Winter feast

We met with our dining club a couple of Sundays ago. It's always fun hanging out with the gang. The fun started with hats (don't ask), bubbles and snacks. I brought a 1.5L of Mionetto Sergio Prosecco. It was a real crowd pleaser, we enjoyed it with fruit, veggies, a great dip someone picked up at Kowalski's Grocery Store and a corn and bacon empanada that was hand crafted by yours truly. The empanada was ok but it was dry and needed something like salsa or sour cream. Next time. Main course was a pepper crusted pork chop served with duchess potatoes, maple glazed carrots and brussels sprouts. The chop was a little too pepper crusted for my Scandinavian palate. I was sweating like mad until I scraped the pepper off. It was very good, I just can't take the heat. We enjoyed the pork with Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel. The pairing was superb. For dessert we had a strawberry chocolate torte with and Aussie sticky. Another nice pairing. Here's to good friends.

Thanksgiving

I spent the day cooking and then is 8 minutes it was gone. The feeding frenzy was relentless. I did my first turkey ever. I did it in a cooking bag with rosemary, parsley and sage. The parsley and sage is still growing outside the back door of Ursula's Wine Bar & Cafe. The bag was pretty cool, we got gallons of gravy. Besides the turkey we had mashed potatoes and yams. The yams were cubed and baked with brown sugar and butter, I love yams. The stuffing this year was cornbread stuffing, cornbread was substituted for bread and met with lukewarm reviews, I loved it but my opinion was not in the majority. We had traditional green bean casserole, meatballs, lime jello and a mixed green salad with candied walnuts, apple, blue cheese and a maple vinaigrette. We finished with pumpkin and pecan pie. To tie it all together we had Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel. It had marvelous brambly fruit and nice pepper on the finish. Skol.

It's My Birthday Too, Yah

To celebrate my birthday I threw myself a dinner party (actually it was the luck of scheduling and nothing more). October 7, which was my 45th birthday again, Ursula's hosted a wine dinner featuring the wines of Ladera Vineyards. Dan Stotesbery, Ladera's national sales manager, was on hand to share his insight into both the wines and winery. The dinner guests were greeted with sauvignon blanc and appetizers. The sauv blanc was beautiful, it was built for a summer day with hints of tropical fruit, lime and melon, but was not too light for the cooler autumn weather. It paired very well with Chef Andrew Whalen's hummus. The first course was squid ink pasta with squash and brown butter paired with Pillow Rd. Pinot Noir. The pairing was fabulous, the Pillow Rd may have been my favorite wine of the night, it was like velvet, the flavors were rich, round, hints of cherry and raspberry. The pasta was very good as well, the squash we have been getting lately has been superb. The Napa Valley cab was poured next, it is the only blend in Ladera's lineup, there is some malbec and petit verdot in the mix. It was served with a rack of lamb and bacon and feta couscous stuffed tomato. The Napa cab is always stellar and a great value for Napa fruit, which showed dark plum and brambleberry fruit flavors. The lamb rack married wonderfully with the flavors playing off of each other. Duck breast with apple bacon chutney and the Howell Mountain cab was next. The Howell Mountain cab is refined, stately and well structured, the folks at Ladera refer to it as the gentleman. It complemented the duck very well with dark cherry and blackberry flavors. The Lone Canyon Cab is referred to as the cowboy, wild and rough with some complex tannins. The Lone Canyon shows flavors of dark cherry and licorice. It's a great cab and paired well with pork tenderloin and sweet potato gnocchi. One point of interest in the menu is that all the courses had bacon and a touch of orange in them. Everything is better with bacon and the orange just reiterated the fact autumn was here in a subliminal, foreshadowing sort of way. Enough Bergman visual simile and on to dessert. Sweet potato ice cream in a chocolate cup with bacon and butterscotch served with syrah. The ice cream was awesome and the bacon was a very nice touch. We chose syrah for dessert because Ladera only makes 6 wines and we had to get the syrah in there somewhere. It is outstanding, very smooth, rich, meaty and a lush texture. Dan did a great job explaining everything and all the courses were excellent. A great dinner, happy birthday to me.

