Last evening while sitting with a friend and enjoying some Grand Marnier poured over vanilla ice cream, we engaged in an interesting discussion about the disappearance of the “after-dinner drink”. At best, one might indulge in a dessert wine, glass of port, snifter of cognac, scotch or perhaps a little Sambuca with their espresso. When is the last time you can recall anyone having a King Alfonse, Coconut Cream Martini, Irish coffee or Pernod after dinner? With more people imbibing wine with their meals these days, the desire for “old fashioned” after-dinner drinks seems to have fallen by the wayside. However, there are some very good spirits/mixed drinks to indulge in after a meal. When I lived in Miami Beach back in the early 70s, after-dinner drinks were quite popular. One of my favorite drinks was the King Alfonse. Not only was it festive, but it was a dessert as well. I was always fascinated with how the cream stayed on top of the Crème de Cacao without floating to the bottom. The drink was made at the table and quite entertaining to watch. The Crème de Cacao was poured into the glass, then whipped cream was slowly poured over the back of a bar spoon onto the Crème de Cacao. This is the only photo I could find of a King Alfonse drink, courtesy of Cheri Photography. Once upon a time my cabinet was stocked with, berry, chocolate, coffee, crème and fruit liqueurs. Perhaps it is time to restock and get inventive for the summer months ahead. Let’s bring back the after-dinner drink! Happy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina
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Walking into a florist shop right before Easter the other day was like walking into a chocolate candy shop for me. Pure heaven! The scents of hyacinth, lilies, hydrangea and magnolias transported me to a place of contentment. What is more amazing is the fact that I didn’t buy all the flowers! I can’t wait for the warm weather so that I can plant my garden. Friends and cooking with work squeezed in between, occupied my weekend. So, I was looking forward to a peaceful and quiet Easter Sunday. However, as usual, my plans took another direction. A phone call, an impromptu “end of the day” get together invite and I was flying out the door. An array of wine and spirits to choose from along with a few Easter baskets filled to the brim with treats were waiting when I arrived at my destination. I opted for Hennessy VSOP, one of my favorite cognacs. I love the complexity, smoothness and definitive flavors. A hint of floral, spice and honey on the nose led to a rich variety of fruits and spice on the palate. Always good! www.hennessy.com I have a busy week ahead, but I’m already looking forward to next weekend!
Happy Monday Cheers! Penina In the midst of spring cleaning the other day, I unearthed a box of family photos dating back to the late 1800’s. I was so totally immersed in the images before me that I didn’t realize that a good portion of the day had slipped by. Storing memories on computers, digital cameras and phone cameras may be more convenient and easier to share with everyone, but there is something special about actually holding a photograph or browsing through an album that connects one to the visuals. In some ways, it’s akin to my drinking wine. It’s not only the sense of smell and taste of the wine, it is also the feel of the glass in my hand that makes for the total experience. Okay…I’ve gone too far. But speaking of wine… Last evening I cooked a wonderfully simple meal of baked salmon in a basil, shallot and wine sauce. Mashed potatoes, a simple salad of greens and sliced avocado drizzled with balsamic dressing accompanied it. The wine was a 2007 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay from Napa Valley. This full-bodied wine had a beautiful bouquet of apricot, ripe peach, citrus and oak. The palate was layered with peach, honeysuckle, pear, lemon zest and a hint of caramel. It had a rich and creamy mouthfeel that continued on to a long finish. Being a 2007, I didn’t expect it to be so vibrant, but we were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed every sip! http://www.beringer.com Have a great Thursday!
Cheers! Penina The other evening we celebrated the onset of spring, despite the snowflakes falling. And what better way to toast the season then to drink a nice dry rosé! A bottle of 2013 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Colline Novares il Mimo was chilling in the refrigerator and just begging to be opened. This 100% Nebbiolo grape (locally known as Spanna) had an intense salmon color with aromas of strawberry, roses, citrus and hints of spice. The palate offered layers of strawberry, cherry, tart apple and a hint of pepper on the finish. This is a lovely medium bodied rosé that I plan on drinking throughout the summer. The Cantalupo Winery is situated in Ghemme, Northern Piedmont, Italy and is owned by the Arlunno family. http://www.cantalupo.net My love, thoughts and prayers go out to Brussels. Stay strong. Have a peaceful Tuesday.
