What Wine Was Served at the Last Supper?

The Last Supper is supposed to be the final meal that Jesus shared with his twelve apostles and disciples. I am not going to enter into a debate over whether this dinner actually occurred or not. I merely want to speculate on the type of wine that might have been served at this meal. So, for the purpose of this post, I will treat this supper as if it truly took place.

Though wine was served at the Last Supper, there are no specific details of the type or nature of the wine. Thus, we are left speculating as to what they might have drank. We should note that some believe the dinner may have been a Passover Seder, or at least reminiscent of such a celebration. By examining the potential evidence, including from ancient history, archaeology, cultural traditions, and more, one type of wine stands out as a possible choice.

Passum.

Passum is a type of sweet, raisin wine that appears to have originated in ancient Carthage and eventually spread to Italy. It became very popular with the Romans, and spread to other parts of their Empire. There were multiple ways to produce passum. Sometimes grapes, after they were ripe, were left on the vine for more time until the sun had shriveled them to about half their size. Other times, the grapes were picked when ripe and then placed on to a tray to dry in the sun. In addition, some wine makers just immersed the grapes in boiling olive oil.

In ancient Palestine, archaeologists have found numerous amphorae which were specifically designed to transport passum. In addition, Jews traditionally used Passum during Passover celebrations. Even to this day, raisin wine is generally acceptable during Passover. The Talmud refers to zimmukin (“raisin wine”) as well as ilyaston (sweet wine from grapes dried in the sun for three days). Passum has a long shelf life so it is easier to store between celebrations. Thus, there are some food reason to believe that passum may have been served at the celebration of the Last Supper.

The modern day version of passum is the Italian passito, where the grapes are picked and then let to dry in the sun atop a mat. Check out my reviews of a couple passitos: NV Cascina Chicco Arcass and 1999 Riecine Sangiovese Passito.

Inspiration and information for this article partially derives from the article "My Blood of the Covenant: What Did the Apostles Drink at the Last Supper?" by Nicholas K. Rauh and Elizabeth Lyding Will (Archaeology Odyssey, Sept/Oct 2002). Thanks very much to the authors and check out their article for more information.

"And Now For Something Completely Different"

Enjoy some silliness!

Top Ten Rejected Saké Names

10. Kikko Man Juice
9. Godzilla's Fiery Pee
8. Rice-a-Roni, the Tokyo Treat
7. Love Hotel Drippings
6. Golden Shower Ginjo
5. Jak-Off Junmai
4. Happy Hiroshima Memories
3. Elixir of a Used Schoolgirl Panty
2. Spit of the Syphilitic Samurai
1. Die Gaijin Dai-Ginjo

Top Ten Avant-Garde Ingredients of the Future

10. Mold
9. Dried placenta
8. Kitty Litter
7. Play-Doh
6. Fingernail clippings
5. Organic dog food
4. Hemlock
3. Belly button lint
2. "Yellow" snow
1. "Long pig" (Look it up!)

Top Ten Rejected Restaurant Names

10. Cats, Dogs & Other Pets
9. Week-Old Leftovers
8. Piss & Vinegar
7. Swine Flu Cafe
6. Overpriced & Tasteless
5. Testicle Trattoria
4. Benny's Buffet & Vomitorium
3. Fat Gluttons Only
2. Dan's Diarrhea Diner
1. Hitler's Kosher BBQ

Top Ten Signs of a Person Overly Obsessed With Wine

10. Your children are named Cabernet, Chardonnay and Pinotage.
9. You are building an addition onto your house, using only corks.
8. You work three jobs, two solely to pay for your wine.
7. You have memorized all of Parker's ratings for French Bordeaux for the past 20 years.
6. You drink wine with breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert, 365 days a year
5. You can recite the names of over 5000 wine grapes.
4. Your entire house is wallpapered with pages from the Wine Spectator.
3. Every evening, you watch your DVD of Sideways.
2. Your key chain has a corkscrew, tastevin, wine collar, wine stopper, aerator, wine pourer, and personalized wine charm.
1. You have legally changed your name to Oenophile.

Top Ten Reasons to Be a Wine Blogger

10. Free wine!
9. You have the potential to stand out among 1000 other wine blogs.
8. You don't need to know anything about wine.
7. You can work at your own pace, whenever you get a chance.
6. Wine is sexy.
5. Many bloggers will assist you if you have questions.
4. You'll become a celebrity among your family and friends.
3. You can feel like a professional wine writer.
2. Free wine (it deserves mentioning twice)!
1. You can earn money.

Top Ten Reasons Not to Be a Wine Blogger

10. Most of the free wine you receive sucks!
9. You will likely get buried in obscurity among 1000 other wine blogs.
8. It will be painfully obvious you know nothing about wine.
7. You'll end up spending as much time writing as a full time job.
6. Being a wine geek is not sexy.
5. Many bloggers will plaigarize you and bad mouth you behind your back.
4. Your family and friends won't actually read your blog.
3. Professional wine writers will despise you.
2. You actually prefer beer and vodka to wine.
1. You'll earn enough money to buy an extra cup of coffee each month.

This is my 2000th blog post! Over the past 2 1/12 years, I have averaged about 2 posts a day. I pondered long over what type of post would be appropriate to commemorate this special occasion. In the end, I took the advice of El Jefe, who suggested I consider WWMPD, What Would Monty Python Do. As I contemplated that advice, I decided to write something silly, and hopefully funny. You be the judge of that.

Feel free to add your own contributions to any of the above lists in the Comments.

Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year's Eve to All!

Or Akemashite Omedeto as they say in Japan.

I hope that all my family, friends and readers enjoy a safe and happy New Year's Eve and that 2010 ushers in a great year for each and every one of you. 2009 was probably a challenging year for many of us, especially economically, and I hope that 2010 will bring better news and good fortune to all. No matter what happens though, we shall find a way to make 2010 a good year.

For The Passionate Foodie, I resolve to try to make my blog even better. I have been making some changes here and there, all with the goal of improving matters. There will be plenty of food, wine and spirit items to cover in the new year. I already have numerous events scheduled to attend in January. If you have any suggestions for me, please leave them in the comments or email me.

Thanks to all of my readers during the past year, and best wishes to you for the coming year, and I hope you will continue to read my blog in 2010.

Cheers and dine and drink with passion!

2009 In Review: Part 4--The Saké Experience

Let me continue a review of my top recommendations and favorites of the past year, 2009. I have already provided a General Summary of 2009, my Favorite Restaurants of 2009, my Favorite Food-Related Items of 2009 and my Favorite Wine & Spirit Related Items of 2009. Now, this post, the final one in my 2009 Review series, will concentrate on Saké.

This is certainly not a complete list. It is more a sampling of memorable matters I have experienced and posted about over the past year.

Saké Dominance: Saké continues to maintain a prominent role on my blog. I am very passionate about Saké and I hope to promote it to others, to spread the word about this fascinating beverage. I want to destroy the stereotypes about Saké and shine a light on the truth, to show its diversity and complexity. During this past year, Saké popularity has been increasing across much of the world, including the U.S. I am going to highlight some of the most interesting Saké events that I have discussed on my blog.

**Saké exports have been booming. Exports have grown from about 7,000 kiloliters in 2001 to 12,151 kiloliters in 2008. Exports to the U.S. have doubled since 2001 to 3,843 kiloliters. Exports to Asia are also increasing. There is more and more Saké around, and that is a great thing.

**Moto-i, the first Saké brewpub in the United States, opened in Minneapolis. Owner Blake Richardson runs the place like a Japanese izakaya, serving small plates of food with namazake, Saké on draft. I have not yet been there but certainly love the idea of this place.

**Philip Harper, an Englishman, is the only non-Japanese toji ("master brewer") and he works at the Tamagawa ("Jewel River") brewery. His Saké has just been released in the U.S. this year, and I am seeking it out, hoping to see what quality he can brew.

