I am back with a special Friday edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently. **********************************************************
1) On Tuesday, September 18, at 7:30pm, the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro and the New England Aquarium will co-host a “Celebrate Seafood Dinner,” a four course dinner, to raise awareness of the challenges facing the oceans and the benefits of sustainable seafood. Executive Chef Josh Lewin is committed to incorporating local products and sustainable practices into the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro’s cuisine in unique and innovative ways. To bring this delicious and educational feast to diners, Lewin worked alongside the Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Program to bring only the freshest, most sustainable ingredients to the table.
MENU:
--"Snappy" Lobster Mousse wrapped in fresh rigatoni (green tomato jam, tarragon)
--Salt Hake Brandade (preserved lemon aioli, olive picholine, foraged greens)
--Pacific Sardines (anadama toast, piperade, oregano)
--Seared Cobia (garden sorrel, oyster mushroom, Wellfleet clams, black truffle)
--Olive Oil Cake (fennel pollen, seashore honey anglaise, calaminth)
Where: The Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro, 25 Charles Street, Boston,
Cost: $65 per person. $55 for New England Aquarium members. $25 for optional wine pairing.
Reservations are mandatory and can be done by calling the Beacon Hill Hotel Bistro at (617) 723-7575.
2) Vittorio Ettore, Executive Chef and Owner of greater Boston’s Bistro 5 and A Tavola, has been in the food industry for 20 years. Born in Italy’s Tuscany region, Ettore began his first job in 1987 after his family had moved to Venezuela, as a busboy and then server at the top rated restaurant, Caballeria Rusticana, in Caracas. In 1990, Ettore and his family moved to Boston where his vast experience led him to open Bistro 5 in West Medford, and most recently A Tavola in Winchester Center.
Chef Vittorio Ettore is a man who is passionate about his produce, particularly tomatoes. He has a torrid affair with the delectable fruit and includes them on his menu for only one month of the entire year. During the month of September he devotes an entire tasting menu to these seasonal beauties showcasing heirloom varieties alongside complementary basils. Each dish is carefully designed and executed resulting in highly memorable flavor and presentation for the senses.
Guests can choose from a 3-course or 5-course tasting menu, along with an optional wine pairing. The menu may vary based upon daily changes in availability of the variety of heirloom tomatoes, but will include items such as:
Gazpacho (Cherokee Tomato, Scallop Ceviche, Cucumber-Jalapeno Sorbet, and Gazpacho Cloud)
2011 Cantina Santa Maria La Palma, Aragosta, Sardegna
Potted Tomato “Panzanella” (Pineapple Tomato, Mozzarella Balloon and Black Olive “Soil”)
2008 Domaine de Saint-Pierre, Sancere, Loire
Heirloom Tomato Risotto (Lemon Boy Tomato, Goat Cheese and Crispy Prosciutto)
2011 Domaine de la Solitude, Rosé, Côtes du Rhône
Rohan Duck (Smoked Speckled Roman Tomato Creme Brulee, Sweet and Sour Butternut Squash, Thai Basil and Pickled Ginger)
2007 Vingneti Zabù, Il Passo, Sicilia
Tomatina (Organic Peach Tomato Mousse, Basil Yogurt Gelato,Vanilla Bean Crème Anglaise and Sweet Pistachio Pesto)
2011 Zagara, Moscato d’Asti, Barolo
When: Every Tuesday through Saturday, September 5 – September 29, 5pm-10pm
Cost: 3-course menu is $45 per person; $65 with wine pairings plus tax/gratuity.
5-course menu is $65 per person; $90 with wine pairings plus tax/gratuity.
To make a Reservation, call Bistro 5 directly at 781-395-7464
I have been to his Tomato dinners before and they are excellent, well worth going to. Such a fascinating range of different tomatoes and used in very creative ways. Check out this event!
3) On Thursday, September 13, at 6:30pm, the Olé Restaurant Group will host a Patrόn Tequila Dinner at Zócalo Cocina Mexicana, located in Boston, so that guests can get a taste for the full spectrum of flavors that the world’s finest tequila has to offer. For just $50 per person, guests are invited to indulge in four courses; each paired with a Patrón Tequila picked to match the flavors of the dish.
To start, Bocoles with Pork, a corn patty stuffed with shredded pork, will be complemented by Patrón Reposado, a perfect sipping tequila featuring a harmony of agave and oak wood flavors. Next, guests will enjoy Caldo de Camaron, a shrimp soup paired with Patrón Anejo to bring out the sweet flavors of the seafood, followed by a Turkey Enchilada with Coloradito Mole. This shredded-turkey stuffed corn tortilla covered in a homemade coloradito mole sauce will be paired with Patrón Gran Platinum, an ultra smooth yet sweet tequila that will stand up to the flavors of the mole. For those with a penchant for dessert, there will be Café de Olla Little Cake made with lady fingers and a cream cheese pastry cream paired with Patrón XO Cocoa to end the night on a sweet note.
Cost: $50 per person plus tax and gratuity.
Reservations are required so please call Zócalo Cocina Mexicana at (617) 456-7849.
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. **********************************************************
1) "Tiki culture is all about living the good life; listening to music, enjoying exotic drinks and taking it easy." China Blossom Restaurant & Lounge, located in North Andover, may be thousands of miles away from the nearest tropical escape, but on Saturday, September 8, its outdoor space will transform into a tropical oasis complete with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the islands at the first annual Tiki Time Festival. This free event, sponsored by WXRV 92.5 The River, Kona Brewing Co. and WAITIKI, a Boston-based collective that promotes the revitalization of mid-century tiki pop culture, will be an afternoon of fun for all ages.
From 1pm-5pm, guests will be met with a traditional Hawaiian lei greeting as they are transported to a Polynesian paradise. The afternoon’s emcee, 92.5 The River’s on-air personality Carolyn Morrell, will get the party started with performers from Polynesian Dance Arts performing authentic Hula and Tahitian dances before they invite guests to try the moves themselves. Afterwards, the Kahiki Serenaders quartet will bring island sounds to the stage, playing live vintage Hawaiian music on the drums, double bass, piano and vibraphone. Things will really heat up with a gripping fire performance from the circus group A Different Spin featuring torch juggling, fire eating, a fire hoop, fire swords and other daring feats. All afternoon a face painter will transform faces with tiki-inspired designs and a balloon artist will create tropical balloon animals to set the scene and keep kids entertained.
