Wednesday, May 30, 2012

LOCAL Eatery & Refuge

I join a friend at a new concept restaurant in Burlington to see what all the buzz is about. I discover an urban / fun / young (& young thinking) clientele who are quite happy to get to know the folks on the bar stool, or in the booth, next to them and strike up friendships.

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I feel a bit of a 50's Drive Inn/Happy Days nostalgia, or perhaps Cheers, mingled with the modern comforts of about two dozen flat panel TV screens and attractive decor. It's a comfortable place. The sports buffs here are also clearly at home.

The food and wine focus are local Ontario, and very fresh. They have big plans to continue finding new discoveries in Ontario wines. Gems you won't find in LCBO. They're talking my language!

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I order a pint of Guinness to start. There's a way to dispense Guinness.  It is properly poured, I might say. Good start.

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We order Southwest Rolls (a hint of spice, and delicious), Pulled Pork Taco with pineapple (excellent), and Avocado Burger (fresh, savoury, and mouth-watering). I am not that easily impressed, so all 3 of the dishes come as a welcome surprise.

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I plan to go back and meet more cool people, enjoy the genuine friendliness and product knowledge of the staff, and try out some of those new wine discoveries.

LOCAL is part of the Tortoise Restaurant Group Inc family, well known for Turtle Jack's.

Locations:

4155 Fairview Street, Burlington, ON
Telephone: 905-633-9464

2 Fisherman Drive, Brampton, On
Telephone: 905-495-1126

Web: http://mylocalrefuge.com

LOCAL Eatery & Refuge

I joined a friend at a new concept restaurant in Burlington the other day to see what all the buzz is about. I discovered an urban / fun / young (& young thinking) clientele who were quite happy to get to know the folks on the bar stool or in the booth next to them and strike up friendships.

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I feel a bit of a 50's Drive Inn/Happy Days nostalgia, or perhaps Cheers, mingled with the modern comforts of about two dozen flat TV screens and attractive decor. It's a comfortable place. The sports buff will also have plenty to feel at home about.


The food and wine focus are on fresh, local Ontario. And they have big plans to source new discoveries in Ontario wines. Stuff you won't find in LCBO. They're talking my language!

I order a pint of Guinness to start. There's a way to dispense Guinness.  It was properly poured, I might point out.[[posterous-content:pid___3]]

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We ordered Southwest Rolls (a hint of spice, and delicious), Pulled Pork Taco with pineapple (excellent), and Avocado Burger (fresh, savoury, and mouth-watering). I am not that easily impressed, so all 3 of the dishes came as a welcome surprise.

LOCAL is part of the Tortoise Restaurant Group Inc family, well known for Turtle Jack's.

I plan to go back and meet more cool people, enjoy the genuine friendliness and product knowledge of the staff, and try out some of those new wine discoveries.

Locations:

 

4155 Fairview Street, Burlington, ON
Telephone: 905-633-9464

2 Fisherman Drive, Brampton, On
Telephone: 905-495-1126

 

Web: http://mylocalrefuge.com

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Smith & Wilson Rondeau Red. Bordeaux meets Beaujolais meets Lake Erie! Very nice.

2010 Smith & Wilson Rondeau Red.

A blend of Merlot, Gamay and Viognier. A delicate, light bodied fruit forward and spicy red wine with loads of charm and balance. This unoaked red blend charms the socks off when you're looking for a change of pace in the world of vin rouge.

Smith & Wilson winery are doing good things on the shores of Lake Erie. A Southerly climate that has a much longer growing season than Niagara yields wonderfully alive and complex wines.

Monday, May 28, 2012

"Civilized Lunch," blockbuster wines at Devil's Pulpit Golf Association...

"Civilized Lunch" at Devil's Pulpit Golf Association...

 

The Baroness and I were joined by VidalBlonde and Zoltan Szabo for a "civilized lunch" invitation by General Manager Andreas Rieder. It turned out to be very civilized. Here's how it went:

 

We were also joined by members of the association and huge wine buff themselves. Andreas and I provided the wines. We lined them up on the table and asked Executive Sous Chef Jason Higgs to cook for each wine, the reverse of how it's normally done, and a real pleasure to enjoy Jason's creations. Let me observe now, that each food pairing was spot-on.

Photos (L to R) Millesimato Contrato sparkling, entire wine selection lined up, scallops

 

WELCOME BEVERAGE:

 - Millesimato Contratto 2007 sparkling Metodo Classico, Italy

 

SECOND WINE:

Viewpointe Sauvignon Blanc, Pointe Blanc 2010, EPIC Ontario

FOOD PAIRING: Scallops, mango cole slaw with passion fruit. 

 

Photos (L to R) Mrs & Dr. Zee, Chef and Andreas, Zweigelt, Viewpointe and Smith & Wilson wines

3RD, 4TH AND 5TH WINES - LIGHT REDS:

- Andert Josef Zweigelt 2010 (Austria)

- Smith & Wilson Rondeau Red Merlot-Gamay, EPIC Ontario

- Viewpointe Colchester Cuvee, EPIC Ontario

 

FOOD PAIRING: Cured meats, pate, grilled sliced bread, steak tartare (best I've ever had).

