TasteMaker HOU

09/26/2014

RESTAURANT HAPPY HOUR REVIEW: GROTTO

Last evening I met an old, OLD friend of mine for happy hour at Grotto. No, she's not old... our friendship is old! We go way back to the good ol' days when Enron ruled this land and we were invincible, changing the world for good. Now, we just look forward to the next happy hour get-together and try to save the world in different ways (Quick! Save that grape juice TRAPPED in that bottle!!!) :-P

So Grotto, in the Galleria area at the corner of Westheimer & 610... has happy hour deals every Monday - Friday from 4-7pm at the bar or on the patio only. This is GENIUS my friends!!! Instead of heading home after work, go sit on the patio (especially now that the weather is beautiful), watch the sunset behind the Williams Tower, enjoy happy hour prices you can count on one finger, listen to the angry traffic jams and toast to bacchus, thankful you're sitting here and not in that mess (beep beep! honnnnk! middle finger...) :o

One problem, and perhaps it's just me... While the waitstaff was RIDICULOUSLY friendly, calling me by my first name, patient and helpful, smiling and courteous... they know NOTHING about wine! I asked their "sommelier" about the Sant' Elena Chardonnay from Friuli (that's north-eastern Italy), thinking it would be perfectly light, acidic and crisp for drinking out on the patio on a warm September evening in Houston watching the sunset. The Sommelier - again, while adorable, sweet, cute, nice, calling me by my first name in his peppered accent - assured me that this Chardonnay was from California. When I pointed out that the menu says it's from Friuli, he says - again, in his adorableness - "Yes, it IS very *fruity*." I respond politely, of course (if anyone has ever been with me at a restaurant when the waiter or sommelier is speaking to me about their wine, you know that I am very respectable, non-snobbish in the least, right?), "No, I believe Friuli is a region in Italy known for their crisp white wines." Short of asking to bring the bottle to my table, I always have a back-up wine to order which requires no questions. I go for the Gavi and order a bottle with no further banter. It was perfect for the setting and occasion, and at $31 a bottle, did not break the bank. It's not going to win any awards, but it paired wonderfully with our fried calamari appetizer at only $6. Cheap cheap cheap! :)

This type of thing happens quite often. I'd say 9 times out of 10 at a Houston restaurant, it is assumed by the waiter or sommelier that I know NOTHING about wine. And in his or her defense, 9 times out of 10 they are probably right about their client. If I did not know anything about wine, my experience at Grotto last night would have been ABSOLUTE PERFECTION and would have received two enthusiastic thumbs up from me. I can not say enough about the service and hospitality. But, with the little snafu with the wine, accent or no accent, I am going to have to take away one of those thumbs.

REVIEW: ONE THUMB UP - TRY IT NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN THE AREA AND WOULD RATHER SIT OUT RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC

08/21/2014

Has anyone tried Try The World box delivery yet? I'm intrigued. Every two months they send you a new box of goodies from a different foreign country. What a ground-breaking idea! You can escape on a mini-vacation in your own kitchen. :-D

Anyone else intrigued? What are your thoughts?

07/15/2014

WINE REVIEW: FANCY PANTS PINOT GRIGIO

So far I've only posted positive reviews. Now, perhaps that is the best risk management technique to use in this day and age. Did you hear about the Houston restaurant that is suing a restaurant reviewer for his negative review? Don't worry, my TasteMaker followers, I ain't scared... I will ALWAYS review it EXACTLY as I taste it. Go ahead, they can try n' sue me... they'll git' nuttin'... cuz'... well... I got nuttin', actually... :(

Back to the wine at hand. I just HAD to pick up this super cute bottle of Fancy Pants Pinot Grigio when I stumbled across it in Target (no I wasn't drunk!). This is a classic label and name to attract the impulse buyer of the female in all of us. Beautiful turquoise label, fancy golden design, um... Fancy Pants... even a tag line to get the perfect balance of testosterone / estrogen juices flowing in the bra-less, chest-pounding feminists out there as well - it reads "I Wear The Pants" in italic Apple Chauncery font (what? that's what it's called, look it up if you don't believe me).

While the wine is beautiful in the bottle, in the glass it has zero character. Yes, floral notes... but I can't put my finger on it. Yes, citrus... but I don't know which. When I took my Sommelier's Certificate exam, I had pretty much nailed the blind-tasting portion and can tell the difference between a Chianti and a Rioja just by smelling it. (yes, I am the wine version of a circus freak - popular at parties when demonstrating this stunt. I also take the cork off of a Champagne bottle with a saber... You want to hang with me now, don't you... I digress...) Fancy Pants doesn't even taste like a Pinot Grigio. If it was in my blind tasting I would only have been able to say, "Um... I think it's white." Also, it says it goes with chicken, steaming fish, swiss cheese, and the atomic bomb? (see photo). What IS that???