A Beautiful Day for a Domegame

I got tickets for the Twins last game in the Metrodome (or so I thought). Instead of doing lunch downtown amid the madness and mayhem (I should point out the Twin Cities Marathon was going on that morning) we had brunch at our friends, Tom and Janelle, home. We had been to the Twins very first game in the dome with Tom and Janelle so it was fitting to see them out together.  Brunch was great. We had a cheesy potato dish, the requisite egg dish, killer caramel rolls and fruit. Mamosas made with Mionetto Prosecco also graced the table. The food was great. On a Sunday morning caramel rolls always rule and these did. The egg dish and potatoes were fabulous. Everyone had seconds. We got downtown, parked and had a nice walk to the stadium. The game was great, the Twins won and tied Detroit for first place. The food was ball park food. I never touch the cotton candy, it looks way too scary. We munched on peanuts and sunflower seeds through most of the game. A ball game is not complete without a hot dog. The dome dogs are ok. Maybe I'm getting snobby in my old age but they did not elicit yummy noises. I'll take an Ambassador hot dog from my grocer any day. I washed it down with a Miller Light, sorry I'm not a big fan of 3.2 beer, but you take what you can get and the wine at the dome is painful. See ya dome and I can't wait to watch baseball outside next summer.

Weekends Were Made For Bubbles

On Labor Day weekend we were fortunate enough to spend a couple of days with our friends Mike and Brenda at their cabin near Danbury, WI. More friends, Bob and Lynnette also came along for the ride. After puttering around most of the day in the pontoon boat we got down to the serious business of food and wine. Bob and Lynnette made dinner and paired it with one of my favorite summer wines, the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier. The wine is crisp and clean with hints of citrus. It stays fresh on the palette and drinks easy. It was paired with a balsamic and rosemary marinated grilled chicken breast served with brown rice, asparagus and a dinner roll. It was delicious, the dinner was balanced, the flavors were superb and everyone was satisfied. The next day after puttering around in the pontoon boat (do we see a pattern here) we started the cocktail hour at around 5 with a Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Brut Champagne, a cream cheese/chipoltle sauce appetizer garnished with fresh picked blackberries (Mike picked them minutes before serving) and a chicken and cheese crostini that Brenda whipped together using leftovers. The snacking was great and the champagne was divine. It was clean with a slight hint of lemon, I was sad I only had one bottle. Dinner was a grilled pork tenderloin with a pineapple, chile and lime glaze served with quinoa, brown rice and pineapple. It was paired with Bella Lily Hill Zinfandel. Everything Bella makes is marvelous. It had perfect weight, enough fruit and tannins to linger on the tongue for moments drifting into minutes. The pork was a smash as was the pairing. Dessert was a cabernet ice, this is an old family favorite which is essentially a cabernet sorbet, simple yet delicious. We capped the night off with a glass of Choco Vine which is a red wine mixed with Dutch milk chocolate. It tastes a lot like Baillys. It's very good but I'm sure if one drank too much they would pass on M&Ms for a few weeks. Moderation is the key. Good food, good wine and good friends, do they have that recipe in Betty Crocker?

Happy Anniversery

Anniversaries happen, I enjoy them. If you spend enough time with a person you kind of get used to them and even start to like them. I pretty much like my wife, she has a million great attributes, one of them being she is great to go out to dinner with. Our anniversary is in early September. The day was gorgeous, the sun was out , there was a pleasant breeze and it wasn't sweltering. We started the evening at Acqua, a new restaurant in White Bear Lake. We had a bruschetta and a small pizza with a glass of Burgans Albarino. I have been loving the albarinos this summer. We sat out on the deck and talked and sipped. A great way to spend an evening. We moved the party to Ursula's for a treat on the deck. We had crab stuffed mushroom caps and an heirloom tomato salad. The tomatoes we have been getting this summer are fabulous. We complemented the food with a bottle of 2002 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet. Nothing but the best. It was beautiful, it didn't take too long to open up and our mouths were treated to rich black cherry and cassis flavors with a hint of smokiness. A perfect wine for a perfect day.