**A new Saké, Rissimo, has been specifically designed to pair with Italian food. Matsumoto Sake Brewing Co. and Il Ghiottone, an Italian restaurant in Kyoto, formed an alliance to create a Saké with a subtle sour flavor like white wine which would thus pair well with Italian food. It is called Rissimo, as "riso" is the Italian term for "rice." Just think of risotto.

**Saké was sold at the Opening Day of the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. In Japan, they sell Saké at major sporting events and now it is time for the U.S. to do the same. Hopefully other baseball parks will start selling Saké.

**New York City held its first Saké Week from June 1-5. Over 100 New York restaurants participated, all helping to promote Saké. There were special events, including food pairings, tastings, education, and more. Hopefully they will do it again in 2010, and maybe other cities can follow their example.

**Saké Day, October 1, passed once again with little occurring in the Boston area to commemorate this date. I hope to change that in 2010, by helping to organize some local events, and maybe even a large Saké tasting. Stay tuned for details, and any assistance is more than welcome.

**Who would have suspected that Portland, Maine was a significant Saké destination? Not I, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a significant number of their wine/liquor stores carried Saké, and not just the cheap, common brands. They certainly carried more Saké than many of our local wine stores.

**Even the Saké world is not devoid of scandal. A major Saké brewery, Bishonen Shuzoh Co., sent out expensive rice to be polished but received a much cheaper rice back, receiving money to make up for the difference in price. Customers thus unknowingly paid for a lower quality product. Fortunately, the brewery was caught.

Saké Reviews: Over the past year, I have reviewed over 30 Sakés on my blog. A excellent opportunity to taste Saké was at the annual ULVino Grand Wine Tasting in Las Vegas. They had about eight tables with dozens of different Sakés available to taste. You don't often see so many bottles available for tasting in one place.

Saké WBW: I was the host for Wine Blogging Wednesday #59, and chose to pay homage to Kushi no Kami, an ancient god of Saké. Participants had to conduct a kikishu (“Saké tasting”) by selecting any Saké and reviewing it. Over 30 Sakés were reviewed and discussed. Plus, we had two special guests, both well known Saké experts, who joined in on the Saké fun. John Gauntner, a famed Saké authority and educator, reviewed the Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Junmai-shu. Beau Timken, a Saké authority and the owner of True Sake, the first all-Saké store in the U.S, reviewed the Kikuhime Dai Ginjo.

Favorite Saké: Though I have tasted many excellent Sakés this past year, one stood out as my favorite, the Manabito Kimoto Junmai Ginjo. Made by the Hinomaru Jozo Brewery, which is owned by Jouji Sato, it was quite unique, very different from any other Kimoto I have had. Complex, well balanced, hints of earthiness and extremely delicious. This gets my highest recommendation.

Favorite Sparkling Saké: These are usually simple, slightly sweet and pleasant drinks but the Mizbasho "Pure" Sparkling Saké is a significant exception. The brewery actually uses some of the French Champagne methods to create this Saké, such as an in-bottle secondary fermentation. This is a serious sparkling beverage, on par with a good, dry Champagne. At $50, it is not cheap, but its high quality warrants such a cost.

Favorite Store for Saké: For the second year in a row, Sakaya in New York City remains my favorite place to buy Saké. The store only sells Saké, Shochu and Plum Wine and the owners, Rick and Hiroko, are personable and very knowledgeable about Saké. With about 100 choices available, I have not yet been disappointed in anything I have purchased. If you love Saké, and visit New York City, you must stop at Sakaya.

Local Stores for Saké: In the Boston+ area, finding good Saké can be difficult, but the situation is improving. Wine stores seem to be stocking more and more Saké, and this pleases me immensely. I hope that 2010 sees even more Saké promotion. Here are several local wine stores which carry some good Sakés and which deserve your support: Lower Falls Wine Co., Ball Square Fine Wines & Liquors, Wine Connextion, Golden Goose, and Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet. I hope to expand this list in 2010.

Most Expensive Saké: The Naniwa Isake 19 Junmai Daiginjo, at around $750, may be one of the most expensive Sakés available. What makes this brew so special is that it has a seimai buai of 19%, meaning that 81% of the rice kernels were polished away. This may be the lowest polishing rate available, possible only with modern technology. It is not currently available in the U.S., though at its high price, few of us could afford it anyways.

Favorite New Saké Book: Though there exist only a small number of books on Saké, the winner of this category definitely deserves the accolades. Saké's Hidden Stories: The Personalities, Philosophies, and Tricks-of-the-Trade Behind the Brew, a new E-book by John Gauntner, is a fascinating look at thirteen Japanese breweries. It even includes an informative, short primer on the basics of Saké. Gautner has a casual, easy writing style and he has filled the book with plenty of compelling stories. I highly recommend this book!

Runner-Up Favorite New Saké Book: If you want a fun and informative introduction to Saké, then check out Oishinbo: Saké. It is a manga, a Japanese comic, and worthy of your attention. It provides plenty of basic information and might also get you thinking about comparisons and contrasts between Saké and wine.

Important Saké Campaign: I recently won a t-shirt from SakéOne with the sentiment, Drink Saké Not Bombs. I was especially pleased as I am proud to support this position, to stand against the dreaded Saké Bomb. The Bomb, dropping a shot of Saké into a beer, essentially destroys the subtle flavors of the Saké. Would you pour a shot of a fine Burgundy into a glass of cola?

For more Saké related items, you can check my blog posts for the past year. Obviously I could not include everything in this review post. You can also look forward to many more Saké posts in 2010.

What were some of your favorite Sakés and Saké related items this year?

2009 In Review: Favorite Wine & Spirit Related Items

Let me continue a review of my top recommendations and favorites of the past year, 2009. I have already provided a General Summary of 2009, my Favorite Restaurants of 2009 and my Favorite Food-Related Items of 2009. Now, this post will concentrate on my favorite wine and spirit related items. My last review post, on Saké, will get posted very soon.

This is certainly not a complete list. It is more a sampling of memorable matters I have experienced and posted about over the past year.

Favorite Discount Wine Store: With our tough economic times, price is very important so discount wine stores are especially prominent. For the second year in a row, Bin Ends, a discount wine store in Braintree, takes this honor. With some of the best wine prices around, a diverse selection and knowledgeable staff, this store is a must visit. Plus, the store is at the top of using social media, not only to promote themselves but also to engage in a dialogue with wine lovers and their customers.

Favorite New Discount Wine Store: Though only open for a few months, the Wine Connextion, in North Andover, is making a strong beginning. Their wine prices are incredibly low, they have about 700 different wines and they sell Saké. With time, this store should get even better, adding some esoteric wines and high-end spirits.

Runner-Up New Discount Wine Store: Though I was initially very skeptical, I was pleased to see that my worst fears were not realized at the new wine/liquor store at the Stoneham BJs. Their prices are low, their selection gets better all the time, and they have plenty of free wine tastings. This is another wine store you should be checking out.

Favorite New Boutique Wine Store: For an adventurous wine lover, the opening of Central Bottle in Central Square, Cambridge, was a welcome blessing. With an intriguing collection of artisan and small producer wines, with about 90 at $15 or less, this is the place to find plenty of exciting wines. Plus, they sell cheese, meats, cicchetti, bread and more! The staff is knowledgeable and passionate and the store has a full list of upcoming events, including Thursday night Wine Bar. Make this one of your wine destinations.

Favorite New Suburban Wine Store: When Melrose finally allowed three stores to sell wine in town, Beacon Hill Wine & Gourmet (which also has a Boston location), was one of the three. With a good selection of wine, including Saké, and gourmet foods, including a cheese counter, they are a very welcome addition to the local area. They have regular wine tastings and have plans for much more in the coming year.

