vickie

I know that the Pucci's, the owners of San Vincenti in Chianti had a great agrotourismo. It is on a hill outside of Gaiole. Hopefully it is still available.

I recently ate at the bar at Esca. It was a wonderful experience. Victor the bartender treated me as if I were a regular. Every other person at the bar was a local and it was so friendly, that by the end of the meal we were sharing tastes of our food with each other and exchanging e-mail addresses. You do have to get there right when it opens to guarantee a seat. I can't remember if it opens at 5 or 5:30. Definitely try the crudo appetizer--six small portions of fish or seafood garnished with different olive oils and exotic salts. It is expensive ($30) but has been fabulous every time I have gone there.

Was it my imagination or did I see Hosea and Leia kiss on the lips after he won?

I saw a rerun of the Season 3 finale a couple of weeks ago. Casey messed up in the finale and was completely out of the running according to the judges. They debated solely between Hung and Dale for the number one spot.

My Dad is from Upper Michigan where pasties are a tradition. We use round steak cut in cubes, diced potatoes, carrots and finely chopped onions. You can make your own crust or buy it if too busy. They make them in individual semi-circles or large pie versions and serve them with pickles and ketchup.

She teaches at CulinAerie in DC.

Wild Boar in Red Wine.

My Mom is in town. We would like to go to lunch tomorrow. She is a traditionalist--nothing exotically ethnic. DC or VA is good.

Champagne R. Dumont 1996 Blanc de Noirs--Very lush--possibly too rich for my taste.

Last Night: Jose Michel Special Club 2000 Lucien Crochet Croix du Roy Sancerre 2005 Pichon Longueville 1995 Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls 2004

I've had a Bosch for a couple of years, and although it was expensive, it is extremely quiet and cleans very well. I would recommend it without any qualms.

The Connaught Place--a great little Indian restaurant in Downtown Fairfax. It closed a couple of years ago and I really miss it and the wonderful staff.

We've been going to Tachibana for 22 years. We were there last Saturday for lunch and had the sashimi lunch special also. Three of us split that, a beef negimaki and some sushi and were out of there for $67, including drinks (not including the tip). The sushi and sashimi slices are huge and we have always found them very fresh.

Monday night at Terroir in Manhattan, where the server's uniform was a Terroir t-shirt which read "PedroF---ingXimenez", except they filled in the blanks. I wanted to buy one for my favorite co-worker bartender, but they were sold out. Too bad.

I was going to recommend Al Covo, but I just checked and I think they are closed from December 15 to January 15. Although not as near San Marco, we had a wonderful meal at a restaurant called Oniga. Good food, good wine list. It is located in the Campo San Barnaba between Ca Rezzonico and Accademia. And, next door to it is a great organic gourmet food and wine shop called Pantagruelica. Definitely worth stopping in to see what's available. For something less expensive, we have had good luck with tramezzini in a local small cafe/bars. Tramezzini are sandwiches that you order by the half. I recommend going of the beaten path and looking at what is displayed in the window of the local cafes. If the sandwiches in the window look good, go on in. This is probably stating the obvious, but at all costs, avoid restaurants on the main drags that have pictures on their menus and employees outside enticing you to come in.

This seems to be my week for recommending former employers. It won't help in the short run, but if you want to taste a lot of port to get a better handle on what you like, you should go to Arrowine's annual port tasting. It is the first Saturday in December (that's why I said it won't help in the short run). They usually have between 20 and 30 ports open from various producers in all different price ranges. Bring a notepad to take notes. After, 20 - 30 ports, you may forget which of the early ones you liked.

Yes.

I go there almost every Wednesday and order the Udon Noodle Soup. It is delicious and I feel like I am eating really healthy. It comes with a side of pickled radish and kimchee, for $6, you can't beat it.

Food Matters is celebrating Oktoberfest this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28). Tom Przystawik, Chef/Owner is of German heritage and is very passionate about German food and beer. It was really fun/delicious last year and I know he has even more planned for this year. For information call 703-461-3663. (In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I used to work there.)

2004 Conti Sertoli Salis Sassella

2002 Schleret Riesling Herrenweg. Delicious.

There was an episode of Jancis Robinson's Instructional Wine Videos on Sauvignon Blanc. As I remember it, she took a bottle of New Zealand SB to Dageneau and poured it blind for him. When she told him it was NZ SB, he refused to spit it in his cellar and went outside to spit. It was pretty funny.

The shells are definitely hard given how small the egg is inside. It isn't a problem if you are hard cooking them, but to poach or fry them you do risk breaking the yolk. I use a small knife to pry it open after cracking it. Does anyone else have a better method? I buy them at Han Ah Rheum on Lee Highway. $3.99 for 18.

Sure thing.

They have stopped serving tea at the Willard for the month of August. Since my plans are for this weekend, I have opted for the Mandarin.