Zagula spells trouble

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One of the great things to do while on Salt Spring Island is the Salt Spring Saturday Market. This is a lively fun mix of crafts, toys, art and of course FOOD - with lots of free samples.

And the cheese. The cheese is marvelous and really special. Somehow the goats they raise on Salt Spring must be very happy because they sure do make good cheese. David Wood's Salt Spring Island Cheese has some of the most lovely goat cheeses I've ever had. Including the black truffle one - subtle, rich and yet light too. They also have black pepper, olive, red chili, garlic (pictured) and more. Drive out to their dairy. They are super nice and fun to talk to.

Click here for a short backgrounder and directions.

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http://www.saltspringvineyards.com/

http://www.saltspringvineyards.com/winelist.htm
2004 Blanc de Noir – 100% Pinot Noir, grown on Salt Spring Still my favourite sipping wine, and not just in the summer. About 100 cases remaining..

Local, organic ( who would encourage blackberries to grow?), Blackberry Port

Apple Pie

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As posted previously, we love dark bubblies. Well here is another.

Paul Bara, Grand Rosé de Bouzy

“Bright orange pink color. Exotic aroma of strawberry jam. Creamy and tactile, with exotic red fruit flavors delivering compelling ripeness. Started a tad warm but grew creamier and sweeter with aeration, shedding its impression of alcohol. A fruit bomb of a rosé that’s delicious right now.”

Also on the wine list at Cafe Juanita.

Continue reading "Bubbly, Rosy and Bouzy" »

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At the end of another wonderful evening at our favorite Seattle restaurant, Cafe Juanita, I just had one of the loveliest grappa's ever.

It's a Torcolato (grape also for a delicious dessert wine) from the Jacopo Poli Distillery.

For a nice review of the distillery as a whole go to Pantagruel. And for a review of this specific grappa, if you read German, go to Superiore:

"Charaktervolles Destillat mit reichem Aroma nach Beeren und Obst, im Mund herrlich rund und frisch, mit feiner Säure und leicht pfeffrigem Bitterton. Eine überaus gut gelungene Grappa!" "A distilled liqour full of character with rich aromas of berries and fruit. Mouth admirably round and fresh with fine acidity and light peppery tones. An elaborately well crafted Grappa!"

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If you like Kimchi, Bulgogi, Bibimbap or Jap chae, then this is the place to go. Our buddy, Mr. Korea, Ike Lee took us there for lunch a few days ago and WOW, we had to be carried out.

The kids will love the fun of the barbeque on the table. And you have to try out their amazing deep fried jalepeno spicy tuna appetizer. Yum.

It's located in a strip mall in Bellevue/Redmond:

14045 NE 20th Street
Bellevue, WA
425.746.1222

They don't have a website yet aren't even listed in Google yet (but it now has my review on Judy's book).

In addition if you like Korean food, go to the Korean Kitchen. A nice site on the subject. Or the Korea Plaza online grocery store (get all kinds of kimchi sent to your home). And finally there is actually a Kimchi museum, can't wait to visit!

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What a lovely port and pretty reasonable too. Here's what one reviewer said:

"a mellow style of wine. There's lifted, honeyed, nutty aromas that follow through with nuts, honey and candied peel in the palate. It's an elegant style with lovely muscat and raisin characters on a dry (as dry as a Port can be) balanced finish."

I concur. For more on all kinds of Ports click here for that nice review.

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My favorite Szechuan restaurant in Seattle. It’s a very unassuming place on the second floor of an Asian strip mall/office building. But boy is it good and are the staff - who all seem like Asian versions of my aunts.

It’s on 1207 S Jackson Street, Upstairs in Seattle
206.568.6446

Here are some of the menu highlights:

• Green onion pancake – what a sauce
• Sliced beef Omasa in hot oil
• The Fish in Hot Black Bean Sauce – wow, wow
• The hot and sour soup is among the best I’ve ever had
• The hand shaven Dan Dan noodles are awesome, so is the Chow Mein
• Do not miss the Chong Gin chicken – it is like spicey fried chicken like you’ve never seen before
• Also the chicken in hot ginger sauce (I have yet to try the crab but it looks terrific)
• The Broccoli Beef in Hot Garlic sauce is not to be missed
• Try the Ma Po tofu
• As vegetables the garlic watercress and the eggplant as well

And I am not the only blogger who loves the place - check here and here.

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Just had this wine with friends. McCrea has lovely wines, but this Roussanne is delightful - soft, earthy, pear, and with the mineral hints that I like in a French Viognier.

And I'm not alone in liking it.

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Just had the declicious I Cedri 2003 di Villa Pattono Monferrato Bianco from Renato Ratti at our favorite Cafe Juanita.

Delicious, delicate, warm and yet earthy and herbal.

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Or pork, or any cured meat for that matter? Well, if you're in Seattle, the answer is Salumi.

I cannot say enthusiastic enough things about this tiny but amazing place run by Armandino Batali, the father of Mario Batali. If you ever want to have something special as an appetizer for a dinner party, try their Mole salami. Terrific for home cooked lunch too. Then if you are a regular you can actually weedle your way into their periodic, intimidate dinners.

Lots of others share my enthusiasm:
* Recent review in the Seattle Times, via Seattle Bon Vivant
* Nice review with pictures of the meats
* Good review of their incredibly intimate, incredibly special dinners (via Richard Silverstein).
* Citysearch gives them a 9.8 (which seems to low to me)

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Marcato Vini Marcato La Giareta - Extra Dry, Tocai Rosso Vino Spumante. A marvelous red kind of proseco/sparkling wine. Warm, rich, plum, fruity but dry and very bubbly. Bought two cases but now having a hard time finding. Anyone know where I can score some more?

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Cotes Du Rhone Viognier by Chateau du Trignon Yum!!

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Love this stuff, especially their No. 22 blend and Rideau Hall.

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Click here for links to great ones.

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