Favorite Suburban Boutique Wine Store: I first visited the Belmont branch of Vintages: Adventures in Wine this year. It has an exceptional selection of more artisan and esoteric wines, all reasonably priced, with an emphasis on Italian wines. Plus, they have some outstanding wine tastings, some with the wine makers. An excellent wine lovers destination.

Favorite North End Wine Store: Kerri Platt, the owner of the Wine Bottega has made this North End institution an even more compelling wine store. Great selection, excellent wine tastings, a knowledgeable staff and lots of passion. If you are visiting the North End, make sure to stop by the Wine Bottega.

Favorite Portland Wine Store: I visited several wine stores in Portland, yet only one really stood out, the Browne Trading Gourmet Market. I was surprised by the diversity of their wines and Saké, including plenty of high-end wines. Prices were reasonable and the front of the store also sells gourmet foods, fresh fish, produce and more. One stop shopping for your food & wine needs.

Favorite Local Winery: The Travessia Urban Winery is located in downtown New Bedford, and produces wines using only Massachusetts grapes. The owner Marco is a passionate man, truly interested in producing the best wines that he can. And he has been producing some very good wines, at reasonable prices. Tour the winery and taste the wines and you too will understand why I like this winery.

Favorite Vermont Winery: This year, I got to taste wine from a number of Vermont wineries and one most impressed me, the Boyden Valley Winery. They only use Vermont grapes, hybrids, and the wines are delicious and reasonably priced. Their Vermont Ice Red, made from Frontenac, is even one of the best ice wines I have ever had. If you are in Vermont, seek out their wines.

Favorite Long Island Winery: While at TasteCamp, we visited several different Long Island wineries. My favorite winery was Paumanok Vineyards, which produces some killer wines including their Chenin Blanc and Petit Verdot. A close runner-up was Shinn Estates, which served us superb duck breast and makes a superb Cabernet Franc. Both of these wineries show the high quality that Long Island wines can reach.

Favorite Wine Dinner: This was a tie as it was just too difficult to choose only one wine dinner. First, there was the dinner at Bistro 5 with Paolo De Marchi, a famed Tuscan wine maker who owns the winery Isole e Olena. Great wines, food and company made this an exceptional evening. Second, there was the dinner at Erbaluce where Chef Draghi chose some very unusual Italian wines to pair with his always superb cuisine. The marriage of wine and food can be so exciting.

Favorite Wine Maker Tasting: Christoph Künzli, the winemaker of Le Piane in the Boca region of the Northern Piedmont, came to Boston to showcase some rare wines, aged Nebbiolo produced by Antonio Cerri. These were incredible wines and Christoph is such an amazing man, humble and passionate. Adonna Imports arranged the tasting and the Cerri wines are now available for sale.

Favorite Wine Tasting: It is very rare for me to attend a tasting of 20+ wines and like every single one of them. But it happened this year at a tasting of boutique wines from Israel. Wineries such as Tzora, Margalit and Tulip presented interesting and delicious wines and showed the true potential of Israel to produce excellent wines. Thanks to Richard at Israeli Wine Direct for arranging this tasting.

Runner-Up Favorite Wine Tasting: I found some excellent and exciting wines at the Wine Riot 2, including a few of my favorite wines of the year. Held at a local courthouse, a funky venue, the event was not overly crowded so it was fun to stroll through the tasting tables. There were wine classes, music and other amusing activities. There just needed to be more food available, including some freebies, to help people cleanse their palates as well as not get too intoxicated.

Favorite Wine Party: One of the highlights of the Boston Wine Expo weekend did not even take place at the Expo. It was a special Expo After Party held at the Boston Wine School, an intimate party with wine lovers, bloggers, wine makers, distributors and more. There was plenty of delicious food (including some superb duck breast), interesting wines as well as lots of enjoyable conversation.

Favorite Wine Magazine: Decanter, a British wine magazine, continues to impress me with its extensive coverage of many less common wine regions, often ignored or marginalized in other wine publications. Plus it has an amusing wine cartoon in every issue. I eagerly look forward to each issue of Decanter.

Strangest Wine Item: Should you drink wine based on the rhythms and configurations of the moon, planets and constellations? Some people believe, based on biodynamic principles, that there are specific days best suited to taste wine. Wine is supposed to taste best, with the most flavor, on "fruit" days and taste the worst on "root" days. I am very skeptical of this idea but it certainly intrigued me.

Favorite Wine Trend: We are starting to see the production of some high-quality Boxed wines and I love the idea. Besides being better for the environment, they are convenient, long lasting and inexpensive. Even some of the best local wine stores are starting to carry these boxed wines, a good indication that boxed wines are making their mark. Wineries, let us see more high quality box wines!

Favorite Single-Topic Wine Book: I love the Pinotage grape so was very excited to see the publication of a book this year devoted to Pinotage. Pinotage: Behind the Legends of South Africa's Own Wine was written by Peter May, the author of The Pinotage Club blog. The book is well written, informative and highly recommended. Read the book and drink some Pinotage.

Favorite Multi-Topic Wine Book: I do love learning esoteric facts about the world of wine so I was captivated by Is This Bottle Corked? The Secret Life of Wine, written by Kathleen Burk and Michael Bywater. This book contains over 85 short articles about a wide range of wine-related topics, an an eclectic mix of topics covering education, entertainment, history, literature, science and much more. This is a very fun and informative read.

New Wine Tasting Notes: I am excited that I have begun writing a new style of wine tasting notes for some of my reviews. I began using the new notes with the 2008 Heidi Schrok Muscat and have continued with several others since then. So far, thise new style of tasting note has been well received so I will continue using it in 2010.

Favorite Las Vegas Bar: With very professional and skilled bartenders, and a diverse selection of rums and spirits, the Rhumbar at the Mirage Hotel is a recommended destination. I have had numerous excellent cocktails here, as well as sipped some high-end rums. You can sit inside or at their outside patio.

Favorite Alcohol History Book: The King of Vodka by Linda Himelstein presents a biography and history of Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov and the vodka company he created, extending from the early 19th century through today. It is a fascinating story, how a serf became a very wealthy man through sales of vodka. Through Pyotr's story, we also see some of the history of Russia, the significant changes that occurred during the 19th century.

Favorite Cocktail Book: Check out Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails: From the Alamagoozlum to the Zombie 100 Rediscovered Recipes and the Stories Behind Them by Ted Haigh for a fun and informative look at largely forgotten cocktails. It provides plenty of recipes, as well as background information on all of them. Enliven your next party with this unusual recipes.

Favorite New Liquer: At Cochon 555, I first encountered Domaine de Canton, a French Ginger Liqueur. The Watermelon Mojito made with this liquer was quite delicious, the ginger not overwhelming the cocktail. Ginger can be a very refreshing flavor, and can add a nce touch to certain cocktails.

Favorite New Vodka: I was surprised when I first tasted Sobieski Vodka, a very inexpensive Polish vodka. For the low price, I was not expecting such a high quality vodka, nearly good enough for me to drink straight. At about half the price of Absolut or Smirnoff, it actually delivers twice as much flavor. This is my new every-day or party vodka.

For more wine and spirit related items, you can check my blog posts for the past year. Obviously I could not include everything in this review post.

What were some of your favorite wine and spirit related items this year?

2009 In Review: General Summary

2009 has been another exciting, interesting, busy and delicious year for this passionate foodie. I have dined at a number of new restaurants, tasted many new wines, traveled some, and expanded my knowledge of food, wine, blogging and writing. Once again, I have many fond memories.

So as 2009 nears its end, I want to spend a little time to look back at this past year, to savor some of my favorite memories and achievements. I have already provided three summary lists for 2009, my Top Ten Wines Under $15, Top Ten Wines Over $15 and Top Ten Wines Over $50.

Now it is time for a general summary of the past year, a rundown of several key events. These are some of the most important food and wine events of the past year for me. Please note that there will be some more specific 2009 food, wine and Saké posts coming very soon.

