Bastille Day Рtime to celebrate la libert̩

Bastille Day Рtime to celebrate la libert̩

by | Jul 11, 2012 | Food | 18 comments

bastille.jpgAnd here are two more possibilities among the many ways (see post below re: Storrs) to celebrate our Gallic cousins in their annual Fête Nationale.

Consider joining French wine legend Martine Saunier at a pouring of old world beauties, including vacqueyras, pouilly-fuisse, and blanc de blancs, chez Soif of course, where $20 can still purchase a seat at a palate-pushing tasting.

Soif’s chefs offer a special Bastille Day menu as well, which includes tartine of lamb, flageolet bean purée and chèvre crostini, gnocchi a la Niçoise, a variation on bourride, and any number of Francoholic appetizers.  The wine tasting happens on Saturday July 14, from 2-4. Reservations and details here!
Or, join Michel and Muriel Loubiere at their intimate Aptos restuarant, Au Midi, (more…)

Edgy Wine of Summer

Edgy Wine of Summer

by | Jul 4, 2012 | Home | 1 comment

lostweek.jpgWinemaker Ryan Beauregard likes to experiment, and his new 2010 The Lost Weekend semillon-sauvignon blanc blend is an homage to all those new young winemaking turks who like to think outside the varietal status quo.

A blend of grapes that are arguably oenological cousins, Beauregard’s tart creation is light in alcohol, very crisp and yet ripples with bright interior flavors, now apples, now salted flint.

We consumed The Lost Weekend—an homage to the illustrious Bonny Doon saloon that is now the Beauregard Vineyard tasting room—rather quickly, along with some local King salmon, braised quinoa and a salad of infant lettuces from the UCSC Farm.

Look for your Lost Weekend @ Shoppers – $16.

Bastille Day @ Storrs

by | Jul 2, 2012 | Food | 0 comments

Can you say “allons enfants de la patrie?” Well it’s time once again to raise a glass to our revolutionary French brethren. On Saturday, July 14th, Storrs Winery will be hosting “La Fête Nationale”, better known as Bastille Day.  Featured wines include the 2007 BXR, a Bordeaux style blend (more…)

Prometheus without the fire….

Prometheus without the fire….

by | Jul 2, 2012 | Home | 1 comment

ph7xboeqncmdac_1_m.jpgI could go into a deep deconstruction of the newest Ridley Scott film in terms of its failure to make sense of its title, its mysteriously murky visuals and its utter refusal to offer anything like an intelligent script.

I could kvetch for weeks about how Scott seemed to proceed without inspiration—and this is the man who gave us two of the milestone scifi films of all time, Blade Runner and Alien (the latter is arguably a “perfect” film, along with the first two Godfathers and the  first and third Indiana Jones.

But really it comes down to a weak story line and truly wretched casting.

With due apologies for the original girl with the dragon tattoo’s street cred, she’s no Signourney Weaver. With her matte emotions and fixed expressions, Noomi Place takes me absolutely nowhere. (more…)