She came for the tango ...and stayed for the wine ...

Come tango with us...3-6p at our tasting (heels optional)

We met at one of the many milongas (public tango parties) that take place in Mendoza during the Tango por los Caminos del Vino (Tango Festival on the Wine Route), which takes place every September (the beginning of spring in the southern hemisphere). The Festival showcases the passion of tango music and dance, set amidst the unique scenery of Mendoza wine country – beautiful high desert, blooming with the snow melt irrigation, the Andes mountains as a backdrop. And of course, there are those wonderful Mendoza Cabernets to enjoy during a break in the dancing. For special friends and partners, maybe a luscious Cabernet reserve, as sensual and seductive as the tango itself . A good Cabernet Sauvignon, like this Juana de Sol Cabernet Sauvignon, is possibly the best of all Argentine red wines.

Ah, the Argentine tango – it’s a sensual dance, seductive in its complexity. In 1916, American modern dancer Isadora Duncan visited Argentina, and after being introduced to tango, said: "I had never danced Tango…. My first steps were timid, but the feeling of the languid music caused my body to respond to the voluptuousness of the dance. Soft as a caress, torrid as love under the midday sun, dangerous as a tropical forest".

It is a dance not performed from the feet, the hips or the arms but from the heart and soul. In this intimate form of communication, our individual movements become our words. Each time we dance together, we speak to each other’s hearts and souls through movement. There is no thinking in Tango, only feeling.

In Tango, it is the man’s duty to begin to talk with his body and for the woman, with her body, to know how to respond. And so the mind grows silent and instincts take over, until the dance becomes sensual, and you discover that what you’ve learned is just a forgotten primordial language.

Was it the tango that seduced her and ultimately won her heart, or was it that silky Juana de Sol Cabernet Sauvignon? Who can tell in these affairs of the heart? I only know we were still together in Mendoza for the annual Fiesta Nacional de la Vendemia (National Grape Harvest Festival) in March, still dancing Tango, and sharing Juana de Sol Cabernet Sauvignon with each other and our special friends.

Raphael

Those of us who travel along the main road east of Cutchogue and not quite to Southold have noticed, from the first day, a pretty impressive winery on the south side of the road. Scratch that; make it VERY impressive. 

Most folks who come into our shop who are

looking for a North Fork wine and who have been on the many wine tasting tours of the area know of Raphael on sight alone, the vineyard is that impressive. We enjoy the architecture of course but in honesty that isn't our driving concern.  We like their wine.  We like their people and Saturday we get some of each in our store for the 3-6p tasting.

Raphael is pouring. You need to come in.

From Grape to Bottle to You

We have a couple Jim Dandy wines this Saturday, under $10, and we have them made up just for us. No kidding. Something of a GWS wine/private lable, well, sorta but you get the idea. One is pictured to the left and the other is described below; 1 nice white, 1 very nice Rose.

We do this every so often, pop the cork on some moderately priced wine, for a number of good reasons.  The best is that wine doesn't have to be expensive to be good.  There are plenty of moderately priced wines that just call out "I don't want to spend a fortune but a glass with dinner or at the end of the day would be nice".

The second is to share with you something we think is a good value and we like. Otherwise, we wouldn't put it forth at the tasting. Wine also tells you who we are ... not all the secrets, but it says something.

Last, it gave us a chance to pull up the vintage (did we write that??) I Love Lucy....hey. The wine has to start somewhere.

2010 ALMARA FINCA LINTE,
NAVARRA
This 100% Tempranillo variety provides an excellent quality wine, packed with ripe fruit and good soft tannins, with a great aromatic concentration of red fruit. The taste is of forest fruits, with a ripe juicy palate.

Saturday, 3-6p 132 Front St., Greenport.

 

Pretty Neat

Nearly 40 years ago the Hargraves said nuts to potato farming and planted a vineyard.  This was a time when land was cheap and the North Fork of Long Island was just waking up to the realization that it had something to offer other than potato chips (think of Long Island as an alligator with its mouth open and the top of his mouth is what is called the north forth - the lower half of his jaw is the "fab" Hamptons).  One got good land and the other got Lady Gaga. So life isn't fair in most instances.

Not wanting to sound like a tour guide but the North Fork now abounds in farms that survived and, well a 'bunch(es)' of Wineries (I'm out of grape analogies - you are safe for the time being).  Not the giant enterprises we imagine but more of a Napa feel without the "other coast" affectionado-enthusiasts we in the east associate with that scene.  This is "day trip" country where families go to corn mazes, pick pumpkins, parents drop into one or two wineries for a sample or a memento of the day bottle to bring home and search for an affordable restaurant that serves kids.  It is what it is. Pretty neat.