Monday Rants:

Back in June, I introduced a new feature on my blog, Monday Rants. Every Monday, I post about something that irritates me, a food or wine issue that bothers me for some reason. Sometimes they are small, more personal issues and other times it is far more serious. I am hoping to start a discussion, to see if others feel the same way too or if anyone disagrees with me. I have had some people contribute, providing their own slants on the issues and I hope that even more people will enter the discussions in the new year.

Travel:

1) This year, I visited Las Vegas twice, once in the spring and once in the fall. As last year, I attended the UNLVino Wine Tasting, a huge three-day wine tasting event. I reviewed many of the different wines and Sakés that I tasted. During my Vegas trips, I dined at several excellent restaurants, including Raku, Beijing Noodle No.9, and Cut. I hope to return to ULVino in 2010, ready to taste some new wines and explore some new restaurants.

2) I also made several short local trips to Maine, Connecticut, and Vermont. In Maine, I made several food and wine stops while in Portland. The highlight of my Connecticut trip was dinner at David Burke Prime Steakhouse. While in Vermont, I attended the Cheesemaker's Festival, and got to try numerous Vermont wines. There is plenty to see and do in New England and it is well worth taking weekend trips to catch the culinary sights.

3) This was also the year for the first TasteCamp, which was held on Long Island. TasteCamp was a small get-together of mainly East Coast wine bloggers. We visited Long Island wineries, tasted many wines, dined together and had an excellent time. It was great to meet some bloggers who I had previously only known online. In 2010, TasteCamp will be held in the Finger Lakes region of New York, and there will be even more bloggers there. I look forward to attending, getting back together with my fellow bloggers, and meeting others new to me.

Blogging Community:

It was my pleasure to meet many more food and bloggers this year. TasteCamp, mentioned above, was an excellent opportunity to meet a number of wine bloggers. I also met other bloggers at various food and wine events this past year, finding some new friends. I think the local blogger community has become closer over the past year, and it also has been good to see new bloggers starting out. Twitter has certainly been very useful in connecting with bloggers from all over. I am sure that in the new year, the community will continue to grow closer and I will meet even more fellow bloggers.

Massachusetts Law & Wine:

It has been a tough year for wine lovers in Massachusetts. First, the Attorney General Martha Coakley appealed the court decision which declared MA House Bill 4498 unconstitutional. When it was declared unconstitutional, there was hope that soon enough, MA residents could order wine directly from wineries. The hearing on the appeal was recently held but we still have to wait several months for a decision. I hope the court upholds the prior court decision and the Attorney General decides not to file any additional appeals.

Plus, Governor Deval Patrick approved a 6.25% tax on alcohol. Alcohol had not been taxed prior to that, so this added a significant cost to buying wine, causing some to run to New Hampshire to purchase their alcohol. This tax is unlikely to change any time soon.

Saké Dominance:

Saké was very prominent on my blog in 2008 and it has been equally, if not more, prominent in 2009. In fact, it has been so prominent this past year, that I will devote an entire post to a review of Saké happenings this year. So look forward to that real soon.

My Readers:

I am very thankful for all of my readers this past year. My readership has continued to grow and I have received more comments on my blog. I am glad for those people who have enjoyed and found my blog posts entertaining and informative. I hope to attract more readers in the new year, as well as to have more of a discussion with those readers I have. Please feel free to add your comments, so we can have a dialogue about the issues and items I write about.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Before I begin to enjoy the great bounty of food and wine the day will bring, before my family and friends arrive at my house, I want to reflect on the past year. Much of my thoughts at this time are very similar to those I voiced a year ago.

Though this is a time when many of us reflect upon our lives and consider everything we should be thankful for during the past year, this type of reflection should not be limited to Thanksgiving. We should regularly reflect on our lives and be thankful for what we have. No matter how bad our lives may seem at times, there will always be something of which to be thankful. Seeking the positive may help brighten the darker parts of our lives.

I have much of which to be thankful.

I am very thankful for my family, especially my loving wife, my wonderful mom, my special nephew Thomas and special niece Jessica. I look forward to spending time with them on the holidays, and the rest of my family, and sharing the bounty of the year.

I am thankful for my friends, both old and new. This includes my Thursday night wine buddies, my poker friends, my gaming buddies, my North Shore Winer friends, and the wine/food bloggers I have met online, and off, during the past year. It also includes wine store owners, wine distributors, wine makers, chefs and more who I have met and chatted with this year. My food and wine events this past year have brought me into contact with so many good people.

I am thankful for so much. My good health. My home. My new car. My weekend trips this past year. My two affectionate cats.

I am thankful for my position as a food/wine columnist at the Stoneham Sun. I am thankful for all of my readers, of my blog and newspaper column. It has been so great to meet some of my readers over the past year.

The list could go on and on for all of which I am thankful. But I won't make this much longer of a post. Just make sure that you consider your own lives and be thankful for everything you have. Raise a glass of wine today in thanks. Enjoy your family and friends. Savor life and dine with passion!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

White House: American Wine Only?

The theme of the current administration of the White House is "Change." But will President Obama change the wine policy? Though, the question should also be posed, should he change it?

Back under the administration of Lyndon Johnson, it was decreed that only American wines would be served at official dinners and functions. This policy has remained in effect ever since, for over forty years. No matter how much a President might like French Champagne, only American sparkling wines can be served. The basic reason seems to be that such dinners and functions should showcase the best of America, including our wines. Presenting wines from other countries might be seen as a slight of our own wines.

I generally agree that it is probably the best policy to serve American wines at such official dinners and functions. We should be proud of our wine industry. All fifty states now have wineries and plenty of states are producing some very good wines. Let us show the world the quality of the wines we can produce.

But, I also think there might be an occasion where we might want to bend that policy. The policy should not be absolute. It should permit some flexibility. Maybe a visiting dignitary wishes to share a wine from their country. Why not let that wine be served at an official dinner, beside our own American wines? Let us use discretion when following the wine policy.

What do you think?

Menu Truths

Restaurant owners listen up!

I have a complaint and I bet I am not the only one. This is something that has bothered me for years and when it struck again recently at lunch, it was the proverbial final straw. I just can't take it any more and I want answers and action.

I want to see truth on restaurant menus. Is that too much to ask? No, it is not. So why can't I always find such truth?

The other day I was at P.F. Chang's China Bistro for lunch. I ordered the P.F. Chang's Fried Rice which states it is mixed with egg, soy sauce and sliced scallions. You also have a choice of beef, pork, chicken or shrimp. I chose the pork and assumed the rice would not have any other ingredients besides what was listed. Yet when the rice came, it had other ingredients, including bean sprouts and carrot slivers. And that upset me.

So why didn't the menu mention those other ingredients? Why did the menu only mention a few of the ingredients? Why did it mention those specific items? It seems almost deceptive to me, to provide only a partial list without mentioning that fact. It is not like all fried rice has carrots and bean sprout. But all fried rice uses soy sauce so why mention that fact?

If I order something, and there are ingredients listed, I want those ingredients to be complete and accurate. I don't want an unpleasant surprise when my food arrives. I don' t think that is too much to ask from a menu. I don't like bean sprouts in my fried rice and I was not pleased to see them when the menu description did not mention them.

This has happened plenty of times before, not just at this restaurant. For example, you might see a sandwich listed, with a partial listing of the fillings and condiments, yet they omit to mention a certain mayonnaise or mustard that is also on the sandwich. And you don't realize that until you bite into it. If you dislike mayo or mustard, that is going to displease you. Unfortunately, this happens too often.

You shouldn't have to ask the restaurant for a list of ingredients for every dish you order. If a menu chooses to list ingredients for a dish, they should mention them all and not just some of them. Let us see truth on menus.

