. Food truly “farm to table”, simple in approach, refined in flavor and with every plate prepared with a passion for the ingredient rather then the almighty dollar.

If this is describes your perfect meal well then, you have stepped through the right door.

These meals will be presented in a tasting format, with us suggesting the wine pairing and you bringing your favorite bottle. They will move from location to location, never stopping at the same place twice. You will sit at communal tables and share your experiences with friends and strangers alike, all coming together over the perfect union of food and wine.

Those brave souls on the list will receive an e-mail detailing the night’s events. You will be given the address a few nights prior to the event, not before. Prepayment in cash when you arrive is required with a cash tip left on the table for the staff. No bill will be presented.

so, what do you think? tell us your thoughts, suggestions, concerns. whatever you would like to share about the ethos of la porte brune, we want to hear. leave your comments below. thanks!

Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 6:30pm at a soon to be disclosed location La Porte Brune’s 1st underground dinner will happen. It will be a 5 course dinner all paired with wines of the world. 20 seats available for the first dinner and they will be first come first served. The menu will be posted in the next few weeks with the wine pairings. After payment is confirmed you will be notified the day before as to the location in Walla Walla. Tell your friends and be one of the first to come through the door of culinary enlightenment!

The prices are (hold on!):
1 person – $85.00
2 people – $170.00
3 people – $255.00
4 people – $340.00
5 people – $425.00
6 people – $510.00
Knowing Chef Andrae Bopp, this will be an unforgettable meal!! Worth every succulent dollar! or bite! And just think … You bring your own bottle of wine to share with everyone! What fun! Great for a 70th birthday. Yea – Right! Cheers!!

"The Buzz" – Italian Wines, Part II

09 Wednesday Dec 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Things To Do, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wine Tasting

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All I can say, if you have never been to one of these Wine Dinners, you are missing a huge part of the wine experience in Idaho!! The wines we tried, from lowest ranked to highest (0-20), were:

Zonin Insolia (13)
Fratelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzio (16)
Sella and Mosca Vermentino (18)
Il Trullo Primitivo (18)
Moscato d’Asti (18)
Zonin Iperion (19)
Taurino Salice Salentino (20)

The dinner selections, and Debbie did another outstanding job with finding, preparing and then matching the courses, were:

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Buzz Italian Wines Pt II

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This was an exciting evening and I really do hope that you plan to attend the next dinners. At $15.00 per person – yes the prices are going up in January – you can’t beat this Night Out! Contact “The Buzz” for more information. Look in the Sidebar for their logo and click for more information. Cheers!

The "Orchard House" December Events

02 Wednesday Dec 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Party Time, Restaurants, Things To Do, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

≈ 2 Comments

Christmas at Sunnyslope

Wednesday & Sunday nights
5pm to 8pm
11/29 to 12/23
14949 Sunnyslope Road
(11 miles west of Nampa)

The Orchard House is blanketed in holiday cheer. Even the scroogiest of scrooges will be in the holiday spirit as they stroll through the dazzling light display.

Free pictures with Santa ~ Clyde the Camel ~ Roaring Bonfire

Admission is free. Non perishable food items for the Idaho Food Bank are gratefully accepted.

Food and drink available for purchase inside the restaurant.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Buy one get one FREE

Print this coupon and present for buy-one-get-one-free
LATTE, MOCHA, HOT COCOA, or CIDER during Christmas at Sunnyslope.
One coupon per person, per group, 12 oz. size. Good Wednesday or Sunday nights only.
Offer Expires: 12/23/09
____________________________________________________________________________________

Gift Giving Ideas
Idaho made and produced specialty food and gift items are available in the foyer of the restaurant. Choose from a large selection of Snake River AVA wines, chocolates, jellies, spices, tin signs, aprons, and more. Ward Hooper prints are now available featuring local events and points of interest. Gift cards are also available.

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Wine Dinner
Sunday, January 17, 6:00pm

This dinner brings together a five course menu prepared by Tony and Tara McElhose-Eiguren of The Basque Market in Boise with wine made by Gina Davis of Davis Creek Cellars. January is a perfect time to warm up with fine wine, food and friends. Space is limited. Tickets make a perfect gift for those hard to buy people on your Christmas list.

All inclusive cost is $65 per person. Call 459-8200 for more information.
Regular Business Hours:
Mon – Sat, 7am to 8pm – Sunday, 7am – 4pm
Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner 7-days-a-week

Holiday Closure:
The Orchard House will be closed for 10 days beginning Christmas Day. We will reopen on Friday, January 8th, 2010.

The Orchard House Restaurant 14949 Sunnyslope Rd. Hwy 55 Caldwell ID 83607

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So there you have some thing else to do this Holiday Season. Cheers!

Pre-Thanksgiving – Les Fruits de Mer

26 Thursday Nov 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Appetizers, Main Dish, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Side Dishes, Wine Dinners

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On Wednesday night, Robin, Christopher and Mac and I all went to Le Cafe de Paris for Les Fruits de Mer, a treat of shellfish.

It all started with a delightful salad of Stone Crab Fritters on a bed of field greens and a remoulade sauce. Followed by Fanny Bay Oysters with cucumber mignonette, King Crab Legs with beurre blanc, Clams Casino with bacon, white wine, herbs and butter. But we’re not done yet! we also had Pernod Steamed Mussels and Creole Poached Prawns with chorizo and potatoes. The wine that we had with this delightful dinner was a Chateauvieux Vouvray that was the perfect paring.

