Indulging... Locally

There are always new bars and hip joints for the Pretty People opening up on Milwaukee Street, Downtown. Nothing new. They come and go in a blink, many never having the chance to admire how much time & energy went into the design, function and then failure of their baby-business. I feel for those entrepreneurs who make a passion their job and then watch it dissipate in front of their eyes.

That's why I went to Indulge.

I would like to see a somewhat unique business succeed for a change. This is an atmosphere of fickle spenders (you know, the ones who would rather look good than spend good). OK, what does that mean? Spend money on things that benefit your environment, your neighborhood, your economy. Buy foods and products that are good for your body and the environment, not just pretty packages. That's what I mean.

So, what, if anything, does that have to do with Indulge? Little I guess. Except that's it's a locally run business by a family that invests money into our fair city. They are purposely using vendors from our city (Indulgence Chocolatiers (262) 510-9980) and seeking out some of the best products they can to give you the ultimate experience.

Does it work? Sometimes. The atmosphere at Indulge is classy enough. I hear they built it themselves, finishes and all. Used a lot of recycled materials, thought a lot about what makes us Food-Wine-Junkies enjoy a proper night out. I think it worked. Will it last? That I can't say. The wine list was extensive and complete with lovely verbiage about the textures and sensations you get from the experience of eating (see their sexy website, sans wine list http://www.getindulge.com/).

The Sommelier was a bright, thoughtful addition to this place. She doesn't exactly exuded confidence, but once you get past her age (she's young) and find out that she has a head for wine, it easy to like her decisions about the wine list. She's put a lot of her heart into her choices. They don't all make sense (there's not a tons of French in there, and the options for those that don't want a BIG wine are slight) but I'm sure they will appeal to most who will enjoy their glass with a pungent meat platter. She definitely needs some port or sherry options thrown in there, and I think her palette might expand if more knowledgeable people tell her that they like to try new things. So...go ahead. Speak up. Tell these wine stewards and waitresses and bar jocks that you enjoy something new and don't always want an enormous Cabernet or Zin. You'd like to see an average priced but decent Rhone Blend that goes well with a little cheese. Or maybe a Malbec that tastes mighty tasty with some cured ham. I bet they'll do it!

For now, enjoy Indulge for what it is. A new place with lovely ambiance and a tight wine list that is priced fairly well. And tell those entrepreneurs that put their blood & sweat into their passion, that you enjoy it (or don't) because that's why they do it. for you, my friends.

Enjoy Yourself!

BbV

Apologies!

Life...is...busy. You know it, I know it. Maybe I'm kidding myself that this blog thing is worth the time & effort. Here's a little blog-bit from another food/wine writer. Enjoy her sentiments, she obviously has time for such trivialities!

September 5, 2008
“Some useless information, supposed to fire my imagination…”Posted by Katie Pizzuto under Food/Wine Pairing, Ratings, Restaurants, Wine, Wine Lists [6] Comments
ONE OF A GAZILLION REASONS WHY RATINGS ARE USELESS:You’re sitting at a cozy table in the latest hip restaurant, you’ve just decided that you’re gonna give the Pomegranate-Glazed Duck Breasts a go, and now you’ve gotta tackle that tome they call a wine list. In your pocket there’s a cute little digital gizmo that can tell you what kind of a rating some of those wines got, but in the end, is that really what matters to you when you’re getting ready to order? Do you honestly give a crap that some Bordeaux or other scored a 94, or should you be more worried about whether or not a Bordeaux would even be a wise choice with that duck dish? To make matters worse, your dining partner has decided on the Sole Veronique, and trying to find a wine that will pair well with both dishes leaves you as confused as a fart in a fan shop.
I’m certainly not the first to say it, but points are utterly useless here. Not only because they don’t tell you if any given wine will complement your meal (or screw it up) but also because rated wines are NEVER tasted and reviewed alongside food. A poor wine choice will wind up disappointing you, and it may also irritate the line cook whose dish has been ruined by your sub-par performance in wine pairing!

