Monday, November 22, 2010

Friday wine Tasting at Wicked Cellars and Saturday Chianti 101 Wine Tasting at Lombardi’s Everett

Friday wine Tasting at Wicked Cellars. Their tastings are Friday’s from 4:00 to 6:00 or so and Saturday’s from noon to 5:00, with special tasting during the week. Wicked Cellars staff in friendly and knowledgeable, they can help you find the right wine or gift for every occasion.
Friday wine Tasting at Wicked Cellars

Wicked Cellars****
Everett Washington
425.258.3117
http://www.wickedcellars.com/


"Free Form Friday" Tasting with Erin Farrell and Dave Oliver from Odom Distributing.

Stellina di Notte Prosecco**+:-) citrus, touch of sweetness

2008 Provenance Vineyards Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc***+ melon, tangerine, elegant mouth feel

2008 Chalone Vineyards Chardonnay*** pear, apple, creamy

2007 Maison Trimbach Riesling, Alsace*** crisp, pine, dry

2007 Acacia Vineyard Pinot Noir, Carneros*** plum, tart

2007 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry**** blackberry, spice, graphite

2006 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel***+ robust, black cherries, spice

Rosenblum NV D’sir’e Chocolate Dessert Wine**+ creamy, cherries

Saturday ‘Small Bites’ Chianti 101 wine tasting at Lombardi’s Everett. Since the spring Lombardi’s Everett has put together a series of small bit wine tasting pairings. This tasting was the latest in the series called “Chianti 101.” This tasting was a free form event giving you five food offerings with six different Chianti wines.

Saturday ‘Small Bites’ Chianti 101 wine tasting at Lombardi’s Everett



The Food
Bolognese Stuffed Arancini, Pan Seared Polenta with Caramelized Onions and Crispy Battered Oregon Blue Cheese and Acacia Honey

Bolognese Stuffed Arancini***

Pan Seared Polenta with Caramelized Onions**+

Crispy Battered Oregon Blue Cheese and Acacia Honey***+


Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio and Italian Flat Bread with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto
Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio****

Italian Flat Bread with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto****

The Wine
The Wine
2007 Querceto, Chianti Classico** minerals

2006 Da Vinci, Chianti Classico**+ red fruit, round tannins

2008 Banfi, Chianti Superiore**+ fruity

2008 Banfi, Chianti Classico**+ plum, balanced

2007 Rocca della Macie, Chianti Classico*** ripe fruit

2006 Rocca della Macie, Chianti Classico Riserva***+ rich, complex, dry

Wonderful wine tasting, we had a great table with lots of good wine talk, could not get any better…

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Visiting Washington's Long Beach Peninsula - November 2010


Welcome to Long Beach Washington
November 15, 2010


Beach Lightship Restaurant and Columbia Bar 
The Long Beach Lightship Restaurant and Columbia Bar **+
Long Beach, Washington
360.642.3252
http://www.longbeachlightship.com/
Still the best view in town! The chowder***+ was great. The beer was flat…
The Long Beach Lightship Restaurant and Columbia Bar 

Columbia Bar
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The Lost Roo Restaurant
The Lost Roo***+
Long Beach, Washington
360.642.4329
http://lostroo.com/
Was happy to the restaurant open, the Lost Roo is located in a south Long Beach building that was known for years as Nick's West Bar and Grill. Owners Mark and Helen Johnson bought the building in January 2008 and they have "totally gutted the inside" and have expanded the east side of the building.

We had a chance to eat there twice this visit, once for lunch then for dinner. For lunch…

Corn beef hash with eggs***+ in-house smocked corn beef, potato, and two eggs. Nice smocked flavor, the eggs work cooked perfectly



The Depot Restaurant****
Seaview, Washington
360.642.7880
http://www.depotrestaurantdining.com/
Are plans this evening was to eat at another restaurant in the area, but after receiving a Facebook up date on my smart phone saying they had a small bites Happy Hour on Mondays it was a easy choose. The Depot Restaurant is an charming one of a kind restaurant located in a old train depot.
The Depot Restaurant

Chef's Table

We were lucky enough to set at their kitchen view table were we had the opportunity to not only talk with Chef Michael Lalewicz, but enjoyed watching at work. Chef Michael, Nancy Gorshe and staff made our evening a wonderful experience. Thank you both…
Chef Michael Lalewicz
Oregon Blue Cheese
Oregon Blue Cheese***+Light blue cheese, hazel nuts, balsamic reduction, beget