All afternoon China Blossom Restaurant & Lounge will serve Polynesian-inspired food including a whole pig roast, beef teriyaki skewers, shrimp skewers, corn on the cob and pork fried rice all for only $1 per serving. Tropical slush and exotic sorbet will also be available for purchase along with assorted juices, non-alcoholic Pina Coladas and beer and wine served from an outdoor cash bar. Kona Brewing Co. will bring the aloha spirit to China Blossom all day with special giveaways and complimentary samples of its Big Wave Golden Ale, which will be hitting mainland stores for the first time this fall. Kona is a Hawaiian brewery with six ales and lagers available in select states, as well as Japan.
Schedule of Events:
Food & Drinks available all day.
1pm: Lei Greeting
1pm-3:30pm: Face Painting & Balloon Artist
1:30pm-2:30pm: Hula Dance Performance from Polynesian Dance Arts
3pm-4pm: Live music from the Kahiki Serenaders
4pm-5pm: Ambient Fire Performance
Attendance is free with RSVP. Food, soft drinks, beer and wine available for purchase at outdoor cash bar. Please visit http://www.chinablossom.com to RSVP and for more information.
2) Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate will take over The Langham, Boston when the iconic hotel launches its renowned Chocolate Bar in Café Fleuri Saturday, September 8. The 24th year of the legendary “All-You-Can-Enjoy” dessert paradise will bring more than 120 chocolate combinations to New England. Also re-joining the hotel’s culinary weekend line-up is the Sunday City Brunch buffet.
“Just like the changing of the foliage, the Chocolate Bar and City Brunch at The Langham’s Café Fleuri have become New England traditions and diners anxiously await their return each year,” said Mark Sapienza, Executive Chef at The Langham, Boston. “We strive to create an unforgettable experience for our guests and the two delectable culinary events evoke all the senses to accomplish this.”
The decadent Chocolate Bar features stations with varying levels of chocolate intensity and flavors – from white to dark and everything in between. A DJ plays hit music to set the tone where families indulge in close to 200 pounds of premium chocolate each Saturday. A never-ending supply of cupcakes, truffles, brulees, bread pudding, crepes, whoopee pies and more take center stage while Executive Pastry Chef Jed Hackney creates rotating items with fresh, seasonal ingredients such as September’s lemon madeline with ivoire cremeax and strawberries, and a caramelized white chocolate torte with banana and sesame.
“Every year, we work to create a flavorful, fun culinary haven for guests of all ages,” said Chef Hackney. “To keep things fresh this year, we are introducing a number of seasonally changing desserts and new chocolate cocktails so diners will never have the same experience twice.”
The chocolate cocktail menu features cocoa-infused martinis like the “Chocolate Decadence” with raspberry vodka, dark chocolate Godiva liqueur and Frangelico and the “White Coco” with vanilla vodka, dark chocolate Godiva and white crème de cacao with cream.
Café Fleuri’s City Brunch marks its return Sunday, September 9. While live jazz music fills the air, Chef Sapienza takes diners on a culinary journey with flavors across New England and beyond at one of the city's most elaborate Sunday buffets. City Brunch features a wide array of culinary options including traditional breakfast items, made-to-order omelets, carving stations, a raw bar, sushi prepared by our in-house sushi masters and more. Instead of the usual bread basket, Café Fleuri offers diners its complimentary signature beignets, a popular fried French pastry. A children’s station sits lower to the ground and offers kid-friendly classics such as brick oven pizza, miniature hot dogs, chicken fingers, mac and cheese balls and fresh fruit skewers. To complete the experience, diners can sip on a morning cocktail from the Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar and finish their meal with a dessert sampling from the Chocolate Bar.
Hours and Pricing:
Chocolate Bar
Saturdays; September 8, 2012 through June 22, 2013, from 11am–3pm.
Adults: $40 or $55 with 2 chocolate cocktails
Children ages 5-12: $28
City Brunch
Sundays; September 9, 2012 through June 23, 2013, from 11am-3pm
Adults: $58 or $75 with 2 Bloody Maries or Mimosas
Children ages 5-12: $30
3) Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is unveiling their newest wine collection and celebrating a “Month of Discovery,” featuring a series of unique wine events and food offerings that will appeal to both wine novice and true connoisseur.
The New Fleming’s 100, Fleming's proprietary collection of 100 wines by the glass is a unique approach to discovering and celebrating wine without having to order an entire bottle. "Wine is an intensely personal choice, and wine by the glass is the perfect way to celebrate it," says Maeve Pesquera, Fleming's Director of Wine. The new collection for 2012/2013 features many iconic wineries from California as well as top-rated European wineries. The international roster also includes a number of remarkable wines from Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
“Bottle Wars” Wine Tastings – Featuring Rival Wines from the New Fleming's 100 "Bottle Wars" is a series of four wine tastings to be held on successive Friday evenings in September (7, 14, 21 and 28). Guests will taste premium wines from rival regions and wineries around the world in a spirit of friendly competition. Each event will offer 8 to 10 well-matched wines for just $25 and Fleming's wine managers will guide guests through the experience:
"Pinot Smackdown" (September 7) -- Pinot Noirs from California’s Central Coast compete against Pinot Noirs from Sonoma, Oregon and the Anderson Valley.
"Battle of the Hemispheres" (September 14) -- California takes on South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
"Old World vs. New World" (September 21) -- European masters from France, Italy, Germany and Spain go against the best and brightest winemakers from California.
"Glass Warfare" (September 28) -- Premium wines and value-priced wines made from similar grapes are put to the taste test.
Fleming's New Memorable Meal for Two: Fleming's celebrates its new wine collection with a prix-fixe menu for two, available from September 1-30. Each guest will enjoy a triple entrée of broiled filet mignon, herb baked shrimp and braised short rib, with shrimp bisque and a dessert of frozen almond soufflé. The 3-course menu is priced at $99 for two, and $49.50 for one. For an additional $25, each guest may order a specially priced flight of three wines -- The Prisoner, Primus Cabernet and Quintessa 2006 -- all from the Huneeus Vintners Portfolio.
