So, are you ready for the megapacked tablehopper issue before I leave for Brazil this Friday? Oof, here it is. FYI, tablehopper will be going dark until July 9th, but I will be posting pics and updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram while I am away! And with the current protests happening in Brazil, it’s definitely an interesting time to be headed there. (Don’t worry, mom!)
Last week was pretty stellar: not only did I have the honor of attending an exquisite dinner at Quince with Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, the esteemed winemaker for Louis Roederer Champagne (yes, there was Cristal, don’t hate me—but it was the 2008 brut rosé that really caught my fancy), but on another evening, I was introduced to Kathleen Inman and Inman Family Wines from Russian River Valley over dinner at The Slanted Door. Her low-alcohol pinot noirs were very food-friendly (which is why you’ll find the 2008 Olivet Grange pinot noir at The Slanted Door—Inman was incidentally the first California wine to make it on Mark Ellenbogen’s list) and are very well priced; I loved hearing about the winery’s many eco-conscious practices, including a compost program that uses scraps from San Francisco restaurants. I need to head up to the winery for a visit soon (and also to get another glass of their very limited 2009 brut rosé nature).
This past weekend I laid low since I have a ton of writing to do before I head out, but I did get to check out a screener of Somm, the new documentary from Jason Wise that is coming out on Friday June 21st (you can catch it at Sundance Kabuki or watch it on iTunes!). It’s a look behind the scenes of the Court of Master Sommeliers, as you watch four hopefuls prepare and take the incredibly difficult Master Sommelier Exam (the first time cameras have ever been allowed). After watching the doc, you’ll see why there are less than 200 Master Somms in the world—the exam is insane. I also didn’t know that after the notorious 25-minute blind tasting of six wines, they only pass or fail you—they never tell you what the wines were. Can you imagine?
Another thing I can’t believe: Bix is turning 25 this Wednesday! That’s a whole lot of cocktails and caviar over the years, congrats! Another big one: Dottie’s True Blue Cafe turned 20 yesterday! Well done, gang.
Okay, so while I am so excited to be leaving for Brazil, I did have a little pang of sadness over missing the upcoming shows with Dita Von Teese, who is returning to SF for more va-va-voom and boom boom at the Fillmore to perform her full-length revue, Burlesque: Strip Strip Hooray! I saw her the last time she was in town, do not miss it! Catch her June 26th-29th at the Fillmore, and you can get tipsy on her signature Cointreau cocktails.
Okay, it’s time for me to wrap things up. I’ll see you in a few weeks! Tchau!
The famed Slanted Door spring rolls (at the Inman Family Wines dinner). Photo: © tablehopper.com.View tablehopper Newsletter from Tuesday, Jun 18 2013