 

5TH, 6TH AND 7TH WINES - FULL BODIED REDS:

 

- Antinori Matarocchio Tenuta Guado Al Tasso 2007 (Cabernet Franc), Livorno - Italy 

- Viewpointe Cabernet Franc (Burgundy label) 2007, EPIC Ontario

- E. Guigal La Mouline Cote Roti 1991, France

 

FOOD PAIRING: Beef short ribs

 

SPECIALTY WINES:


 - La Spinetta Oro Piemonte Moscato Passito 2005, Italy (brought by Dr. Zee)

- Luis Felipe Licor Elaborado El Espana

 

FOOD PAIRING: House-made pastry platter and ice cream

 

Photos (L to R) Andreas holds up the La Spinetta, Pastry platter, home made ice cream with Luis Felipe, us on the golf course.

 

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Zoltan compares tasting notes with VidalBlonde

 

Conclusion: Yes, you truly CAN have a civilized lunch at Devil's Pulpit Golf Association. The food, the wines, the service, and the venue were truly outstanding.  I get to travel the world and experience the best, and this too was up there with the very best.

 

... WB

 

MEMORABLE TWEETS:

 

not necessarily SB fan, but two really good ones over weekend, Staete Landt '11 Marlborough & Viewpointe '10 'Pointe Blanc' LENS restrained.

 

 

many spellbinding wines yesterday, thanks  for summing 'em up...!

 

   enjoyed Viewpointe '10 'Pointe Blanc' Sauvignon Blanc, tropical, but restrained w/ no green / grass notes, round, ripe & fresh

 

 

   Chef, the menu was absolutely wonderful and worked spot on with the wines, thank YOU...!

 

   Terrabianca 2000 Il Fior Di Fino Rare as a white crow, Sherry yeast involved Tuscan unique dessert wine

 

    Bodegas Rubio 1893 Luis Felipe Licor 24% Al. 'You can never get this' Reverse Port.

 

fantastic lunch at Devil's Pulpit in Caledon, thanking the great Andreas Rieder for organizing, fab food & unbelievable wines...!

 

   Guado Al Tasso '07 Matarocchio Currants, tobacco, tomato, cardamom

 

   E. Guigal '91 'La Moulin' Côte-Rôtie Cranberry jam, Pomegranate, oyster shell, bacon fat, cashmere

 

when having wines like these for lunch, just say "love you, baby Jesus"...! 

 

kicking off the long weekend w/ Contratto '07 Rut Metodo Classico by La Spinetta 

 

ooh la la...! lunch here...! 

    Bodegas Rubio 1893 Luis Felipe Licor 24% Al. 'You can never get this' Reverse Port.

 

   Terrabianca 2000 Il Fior Di Fino Rare as a white crow, Sherry yeast involved Tuscan unique dessert wine

 

   La Spinetta '05 'Oro' Moscato Passito Rose Petals, Lavendar, honey, not 2 sweet, or heavy. Unbelievable

 

 

 

Smith & Wilson North Star Viognier 2010 - VQA. Fresh pressed apricot and honeydew nose, flavors of honeycomb, apricot, pear, spice, and grapefruit in a well rounded package. Versatile food-pairing wine. It went well with a medley of diverse fare at dinner

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Smith & Wilson North Star Viognier 2010 - VQA. Fresh pressed apricot and honeydew nose, flavors of honeycomb, apricot, pear, spice, and grapefruit in a well rounded package. Versatile food-pairing wine. It went well with a medley of diverse fare at dinner tonight! Holds up very well to the Viogniers I had in the Rhône recently, yet with a New World aliveness that is so refreshing! From the shores of Lake Erie.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Microbrew beer, crab cakes on the beach. Life is very nice.

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Microbrew beer, crab cakes on the beach. Life is very nice.

Microbrew beer, crab cakes pn the beach. Life is very nice.

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Microbrew beer, crab cakes pn the beach. Life is very nice.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Sitting with Man of Leisure havin properly poured Guinness at Local Eatery, Burlington. Food delights to follow...

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Sitting with Man of Leisure havin properly poured Guinness at Local Eatery, Burlington. Food delights to follow...

Monday, May 21, 2012

With all objectivity, it's an incredible wine discovery. RT @zoltanszabo: @thewinebaron enjoyed Viewpointe '10 'P...

With all objectivity, it's an incredible wine discovery. RT @zoltanszabo: @thewinebaron enjoyed Viewpointe '10 'Pointe Blanc' Sauvignon Blanc, tropical, but restrained w/ no green / grass notes, round, ripe & fresh

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Agreed. Sharing it now w u. I'll add dried apricot nuances. RT @zoltanszabo: Chateau Leoube '10 Rose Cotes de Pro...

Agreed. Sharing it now w u. I'll add dried apricot nuances. RT @zoltanszabo: Chateau Leoube '10 Rose Cotes de Provence deep straw - light cooper, peaches & orange blossom, ample & tartly juicy.