MARIANI’S
Virtual Gourmet
"Still Life" (1848) by Robert Seldon Duncanson ❖❖❖ IN THIS ISSUE SOUTH AFRICA, Part One By Brian Freedman NEW YORK CORNER SAN CARLO OSTERIA PIEMONTE By John Mariani NOTES FROM THE WINE CELLAR ALEXANDER VALLEY, Part Two By Geoff Kalish ❖❖❖ ANNOUNCEMENT: There will be no issue of Mariani's Virtual Gourmet Newsletter next week (May 1st) because Mariani will be eating his way around Rome, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast so that he might write about it all in upcoming issues. ❖❖❖ SOUTH AFRICA, Part One By Brian Freedman
No matter how many times I clicked
through the photos online before my first trip to
South Africa, those images of jacaranda trees
backlit by fiery sunsets, of thick-tusked
elephants loping along the veld, of Table Mountain
(above)
in its regal repose, the water glistening so
unexpectedly close to its base, I just hadn’t been
prepared for the light when I actually got there.
The clarity of that light, whether the explosive
pinks and purples of the sunsets in the bush or
the more subtly shimmering blues of morning in the
Western Cape, the sun, and the
way it shone, was a constant source of fascination
for me during the time I have spent in South
Africa. Part Two of this article will appear May 8.
❖❖❖ NEW
YORK CORNER
By John Mariani SAN CARLO OSTERIA PIEMONTE 90 Thompson Street (near Prince Street) 212-625-1212 sancarlonyc.com As
far as I know, NYC has only two true Piedmontese
restaurants—the venerable Barbetta, opened in
1906, and the brand new San Carlo Osteria
Piemonte.
One could hardly be different from the
other in terms of atmosphere, for Barbetta is a
townhouse resplendent in baroque and 19th
century antiques, while San Carlo, with just 50
seats, is as modern as a new Alfa-Romeo Spider. Yet
both share a true dedication to the cuisine of
that northern Italian region and its capital,
Turin, whose famous broad piazza gives its name
to this little osteria in SoHo. Open
for lunch and dinner daily. ❖❖❖ NOTES FROM THE WINE CELLAR
ALEXANDER
VALLEY WINERIES, Part Two
By Geoff Kalish Jordan
Vineyard & Winery
Tom Jordan made his money in oil in
Colorado and in the late 1960s and early 1970s
traveled through France with his wife, Sally, to
try to buy a chȃteau producing top-quality wine.
Unable to find what he wanted, he built a
“Chȃteau” in Alexander Valley. He
hired a young winemaker, Rob Davis, and contracted
for the consulting services of renowned enologist André
Tchelistcheff (creator of the iconic Napa Valley
Beaulieu Vineyard “Georges de Latour Private
Reserve” Cabernets). Recent Releases 2011
Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)—Fragrant bouquet
of cassis and plums, with well integrated taste of
herbs, oak and dark fruit, and long finish with a
touch of tannin, which makes for good
accompaniment to charbroiled steak and lamb. 2013
Chardonnay ($33)—Bouquet and taste of ripe
apples and butterscotch with a lively finish;
perfect to mate with sea fare and grilled chicken. With
advance reservations visitors are accepted for a
variety of one- to three-hour tour and tasting
programs. Robert
Young Estate Winery
In 1965 Robert
Young began planting grapes on the 200-acre parcel
his family had owned and farmed since the 1850s.
As with other Alexander Valley properties the
grapes were initially sold to other wineries for
their use in wines (some good and some not so
good). However the wines made from Robert Young
Vineyard Chardonnay grapes fashioned by Richard
Arrowood were some of the best received and best
known of Sonoma
County. And in 1997, with his father’s blessing,
Fred Young began producing and selling wine from
the grapes grown on the estate. Today
three different Chardonnays and seven reds are
produced under the direction of winemaker Kevin
Warren. A Sampling of Recent Releases 2013 Alexander Valley
Estate Chardonnay ($42 )—This wine has a
bouquet and taste of citrus, pears and hints of
peaches and almonds with a moderate amount of
acidity in its finish. 2012 Barrel Select
Estate Chardonnay ($49)—Showing a bouquet
of ripe papaya and lemons, this wine shows layers
of fruit and vanilla with a long memorable finish. 2011 Scion Cabernet
Sauvignon ($65)—Aromas of blackberries
and ripe cherries dominate in the bouquet and
taste, with a lingering flavor of vanilla in its
soft finish. The
small tasting room is open to visitors daily
(except major holidays and for special events)
10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. With advanced reservations,
guided one-hour walking tours are available on
most Saturdays and Sundays.
