2012: Favorite Restaurants

What were some of my favorite restaurants of the past year?

I have already posted several of my drink-related Favorites' lists and and now I want to concentrate on my Favorite Restaurants of the past year. This is certainly not a complete list but it is more a sampling of memorable matters I have experienced and/or posted about over the past year. You will even find Favorites from outside Massachusetts as I traveled some this past year.

There is also a section later in this post called Consistent Favorites, and it includes a list of a number of restaurants which have been my favorites for subsequent years. Restaurants which are consistently good certainly deserve recognition, and I have tried to note some of those places to which I return again and again. I hope you enjoy all of my recommendations.

Favorite High-End Restaurant: Superb cuisine, an amazing wine list and impeccable service combine to make L'Espalier a Boston treasure. I have dined there before, and always been impressed, and this past year I attended an amazing Barons de Rothschild Champagne lunch and Cheese Tuesday. The restaurant can transform even the simplest of dishes, such as roast chicken, into a wonder. It is well worth the splurge.

Favorite Restaurant Comeback: My last visit to Avila Modern Mediterranean had been a few years ago and my dinner was disappointing. A few others who I spoke to at that time had also reported less than pleasant experiences. However this year, I recently attended a Glenmorangie Scotch dinner at Avila and was surprised at the high quality and creativity of the food. It was an amazing meal with such compelling items like goat cheese croquettes, creamy corn soup, chicken liver ravioli, and braised Waygu beef cheeks. It seems Avila has greatly improved and I will definitely return.

Unfortunate Tragedy to a Favorite Restaurant: Prezza, in the North End, has been one of my favorite high-end Italian spot but this past July the restaurant suffered a kitchen fire. For the last six months, they have been closed as they have conducted extensive repairs and remodeling. This has been a great loss to the community but fortunately it appears the restaurant is set to reopen any day now. When they reopen, please dine there and give them your support. Their food is exceptional and I am sure you will enjoy whatever you order. Good luck to Chef/Owner Anthony Caturano and all his staff.

Favorite Local Food Dinner Series: Numerous Boston area restaurants are emphasizing local ingredients but special kudos must go out to Post 390 for their monthly Farm to Post dinner series. Each month they emphasize a different local purveyor, from farmers to fishermen, and not only use their products but also bring in the purveyors to talk to diners. That helps diners better understand the sources of their food and it also helps immensely that the food is creative and delicious. Check out their Farm to Post dinners.

Favorite North End Restaurant, Old School: Lucia Ristorante, with a second location in Winchester, opened in the North End back in 1977 and recently celebrated its 35th anniversary. It is very much old school yet the food is actually quite tasty. Their chef's skill was quite evident at a fantastic polenta dinner and their anniversary celebration also emphasized their culinary skills. You may not consider Lucia when selecting a North End restaurant, but you should give it some consideration. Their Winchester location also carries excellent pizzas.

Favorite Italian Restaurant Outside the North End: For some of the most creative Italian fare in Boston, you can't go wrong with Erbaluce, Chef Chuck Draghi continues to impress with his unique take on many traditional Italian dishes and the restaurant also has a compelling Italian wine list. How many other restaurants in Boston make fried sunflower heads? His dishes, generally prepared without butters and creams, are often lighter yet still full of flavor. Dine there and check out their ever changing menu or attend one of their compelling events.

Favorite Spanish Restaurant: Chef Deborah Hansen of Taberna de Haro in Brookline continues to invest great passion into her Spanish cuisine. The restaurant has recently expanded in size, nearly doubling, and have added a bar. They are also adding more Spanish wines to their already expansive wine list, including more Sherries. One of their newest culinary events is Roasted Sucking Pig Tuesdays, which I haven't yet attended but plan to do so soon.    

Favorite Mexican Restaurant: Chef Joe Cassinelli of Pizzeria Posto, one of my favorite Italian spots, opened a second restaurant, The Painted Burro, which offers Mexican cuisine. The food I tasted during my two dinners and brunch there have all impressed, including the Yucatan Meatloaf. I am usually not a meatloaf fan but this opened my eyes to the potential and I cannot recommend it enough. The Burro also has an extensive list of tequilas and mezcals, with plenty of tasty cocktails. A great addition to the local area.

Favorite Suburban Restaurant, Italian: Italian restaurants are ubiquitous in the suburbs, but too many of them are simply average. However, the new A Tavola in Winchester, the second restaurant of Chef Vittorio Ettore (who also owns Bistro 5 in Medford) rises above the masses. Lots of Piattini, small plates, make a great way to start your dinner from their homemade charcuterie to seafood dishes. Then you can move onto their killer pasta, their exceptional risotto, smoky Porchetta and more. It is an intimate restaurant, showcasing the culinary genius of Chef Ettore, and can compete with any Boston restaurant.

Favorite BYOB Restaurant: In the suburbs, you can find a number of BYOB restaurants and one of them is my usual go to spot when I want to bring my own wine or Sake. Kyotoya, in Stoneham, is an inexpensive Japanese restaurant with delicious food, such as superb tempura, and they do not charge a corkage fee. I have dined there numerous times, usually bringing wine or Sake, and those I have introduced to the place have all very much enjoyed it.

Favorite New Hampshire Restaurant: Moxy, situated in Portsmouth, would shine wherever it was located. Chef Matt Louis, with an impressive culinary resume, has created a superb restaurant which emphasizes Spanish inspired tapas, using local ingredients and a New England flair. The food is excellent and the menu concept works well. They also have a good drinks program, from wine to cocktails and including numerous local beers. I would even stop there just for their desserts, such as mini-Whoopie pies. It gets my highest recommendation and I eagerly look forward to my next visit.

Favorite Connecticut Restaurant, Casual: At the Mohegan Sun Casino, there are plenty of restaurants but which one should you select? For amazing fried chicken, in a casual atmosphere, check out Big Bubba's BBQ. The restaurant serves BBQ and southern cuisine and the plates are quite large, stacked high with food. The Finger Lickin Fried Chicken plate included two large chicken breasts and two wings, more than enough chicken to satisfy any craving. It was superb, perfectly cooked, with a nice crispy and well seasoned coating and very moist, tender white meat.

Favorite Connecticut Restaurant, High-End: If you are seeking something more elegant for dinner at the Mohegan Sun, then Bobby Flay's Bar Americain would be a good choice. It has a menu of American favorites, some with a southern flair, as well as plenty of fresh seafood. The food is delicious, well prepared, and worth the high prices. Enjoy their Buttermilk Fried Chicken or Duck with Dirty Wild Rice, Pecans, & Bourbon. I would also highly recommend ordering a side of Hot Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Sauce, a decadent delight with crisp chips and a creamy, tangy sauce.