4) On Thursday, September 27, at 6:30pm, Legal Sea Foods will team up with Matt Chivian, Portfolio Manager at Carolina Fine Wine & Spirits, to host a five-plus-course single malt scotch dinner at the Park Square location. Each delicious course will feature Legal Sea Foods’ signature cuisine complemented by eight premiere scotch selections. Guests will indulge in the following at Legal Sea Foods’ 10,000 bottle Park Square wine cellar:
Apertif
Benromach Traditional, Speyside, 40%
First Course
Veracruz Vanilla-Lemon Poached Diver Scallops (Jumbo Lump Crab Mousseline, Field Greens & Roasted Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette)
Scapa 10 Year, Orkney, 43%
Second Course
Nutty Local Haddock (Oven Roasted Spaghetti Squash, Braised Greens, Citrus Butter)
Sauce Bladnoch 17 Year, Lowland, 43%
Third Course
Bourbon Braised King Crab Casserole (Poblano Cinnamon Scented Corn Bread, Swiss Chard)
Glenburgie 21 Year, Speyside, 43%
Glenburgie 15 Year, Speyside, 43%
Fourth Course
Molasses-Brined Grilled Pork Chop (Fragrant Greens, Roasted Walnuts, Oven Roasted McIntosh Apples)
Linkwood 20 Year, Cote Rotie Finish, Speyside, 45%
Benromach 10 Year, Speyside, 43%
Dessert Course
Maple Orange Crème Brûlée
Atholl Brose Scotch Liqueur, 35%
Cost: $85 per person (excludes tax and gratuity)
Reservations required by calling: 617-530-9397
1) "Tiki culture is all about living the good life; listening to music, enjoying exotic drinks and taking it easy." China Blossom Restaurant & Lounge, located in North Andover, may be thousands of miles away from the nearest tropical escape, but on Saturday, September 8, its outdoor space will transform into a tropical oasis complete with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the islands at the first annual Tiki Time Festival. This free event, sponsored by WXRV 92.5 The River, Kona Brewing Co. and WAITIKI, a Boston-based collective that promotes the revitalization of mid-century tiki pop culture, will be an afternoon of fun for all ages.
From 1pm-5pm, guests will be met with a traditional Hawaiian lei greeting as they are transported to a Polynesian paradise. The afternoon’s emcee, 92.5 The River’s on-air personality Carolyn Morrell, will get the party started with performers from Polynesian Dance Arts performing authentic Hula and Tahitian dances before they invite guests to try the moves themselves. Afterwards, the Kahiki Serenaders quartet will bring island sounds to the stage, playing live vintage Hawaiian music on the drums, double bass, piano and vibraphone. Things will really heat up with a gripping fire performance from the circus group A Different Spin featuring torch juggling, fire eating, a fire hoop, fire swords and other daring feats. All afternoon a face painter will transform faces with tiki-inspired designs and a balloon artist will create tropical balloon animals to set the scene and keep kids entertained.
All afternoon China Blossom Restaurant & Lounge will serve Polynesian-inspired food including a whole pig roast, beef teriyaki skewers, shrimp skewers, corn on the cob and pork fried rice all for only $1 per serving. Tropical slush and exotic sorbet will also be available for purchase along with assorted juices, non-alcoholic Pina Coladas and beer and wine served from an outdoor cash bar. Kona Brewing Co. will bring the aloha spirit to China Blossom all day with special giveaways and complimentary samples of its Big Wave Golden Ale, which will be hitting mainland stores for the first time this fall. Kona is a Hawaiian brewery with six ales and lagers available in select states, as well as Japan.
Schedule of Events:
Food & Drinks available all day.
1pm: Lei Greeting
1pm-3:30pm: Face Painting & Balloon Artist
1:30pm-2:30pm: Hula Dance Performance from Polynesian Dance Arts
3pm-4pm: Live music from the Kahiki Serenaders
4pm-5pm: Ambient Fire Performance
Attendance is free with RSVP. Food, soft drinks, beer and wine available for purchase at outdoor cash bar. Please visit http://www.chinablossom.com to RSVP and for more information.
2) Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate will take over The Langham, Boston when the iconic hotel launches its renowned Chocolate Bar in Café Fleuri Saturday, September 8. The 24th year of the legendary “All-You-Can-Enjoy” dessert paradise will bring more than 120 chocolate combinations to New England. Also re-joining the hotel’s culinary weekend line-up is the Sunday City Brunch buffet.
“Just like the changing of the foliage, the Chocolate Bar and City Brunch at The Langham’s Café Fleuri have become New England traditions and diners anxiously await their return each year,” said Mark Sapienza, Executive Chef at The Langham, Boston. “We strive to create an unforgettable experience for our guests and the two delectable culinary events evoke all the senses to accomplish this.”
The decadent Chocolate Bar features stations with varying levels of chocolate intensity and flavors – from white to dark and everything in between. A DJ plays hit music to set the tone where families indulge in close to 200 pounds of premium chocolate each Saturday. A never-ending supply of cupcakes, truffles, brulees, bread pudding, crepes, whoopee pies and more take center stage while Executive Pastry Chef Jed Hackney creates rotating items with fresh, seasonal ingredients such as September’s lemon madeline with ivoire cremeax and strawberries, and a caramelized white chocolate torte with banana and sesame.
“Every year, we work to create a flavorful, fun culinary haven for guests of all ages,” said Chef Hackney. “To keep things fresh this year, we are introducing a number of seasonally changing desserts and new chocolate cocktails so diners will never have the same experience twice.”
The chocolate cocktail menu features cocoa-infused martinis like the “Chocolate Decadence” with raspberry vodka, dark chocolate Godiva liqueur and Frangelico and the “White Coco” with vanilla vodka, dark chocolate Godiva and white crème de cacao with cream.