At $11 a bottle, don't let yourself be sweet-talked by the surface beauty of Miss Fancy's Pants... At this price, go for the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc / Viognier Blend. The label is much less interesting, but you won't be embarrassed when you serve it to your friends (the kind with taste-buds anyway...).

REVIEW: LOOK AT HER, TOUCH HER, BUT DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THIS TRAMP :-P

07/07/2014

RESTAURANT REVIEW: L'OLIVIER

Recently it was our 7th wedding anniversary and we were looking to try a new, romantic place around town. We were thinking Parisian and stumbled upon L'Olivier Restaurant & Bar - Houston. It's been around for 2 years and I had never seen it, never heard of it... that is, until now. This restaurant has everything. It is suitable for romantic evenings, large gatherings (you can reserve a beautiful private room), or just sit at the lively bar. The service is casual and friendly, while the atmosphere seems more upscale. Also, when it's not 100º outside, they have a lovely patio lined with fragrant rosemary and lavender plants. Oh! And, yes, the patio is doggie-friendly as this restaurant was recently named one of the best doggie-friendly patios in Houston Press! Woof woof!!!

Although there is a 3-, 5-, and 8-course tasting menu complete with Sommelier's pairings, I chose to create my own tasting menu. Yup, Miss Independent, don't need no one tellin' me what to do! :-P Of course I started off with a glass of Champagne... obligatory. First course, Honey Goat Cheese & Truffle Ravioli in a Light Sage Sauce paired with a Pinot Blanc from Alsace. Second course, I had the house Bouillabaisse paired with a Rosé made of Grenache and Cinsault from Tavel, while the husband had the Sous Vide Short Ribs with Saffron Potato Stack and Leek Tart paired with a lovely Cinsault from the Languedoc. And lastly, because it was our anniversary they came out with a beautifully decorated plate that said Happy Anniversary in Chocolate and we shared the Nutella Brownie with Bazooka Bubble Gum Ice Cream on top. Yup! Sounds corny, but oh my my... so Goooooood!!! :-D

REVIEW: TWO THUMBS UP, GO, AND GO NOW!!!

07/01/2014

GOT WORLD CUP FEVER? - WHAT'S IN YOUR CUP?

World Cup fever has caught the US by storm. The bars are packed, lunch meetings require a television and people traveling on airplanes have their noses glued to their seat front. It's all-out mayhem! To celebrate the world's most popular sporting event, I picked a spectacular wine from eight countries involved in this year's tournament. Though some of the teams mentioned didn't fare too well against their competition, I promise these bottles are all serious contenders for taking home the cup. Game on!!!

USA
2012 Morgan "Metallico" Un-oaked Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands
~ $22/bottle
Our home team might be underdogs, but we'll bet on 'em any day of the week. Apparently this Chardonnay is also one you should bet on, as Wine Spectator just gave it 90-points and the lead spot on its "Top Values" in this month's issue. Stone fruit, melon, spiced ginger and steely minerality deliver the winning shot as time runs out. ~ 90-points Wine Spectator

GERMANY
2012 Ehlen "Erdener Treppchen Kabinett" Riesling Mosel
~ $20/bottle
The Germans won their group and are looking like a lean, mean fighting machine. This Riesling from the Mosel follows their lead and is going full speed ahead. High-toned notes of citrus, apricots, petrol and slate strike the palate with precision. This all-star bottle is one you best not ignore if you're looking to advance to the next round.

PORTUGAL
2013 Quinta da Raza Vinho Verde
~ $13/bottle
A big thanks to Portugal for beating Ghana and helping us advance into the next round. To help send them on their early vacation, we've dialed up this crisp, clean and delicious Portuguese white that's the perfect poolside companion for beating the summer heat. Don't overthink it... this is just seriously groovy juice that delivers the goods in the glass.

ITALY
2012 Tenuta Ca' Bolani "Aquilis" Sauvignon Blanc
~ $33/bottle
Italy may have forgotten to bring their A-game in recent weeks, but this Sauv. Blanc from Friuli is dominating the pitch from the word go. Electric notes of lime blossom, chalk, tropical fruits, ginger and a steely crunch hit the goal from wherever it shoots. Honestly, one sip and you'll be celebrating your palate's victory for days on end.

FRANCE
2011 Frédéric Magnien Cote de Nuits-Villages Blanc Coeur de Pierres
~ $35/bottle
Le Bleu are firing on all cylinders and are looking to make quite a splash in the upcoming rounds. This Chardonnay from one of my favorite Burgundians also knows how to deliver the knockout blow. Succulent layers of citrus and chalk catch lightning in the bottle. Given its pedigree, this is one of the best bargains... Period.