Favorite Louisville Restaurant, Casual: Sometimes you stumble upon a restaurant and end up having a delicious meal. Seeking a quick lunch, I stopped at the Bluegrass Burgers in Louisville, Kentucky, knowing nothing about it beforehand. This burger joint prides itself in serving mostly local ingredients, from their meats to their produce. The Kentucky Grass Fed Bison Burger, topped by local Bleu-Gouda cheese, was an excellent burger, moist with plenty of tasty flavor and the cheese added an intriguing and compelling element. Their sweet potato fries were also addictive, with a bright sweet potato flavor and a crisp exterior. I wish we had a burger place like this in the Boston area.

Favorite Louisville Restaurant, Mid-Range: Another restaurant dedicated to local ingredients, Harvest has huge portraits of the farmers they use on their walls. The food, from the Buttermilk Fried Chicken to Crispy Pork Confit, is tasty and reasonably priced. And for dessert, their Bourbon Bread Pudding was amazing, one of the best bread puddings I have tasted. It has a casual ambiance, a good wine list and service was excellent. A great choice in Louisville, Kentucky.

Favorite Louisville Restaurant, High-End: After attending the Kentucky Derby, a group of us went to Corbett's for a special post-Derby prix-fixe menu. From a Smoked Salmon Parfait to a Creekstone Tenderloin, the food was exquisite, with killer wine pairings and superb service in an intimate dining area. The cuisine could compete with any high-end restaurant in Boston.

Favorite Nova Scotia Bakery: While visiting Dartmouth, my hotel was just around the corner from the Two If By Sea Cafe, where I had heard they made exceptional croissants. I found that was not an understatement. They are heavier than the usual croissant, containing far more layers, and probably weigh at least twice as much than the usual croissant. Yet they remain flaky and soft throughout the croissant, each bite a pure delight. Their prosciutto & cheese was my favorite, the prosciutto adding a salty flair to the croissant and some of the ham that stuck out the ends was satisfyingly crispy. This is one of the best croissants I have ever tasted, putting to shame so many meager ham & cheese croissants. Highly recommended.

Favorite Nova Scotia Restaurant: In Halifax, Chives Canadian Bistro offers a menu based on seasonal produce from local farmers, artisan cheese and meat producers, and sustainable seafood. The cuisine offers contemporary Canadian bistro dishes rooted in European culinary history. It is an intimate place, with cool decor, and the food and wine impressed. General Tao's Bacon, New Orleans Po' Boy Sandwich, Lobster Tagliatelle and more. The chef has won numerous awards and they are well deserved.

Favorite Carnivore Dinner: It is no secret that I love meat. When I traveled to Tuscany, I had a dinner that would have satiated even the most demanding carnivore. At the Officina della Bistecca, famed butcher Dario Cecchini offers an incredible prix fixe meal, which includes five courses of beef. All of the meat was superb, especially the beef tartare, which melted in my mouth. Cecchini uses high quality beef, simply prepared, and the flavor fills your mouth with joy. Seated at communal tables, dinner is more of an experience than simply a meal. My highest recommendation.

Favorite Dessert: At the Red Lantern in Boston, their Pineapple Bread Pudding, with coconut ice cream, was superb, a perfect blend of tropical flavors. The bread pudding had a nice firm, but soft, texture and it was bursting with fresh pineapple flavors. I really think an enterprising baker should open a bread pudding dessert shop, offering a variety of different bread puddings. Forget cup cakes, let us see more bread puddings.

Consistent Favorites

Favorite Brunch, Traditional Fare: For a third year, the winner is AKA Bistro in Lincoln.

Brunch, Traditional Fare-Honorable Mention: For a third year, my choice is Tupelo in Inman Square.

Favorite Brunch, Non-Traditional Fare: For the fourth year in a row, the winner is Myers & Chang in the South End.

Favorite Suburban Restaurant: For the third year in a row, the winner is AKA Bistro in Lincoln.

Favorite Japanese Restaurant: For a third year, the winner is Oishii in the South End.

Favorite Chinatown Restaurant: For a third year, the winner is Gourmet Dumpling House.

Favorite Somerville Restaurant: Last year, Bergamot was my Overall Favorite Restaurant and it continues to be worthy of kudos. I haven't been there as much this past year but need to remedy that in the new year. My highest recommendation.

Favorite Underappreciated Restaurant: For the third year, the winner is T.W. Food in Cambridge.

Favorite Asian Buffet: For a fourth year, the winner is Taipei Tokyo Cafe in Woburn.

Favorite North End Restaurant, High End: For a third year, the winnner is Prezza.

Favorite North End Restaurant, Moderate: For a third year, the winner is Nebo.

Favorite North End Restaurant, Fusion: For a third year, the winner is Taranta.

Favorite Italian Restaurant, Somerville: For a third year, the winner is Pizzeria Posto.

Favorite Suburban Steak House: For a fourth year, the winner is Beacon Grille in Woburn. 

Favorite Fried Seafood: For a third year, the winner is the Clam Box in Ipswich.

What were some of your favorite restaurants this year?

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2012: Favorite Wine Related Items

What were some of my favorite wine related items of the past year?

Let me continue the lists of my best recommendations and favorites of 2012. I have already posted my Top Ten Wines Under $15, Top Ten Wines Over $15 and Top Wines Over $50 lists. This post will now concentrate on some of my Favorite Wine Related Items, which are not specific wine recommendations. This is certainly not a complete list but it is more a sampling of compelling and memorable matters I have experienced and posted about over the past year.

This is also a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. But all of the items here have earned my strong recommendations and I hope you will enjoy them as well. For more wine related items, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.

Favorite Discount Wine Stores: Once again, this past year has been an economic challenge and wine prices have been on everyone's mind. Consumers want bargains, excellent value wines which won't stretch their wallets. You can buy the cheap wines which can be found in almost any wine store or instead, you can seek out excellent, value wines which put to shame those cheap wines. Certain discount wine stores provide not only excellent prices but also an interesting selection and good service. I want to highlight two such stores which do an especially good job, places where I go to seek bargains: Bin Ends in Braintree and Wine Connextion in North Andover. These stores have remained consistent over time, offering diverse and interesting bargain wines and you won't go wrong checking either of them out.

Favorite Suburban Wine & Cheese Store: Though I have visited the Concord Cheese Shop in prior years, I hadn't been there for at least a year or so until visiting it a couple of times this past year. I was reminded once again why it is an excellent destination for wine, cheese and gourmet foods. The wine selection is diverse, prices are good and you will find some wines here that many other stores do not carry. And all of their cheeses, a myriad of dairy pleasures, will please everyone. This is another shop you should patronize.

