StringGrrl sees the World

Erika at Gallo Wine Gallery, who celebrated her birthday by giving drinks  While spending a weekend in Piedemonte, Italy, my friends took me for a weekend in wine and truffle country. Specifically, La Morra, where we stumbled (literally after we finished our tour of the shop) upon the Gallo Wine Gallery. Just a few tipples to warm the shoppers who come into the store After a meal of Tartufo Blanco (white truffles) at a nearby restaurant we stopped into La Morra to visit the heart of the regional wine country. The village is mostly wine shops and gift shops, so is a complete tourist trap, but a delightful one at that. Barolo Chinato, pharmaceuticals from the old days For a reasonable 10€ fee they took me on a 3 glass tasting through local wines. Starting first with Barbera d'Asti, followed by Nebbiollo, and wrapped up with Barolo. As the former Self-Proclaimed-Die-Expert is a savage when it comes to wines, any 3 wines are good ones most often. But at 10€ for ...

On our most recent visit to Torino, Italy, we had some amazing food just about every day--lunches and dinners. In fact one night just for a change of pace, I opted for discount sushi (also good) to take a rest from all the rich and widely varied Italian food.But perhaps the most surprising meal was the one I had in the grocery market, Eataly. Preserves, jarred sauces, and other condiments  Eataly is a chain of upscale markets throughout Italy, with locations in the New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Yokahama, Istanbul, Dubai, Brazil, and Seoul. There mission and manifesto , revolve around bringing quality of food, life, the world up through the sharing of Italian food culture. I went in looking only to find a reasonable bottle of wine to bring home, and left after buying a couple bottles, eating dinner, and sampling a few glasses of Piemontese wines. The surprise dinner, they were celebrating something with a limited time menu featuring this Duck Breast The duck dinner was a fe...

Each German city that I have visited has a significant Christmas Market. Nuremberg is no different. Nuremberg has a nice Altstadt that hosts a very nice Weihnachtmarkt or Kriskindlmarkt. The Kriskindlmarktplatz The Christmas Market will notably have food stalls, craft stalls, and Gluhwein vendors. Gluhwein is mulled wine served warm, very often in little collectible boots or commemorative mugs. Gluhwein upon entering the Aldstadt Gluhwein is something of a tradition at the Germanic Christmas Market. Nuremberg Aldstadt Gluhwein Boots Boot number one Boot number two

KamGrrl attends the vertical Whiskey tasting at Weinhaus Hilgering in Dortmund Here is George Grant telling us that we really don't know when Glenfarclas was founded; long before his Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather purchased it though 2003 Hilgering Cask Selection 46% The 8 year  is truly a fine Single Malt, very accessible completely enjoyable Drank this at the tasting, a favorite of the night. Limited edition not available elsewhere (as George explained the meaning of limited) Family Cask bottles from prior years. A lot of character in these re-caskings

Diners (strangers) enjoying their dinner and wine D-Vino is a set of nice little wine bars sprinkled around Zurich. With locations at  Limmatplatz  (near the Langstrasse),  Bahnhofstrasse  (near the main station), and  Seefeld  (near Höschgasse‎ tram stop).  The offer a reasonable list of wines at a cost not unheard of in Zurich. Ranging from 7.50CHF-10CHF depending on the varietal. They have a list of Warm and Cold dishes as well as some Tapas.  you order your wine and food from the bar, cafeteria style. no table service source -->  http://www.d-vino.ch  While there I opted just to sample some Tapas (as the food budget is a little sparse lately). Had some Tapas. The food was prepared quickly (as with most tapas they have it pretty much ready under glass) and brought to me at the bar. As for wine? I had the following: Tempranillo Venta Mazarrón                   ...