Crystal but Not Yet Clear

The view is not especially clear
but I can see some things I like.
It is going to be hard to line it up, and make it work
But I feel like it would be worth it.
Finally to make things make sense
and make them sustainable.

Wine Adventure, Life Adventure

Soul Food What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?- #Reverb10

This one is easy- I opened my own little bistro this year, and it has been lovely. I have felt so good feeding friends and new comers and one of the really amazing things has been designing these new micro wine dinners. 3 wines 3 courses an intimate experience with 10-15 people. We did 8 of them last year, and we will do one a month in 2011. Each and everyone was memorable and amazing. My chefs worked together to really push the envelope and It was glorious seeing and tasting their efforts. The reviews were great. I have repeat customers and big fans of the whole program. We are calling it "My Table- Wine Adventures" and for 2011 we started a club for a bulk purchase of reservations! Very fun, and very enriching, creatively, and deliciously.

Another Budapest Memory

This was a lovely bottle of Hungarian wine. Pinot Noir from 2005. It was chosen to go with a luscious dinner at Gundel. My hubby and I managed to take of this bottle and some glorious dessert wine (which is sure to get it's own post later.)

This had classic pinot characteristics. A little less fruity perhaps than some of the Oregon and Sonoma pinots, but nice structure and it went perfectly with his duck and my goose liver. It was chosen for us by the Sommelier- a wonderfully on target, and professional fellow.

Some tasting notes; (from their site)

Thummerer Tekenőháti Pinot Noir 2005

Deep coloured red with the typical spice notes of the variety. Elegant at the same time full-bodies, it was aged in second-generation oak barriques.

The duck dish was-- Pink-roasted Duck Breast with Golden Tokaji Raisin, Apple and mashed Potato and my dish was the famous Grilled Slices of Goose Liver on Rösti Pedestal with baked Apple and Wild Cherry-Tea Sauce

Gundel, by the way, is the most famous restaurant in Budapest. more on that later.