Favorite Wine Stores: This is a list of nine wine stores which consistently impress me with their selection and service. Each shop is worthy of your patronage and wine lovers should make the effort to visit these places if you have not done so yet.
Lower Falls Wine Company in Newton Lower Falls.
Winestone in Chestnut Hill.
The Reserve Bin in Foxboro.
Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet in Melrose.
Vintages: Adventures in Wine in Belmont.
Spirited Gourmet in Belmont.
Wine-Sense in Andover.
Wine Bottega in Boston's North End.
Central Bottle Wine & Provisions in Cambridge.

Favorite Wine Magazine: For the fourth year in a row, Decanter, a British wine magazine, continues to impress me with its extensive coverage, including many less common wine regions, often ignored or marginalized in other wine publications. Plus it has an amusing wine cartoon in every issue. This is a magazine that consistently delivers fascinating articles and I always look forward to each issue. If you are not reading it, you should be.

Favorite Wine Book: Last year, my Favorite Wine Book was the first volume of The Drops of God, a Japanese manga, a comic book, about wine. Besides entertaining, the book also educated people about wine, helping to reduce the intimidation factor. In addition, some of the language it uses, especially in describing wine is quite poetic. During the past year, three more volumes have been released and once again I have selected it as my Favorite Wine Book. Check out my reviews of Volume 2, Volume 3 and New World. Every wine lover should read this series. Unfortunately, more volumes may not be published unless the books start generating more sales. Give this book a chance and you won't regret it.

Runner-Up Favorite Wine Book: The New York Times Book Of Wine offers an excellent selection of over 125 articles, written by about 28 different authors. It is not a collection of boring tasting notes but rather many thoughtful pieces on a great range of wine topics such as Spanish Sherry, the Japanese Koshu grape, serving alcohol to your children, Txakolina, Madeira, and natural winemaking. These are articles that everyone can enjoy, from those new to wine to the knowledgeable wine geeks. These articles will educate and entertain, and may even getting you thinking about wine in different ways.

Favorite Introductory Wine Book: For someone new to wine, Kevin Zraly's Windows On The World Complete Wine Course is an excellent choice. It presents a nice overview of the world of wine without deluging a reader with too much technical information. Though I have some issues with the presentation of certain wine information, it is still one of the best introductory books available. It is a fine starting point for a wine education.

Favorite Wine Dinner, Domestic: Indigenous and uncommon grapes, compelling wines, superb food, and great people all combined to create an exceptional wine dinner. Legal Harborside hosted Alessio Planeta of Planeta Wines, which owns six wine estates on Sicily. From a Sparkling wine made from Carricante to a red made with Nerello Mascele, many of the wines were fascinating and delicious, while the food, such as Ricotta Gnocchi with truffles and the Lobster Soup were amazing. It was fun and informative, tasty and stimulating.

Favorite Wine Dinner, International: This was an easy choice for a meat lover such as I. While in Chianti Classico, I had the honor of dining at the Antica Macelleria Cecchini, the renowned restaurant of Dario Cecchini, the signing butcher of Panzano. Dario is an extraordinary butcher and offers a prix fixe dinner with five courses of beef, some of the best beef you may ever eat. The steak tartare was simply prepared yet was outstanding, showcasing the taste of the quality beef and not hiding it behind lots of other ingredients. Plus, Dario is a true showman and made it an enjoyable experience. I could have dined here every night while I was in Tuscany. If you visit Tuscany, you must dine here at least once.

Favorite Single Winery Tasting: For the second year in a row, the same winery is involved in this category, though the location was different. As I mentioned last year, the wines of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region can be amazing, and Chateau La Nerthe is a stellar producer from this area. Last year, I tasted the wines at a superb lunch at L'Espalier and this year the lunch was held at Bistro du Midi. From the compelling Tavel Rosé to the 2009 Chateau La Nerthe "Clos de Beauvenir" Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, the wines did not disappoint. They paired well with delicious dishes such as the Coral Infused Chitarra Pasta with Maine Lobster. These are wines worth a splurge.

Favorite High-End Wine Tasting: The Vintus Tour presented 26 wineries, from all over the world, showcasing many higher end wines that reflected terroir, many which are also sustainable, organic or biodynamic. This was a stellar collection of wines, presenting many unique wines which impressed me, and it was a pleasure to get to chat with many of the wine makers. As it was a portfolio tasting, closed to the public, it was not overly crowded so you had the opportunity to take your time with the wines and ask the wine makers questions. Several of these wines ended up on my Top Wine lists.

Favorite Private Wine Tasting: My friend Adam, of Wine Zag, hosts a monthly blind tasting event which is always fun and interesting. Recently, he held a fascinating blind tasting of 90+ Cellars wines against a group of wines he handpicked to compete against them. This was an intriguing challenge and the results were enlightening. Plenty of great people attended the tasting and everyone enjoyed themselves. Unpretentious and casual, it was the type of wine tasting which would appeal to wine lovers of any knowledge levels. I look forward to Adam's next blind tasting event in January.

Favorite Wine Trip, International: Though it was also my only international wine trip this year, my visit to the Chianti Classico region was excellent, with great food, wine, scenery, people and more. Compared to other wine trips I have taken, it was certainly one of my favorites. My trip generated a dozen blog posts and several of the wines I tasted ended up on my Top Wine lists this year. Tuscany is so beautiful and the people were extremely nice. The food was often simple yet made from high quality and delicious ingredients. And so many delicious wines, from traditional Chianti Classico to compelling Vin Santo. It is a region I highly recommend.

Favorite Winery Visit: While in Chianti Classico, I was fortunate to get to visit the Isole e Olena winery, owned by Paolo di Marchi, the Philosopher-Peasant of Chianti Classico. I have met Paolo before but this was my first visit to his winery and it lived up to my expectations. You can read my thoughts in a two-part post (Part 1 and Part 2), but in short, the wines were superb, Paolo was fascinating and I learned much about the winery and the Chianti Classico region in general. I could have easily spent the entire day with Paolo, soaking in his knowledge and experience, while enjoying his amazing Cepparello.

Favorite Mega-Wine Event: Due to their size, large wine exhibitions can have their issues, especially due to the great crowds they generate. My favorite this year of these mega-events was the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest. Besides wine, they also present spirits, beer, and cider as well as plenty of food. The aisles between the tables are wide, there are two floors in the Grand Tasting and they seem to accommodate the crowds better than other events. In addition, besides a Grand Tasting, the Wine Fest has other excellent events such as an Elite Cru Tasting and a Celebrity Chef Dine Around. Several wines from this event ended up on my Top Wine lists this year and I look forward to this event next year.