Addendum 1/23/09: I did email the corporate office concerning my issue. It took about a week to receive a response. They apologized and stated that the descriptions on the menu were not intended to be ingredient list but more of a flavor profile. They also mentioned that they have recently introduced brand new menus, which were designed to "get the server involved in your dining experience." They also mentioned that you can always speak to your server about any allergens and they will do their best to accomodate.

To me, the menu does not clearly identify that the listed ingredients are only a "flavor profile." They give the appearance that they are a list of what is in the dish. I will check out the new menus and report back on what I think of them.

Addendum 3/7/09: I have now seen their new menu. Much of the menu is the same though it appears they have added some new dishes, including some grill entrees. Most of the changes seem more subtle. But I am happy to report that they did remove their partial list of ingredients on their fried rice. Now, that change certainly had nothing to do with my inquiry on the matter. The menu changes had already been completed. But I am glad to see them.

Differences of The Passionate Foodie

If you want information about food and wine, you have many diverse resources available, including magazines, newspapers and blogs. Yet not all of these resources are equal. My blog, like other blogs, has some significant differences from many magazines and newspapers, differences which can be potentially advantageous to the blogs.

First, blogs have a greater sense of immediacy and can be quicker to present food and wines news and reviews. Magazines, which may only be published once a month, are often completed at least a couple months ahead of time. So their news and reviews are usually at least a few months behind. Newspapers, though often published daily, generally restrict their food and wine coverage to once a week, usually on Wednesdays. So though their coverage is more current than magazines, it still can still lag behind some.

Blogs though can be posted on a daily basis, and can present news and reviews very quickly. For example, a blogger can attend an event or visit a restaurant and post a review on that same day. If an important piece of food or wine news arises, a blogger can post about it at any time, and does not have to wait for a specific day of the week.

Second, blogs may be able to provide more content than some print media. Except for those magazines and newspapers that are dedicated solely to food and wine, other magazines and newspapers have limited space available for such coverage. For example, the Boston Globe newspaper, Boston Herald newspaper and Boston Magazine all limit how many pages they can dedicate to food and wine. Blogs on the other hand have no such limitations. They can post as much content as they desire.

Third, blogs can provide more repeat information, including more updates, than most print media. When most magazines and newspapers publish a restaurant or wine review, they often fail to provide any further updates. This may be partially due to the limited space they possess to devote to coverage. So, their reviews may be out of date when you eventually visit the restaurat or try the wine. Blogs though can provide follow-ups as they don't have space limitations. A blogger can post about every visit they make to a restaurant, providing a current update on their prior reviews.

Fourth, blogs may cover matters that print media does not or would not cover. This is partially due to the limited coverage availabe to some print media. For example, the Boston Globe can only cover so many restaurants in a year. A blog has no such limitations so can cover any restaurant they desire, including small, quirky places that would not be big enough for newspaper coverage. The local newspapers also provide very little coverage to wine.

Now, remember that these are all potential advantages and not all blogs will capitalize on them as well as they should. And some magazines and newspapers are better than others. Bloggers should consider these matters and try to enhance their sites to take advantage of these matters. These potential advantages of blogs may also be a reason why magazines and newspapers are making more of an online presence in recent times.

What are your thoughts on these issues?

Influence of The Passionate Foodie & Other Blogs

There are millions of blogs out there, about an incredible range of topics. Any one can create a blog and talk about whatever subject they wish. You can find a blog about even some of the most esoteric of topics. There are thousands of food and wine blogs and many new blogs will continue to be created in 2009.

Many agree that blogs have an influence yet there is plenty of disagreement over the extent of that influence. The professional print media, including food and wine critics in magazines and newspapers, still possess the greatest influence over the public. Their opinions often still carry great weight. For example, Robert Parker and the Wine Advocate still have a significant influence over how well certain wines sell as well as what price. And their influence will continue for years to come. Millions of people still read food and wine magazines and their readership is not going to vanish overnight.

Yet food and wine bloggers do have some influence. Restaurants, wineries, and PR people all realize the growing importance of blogs and they have begun to treat bloggers like they do the professional media. Acknowledging the influence and importance of blogs, some in the professional media have started their own blogs, often associated with their print publications. Wine Enthusiast magazine (12/31/08 issue) listed their Top 10 Wine Stories of 2008 and #7 was Wine Blogging.

Amateur food and wine reviews have even taken on importance and influence in non-blog areas, such as Chowhound and Yelp. On these forums, anyone can post their thoughts about a restaurant or wine. They are basically anonymous though so not all of the reviews possess the same level of credibility.

How do you measure the exact influence of bloggers? That is a question that still does not have an adequate answer and which should be studied and researched. Part of the problem is that a person who goes to a restaurant because they read a recommendation on a blog often does not tell the restaurant about it. The same applies to someone buying a bottle of wine at a store based on a blogger's recommendation. Thus, it can be hard to assess how the impact of a blog.

I, and other bloggers, have some proof of their own blog's impact. I have heard as much from some of my readers. I know they have gone to certain places because of my recommendations. I have also heard from some restaurant owners that some of their patrons were due to my blog. Yet I know I also have not heard from everyone who has done so. I have received more feedback concerning the recommendations in my weekly newspaper column. As my readership grows, it seems logical that my influence also has increased.

If you combine the potential impact of all food and wine blogs, then it could be considerable, even if not fully measureable. I am sure in the near future there will be attempts to better assess their impact. No one is predicting that blogs will lose influence in the future.

An important thing that restaurants, wine stores, and more should realize is that they should treat all of their customers as potential reviewers and critics. One never knows when a blogger or amateur critic is one of their customers. If they treat a customer poorly, it could easily come back against them when a negative review is posted online. And at least some of their potential customers will read that negative review and could decide not to visit that place because of it. Yet if a place treats everyone well, then they might receive more positive reviews and thus enhance their customer base.

I would love to hear from all of my readers who followed up on any of my recommendations. That is another reason why I would like to see more comments on my blog. I would love feedback, to see which of my recommendations you agree or disagree. I also would like to hear if you rely on the recommendations of other blogs.

Let us start a dialogue!

Readers of The Passionate Foodie

First, I wish to thank all of my loyal readers and give a hearty welcome to all of my new readers. Thanks for all of your support over the past couple years.

My readership continues to increase each month but I would love to interact further with those readers. My blog, like all blogs, is not intended to be solely a place to read what I write. It is intended to be a place for discussions to occur, for a dialogue to be established between me and my readers, as well as between my readers. My blog should be a dynamic place, a place of action and not a static place. But how is that accomplished?

The key is for my readers to leave comments on the posts I write. It is within those comments that discussions can ensue. I want to hear your thoughts about what I write. Do you agree or disagree with my reviews? Do you agree or disagree with my opinions? I want to know what you think, whether positive or negative. It will only take you a few minutes to leave a brief comment so let me hear what you think. Feel free to comment on other commenters as well. Let us discuss and debate, though please make sure you are respectful to everyone else.

Some people have commented on my blog in the past, but I want to see more commenters. I want to hear more of the thoughts of my readers. In part, that will also help me write a better blog. Your feedback and constructive criticism can lead to positive changes here. I am far from perfect so would love to improve what I am doing.

So in 2009, please let me hear from you, please post your comments on my blog. Let us talk together and share a passion for food, wine and spirits.

The Basics of The Passionate Foodie

As the New Year neared, I took time to reflect on the past as well as to look forward to the future. I felt it was time to reassess my blog, to delve back to its foundation and examine where it is going. As such, I felt it would be beneficial to explain to my readers the purpose of my blog, the range of its subject matter, and where it is headed. I felt this would benefit my newer readers as well as give further information to my long term readers. So, this week, I shall make several posts about my blog and blogging in general, a fresh look to begin 2009.

