Wine: Chateau Julian Bordeaux Sec 2008 Region: Gironde, France I can’t help but feel like a wine with lots of stamps and small print, as this label has, means that I’m supposed to really like it. I am, right? But I suppose I’m supposed to think that of all wines. Regardless, all the appellations intimidate
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27 January, 2010
Mexican Creamsicle @ My Place
Posted in : Cocktail Recipes on by : The Gourmez Tags: 50-50 bar, cinnamon, irish cream, mexican creamsicle, orange creamsicle, tequila cocktail, the gourmez cocktail review2 shots Two Fingers Gold Tequila 0.5 shot Feeney’s Irish Cream Liquor 4-second pour of Hershey’s Nonfat Chocolate Syrup 4 shots orange juice, heavy pulp ‘cos that’s how I roll Sprinkle of cinnamon Shake the first four ingredients and pour over crushed ice. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. This cocktail, by all rights, should not be
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26 January, 2010
Taylor Marsala — Wine Review
Comments : 16 Posted in : Fortified Wine, Marsala, Wine on by : The Gourmez Tags: dessert wine, finger lakes wine, peach, rhubarb, strawberry, syrup, tamarind, taylor marsala, the gourmez wine review, wine notesWine: Taylor Marsala Region: Finger Lakes, New York The color of this dessert wine is fantastic. It’s like looking at a blood red rose, with a copper hue around its edges. It smells like port, with rich, dense, scents of overripe peach and tamarind. The flavor is smooth and definitely has peach notes, but the
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25 January, 2010
My Cat is Home
Comments : 10 Posted in : Announcements on by : The GourmezLast summer, I posted this blog about my cat, Loki, having disappeared a week earlier. It is leaps and bounds ahead of every other blog entry I’ve posted in terms of hits, and that must be because so many people have had pets go missing and reach out to find others in the same situation
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22 January, 2010
Triangle Wine Experience 2010 (2/4-2/6)
Posted in : Events, Wine on by : The GourmezSarah Findle, with the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, sent me an e-mail to let me know about the Triangle Wine Experience 2010, thinking it would be an event right up my alley. She was right! Unfortunately, I’m going to be out of town that weekend, so you all need to go and enjoy yourselves on my
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20 January, 2010
Snapping Turtle Chardonnay 2007
Posted in : Chardonnay, White Wine on by : The Gourmez Tags: chardonnay review, green apple peel, lemon meringue, risotto, snapping turtle chardonnay 2007Wine: Snapping Turtle Chardonnay 2007 Region: California I popped this one open to simmer some risotto in it. It tasted like lemon meringue pie, though not as tart. When cold, it seemed dry but got sweeter as it warmed to room temperature. There was some green apple peel in the mix as well. It was
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19 January, 2010
Jamaica Jamaica (Durham) — Restaurant Review
Posted in : Dining in Durham - NC, Restaurants on by : The Gourmez Tags: coco bread, durham restaurant, fried plantains, ginger beer, jamaica jamaica, jamaican food, jamaican food durham, jerk chicken, the gourmez reviewJamaica Jamaica 4853 NC Highway 55 Intersection of highways 55 and 54, Durham Lunch Entrees: $7-13, $1 more for Dinner Sides: $2-6 Jamaica Jamaica is a small, cafeteria-style restaurant that focuses, as evidenced by its name, on Jamaican specialties. Vibrant paintings hang on the walls, which gives the two seating rooms some character. Lively, island
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17 January, 2010
Farewell, Fins. Hello, bu*ku!
Posted in : Dining in Raleigh - NC, Restaurants on by : The Gourmez Tags: buku, dim sum, downtown raleigh lunch, fins, newraleigh, street food, varmintbites, vendor cartsFor those of you who keep up with the local food scene, the closing of Fins and eventual opening of bu*ku is already old news. But I just wanted to comment on it anyhow, because I’m so intrigued by Chef D’Auvray’s plan for the space and am really interested to see how it turns out.
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15 January, 2010
Kentucky Tartlet — Cocktail Review
Posted in : Bourbon, Cocktail Recipes on by : The Gourmez Tags: ancient age, bourbon whiskey, cocktail recipes, cocktail review, kentucky tartlet, pomegranate limeade, rosewater, trader joe's juice, triple secOne of my New Year’s Resolutions this year was to spend less money on alcohol. While you might think this would cut down on my wine and cocktail reviews, I refuse to let it! Reviews of cocktails from nearby bartenders will, indeed, be less frequent, but I plan to fill that void with cocktails of
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13 January, 2010
Tonali (Durham) — Restaurant Review
Posted in : Dining in Durham - NC, Restaurants on by : The Gourmez Tags: chicken mole, durham mexican restaurant, gourmet mexican, jarritos cocktail, passion fruit margarita, pork tacos, salsa roja, tonali, tonali durhamTonali 3642 Shannon Road Durham Entrees: $10-25 (I think) I’ve been wanting to try Tonali for quite some time because I’ve seen it show up on many people’s lists of favorite Mexican spots in the area. It’s upscale fare with an intriguing list of appetizers and entrees to choose from. Service was a bit brusque,
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