The two east-west roads on this top half of the alligator's jaw are soon to be jammed from now until the last brussel sprout is sold around Thanksgiving and although a few of the tasting rooms stay open year round and do pretty well visitor-wise.  The quality varies of course from pretty good wow that's great and inroads have been made into trendy NY City restaurants but mostly we are talking moderately priced wine that is a good bargain and we all have our favorites.

Just saying that spring is on the way, the season will be upon us soon, and our shop is all ready for you.

A bit of the dog

We know of George Gershwin for his incredible show tunes and songs as well as a host snappy orchestra/piano pieces. There is a lot of other things that are just plain clever and fun.
The first here "Walking the Dog" was a segment theme song on WQXR the late great radio station of the NYTimes and the second is the Kangaroo Hop (what else could it be called) and is something of a spoof on Alexander's Ragtime Band.

We tossed in "I've got rhythm just because...........

They are just fun to listen to.  Too cold for much of anything else.

In preparation for a little snow......

This is one of our friend's favorite things.  Since it is going to snow tonight, you might think of this.

You can inject this right into your arteries if you wish.  You'll miss the taste but the results will be the same.















Scalloped Oysters
Ingredients

• Pint of oysters (or two) - 1 pint per person is a rule of thumb
• cup of half and half
• butter (1 stick melted)
• saltines

Preheat the oven to  400.  In an oven safe Pyrex loaf pan or small pie pan or for that matter some aluminum disposable - if you use a ramekin then butter the sides.

Crumble up enough saltines to put a layer 1/4" deep across the bottom of the pan ..dampen these a bit with some melted butter (don't make them soggy).  Spread half your oysters (drained and reserve the liquid (liquor its called) over the top.
Cover with saltines like you did on the bottom
Add another layer of oysters and cover those with a thin layer of saltines  Mix the oyster liquid (liquor) and the half and half  and pour over the entire layers - it should be 1/3 to 1/2 full of liquid but there is never too much.
pour the remaining butter over the top.

there is salt on the saltines (duh) so if you like some pepper you can add that either layer by layer or into the liquid or over the top.  up to you...and to your taste.

bake in a 400 degree oven until the top layer turns light brown or the mixture boils or both. don't over cook..poached is the operative word not baked to death.

Recipe may feed 1 person but it is highly unlikely.

In the mood....

Sometimes our customers come in and ask us what wine is best to serve with some dish that goes on the table that evening - you know - the old meat/red and fish/white thing.  Take today at our Saturday 3-6p tasting (132 Front Street/Greenport), we are sure to get the question in reverse, which is what food would go well with this wine.  We want to think globally and here is our chance.

We were watching Jacques Pepin this morning on Create TV and he made an interesting observation about cooking.  The meal isn't just on the plate on the table but it starts when the stove turns on and the first onion is chopped and goes until the dishes are cleared. Dinner is or perhaps should for most of us, a time to share the kitchen, to talk through the day, and to concentrate on each other and the ritual of an evening meal turned into a time to connect.  We don't want to sound preachy about this but what wine to serve for dinner should be rephrased as "what wine to enjoy during the dinner process"; what do we open up that is both a prelude to the meal and what we take to the table.

A glass of wine while preparing and talking, chatting, unwinding is not a bad thing and we recommend it.  Think of today's tasting as just figuring out what to bring home to make the dinner hour(s) special. 

Here is some music to set the mood.

 

 

Start gearing up for Valentine's Day

We are about 3+ weeks out from Valentines Day and all things dealing with the heart here is just a little snippet that you can repackage to your "intended" to demonstrate knowledge of the romantic.  Our shelves have more practical gifts as well (hint).

The music dates from about 1400 in the Rheims (France) and written by a fellow named Baude Fresnel who used the nom de plume "Cordier" (of the heart - Cor).   Of course the manuscript decorated a perfume bottle (Chantilly) and someone may be impressed that the music was bound into the collection of French songs called "The Chantilly Codex" this one added last to the volume.

It was up to the performer to put the text in exactly (it is in the form of a "rondeau(x)" - not a round but a poetic form - usually 8 lines - more than you want to know) and knowing that helps you figure things out. Otherwise it is just interesting to look at

So in this prelude to Valentines Day you just might start looking toward the object of your affection and show him/her the picture of the manuscript and say "Beautiful Good Wise" (belle bonne sage)...you might score a point or two...otherwise go to the perfume store.....or better yet, Greenport Wines and Spirits --- a shameless plug if there ever was one.