SPAIN
2013 Palacio de Fefiñanes Albariño Rias Baixas
~ $30/bottle
The reigning champions didn't even get on the bus this year, but you'd probably fight for an early exit too if you got to drink Albariño like this every day. Peach custard, green apples, lime and white flowers are on full display, and will have you swooning for your liquid summer siesta in no time. Some fresh fish on the grill and call it a day!

ARGENTINA
2010 Hand of God "Stolen Horse Vineyard" Old Vine Malbec Mendoza
~ $75/bottle
The only red to make this list, it's only fitting I suggest this bottle of purple divine intervention to remember the last time Argentina won the World Cup in 1986. This is just decadent South American goodness that packs some serious punch. Vamos Argentina! ~ 92-points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

AUSTRALIA
2012 Mr. Riggs "Cold Chalk" Chardonnay Adelaide Hills
~ $28/bottle
Australia gave it the old college try but just didn't have the firepower to make it to the next round. Fortunately, this golden goddess from the Adelaide Hills is packed with the ammunition the team lacked. Crisp notes of green apple and lemon custard dive into a flinty pool of steely minerality. You deserve a red card if you don't grab as much of this as you can!

(Wines sold currently by Bounty Hunter and on occasion at Spec's)

06/24/2014

SOMM WINE DINNERS AT BACKSTREET ARE BACK!!!

Oo, oo, oo!!! Mr. Sean Beck is one of my favorite Sommeliers in Houston and he works his tail off at Backstreet Cafe' and all the sister restaurants, Caracol, Hugo's & Prego. He's bringing back his Somm Wine Dinner series at Backstreet and the first one of the season is this Monday evening, not to be missed! My mouth is salivating just reading this menu (it's 4:57pm, I think I can go pour myself a dry Riesling now, right?). If you go, report back to me and let me know your thoughts!!! Seating fills up quickly so make your reservation 713-521-2239. Tell them that The TasteMaker sent you!

06/21/2014

RESTAURANT REVIEW: 60° MASTERCRAFTED

We had a fabulous dinner at the new 60 Degrees Mastercrafted restaurant last night - a farm-to-table concept with an intriguing wine list. Their Sommelier is a female - Yay, Girl Power! Did you know that women usually make better sommeliers than men? It's due to biology. God/Mother Nature gave us better sniffers so we could sniff out what was good and what was bad and/or poisonous for our offspring to eat. Actually, now that I think about it... Girls are much better than boys at most things... except peeing drunk in the woods... and... maybe throwing a baseball overhand... but anything other than that, really...

Anyway, it was a lovely meal and the service was pleasantly attentive. The hostess even complimented how much she loved my skirt! The decor is upscale but relaxed, with exposed beams, natural hardwood floors, a glass wine storage wall, open kitchen, and each table has a fragrant bouquet of fresh herbs. My husband and I shared everything and started with the Green Tomato & Jumbo Lump Crab and a bowl of the Seafood Gumbo, which is the soup of the day on Fridays. For entrees we had the Three Pork, which included pork belly, spareribs and sausage... and also the Austrian Chicken Schnitzel, which my husband thought was "dry", but he doesn't like pickles and it is obligatory to eat your schnitzel with a bite of succulent, vinegary pickles... DUH! I LOVED it, ate every bite on the plate and wasn't embarrassed when the waiter took away my super clean, white plate... nom nom nom! We washed it all down with a reasonably priced ($64) bottle of Torbreck Grenache - it had a lot of fruit and well-balanced acidity and paired beautifully with the amalgamation of different foods on our table.

Our whole experience was very positive, that is, until my husband gave our valet ticket to another waiting patron, who was entirely put off by the bumbled gesture (can't blame him!) Ooops, that was embarrassing... but obviously not the restuarant's fault :-P

REVIEW: TWO THUMBS UP, DEFINITELY GO!

06/21/2014

And here's what wines go with those Mac n' Cheese recipe variations below...

Truffle Mac n' Cheese: Pair anything with truffles or other kinds of mushrooms with a nice earthy Pinot Noir, say from France (Burgundy) or an Oregon or California Pinot that are known to be made in the "Burgundian" style.

Summer Peas & Fresh Basil Mac n' Cheese: This light and verdant addition to mac needs a white wine, but with the creamy cheeses we need something that is also creamy and has some weight to it. Chardonnay would be perfect! And yes, I know, I have some Chardon-nay-say-ers out there... but I challenge you to try a nice, crisp Chablis... You'll never know it's *gasp* Chardonnay! :)

Italian Sausage & Oregano Mac n' Cheese: Ahhhh! A nice, relaxing, no frills, cheap Chianti. That was easy!