Cheers! Penina Today is the Vernal Equinox, marking the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a time for rebirth, renewal & regrowth. Spring is truly one of my favorite seasons! Spring marks the return of many birds that flew south for the winter, including my beloved hummingbirds. The trees come alive again and I can’t wait to be enveloped by the scent of lilacs, peonies, lilies of the valley and honeysuckle! “It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want—oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” ― Mark Twain In honor of spring’s return, we began our celebration last night with Grey Goose Martinis that were chilled to perfection. The ice crystals were dancing in the glass...now that’s a martini! We were going to move on to a bottle of wine, but I needed to savor another martini with my dinner. The celebration will continue this evening with some wine! Happy spring! Have a peaceful Sunday and Happy Spring! Cheers! Penina It was a busy Thursday that ended on a gentle note with dinner and a movie. I escaped the “green food” being offered throughout the day in honor of St. Patrick’s Day and welcomed normal fare and a nice bottle of 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mercer Estates Winery. Mercer Estates is located in the heart of Yakima Valley in Columbia Valley, Washington. It is a family owned winery run by brothers, Rob and Will Mercer. In September 2015, I reviewed their 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which was very good. And, I was just as impressed with the bottle we opened last night. The grapes for the 2013 Cabernet come from Mercer’s estate vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills and is a blend of 75% Cabernet, 15% Syrah and 10% Merlot. The aromas of lush fruity, spice and a hint of vanilla greeted me. The palate was layered with dark berries, plum and spice. The wine was balanced and rich with a very smooth and long finish. It was a definite thumbs up! http://mercerwine.com Spring officially begins this Sunday with the possibility of a major snowstorm. Winter does not want to go away! I would like to put my snowshoes away and slip into my summer sandals! Have a great start to the weekend! Happy Friday!
Cheers! Penina It’s St. Patrick’s Day, a cultural and religious celebration that marks the death date of the foremost patron saint of Ireland. March 17th commemorates St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It also celebrates Ireland’s culture and heritage with parades, festivals and the wearing of something green. The holiday is also associated with the consumption of alcohol which seems to be an integral part of the celebration. “Drowning the shamrock” or” wetting the shamrock” is a St. Patrick’s Day custom. As the celebrations come to an end, a shamrock (Ireland’s national emblem) is put into the bottom of a cup or glass. The cup is then filled with beer, whiskey or cider and drunk as a toast. One has the option of swallowing the shamrock or tossing it over the shoulder for good luck. So, whether you’re drinking Irish stout, whiskey or Irish cream and eating soda bread with corned beef and cabbage, enjoy! I will be celebrating this evening with a bottle of wine, grilled fish and perhaps some Baileys Irish cream afterwards! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Cheers! Penina The weekend flew by so quickly! It was filled with wine, music and a little dancing. Of course, work was also thrown into the mix! And now it’s back to a busy Monday filled with thick clouds, rain and chilly temps. The other evening I tasted (at the encouragement of a friend) Tom Bulleit’s 10-Year-Old Bourbon. This blend of 68% corn, 28% rye and 4% barley was aged in charred American White Oak for 10 years. I am not well versed when it comes to Bourbon, but this was delicious! I drank it straight up. The color was beautiful dark amber with heady aromas of soft spices, oak and vanilla. On the palate it was smooth and rich with flavors of oak, caramel, vanilla, citrus and spice. The finish was long with spices and vanilla lingering. 91.2 proof. Price: $55 http://www.bulleit.com Happy Monday!
Cheers! Penina I was hoping that the weather would stay warm for this weekend. Although it won’t hit the 70s, I’ll take what Mother Nature is offering, even if it means slipping on warmer shoes while my sandals patiently wait to be worn again. To start the weekend off, I met with a friend on Friday evening for dinner and conversation. We dined at an Italian restaurant with an emphasis on cuisine from central Italy. My friend preferred to drink vodka, so I opted for a glass of wine instead of ordering a bottle for the table. The selection of wines by the glass was limited, but good. I picked Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Umani Ronchi Podere 2010. I made sure that the waiter opened a new bottle for the pour. The color was deep red bordering on purple. Pleasant aromas of cherry, dark berries and spices were followed by subtle flavors of sour cherry, plum, herbs, pepper and a hint of cocoa. Medium-bodied with soft tannins made this an easy wine to drink. Umani Ronchi produces an impressive 3 million bottles of twenty different wines every year! Click on the website for their fascinating story. http://www.umanironchi.com Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead tonight before you go to bed! Happy Saturday! Cheers! Penina It’s such a beautiful day. I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible outdoors. After a long power walk, I’m finally sitting down (outside) to write this short post. I was expecting a friend over for dinner last night. The Rosé was chilling and the salmon and veggies were ready for the grill. At the last minute, he asked me to come over to his home instead. So, I grabbed everything and off I went. When I arrived, I handed him the food to grill and I opened the wine. We drank 2013 Belguardo Rosé Toscana, Mazzei. The Belguardo estate is located in the Maremma region of Tuscany that the Mazzei family purchased in the 1990s. The wine is an unusual blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Syrah. The color was pale red with floral aromas and the palate offered red fruit flavors which were soft and succulent. It was medium bodied with a lasting impression of berries and flowers. The average price is $18.00. The dinner was delicious with the wine complementing every bite. http://www.mazzei.it/eng Happy Wednesday!
Cheers! Penina |
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