MelGold

I can't do tomorrow...enjoy if it happens!

While the event focuses on 30 spectacular wines for the holidays, Star Catering will be on-hand to make sure you have a bite or two of nosh to balance the alcohol intake. Items scheduled to appear in the spread include: Vodka Lime Cured Salmon with cucumber relish and toast points Duck Confit with carrot wontons Bacon Bleu cheese tarts Steak tartar with red onion and oregano flatbread Corn cakes with oven roasted tomatoes and avocado puree Country pate Artisan cheeses and Desserts (from Tallula Pastry Chef Amy Foster & Artisan Confections)

Is anyone going to the March of Dimes Signature Chef Auction tonight at the Renaissance Hotel downtown? If so, stop by & say hello!

In either city, if you're looking for a good place to graze & grab a quick bite to eat, check out Central Market. It's far more than a grocery store (Houston location is on Westheimer approx. 5 minutes east of the Galleria, just over the railroad tracks, and the one Dallas location I know of is in Plano)!

Hell yes! I totally agree, Joe. My folks and I will drive multitudes of miles out of our way for a quick fix of City Market. Now if they'd only open for Sunday lunch...

Both Vermilion & Evening Star Cafe will be offering reasonably-priced price fixe menus for New Year's Eve. You might want to specify that one or more of your party would prefer vegetarian offerings. Tallula is once again doing their NYE cocktail bash ($85 inclusive for heavy apps all night - cash bar). More details on all three restaurants' NYE offerings will be available online soon.

Their Arlington location inside Carpool closed over the weekend. Seems they're opening up a new location soon...

Mmmm...Ethiopian. I'm in!

I met both Cathy Marshall & Rijk Melck last night - both are amazing people. If you have the opportunity, go!

How do you feel about chains? Eat away from the RiverWalk if you can help it. The Pappas Chain restaurants - Pappadeaux (Cajun), Pappasitos (Mexican) and Pappas Steakhouses - are consistently good eats. I try to hit a Pappadeaux whenever possible! Any kind of Mexican food is going to be outstanding. Chuy's is a favorite of mine from the Austin days, but there are some yummy hole in the wall places throughout downtown (just ask around). If you find yourself with a craving in the middle of the night - Taco Cabana has amazing tortillas and queso or you could do a drive by at Whataburger (In-N-Out burgers, please). And I've never met anyone who isn't a fan of Luby's cafeteria. Yes, I did just suggest a blue-hair fantasy...I stand by the LuAnne Platter!

Anyone interested in a later night whim, I'll probably be hanging in the bar at Vermilion after the wine dinner to listen to Jesse Elliot (he's awesome!). Show's on from 10 to midnight. I'll be the girl in black at the bar.

I can confirm some wonderful artisan cheeses & meats, and artisan confections by local phenom Jonathan Andelman. You'll just have to come to find out the rest!

For those interested in the wines that will be poured during the Planet Wine Fall Wine Festival next weekend, please see below. Each wine will be available for purchase/order during the festival at the special price listed. Hope to see some of you next weekend! Champagne (Claude Thibaut with Margaux - Janisson Imports) NV Francois de Rozay Brut $24 Champagne Janisson & Fils Estate Brut “Tradition”, NV $29 Italy (Bill McKenney with Michael Downey Selections) 2004 di Lenardo Pinot Grigio (Friuli) $10 2004 Crivelli Ruché di Monferrato (Piedmont) $18 2002 Castello di Poppiano “Il Cortile” Chianti Fiorentini (Tuscany) $11 2004 Orsolani Erbaluce di Caluso “La Rustia” (Piedmont) $15 2001 Savignola Paolina “il Granaio” (Tuscany) $36 2004 Fracchia “Voulet” Casorzo Malvasia (Piedmont) $12 California (Eric Hauptmann with Potomac Selection) 2002 Porter Creek George’s Hill Chardonnay (Russian River) $20 2003 Burford & Brown Zinfandel (Solano County) $12 2001 Aviemore Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) $13 2003 Teatown Cellars Merlot (Napa Valley) $21 2001 Edmunds St. John Basetti Vyd Syrah (San Luis Obispo) $38 South America - Chile & Argentina (George Winkler with Billington Imports) 2004 Alamos Chardonnay (Mendoza, Argentina) $9 2003 Cousiño Macul Finnis Terrae (Argentina) $18 2003 Big Tattoo Red Cabernet Syrah Blend (Colchagua, Chile) $9 2002 Felipe Rutini Merlot (Tupungato, Argentina) $16 2003 Catena Malbec (Mendoza, Argentina) $23 France (Nicolas Dornic with Elite Wines) 2004 Lauverjat “Coteau Fruité” Sancerre (Loire Valley) $16 2003 Rion Bourgogne Rouge "La Croix Blanche" (Burgundy) $17 2004 Domaine Les Bruyeres Croze Hermitage (Rhone Valley) $20 2003 Château Les Arromans Rouge (Bordeaux) $9 2004 Berthet-Rayne Côtes-du-Rhône (Rhone Valley) $10 2003 Laplace “La Friut” Madiran (Southwest France) $11 Australia (Harry Tatian with Roanoke Valley Wine Company ) 2004 Shoofly “Buzzcut White” (South Eastern Australia) $11 2004 d’Arenberg Stump Jump Red (South Australia) $12 2002 Yalumba Shiraz (Barossa) $19 2002 Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River) $15 2003 Penley Estates The Phoenix (Coonawarra) $20 Mixed Case Pricing is an additional 5% off each bottle.

MMM...what time???

It seems like a good round-about time for an announcement...

Isn't it close enough to noon to fill us in???

This month's Firkin will be tapped on Thursday the 17th. Stay tuned for more details...

Saturday night I made a hearty yet simple tomato pesto soup topped with parmesan and served with "wedges" of crusty baguette. Wish I had a camera (and some leftovers)!

Have a scallop for me! I'll be at Tallula for a friend's birthday party/happy hour (you'd think I had suggested the location).

23...that's it?! I MUST live in the boonies!

I have a Firkin Thursday to attend at Vermilion tonight - a cask of Old Dominion Ale is being tapped tonight at 6 PM. TemptAsian is on my way home though...

CONGRATULATIONS, K! Let us know when you're shipping out - we'll have to raise a toast beforehand!

Chef Anda at Tallula has pumpkin appearing on the new fall menu. The one I'm most anxious to try: House Made Fettuccine chorizo sausage, butternut squash, mascarpone cream, pumpkin seed pesto

Second!

Something quick so you can get a good spot by 7:30 (any later and you'll only be able to see tips of feather boas being swung like lassos)