Arianna Occhipinti is a bit of a burgeoning rock star in the natural wine industry. The wines she crafts in Vittoria, Sicily, in the island’s southeastern corner, are bold and pure, nothing like the sharp, ripe reds often known in the U.S. from Sicily. From Albanello and Moscato di Alessandria grapes, the SP68 Bianco arrivesContinue reading “Wine of the Week: Arianna Occhipinti, “SP68 Bianco,” IGT, Sicily”
Monthly Archives: August 2012
Plat du Jour: Saturday August 18, 2012: Blueberry Pie and Basil Gimlet for Summer and Last Word on the 50 Best New Restaurants
It’s the heart of summer on this mid August weekend, meaning tomatoes, peaches, basil, mint, and company are being served on tables everywhere. What will Trev’s Bistro be serving, besides ribs on the grill and caprese for salad every night with fresh heirloom tomatoes and burrata? You can certainly count on this magnificent “Live BasilContinue reading “Plat du Jour: Saturday August 18, 2012: Blueberry Pie and Basil Gimlet for Summer and Last Word on the 50 Best New Restaurants”
Greetings from…Copenhagen!
Copenhagen, Denmark, what an intriguing and important city in the world’s gastronomic landscape. The city itself is truly unique. There are dashes of Scandinavia intertwined with the quirkiness of Portland, Oregon, the flatness of the Midwest, the individual pride and creativity of San Francisco, and momentary flashes of New York and Tokyo subways at rushContinue reading “Greetings from…Copenhagen!”
Cocktail of the Week: The Brave and Pliny’s Tonic, Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston
Every time I tried to order “The Brave” at Anvil, the epicenter of craft cocktails in Houston on a randomly culinary dense stretch of Westheimer in a very residential neighborhood, the bartender would ask if I really wanted it. Am I brave enough? Can I handle it? It’s 96 degrees and humid…and you want this?Continue reading “Cocktail of the Week: The Brave and Pliny’s Tonic, Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston”
Plat du Jour: Thursday August 16, 2012
It’s been over a month, but you can breathe easier now, the Plat du Jour is back and better than ever after sweating in the 100 degree heat of a Texas summer, and the 50 degree heat of a Scandinavia and Russia summer. Of course the big food celebration this week was yesterday, which wouldContinue reading “Plat du Jour: Thursday August 16, 2012”
Greetings from…Stockholm!
Today we’ll start a new feature covering some of the world’s great food cities called, “Greetings from…!” The concept follows one of my favorite pastimes, the lost art of postcards written by hand in actual handwriting with real pens and sent my non electronic, old fashioned mail. No, we’re not in Stockholm at the moment,Continue reading “Greetings from…Stockholm!”
Restaurants: Noma, Copenhagen
The pair of pine tree branches partially hides the caramelized spears of snow white asparagus, as if this image was deep in the heart of a far-off forest from a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. The moment is pristine and clear. A flurry of pine needles off the branch lay alongside the asparagus on oneContinue reading “Restaurants: Noma, Copenhagen”
Beer of the Week: Lervig Aktiebryggeri, Stavanger, Norway, Rye IPA
Nogne Ø and Aegir are the red hot craft brewers in Norway that have made their way to the States, following the hoppy path from Scandinavia to our local craft brew bars paved initially by Mikkeller from Copenhagen. During a recent visit to Norway, I conducted a grand tasting of various Norwegian (and one fromContinue reading “Beer of the Week: Lervig Aktiebryggeri, Stavanger, Norway, Rye IPA”
Trev's Bistro 