There is a strong nose of sweet tobacco.  On the palate, this light- to medium-bodied wine is like drinking red licorice but without the copious sweetness.  Red chili powder is also a dominant flavor but it is restrained and the tobacco is present but more subtly than in the aroma.  This wine is acidic but
Read more

My review of Pop’s Restaurant in Durham.  The verdict is truffle:

My review of the unusually bitter espresso martini at Pop’s in Durham.  It’s an:

Other words on the label: Producto de Espana The label displays an abstract, lined portrait on a mustard yellow background. The nose brings me back to my first taste of freeze-dried strawberries at the San Francisco exploratorium when I was young. Astronaut food totally rocks. Paprika also has a presence here. As for the actual
Read more

Other words on the label: Rhone Valley Vineyards Cotes Du Ventaux Appellation Cotes Du Ventaux controlee This wine is a blend of grenache, syrah, carignan, and cinsault. I’ve only heard of the first two before. There are an awful lot of grape varietals in the world, aren’t there? It smells sweet, smooth, and tingly with
Read more

1116 Broad Street Watts Hillandale area, Durham www.wattsgrocery.com Entrees:  $13-20 Watts Grocery is a lovely restaurant (no, not a grocery) that offers, brunch, lunch, dinner, and late night until at least midnight.  With so few places offering food at the witching hour, I’ve come to quite appreciate this place.  It has upscale American food with
Read more

Through the airplane window, many small islands floating in a blue-tinged crystalline sea slowly gave way to a larger one-Jamaica.  Immigration was the first stop after arriving.  The lines weren’t bad; it took about 20 minutes to make it to the officer.  A quick “vacation” was all we needed to say in answer to her
Read more