CHEERS Y'ALL!!!

06/20/2014

FANCY 4-CHEESE MAC 'N CHEESE - 3 WAYS

This is my go-to mac n' cheese recipe. It pretty easy, a real crowd pleaser, and... it's not bright orange! I have made the basic recipe in the past, but then zhoozhed it up last night with 3 different batches, each one with an added TasteMaker touch: 1) Croatian Truffle, 2) Summer Peas w/ Fresh Basil Chiffonade, and 3) Italian Sausage w/ Garlic and Oregano...

Ingredients:
Bread Crumb Topping ~
Panko bread crumbs
1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper

Pasta and Cheese ~
1 c. shredded Fontina cheese
3/4 c. crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1/2 c. grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 lb. pasta (elbow, penne, corkscrew)
1 Tbsp. plus 1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. all purpose flour
1.5 c. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. grated nutmeg

For Topping: Combine ingredients, set aside. Easy!

For Pasta: Bring pasta water to a boil. Add pasta and 1 Tbsp. salt to boiling water; stir to separate. While pasta is cooking, combine the cheese in a large bowl; set aside. Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat. Whisk flour into butter until no lumps remain. Gradually whisk in cream and once combined allow to come to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat and allow to simmer for 1 minute. Stir in remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cover cream mixture, turn off heat and set aside. When pasta is al-dente (slightly under done), drain and add to bowl of cheeses. Pour cream mixture over the pasta and cheese, then cover bowl with foil and let stand for 3 minutes so everything can marry. (See various versions below and add your own touch at this point). Then uncover bowl and stir with rubber spatula, scraping bottom of bowl, until cheeses are melted and mixture is thoroughly combined. Transfer pasta mixture to 13x9 inch baking dish, then sprinkle evenly with reserved Panko bread crumb topping mixture. Bake for about 7 minutes at 500 or until topping is golden brown.

Truffle Version: Follow recipe above and add however many truffles you'd like into the pasta mixture. Or, if truffles are out of season, drizzle pasta with truffle oil, which can usually be found year round.

Peas w/ Basil Version: Follow recipe above and add 1 c. fresh (thawed frozen) peas and 1/4 c. chiffonade of fresh basil leaves into the pasta mixture.

Italian Sausage w/ Garlic & Oregano: Brown 1.5 c. ground Italian sausage in a saute pan with 1 large chopped clove or garlic and 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano leaves. Follow recipe above and add into pasta mixture.

06/16/2014

Women of Wine Charities (WOW)... Hmmm, I'm a woman... I'm "of" wine... must join these people! Anyway, one of my favorite Sommeliers and Mixologists in Houston, Sean Beck, will be participating in a Sangria Throwdown today at Tommie Vaughn 5:30-7:30. How fitting since I just posted my awesome White Peach Sangria recipe. Should I go down there and just show up for the throwdown with that recipe, kinda like Bobby Flay style???

Have you purchased your tickets yet for our upcoming Sangria Throwdown? It's coming up this Monday, and there are only a few hours left to buy tickets online! WHEN: Monday, June 16th, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM WHERE: Tommie Vaughn Ford, 1201 N. Shepherd Dr. WHO: Guys are welcome at all of our events t…

06/16/2014

I served the Firework Salad w/ Green Goddess Dressing (previous post) and White Peach Sangria on Sunday for Father's Day and so many friends asked for the recipes, so here ya' go...

WHITE PEACH SANGRIA

• 1 (750 ml) bottle of Muscato
• 1 cup peach nectar (popular brands are Jumex or Kern’s)
• 3/4 cup peach liqueur
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (although to be fancy I substituted with mango juice)
• 2 white peaches, pitted and sliced, plus more for garnish
• 1 orange, cut into half wheels, plus more for garnish
• Ice cubes

Combine all of the ingredients in a 2-quart pitcher and stir gently. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serve over ice and garnish with the fresh peach and orange slices. Drink Up! Then call a cab for all your friends :-P

06/16/2014

FIREWORKS SALAD WITH MY OWN VERSION OF GREEN GODDESS DRESSING

Ingredients:
Salad ~
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 slightly under-ripe avocado
2 ears of fresh sweet corn
1 Tbsp freshly chopped basil

Dressing ~
Juice of 1 lime
1 clove minced garlic
1 ripe avocado
1/4 c. light mayonnaise
1/4 c. light sour cream
1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the basil.

Add all the dressing ingredients in a Cuisinart and whisk on high to zhoozh all together. Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, basil, cooled grilled corn and dressing in a serving bowl and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes in the fridge to let flavors mingle. Then ENJOY!!!