Owner Mathieu Choux and I had a discussion on the East Coast Shellfish versus the West Coast Shellfish, noticing that the East coast shellfish has more natural salt and iodine than the West Coast. We both decided that a comparison dinner would be fun to do. He may do so in the future. In the meantime, look at these photos.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Les Fruits de Mer

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Halloween Eve!

31 Saturday Oct 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Classic Sauces, Food, Things To Do, Vegetables, Wine Dinners

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I can almost see Miss Itchy Witchy flying on her whisk broom. You know, for short hops! But really, its time for dinner. Try this salmon. It’s great!

Salmon in Beurre Rouge Sauce

Fresh Asparagus

Twice Baked Idaho Potato

Homemade Biscuits

2007 Cinder Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Blend

And it was very good! Had to have this tonight because tomorrow Boise State University has a football game and that might insist that there be “football junk food”! Pizza, Nachos, Brats, Hot Dogs, Beer. Who knows! Hope you enjoy the photos. Guess we need “Smell-A-Vision” or something. Cheers! Go Broncos!!!

Old Wine – Is It Drinkable?

06 Tuesday Oct 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Wine and Food, Wine Dinners, Wine Tasting

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If you are wondering if that bottle of 1945 Bordeaux in your cellar will go with the dinner you are preparing, then you need to read this from the latest issue of The Juice. It is interesting and essential information for those who cellar wine.

Question:
My parents have several bottles of wine that have been around for years. Is there a source I can consult as to the quality of these wines given the passage of time? I am looking for some sort of resource that gives the average life span for specific years, types of wines, and brands. Thanks!

Answer From Expert Roger C. Bohmrich, MW:
Many people have suggested that wine labels should have an expiration date, but while I sympathize with the desire to know if a wine is past its best drinking date, the circumstances are not analogous to food products. With jam, ketchup, or cereal, and certainly highly perishable packaged items (seafood, meat, eggs, etc.), a guideline has been established to provide consumers with a date after which the product may no longer be healthy or safe to consume. In other words, past that expiration date, the foodstuff may have seriously deteriorated or even spoiled.

With wine, it is far more complicated. While the overwhelming majority of wine is intended for near-term consumption (within a few years of release), a certain number may actually improve with lengthy cellaring. A wine that is decades old may be even more desirable than a young vintage! Unfortunately, there is no truly reliable guide or chart which predicts the evolution of all wines since this depends on a myriad of factors including the specific wine/producer, vintage and storage conditions. However, for the world’s classic wines (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Piedmont, Tuscany, Vintage Port and some others) you can consult the websites of well-known reviewers who usually give their personal opinions regarding “ready to drink by” dates.

So there you have it. Cheers!

Parma Ridge Vineyards Wine Maker Series

17 Thursday Sep 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Food, Party Time, Things To Do, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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Here is another Wine Dinner event by Parma Ridge Vineyards and the The Orchard House Restaurant .

Orchard House Restaurant in Sunny Slope

Sunday, September 20, 6:30pm-9:00pm
Meet the Wine Maker, Dick Dickstein, and taste the Wines of Parma Ridge Vineyards Paired with a Gourmet Meal prepared by guest Chef, Jered Couch.
Limited seating. $65 per person. Click Here for Reservations or call (208) 459-8200 for reservations.

MENU:

Appetizer
Smoked trout potato skins with horseradish crème
Leek and corn veloute with prawns
Wine Pairing: Chardonnay

First Course
Ham and pear salad with parmesan, pine nuts, arugula and honey-apple cider vinaigrette
Wine Pairing: Gewurztraminer

Second Course
Crispy chicken with roasted grape relish and potato pancakes
Wine Pairing: Merlot

Entrée
Grilled lamb patties with fried green tomatoes, Feta yogurt and mint-tomato salsa
Wine Pairing: Syrah

Dessert
Pineapple Carpaccio with fennel and chive goat cheese
Honey-bacon-apricot corn bread with maple ice cream and syrup
Wine Pairing: Idaho Sweet Blush

Try not to miss this one. Call or E-Mail now for reservations. This will be an exciting night of wine and food! Cheers!

Cafe Vincino Tasting and Dinner

10 Thursday Sep 2009

Posted by Bob and Robin in Dessert, Food, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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The latest from Cafe Vicino –

Café Vicino & Belle Vallée Cellars Wine Dinner
5 fabulous Oregon wines along with 5 delicious, paired courses.
Presentation by Brad Potter of Belle Vallée Cellars
Wed. Sept. 16 – 6:30 pm
$60/person + gratuity

Belle Vallée Pinot Gris 2006
Goat Cheese crostini topped with grilled Idaho Peaches. Mixed olives with citrus and rosemary

Belle Vallée Whole Cluster Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2007
Fresh local heirloom tomatoes topped Wild Alaskan King Salmon Cakes and herb crème fraiche

Belle Vallée Reserve Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2007
Quail rubbed with cinnamon, cumin, coriander and paprika served with a Mediterranean Succotash

Belle Vallée Cabernet Sauvignon Rogue Valley Oregon 2004
New Zealand Lamb Chop on yellow beet and saffron risotto with demi glaze sauce

Belle Vallée Reserve Port
Italian Plum tort with almond cream anglaise

Space is limited and reservations are required (phone: (208) 472-1463).
Corner of 8th & Fort – Boise Cafe Vicino