Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Congratulations d'Arenburg!

One of our favorite winemakers, d'Arenberg, has scored three major successes recently! First, our friend and winemaker Chester Osborn has been nominated as Gourmet Traveler's 2008 Winemaker of the year. Second, Chester's father D'Arry's restaurant - Verandah - wins at the SA Restaurant and Catering Awards! If that weren't enough, James Holidays' 2009 Wine Companion rates d'Arenburg Winery at 5 Stars! Congratulations to Chester, D'Arry and the rest of the gang at d'Arenberg!

If you have not had the pleasure of trying the wines of d'Arenberg, we carry the lot. Stop in at Schneider's or visit our web site to peruse our selection of d'Arenberg wines.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Terry's Herb and Cracked Pepper Crusted Tenderloin

Over the past several years, it has become a tradition for the Schneider’s holiday party for Terry to prepare his Herb and Cracked Pepper Crusted Tenderloin. Trust us when we say, there are never any left overs! The staff is all over this one!

To begin:
Use fresh herbs - they result in much better flavor than dried herbs you by at the store.
Kosher salt instead of granulated salt – pure salt without additives for a better flavor as well as texture

1 whole tenderloin (Clean and train removed – if you are not sure you can do this on your own, please consult with your butcher as he/she will be happy to help – or feel free to come talk with me)
3 cups of fresh herbs with stems removed (rosemary, thyme, sage, basil, oregano)
1 whole head of garlic peeled (entire garlic bulb)
¾ cup whole peppercorns (black or mixture)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons cognac

Take all ingredients (except for the tenderloin) and put them into a food processor or Cuisinart and pulse chop until very coarsely ground, being careful not to over chop the peppercorns. The blend should be chunky, not fine. This will result in a green paste. Set aside.

Pat dry the tenderloin, and place on plastic wrap large enough to wrap entire tenderloin. Take the green paste and coat the tenderloin on all sides. Tightly wrap with paste coated tenderloin in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.

When ready to prepare, take tenderloin out of fridge 1 to 2 hours ahead of time so it has time to come to room temp. Preheat oven to 500º Fahrenheit. Carefully place tenderloin in roasting pan with a rack that is large enough to accommodate the full length, so as to not remove any of the green past. Roasting pan needs to include a rack that you will place the tenderloin on so it will cook evenly on all sides. Upon placing tenderloin into the oven, immediately turn oven down to 375°. Takes about 45 to 60 minutes to cook. Use thermometer to check temp. Take a larger piece out earlier as it will continue to cook after it is removed from the oven.

Rare – 120
MR – 130
Med – 140

When desired temp is reached, remove tenderloin from oven and remove from roasting pan. Wrap tenderloin in aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes in a warm place (near or on the oven, but not back in the oven). This will allow the juice to be retained when do cut the tenderloin – when removing from oven, juices are under pressure. Resting allows the pressure to reduce. Also, muscle fibers when allowed to cool will relax. The result will be a tenderer, juicer piece of meat. Slice thinly against the grain. Serve with a good mustard of your preference or horse radish sauce.

Bon appetite!
Terry Brown, Wine Manager, Schneider's of Capitol Hill

Chef Terry R. Brown

All of his customers know they can rely on Terry for the perfect wine selections, as well as the perfect food pairing. Cooking is in his blood. Terry reminisces, “I learned how to cook from both of my grandmothers because it was such an important part of our family gatherings.” His entire family took great pride in creating food for events from weekly gatherings to special occasions and holidays.

Little did he realize the impact his family tradition would have on his life. While attending SMU (Terry was enrolled in a masters program for music history and harpsichord performance), he decided to change paths and follow a calling that was near and dear to his heart – he decided to become a chef. Admittedly, he was attracted to the glamour of being a chef; well-known chefs in Dallas had achieved celebrity status and were paid well for their craft. However, becoming a professional chef was a way to carry on his family’s traditions in a way he had never imagined.

Terry’s training began in 1990 when he enrolled in a three-year chef-training program and apprenticeship with El Centro College in Downtown Dallas. El Centro’s culinary school is recognized as one of the best in the Southern United States. The culinary program at El Centro is intense – students take classes while working in restaurants to fulfill the apprenticeship portion of the curriculum. Terry began an apprenticeship with a hotel in Dallas while working part-time at Baby Routh (a spin-off of Steven Pyle’s Routh Street Café). However, feeling his creative talents being stifled, he left the country club apprenticeship after being offered a full-time apprenticeship with Baby Routh. Under the direction of Chef Kevin Rathburn, Terry blossomed as a culinary artist. Working with Chef Rathburn, Terry worked on the line and soon became the Chef de Tourney. He says, “My passion for creating food grew in the company and expertise of Chef Rathburn. I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with and experiment with exotic ingredients from all over the world.” These ranged from pheasant, escargot, caviar, exotic mushrooms, Fuji apples, squid ink and more.