Small Bites Happy Hour Menu
Sun, Mon, Thurs, and Fri ‘s 5 – 6 PM
Mango Sea Scallop
Mango Sea Scallop**** Pan Seared Giant Atlantic Scallop on Peruvian Mango Salsa with Pickled Red Onions
Willapa Bay Fried Oysters
 Willapa Bay Fried Oysters**** Pan Fried Oysters with Roasted Garlic Aioli Sauce

Artichoke Frito
Artichoke Frito***+ Artichoke Floweret’s Fried with Garlic Dijon Dipping Sauce
Small plates menu
Dungeness Crab Mac
Dungeness Crab Mac**** Crab and Cavatappi Noodles simmered in Garlic, White Wine, Cream and Lemon Juice topped with a Three Cheese Blend and Toasted Bread Crumbs
Confit of Pork Belly
Confit of Pork Belly**** Pan seared Pork Belly finished with Caramelized Granny Smith Apples and Sweet Onions in a Maple Glaze
Michael’s Dessert Specials
Michael’s Daily Dessert Specials****

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Tuesday 16th

Nautical Brass***
Ilwaco, Washington
360.642.5092
http://www.nauticalbrass.com/
They have Lewis and Clark Expedition commemorative gifts, nautical gifts, polished Italian brass gifts, marine fixtures and lighting and a variety of unique and exceptional nautical themed gifts can be found here. From instruments sets with barometers, hygrometers, thermometers and clocks. Always a fun shop to visit…
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Nisbett Art Gallery and Studio
Don Nisbett Art Gallery and Studio****
Ilwaco, Washington
360.642.8831
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Don-Nisbett/87187647515
Featuring art by Don Nisbett. Watercolors & acrylics of the local area. You can find Don at the Crew House Gallery visiting with friends and fans. Much of his work is personalize while you wait. This is not your usual stuffy art gallery. Ask him about “The Sisters” painting…
Don Nisbett Art Gallery and Studio

Don Nisbett Art Gallery and Studio
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Imperial Schooner Restaurant
Imperial Schooner Restaurant **+Ilwaco, Washington
360.642.8667
Clam chowder
Clam chowder***

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Campiche Studios***+
Long Beach, Washington
360.642.2264
http://www.campichestudios.net/
Campiche Studios, was originally founded as a family showcase by photographer Nancy Campiche. The gallery has featured her own black and white and hand-tinted photography, her father's watercolors, her brother David's pottery, and her brother Jim's bright watercolors. The gallery now features dozens of American craftsmen in art glass, jewelry, photography, woodwork, pastels, watercolor, and oils. If I only had more room…

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42nd Street Café ****
Seaview, Washington
360.642.2323
http://www.42ndstreetcafe.com/
The 42nd Street Café was once a Coast Guard barracks, moved to its present location from Fort Canby Station just after WWII.
42nd Street Café
We were looking forwarded to eat here for it has been a few visits ago since we have. Thanks you Blaine and Jean-Marc we had a wonderful time…
Cheri’s New England style clam chowder
Cheri’s New England style clam chowder ***+ sea clams, bacon, celery, onions, potatoes, butter, heavy cream and sherry.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes***+ with orange, cumin and green chili mayonnaise
Eight-hour Pot Roast
Eight-hour Pot Roast**** Piedmontese seven-blade chuck roast with roasted carrots and mashed potatoes with brown gravy.
Greyfield Farm Meatloaf with Wild Mushroom
Greyfield Farm Meatloaf with Wild Mushroom Gravy***+ dry aged beef, lamb and pork ground, blended with herbs and spices, oven roasted and served with hazel hut port mashed potatoes and roasted Stockhouse Farms vegetables.

Merlot, Capstone Cellars, Boushey Vineyards, Yakima Valley 2006***+ red plum, red licorice

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Wednesday 17th
Lost Roo Restaurant
Lost Roo Restaurant - Don Nisbett Art
The Lost Roo***+
Long Beach, Washington
360.642.4329
http://lostroo.com/
Back for dinner…
Bucket of Prawns
Bucket of Prawns***+ chilled peel ‘n’ eat prawns poached in Guinness, tossed in Chesapeake seasoning, with cocktail sauce. Don Nisbett told us this was a must have.
Augus Ribeye Roo
Augus Ribeye Roo**** marinated ribeye, char broiled, with mash potatoes, grilled vegetables and balsamic reduction, with crispy onions.
Flat Iron Chimichurri
Flat Iron Chimichurri***+ dry rubbed flat iron steak char broiled, mash potatoes, grilled vegetables, topped with chimichurri sauce, red pepper coulis and crispy onion.