Café Fleuri’s City Brunch marks its return Sunday, September 9. While live jazz music fills the air, Chef Sapienza takes diners on a culinary journey with flavors across New England and beyond at one of the city's most elaborate Sunday buffets. City Brunch features a wide array of culinary options including traditional breakfast items, made-to-order omelets, carving stations, a raw bar, sushi prepared by our in-house sushi masters and more. Instead of the usual bread basket, Café Fleuri offers diners its complimentary signature beignets, a popular fried French pastry. A children’s station sits lower to the ground and offers kid-friendly classics such as brick oven pizza, miniature hot dogs, chicken fingers, mac and cheese balls and fresh fruit skewers. To complete the experience, diners can sip on a morning cocktail from the Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar and finish their meal with a dessert sampling from the Chocolate Bar.
Hours and Pricing:
Chocolate Bar
Saturdays; September 8, 2012 through June 22, 2013, from 11am–3pm.
Adults: $40 or $55 with 2 chocolate cocktails
Children ages 5-12: $28
City Brunch
Sundays; September 9, 2012 through June 23, 2013, from 11am-3pm
Adults: $58 or $75 with 2 Bloody Maries or Mimosas
Children ages 5-12: $30
3) Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is unveiling their newest wine collection and celebrating a “Month of Discovery,” featuring a series of unique wine events and food offerings that will appeal to both wine novice and true connoisseur.
The New Fleming’s 100, Fleming's proprietary collection of 100 wines by the glass is a unique approach to discovering and celebrating wine without having to order an entire bottle. "Wine is an intensely personal choice, and wine by the glass is the perfect way to celebrate it," says Maeve Pesquera, Fleming's Director of Wine. The new collection for 2012/2013 features many iconic wineries from California as well as top-rated European wineries. The international roster also includes a number of remarkable wines from Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
“Bottle Wars” Wine Tastings – Featuring Rival Wines from the New Fleming's 100 "Bottle Wars" is a series of four wine tastings to be held on successive Friday evenings in September (7, 14, 21 and 28). Guests will taste premium wines from rival regions and wineries around the world in a spirit of friendly competition. Each event will offer 8 to 10 well-matched wines for just $25 and Fleming's wine managers will guide guests through the experience:
"Pinot Smackdown" (September 7) -- Pinot Noirs from California’s Central Coast compete against Pinot Noirs from Sonoma, Oregon and the Anderson Valley.
"Battle of the Hemispheres" (September 14) -- California takes on South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
"Old World vs. New World" (September 21) -- European masters from France, Italy, Germany and Spain go against the best and brightest winemakers from California.
"Glass Warfare" (September 28) -- Premium wines and value-priced wines made from similar grapes are put to the taste test.
Fleming's New Memorable Meal for Two: Fleming's celebrates its new wine collection with a prix-fixe menu for two, available from September 1-30. Each guest will enjoy a triple entrée of broiled filet mignon, herb baked shrimp and braised short rib, with shrimp bisque and a dessert of frozen almond soufflé. The 3-course menu is priced at $99 for two, and $49.50 for one. For an additional $25, each guest may order a specially priced flight of three wines -- The Prisoner, Primus Cabernet and Quintessa 2006 -- all from the Huneeus Vintners Portfolio.
4) On Thursday, September 27, at 6:30pm, Legal Sea Foods will team up with Matt Chivian, Portfolio Manager at Carolina Fine Wine & Spirits, to host a five-plus-course single malt scotch dinner at the Park Square location. Each delicious course will feature Legal Sea Foods’ signature cuisine complemented by eight premiere scotch selections. Guests will indulge in the following at Legal Sea Foods’ 10,000 bottle Park Square wine cellar:
Apertif
Benromach Traditional, Speyside, 40%
First Course
Veracruz Vanilla-Lemon Poached Diver Scallops (Jumbo Lump Crab Mousseline, Field Greens & Roasted Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette)
Scapa 10 Year, Orkney, 43%
Second Course
Nutty Local Haddock (Oven Roasted Spaghetti Squash, Braised Greens, Citrus Butter)
Sauce Bladnoch 17 Year, Lowland, 43%
Third Course
Bourbon Braised King Crab Casserole (Poblano Cinnamon Scented Corn Bread, Swiss Chard)
Glenburgie 21 Year, Speyside, 43%
Glenburgie 15 Year, Speyside, 43%
Fourth Course
Molasses-Brined Grilled Pork Chop (Fragrant Greens, Roasted Walnuts, Oven Roasted McIntosh Apples)
Linkwood 20 Year, Cote Rotie Finish, Speyside, 45%
Benromach 10 Year, Speyside, 43%
Dessert Course
Maple Orange Crème Brûlée
Atholl Brose Scotch Liqueur, 35%
Cost: $85 per person (excludes tax and gratuity)
Reservations required by calling: 617-530-9397
Kevin Zraly's Windows On The World Complete Wine Course
I have read a number of the prior editions and recently received a review copy of the latest paperback edition of Kevin Zraly's Windows On The World Complete Wine Course by Kevin Zraly (Sterling Epicure, September 2012, $19.95). This is a trade paperback of 324 pages. Zraly is the founder and teacher of the Windows on the World Wine School, now in its 33rd year. He is well respected as a wine educator, having garnered many awards, including a James Beard Lifetime Award. Each edition is updated and revised, though the basic format is largely the same.
The book is essentially broken down into 11 chapters, with an Introduction and Glossary. The brief Introduction details some of the fascinating changes in the wine world that Zraly has witnessed from 1970-2010. Then, the initial chapter is Prelude to Wine, which provides a brief summary of basic wine matters, from how it is produced to how to taste it. The bulk of the book is a description of the wines of the world, with a strong emphasis on France and California. For example, France receives three of its own chapters while Spain and Italy share a chapter. The book ends with a chapter entitled The Greater World of Wine, and is a compilation of essays on wine topics, like food/wine pairing, with a number of wine recommendations too.
Each chapter has a section of main content, often answering common questions about wine, while including numerous items of related wine trivia in the margins. I find some of the trivia fascinating, and most wine lovers, of all knowledge levels, would probably do so as well. Each chapter about a country's wine usually provides some recommended producers and vintages. As this book is designed for beginners, and is not intended to be fully complete, some of the information on certain wines and countries can be fairly minimal. But as the wine world is so vast, it would take a book much bigger to do just to all wines around the world.