After almost three years at Baby Routh and completion of courses at El Centro, Terry decided it was time for a change. He packed up his life in Dallas and moved to Washington, D.C. in 1993. It was at this point he began working with Bob Kinkead and Ris Lacoste at Kinkead’s. He began working the line at Kinkead’s and eventually took over as the fish butcher. Terry learned a great deal from both Kinkead and Lacoste, and decided to depart in 1994 to begin his own venture at Belmont Kitchen in Adams Morgan.

Terry spent three years at Belmont Kitchen as a partner and as executive chef. He took great pride in the fact that he employed many of the same concepts he learned at Baby Routh – seasonal menus, numerous daily specials, and the best possible ingredients from around the world to make interesting and exotic cuisine. A few of the more notable items Terry mentioned were:

• Red tortilla crusted goat cheese rellenos with yellow tomato cream
• Beef Ribs with Mango BBQ Sauce
• Roasted Rabbit with Spinach Gnochi and lemon sage cream
• Lamb Shank braised in Negro Modelo and ancho chilis
• Homemade ice cream and sorbets everyday

Belmont Kitchen provided Terry with the ideal venue for creating food with passion that guests truly loved. However, after three years, Terry decided to make another career change. He chose to combine his love of creating amazing food with wine. He had learned enough about wine to know that he wanted to make a career out of it while he was a chef. After departing from Belmont and exploring some other ventures, Terry made his way to Schneider’s in 2000 and became a part-time wine sales associate.

Combing his knowledge and experience with food as well as his expertise with ingredients made the transition to wine sales an easy one. His heightened and sensitive palate had been well developed from years in the restaurant business, providing him a unique and practical ability to pair food and wine. Terry says he believes that, “Food is incomplete until it has the perfect wine pairing,” as he is constantly seeking new flavors to combine for the ultimate culinary nirvana.

Although largely self-taught, since joining Schneider’s, Terry has continued his education in wine. In 2002, Terry completed six months of intense courses to become certified by the Sommelier Society of America. He has also traveled to Australia (2005) and Spain (2008) for the sole purpose of sampling regional wines in both countries.

Terry’s love of food and wine go way beyond and above the casual cook and wine aficionado. In his own home, he designed and built his own kitchen with the help of his partner. His goal was to create a space in his own home where he could remain a chef for friends and family. That goal has been achieved, and the culinary delights coming from his home, as well as the happy faces and satisfied appetites of friends and family alike are testaments to Terry’s mission to create unforgettable and unique food and wine pairings. Terry goes on to say, “One of the greatest pleasures is making a meal special enough to complement the special accomplishments moments in life.” He enjoys “helping people create memories.” He says that while he may not be saving lives or building things, “food and wine is one of the pleasures in life that people work for, and I am proud to help them achieve the ultimate culinary experience.” His keys to great cooking are “the best ingredients prepared properly and simply. Everyone has to eat and drink, but it is fortunate to be able to truly dine.”

Monday, July 28, 2008

Wine and Food San Francisco Style

My wife and I recently vacationed with friends in San Francisco, CA. While we made a few reservations at wineries, we planned to take our time and enjoy what San Francisco had to offer, including some lovely weather – a welcome break from the humid DC summer.

Our adventure began with a trip to Spruce in Presidio Heights. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming and spacious - especially when you consider the current trend in restaurants to cram guests into tiny, "intimate" quarters. The wine list is respectable; in particular, we were interested in Spruce’s vast, 6-plus-page list of German Rieslings. The knowledgeable staff helped us choose the best Rieslings to pair with our meals, and we prepared for an enjoyable evening. My wife’s Harissa cooked chicken stole the show! The Auslese Riesling and the chicken were the best pairing of the night. Make no mistake, I had nothing to complain about because my duck breast was perfectly cooked and served over fresh, local sauteed Swiss chard.

After a day of touring San Francisco, we embarked on our evening journey to Paso Robles. The beautiful, two and a half hour drive south took us over mountains covered in an eerie, smoky haze – recent wild fires on the other side of the mountains left a reminder of their devastation. We arrived at our inn late Wednesday night and rested quickly but well before our first scheduled tour to Justin Winery.

In the morning, we woke to survey the property at Justin Vineyards and Winery - the word “impressive” comes to mind. Beautiful new structures and well-manicured grounds left us astounded. Plus, the newly added caves - dug into the hillside - are equally impressive in their embellishment. They add to the amazing experience, lending a unique atmosphere to the winery. In the tasting room at Justin, the “Isocolese” was solid but did not move me as much as I anticipated. The St. Emilion styled blend called “Justification” was quite nice. Justin Winery was a perfect beginning to our wine tasting adventure, but the best was yet to come.

Our next stop took us to Tablas Creek - the joint venture of the Perrin’s of Beaucastel and Daniel Haas. The Perrin’s looked far and wide in California before settling in Paso Robles because the soil makeup is similar to the makeup in Rhone. The Esprit lineup we tried is wonderful and very affordable, making it a great deal. Their Cote du Tablas line is nice as well for an everyday drinking wine. We also had the unique opportunity to sample some wines that Tablas Creek only sells to members of it’s mailing list – being connected to Schneider’s has its privileges.