We had a wonderful three days visiting Washington's Long Beach Peninsula. We would recommend any of the restaurants we dined at for dinner. All the staffs were well trained, were interested in good service and followed up without being intrusive.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Magical Weekend of Wine, Food and Music – November 12th and 13th

Friday night in Everett, Wine Tasting - Wicked Cellars, Sushi - Daruma Japanese Restaurant and Music at Sojen Cellars
This Friday Wicked Cellars hosted Cru Selections, who brought a selection of wines from smaller producers in Oregon and Washington.

2009 Lumos Gewurztraminer***+ peach, spice, floral, balanced, a very lovely Gewurztraminer

2008 Twelve Winery Estate White*** off dry, apricots, pleasant texture

2007 Thistle Pinot Noir** red berry, herbal

2007 Brittan 'Basalt Block' Pinot Noir*** black cherries, allspice, smoky

2009 El Corazon 'Super Nova' Malbec, Rattlesnake Hills**** Lavender, vibrant, minerals, tannins, Star of the tasting, which out Argentina!

2007 J Scott Cabernet Sauvignon**+ currents, laid back

After a little wine tasting we were off to Daruma Japanese Restaurant*** for a little sushi. This is a wonderful little restaurant on the Everett water front. It’s a little confusing with part of the restaurant in front and in back. We spend are time in the back with the view of the Sound. I tried a new sushi roll. Not sure what its called, but it’s a California roll with sliced salmon on top with Black Tobiko (flying fish roe) on top. Very good…


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Next stop on the way home was Sojen Cellars for a musical treat. May Palmer was back again this weekend. If you haven't heard May's powerful, yet soulful performances then you are missing a real gem of a performer.



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Saturday a Magical night at Key Arena, Seattle Washington - Wine tasting and the taste of local restaurants at Gusto 2010, Everett Washington.

Seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Key Arena was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. They are a must see for everyone…



Now the Key Arena is another story, the seats are terrible. Sitting for over two hours was torture. Waiting for almost an hour to get out of the parking garage was no treat ether, but we by luck did manage to leave by the correct exit and made good time to I-5.


Our next stop of the night was Gusto
http://www.everettcc.edu/administration/foundation/index.cfm?id=1912&linkFrom=Alias

More than 100 wines were there for tasting at Gusto! A World of Great Tastes, with food from 15 local restaurants. Local microbreweries also showcase their beer. The Tim Koss Trio played in the “wine cellar.” All the proceeds went toward the Everett Community College Foundation, which, funds college scholarships, equipment and programs.


The food highlight for us was the Indian cuisine from Centerplate a catering company and Lombardi’s Neighborhood Restaurant Italian Wild Boar dish.
Our friends from Lombardi’s Neighborhood Restaurant Italian
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Sunday, November 7, 2010

First Weekend in November Wine Tasting at Wicked Cellars Everett Washington and a Quick trip to Woodinville Wine Country


This Friday at Wicked Cellars, Dominic, wine agent for Barrister Winery of Spokane was pouring Barrister's latest releases. Barrister Winery today is located in Davenport Arts District of downtown Spokane.

NV Barrister Rough Justice*** jammy, nice mouth feel, non-vintage blend

2007 Merlot, Walla Walla*** sweet dark fruit, silky mouth feel

2008 Cabernet Franc*** white pepper, silky

2007 Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon "Sagemoor"***+ black cherries, vanilla

Saturday at Wicked Cellars, Hans Giner, owner of the import and distribution house, Chateau Martin, hosted an "Old World vs. New World" comparison tasting of Pinot Noirs, matching French Burgundies with their Willamette Valley contemporaries, giving us an exciting chance to compare differences of style, technique and terroir.

Albert Bichot Pouilly Fuisse’ (Chardonnay)**+ stone fruit

Louis Tete Moulin-a-Vent Cru Beaujolais** black cherries, spice, we were asking where’s the turkey

Artisanal 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir*** cherry, light spice

Albert Bichot 2007 Secret de Famille Pinot Noir** black currants

Artisanal 2006 Jubilee Vineyard*** pepper, hint of roses, bright

Albert Bichot 2008 Pommard Clos des Ursulines Domaine du Pavillon**+ rich cherries, currant

Artisanal 2006 Adams Vineyard Pinot Noir**** bright, peppery, my star of the tasting

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You know how sometimes plan do not work out? We planed to visit several wineries and tasting room in Woodinville after Wicked Cellars, but we managed to taste only one and a late lunch at another…


We stopped into Goose Ridge Tasting room located at Hollywood Schoolhouse area. Behind the counter was the fabulous Julie. We had a great wine tasting. Their wines are aging very will in the bottles. Thanks Julie…



After tasting Goose Ridge we were hungry. So our next stop was Alexandria Nicole Cellars secret room for tasting and Tapas. Try paring a Quarry Butte with their French fries…

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