If, by chance, the restaurant happens to have a capable sommelier, you may find the salvation you need. But if he/she extols the virtues of that $450 bottle while disregarding your subtle-but-piercing “no fucking way” stares, you’re nowhere. If there is no sommelier, and all you can go on is the recommendation of your pimple-faced waiter, who is more concerned with texting his girlfriend between runs than he is about what you should drink, you’re still screwed. In the end, experience is your only safe bet.

Wine and food are partners in a dance, and like most of you rhythmless white folk out there (you know who you are, with that bite-your-bottom-lip-while-you-cabbage-patch move), a poor partner will KILL your groove. So please, use those endless glossy pages of ratings for a birdcage liner, a fly swatter, fire kindling, packing material, or do what I did—recycle the wine magazines by making a wine tote out of them. Then, have a party. Make some food. Ask everybody to bring a different variety of wine. Experiment. Learn. Do it again. Learn some more. And for Christ’s sake, go take some dance lessons while you’re at it.

Sharing the wine love

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/dining/07pour.html?ex=1367899200&en=f6a9560cea40fd6a&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

~Betty

Earthquake!

This weekend I toasted an altogether too weird occurrence: an earthquake in Illinois. You just know the gods are angry when the earth shakes in the middle of a corn field nowhere near a naughty city like L.A. What have the Midwesterners done to deserve this? They haven't drank enough wine!

Check this out...
Michael and David Phillips Earthquake Zinfandel 2006

"Powerful Titan, arms reaching for sky, Earthbound devourer, open your eyes!
Throw off your blankets, the day has begun,
Indulge yourself in warm Lodi sun.
Take what is given, the world is your own, enjoy your dominion, you sit on the throne.
Stand and be noticed, grape without peer,
Instruct in the others what they should fear.
Raise up your standard, proclaim your rights,
Answer to no one, conquer with might.
Hail the victor, the king without flaw,
Salute your new master...Petite Sirah"

Big big big bursts of blackberries with a hint of animal. Whaddaya mean that sounds gross? If this Sirah was all just about big berries you'd be drinking a Merlot for Pete's sake. Light on the tannins, they're still in there hiding under a soft plush velvet blanket of warmth. There's some coffee and a hint of creamy vanilla in there too. Perfect for the likes of a rainy spring evening with a chunk of Manchego. Beware the inky tooth stain, you might want to use those Crest White Strips when you're done.

Oh-So-Dreamy

Date night, Quality Grandparent Time, A Little Space Please...whatever you choose to call it, a night out with The Other is mighty important. If you feel as though you and Partner X have become 2 ships passing in the living room, make a reservation and GET OUT! We've become addicted to Dream Dance's Around the World Wine Dinners with Ray's Wine and Spirits. OK, that may be an exaggeration since a habit of this expense is equal to smoking $100 bills. When in Rome. We are eating in Potawatomi Land after all.

Not often enough, Dream Dance holds an event that features the food and wines of a country or region. Ray's teams up with Left Bank distributor and chef Jason Gorman of D.D. to produce a coursed dinner that heightens the wine experience and elevates the typical menu to art.

The most recent success was Pacific Northwest, exemplifying all that is fresh and wonderful about the cool coastal waters of Washington and Oregon. I know, I know...pinot noir and salmon. Mushrooms and oysters, blah blah blah. You can get that anywhere, flown in daily. This meal was definitely superior to the typical raw bar sushi joint experience. Let's discuss.

Course #1: a wee tiny little petite Fanny Bay Oyster with fennel and white pepper sorbet. Yeah, they rocked hard. You doubt me? The sorbet flavors opened up the palette and the oyster, as small as it was, shocked the senses with a lovely briny wash. Paired with this course was the 05 Banyan Riesling "Madera" Santa Lucia Highlands, from CA. The wine maker, we were informed was of Thai descent and quite a "hottie". He makes an admirable white; sea, salt and apples. The freshness lingers on the tongue briefly. A nice light mouth feel.

