Fiesta on the Terraza

I've had a few different wine tasting formats over the years. At Charleston we have had lovely dinners with breathtaking cooking and amazing wines. At Petit Louis our events are more like the tasting dinners I've attended with growers at Ma Cuisine in Beaune, sort of raucous and satisfying, ephemeral and earthy at once. But the best, most fun tastings are always the parties at my house. Everyone wanders and mingles for a few hours, tastes all sorts of goodies and then finds a few chums for dinner, a place to sit and we drop a plate of some tasty, down-to-earth goodness on them. It's social and kind of loose, but the event is about the chance to hang out it with people that you don't yet know as well as you would like to.

With this in mind we have a series of events coming up this summer. Very social, very of the moment. Probably foolishly cheap, but I want a broad, fun crowd.

All season I am in farmers' markets and at farms several days each week. The menus for the event will be simple: for a few hours of mingle and music there will be a half dozen tapas of the moment (no commitments on menu), a half dozen terrific Spanish wines (mostly red - that is a wine's job isn't it? To be red?). And then find some dinner company, sit-down and we'll feed you a family-style feast of Spanish coastal and very seasonal goodies. I want you to have as close to a superb farm-house table with a glass of your favorite wine from the tasting for the dinner as I can.

The odds of great rice and meat from our wood-fired spit are pretty darn high. Local seafood, Mediterranean-style and all local produce should also be on center stage.

Does this make sense? Sound like fun? I can't wait for the first event on June 19th.

Visit to Vegas - Part II

First...we obviously did visit Robuchon in Vegas. It was with great anticipation. We did not have the experience we’d hoped for and it was remarkably expensive ($350pp for a 16-course tasting menu). I did write a letter to detail our issues and we hope to visit again to experience a stronger version of Robuchon. The first pass was at least a very off day. What I have to write now would not be kind. I'll wait for another visit.

Visit to Vegas

Every year I head to Las Vegas for two days (two serious meals) to attend a hospitality design show with my architect and great friend Patrick Sutton.This year I had meals set for two of the new restaurants in Vegas that had been recommended very strongly to me by a person who's opinion I value only second to my wife's, on restaurants.

My visit to Bartolotta at lunch (when I would recommend you go) was, in the final analysis, excellent. It's an over-the-top room in the Wynn (big surprise) that is quite bright and luxe. It's only negative being the relatively loud Italian pop music (second worst music choice to the Led Zeppelin at Babbo). Service was a little shaky until the Italian maitre d'hotel got involved and then it was stellar.

We had a pleasant version of a tasting menu highlighting a lot of the seafood that they fly in daily from the Mediterranean. An idea after my own heart! Four dishes at a time were served to the center of the table and we could taste, share and covet as appropriate. The Octopus Salad was better than I've had in Sicily or Sardinia. Horse Mackeral was lovely also. Sepia (cuttlefish) was a bit overcooked, but an excellent preparation with a basil oil. Next was Roasted Aragosta (spiny lobster) with Penne and Sicilian Cherry Tomatoes. The Lobster had excellent flavor but couldn't care less about the tomato - they were not really companionable. Orata simply roasted whole in the oven was simple and delicious and fresh.

All courses did very well with a Rich Verdicchio from Sartarelli. God help 99 percent of red wines with this menu. After was a variety of sorbets and granitas that were housemade and correct. Price for quality over all I felt very good about.Wine prices a bit brutal, but it's Vegas baby!

Welcome B-
Food A-
Atmosphere B
Cellar B+
Service B+
Entree price $38