The Passionate Foodie is a blog about food, wine and spirits. There are plenty of blogs that concentrate only on food or wine, yet there is a far smaller number that combines the two interests. For me, they are both my passions and often closely linked to each other so it was very natural for me to want to write about both of them. I also enjoy many different types of spirits, from vodka to tequila, so I tak about them as well. About the only alcohol you won't find here is beer, as I still have not developed a taste for it. Though I keep trying to find a beer I might enjoy.

On my blog, I review numerous restaurants, many locally but also anywhere else that I travel. Basically any time I dine out, I may write about the experience. I sometimes provide multiple reviews of a restaurant, detailing any changes that have occurred, discussing a special event, or more. I enjoy a wide variety of cuisines so you will find much diversity in the restaurants I review. I pay for most of my own meals, though I occasionally attend special media functions, often intended to showcase a new restaurant. For 2009, I plan to cover plenty of restaurants that I have not been to before, as well as dine at some of the new places that open this year.

I review wines and spirits, from all over the world, most which I have purchased locally. I love the diversity of wine and am always seeking to try new wines, from less common regions, grapes or blends. I attend many wine and spirit tastings and often post about my favorites that I find. Like everyone, I have my own preferences and biases though I usually note them in my review if applicable. I buy much of the wine and spirits I drink, though I sometimes receive free samples from wineries or distributors. For 2009, I'll keep reviewing wines and spirits, including seeking out even more unusual ones.

My reviews also cover other food and wine establishments, from markets to wine stores, from bakeries to wine auctions. If a place sells or serves food, wine or spirits, I may end up reviewing it. In this new year, I will be seeking out more such places to review.

As I am a voracious reader, I buy many food, wine and spirit books and magazines (as well as sometimes receiving sample copies from publishers). I often review these books and magazines on my blog, especially pointing out those books and magazines which I feel will most appeal to my readers. I will continue reading new books and magazine in 2009, pointing out those I feel are most worthy.

Besides all of my reviews, I also post announcements of upcoming food, wine and spirit events. I find the event listings in various places, as well as sometimes receiving press releases. I generally only post announcements about places I have been to previously, or which sound particularly interesting. I also note when I am going to attend some of those events. 2009 will have plenty of interesting events, some of which I already know about, and which I will tell you all about.

You will also find on my blog news, essays and editorials on a wide range of topics. If it has to do with food, wine or spirits, then you might find it here. Whatever happens to perk my interest at the moment, whatever subject fascinates me at the moment. I also provide links to other sites which I think are of value, including other food and wine blogs.

Overall, my blog is an eclectic place, which reflects my own personality. I don't want to be confined to a small box but rather want the freedom to discuss anything about food, wine or spirits that appeals to me. So, though I have mentioned above many of the areas that I cover on my blog, I may cover other areas too. You shouldn't get bored here, because there is always something different coming down the line.

I am always open to suggestions and recommendations on places and subjects you think I should cover so feel free to email me your comments.

Tomorrow, I will address the role of my readers...

Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve to All!

I hope all my readers enjoy a safe and happy New Year's Eve and that 2009 ushers in a great year for you. I felt that 2008 was a good year, despite some tough economic issues, and I look forward hopefully to what 2009 will bring. I am sure there will be plenty of great times ahead, although the financial situation remains tough. But we will find a way to persevere and make it a good year.

What can you expect from The Passionate Foodie in 2009? Here are some things, though not the only ones, you can expect.

First, I will continue to write plenty of posts about wine and food, more reviews, news, and articles. I will continue to see out wines from every corner of the world, expanding my wine horizons. I'll keep seeking new restaurants to dine at and report back my experiences. I hope that my writing continues to improve and that my readers enjoy what they find here. I have no plans to slow my pace in 2009.

Second, I will continue to post about Saké, including more reviews, as well as possibly some advanced educational items, building on what I presented last year during Saké month. I may even expand some of the prior Saké posts, to add additional information.

Third, I will continue to delve more into Portuguese wines, and may even travel to Portugal in the fall of 2009. If so, maybe I will get to visit Ryan and Gabriella of Catavino again.

Fourth, I will be traveling to Las Vegas again in April and will attend the UNLVino Wine Tasting as well as dining at some excellent restaurants. I will likely also visit New York City again, hoping to try some new places there. As for other trips, I am considering a few others, such as to the wineries of Long Island, and will provide more information when those plans become more concrete.

Fifth, I would like to see, and will work toward, more cooperation and community among the Boston area food bloggers. Local wine bloggers are already moving in that direction and it would be great if the local food bloggers did the same. I am sure we can all help each other in various ways, making each of us better.

Lastly, I hope to provide a few exciting surprises in the coming year.

If you have any suggestions, feel free to email me.

Cheers and dine and drink with passion!

2008 In Review: Part 3

It is now time for the final post of my review of 2008. Part 3 concentrate on my wine and alcohol favorites of the past year. This is certainly not a complete list. It is more a sampling of memorable matters I have experienced and posted about over the past year.

Favorite Store for Saké: Only open for a year, Sakaya in New York City is an exceptional store that sells almost only Saké, as well as some Shochu and Plum Wine. The owners, Rick and Hiroko, are both personable and very knowledgeable about Saké. They have a great selection of Saké and I have not been disappointed anything I have bought there yet.

Favorite Italian Wine Store: Also in New York City, Italian Wine Merchants is the place for excellent and hard to find Italian wines. It is a beautiful store where proper wine storage is a cornerstone of their service. They have many interesting classes and their newsletter are very informative.

Favorite New Local Wine Store: Bin Ends, a discount wine store in Braintree, is a must visit for any wine lover. With some of the best wine prices around, their diverse selection and knowledgeable staff, make this a worthwhile trip. They also created Twitter Taste Live, which I previously mentioned as one of the significant wine events of the past year. In these rough economic times, this is the type of store that you should patronize.

Runner Up for Favorite New Local Wine Store: Salem Wine Imports, a boutique wine store in Salem, deserves recognition. It has an excellent selection of wine and Eric, the owner, knows plenty about wine and is personable and friendly.

Favorite Existing Local Wine Store That Is New To Me: Though it has been around for two years, I first visited Wine Sense, a boutique wine store in Andover, this past summer. With a vibrant and passionate owner, Samanta, this store is small but has an intriguing selection of wines. If you want to try wines that are less common, but excellent, then stop by this place.

Favorite Wine Dinner: The Rabbit Ravioli was one of the highlights of the special wine maker dinner at Il Capriccio in Waltham. Christoph Künzli, the wine maker of Le Piane, was present and helped explain the wines that paired with each delicious course. It was an amazing dinner with several amazing wines.

Favorite Wine Maker Tasting: Abe Schoener, wine maker at the Scholium Project, was a fascinating person with some diverse and intriguing wines. He is the Socrates of wine making, on an eternal mission to question the established traditions of wine making. I look forward to his new projects, to taste the next phase of his wines

Favorite Winery I Visited: While touring Long Island, I visited Paumanok Vineyards and it thoroughly impressed me. I tasted numerous delicious wines, including my favorites, their 2007 Paumanok Chenin Blanc and 2005 Petit Verdot Apollo Drive Vineyard Limited Edition. These wines were as good as any wine made elsewhere in the U.S., and definitely show the potential of Long Island wines.

Favorite Wine Magazine: WineS Magazine, first published in October 2007, concentrates on education about wine rather than wine reviews. For those new to wine, or anyone seeking to learn more about wine, this magazine would be extremely beneficial. It is easy to read and understand, and contains many of interesting articles and features. It fulfills a niche that no other wine magazine really addresses.

Runner Up for Favorite Wine Magazine: Decanter, a British wine magazine, has impressed me lately due to its extensive coverage of many less common wine regions, often ignored or marginalized in other wine publications. Plus it has an excellent wine cartoon in every issue.

Favorite Wine Fact: One of my favorite grapes is Pinotage and I finally learned the correct way to pronounce it. I had been pronouncing it incorrectly for years so it was fascinating to learn my error. And it is an error committed by many others too.

