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I know, I know, you are probably sick of blog posts on wine for your Memorial Day weekend, but I wrote one anyway because I learned at Eat, Write, Retreat to write what I want. Smile 

So I have already written my rosé recommendations and always welcome yours, and since today is shaping up to be quite summery, I thought, why not share three white wines I will be drinking this summer.

Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc

I received this wine as a sample and fell in love the instant I opened it. This incredibly reasonable wine from Chile (around $12.99!) is summer in your mouth with bright citrusy flavors, a slight grassy nose, and lots of mouthwatering acidity. It would be great with grilled scallops or even with some grilled chicken and definitely with any sort of salad. Bring on the sun!

Santa Carolina Reserva Sauvignon Blanc

Travessia Vidal Blanc

One of our favorite wineries, Travessia, makes this deliciously peachy white wine from Massachusetts-grown grapes. It has a little bit of sweetness and is incredible with Indian food and anything with a little bit of spice. Travessia Vidal Blanc can be purchased at a few stores in the Boston area, including The Urban Grape, by mail, and also at the winery.

And here’s a recipe to go with it 

Travessia Vidal Blanc, strawberries, mint

 

Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay

We have long been fans of Rodney Strong wine, and I think that even Chardonnay skeptics might love this Chardonnay. The grapes are grown in chalky soils (hence the name, Chalk Hill), giving the wine mineral flavors along with lots of fruit and just a teensy bit of oaky flavors that resemble actual toast than oak to me. This is NOT a big buttery, oaky Chardonnay (which is referred to as Cougar Juice, did you know that? Winking smile)

Rodney Strong Chardonnay

Will you be sippin’ on wine or beer today at a fun event? Whatever you do, enjoy the day!

Tags: chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, Vidal Blanc, white wine, wine

Boston’s best waterfront dining space, and the site for a blogger dinner last night, Aragosta at the Fairmont Battery Wharf replaces Sensing and is the new place to be for sunset on a beautiful spring/summer evening.

Aragosta Boston

Last night I arrived a little early to the Aragosta event and got to take a few photos of the Boston waterfront, breathing in the salty air and, for what seemed like the very first time in my life, soaking up some spring sunshine.

Boston Harbor

I have said it before, but Boston does not utilize its expansive waterfront for dining the way that it could, but the Fairmont certainly makes an exception to that rule. Every little detail at Aragosta, from the sea grass to the comfy wicker couches to the fire pit tables makes it feel like New England summer.

Fairmont Battery Wharf image

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The staff at Aragosta was amazing, first sharing with us some of their homemade cocktails which included a Moscow Mule and their signature drink, a Yellow Pepper Lemoncello Sour. Both drinks were beautiful and fresh, but the spicy ginger of the Moscow Mule won me over immediately. You know I love my ginger!

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While we relaxed in the open air, we got to taste through many of Aragosta’s menu items:

Hand Crafted Selection of Salumi, Caponata, Hot Cherry Peppers, Crusty Bread

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Bread with olives in olive oil

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Fries cooked in duck fat with truffle aioli, a religious experience for a fry-lover like me. So good. I will return for cocktails and fries in the very near future.

fries

Lobster & Truffle Crostini, White Bean Puree – when you go to Aragosta, get this! Sweet chunks of lobster, plus truffle and creamy white beans on crunchy crostini = three messy but perfect bites.

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Sautéed Calamari Salad, Baby Arugula, San Marzano Tomato, Balsamic

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Braised Veal & Pancetta Meatballs, Soft Polenta, Arugula – I didn’t know there was veal in there, oops, but this meatball with soft, fluffy polenta was right up my tastebuds’ alley. It was rich, welcoming, and great for sharing.

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We moved on to more house-made cocktails. Megan, Daisy, and I opted to have the Setanta Cinque:

The Italian version of the “French 75”; a cocktail that “hits with remarkable precision.” Aperol liquor shaken with freshly squeezed lemon juice charged with Prosecco.

I loved the slight bitterness of this cocktail. As a huge Aperol fan, I found the flavors to work really well, and I totally got that it was an Italian French 75.