By course #2, my head was already swooning (note-a head start on the drinking happened while we wait for other diners to arrive, oops). Jumbo lump crab cakes are the star. Combined with a Pinot Gris that was new to me, 05 Brandborg Pinot Gris, Umpqua Valley, OR. Umpqua doesn't roll off the tongue, even when I'm sober. The base of this plate was a Thai basil cucumber salad, which plucked the bright flavors from this white. The acid in the P. Gris cut through the richness of the crab cake, in turn the crab mixed nicely with the typical gooseberry in the Oregon bottle. Not great by any stretch, but a flavor enhancer for the Asian inspired dish.

Everyone at our table was guilty of making squishy faces when reading the menu of our 3rd course. Beef Tongue Stuffed Walla Walla Onion. A delightful smoked wood aroma rose from the little onion, matching the rich berry bbq in the 02 Amani Syrah from Walla Walla. (that does roll off the tongue nicely. beef tongue) I imagined I was sitting around a campfire in the North Woods, minus the wind chill and the threat of bears. This match was perfect. I would never in a million years go to the extent that Chef J.G. did of mincing tongue and shoving it into an onion skin. Thankfully someone did!

The main course was, of course, salmon. By now, my notes are unreadable, I'm slurring and my table is having an intense discussion about cats. I think I wrote blackberries, smoky time mushrooms, bitcin’ salmon & bitter greens. Maybe I should take a tape recorder next time. What I do remember was that both of these Pinot Noir bottles had body way beyond what I've been feeling lately in my personal choices. They tend to be all over the place due to various climate and condition changes and it seems to me that the more $$ the better the product. Obvious? Who wants to find out that $30 isn't enough for an average pinot? This 06 Moshin Pinot Noir "Molinari Vineyard" from Sonoma was worth it. We ordered 2, we'll soon see if it was the drinky drinky or if it truly stands on it's own.

Finishing the meal was an enormous (granted, this word never once crept into my mind during this meal) huckleberry tart. Mild and not overly sweet, the berries yielded properly to the icewine which was considerably sweeter. Since it's at a premium, I made sure to enjoy this dessert wine. Sweet and earthy, simple. This 06 Pinot Noir Icewine from Adelsheim in the Willametter Valley was a tasty little bump at the end of the meal.

The fine people at Left Bank make a point of leading the troupes through the meal, pointing out the smart facts about the chosen pairings and at the end of the evening, the shy Jason Gorman makes a trip around the dining room to meet the guests. With such care taken to prepare beautiful plates with thoughtful wine pairings, it's hard to find fault with this dinner.

...except...the…location. Dream Dance is located in the single most smoky building I have ever smelled. To access D.D. the diner is forced to parade through the casino, picking up that awful ashtray eau d’parfume. Dream Dance itself lacks vibrant finishes and furniture. Dated artwork and dull colors do not inspire one to linger beyond the meal. Thankfully, they plan tp shut down for a month in the spring to move to the new space, haulting the Around the World series briefly. Please let there be an exterior entrance. If I wanted to experience the casino, I would so choose. I like to throw cash away, just like the next person. I’d prefer to do it after my $200 dinner, however.

Dream Dance Around the World Series
1721 W Canal St

(414) 847-7883

Investment: $70 ea
Sitter time: about 3 hours, unless you get lost in the casino

KID RATING: 0

PARENT RATING: 5, for sanity

BETTY BON VIVANT RATING SYSTEM: 1-5

1 = ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, SAVE YOUR $ FOR BAROLO

5 = WOW, I WOULD STRIP NAKED AND ROLL IN THIS CHOW

You Love-Sick Fools

Who doesn't love to shop? Shopping eases the pain, numbs the aches of the hard work day and flushes all of those troublesome worries away. Except when everything is marked up 110% for a holiday such as February 14th. We all give in the to Gods of Hallmark and make those little (or grand, if you can so afford) gestures of love and like. Do so with style, and do it local.

