Thursday, August 28, 2008

Inexpensive Wine recs

It is important to realize that you do not need to spend a lot of money on a bottle of wine. There are plenty of great inexpensive wines out there. Here are some of my recommendations.

Mark West Pinot Noir- You can find this in the $8.00 range which is unheard of for Pinot. Best value Pinot out there and a great everyday wine.
Erath-Pinot Noir-$15 range and very drinkable.
Cloudline Pinot Noir- Another great Pinot value wine. Should find in the $15 range.
Big Fire- Pinot Noir- This one is in the $20 range but worth it.

Other value reds worth checking out-
Las Rocas- granacha- This used to be one of my favorite under $10 finds but it has crept up to the $12 range. Still worth it. They also have an even better version for $18 called Vinas Viejas.

Rosenblum Vinters Cuvee XXII- Zinfandel and another under $10 gem.
Four Vines Zinfandel - should be able to find in the $12 range
Marquis Philips Shiraz- $12 and the Marquis Phillips Sarah's Blend $14.
Georges Viorney Brouilly beujolias- under $15

Chowfather doesn't drink a lot of whites but highly recommends the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. Should be able to find this in the $14 range.

Chowfather prefers the real deal Champagne and not sparkling wine but at $9 I highly recommend Francois Montand.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Hollywood Vine Wine Tasting 8/26

This Tuesday we welcome our own Cindy Woodman for a very exciting

California experience. We will tastes wines from some of our very best

Producers. Please Come and hang out with Cindy and taste some amazing

Wines.

HOLLYWOOD VINE WINE TASTING!

Tuesday August 26th 2008 6:00-9:00

No Charge for tastings!

CONUNDRUM

Floral and aromatic, with peach, nectarine and spicy melon flavors that are intense and vivid, lingering on the finish. Has a fleshy texture and refreshing acidity. Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay and Viognier. $9.00 Retail $

BTG $9.00 Retail $25.99

MER SOLEIL

“Silver” Chardonnay

Fresh and tangy, with vibrant peach, nectarine and citrus flavors that are clean and refreshing.

BTG $12.00 Retail $34.99

BELLE GLOS

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

The fruit for this wine comes from a number of coastal vineyards from Marin County in the south to Mendocino County in the north. The separate components, when combined and aged in 60% new French oak for nine months, creates a wine of wonderful complexity, especially for the price. Its brick red color alludes to the brown spice and smokiness on the nose. There is ample fruit on the attack and mid-palate with soft tannins on the finish.

BTG $10.00 Retail $27.99

TWO HANDS

Petite Syrah

Peppery, with dark fruit flavors and a savory meatiness on a tightly tannic frame. Chewy and dense, with some spicy blackberry flavors that linger on the finish.

BTG $8.75 Retail $23.99

VIADER “DARE”

Cabernet Franc

Good ruby-red. Spicy, ripe, highly aromatic nose combines bitter cherry and blackberry. Silky, sweet and feminine, with a fresh flavor of blackberry. This possesses good fat as well as firm underlying structure. Finishes with broad tannins and a suggestion of nutty oak. In the style of a St. Emilion.

BTG $13.00 Retail $36.99

Hollywood Vine

2035 Harrison Street

Hollywood, FL 33020

hvine@comcast.net

www.hvine.com

954-922-2910

954-922-7660 fax

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Miami Spice Winner

The Chowfather highly recommends heading over to Bourbon Steak soon in order to take advantage of Miami Spice. The food was outstanding and you will have a very hard time finding more value from a Spice menu.

In addition to the three course spice menu, we were served the famous Trio of Duck Fat Fries with dipping sauces. Soo good. Then they brought us a pan of potato focaccia bread that was also very good. I opted to start with the cumin dusted tempura prawns which ended up being my least favorite part of the meal. It was just ok and nothing special. However, the filet rossini with foie gras in a pinot noir reduction was very good. It should be noted that the filet was $10 extra. Desserts (beignets)were good too.

Bourbon Steak

Miami Spice menu
Miami Spice
http://www.ilovemiamispice.com/PDFs_Menus/bourbon_dinner3.pdf

Friday, August 8, 2008

Armadillo "spice"

Now open on Sundays
Starting this Sunday, August 10, Armadillo will be open every Sunday, from 4 P.M. till 8 P.M.

Armadillo Spice Menu
Starting next week they will be offering their Armadillo Spice Menu. A special Prix Fixe menu featuring a three course specially designed menu for $35. A great way to both introduce new friends to the Armadillo and to play with some new creations for those "in the know".





http://www.armadillobeach.com

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

What a trifecta!!! Chef Allen, Schwartz and Bernstein

Tribute To Julia Child
A Birthday Celebration

Chefs Allen Susser, Michael Schwartz and Michelle Bernstein

On Thursday, August 21, 2008 Chef Allen will host a special tribute/birthday dinner for the late Julia Child. Joining him for this celebration night in his kitchen will be acclaimed chefs Michael Schwartz of Michaelís Genuine Food & Drink and Michelle Bernstein of Michyís.

ìJulia Childís influence on the food world is incalculable. She was an amazing talent and personality and this dinner is a great way to celebrate her legacy and while raising funds for culinary scholarships.î

Kicking off at 7:00 p.m., the dinner is a fundraiser for the American Institute of Wine & Food, which helps raise funds for scholarships in the culinary and wine arts. Limited to 60 seats and priced at $250 per person, all inclusive, the event will feature a cocktail reception followed by a lavish feast, served family style ñ all created by the trio of acclaimed cooks. The menu is currently in development.

The timing for the event could not have been more perfect. In addition to celebrating Childís birthday ñ which is actually August 15 ñ the dinner will also celebrate the restaurantís re launch. Chef Allenís sports a sleeker, modernized interior, including a larger bar area, and private Florida room. To complement the modernized interiors, a sublime new, contemporary menu, focusing on the best locally caught sustainable fish and seafood and in a movement toward simply great food.

Chef Allenís tribute dinner to Julia Child will take place on Thursday, August 21 at 7:00 p.m. To purchase tickets for the dinner, please call the AIWFís South Florida office at (954) 396-3875 or (305) 663-9641. Chef Allenís is located at 19088 NE 29th Avenue in Aventura.

Friday, August 1, 2008

BROWARD "SPICE" 2008

Broward starts in October but they are also doing a preview this year that starts Sept 15th.

http://www.sunny.org/dineout/

Upon initial and quick review my early recs based on quality of restaurant, posted menu and spice value are
Cero
China Grill
Grill 66 (never been but on my short list to try and menu looks good
)Hi Life Cafe
Sunfish Grill
Lola's on Harrison
Fulvio's
Cafe Maxx