Setanta Cinque

And then there was more food

Pappardelle Bolognese, Veal Cheek & Ox Tail Ragu, Porcini Powder – another favorite, this dish was hearty. It was full of love, the kind of recipe that comes from a nonna’s kitchen somewhere in Italy, straight to people’s hearts and bellies. Both the sauce and handmade pasta were beautiful.

pappardelle bolognese

Gnocchi, Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder, Rosemary Citrus Jus, Asparagus – Soft, pillowy, melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi with meat just falling apart. I don’t eat lamb, but I didn’t realize this was lamb. . . another delicious oops. Winking smile

gnocchi and shortribs

I ended the night with a glass of Prosecco. There were more food courses which I missed photographing because Aragosta is one of those places where you just melt into the experience, the delicious flavors, textures, sights, sounds, and friends you are with. While I was invited as a blogger, I left as a huge fan and as someone who will be longing to return, especially when the warm weather awaits.

Prosecco

Thanks to the Fairmont staff for taking such great care of us and for the generous food and beverages they provided, making the first night of nice Boston weather one of the most memorable. I was sad my husband could not join me, but I will be bringing him back soon. And I am grateful they kept my brunch favorite, the Coast Guard Omelet, from the Sensing menu! Smile

Do you have a favorite outdoor restaurant or bar space where you live?

In other news, I never heard back from the first winner of my Stop & Shop gas card giveaway, so the new winner is Megan! Megan please email me with your address so I can mail the card out today!

Also, one of the consulting projects I expected to start this week is postponed for a few weeks, so I have some open hours. If you know anyone looking for PR, Marketing, or Social Media assistance, please send them on over!

Aragosta Bar + Bistro on Urbanspoon

Tags: Aragosta, Boston, cocktails, Fairmont, Fairmont Battery Wharf, Food, Restaurants, wine

Farm fresh food, sourced from small farms around the country, an open kitchen, and a sprawling, airy dining room, bathed in natural light are just a few of the things I first noticed at the Blue Duck Tavern in Washington, D.C.

Recommended to us by several different people, the Blue Duck Tavern is quite popular, so popular that we could not get a dinner reservation, so we went for brunch instead.

 

blue duck tavern

The décor of Blue Duck Tavern is elegant but comfortable, city restaurant meets farm kitchen. Little touches, like a basket of Virginia peanuts are sprinkled throughout the space, making it feel homey and giving it a little local flair.

blue duck tavern

blue duck tavern

blue duck tavern wine

The kitchen is completely open. I literally walked through it on my way back from the ladies room. It is basically takes up several islands and countertops in the restaurant.

blue duck tavern

 

blue duck tavern

While we waited we watched the busy kitchen staff cutting meats, peeling apples, and bustling around getting our meals made.

blue duck tavern open kitchen

I loved reading Blue Duck Tavern’s menu because it tells you exactly where so many of their ingredients come from.

blue duck tavern menu

With all of the items on the brunch menu, we both had a hard time deciding. But since it was past 2:00 by the time we arrived, I went for the Sunnyside Eggs with Cod Cakes and Spicy Buttermilk Sauce.

My beverage of choice was not a tough decision; Gloria Ferrer Va de Vi, one of my favorites when it comes to bubbly. I was a little disappointed that we did not go to Blue Duck for dinner because they do have quite a few Virginia wines on their wine list, and I wanted to try more of those. Next time!

va de vi gloria ferrer

As you can see, the eggs came out bright, soft, runny egg yolk perfection. Resting atop cakes made of fresh, flaky cod and toasted bread rounds, sitting in a shallow pool of creamy, spiced buttermilk sauce, this was truly a brunch like no other.

eggs and cod cakes

eggs and cod cakes

eggs and cod cakes

No words.

In addition to a sublime taste adventure, the meal was so perfectly timed, and the staff at the Blue Duck Tavern, minus the host, bent over backwards, were warm, friendly, and on top of everything. The very young host pulled the “let’s see if there is room for you” disappearance trick in a restaurant that had one table of people eating. Luckily everything else was spectacular.

Blue Duck was a fantastic recommendation; it was great that Eat, Write, Retreat gave me the opportunity to meet some locals and to find out where they would go on a date!

What is your favorite place to have brunch?Is it a restaurant, or do you whip up something incredible in your own kitchen?

Blue Duck Tavern on Urbanspoon

Tags: brunch, Food, Travel, Washington D.C., wine

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