Where Have I Been?

It's summer, what can I say? I have a hard time sitting and writing when the weather is nice. I like to go to the lake (White Bear Lake, specifically) and watch the miles of beach, which was lake 3 years ago. My eating and drinking over the summer have been fun but not exceptional. Although last weekend we took part in an annual summer event. The Robert Sinskey Vin Gris Challenge. This is the 4th or 5th summer we've done this. We spend an afternoon on our friends, Link and Anju's, pontoon boat drinking Sinskey Vin Gris and snacking. We are big fans of the Vin Gris, it is in my humble opinion the best rose on the planet. We've been to the winery in Napa with Link and Anju a couple of times. We had a bottle of the 07 and 08 along with a tomato tart and veggie spring rolls. The snacks were fabulous and the wine was awesome. The spring rolls had some zip to them but the rose countered the heat nicely. The winner was the 08, unanimously. The 07 was very nice but the 08 was fresher and cleaner. It wasn't like the 07 was tired, it was still showing nicely but not as well as the 08. The evening wasn't over. We retired to the house and tried a L'Aventure Rose which was stunning, not the usual strawberry notes one finds in rose but bigger bolder berries. It offered a nice segue into dinner. We had grilled, glazed shrimp and rice. Simple fare but it was wonderful with a Fantesca Cabernet. The 04 Fantesca is just hitting it's stride. Rich and delicious, the tannins fading away and letting the flavors of the grape take center stage. It paired wonderfully with the shrimp. After dinner we sat on the deck watching the sunset with a bottle of L'Aventure Syrah. A perfect end to a perfect day.

Look Who's Cooking

I get a couple of nights off a week. I like to cook dinner on my quiet evenings at home. Last week I pulled out a recipe from Provence. We started with a couple of boneless pork chops. Olive oil heated in a pan, added some garlic and fresh ginger and seared the cops on both sides. Lower the heat and add a third of a cup of chicken stock and fresh thyme and parsley. Simmer until the liquid is almost gone, turn the pork and add a third of a cup of white wine and simmer until the liquid is almost gone. Flip the pork over, add another 1/3 cup of stock and simmer until the liquid is almost gone, flip and repeat with the wine. The last turn I topped the pork with a cranberry mustard. Remove the pork and saute half an apple sliced thin. Set the pork on brown rice with a side of green beans and the apple and voila. I opened a 2000 Robert Sinskey Four Vineyards Pinot Noir which was just gorgeous, hints of caramel, orange zest and dark cherry. A perfect complement to a wonderful meal.

Fred Peterson was Here

Last week we had another wine dinner at Ursula's Wine Bar and Cafe in beautiful downtown White Bear Lake (did I mention I owned it) with Fred Peterson of Peterson Winery in the Dry Creek Valley of Northern Sonoma County. Fred is one of the good guys in the wine business, he's gracious, knowledgeable, fun and makes great wine. We started the evening with his Zero Manipulation which is mostly carignane, it was a bit tart at the start but with food it shaped up nicely. The first course was a roasted mushroom and housemade boursin tart, a lovely way to start the evening and it was paired with Peterson Sangiovese. The combination was stellar with the mushroom and the sangiovese complementing each other perfectly. Grilled peach and bleu cheese with strawberry balsamic paired with Fred's Tradizionale Zinfandel came next and the peach, blue cheese and zin was a delightful flavor combination. The Dry Creek Zinfandel was served with reddened catfish, lime and watercress. The pairing worked beautifully, the zin did not overpower the catfish and the catfish stood up to the zin. We finished with smoked venison tenderloin, wild rice-apple salsa and micro herbs and a glass of Peterson Cabernet Sauvignon. The cab was outstanding, soft and luscious, dark cherry flavors and a satisfying finish. The venison was perfect, nice and tender and the salsa and herbs was a winning dish. Fred is such a nice man and his wines are great, add a little food and what could be better.