Next, we traveled to Opolo. I was on a mission since Jon Genderson requested that I sample the new vintage of Opolo Zinfandel for the store. Rick, wine representative for the winery, walked us through the tasting and the barrel samples. I will cut right to the chase. The 2006 Opolo Zinfandels are awesome and even better than the terrific 2005 Zins. Schneider staff and customers love the 2005 vintage, and the 2006 vintage will blow your socks off! It is important to note that Opolo makes A LOT of different wines. They also have a reputation for making full-bodied wines with a high percentage of alcohol. Out of all the wines we tried, Opolo’s Zinfandels and Syrah Cabernet blend called “Fusion” were the most memorable. While we truly enjoyed our visit to Opolo, palate fatigue began to set set in, and bid Rick farewell. You can rest assured, we did have a designated driver.

The next few days we relaxed and prepared food we purchased at the expansive Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market - quite an adventure for those looking to explore a bit of local life in San Francisco.

Our final culinary adventure led us to Alice Water’s Chez Pannise Café - which is fabulous for those who are budget conscious. We love that fact that we did not sacrifice a wonderful dining experience for a less expensive restaurant. Chez Pannise Café features local, fresh products. The food was phenomenal - fresh clams, zucchini flat bread, local fish and cheese. It was a great experience and I recommend it to anyone making their way to San Francisco.

San Francisco was great, and we look forward to a return trip in the future! The city its diverse neighborhoods offer visitors and residents access to fantastic food. Plus, the area’s location makes it a perfect springboard for day trips to wine country. Sonoma and Napa are a couple hours north and Paso and Central Coast are a couple hours south. If you have the opportunity to visit San Francisco, do yourself a favor and visit these places, and leave time to explore.

Ben Page - Assistant Wine Manager, Schneider's of Capitol Hill

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Larkmead Vineyards Cab 1993 - A Delicious Cab Experience


This past Sunday, I had a few friends over to the house to try a bottle of wine that has sparked my curiosity - the Larkmead Vineyards Cab 1993.  Larkmead been producing wine since the late 1800s in California’s Napa Valley.

I have tasted some of the later vintages, and I enjoyed them, but I could not find reviews or ratings of the 1993 vintage, which was a good for California Cabernet.  Since Larkmead is known for producing very good wines, one would imagine this to be a no-brainer, but you never know. 

The Larkmead Cab is absolutely beautiful, and the entire group loved it!  It is fully mature, yet there is still plenty of life remaining.  It is brick red in color with lots of depth.  On the nose, candied cherry notes with paprika and white pepper follow through on the pallet. The flavors of candied cherry fruit and paprika spice, along with minerals and soft silky tannins, linger in a long, elegant finish that left us “OOOOOing” and “AHHHing.”  I served the Larkmead Cab with grilled veal rib chops that had been marinated in lemon juice, olive oil and fresh thyme – it was a magnificent pairing that I suggest you try!  Along with the veal, I made polenta with saffron and Parmesan cheese and haricoverts. 

We are currently selling the Larkmeak Vineyards Cab for $69.99, a great buy for such a beautiful, full-bodied cabernet. We have about 2 cases left.

Terry R. Brown - Wine Manager, Schneider's of Capitol Hill

Friday, July 11, 2008

Affordable White Burgundy

This article from the WSJ has a lot of good info about affordable white Burgundy that tastes great.  The video is extremely informative.  Be certain to watch it!  Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher do a very good job of covering the bases in their review of great deals in white Burgundy that you can enjoy now.

Specifically, the review mentions the Vincent Bouzereau Bourgogne Blanc, which is a wine that we sell and thoroughly enjoy.  The review says:
Our best value, from Vincent Bouzereau of Meursault, was a tremendous bargain at about $18.

We have a plentiful supply of the Vincent Bouzereau Bourgogne Blanc.  Call or email us today to get a few bottles of you own to enjoy this summer!

Friday, May 23, 2008

California Wine Dinner Tasting at Café 8 - June 4th at 7pm

On Wednesday, June 4th, we will be co-hosting a California wine dinner with Café 8 located at 424 8th Street SE Washington, D.C. Café 8 has a new chef, Jordan Davidowitz, formally at Zaytinya. Jordan has planned a delicious 7-course meal to accompany my picks for summer meals. Beginning at 7:00pm, the cost of this fabulous dinner is only $100 per person, inclusive.

The Menu:

Aperitif and amuse
Smokey baba ganoush and eggplant chips
Vina Robles Sauvignon Blanc 2007

First Course
Gardis thipiti: gulf shrimp, red pepper water, metaxa brandy, feta, kataifi
Opolo Roussanne 2005

Second Course
Octopus three ways - octopus salad, grilled octopus, octopus keftedes
Olivia Brion Pinot Noir 2006

Third Course
Effes dark braised lamb shank, carmelized onion hummus, crispy leeks
C.G. Di Arie Syrah 2004

Fourth Course
Pomegranate glazed ribs - off the bone – with potato skordalia
McLean Syrah 2003

Fifth Course
Maryland crab and chickpea stew
C.G. Di Arie Petite Sirah 2005

Dessert

Please call 202.543.9300 or email us at customerservice@cellar.com to reserve your seats.