This sometimes presents a small problem, that some of the provided information may not be fully accurate or complete. Unless the reader understands that fact, they might assume they know more information than they actually do. For example, the Champagne section states only 3 grapes are used to produce Champagne, though legally 7 grapes can be used. The other 4 grapes may be rarely used, but they still are used by a few producers and it is incorrect to say only 3 grapes are used. In the Sherry chapter, it mentions only 2 of the 3 grapes used to make Sherry, excluding Moscatel for unknown reasons. But these are minor quibbles in a book geared for beginners.
In this edition, a number of smart tags are also provided, basically QR codes, which you can read with your smart phone if you download the necessary app. Or, you can just type in the URL listed below the code. These codes unlock 9 instructional videos and 1300 audio pronunciations.
At $19.95, this book is an excellent value, a great way for a novice to gain an overview of the world of wine. More experienced wine lovers won't find as much value in the book, though some of the trivia might intrigue you. With the holidays approaching in a few books, this would make for a nice present for someone seeking to learn about wine.
Chives In Halifax: Compelling Local Flavors
Chef Craig Flinn opened Chives in December 2001 and since then it has gained quite an excellent reputation. For example, the Coast City Guide: Best of Halifax 2012, an annual guide, awarded Chives a Gold as Best Fine Dining, a Gold to Chef Flinn as Best Chef, and a Gold to Chives for Best Use of Local Ingredients. The Chives website states: "The restaurant menus are based on seasonal produce from local farmers, artisan cheese and meat producers, and sustainable seafood with the core menu changing every 6 to 8 weeks. The bistro’s clientele enjoy contemporary Canadian bistro dishes rooted in European culinary history."
We decided to stick to Nova Scotia wines, to get a small sense of the current state of their wine industry. I have had Nova Scotia wines before, and even visited a few of their wineries, but it has been a number of years since my last experience. Since then, new wineries have opened and I figured that the overall quality of their wines had likely improved as well. Based on the five wines we tasted, I was impressed and think a deeper exploration of their wines is warranted.
My favorite of the wines was the 2011 Blomidon Estate Rose, of which I have previously raved. It was an excellent food wine and something I could easily enjoy on its own as well. The Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 was a pleasant apertif, a sparkling wine made from New York Muscat and Pearl of Csaba grapes. It has intense aromatics, reminiscent of Muscat, with delightful green apple, orange and melon flavors. Crisp acidity, hints of sweetness and a light effervescence make this a fun and delicious wine.
The Avondale Sky The Landing is made from the Leon Millot grape and is an opaque red, almost purple, in color. It is easy drinking with intense cherry flavors and hints of spice, especially on the finish. Not too complex, but a very pleasant wine. The Jost Vineyard Cote St. George is made from the Marechal Foch grape and was light and smoky with subtle red fruit flavors. This would be delicious with some BBQ or a hearty pasta dish.
And if you don't like wine, they have a fully stocked bar with a list of special cocktails ($8.25) and martinis ($10).
We were fairly full by the end of dinner so decided to split a simple dessert, some Peach Sorbet, accompanied by whipped cream and a fruit sauce. The sorbet is made on premises and was refreshing, with a rich and fresh peach flavor. The restaurant also provided us complimentary glasses of a Jost Vidal Ice Wine, which had plenty of good acidity that balanced the mild sweetness, and flavors of apricot, dried fruit and honey.
Our server was George, and the service was excellent. The restaurant was fairly busy for a Monday night and everyone else seemed to be quite satisfied with their service and food. The quality and quantity of the food is well worth their reasonable prices, and the wine list is interesting and affordable. It was an impressive dinner and I give Chives my highest recommendation. They have a great culinary philosophy, serving local, seasonable ingredients, and the cuisine, though often familiar in many respects, has plenty of excellent creative touches as well. I will return here again the next time I visit Nova Scotia.
Rant: Are Beer Drinkers Cheap?
At the Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet in Melrose, a large portion of customers purchase beer and I hear some of their comments on beer prices. Plus, I have spoken to a number of friends and others about beer prices. Based on their comments, it seems to me that beer drinkers may be cheaper than wine drinkers. I am very curious as to why this might be the case.
In a usual six-pack of beer, each bottle is about 12 ounces and thus a six-pack is the rough equivalent of three bottles of wine. Many six-packs cost under $10, and even most of the higher end bottles cost less than $20. That would mean the six-packs are equivalent in cost to wines that run from $2-$7 per bottle, quite a low figure. Yet a fair number of people complain about these prices, which are comparatively very low.
There are some single 750ml bottles of beer which often cost between $10-$15, yet those are not the norm and are often seen as quite expensive. Yet many wine drinkers don't see any problem buying a bottle of wine that costs $10-$15. There are few beers that cost over $15 per bottle, yet you will find plenty of wines that cost more than $15. Why are there so few beers over that price point? Are most beer drinkers just too cheap to pay more than that for a brew?
There are a few exceptionally priced beers, such as the Samuel Adams Utopia, which can cost about $150 per bottle. This seems to be very popular and they seem to have little problem selling this product. But who is buying it? Is it only a tiny segment of beer drinkers, and maybe those who also enjoy wine? What would make beer drinkers, who generally seem to prefer low cost beers, be willing to pay so much for a beer?
Are the price variations between beer and wine due to the different costs of production? That might contribute a bit to the price, but we also know that reputation inflates the price of a number of wines far above the actual costs of production. Does reputation count so much less for beer producers? Is beer just less complex than wine, and thus not often worth as much as wine?
I am not a beer drinker, because I dislike the taste of most beer, so maybe I am missing something. Can anyone enlighten me? Are beer drinkers cheap, or am I missing something?
In a usual six-pack of beer, each bottle is about 12 ounces and thus a six-pack is the rough equivalent of three bottles of wine. Many six-packs cost under $10, and even most of the higher end bottles cost less than $20. That would mean the six-packs are equivalent in cost to wines that run from $2-$7 per bottle, quite a low figure. Yet a fair number of people complain about these prices, which are comparatively very low.
There are some single 750ml bottles of beer which often cost between $10-$15, yet those are not the norm and are often seen as quite expensive. Yet many wine drinkers don't see any problem buying a bottle of wine that costs $10-$15. There are few beers that cost over $15 per bottle, yet you will find plenty of wines that cost more than $15. Why are there so few beers over that price point? Are most beer drinkers just too cheap to pay more than that for a brew?