Favorite Wine Biography: The Widow Clicquot was a compelling biography and history book about woman who left an indelible stamp on the history of champagne. It is easy to read and you will speed through each chapter, savoring the anecdotes and facts about an impressive woman.

Favorite Alcohol Book: If you want a fascinating and comprehensive look at the history of wine, beer and spirits, then you must read Drink, A Cultural History of Alcohol. This thick book covers alcohol from all over the world, from ancient times to modern. I learned so much from this book, as would any reader. I highly recommend this book.

Favorite Tequila, High-End: For Tequila costing over $100, the Don Julio 1942 Tequila was superb! Super smooth, lots of interesting flavor, and in a cool looking, agave-shaped bottle. I enjoy this tequila better than some others tequilas that cost even more.

Favorite Tequila, Regular: For regular Tequila, including Blancos to Anejos, my favorite new brand is Partida Tequila. Smooth, flavorful and complex, these tequilas are as good, if not better, than the other popular labels out there, such as Patron. They can be found in Massachusetts now so check them out.

Favorite Rum/Cachaca: This was an easy choice. Beija, a Brazilian cachaca or "virgin cane rum," was developed by two Boston entrepreneurs and they created an amazing spirit. With a very distinctive herbal taste, Beija is also very flexible and can be used as a base for a wide variety of cocktails. I even enjoy drinking this straight, on the rocks.

Favorite Liquer: Also with an intriguing herbal taste, St. Germain is versatile liquer that is very sweet on its own but mixes well with other items. The St. Germain Cocktail makes a great summer punch and is very popular with many people I know.

Favorite Vodka: A premium vodka made from rice? Yes, Kissui Vodka is a Japanese vodka made from rice and it is excellent, very smooth and clean. I can easily drink this just on the rocks. It would be a shame to hide this vodka behind any mixer. It is somethin to savor on its own, and is comparable to any other premium vodka on the market.

2008 In Review: Part 1

Like 2007, this has been another interesting, busy and delicious year for me. I have dined at number of new restaurants, tasted many new wines, traveled some, and expanded my knowledge of food, wine, blogging and writing. It was an exciting time and I have many fond memories of the past year.

So, as 2008 nears its end, I want to spend a little time to look back at this past year, to savor some of my best memories and achievements. I have already provided two summary lists for 2008, my Top Ten Wines Under $15 and my Top Ten Wines Over $15. Now it is time for a general summary of the past year, a rundown of several key events. These are some of the most important food and wine events of the past year for me.

I. Wine Education:

1) I devoted time this past year to expanding my knowledge of wine and writing in a couple formal courses. First I took the Spanish Wine Educator's Course, an intensive three day seminar with two final exams, including a blind tasting. This course was excellent and covered an incredible amount of information about Spain and their wines. We also got to taste over 50 different Spanish wines. I am glad to say I passed my tests and was certified as a Spanish Wine Educator.

2) I also attended the first Wine Writer's Workshop held by Jonathon Alsop of the Boston Wine School. This four work course was both informative and fun. I believe I benefited from the course and I would recommend it to others as well. Another Workshop will start on January 26 so sign up now if you are interested. Jonathon is a good instructor and you will learn much from your fellow students as well.

3) One result from the Writer's Workshop was the formation of the Boston Wine Writers Group, which meets once a month and brings together local wine writers and others interested in wine. It is a great networking opportunity as well as being educational. As we enter 2009, I am sure this group will continue to grow and offer even more opportunities for all.

II. Saké Dominance:

1) As I love Saké, it has taken a very prominent role on my blog, starting with last January's Saké Month, a month-long series of educational posts about Saké. After January, I also instituted Saké Sundays, where I try to write a post about Saké on many Sundays. Saké is growing in popularity in the U.S. so there definitely is a need and desire for more information about this incredible beverage. Just consider that there are now at least three all-Saké stores in the U.S., including True Sake in San Francisco, Sakaya in New York City and Saké Nomi in Seattle. My passion for Saké wll continue and it will remain prominent on my blog.

III. Travel:

1) This past spring, I visited Las Vegas to attend the UNLVino Wine Tasting, a huge three-day wine tasting event. It is a larger event than the Boston Wine Expo and run much more smoothly. I reviewed many of the different wines and Saké that I tasted. While in Vegas, I also dined at several excellent restaurants, including Red Square, Valentino, Nobu, and Craftsteak. My enjoyment was further enhanced by the fact I won some money gambling too. I should be returning to ULVino in 2009, ready to taste some new wines and explore some new restaurants.

2) I also visited New York City three times this past year. One of the highlights of these trips were my visits to Sakaya , where I purchased some incredible Saké. You can read much more about my New York City exploits here. On one of my trips, I even ventured onto Long Island and visited a few wineries as well as dined at an excellent restaurant. Paumanok Vineyards was my favorite of the three wineries. I am sure I will return to New York City in 2009, and hopefully Long Island as well.

IV. Blogging Community:

1) The Wine Blogging community has certainly seemed to be more active than the local Food Blogging Community. Though a Boston Food Bloggers group was formed, it has been relatively inactive though I would like to inject some life into it in 2009. It also seems that at most of the food events I attend, bloggers are rare, most of the other food writers being from print media. Let us hope this changes in the New Year.

2) Dr. Debs of Good Wine Under $20 founded the Wine Book Club. About every other month, the participants read the same wine-related book and post reviews and thoughts about what they have read. As an avid reader, I have thoroughly enjoyed this though the actual number of participants has generally been low. Hopefully more people will join in for 2009 and make this event grow.

3) In honor of Women's History Month this past March, I began to compile a list of women wine writers and bloggers and it has certainly has grown since then. There are now over 100 women listed there, and it continues to grow. Kudos to all of the women on this list, as well as those who will be added in the future.

4) Bin Ends began the Twitter Taste Live events, an innovative use of Twitter to promote wine tastings all across the world. There have been numerous events already and I have participated in many of them. Most of the participants are wine bloggers but others are joining in as well, the number of participants growing all the time. Prior events have included wine makers, distributors and others. There has been plenty of diversity and there are many more events planned for the future. If you are not participating yet, I urge you to join in now.

5) I have met more local wine bloggers and it has been a pleasure to share wine with them. I hope to meet even more in 2009, as well as to meet some local food bloggers. Blogging should be about community, about networking with each other, those who share a similar passion. We should not simply be people behind a computer screen but should get out there, meet face to face and connect with each other.

V. Wine Dinners:

1) This past year, I have assisted at two wine dinners held at Melissa's Main Street Bistro in Stoneham. This includes a Spanish Tapas dinner and a South African Wine Dinner. I selected the wines for the meals and the food for the dinners were matched to the wines. During the dinner, I spoke about the wines as well as personally talking with the attendees about the food and wine. I tried to select different wines, ones that people might not be as familiar with but which were very good wines. I believe both events went very well and I hope to assist at more such wine dinners in 2009.

Tomorrow, I'll post Part 2, providing more specific items of note from the past year.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Before I begin to enjoy the great bounty of food and wine the day will bring, before my family and friends arrive at my house, I want to reflect on the past year. Much of my thoughts at this time are very similar to those I voiced a year ago.

Though this is a time when many of us reflect upon our lives and consider everything we should be thankful for during the past year, this type of reflection should not be limited to Thanksgiving. We should regularly reflect on our lives and be thankful for what we have. No matter how bad our lives may seem at times, there will always be something of which to be thankful. Seeking the positive may help brighten the darker parts of our lives.

After voicing these sentiments last year, I tried to remember those words throughout the year since last Thanksgiving. It did work, as I sporadically spend time contemplating all for which I should be thankful. I hope to spend more time this year doing the same.

I have much of which to be thankful.

I am very thankful for my family, especially my loving wife, my wonderful mom and my special nephew Thomas. I look forward to spending the holidays with them, and the rest of my family, and sharing the bounty of the year.