Favorite Local Wine Bloggers: Locally, there is only a small number of blogs dedicated 50% or more to wine, being far outweighed by hundreds of local food blogs, some which occasionally touch on wine. But of that small group, there are a number who deserve praise for their devotion to wine. I see many of these people at local wine events and they have become good friends too. Kudos to Adam of Wine Zag, Robert of The Wellesley Wine Press, Rob of Fringe Wine, Jason of Ancient Fire Beverage, Todd of Vermont Wine Media and Marie of The Life of Vines. Please check out their wine blogs.

Top Wine Controversy: During the past year, I have ranted, usually on Mondays, about a variety of wine issues. But one of the most popular rants addressed the question of why a number of restaurant reviewers ignore wine in their reviews? It befuddles me that a restaurant review, which should comprehensively address the offerings of a restaurant, would ignore an important element such as the alcohol program. In my rant, I used the Boston Globe to illustrate this issue, showing how their main reviewer often ignored or gave short shrift to the wine and alcohol programs of most of the restaurants reviewed during the summer. I never received any response but plenty of others voiced their agreement that reviewers did a disservice by ignoring restaurant beverage programs.

Favorite Wine History Post: History intrigues me and I very much enjoy researching and writing histories about wine, though I often try to reach quite far back into history, to see the true roots of a wine and its region. This year, I wrote a four part series on The Origins of Port, extending back to the Phoenicians and proceeding through the formation of the nation of Portugal. Many other histories of Port begin much later, like during the 17th century but I felt the true origins lay many centuries earlier. I learned much in my researches and hope my readers benefited from it too.

Favorite Local Wine News: In 2011, a new law allowed local wineries to sell their wines at farmers markets and festivals. I saw that as very positive for local wineries and a later study showed its success. In 2011, sales of Massachusetts wines increased by an amazing 66%, primarily due to their ability to sell wine at the markets and festivals. Great news for local businesses during these tough economic times. Let us hope their success continued into 2012.

Kudos For Sherry Love:  I love Spanish Sherry, from Fino to Oloroso, Manzanilla to Palo Cortado. Unfortunately, that places me in a tiny minority as Sherry, especially dry Sherry, is very much a niche beverage in the U.S. But locally, Sherry is gaining more love, especially by two restaurants, Tres Gatos and Taberna de Haro. Tres Gatos, in Jamaica Plain, now hosts Sherry Tuesdays, where you can sample sherries with pinchos. Taberna de Haro has recently expanded their restaurant and now carries 27 different Sherries, and will be adding more too. Both restaurants deserve big kudos for their passion and support of Sherry.

New Wine Job: Last February, I started a new endeavor, a part time job at the Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet in Melrose. It has been fun and educational, helping customers select wines, providing recommendations and more. It provides an interesting glimpse into the mind of the wine consumer and has also fueled a number of blog posts. Stop by the store some time and let me help you choose some wines. Besides the wine, the store also stocks some delicious gourmet and artisan foods, so you have one stop shopping for a party.

What were some of your favorite wine related items this year?

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Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.
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1)  Mohegan Sun will hold their first annual BBQ Fest from June 1– 3 in their Winter Parking Lot. Host Mike Petit of NESN’s Grillseekers emcees the three day event filled with cooking demonstrations, live bands and BB “QnA” sessions with Pitmaster Troy Black. Guests can also enjoy the beats…and treats from DJ Chef Marc Weiss, shop the Sardilli Farmer’s Market, ride the mechanical bull and watch Joey “Jaws” Chestnut battle in a rib eating contest.

Tickets are $30 per day including 8 food tickets and go on-sale Monday, April 16 at 10am through Ticketmaster.com or at Mohegan Sun’s Box Office. Kids 10 and under get in free (does not include food tickets).

Ever wonder how the pros make it look so easy? Here is your chance to learn. Throughout the weekend, a number of events will be taking place where guests can learn the tricks of the trade right from the professionals. From various cooking demonstrations to special BB’QnA’ with Pitmaster Troy Black, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn their hidden secrets. With a knack for invention and love of barbecue, Black has gained an impressive reputation as an award-winning, competitive barbecue chef and brand ambassador. His zeal for both barbecue and the industry has taken him on an incredible journey from the Southern Living magazine editorial staff to full-time competitive barbecue chef. In the spring of 2010, Black’s first book, The Big Book of BBQ, hit the national scene. Guests can also enjoy an appearance by Ray Lampe, otherwise known as Dr. BBQ.

hroughout the weekend, guests can enjoy a number of live bands right on the main stage. Performers include Robert Cray, Jay Dempsey & Highway Call, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Mammoth Jack, Sugar and Shady Creek.

Note: Mohegan Sun requires persons under the age of 18 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian from opening until the close of the event. Unescorted minors will have their parent/legal guardian contacted to pick them up immediately.

2)  The celebration of Buddha’s birth (observed this year on May 28) is a national holiday throughout Asia, marked by joyous parades, communal meals and other cultural rituals. Combining “foo,” the Chinese word for Buddha, with “umami,” the Japanese word for flavor or taste, Foumami loosely translates to “what Buddha finds to be most delicious.” Chinese folklore says that Buddha was so infatuated with the aromas wafting into the monastery from a nearby village that he jumped over the wall for just one taste of the villagers’ food. At Foumami, the food is supposed to entice diners to experience firsthand why Buddha was compelled to jump over the wall.

To honor Buddha’s birthday, from May 29-June 5, Foumami tempts diners to “jump over the wall” with a week of special menu items:

Miso Eggplant Tempura Sandwich: Eggplant tempura stuffed with seasoned beef, drizzled with house-made red sweet miso sauce, served in shao bing bread, topped with romaine and spicy longhorn peppers Significance: Blends gently fried eggplant and freshly baked shao bing with deep umami flavors to achieve the enticing scent that caught Buddha’s attention.
Amacha: Naturally sweet hydrangea tea brewed yearly in honor of Buddha’s birthday. Significance: In Japanese tradition, people visit temples to pour amacha on the head of statues depicting Buddha’s birth, as if bathing a newborn.

3)  Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer is a sweet and delicious way to raise “dough” for breast cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. During the week leading up to Mother’s Day, May 7 through May 13, more than 250 restaurants, bakeries, cafés, ice cream, and chocolate shops throughout Massachusetts will create unique desserts. Desserts start at $3 and proceeds benefit breast cancer research and care at Dana-Farber and Bakes for Breast Cancer, Inc. a newly formed non-profit breast cancer organization dedicated to making a difference in the fight against breast cancer. For a list of participating establishments or to shop online, please visit Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer.

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Mohegan Sun Restaurants: Bubba to Bobby

While attending the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest, I had a hankering for fried chicken and decided that maybe dinner at Big Bubba's BBQ could satiate my craving. The restaurant serves BBQ and southern cuisine, and there are three New York locations in addition to their Mohegan Sun location. The Executive Chef is Francis Collymore, a native of Barbados, whose resume includes a five year stint at Virgil’s Real BBQ in New York City, first as Executive Sous Chef and later as Executive Chef. Since 2001, he has been the Executive Chef at Big Bubba's BBQ.