There are a few exceptionally priced beers, such as the Samuel Adams Utopia, which can cost about $150 per bottle. This seems to be very popular and they seem to have little problem selling this product. But who is buying it? Is it only a tiny segment of beer drinkers, and maybe those who also enjoy wine? What would make beer drinkers, who generally seem to prefer low cost beers, be willing to pay so much for a beer?
Are the price variations between beer and wine due to the different costs of production? That might contribute a bit to the price, but we also know that reputation inflates the price of a number of wines far above the actual costs of production. Does reputation count so much less for beer producers? Is beer just less complex than wine, and thus not often worth as much as wine?
I am not a beer drinker, because I dislike the taste of most beer, so maybe I am missing something. Can anyone enlighten me? Are beer drinkers cheap, or am I missing something?
Wine Chat & Nishiyama Kotsuzumi Tokubetsu Junmai
This past Wednesday, I was the guest host on #WineChat, a weekly online discussion on Twitter, and the topic was Sake. Beginning with some basics on Sake, the discussion quickly transformed into an intense Q&A and I spent much of the hour typing responses to everyone. The discussion was very well received, and numerous people voiced their pleasure at learning so much about Sake. The passion and excitement about Sake was contagious and some of the attendees were even drinking Sake at home while they participated in the discussion.
I did the same, opening a Sake that was new to me, the Nishiyama Kotsuzumi ("Little Drum") Tokubetsu Junmai. The Nishiyama Brewery, which was established in 1849, is located in the middle of a mountain range in the Hyogo prefecture. The name "Kotsuzumi" came from a famous poet, Kyoshi Takahama, who tasted some of the Nishiyama Sake and described it, in a poem, as like a kotsuzumi, a "beautiful ancient small hand drum."
They brew their Sake with some rarer ingredients, including their yeast and some of their rice. For example, they use Ogawa 10th yeast, which is notoriously difficult to use but which creates a delicate, subtle aroma. This Tokubetsu Junmai ($27.99 for 500ml) is made with a local, rare rice called Hyogo Kita Nishiki and the rice was milled down to 65%. It also has a Sake Meter Value of +9, meaning it is more on the dry side.
This Sake possessed a subdued aroma, an intriguing whiff of steamed rice combined with nutty elements. On the palate, it was very dry, crisp and full bodied with a pleasant blend of flavors, including marshmallow, almonds, and caramel, reminding me in some respects of an aged Sherry. The finish was pleasing and fairly long, and I certainly yearned for more. Over the course of the evening, two of us finished the bottle and I would certainly buy it again, and it earns a hearty recommendation.
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. **********************************************************
1) For 20 years, Taste of the NFL has been working to kick hunger at their annual charity event held on the eve of the Super Bowl. On September 12, past Taste of the NFL participant and restaurateur Steve DiFillippo (Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse; Avila Modern Mediterranean) will team up with the organization and some of Boston’s top chefs to host a kickoff event benefitting the Greater Boston Food Bank.
This evening features gourmet bites paired with pours from famous California vineyards such as William Hill Estate Winery, Louis M. Martini Winery and MacMurray Ranch. Participating chefs include: Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse’s Rodney Murillo (preparing gnocchi Bolognese); Olé Restaurant Group’s Erwin Ramos (preparing beef barbacoa tacos); Deuxave’s Chris Coombs (preparing duck liver pate); Restaurant dante and il Casale’s Dante de Magistris (preparing chilled melon soup with prosciutto crumbles); Pigalle’s Marc Orfaly (preparing smoked trout fried rice with Chinese sausage, yellow leeks, Thai chilies and peas); and, Stella’s Evan Deluty (preparing salmon tartare with wasabi, soy and ginger). Guests will also be introduced to the 2013 Taste of the NFL program. All proceed of the evening will be donated to support the Greater Boston Food Bank in its fight against hunger.
Where: Galleria Atrium (adjacent to Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse), 10 St. James Avenue, Boston
When: Wednesday, September 12 from 6pm – 9pm
Cost: $25 per person
Tickets: Tickets to this event may be purchased at: www.tasteofthenflkickoffdavios.eventbrite.com
2) On September 13, at 6:30pm, Legal Harborside will team up with Christina Turley, National Sales Manager for Turley Wine Cellars, for an exclusive four-plus-course wine dinner. "A popular California wine producer with wineries in Templeton and St. Helena, Turley wines are often recognized as some of the best old-vine red Zinfandels in California with fruits sourced from vineyards dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Turley Wine Cellars also boasts a two year waiting list for new recipients into their wine club."
This menu will be presented as follows on Legal Harborside’s scenic second level overlooking Boston Harbor:
HORS D’OEUVRES
fried oyster, preserved lemon, caper aioli
razor clam ceviche,* yuzu, fava bean, heirloom radish
curried mussels, thai basil foam
Schramsberg "Blanc de Blancs," North Coast, 2009
FIRST COURSE
grilled swordfish (braised romano beans, three-bean kalamata vinaigrette)
Turley "Old Vines" Zinfandel, California, 2010
SECOND COURSE
torchon of foie gras (luxardo cherries, chocolate brioche)
Turley "Ueberroth Vineyard" Zinfandel, Paso Robles, 2007
MAIN COURSE
charred northeast family farms flat iron steak (smoked tomato-cipollini onion jam, red wine demi-glace)
Turley "Cedarman Vineyard" Zinfandel, Howell Mountain, Napa, 2009
CHEESE COURSE
beecher's flagship reserve, valdeón
Turley "Hayne Vineyard" Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, 2007
Cost: $115 per person (excludes tax & gratuity)
Reservations can be made by contacting 617-530-9470
3) On August 26, from 11am-3pm, Belkin Family Lookout Farm is hosting NECN’s TV Diner. Some of Greater Boston’s best chefs and restaurants will gather together for a day of food, family, fun and memories. The 2nd Annual Family Food Fest will include cooking demos, tastings, entertainment, children’s activities, hayrides, contests and more! NECN and TV Diner are proud to support local farms, like Belkin Family Lookout Farm, with farm-to-table foods.
