We are in one of our manic phases, kids. Out and about all over the place, eating, drinking and generally having too much fun. Tonight Young Frankenstein on Broadway. As if there were life after crowning Lisa Q. our Official Mondosapore Groupie.
We're using the editorial we because site traffic has gone up so much lately. Eat our dust.
Anyway.
Yesterday the Vias Imports 25th anniversary portfolio tasting at the Marriott Marquis, right in the heart of tourist Manhattan. We didn't taste much but went to say hi to Alfonso Cevola (On the Wine Trail in Italy) and bumped into Jeremy Parzen, Keith Beavers and his partners Angus and David (of In Vino and the new Alphabet City Wine Shop), Gaetano of Perbacco, and the incomparable Alice Feiring. In addition to the usual crew of wine-business hangers-on.
Don't hate us because we're beautiful
L. to R.: Ourself, Alice, Alfonso
Note scarves. Italians are rubbing off on us.
On Sunday night we returned to Dell'Anima in a party of four. Thanks to the efforts of our groupie, we got the best table in the place and had a great time -- with new but good friends Neill and Greg we devoured the outrageously good variations on bruschetta (pronounced brusketta, America), an outrageously rich wild boar polenta with mascarpone, and a lot of delicious wine. Our bottle was a 1995 Barbera d'Asti, a pleasing set of contrasts -- the fruit and acid of a younger Barbera but tannin-softened with age, at once lively and mellow. As to the producer -- help us out here, Joe.
That wine wasn't quite up to the wild boar, so Neill and ourself had glasses of an Aglianico that paired exceptionally well.
On Friday we had gone to Falai for Jonathan Krasney's 60th birthday party. There were three couples so they relented and gave us a 6-course tasting menu; usually the tasting menu isn't offered on Fridays and Saturdays. Alberto the sommelier, who is a wonderfully informed guy, helped us select a number of interesting wines that paired well with the inventive series of dishes brought to us. One of the standouts for me was an impressive Freisa Santa Rosalia by Giacomo Brezza & Figli, which had a Burgundian depth to it. The other was the Carlo Hauner Malvasia delle Lipari, one of the most highly regarded dessert wines in Italy We ordered two half-bottles of this; it was a real hit with the dolci that were served.
Executive summary: the food and the wine were worth the money. Which is saying something because we plotzed when we took the bill.
All this hard on the heels of the groupie coronation. Where will it end?
I guess being broke has its advantages. Oy!
Posted by: Marco | January 15, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Who, you or us?
Either way it's probably true.
We're hoping to unload those Young Frankenstein tix and have a quiet evening at home eating leftovers.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 15, 2008 at 09:50 AM
It was great seeing you yesterday at the Marquis. I was impressed by a lot of what we tasted. Vias has lost a couple of producers but picked up some stellar replacements that they are hopefully going to hold onto for awhile. Dell'Anima is great! I have been a couple time to see Joe and eat the wonderful food. I am in love with his wine list. It's different and funky but still keeping the traditional flavor alive. You go Joe! I think the wine you guys had was a 1995 Vigna Clara from Viberti. Soft and juicy with great acidity. Joe used to sell it to me when he was with Vinifera (who has a beautiful portfolio). Great juice. Good to see ya and talk to you soon.
EvWg
Posted by: East Village Wine Geek | January 15, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Who knew you would evolve into such a distinguished man about town, groupie in tow, getting the best tables, chatting with sommeliers? Sometimes, though, a quiet night at home with leftovers is best, even for a gad-about. If you read the journals of the great seducer Casanova, you would be surprised how many nights he stayed home.
Posted by: Fredric Koeppel | January 15, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Actually, we've decided not to see Young Frank. Can't even give away the damned tix. I'm sorry, but without Madeleine Kahn and Terri Garr, who cares?
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 15, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Love the scarves, in a totally un-ironic way. I wish I was there crunk tasting with you all--- too bad I had to stay home. Maybe you'll invite me to the next one?
Posted by: Lisa Qiu | January 15, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Maybe.
BTW, EVWG, thanks for the prod to memory -- that was the wine and it was very nice. Good to see you and the crew, more to come, dude.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 15, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Wait wait -- "a totally unironic way"?
Lisa, have you got a fever? Are you well? Have you just emerged from a pod??
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 15, 2008 at 05:56 PM
I really don't see the point of an expensive musical that almost entirely mirrors a far superior movie.
Richard
Posted by: Richard | January 15, 2008 at 08:15 PM
You are so right!
Plus I hate musicals, by and large. C-O-R-N-Y.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 15, 2008 at 08:16 PM
You, not poor poor me. After you said that you were sorta "broke oy!", you name all these lowly restaurants that you are dining at and the plonk you're drinking. I like the colors of your scarf and you do look dashing, as does Alfonso.
Posted by: Marco | January 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM
You're ubiquitous these days, bub. Snowed in up there in Albany?
Posted by: Terry Hughes | January 16, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I give you a compliment and look what I get. I was I were in the fucking city. Not snowed in yet. Did you ever download that music that I sent you via Zando?
Posted by: Marco | January 16, 2008 at 02:34 PM
http://animamundi.typepad.com/animamundi/2008/01/the-everpresent.html
Posted by: Marco | January 16, 2008 at 03:21 PM