bottle shock

brian and i happened upon the charming "bottle shock" at the video store last week (yes, we still go to the video store). i wanted to get it because it is about wine, and brian wanted to get it because it stars alan rickman as french wine store owner steven spurrier. he loves alan rickman. he will watch harry potter with me just to see alan rickman slither on in.

anyway, i am quite uneducated. i had never heard of the paris tasting of 1976, which started as a publicity stunt until the californian wines triumphed over french wines in the blind test. the movie tells the story of the chateau montelena and their perfect 1973 chardonnay, a bottle of which now resides in the smithsonian. the movie is cute and likeable, much like chris pine as the slacker son who saves the day.

other things i didn't know: 1) wine can turn brown if it isn't exposed to any air at all. it turns back after a couple days. 2) bottle shock occurs when wine is transported and results in a temporary muting or disruption of the flavors.

intense quote (by the foreman, gustavo): you have to have it in your blood, you have to grow up with the soil underneath your nails, the smell of the grapes in the air that you breathe. the cultivation of the vine was an art form. the refinement of the vine is a religion that requires pain and desire and sacrifice.

random side note: chris pine is rumored to be cast in the 2010 green lantern film. sweet!!

martha served

st. martha (ironically) is the bible's consummate hostess, often serving jesus as a guest in her home. for this, she is the patron saint of cooks and waiters/waitresses.

newly acquired

while it is disheartening that world market is closing its doors in western hills, (*tear*) we were able to score one of their wine displayers for our basement.now i have ample room for 120 bottles of varied and vibrant wines. donations will be accepted.

plaza mexico

i have kind of been on a mexican kick lately, so on the recommendation of jknepfle, brian and i went to check out plaza mexico.

the ambiance is very strip mall and it smelled strongly of cleaning chemicals when we walked in. of course, i would rather smell clean than the alternative. the menu has great lunchtime deals. luckily, it was lunchtime.

i have no problem with ordering liquor in the middle of the afternoon (ok, possibly before noon), so i had to try out a margarita. while it was reasonably priced and generously sized, it was watery and not very good. however, it was lunch, so maybe the professional margarita-mixer doesn't come in till later and i got a novice.

my carnitas was (were?) so tender with a vague sweetness. this is the first time i've tried carnitas, and it was very delicious but seemed fatty. maybe that's always the way it is. i think i would rather it be served more like pulled pork and less like a hunk of meat. the beans had a unique grilled taste. i thought the guacamole was commendable and the rice forgettable. in the interest of a thorough assessment, i also ordered a soft taco. while no part of the taco was particularly flavorful, the overall effect was satisfying.

brian had one of the combo platters. this is a chalupa and tostada. it was difficult to discern the difference, but he did enjoy his meal very much.do i like it better than cancun? no. but it is a nice little place with a full spectrum of mexican staples. the friendly service and the food made for a delightful lunch.

spirited paintings

i hesitate to tell you this, because i still want to get several other prints and i don't want them to be sold out, but the artist behind the moerlein beer labels is selling printed canvases in limited quantities. pictured is our helles lager print, now framed and adorning our dining room wall.
go here for more information.

frisch's fish

the rumors are true. frisch's fish sandwich is phenomenal. the fish is flaky and dredged in cornmeal-ish batter, unlike the breadcrumbed numbers at bk and mcdonald's. tartar sauce excellent. bun sturdy and fresh. i ordered mine with cheese, but on this sandwich (and i will rarely, like, never, say this about cheese) it didn't add anything but calories.

it is pricier than other fast food fish options, but it is probably worth it.

this has nothing to do with anything

but the word of the day on dictionary.com is thaumaturgy: the performing of miracles or magic.

just thought that was pretty awesome.