I've listed a few of my very favorite LUV Holiday choices. Forgo the $100 boo-kay of red red roses and just buy her a pair of undies.

Sean Henninger's Atomic Chocolate available at Times Square Bistro & Pizzeria in Walker’s Point (605 S. First St., 224-6300). You can find him pairing his finely crafted chocolates with wines of all kinds at Grapes and Grain in Mequon. Such delicious wares should be savored, so buy a couple boxes. Curry...red pepper...mango.

Tool Shed, 804 E. Center, 414.562.9338. www.toolshedtoys.com "Milwaukee's first lady-owned sex toy store" has everything from the cute and cuddly to the..."um, what's that for?"

Girlie Pants online store: http://www.girliepants.com/ "Clean undies for dirty girls". Not local, but plenty sweet. All artist designed wear by a former Milwaukeean.

If you HAVE to do flowers, do them good. Fresh Design, modern flowers. Sue Shunta proprietor, 414 467 4310 contact@freshdesignflowers.com. Amazing website with photos so good I could eat them. The personal service is really where this online shop shines. Give her a call, she can help with your carnation vs daisy dilemma. www.freshdesignflowers.com/portfolio.html

Although they may not be dishing the feminist dirt currently, there are still tee-shirts to be had from Ladylike Wonderwear. Get 'em while you can, these fem tees are a soon to be a collectors item. www.citymoonstudios.com/ladylike/html/about.html

and please, if you'd like to share your bright ideas, drop me a line, I'll forward your post.

Enjoy the piercing of cupids arrows, or perhaps just curl up with a bottle of Rielsing, who needs men?

love-
Betty

Quickie with Maxie!

Maxie's Southern Comfort. Completely child-friendly, they have crayons, enough room and a loud din to cover any tantrum. The bathrooms even have a changing table! Yes, what a wonderful woman Maxie is. I think she may even like kids.

Maxie's offers a menu just for the shorty, with obligatory fried chicken (a little bland considering the portion is so large the Adult is going to have to finish it), fish fry, burger, and butter noodles. One thought, if you like your kid to get a few veggies with their carbs, ask them to hold the fries and bring out a side of their vegetable of the day. The second my daughter sees fries, all bets are off and nothing else is going to be consumed. I can't believe I still don't follow this advice. Must be the wine.

The wine...they have a great list. We opted for a white since we were all having fish and starting with the oysters for happy hour (half price!). The Albrecht Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France, 2005 has a hint of the sea in it, which makes for a lovely fish pairing. You can smell the ocean in this glass, and the lemony hint is subtle and superb. Check the web site for the other options. www.maxies.com. They have numerous specials on various days but the 2 that hit me were the $1 kids menu on Sunday and the Vino Vendsday. Again, check the site, it's got everything from menus to specials & catering.

OK, so this was to be a quick one, since I've been absent and I don't want to scare anyone with my rants. The oysters were excellent, fresh and briny. The gumbo was really good but okra, ick! Not for me. I had the supper club salad, with blue cheese and raspberry vinaigrette. I added ahi tuna for $7.95 (it says 8.95 on the web site?) and it filled up this salad perfectly. It was done seared and rare. Even the waitress remarked that it looked lovely.

From what I could tell, everyone had a superb time chomping on chicken fingers and fries, ahi tuna in Cajun sauces and big steamy bowls of gumbo. This place does an nice little electric slide for me, I'll be back, with and without the kids. Maybe I'll even drink my way through the wine list. Care to join me?

~Betty!

MAXIES SOUTHERN COMFORT
6732 WEST FAIRVIEW, TOSA 414.292.3969

KID RATING: 5
PARENT RATING: 5
BETTY BON VIVANT RATING SYSTEM: 1-5
1 = ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH THE EFFORT, SAVE YOUR $ FOR BAROLO
5 = WOW, I WOULD STRIP NAKED AND ROLL IN THIS CHOW



Happy Hour Every Day 4pm-6pm - Half-Priced Raw Oysters and Clams