A grand idea!

We have an idea.  It goes past putting on that happy face for the season, but goes to doing something good "first".  For the next little bit, be the first to say hello on the street, to open a door for someone else (m or f), to offer a compliment, to smile, etc. 

That's right. Just do it first.  How can it hurt?

We are very serious about this. These nice things shouldn't be just at this time of year but why not start now?  Please, thank you, thanks a lot for that, you look great, what a nice day, how are you....get the hint. 

Try it for a day or two. See if the shoe fits better.

Life seems too busy for a day by day

There is one Christmas Carol that seems odd compared to the Joy to the World types. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?  One idea is that someone wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.

It has two levels of meaning:the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
* The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
* Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
* Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
* The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
* The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
* The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
* Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit - Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
* The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
* Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
* The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
* The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
* The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Well there you have it. OR NOT. Who knows. Nice story though. Merry Christmas

Swans? Who forgot the swans?

We did.  We forgot. We got busy. Big wind coming in. Stormy weather and we just lost track of  the swans.

We bad.  As it is below) we still can't find 3 of them.

Six Geese a Greyleg

No fooling.  We kept trying to figure out what is so valuable about a goose that lays an egg other than gold and our 12 days of Christmas has 6 of them - not golden..but that would keep up with the five golden rings of yesterday.  We do, however think there might be more a connection similar to the golden rings and the pheasants. (you might want to look at the last post).

Greyleg Goose

There is a goose/gander in England called the Greyleg - for obvious reasons.  They are pretty nifty looking and perhaps, just perhaps, they little verse changed over time and for ease of singing.

I.e.   Six geese a grey(leg) to greying to laying because some folks had no idea what a Greyleg was or is.

Makes sense to us. But then a lot of things make sense that don't.

Lack of knowledge is the mother of all stuff made up.

5, count 'em, 5 gold rings

We are stumped here.  In the poem/song the music stops and Five Golden Rings...comes out slowly and clearly.  We looked everywhere for what it meant, from the biblical to the "five marks on the door" and nothing seemed to fit that made any sense. 

The one we like best is probably the germ of it...5 ringed neck pheasants...it fits the bird stuff in the rest of it...

We are clever but we may not be right.

Black Bird Bye Bye - day 4

We crawled through the tall grass of trivia regarding day 4 of the 12 days....

The line four calling birds is an Americanization of the traditional English wording four colly birds (did you know that????), and in some places, such as Australia, the variation calling is supplanting the original. Colly is a dialect word meaning black and refers to the European blackbird Turdus merula.

The line four calling birds in some versions is four coiled birds. Religiously, The 'four calling birds' are the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; or their Gospels.

 

Hmmm

 

 

Lovey Dovey Day 2 of 12

We don't know much about doves so we looked around for info.  All we knew was one of our customers came in the other day and said "if he and his wife were doves, he would get a hunting license".  Not being very nice but it is just an expression.

Turtle doves are often found in pairs as they form strong bonds, mostly monogamous for life. As such, they are often used as a literary symbol of love.
Nowadays, the turtle dove population has apparently dropped about 62% due to a lack of favourite wildflowers caused by a change in European farming practices. Plus on their annual migration they have to dodge a lot of bullets as they fly through the Mediterranean regions where they are hunted as game birds. That, seems to me, would make for a pretty light snack.
Doves are actually the same thing as pigeons. They are all in the same bird family, columbidae. It’s odd to think that the white dove, an international symbol of peace, is one step away from the “flying rats” known as city pigeons. (a descendant of the rock dove) They are the most prevalent birds in the entire world, but some species have gone extinct including the famous dodo bird.
One thing totally unique to the dove family is how they drink. Unlike every other bird that takes a small sip of water, then tilts its head back, a pigeon or dove will drop its beak into the water and suck the water up like a straw.

Three French Hens (Day 3)

Our village is lucky enough to have some creative types who have themed Christmas shopping into the 12 days of Christmas poem.  We are up to the "three french hens" so we picked through some trivia to find out what that was all about....and will do so each day..just to get into spirit of things.

La Fleche, Crèvecoeur and Houdans. Poultry historians, yes they exist, trace these breeds way back. Morbier is a wonderful cheese from Franche-Comte with a layer of ash that gives it a distinctive stripe. Normande, Charolais and Limousin are cows which I do not believe were on the gift list. Morilles, Pleurote and les Cèpes are all mushrooms. The Crevecoeur gets its name from a village in Normandy as does the Houdan chicken. La Fleche is a handsome black chicken, the Houdan often has black and white speckles with a top knot and the Crevecoeur is black with a crest. So, all the answers to this question are French names for things to eat but only three names are for chicken.
From The Birds by Respighi, Movement IV, "The Hen"

Our Good Friend Alex Ferrone

One of our fav contributors to our Facebook pages is Alex Farrone. She is a photographer extraordinaire to say the least and is getting a lot of recognition for her skill and keen eye. She deserves it.

