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An Influential Meal at Ubuntu

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:50:12 -0700

Earlier this year, I made the trip up to Napa, CA, to visit Ubuntu, a restaurant that's garnered national acclaim for a new kind of vegetarian produce-driven cuisine. The food is radical for many reasons, like the fact that executive chef (and Food & Wine Best New Chef) Jeremy Fox grows much of the produce in a biodynamic garden near the restaurant. It's also that the focus of the menu is not so much on the absence of meat as it is on vegetable courses that are so substantial they'll change any notions you may have about vegetarian cuisine. Even my meatatarian boyfriend loved it! To learn more about this transformative meal, read on.

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Would You Eat This Cheese?

YumSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:00:40 -0700

A few weeks ago, while at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa, BellaSugar and I tasted a deliciously creamy cheese. The cheese was called Mélange and was from the Andante Dairy. I loved its blend of goat and cow's milk cheese that created a great flavor sensation. Even Bella - who hates soft cheeses - thought it was fantastic.

There was one teeny issue. The Oxbow Cheese Merchant had been sampling it for a while, so it was a gooey, melty creature. To me it wasn't a problem; in fact, I immediately imagined the cheese spread all over bread. However, another friend couldn't handle it and thought the gooeyness was just wrong.

So tell me, could you eat this melty cheese? Or would you have to turn it away?

What Exactly Is in a $60,000 Ice Cream Sundae?

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:21:19 -0700

I was recently at the new Oxbow Public Market in Napa, where I came across a little organic scoop shop from Three Twins Ice Cream. While the ice cream is smooth and delicious, it was actually the absurdly expensive sundaes that caught my eye.

I asked the gal behind the counter if they've ever served an expensive sundae, and she said not yet, but she was sure it was bound to happen someday. The sundae costs $3,333.33 and consists of a banana split made with syrups from three rare dessert wines, served with an ice cream spoon from the 1850s. If you give them a day's notice, they'll even have a cellist play while you eat it. If you think the cost is too absurd - it is on the "absurdity" menu, after all - maybe it'll help to know that 1/3 of the price is being donated to a local land trust.

If, however, you think this is too tame to be considered the world's most expensive ice cream sundae, then perhaps the $60,000 "World's More Expensive Most Expensive Ice Cream Sundae" will pique your interest. To find out what all that cash will buy you, read more.

For $60,000 you can travel to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, where the Three Twins Ice Cream founder will handchurn a batch of ice cream using the glacial ice found at the summit. The cost includes first class airfare to Tanzania, five-star accommodations, a guided climb, all the ice cream you can eat, and an organic T-shirt, of course. Oh, and you can bring a friend for a mere $25,000 more. It should also be noted that a portion of the purchase will go to an African environmental nonprofit.

So tell me, if you had the money, is this something you'd do? I know I would!

13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.

Sideways Is Back, in Japanese Form

YumSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:00:18 -0700

If you were stoked to hear about the release of The Ramen Girl, wait until you hear about the next big foodie flick. Oh, wait - you may have already seen it. Twentieth Century Fox is creating a Japanese version of Sideways, the Oscar-nominated comedy about four friends road-tripping through California wine country that became a runaway hit in 2005.

Given wine's increasing popularity in Japan, Fuji TV, one of Japan's biggest film producers, thought the movie would be an ideal candidate for a remake. But for its new film, tentatively also called Sideways, the company made changes to the storyline.Rather than drinking their way through Santa Barbara wine country, the group meanders through Napa Valley, a wine region that is better-known among the Japanese. The movie's two main male characters - named Michio and Daisuke, not Miles and Jack - drive up to Napa Valley from Los Angeles. “You can’t do a road trip in California without going over the Golden Gate Bridge,” said the director of the remake, Cellin Gluck.

At first, Napa Valley vintners were not too enthusiastic about the film, given that the original's Merlot-bashing lines led to a plummet in sales of the varietal. However, the new feature doesn't knock varietals of any kind and successfully managed to shoot at local restaurants, as well as winemakers such as Frog's Leap, Beringer, and Chandon.

I'd never have guessed that the Japanese would remake a movie like Sideways, with its focus on a specialized West Coast winemaking region, but I can see how the comedy has universal appeal. Do you like the concept, or should Fox have simply dubbed the original?

Source

Top Chef Vegas: Episode 12

partysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:12:49 -0800

It was down to five cheftestants on last night's episode of Top Chef. The final Las Vegas challenge - the next two shows take place in Napa, California - highlighted the Bocuse d'Or, the world's most prestigious classical cooking competition. A plethora of big name chefs including Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud, guest judged. Ready to discuss? Keep reading.