It is a casual place, with an eclectic and fun decor, just appropriate for its cuisine. The menu is fairly extensive with Appetizers ($3.95-$10/.95), Salads, BBQ Sandwiches ($10.95-$12.50), Po' Boys ($9.95-$11.95), Sandwiches ($9.95-$11.95), Burgers & Dawgs ($8.95-$12.95), Barbecue Platters ($16.95-$24.95), Country ($16.95), Grilled ($14.95-$31.95), Seafood ($16.95-$20.95), Big Bubba Salads ($11.95-$13.95) and Sides ($4.95).  Thus, with all that variety, you might have difficulty deciding on what to order, though there should be something for everyone.

We began our meal with an appetizer of Mardi Gras Popcorn Crawfish ($9.95), a hearty basket of crispy crawfish which was a good meal to start our dinner. My companion ordered the St. Louis Pork Ribs ($22.95) and raved about their taste, very tender and flavorful pork which easily fell from the bone. I tasted them and was very pleased with their flavor too, definitely very well made ribs.

For myself, I ordered the Finger Lickin Fried Chicken ($16.95, $2 more for all white meat), which comes with 2 Sides and iron skillet cornbread. I decided to get the Cheese Grits and French Fries with cheese. What a platter of food! I received two large chicken breasts and two wings, more than enough chicken to satisfy my craving. In addition, it was superb fried chicken with a nice crispy and well seasoned coating and very moist, tender white meat. Perfectly cooked chicken, and I was only able to finish the breasts and never made it to the wings. I would highly recommend their fried chicken. The fries were fine though the cheese grits were just ok, not the creamy grits I prefer. But all I truly cared about was the chicken and it was well worth the price.

Service was very good, prices were reasonable considering the quality and quantity of the food, and my craving was more than satisfied. Kudos to Bubba!

On my second evening at the Mohegan Sun, I ended up at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain, which is a more higher-end restaurant, with a menu of more American favorites, some with a southern flair, as well as plenty of fresh seafood. Its menu is moderate sized, with a Raw Bar, Appetizers ($11-$17), Entrees ($24-$49), Steaks ($39-$46) and Sides ($9). Plenty to choose from and many of the dishes sounded appetizing. There were several dishes which appealed to me and it took me a little bit to decide which to order.

I began the dinner with a Dark and Stormy cocktail, though it was not made in the traditional manner, and was more like a martini. It just didn't taste like what I expected and I much prefer the traditional version. Fortunately, that was my only complaint of the meal.

My dining companion and I started with a dozen Oysters ($36), three different types, and they were clean and tasty, each type providing its own unique flavor profile. My dining companion then ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, with Honey, Pink Peppercorns, Lime, and Black Pepper Biscuits ($29). He enjoyed his meal and I also tasted the chicken, finding the crispy coating to have a sweeter taste, but still good, than what I had at Bubba's.

I decided on the Duck with Dirty Wild Rice, Pecans, & Bourbon ($34), which is pictured above. Slices of tender breast breast and a confit leg, I was very pleased with its taste, enjoying the bourbon flair in the sauce. As a side, I ordered the Hot Potato Chips with Blue Cheese Sauce ($9) and they were a decadent delight, dipping the crisp chips in the creamy and tangy sauce. I almost could have made a meal just of the chips and sauce.

Service was good, the food was tasty, and I would return.

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Mohegan Sun Wine Fest: Spirits & Cocktails

Nothing like a shot of Scotch or Tequila at 11am on a Saturday morning. Ok, I actually waited until later on in the afternoon, only because I wanted to do some wine tasting first. But the opportunity was there.

I like the fact that the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest Grand Tasting offers a selection of spirits and cocktails, and I got to taste some interesting selections, which I will share with you. If you attended this event, and found other good spirits or cocktails, free to add your thoughts to the Comments.

10 Cane Rum, crafted by the people at Moët Hennessy,  is produced on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Its name is derived from two facts, that traditionally, sugar cane stalks are harvested in bundles of ten as well as that it requires ten sugar cane stalks to make one bottle of this rum. 10 Cane uses first press  juice and is aged for about one year in old French oak. Unfortunately, I did not get to taste any of the rum on its own as the pourer stated that could not be done.

Instead, the rum was used in a mojito, which was actually very tasty, one of the better mojitos I have tasted. Basically, the mojito recipe is 2 parts rum, 1 part lime juice, 1 part simple syrup, 1 1/3 parts club soda and 8-10 mint leaves. Though they make a much larger batch and you can see about 48-60 mint leaves in their glass pitcher.  

The folks from Don Julio Tequila were at the Expo, pouring samples of their full line-up, from the Blanco to the Don Julio Real, their most expensive tequila. My favorite of their portfolio is the Don Julio 1942, which I previously reviewed. They have changed the bottle for this tequila though, which previously was very tall and resembled an agave leaf. It still is a tall bottle, but is more angular and plain, not resembling a leaf any longer. But the tequila within the new bottle is still as delightful.

The ice luge was cool, and they were pouring a cocktail made from Hennessey Cognac and cranberry juice. The cocktail was nothing special but they get kudos for presentation.

The well known Glenlivet Distillery, which was founded in 1823, may have the best selling malt whiskey in the U.S. They sell about 6 million bottles each year, and produce at least a dozen different bottlings, which includes a number of limited releases. Three of their products were being tasted at the Expo, including the 12 Year Old and 15 Year Old Single Malts. Each is good and different from the other, the 12 year old being a bit more smoky with honey notes while the 15 year old was more floral and spicy. But for me, the real winner was the Nàdurra.

Nàdurra, the Gaelic word for "natural," is meant to reflect some 19th century brewing practices. For example, it is not chill filtered, which Glenlivet claims gives "the mouth feel more body and a richer texture." There is some disagreement over whether chill filtering strips a whiskey of any flavor or not. The Nàdurra is a 16 Year Old, spending that time in first fill American oak barrels.  It is unfiltered and left at cask strength so it has an alcohol content of 54%. I found the Nàdurra to possess very intense flavors, a harmonious collection of spice, herbs, honey and much more. You really need to sit with a glass of this and sip it slowly, to better understand its nuances. My small taste probably did not do it justice, but I could see its potential. And though there is some heat from the alcohol, it is much more balanced than you might think.