White
Oak From
its initial, small Alexander Valley vineyard and
tasting room just off the square in Healdsburg in
the 1970s, owner Bill Myers has gown this winery
to produce award-winning bottles from over 750
acres of prime land, including parcels in
Alexander, Russian River and Napa valleys. And,
although only about 10% of the harvest is used for
wines under the White Oak label (21,000 cases),
other producers are having great success with the
grapes from Myers’ holdings. However, while its
wine and winemaker William Parker win numerous
accolades on the West Coast, recognition is only
beginning in the eastern markets. A Sampling of Recent Releases 2013
Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($17)—This
well-priced white shows a bouquet and taste of
citrus and nectarines with a lively acidity in its
finish. 2013
Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($24)—With
a bouquet and taste of tropical fruit, hints of
baked apple and a citrusy finish, this wine is
perfect to pair with a wide range of sea fare from
oysters to Arctic char and grilled salmon. 2013
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($35)—This
Fifty Best Double-Gold Medal winner shows a
bouquet of deep red fruit, chocolate and sage,
with a well-integrated, elegant taste of plums,
herbs and oak and a smooth long-lasting finish. 2012 Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon ($35)—A bouquet and
taste of figs, plums and cassis dominate in this
complex wine that has firm tannins and will need
3-5 years to show its best. The
winery is open for tastings and picnics in its
scenic grove 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily (except
major holidays). ❖❖❖ GREAT MARKETING IDEAS
After intense marketing studies and
compiling massive data, Burger King announced that it's
adding hot dogs to its menu, one with the
standard fixings of ketchup, mustard, onions, and
relish (left);
and another with chili and cheese (right).
“Brined in sweat
and covered in Hong Kong’s humidity, I pushed myself to
amble up a dirt path.
Finally, there was a bus stop—and next to it, a
cow, waiting.”—Chaney Kwak, “Hiking Hong Kong,” Delta Sky
(January, 2016) ❖❖❖
Any of John Mariani's books below may be ordered from amazon.com. The Hound in Heaven (21st Century Lion Books) is a novella, and for anyone who loves dogs, Christmas, romance, inspiration, even the supernatural, I hope you'll find this to be a treasured favorite. The story concerns how, after a New England teacher, his wife and their two daughters adopt a stray puppy found in their barn in northern Maine, their lives seem full of promise. But when tragedy strikes, their wonderful dog Lazarus and the spirit of Christmas are the only things that may bring his master back from the edge of despair. WATCH THE VIDEO! “What a huge surprise turn this story took! I was completely stunned! I truly enjoyed this book and its message.” – Actress Ali MacGraw “He had me at Page One. The amount of heart, human insight, soul searching, and deft literary strength that John Mariani pours into this airtight novella is vertigo-inducing. Perhaps ‘wow’ would be the best comment.” – James Dalessandro, author of Bohemian Heart and 1906. “John Mariani’s Hound in Heaven starts with a well-painted portrayal of an American family, along with the requisite dog. A surprise event flips the action of the novel and captures us for a voyage leading to a hopeful and heart-warming message. A page turning, one sitting read, it’s the perfect antidote for the winter and promotion of holiday celebration.” – Ann Pearlman, author of The Christmas Cookie Club and A Gift for my Sister. “John Mariani’s concise, achingly beautiful novella pulls a literary rabbit out of a hat – a mash-up of the cosmic and the intimate, the tragic and the heart-warming – a Christmas tale for all ages, and all faiths. Read it to your children, read it to yourself… but read it. Early and often. Highly recommended.” – Jay Bonansinga, New York Times bestselling author of Pinkerton’s War, The Sinking of The Eastland, and The Walking Dead: The Road To Woodbury. “Amazing things happen when you open your heart to an animal. The Hound in Heaven delivers a powerful story of healing that is forged in the spiritual relationship between a man and his best friend. The book brings a message of hope that can enrich our images of family, love, and loss.” – Dr. Barbara Royal, author of The Royal Treatment. ❖❖❖
❖❖❖
FEATURED
LINKS: I am happy to report
that the Virtual
Gourmet is linked to four excellent
travel sites: Everett Potter's Travel Report: I consider this the best and
savviest blog of its kind on the web. Potter is a
columnist for USA
Weekend, Diversion, Laptop and Luxury Spa Finder,
a contributing editor for Ski and a frequent contributor
to National
Geographic Traveler, ForbesTraveler.com
and Elle Decor.
"I’ve designed this site is for people who take
their travel seriously," says Potter. "For
travelers who want to learn about special places
but don’t necessarily want to pay through the nose for
the privilege of staying there. Because at the end
of the day, it’s not so much about five-star
places as five-star experiences." THIS WEEK:
Eating Las
Vegas JOHN CURTAS has been covering
the Las Vegas food and restaurant scene
since 1995. He is the co-author of EATING LAS
VEGAS – The 50 Essential Restaurants (the
fourth edition of which will be published in
early 2016), as well as the author of the Eating Las
Vegas web site: www.eatinglasvegas.
He can also be seen every Friday morning as
the “resident foodie” for Wake Up With the
Wagners on KSNV TV (NBC) Channel 3 in
Las Vegas.
MARIANI'S VIRTUAL GOURMET
NEWSLETTER is published weekly. Editor/Publisher: John
Mariani.
Editor: Walter Bagley. Contributing Writers: Christopher Mariani,
Robert Mariani, Misha
Mariani,
John A. Curtas, Edward Brivio, Mort Hochstein,
Andrew Chalk, Dotty Griffith and Brian Freedman. Contributing
Photographers: Galina Dargery, Bobby
Pirillo. Technical Advisor: Gerry McLoughlin.
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