I am thankful for my friends, both old and new. This includes my Thursday night wine buddies, my poker friends, my gaming buddies, my North Shore Winer friends, and the wine/food bloggers I have met online, and off, during the past year. It also includes wine store owners, wine distributors, wine makers, chefs and more who I have met this year.

I am thankful for so much. My good health. My job, with my fine boss and co-workers. My two affectionate cats. My home. My new car. My weekend trips this past year.

I am thankful for my position as a food/wine columnist at the Stoneham Sun. I am thankful for all of my readers, of my blog and newspaper column.

The list could go on and on for all of which I am thankful. But I won't make this much longer of a post. Just make sure that you consider your own lives and be thankful for everything you have. Raise a glass of wine today in thanks. Enjoy your family and friends. Savor life and dine with passion!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

When Do You Send Back a Wine At A Restaurant?

In an earlier post today, I mentioned how I recently dined at Excelsior Restaurant. While there, I could not help but over hear a conversation at the table next to mine. And once I heard a little bit of it, I carefully listened to hear even more. The conversation had to do with wine. In fact, the table wanted to send their wine back because they did not like it.

At the table next to me, there were three couples, probably in their 30s or early 40s. They ordered a French Meursault, and I believe it was the 2002. The Meursault wines on the list started at $100 a bottle and went as high as $370. The 2002 was a Marc Colin, Les Charmes 1er Cru ($175). The bottle was brought to the table, they tasted it and began drinking. At some point later, they asked the waitress to see the wine steward, so he could taste the wine. Basically, the customers just did not like the wine. It was not corked. They just did not care for its taste. The wine steward tasted the wine and found nothing wrong with it.

Yet the wine steward, to please the customers, took back the wine and brought them a different wine instead. That impressed me. The restaurant would have been full in their rights to tell the customers that they had selected the wine, that it was not corked and that they had to keep it. But they did not do so. Instead, they agreed to accept the loss of that bottle of wine to satisfy the customers. To me, that is certainly a restaurant which highly values customer service.

I was appalled by the behavior of the customers in this instance. If you order a wine at a restaurant, basically the only valid reason to send back the bottle is if it is corked. Just because you do not care for its taste, that does not give you the right to send back the bottle. If you are particular, then do not order something unfamiliar to you. Don't take any chances. Maybe whoever ordered the Meursault was trying to impress the others, without really knowing what he was ordering. In the end, they made the restaurant lose a bottle of wine that was worth over $100. Which contributes to restaurants pricing their wines as high as they do.

I have taken plenty of chances when ordering wine at restaurants. And I would never even consider trying to return the wine just because I did not like it. I take responsibility for my wine buying decisions. If the wine were corked, I would definitely send it back. Though that has yet to happen to me.

Wine is not an inexpensive beverage. It is not like sending back a cup of coffee or a soda. So it should only be done when absolutely necessary. And these customers at Excelsior did not have a valid reason to return their wine. Kudos to the staff of the Excelsior though for accepting the wine back, even though they knew it was a loss for them.

One Year Anniversary!

Pop the cork on a bottle of Cava and let us celebrate the First Anniversary of my blog, A Passionate Foodie!

It seems such a short time ago when I decided to move on, after a year and a half, from the now defunct Real World Winers blog and create my own wine & food blog. But, it has now been a full year and I am very pleased with how my blog has developed over this past year.

I created over 800 new posts during the past year, plus added over 100 of my old posts from the Real World Winers blog. I have written about a wide range of food and wine topics, including adding a number of posts about spirits. I have reviewed many restaurants, wines, spirits, books and more. I have covered my travels to such places as Spain and Las Vegas. I have tried to make my blog interesting, fun and educational.

It has been a great year and my blog has led to many different opportunities, including getting to meet many interesting, passionate and fun people. That has certainly been one of the best joys that has come from my blog.

Online, I have met and talked with many other wine and food bloggers. It is generally a friendly community and many people are willing to help each other in their mutual passions. I have met some wine and food bloggers offline and those meetings have gone well too. For example, I met Gabriella and Ryan of Catavino while I was in Barcelona. I have met several local bloggers including: Ken of Ken's Wine Guide, Becky and Steve of Smells Like Grape, Cathy of 365 Days of Wine, and Sharon of Bloviatrix. I even met Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV at the Boston Wine Expo.

I have also met numerous wine store owners, wine distributors, wine makers, chefs, restaurant owners and many more. There are just too many names to mention here but you can find them all throughout my blog. I look forward to meeting so many more people in the coming year.

I also have continued to learn more about food and wine: attending tastings and dinners, reading new and old books, reading other blogs, taking educational courses and more. And my educational efforts will continue as there is always so much more to learn. I will continue to share what I learn with my readers.

What will the next year entail for A Passionate Foodie?

• You can expect the same level of passion about food, wine and spirits as the prior year. But I will try to expand to new topics, to find new restaurants, new wines, and new spirits. Please send me any suggestions you have for places and items you would like to me review.
• A few months ago, I instituted Saké Sundays, a specific day of the week for Saké posts. I may institute another such theme day in the near future. Maybe Spanish Saturdays?
• I will write more food/wine related short stores for my Passionate Foodie: Fiction site. I am currently working on an idea for a new short story, a murder mystery.
• I would like to hear more from my readers, to have more of you leave comments on my posts. If you like a topic, please tell me. If you disagree with my opinions, tell me that too. A blog should be a two-way conversation between writer and reader. And I very much want to hear your own thoughts and opinions. I am sure there is much my readers can teach me and others.
• With summer coming, I will be doing plenty of local travel, hitting spots all over New England and I will tell you about any good places I find. I will be taking more local treks in Massachusetts as well, including explorations of the newest restaurants in Boston. I hope to get to New York at least two times this year, maybe three, and even to the Long Island wineries. And I will return to Las Vegas next April.
• One of my own goals for this next year will be to learn more about Portuguese wines and food. As I hope to travel to Portugal in 2009, I want to start now to learn more about that fascinating country. I already know they make some excellent wines, especially many great values wines. But there is plenty more to learn.
• And I also hope you find a few surprises in the coming year from A Passionate Foodie.

So, please tell me how you think I have done over this past year. Leave me comments here or email me. Please also give me your suggestions for how I can improve my blog, or tell me what else you would like to see me post about.

Thanks so much to my family, my friends, my readers and everyone else who has contributed one way or another with the success of A Passionate Foodie.

Go forth and eat, drink and enjoy!

My Thanks

It is that time again, to reflect upon our lives and consider everything we should be thankful for during the past year. Though this type of reflection should not be limited to Thanksgiving. We should regularly reflect on our lives and be thankful for what we have. No matter how bad our lives may seem at times, there will always be something of which to be thankful. Seeking the positive may help brighten the darker parts of our lives.

I have much of which to be thankful.

I am very thankful for my family, especially my wife, my mom and my nephew Thomas. I look forward to spending the holidays with them, sharing the bounty of the year.

I am thankful for my friends, both old and new. This includes my Thursday night wine buddies, my North Shore Winer friends, and the many fellow wine/food bloggers I have met online, and off, during the past year. I am especially thankful at having the opportunity to meet Ryan and Gabriella when I visited Spain.

I am thankful for so much. My good health. My job, with my good boss and co-workers. My two cats. My home. My vacation to Spain.

I am thankful for my position as a food/wine columnist at the Stoneham Sun. I am thankful for all of my readers, of my blog and newspaper column. I am thankful to the wine community, from the retailers to distributors, from the bloggers to the winemakers.

The list could go on and on for all of which I am thankful. But I won't make this much longer of a post. Just make sure that you consider your own lives and be thankful for everything you have. Raise a glass of wine tomorrow in thanks. Enjoy your family and friends. Savor life. And dine with passion!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.