Frederick Wildman & Sons offered numerous wines to be tasted but also presented three spirits, a Mezcal and two Blended Scotches, the Sheep Dip and Pig's Nose by Spencerfield. The Sheep Dip is a blend of 16 different single malt Scotches, aged 8-20 years, and had a nice taste but it was a bit too harsh for my own preferences. The Pig's Nose was more my style, and received its name from a saying: "Tis said that our Scotch is as soft and as smooth as a Pig's Nose." And it certainly lives up to its name, presenting a silky smooth mouth feel that caresses your palate. It is a blend of oak-aged Speyside, Islay and Lowland malts with Invergordon gentle grain whiskies. Its flavors run the gamut from caramel to nuts, from dried fruits to subtle smoke notes. A very easy drinking blended Scotch, it is something to savor and enjoy.

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Mohegan Sun Wine Fest: The Wines

Though I would have preferred more diversity in the wine selections at the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest Grand Tasting, I found some very good wines and I will share a sampling of my favorites below. Obviously, I did not taste every wine at the event so there could have been other worthy wines that I simply did not get the opportunity to sample. If you attended this event, and tasted some good wines that I have not mentioned, feel free to add your thoughts to the Comments.

The labels are eye-catching, especially if you are a music lover, though you might suspect they are mere gimmicks. The Wines That Rock, founded in 2009, is a collaboration between RZO Music, Inc. and the Mendocino Wine Company, and is "...all about pairing wine & music."  The Mendocino Wine Co. is very environmentally friendly, with sustainable farming, green power through solar & wind, eco-friendly packaging, carbon neutrality and more.

There are currently five Wines That Rock, including wines for Woodstock, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stone, The Police and The Grateful Dead. If you check their website, you can see the inspirations for these wines, the reasons why the music and wine are supposed to work well together. I have tasted several of these wines before, which generally retail around $15 a bottle, and they are generally good wines for the money and not merely a marketing gimmick.

Their newest release, in partnership with Grateful Dead Productions and Rhino Entertainment is the 2009 Grateful Dead "Steal Your Face," a  red blend. Their website states: "To capture the essence of the live energy of the Grateful Dead’s Steal Your Face, Winemaker Mark Beaman chose to meld several varieties into one. Just as the band members would segue through various musical styles, this wines far reaching flavors melt seamlessly from one to the next, blending Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel & Grenache. In honor of the band’s famous improvisational concerts that have brought joy to so many, this wine celebrates Mendocino County’s bounty of diversity and freedom of experimentation."

I enjoyed this muscular wine, with its prominent blend of black and red fruit, a spicy backbone and strong tannins. It had just enough complexity to make it interesting, especially at its price point. It is an easy drinking wine, excellent for BBQ or hearty meat dishes, or something to warm you on a chilly winter evening. As I am not a big Grateful Dead fan, I can't really say how this wine compares to their music. But maybe my friend, and devoted Deadhead, Adam of Wine Zag can comment on that.

I found two Spanish Albarinos, from Rias Baixas, each offering its own unique style. The 2010 Serra da Estrela Albarino ($16.99) is from a winery established in 2000, located  in the Condado do Tea subzone of Rias Baixas on the northern slopes of the Miño river. The chief winemaker is a woman, Cristina Mantilla, a common occurrence in Rias Baixas wineries. This Albarino sees no oak, and is crisp and clean, with more restrained fruit tastes, apple, pear and apricot. Its minerality is more prominent, kind of a flintiness, and it has a fairly lengthy and pleasing finish. A nice choice with seafood, from oysters to shrimp.

The 2010 Salneval Albarino ($11.99) is produced by the Adega Condes de Albarei winery, founded in 1988 and located in the O Salnès valley. It is a cooperative of 362 grower/owners, equipped with advanced winery technology. Again, this Albarino was crisp and clean, but its fruit flavors were much more powerful, a delightful melange of peach, pear and melon. Its minerality was more subtle, along with hints of honey and spice. It had a fuller mouthfeel, more voluptuous, than the other Albarino, and I would enjoy this on its own or paired with food, maybe something with a little spicy heat, like some Thai. If you are not drinking Albarino, then go find some to taste.

The 2007 Jose Maria Da Fonseca Periquita Reserva ($16.99) is a Portuguese red blend of 50% Castelao, 30% Touriga Nacional, and 20% Touriga Franca. It is aged for about eight months in new and used oak and has an alcohol content of 13.2%. A light red color and an alluring fruity nose with a touch of exotic spice. The flavors include blueberry, raspberry, black cherry, vanilla and spice. Easy drinking, delicious, and another reason to embrace Portuguese wines.

One of my overall favorite wines of the Expo was the 2005 Terre Rare Carignano del Sulcis Riserva ($14.99) from the Sella & Mosca winery in Sardinia. The winery was established in 1899 by two Piedmontese businessmen and it is currently owned by Campari. This wine is made from 100% Carignan, is aged for three years in French barriques and has an alcohol content of 13.5%. I found this to be a complex and interesting wine, a stunner at this price point. Spicy and bold, with delicious black fruit flavors, vanilla, a silky mouthfeel and hints of earthiness. I would pair this with pork, venison or lamb, or just savor on its own. This is a wine likely to end up on one of my Favorites List of 2012.

The Saintsbury Vineyard has long been one of my favorite California producers of Pinot Noir. The winery founders, Dick Ward and Dave Graves, made their first Saintsbury wine in 1979 and released their first Pinot Noir in 1981. Based in the Carneros region, they currently produce about 40,000 cases annually. Over the course of the Expo weekend, they poured five different wines, including four Pinot Noirs.

The 2009 Carneros Chardonnay ($21.99) is unfiltered, spends 8 months in French oak (20% new), and undergoes malolactic fermentation. The bottle is under a screwcap, and presents a tasty white wine with restrained fruit, spice and some minerality. This is a good example of how oak can enhance a Chardonnay, rather than drown it.

The 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir ($27.99) is a good starting point for their portfolio of Pinot Noirs. It might be their most muscular Pinot, with bright red fruit, a spicy backbone and hints of earthiness. A delicious taste, nicely balanced and a pleasing finish. Over the years, I have drank many bottles of this Carneros Pinot. The 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir, Lee Vineyard is a single vineyard that spends about ten months in French oak, about 29% new. It has less muscle than the regular Carneros though the fruit is still bright and there is plenty of spice notes.

Onto their more elegant offerings. The 2005 Carneros Pinot Noir, Stanley Ranch is an older vintage as the current one for this wine is 2008. This was a more elegant wine, very Burgundian in nature, which subtle red fruit flavors, plenty of spice notes and a strong backbone of earthiness. Its lingering finish was very satisfying, and this is certainly a wine to slowly savor, enjoying its complexity and style. A sublime wine evidencing the skill of Saintsbury. The 2007 Carneros Pinot Noir, Brown Ranch is equally as excellent, an elegant experience with less earthiness and spice. There is much subtlety in its complexity, reminding me in that respect of a fine Daiginjo sake. These are examples of some of the best California Pinot Noirs out there.