Tasting stations and product sampling from the top restaurants and food vendors in the Boston area, such as:
o Salvatore’s – Wild Mushroom Risotto
o Mangia - Pizza
o Tasty Burger - Charbroiled patty w/ American cheese barbeque sauce and caramelized onions
o Friendly’s - Ice Cream
o Glynn Hospitality - Mahi Mahi with a fresh mango salsa and homemade potato chips
o Fresh City - Caesar Salad
o Brasserie Jo - Pressed Watermelon w/ dehydrated olive, pickled goat cheese & chorizo vinaigrette
o La Nina - Cheese Quesadilla & Cheese and Ham Quesadilla
o Bryantville - Meatloaf
o Captain Parkers - New England clam chowder
o Piantidossi - Gourmet Breads served with imported oils
o Michele’s - Gourmet Popcorn
Beer and wine tent…for the adults! Entertainment. Kids’ play area, farm animals, face painting, hayrides, contests and more! Pick your own seasonal fruits from the farm
Where: Belkin Family Lookout Farm 89 Pleasant Street South, South Natick
Admission: $30.00 per adult in advance (www.necn.com/foodfest or www.aceticket.com), $40.00 per adult at the door (Children 10 years old and under are free!)
1) For 20 years, Taste of the NFL has been working to kick hunger at their annual charity event held on the eve of the Super Bowl. On September 12, past Taste of the NFL participant and restaurateur Steve DiFillippo (Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse; Avila Modern Mediterranean) will team up with the organization and some of Boston’s top chefs to host a kickoff event benefitting the Greater Boston Food Bank.
This evening features gourmet bites paired with pours from famous California vineyards such as William Hill Estate Winery, Louis M. Martini Winery and MacMurray Ranch. Participating chefs include: Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse’s Rodney Murillo (preparing gnocchi Bolognese); Olé Restaurant Group’s Erwin Ramos (preparing beef barbacoa tacos); Deuxave’s Chris Coombs (preparing duck liver pate); Restaurant dante and il Casale’s Dante de Magistris (preparing chilled melon soup with prosciutto crumbles); Pigalle’s Marc Orfaly (preparing smoked trout fried rice with Chinese sausage, yellow leeks, Thai chilies and peas); and, Stella’s Evan Deluty (preparing salmon tartare with wasabi, soy and ginger). Guests will also be introduced to the 2013 Taste of the NFL program. All proceed of the evening will be donated to support the Greater Boston Food Bank in its fight against hunger.
Where: Galleria Atrium (adjacent to Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse), 10 St. James Avenue, Boston
When: Wednesday, September 12 from 6pm – 9pm
Cost: $25 per person
Tickets: Tickets to this event may be purchased at: www.tasteofthenflkickoffdavios.eventbrite.com
2) On September 13, at 6:30pm, Legal Harborside will team up with Christina Turley, National Sales Manager for Turley Wine Cellars, for an exclusive four-plus-course wine dinner. "A popular California wine producer with wineries in Templeton and St. Helena, Turley wines are often recognized as some of the best old-vine red Zinfandels in California with fruits sourced from vineyards dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Turley Wine Cellars also boasts a two year waiting list for new recipients into their wine club."
This menu will be presented as follows on Legal Harborside’s scenic second level overlooking Boston Harbor:
HORS D’OEUVRES
fried oyster, preserved lemon, caper aioli
razor clam ceviche,* yuzu, fava bean, heirloom radish
curried mussels, thai basil foam
Schramsberg "Blanc de Blancs," North Coast, 2009
FIRST COURSE
grilled swordfish (braised romano beans, three-bean kalamata vinaigrette)
Turley "Old Vines" Zinfandel, California, 2010
SECOND COURSE
torchon of foie gras (luxardo cherries, chocolate brioche)
Turley "Ueberroth Vineyard" Zinfandel, Paso Robles, 2007
MAIN COURSE
charred northeast family farms flat iron steak (smoked tomato-cipollini onion jam, red wine demi-glace)
Turley "Cedarman Vineyard" Zinfandel, Howell Mountain, Napa, 2009
CHEESE COURSE
beecher's flagship reserve, valdeón
Turley "Hayne Vineyard" Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, 2007
Cost: $115 per person (excludes tax & gratuity)
Reservations can be made by contacting 617-530-9470
3) On August 26, from 11am-3pm, Belkin Family Lookout Farm is hosting NECN’s TV Diner. Some of Greater Boston’s best chefs and restaurants will gather together for a day of food, family, fun and memories. The 2nd Annual Family Food Fest will include cooking demos, tastings, entertainment, children’s activities, hayrides, contests and more! NECN and TV Diner are proud to support local farms, like Belkin Family Lookout Farm, with farm-to-table foods.
Tasting stations and product sampling from the top restaurants and food vendors in the Boston area, such as:
o Salvatore’s – Wild Mushroom Risotto
o Mangia - Pizza
o Tasty Burger - Charbroiled patty w/ American cheese barbeque sauce and caramelized onions
o Friendly’s - Ice Cream
o Glynn Hospitality - Mahi Mahi with a fresh mango salsa and homemade potato chips
o Fresh City - Caesar Salad
o Brasserie Jo - Pressed Watermelon w/ dehydrated olive, pickled goat cheese & chorizo vinaigrette
o La Nina - Cheese Quesadilla & Cheese and Ham Quesadilla
o Bryantville - Meatloaf
o Captain Parkers - New England clam chowder
o Piantidossi - Gourmet Breads served with imported oils
o Michele’s - Gourmet Popcorn
Beer and wine tent…for the adults! Entertainment. Kids’ play area, farm animals, face painting, hayrides, contests and more! Pick your own seasonal fruits from the farm
Where: Belkin Family Lookout Farm 89 Pleasant Street South, South Natick
Admission: $30.00 per adult in advance (www.necn.com/foodfest or www.aceticket.com), $40.00 per adult at the door (Children 10 years old and under are free!)
Beauty & The Underdogs
"Beauty is worse than wine, it intoxicates both the holder and beholder."
--Aldous Huxley
A sense of aesthetics and a support of the underdogs in the wine world can be valuable traits for a wine blogger. Are you embracing both elements? Both are aspects I have discussed and promoted before, though Randall Grahm probably more eloquently addressed these issues in his keynote speech this weekend at the Wine Blogger's Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Though I was unfortunately unable to attend the conference, Randall Grahm, of Bonny Doon Vineyards, was kind enough to post a copy of his keynote speech, Domaine Des Bloggeurs, on his blog, Been Doon So Long. You definitely should read it as you will find it both enjoyable and thought provoking. Two points especially spoke to me, issues of which I am in full agreement with Randall.
