Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser on Tasting...

This article was posted by Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser.  Click here for more on this true wine expert.

As a brief forward, I would like to note that fewer than 200 people in the world earn the title of Master Sommelier. It is a title that is as rigorous as it is prestigious. Click here to learn more. For those of you interested in being more proficient students, this article does a fantastic job of introducing wine and its many flavor profiles. Happy reading (and happier tasting)...

Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier

To a linguistics specialist life is filled with conditional sentences or “if - then” clauses.  For the rest of us that translates as “if X is true then Y must also be true.”  The “if - then” clause also applies to tasting.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat across a table from a student in a coaching session or in an exam and watched them describe a wine completely, eloquently, perfectly and then, in the words of the all-knowing Bugs Bunny, take a left turn and go to Albuquerque with the conclusion as in the completely wrong place.  It’s as if they either didn’t listen to themselves while tasting or for some reason they can’t connect the dots to come up with a conclusion that makes sense given the information they found in the glass.  Ultimately the sensory evaluation sequence where one gathers as much information about a wine’s appearance, aroma and palate is only half the equation.  What’s equally important, arguably even more important, is that the taster be able to make sense out of all the information to come up with a logical conclusion.

Why Wait?

Dig Into Your Wine Cellar NOW.... What are you waiting for? All of these reasons are good but #5 is the best (and the one I use most often). Salut!

Life is short. Drink the good wine now.

(Thank you Wine Enthusiast.)

SoBro Cafe

Check presentation

I had heard very mixed reviews of SoBro Cafe through the Indy grapevine, so I could not wait to see what was this tucked-away little eatery was all about. Walking in, it is very casual. It has a very Broad Ripple, "we want it to be nice but we aren't into trying too hard" kind of feel. It's pleasant and sunny, with live plants and local art. Bohemian-not-so-chic, but if it were more chic and it would not blend as nicely with its eclectic SoBro neighborhood.

I am writing this review after 4 separate experiences here.  Breakfast (2), lunch (1), and dinner. Just like former Gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan (from The Rent Is Too Damn High Party) would've liked it. That's as political as this blog is going to get. Breakfast, lunch and dinner! (If you haven't watched the Saturday Night Live skit, click here. It makes me laugh out loud each and every time). Back to So Bro...

The highlight of the menu is the Pannekoeken selection. This Dutch/Belgian pancake is somewhere between a crepe and an American breakfast pancake in texture. Fluffy and delicious with both sweet and savory filling options, these are sure to satisfy. Please note, they are on the small side. You will notice that they are very reasonably priced ($4-7), and I believe that is because you are meant to order several. I could easily put down three, though the servers would probably shoot me awkward glances, as they thought it was a little weird when I ordered two. My favorites are spinach, mushroom and Swiss and Nutella with strawberries. You can also create your own.

Pannekoeken

The rest of the food is pretty good. Nothing stand-out, I will admit, but nothing remotely unacceptable. Everything is homemade and there are a lot of interesting cultural influences on the menu, from Middle Eastern to Mediterranean to Asian. I had a lovely salmon salad with tzatziki vinaigrette (it was a daily special), a tasty chicken entree, a nice omelet and breakfast sandwich, well... you get the idea. All good, not amazing. It is priced very well though, and very vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free friendly (much appreciated).

The service is where it gets a little spotty. I've experienced great, attentive, personable service. I've also suffered through space cadet, half-the-orders-are-wrong, forgot-the-check-for-30-minutes service. It's a crap shoot to say the least. Everyone is always friendly, however, and eager to resolve issues.

So Bro Cafe offers a nice local craft beer and wine selection. Their wines by the glass are the most interesting, most affordable I've seen in a long time. Ask and someone will be happy to tell you which bottles they are pouring that day (they don't print the menu).

To sum up, my feelings are mixed. Will I go regularly? Absolutely. The pannekoeken are crave-worthy. I also really want So Bro Cafe to do well, as it's good for the neighborhood. Will I go there for another business lunch? Probably not. I really like the neighborhood feel; the guests already seem like regulars, and it's an easy place to be. I would encourage you to try it, but don't be shocked if the service is hit or miss. 3/5 total. The Hulk Hogan check presenters edge them just above average. Cheers to SoBro!

Roadtrip to Portland, OR

Portland, Oregon is a pioneer of sustainable urban culture and farm-to-table dining. It's also renowned for craft breweries, food trucks, coffee, and its proximity to the Willamette and Columbia Valley wine regions. In short, it a food-lover's paradise. 