A squid picture on the label? And even a name based on squid?  Yes, it is catchy and kind of cool but is it a mere gimmick?  The 2011 Calamares Vinho Verde ($7-$8) is a Portuguese blend of 40% Arinto, 30% Trajudura and 30% Loureiro with an alcohol content of only 9%. The wine is from the single estate of Quinta da Devesa, and its name is intended to "...create an association with the unpretentious and relaxed nature of the region and its wines." This is an easy quaffer, a wine to drink and enjoy, without any need to think about it. Slightly effervescent, it has plenty of acidity and flavors of grapefruit and lemon, with some mild mineral notes. For under $10, this is a good choice, and pair it with light chicken dishes, seafood and maybe even cheese.

Moving onto Spain, I enjoyed the 2009 Tarima Hill ($15), produced by Bodegas Volver, S.L. and from the Alicante region. It is made from 100% Monastrell, the vines aged from 25-35 years, and the wine spends about 20 months in French oak. This is actually the first vintage of this wine. This is a big and bold wine, with lush ripe plum and blueberry flavors, strong tannins and hints of vanilla, cinnamon and raisins. It calls out to be paired with a big steak, and offers a good taste for the price.

Next up, a couple Grüner Veltliners from the same winery, Eder, which possesses 12 hectares of vineyards, in the town of Mautern in the Wachau region of Austria, and produces only about 20,000 bottles annually.These Grüners were very different from each other. The 2009 Eder Grüner Veltliner was very aromatic with prominent fruit flavors and good acidity. A relatively simple, easy drinking and fun quaffer. But the 2006 Eder Raubern Single Vineyard Grüner Veltliner (under $20) was anything but simple. The melange of flavors fascinated me with their complexity, with plenty of spice and floral notes, yet still with noticeable stone fruit components. Despite its age, this seemed still very fresh and it was a clear winner, sure to please any wine lover.

I found a couple nice Ports too. The 2001 Warre's Late Bottled Vintage was very approachable with plenty of cherry and plum fruit flavors, subtle spice and a smooth mouth feel. It was more an elegant style, with a lengthy and pleasing finish. The Ferreira Dona Antonia Reserve Porto was another elegant wine but its berry flavors were more restrained, and accompanied by tastes of dried fruit, nuts, spice and floral elements. It seemed more complex than the Warre's and was also smooth and very satisfying on the finish. Both Ports were enjoyable, and your choice of the two will depend on your personal preferences.

Australian wine has taken a hit in the last couple years, a backlash from wine lovers tired of overly fruity, high alcohol, and huge red wines. There is some truth there, that Australia produced a significant number of wines that met those qualifications, but there are also some very good wines coming out of this region. They just seem to get far less publicity and maybe it is time for wine lovers to return to Australia. A good starting point may be the Shingleback Winery, located in the McLaren Vale of Australia.

Kym & John Davey chose to develop a family estate that had been established in 1957. In 1998, they released their first wine, the Shingleback Shiraz, and their stated goal was to "produce affordable, quality wines that express the true character of McLaren Vale." I tasted their 2006 Shingleback Shiraz and was impressed with what I tasted. It certainly was not a fruit bomb and was a far more elegant and restrained wine, with plenty of complexity and a pleasant taste of black cherry, blueberry and raspberry combined with vanilla, subtle spice and even hints of chocolate on the finish. Good structure, nice balance, and pure delicious. It makes me want to further explore Shingleback wines, as well as seek out more of these type of Australian wines.

With the Wine Blogger's Conference coming to Portland, Oregon in August, plenty of attention will be coming to Oregon wineries. At the Expo, I encountered Jim Bernau, the founder of Willamette Valley Vineyards, who purchased the vineyard site in 1983 and planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. The winery and cellar are carved into an ancient volcanic flow and the soil is red from its high iron content. It is claimed that this soil is similar to "...the red clay soil found in the Grand Cru Pinot Noir vineyards of Romaneé-st-Vivant in Burgundy,.."  I cannot comment on that but I can state that their wines are impressive and I hope to visit their winery in August.

Their 2009 Pinot Gris ($17.99) was stainless steel fermented and permitted to sure-lee age for a time. It is crisp and clean with bright flavors of green apple, melon and pear with a slight herbal component. Delicious, refreshing and moderately complex. The 2009 Pinot Noir ($29.99), which undergoes about 11 months of French oak (22% new), is a delicious example of Oregon Pinot Noir. Ripe red fruit, hints of spice and orange peel, and a lengthy, satisfying finish. It is a more elegant style, offering a nice balance and good complexity.

The stunner though was their 2009 Estate Pinot Noir ($43.99), which is subtle and seductive, an elegant and complex Pinot which is sure to impress. The melange of flavors ranges from bright cherry to ripe plum, from cinnamon to black pepper. You need to slowly sip and savor this wine, to perceive all of the diverse flavors within. Well balanced, this wine provides an alluring finish that seems to caress your palate with silk, lingering long within your mouth. A killer wine, I highly recommend this one.

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Mohegan Sun Wine Fest: A Comparison

Two wine expos, back to back, from Boston to Uncasville. First, I attended the Boston Wine Expo and then the next weekend I journeyed to the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest. It is only natural to compare the two events, noting that they share some similarities but also possess numerous differences. If I had to choose to attend only one of the events, I would select the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest, though it still has room for improvement.

First, if you compare the venues, the Mohegan Sun offers far more than the Seaport World Trade Center, including more restaurants, a casino, shopping, and much more, especially if you stay over night. All of this is self-contained within the venue, so you can just park and then have access to these places. Thus, a trip to the Mohegan Expo becomes more of a day-long experience rather than an afternoon interlude like at the Boston Expo. The Seaport is obviously much closer for Boston area residents, but Mohegan Sun is only about two hours away, though I strongly advise staying there over night if you attend the wine tasting so that you don't drink and drive.

Second, they both hold two-day Grand Tastings, and Mohegan Sun tickets are less expensive, costing $70 per day or $120 for both days compared to the Boston Expo which charges $95 for Saturday, $85 for Sunday or $145 for both days. Mohegan's Grand Tasting also lasts for five hours compared to Boston's four hours, except that Mohegan only has one extra hour for the media/trade while Boston provides two hours. I wish that Mohegan provided an extra hour for the media, giving us a bit more quiet time to check out and review the wines.

Both events also have Elite Cru/Grand Cru events, and Mohegan's is more expensive at $200 compared to Boston's $175, plus Mohegan's event only lasts two hours while the Boston one runs for four hours. I did not attend the Mohegan Elite Cru this year, but did last year, and found it to offer a better selection of wines than the usual Boston Grand Cru lounge. But it would be a better value if the Elite Cru lasted longer than two hours.