"First of all, since we’ve established that, at least for us, it’s not about money, let’s then talk about beauty. What voice might we lend to illuminate wine’s strange beauty?"--Randall Grahm
Randall believes we need to embrace the nature of beauty, to see below the shallow surfaces and seek the inner wonders of wine. He wants us to share that beauty with others, to let our writing reflect such aesthetics. His words mirror some of my own thoughts. Last summer, I wrote Rant: Beauty & The Beast, urging wine and food bloggers to "...to embrace beauty, to praise it, to savor it, to share it." It was my desire that "...I would like to see more food and wine writers embrace the beauty, in what they experience as well as how they present themselves."
This is an issue I continue to struggle with in my own writings, to try to convey that sense of beauty as best that I can. It is certainly not easy but it is a worthy endeavor, and will help to elevate your writing to a higher level. Part of the difficulty may be that sometimes beauty is hard to put into words. It can be a struggle to write about something which is better experienced than described. Do you aim for beauty in your writing? If not, why not? If so, how do you overcome the obstacles?
"We need to speak up on behalf – this is maybe a little self-serving here, forgive me – of those who are innovating new styles, or preserving something precious: an old style, an old variety, respecting the authority of a great terroir." --Randall Grahm
This is also a sentiment I have often urged other wine bloggers to embrace, to write more about the underdogs of the wine world rather than the same old Cabernets and Chardonnays. As bloggers, we have the freedom to write about any topic we desire. We do not possess an editorial staff which might limit the potential topics of our posts. So we can embrace the unique, the unusual, the under-appreciated wines of the world. That is a powerful opportunity and we should grab the reins and charge forward with that chance.
For myself, I have been more successful doing this than in my attempts at integrating beauty. I have often written about the compelling underdogs, hoping to entice more consumers to try them, to savor their pleasures. I have championed wines like Sherry, Port, Madeira and Grower Champagne. I have been an ardent proponent of Sake. I have discussed the joys of wines from places such as the country of Georgia, Israel, Nova Scotia, Greece, Uruguay and more. I have raved about unusual grapes such as Koshu, Saperavi, Chinebuli, Mtsvane, Tsitska, Malagousia, Roditis, Limnio, Mandilaria, and much more. I have highlighted small wineries all over the world, while discussing others who value terroir. I have tried to provide plenty of diversity, giving a voice to those wines which are often ignored by consumers and even a fair number of wine writers.
So how much coverage do you devote to the underdogs of the wine world, those unique wineries and wines which truly need promotion? Or do you still concentrate on the big name countries, wineries and grapes?
To improve ourselves and our writings, it is always good to take time every so often and ask ourselves questions like these. So read Randall's speech and think about the questions he raises.
--Aldous Huxley
A sense of aesthetics and a support of the underdogs in the wine world can be valuable traits for a wine blogger. Are you embracing both elements? Both are aspects I have discussed and promoted before, though Randall Grahm probably more eloquently addressed these issues in his keynote speech this weekend at the Wine Blogger's Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Though I was unfortunately unable to attend the conference, Randall Grahm, of Bonny Doon Vineyards, was kind enough to post a copy of his keynote speech, Domaine Des Bloggeurs, on his blog, Been Doon So Long. You definitely should read it as you will find it both enjoyable and thought provoking. Two points especially spoke to me, issues of which I am in full agreement with Randall.
"First of all, since we’ve established that, at least for us, it’s not about money, let’s then talk about beauty. What voice might we lend to illuminate wine’s strange beauty?"--Randall Grahm
Randall believes we need to embrace the nature of beauty, to see below the shallow surfaces and seek the inner wonders of wine. He wants us to share that beauty with others, to let our writing reflect such aesthetics. His words mirror some of my own thoughts. Last summer, I wrote Rant: Beauty & The Beast, urging wine and food bloggers to "...to embrace beauty, to praise it, to savor it, to share it." It was my desire that "...I would like to see more food and wine writers embrace the beauty, in what they experience as well as how they present themselves."
This is an issue I continue to struggle with in my own writings, to try to convey that sense of beauty as best that I can. It is certainly not easy but it is a worthy endeavor, and will help to elevate your writing to a higher level. Part of the difficulty may be that sometimes beauty is hard to put into words. It can be a struggle to write about something which is better experienced than described. Do you aim for beauty in your writing? If not, why not? If so, how do you overcome the obstacles?
"We need to speak up on behalf – this is maybe a little self-serving here, forgive me – of those who are innovating new styles, or preserving something precious: an old style, an old variety, respecting the authority of a great terroir." --Randall Grahm
This is also a sentiment I have often urged other wine bloggers to embrace, to write more about the underdogs of the wine world rather than the same old Cabernets and Chardonnays. As bloggers, we have the freedom to write about any topic we desire. We do not possess an editorial staff which might limit the potential topics of our posts. So we can embrace the unique, the unusual, the under-appreciated wines of the world. That is a powerful opportunity and we should grab the reins and charge forward with that chance.
For myself, I have been more successful doing this than in my attempts at integrating beauty. I have often written about the compelling underdogs, hoping to entice more consumers to try them, to savor their pleasures. I have championed wines like Sherry, Port, Madeira and Grower Champagne. I have been an ardent proponent of Sake. I have discussed the joys of wines from places such as the country of Georgia, Israel, Nova Scotia, Greece, Uruguay and more. I have raved about unusual grapes such as Koshu, Saperavi, Chinebuli, Mtsvane, Tsitska, Malagousia, Roditis, Limnio, Mandilaria, and much more. I have highlighted small wineries all over the world, while discussing others who value terroir. I have tried to provide plenty of diversity, giving a voice to those wines which are often ignored by consumers and even a fair number of wine writers.
So how much coverage do you devote to the underdogs of the wine world, those unique wineries and wines which truly need promotion? Or do you still concentrate on the big name countries, wineries and grapes?
To improve ourselves and our writings, it is always good to take time every so often and ask ourselves questions like these. So read Randall's speech and think about the questions he raises.
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