Off to Market: Serving Ware

partysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:50:32 -0800

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I like to take inventory of my serving ware. I plan on doing a lot of entertaining between now and New Year's, and whether I'm plating up bite-sized appetizers or slicing pieces of roast chicken, I'm going to need a lot of serving trays and bowls.

I want to invest in a couple of new ones, can you help me find them? To share your favorite serving ware, bookmark the items in the Off to Market group in the YumSugar Community. Don't forget to tag the bookmarks with the keywords Serving Ware. Happy hunting!

Interested in learning more about bookmarking? Check out the complete instructions here. Need some shopping inspiration? See a list of my favorite online stores when you read more.

Bed Bath & Beyond
CB2
Cooking.com
Crate & Barrel
Ikea
Linens and Things
NapaStyle
Pier 1
Plum Party
Pottery Barn
Sur La Table
Target
Restoration Hardware
Williams Sonoma
Wishing Fish
World Market

Cheers To Miner Wines

partysugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:03:31 -0700

For my birthday I invited a small group of friends to join me for a wine tasting in Napa. We visited a few wineries, but our favorite was Miner family vineyards. The excellent PR girl had arranged a private tasting and tour, complete with a surprise birthday cake for yours truly! Our guide, the jovial and informative Jaime, began by giving us a sampling of the Miner Sauvignon Blanc and Rosato. Next we moved on to the Sangiovese and the Pinot Noir - both of which were outstanding. However the best wine was the limited edition Benedetto blend series. A smooth and bountiful red, this wine was like heaven in a glass. Jaime lead us through the wine making rooms and into the Miner caves. Nestled in the base of a small mountain, the caves hold thousands of aging barrels of wine. We sampled a 2006 Malbec which they plan on using to make their signature blends. Later he showed us the private cave dining room where we had an impromptu birthday party. If you are planning a trip to wine country, Miner winery is a MUST stop. If you won't be coming to California anytime in the near future seek out these wines at your local wine shop. Miner wines have been served at the White House so I can guarantee you will not be disappointed. To check out the entire gallery of images from my trip there, read more

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To Taste Menu or Not To Taste Menu

partysugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:08:31 -0700

A few weeks ago I found myself at one of the Bay Area's top 100 restaurants, Redd in Napa Valley. My cheffie buddy and I glanced at the menu before deciding that there were too many delicious dishes to choose one each. So we decided to try the five course tasting menu.

A tasting menu, if you've never experienced one, is a fabulous way to sample small portions of several dishes. Usually everyone at the table is required to order the tasting and for each course a different dish is brought out. At Redd, the first course I tasted was the tuna tartare, while my dining companion tried the sashimi. We rotated plates half way through each course and were able to taste a total of 10 dishes from the menu! To learn more on tasting menus, and check out pics of the food I ate at Redd, just read more

Here are a few more things you should know about tasting menus:

They differ from a prix fixe menu, although are sometimes called the same thing. In a tasting menu, the chef chooses what he sends out, whereas on the prix fixe menu, you pick from a selection of entrees.
A tasting menu can be paired with wine (usually called the wine flight). With each course you will be sent a new half glass of wine that is specifically picked to perfectly match the dish you are savoring. It's more expensive, but fun to do if you are interested in wine and food pairings.
Tasting menus can often be expensive.

While you get smaller portions, it is very easy to fill up quickly on a tasting menu. Don't choose a tasting menu unless you are ready to eat a full, several-course meal.
If you happen to be at a restaurant known for their tasting menu get it!
Tasting menus originated in Europe and were thought of as a bohemian indulgence. Only when they were adopted in America did they become a statement of fine dining.

What are your experiences with a tasting menu? Tell me about them below!

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The Judgment Of Paris

partysugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:01:01 -0700

Today's date, May 24th, is a memorable day in California wine history. Before 1976, France was regarded as the only region to produce great wines. 31 years ago, a blind taste test was conducted by a group of eleven of France's most prestigious figures in the wine industry. The white wines were tasted first and the judges unanimously awarded the top honor to both (Chalone Winery and Chateau Montelena) - two California whites. Likewise, the top red wine went to a Cabernet from Napa's Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. The judges were appalled by the outcome and the results of the tasting were not publicized in the French press. Although it is difficult to evaluate the scientific results of such an objective tasting, the judgment did wonders in elevating the status of California wines.