At the Boston event, about 98% of what is poured is wine, and though I would like more diversity in their selections, they do provide some more unusual and interesting wines, like those from Cyprus, Cape Verde and Slovenia. I still wish they would have some sake though. Their wine selection was more diverse than what I found at Mohegan, which really needs to step up their game in that regard. For example, there was almost no South African wine, and that is not really a rare wine region. They had a few sakes but nothing really exciting. Limited wine diversity might be the Mohegan Sun's largest flaw.

But, Mohegan offers more than just wine, providing samples of spirits (often in cocktails), beer, and hard cider. In fact, Mohegan dedicated an entire floor to rooms showcasing beer, hard cider and malt beverages (though no mead). The beer floor is also a bit louder and rowdier than the wine exhibit hall, maybe just the difference between wine lovers and beer lovers. I like this diversity, especially for a two-day event, as it provides a break from wine tasting, a chance to refresh your palate with different beverages. Both Grand Tasting events are equally crowded on Saturday, while Sundays are a bit less crowded.

Both events provide food samples, as well as offer food that you can purchase yourself, generally from local restaurants. Both also have chef demonstrations throughout the event, with Boston generally hosting only local chefs while Mohegan presents both local and national chefs, such as Bobby Flay, Robert Irvine and Jacques Torres. The two events also both offer wine seminars, though Boston offers far more than Mohegan, which only offers three seminars each day.

Mohegan really shines though with some of the extra events it holds during the weekend, from the Friday evening Bourbon Tasting to the Sunday evening Bubbles & Bon Bons. These are more intimate events, far less crowded, and can offer much excellent food and drink. For example, at the Celebrity Chef Dine Around, you can watch the chefs preferring a signature dish, sample their offering and drink a wine that has been selected to pair with the food. In addition, there are two special events held during the Grand Tastings, including a Grape Stomp and Oyster Shucking Contest, and those are free to attend with the cost of your Grand Tasting ticket. That provides added value to their Grand Tasting event.

No event is ever perfect, and organizers should always do a post-event assessment to ascertain ways in which they can improve their event for the next year. Stagnation is the enemy of any annual event, especially if the event hopes to attract former attendees back to it. The crowds at both events show that wine & food events are still extremely popular, and that should attract additional wineries and restaurants to want to showcase their products at such events.

This week, you can look forward to a series of posts about my most interesting finds from the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest, from Pinot Noir to Scotch, from Hard Cider to Beer.

(Please be advised that I received a media pass and guest room for Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest, while I won passes and a guest room for Sunday through a Twitter contest.)

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Mohegan Sun Wine Fest: Hard Cider & Beer

You'll find more than just wine at the Mohegan Sun Wine Fest, including an entire floor dedicated to beer, hard cider and malt beverages. Though I was slightly disappointed that I did not find any mead there. About 21 different producers, from Guinness to Brooklyn Brewery, showcased their products, and this was a very popular area. It was also louder, rowdier and more crowded than the wine tasting room, though it did not seem to get out of control.

I was most interested in tasting the hard ciders as I am generally not a beer guy. But, because all of that beer was there, I did give some a taste, just in case I might find even one that I might like. And in the end, that effort paid off as I found one beer which I liked, though I still will never be a major beer aficionado. But I continue to give them a try.

I was unaware that Samuel Adams also made a brand of hard ciders, Angry Orchard, so I was very curious to taste through their line-up. They currently produce three varieties: Crisp Apple, Traditional Dry and Apple Ginger. The Crisp Apple was crisp and clean with a prominent fresh apple taste and was not overly sweet. Though I liked it, I preferred the Traditional Dry, which is much more dry, has a bit of spice and the apple flavors were more restrained and subtle. It was very refreshing, the type of hard cider you can easily drink all afternoon on a nice summer day. The Apple Ginger has a strong ginger flavor, with a backbone of green apple, and is most likely to appeal to those who really enjoy the taste of ginger.

Samuel Smith Brewery is located in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England and is the oldest brewery in Yorkshire, having been founded in 1758. Though it produces a diverse range of beers, it also makes an Organic Cider, which uses organic apple concentrate. It is low in alcohol, about 5% ABV, and is effervescent, almost carbonated in its mouthfeel. Though noted as Medium Dry, it tastes fairly dry and the apple flavors are more restrained with a hint of a floral finish. It almost reminded me of a beer, but without the flavors in beer that I dislike. A very interesting hard cider and worth checking out.

The folks at Woodchuck Hard Cider, which I have previously reviewed, showcased a few of their products too, and offered my favorite hard cider of the entire Expo. I first tried their Crisp, which is produced to have less sugar and alcohol, and it was dry and tart with some green apple flavors. A pleasant and refreshing drink. The limited release Spring, contains flavors of maple syrup and brown sugar, and that flavor combination just didn't appeal to me though a friend of mine enjoyed it. I have never been a big maple syrup fan so it was not surprising that this cider didn't appeal to me.

But, I was impressed with the Farmhouse Select Original '91, which is a small batch hard cider made with Vermont apples and Belgian beer yeast. The '91 simply reflects the year that Woodchuck started production, and does not indicate the year of brewing. It has an alcohol content of 6.9% and is unfiltered, so it looks a bit cloudy and there are tiny pieces of apple still in it. It is primarily dry with a fascinating and complex taste of apple and spice notes. It is absolutely delicious, well balanced, and once you have a glass, you will desire another. Some hard ciders are simple but tasty drinks while others attain for higher heights, to be something to slowly savor and enjoy. This Farmhouse Select reaches those heights.

Last Friday, I purchased a few bottles of the Farmhouse from Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet in Melrose, about $10.50 for a 750ml corked bottle. I don't expect they will last long on the shelves so if you want any, buy it quickly. I have already consumed one of the bottles I bought, and don't know how much longer the others will last.

Out of the beers I tasted, only one stood out to me, only one which I enjoyed drinking, the Innis and Gunn Rum Cask. Innis and Gunn is a Scottish brewery, established in 2003, and they oak age their beers, something which originated by accident. While trying to create a Scotch whiskey with the flavor of ale, they would use beer to season the Bourbon barrels and the original thought was to discard the beer afterwards. But, they liked the taste of the beer, decided to keep it and started specifically aging their beer in this manner.

I was not a big fan of their Original, which is aged in Bourbon barrels, though I definitely could detect some Bourbon-like flavors in the beer. They also produce the limited edition Rum Cask, which is aged in old rum barrels. This beer has a deeper reddish color and the taste is compelling, a melange of tropical fruit and spice with a very mild beer flavor. It reminded me of the Caribbean, and I could see it also being food friendly. I later learned that this beer is a big seller at Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet in Melrose.

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