Dinner with an Aussie

On occasion at the restaurant (Ursula's Wine Bar & Cafe in case you have forgotten) we entertain visiting winemakers with 5 course dinners and wines paired with the course. April 6 we were fortunate to have Stuart Blackwell from St. Hallett in the Barossa Valley in Australia as our guest. The winemaker dinners are fun, the winmaker generally has great stories, terrific insight and he shares his take on how to make great wine. We started the evening with an olive and sundried tomato tapanade pair with Poachers Blend. Poachers Blend is semillon, sauvignon blanc and riesling. There is just a touch of sweetness. It made a wonderful aperitif with the semillon shining in the blend. A spicy mango shrimp served with riesling was up next. The reisling was fairly dry but was a great match for the shrimp. Gamekeepers Reserve is a blend of shiraz, grenache and touriga nacional. A wee bit lighter red that was served with chicken pot pie to which was added tomato, red pepper and sweet potato to meld better with the red and I must say it worked beautifully. The Faith Shiraz was simple and straight forward. It was controlled and very drinkable. A rack of lamb with mint sauce paired very well. Finally we had a New York strip with a Yukon gold and chevre gratin and crispy leeks serve along side the Blackwell Shiraz. I loved the Blackwell. It was a classic with hints of pepper, leather and berry fruit. It was stylish and sophisticated with a rough edge. Stuart was a delightful guest, his manner and charm made for a warm evening on a chilly day.

Birthdays Come But Once a Year

As is customary, my wife had her birthday this year. We were both working at Ursula's so I didn't have to spend big bucks on a huge night out. The subdued affair was sublime yet thoughtful. Dinner was simple she had haddock and I had pasta. The haddock was pan seared and served with asparagus and risotto. It was lovely. My pasta was penne with garlic sausage and a little balsamic, keep it simple. For a birthday I think bubbles are always appropriate. We opened a split of Gruet Blanc de Noir. It's made in New Mexico and is wonderful. Crisp and clean, with teeny tiny bubbles. I marvelous reminder of summer on an unseasonably cool March night. We went home after work and watched a Thin Man movie with a bottle of O'Shaugnessy Cabernet. This is a stellar cab. Howell Mountain fruit (which I adore), a beautiful close to a delightful day.

Open That Bottle Night

Periodically the Wall Street Journal declares open that bottle night. What they are doing is giving people permission to open that bottle that they have been saving for a special occasion. Usually a special occasion never quite comes around, hence open that bottle night. I had a bottle of 2004 Domaine Serene Cote Sud Chardonnay sitting in the cellar that wasn't going anywhere. On February 28 we popped it open for dinner. Dinner was a simple pasta with sun dried tomatoes, asparagus and balsamic vinegar but the wine was outstanding. It was well balanced, the right amount of acid and the flavors were delicious. Hints of vanilla and nuance of caramel that filled your mouth and wanted to sit there all night long. I should open that bottle every weekend.

I Love My Job

I got a tough job. I talk to people, pour wine, somebody makes dinner for me every night, I have to answer the phone and people make me try wine. I know you feel real sorry for me. Ursula's Wine Bar & Cafe has a corkage fee of $7. When people bring in their own wines we charge the fee. Quite often people ask me to sample their wines. In a 2 week period in January I had the privilege to try the following wines. Auberg Pinot Noir 2006, Russian River Valley-delicious, Walnut Block Sauvignon Blanc 2007, from New Zealand it is not over the top but refined and elegant, Sterling Syrah from Napa, an 04 that was tasting wonderfully, Geyser Peak Cab 02 which was very nice, Elyse Korte Ranch Zin 2006 that was fabulous, big rich and luscious, Seghesio Old Vines Zin 02 which still had charm and fresh fruit. The highlights of my vinorific wanderings were a 2005 Clio Jumilla from Spain, the grape is monastrall and this baby was big and juicy and chewy and stunning. A customer brought in a 1998 Bryant Family Cab. Bryant is a cult wine, I've never seen one and I'm glad I got to try one, it was delicious. Joseph Phelps Insignia 2001 was a delight, I've never been disappointed in an Insignia. We did have a barker in the group, a 1998 Pine Ridge Howell Mountain Cab that was weak and flabby, it sadly had no zip or zing. I know you feel badly about all the on the job hardships I endure but I'm willing to take one for the team.