For a long time, Portland has claimed more restaurants, bars, and breweries per capita than anywhere else. While this is oft repeated but largely unsubstantiated, I did get the impression that a year of continually eating and drinking would barely put a dent into the check-off list. I was so excited to travel there and experience everything I had read about. It certainly did not disappoint. Portland is lush and green, with a walkable downtown and user-friendly mass transit that make its distinctive neighborhoods and districts very accessible. While I did my best in the few days I had, obviously this is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Portland food scene.

Chef Leather Storrs on his rooftop garden

Before I get to the food though, The Nines, a luxury boutique hotel under the Starwood Luxury label, deserves some serious credit. A gleaming example of how sustainability can succeed in an industry that seems functionally opposed to environmentalism, The Nines redefines luxury in a way that works to enhance the guest experience while honoring its historic building and thriving downtown location. It was the most enjoyable hotel experience I have had in recent memory.

Here's a quick run-down of the food and drink scene:

Noble Rot
Executive Chef Leather Storrs created a space that may just be as bold as his name. The rooftop garden is an urban wonder of horticulture and creative sustainability. Read more here, as there is no way to do this justice in a brief blurb. Everything that is not literally garden-to-table is locally sourced from purveyors and artisans nearby. The food is stunningly simple, fresh and not overwrought. The atmosphere on the fourth floor dining room is cozy and warm; the view of the city is panoramic and pristine. The whole experience was a delight.

Andina
In the heart of the now-bustling Pearl District lies Andina, a champion of Peruvian comfort food at its best. One of the diners described her experience as "extremely sensual and almost out-of-body" in nature. A must-do for any visitor; as it lives up to the strong press it is receiving from critics everywhere.

Urban Farmer
Inside The Nines, Urban Farmer defies the blah hotel restaurant stereotype. Doing their version of the farm-to-table concept, it earned rave reviews from the group. I had one well-traveled executive tell me that it was by far the best steak he had ever had. Hailing from a city with a bevy of amazing steak options, à la St. Elmo, that indeed is high praise.

Cacao Drink Chocolate

Wildwood 
A great craft beer selection, a huge whiskey line-up and a truly Pacific Northwest inspired menu make this a must-do on any tour of Portland as well. Executive Chef Dustin Clark works with local artisanal food purveyors to create seasonal fare that impresses. The ambiance is rustic and casual and makes a great backdrop for the evocative dishes he creates.

Food trucks! 
Wow. There are pods of dozens of food trucks all over Portland. Literally hundreds (thousands?) of options to eat on the street to your stomach's content. I had a shrimp Pad Thai that was unbelievably good for $6, but the options were literally endless. Pan-Asian food rules the street food scene, but you can get anything you crave in a matter of minutes and for a reasonable price. Let's just say that if I lived in Portland I probably would not be brown-bagging it during the day.

Rooftop Garden at Noble Rot

Cacao Drink Chocolate
I stumbled into this anomaly by happy accident, finding myself in a chocolate store set-up like a fine wine shop. Single origins, blends, and pretty much anything dipped, covered, or involving chocolate lines their shelves. You can taste anything in the store (anything) at their tasting bar. They are committed to the chocolate experience and chocolate education in every way. Thesetting is beautiful to boot. Be prepared though, I learned the hard way that fine chocolate is going to cost you.

Henry's Twelfth Street Tavern
With over 100 draft beers (many local), this is a neighborhood joint with an urban-industrial feel and and all-American menu.

Cassidy's
I didn't spot any tourists, which immediately told me I was in the right place. A friend and I shared a wonderful macaroni and cheese and a beautifully fresh salad. Cassidy's features an eclectic wine list with lots of affordable and conversation-worthy glass pours. I particularly enjoyed the French section of their list.

Jake's Famous Crawfish 
Apparently Jake's is famous for more than crawfish, as we were heavily encouraged to try the Irish Coffee. It lived up the hype, complete with the pomp of the old-school presentation. Over a century old, Jake's feels like the kind of place where the Rat Pack raised cane and lived out a lot of their debauchery. Who knows?

Susan Sokol telling her story at her winery

Sokol-Blosser Winery
Among the first to plant Pinot Noir in the region, Susan Sokol and Bill Blosser were part of the amazing transformation that has made Willamette Valley one of the more prestigious producers of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in the world. The winery is beautiful and pastoral, and the staff are lively and cheerful. The 2010 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is a delicious splurge. Surprisingly good was the 2011 Rose of Pinot Noir, my favorite of the night. It was crisp and refreshing but had a beautiful structure and light oak. 

How can a traveler sum up Portland? It has friendly people, a sustainable ad green downtown, and easy access to skiing, wine country, and the ocean? Well, it basically speaks for itself. Suffice to say I'll look forward to more time spent there in the near future. Cheers!