EAST COAST PALATE

Today for lunch I met my friend Jennifer for some Cuban cuisine in Burtonsville, MD.  Cuba de Ayer is a small restaurant with a simple, medium sized menu, but everything I have tasted here has been a treat.  Jennifer decided to try a quintessential Cuban plate: Ropa Vieja, a shredded beef entree served with maduros (fried ripe plantains), rice, and beans.  This time I chose the Picadillo, a dish consisting of ground beef, potatoes, raisins, onion and garlic.  It was spicy, but not picante spicy.  The seasoning was perfect, and later when I looked down at my clean plate I only wanted more.
The only other time I visited this restaurant I ate fricase de pollo,  which was a tender skinless  1/4 chicken with a succulent sauce.  Also I sampled some fried yucca served with a garlic dipping sauce that were amazing.
The list of cocktails on the menu was inviting, featuring Mojitos and a few variations on the Margarita, but it was noon and I still had some things to do later, so I sipped on water.  Later on though, I opened up one of the best $8.50 bottles of wine I've ever had: the 2007 Goats do Roam red blend. 
Visit Cuba de Ayer's website at www.cubadeayerrestaurant.com and if you're anywhere near Burtonsville, MD, stop in for a taste of true Cuban cuisine.

I'm just getting home from a night of bliss for my tastebuds.  The March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction was a buffet of flavors that showcased the culinary talent here in Washington, D.C.  I was able to sample many wines, from European to Australian, from both coasts of the US.  For me tonight, the food stole the show.  Many chefs siezed the chance to put their best plate forward, and many grateful guests were the beneficiaries of the ingenuity and perfect preparation of dishes from D.C.'s finest dining establishments.  If I'm getting ahead of myself, I have to admit that my excitement is taking control of my words.  My gluttony has been sated and I've met a ton of wonderful people, for after all, the event is put on in order to raise funds for the heath of babies.

In all the event is best described as a toast to life.  It is a gathering of people thinking of future generations, but also a tribute to the simple, yet essential pleasures in life: food and wine.

On the food end, I tried some pulpo (octupus) that teleported my tastebuds back to Spain.  This was thanks to the folks at Taberna del Alabarder, which I had never heard of (unfortunately), but now is a must-visit for me.  I also tried a rustic yet simple stew from Et Voilá.  It was the definition of délicieux.  I loved the guacamole from Rosa Mexicano... some of the best ever, and this is from someone whose favorite food is avocado.  Other spots that are now at the top end of my must-taste list are Dino, in Cleveland Park; The Grille restaurant/piano bar and Jackson 20, both in Alexandria; and The National Press Club down on 14th street.

As for the vino, it was hit and miss.  The wines I liked best were the Pinot Noir from Truchard Vineyards (CA), the Cab. Sauv. from Honig Vineyard & Winery (also CA), and my favorite for the night: Stalking Horse, Mclaren Vale Shiraz from Australia...it isn't too pricey at $20. I really liked this wine.  Also worth a try are the Gotham wines, which share the same owner as Stalking Horse Wines, but sell for around $13-$14.

My senses are still reeling with memory of so many scents and flavors.  It was a great event, organized for a wonderful cause, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it.

Cheers, D.C.
C.L.

So yesterday Jared and I made plans to go out, try a taste of Baltimore.  We started out sipping on a great Barolo at his house, then made our way to the Wine Market.  The best aspect of dining here is that you can buy a bottle from the store in the front of the establishment, then take it back and enjoy it with dinner for only a $9 corkage fee.  So he and a friend and I picked out a bottle... each of us picked one.
The food overall was good, the standout selections the duck paté and the decadent beef strogannoff.  The only disappointing dish was the special, tenderloin medallions that were cooked perfectly, but were caked with so much black peppercorn that the meat's flavor took a sad back seat to the pepper.  The decor is an open, industrial feel that aplifies conversation, but we still felt comfortable by all means.  And we had plenty of vino...

The first one (At Jared's): A 2004 Barolo from Brezza called Canubi from Giacomo e figli.  This wine brings a ton of acidic pucker, some slatey minerality, a hint of cedar and spice, with an inviting ripe boquet of raisins, dates, figs, and prunes. 89+ from me

At the Wine Market:  Gmork, A 2008 Gruner Veltliner by Anton Bauer.  solid acid, aromas of green apple skin, starfruit, waxpaper (that petrol nose that often comes with whites from that part of the world).  This paired very well with the cheeses, especially the aged Irish cheddar, and with the paté.  A solid wine to start with, 84 points

Mas de la Rouvière 2003 from Bandol.  Right off the bat the smell of this mostly Mourvèdre wine had me intrigued; stinky earthy raspberries and strawberries, a green or vegetal aroma lingering somewhere beneath the dank earth and ripe fruit.  Big tannins surprised me, but the wine's taste and body sort of seemed a let down after the crazy aromas that had pulled me in first.  A B wine (86 or so).

The gem of the night was the 2005 Ferrer Bobet from the Priorat region of Spain, a 53% Carignane, 35% Grenache, 7% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon blend.  This fruity candy smelling wine has great balance and a sweaty minerality that create a complexity of flavors.  A truly balanced, tasty wine.  90 points