New Memories

You know how there are certain places you go with that 'certain' person... What happens when that certain person is no longer around? Yep, I'm talking a break-up. Not mine, a friend of mine. No really...a friend of mine. So she wanted to go out and enjoy some girlfriend time and have some wine. Was supposed to visit Bistrot Lepic with that certain person, but instead, she invited me to meet her there.

From Wednesday to Monday they have Happy Hour from 5:30pm - 7pm and all wines by the glass are half price. I arrived a little after 6pm and she had already gulped down one glass of rose and was ordering a second. I asked her how it tasted...Cold was the response. Maybe I could get more info from her second glass. I went for a fruity 2006 Beaujolais from Brouilly. Very bright fruit flavors of raspberry and cherries in the glass with a hint of dust on the finish. Would have been nice to have a slight chill on this one, but that may just be a personal preference for me. Not white wine cold, but just a little bit of a chill. It wasn't too big of a problem though, I ordered another glass. Also got to sample my friend's 2007 Domaine de la Courtade from Provence. Beautiful nose of strawberries and peaches, and tasted like a light strawberry jam. Notes of minerality were on the palate as well and they lingered into a long finish.

There was an amuse bouche for $5 so we ordered warm brie, bread, and charcuterie to pair with all the wines. As we sat back and enjoyed the cozy upstairs Wine Bar at Bistrot Lepic, we caught up with work, Hollywood gossip, and Operation 'New Boyfriend'. We had a fantastic time truly enjoyed making new memories at a new place that we can now go to for a glass of wine.

Sorry Ma'am we're out of that, and that....that too

I'm always on the lookout for restaurants or bars with a wine happy hour. Whether its specials on flights, by the glass, or bottles, I love a wine deal....when it's good wine and in stock.

I meet a girlfriend for dinner at a restaurant in Capitol Hill. I'd been there before and enjoyed their food so their Thursday special of 1/2 off on bottles of wine was a no-brainer. The waitress hands me a wine list and I look for reds, because that's what my friend enjoys and it's cold outside. There were 5 to choose from and all fairly affordable at regular price, 1/2 off was a steal! I decide on a bottle of the malbec and tell my waitress. The rest of the conversation goes a little something like this

"I'm sorry ma'am, we're out of that one."

"Ok then, I'll have the tempranillo."

"Um, I don't think we have that either."

"The pinot noir from Chile?"

"Nope, that's not in. But we do have a substitute."

I take a glance at the table next to me and they have a CA pinot on their table. "Is that the substitute?"

"Yes it is."

What the heck?! I'm 0 for 3 now. Only 2 reds left! We ask about the merlot on the menu, another substitution and this substitution was a super value...if purchased in a store. I just could not pay restaurant markup for a wine that I know costs like $5.99 at a wine shop. Last choice, the California cab. Being broken down at this point we just ordered the cab. Waitress comes back with one of my faves, Casillero del Diablo!! For my palate, this was an upgrade!

But this whole incident got me to thinking, even though the bottles were 1/2 off, is it OK for a restaurant to have a wine list in which NONE of the reds listed are available? And what is the proper substitution in this case? Region, price point, popularity?

Good thing I've been to this restaurant before and truly enjoy their food, otherwise I doubt I would consider returning. Next time though, I will definitely stick with ordering a wine by the glass.

Wine Wednesday

It's been quite awhile since my last post. Haven't been to many wine events lately...or perhaps the wine world just stopped inviting me. Go figure! But anyway, I heard about a book called 'The Bubbly Bar' and the author was going to be in DC to do a book signing at Masa 14. I'm thinking, what a perfect way to spend Wine Wednesday! There would be champagne and sparkling wine cocktails from the book paired with tapas from the restaurant. Too bad the event was canceled :-( Who knows why, but I figure that I would still head out to the restaurant since it's only a few months old and I hadn't been yet.

Masa 14 is a restaurant recently opened in the burgeoning area of Logan Circle in DC. Chefs Chef Richard Sandoval (Zengo), Kaz Ochochi (Kaz Sushi Bistro) and Antonio Burell have brought this concept together for Latin and Asian small plates. Since I arrived shortly after opening for the evening, I was one of the 1st people in the restaurant. I got to pick my seat at the 75-seat bar and decided the best place is right in front of the bartender. Happy hour was on, a selection of small plates, cocktails and house wine were $4 each. I of course went with the house red, a merlot blend from Vina Calina in Chile. Smells of plum and berries hit my nose as the bartender poured my glass. After a swirl, I still got the rich fruit aromas of plum but also a bit of black cherry and hints of oak. On the palate was a toasty cherry-vanilla flavor. Perfect for a cold night.

I ordered a spicy tuna hand roll so I could have something to snack on. Clearly not a pairing for the wine, but I couldn't sit there and drink with no food. Interesting presentation, the hand roll was served in a silver stand and by the looks, resembled a sandwich wrap. Pretty tasty, but I was still a bit hungry. I then ordered the wok fried okra...figured I'd get a vegetable in the mix. Delicious! Served with a slightly sweet soy sauce on the side with fresh herbs, it complemented the lightly fried okra very well and I cleaned my plate. By now the bar and restaurant had filled up and a woman that had sat down next to me earlier began to chat with me. She was hilarious! Then her friend joined us and I stayed another hour and ordered a mojito (before happy hour was over of course). By the time we left, the restaurant was full, the bar was standing room only, and there were people crowded by the door waiting for a seat. This is definitely a hot spot with great drinks and good service. Just don't come with too much of an appetite.