One of her fortes is arial photography - we assume for real estate folks and their efforts to sell sell sell.  We have mental images of Alex, hanging out plane doors, clinging for dear life and clicking like crazy.

Anyway, her abilities are grand and her work brightens our day.

Halfway through Advent

A friend dropped in the other day with his Advent wreath, all a fuss about not starting it up on time; missing a week.  He told us about growing up in the middle west and how on the first Sunday morning of advent his church's women's groups sold the wreaths and candles after the service and they always made just enough for everyone, planning ahead to give ones away to those who couldn't afford it.  We liked that story, particularly about the ones who couldn't afford it.

Just to fill us in some, Advent wreaths are four candles, one for each Sunday before Christmas and then one extra for Christmas evening. Christians and Jews certainly have the countdown in candles in common this time of year and we like that plenty; this countdown thing. 

Fact is, we like the anticipation that countdowns bring.  In talking about it in the shop, we concluded that with each candle lit brought us a little closer to somehow being a better person.  The church women making extra wreaths to give to those would were in need was somehow the center of our thoughts.

Good thoughts. Countdown is on. Clock's ticking. Do something nice for someone before they ask for it. Surprise 'em.

Tuscan Soup Saturday

  This is one of our fav. posts.  Cold day.   Time to revisit it.

Right now it is 42 degrees and drizzling with a promise of a cold wind  this afternoon.  We were trying to think of something Tuscan, in keeping with our tasting on Saturday - 3-6pm 132 Front Street in Greenport (write it down) -  and also something that quite frankly would take the chill off.
On the way in this morning we stopped at the market and ran into a friend who was all loaded up with chicken broth and cannellini beans (in cans no less) and and we asked if he was making soup and he replied yes, white bean  soup, all creamy and rich, and we could see, in our mind's eye,  the steam rising from the pot as we spoke. Perfect.  Our grandmother used to make this and we can still see the kitchen stove in the late afternoon light, red enamel pot, gentle steam, that ancient wooden stirring spoon and a wondrous smell of garlic and oil, crusty bread crunching, real butter - my oh my.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 1 sage leaf
• 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 4 cloves garlic, cut in 1/2
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6 slices ciabatta bread
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Directions

Place a medium, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter, olive oil, and shallot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sage and beans and stir to combine. Add the stock and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the garlic and simmer until the garlic is softened, about 10 minutes. Pour the soup into a large bowl. Carefully ladle 1/3 to 1/2 of the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Be careful to hold the top of the blender tightly, as hot liquids expand when they are blended. Pour the blended soup back into the soup pan. Puree the remaining soup. Once all the soup is blended and back in the soup pan, add the cream and the pepper Keep warm, covered, over very low heat.

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle the slices of ciabatta bread with extra-virgin olive oil. Grill the bread until warm and golden grill marks appear, about 3 minutes a side. Serve the soup in bowls with the grilled bread alongside. (Recipe courtesy of our good friends at Food Network)

Oh Gobble Gobble

Not for nothing, but we are rapidly approaching Thanksgiving and rather than fill the space with mind numbing financial talk (although the new unemployment filings are down a bit so that is good news and consumer spending is up slightly (does that include fuel and food???) the market had its worst week in three months and we are bracing for a gridlock the likes of which we have never seen.

Ben Franklin was a supporter of making the turkey the national bird. I have to tell you that there are also any number who want to do the same with the Peacock. Turkeys don't photograph well. Peacocks are,as the saying goes, "all hat but no horse" meaning that they look good but perhaps don't eat well. I'll give you music about each. You decide before you send 47 million of the birds to bite the dust to satisfy the holiday. Oh, and here are some tidbits for the table-talk after Uncle Ed tells his boyhood stories for the billionth time and someone complains that the white meat is too dry.

• Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the national bird of the United States instead of the bald eagle. When Jefferson won the argument, Franklin called the Turkey "Tom" - hence tom turkey  

• Male wild turkeys act much the same as peacocks when it comes to finding a mate; they puff up and spread their tail feathers to attract females.
• The turkey acquired its name by mistake; the English thought it was another bird that came from Africa through Turkey. The birds were not the same but the name stuck with the bird anyway.