All posts by Katie Vonderheide

Bäco Mercat with Bow & Arrow

Life Experiences & Activities, Places & Events, , , , , , , ,

Baco Mercat

We went to Bäco Mercat after a lovely afternoon of taking photos for Grapejuice.  What to pair with the spirit at this LA fave?  We decided on Bow &  Arrow Pinot Noir Medici Vineyard 2011 coming out of Portland, OR.  Both the food and the drink embody something that is new, exciting and delicious.

Pinot Noir tends to be a safe wine to pair with a variety of food. It’s a nice “when in doubt” wine. This family owned winery makes one that is out of the ordinary (if your ordinary is rich California Pinots). The wine and the food stood side by side in harmony.  Mellow and simple yet complex flavors and no disappointment all around.  Initially we said, “OK, we’re going to have a light lunch and just one drink then call it a night”.  Forget that.

Baco Mirror

This also brings up a thought we will address in the future:
Bringing your own wine into restaurants, yay or nay? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Los Angeles Flower District with Chateau La Liquiere Les Amandiers

Places & Events, , , , ,

Los Angeles Flower District with Chateau La Liquiere Les Amandiers

Did you know the Los Angeles Flower District is America’s largest wholesale flower district? Also, that the Flower District’s history dates back to the early 1900s? It is a shame that it goes mostly unnoticed by Angelenos.

Do yourself a favor and go see this gem nestled in a seedy and forgotten part of the city. It is surrounded by the other countless districts of DTLA: the Fashion District, the Toy District, the Jewelry District, and the Warehouse District.

The wine for this experience would have to be Chateau La Liquiere Les Amandiers Blanc. Yes, this wine has a flower on the label.  Coincidentally it has a nice floral aroma, it is med-bodied and just easy to drink. Flowers can look pretty, smell pretty, and now taste pretty.

This grape juice is 30% Roussane ; 25% Grenache blanc ; 20% Terret ; 10% Viognier ; 10% Bourboulenc ; 5% Marsanne

Los Angeles Flower District with Chateau La Liquiere Les Amandiers
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“Don’t judge a book by its cover” with Fuori Strada Off Road Grillo

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2010 Fuori Strada Off Road Grillo by Monte Bernardi

 I’ve always been mystified by a pretty package.  Even though I can’t afford to pay my never-ending list of parking tickets, I am guilty of buying $10 chocolate bars made proudly in Brooklyn. I think, if it has a well-designed package the contents must be good, right?  Not always.

This grillo made in Sicily offers the other side to this argument.  Fuori Strada Off Road Grillo by Monte Bernardi comes packaged in a box, a tetra pack to be exact, the stuff your coconut water comes in.  It tastes way more expensive then you would expect and the reason is, it actually is more expensive then you would expect.  The winemaker, Michael Schmelzer, told me how he is able to save on costs with shipping the wine since the package is lighter and more travel-friendly then a case of bottles. He is able to offer the consumer a better quality product existing in a not-so-attractive package.

One thing that is a plus or minus depending on how you look at it is this:
the wine is ready to drink now.  Since it is not in a bottle it can’t be kept in your cellar to open when that special time comes along.  I would suggest drinking it immediately with no reason.  One time someone said to me, “oh, you work at a wine store…you must collect wine” and to this I replied, “no, I drink it”.

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