It's A Brand New Day

January 20 was a day to celebrate or commiserate. We chose to celebrate, it's better for the cash flow. At Ursula's Wine Bar & Cafe in beautiful downtown White Bear Lake (which I own in case you haven't heard) we held an inauguration dinner for those who couldn't get Wednesday off so they scrapped their plan to fly to DC. We offered a 5 course dinner with wine pairings. I always like to start with some bubbles. We chose the Gruet Blanc de Noirs from New Mexico. This is a well kept secret. Tiny bubbles, refreshing, clean taste. I love it. We served the Gruet with endive spears and cherry pecan chutney. Course two was grilled Mahi Mahi with roasted pineapple and tangerine mostarda. The wine was Andrew Rich's White Tabula Rasa. It's a blend of rousanne and gewurztraminer. It was terrific with the fish, not to heavy, but enough weight to handle the pineapple and fish. We moved on to a lamb tenderloin with roasted asparagus, squash and tomato jam. I love lamb, it was awesome, but the tomato jam stole the show. It was paired with Robert Hall Rhone de Robles. Robert Hall once lived in Dellwood, which is a 3 minute drive from the restaurant. The Rhone de Robles is a syrah, granache, mourvedre blend from Paso Robles. It married very well with the lamb. We moved on to a cheese course. All the cheeses were American. We had a 5 year old Vermont Cheddar, an Oregon Manchego and Northern Lights Blue from Minnesota. I opened a 2000 1.5 liter of Marietta Angeli Cuvee, a zin blend, for the cheese. I've had the bottle since the restaurant opened and I was worried it could take a downhill turn. It wasn't at the top of it's game but it was very good and I'm glad I could share it with our guests. We finished with an apple tart and Pacific Rim Vin de Glaciere Riesling. A great combination to finish off the evening. We were even lucky enough to have a special gust drop in. Check the photo. Stay warm (it's 4 below in Minnesota today). What are you gonna do? Have a big red for dinner, cheers.

Ring in the New

I love New year's Eve, I always have a great time. I always work that night (did I mention I own a restaurant called Ursula's Wine Bar & Cafe in beautiful downtown White Bear Lake, MN). It's one of the funnest nights we have. The chef prepares a 5 course price fixe and we pair wines with each course. I spend the night grazing and sipping. I started my night with some ahi tuna tartare. It was great, especially with Jean-Noel Haton Brut Rose. I have a special place in my taste buds for sparkling roses. The Haton is wonderfully clean and seductive. I moved on to a spinach and ricotta ravioli with saffron lobster sauce. Chef Andrew Whalen makes great ravioli and the lobster was a treat. The wine I paired with it was the Ken Wright Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir. It was a little reductive on the nose but it blew off and tasted divine, it was powerful yet demure. I finished my evening with duck breast on a golden chanterelle risotto. I love duck and this dish was marvelous, especially with the risotto. The combination was stunning and I was lucky enough to have a bottle of Turley Pesenti Zin open, wow. It was big without being over the top and the briary, brambly flavors matched the duck perfectly. I finished dinner with a raspberry truffle from the Backdoor Candy Store here in town. Paired with Chateau Reynella Old Cave 12 Year Tawny Port there was no place epicurean left to go. Cheers and happy new year.