appetizers – Page 8 – THE DUDE OF FOOD

Captain Croc – Paris, France

As I walked the 65 miles or so around town I could feel my energy getting lower.

I needed to eat and when in Paris you do as the Parisians do so I decided I needed wine with my lunch. The Captains Croc provided me with a delicious plate of salmon pasta in cream sauce and some wine to help keep me going. The staff was friendly, the food was great and I’d certainly go back.

If you are in the area then I recommend you walk over, just across the river from Notre Dame, and eat lunch here. You won’t be disappointed by the quality food, reasonable prices or friendly service. Merci Captains Croc.

Santa Monica Pizza – Paris, France

At the web site listed below you will find the information to the first sign I saw upon exiting the Métro at Place des Fêtes . Having left Santa Monica, CA 15 hours earlier you can imagine the surprise this sign caught me by. I laughed and knew I must go check it out.

After traveling for 15 hours I was ready to drop my bags off, eat and wander around Paris. The Santa Monica pizzeria was closed so I didn’t get to eat there until the second night of my stay and found Ismail and the staff to be friendly and hospitable. I went back as much as I could while in Paris. Merci Santa Monica Grill.

check them out at-

www.lafourchette.com/restaurant/santa-monica/22029

or if in Paris – 15 Rue Henri Ribiere 75019 Paris

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s cookbook

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec was not only a patron and contributor to the arts but he also collected recipes with a friend. This collection is titled L’art de la Cuisine and was published months after his death by his friend Maurice Joyant. The book includes Lautrec sketches and interesting menu selections. (read more https://news.artnet.com/art-world/art-bites-henri-de-toulouse-lautrec-chef-cookbook-recipes-2466779) Lautrec enjoyed culture and liked to cook, drink and celebrate. He liked to dress up as a samurai or flamenco dancer at his parties and once served a Degas painting for dessert. Lautrec also was known to add goldfish to the water pitchers encouraging his guests to imbibe alcohol fueled concoctions instead of water.

More can be read about this fascinating character, his life and his circle of interesting friends at the following sites and on wikipedia.

http://www.lautrec.info/

http://www.toulouse-lautrec-foundation.org/

Chocolate Candy Showdown!

Whitman’s vs. Russell Stover chocolate candy taste test.

Today I had the awesome task of tasting a bunch of chocolates and then telling the world my opinion. Lets get down to business.

I had a box of Whitman’s assorted chocolates containing 7 candies, a box of Whitman’s Reserve that had 2 candies in it and a box of Russell Stover chocolates containing 4 candies.

After tasting each I came to the conclusion that I like the Russell Stover chocolates a bit more. It’s hard to say chocolate is better than chocolate but being side by side made it easier to pick a favorite. My taste buds told me that I favor the Russell Stover candies a little more than I liked the Whitman’s candy.

In 1993, the Whitman’s Chocolate brand became part of the Russell Stover’s Family. They continue the tradition of creating the Sampler boxes.

Unfortunately, neither Marsatta Chocolate or See’s candies were not sold at Rite Aid and did not participate in this survey.

AQUINAS – Napa California Cabernet

AQUINAS 2011 California Cabernet Sauvignon

Named after St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), an Italian Dominican friar, priest and revolutionary scholar who used the laws of science to support his belief in the Almighty. This wine, like it’s namesake, is smart, bold, dedicated and has many quality attributes.

The Dude of Food rating:

Give this wine a try.

RAVENSWOOD California Cabernet Sauvignon

Going to a party and can’t decide how much to spend and not trying to buy some junk wine that was a waste of money? Nobody wants to hear the voice of ridicule as party goers make their statements regarding your choice of wine. Well there is a wine to add to the buy list that won’t get you ridiculed. It’s reasonably priced and decent tasting. The Ravenswood line of wines are alright. Try some.

Bodega ELENA de Mendoza 2010 Red Blend

This family of fine wine is named after the matriarch who came from Italy, Elena Napoli.

Bodega ELENA de Mendoza, Argentina

2010 RED BLEND

62% Malbec

21% Syrah

17% Bonarda

This family has developed some top wines from Argentina that I happen to enjoy. The Malbec and the Red Blend from Bodega Elena de Mendoza are my favorites.

According to the web, the “legs” or “tears” of wine that run down the inside of the wine glass are a sign of alcohol. The heavier the legs, the lower the alcoholic content of the wine. If this is in fact true, then these wines are low in alcohol and big in flavor. The legs may be attributed to sugar, I don’t know.

This Red Blend, like it’s sister Malbec, is loaded with solid flavors and not too sweet.

It’s not too dry either, but just right. These wines will slowly undress for your tongue, landing softly, pleasuring your taste buds, leaving you wanting another sip.

Was priced under $10. Get some.

MALBEC Review – Espuela del Gaucho Reserve 2012

This tasty limited edition Malbec was also grown and bottled in the Mendoza region of Argentina and is imported by WX Imports, Novato, CA

Do Not Confuse with the 2011 which wasn’t good.

www.espueladelgaucho.com

This is another fine Malbec that is now on my Top 5 Malbec list. Not as good as my favorite, Bodega de ELENA, but gets close. This winning wine is a 2012, so maybe could use a year to age, but is a very good selection.

The Espuela del Gaucho has unique, slow running, heavy legs. It carries a lighter body, that lands gently on the tongue, joyfully leaving hints of mixed berries grown in the fresh Andes air and then drifts away.

This is another quality Malbec from Argentina, that any California cab or Merlot drinker will enjoy for under $12.

Malbec – TERRAZAS de los Andes 2010

Another fine wine from the Mendoza region nestled in Argentina.

TERRAZAS de los Andes Reserva Malbec 2010

Produced and bottled by Terrazas de los Andes, Argentina.

Selected grapes of the Mendoza region terraces, found a little more than 1,000 meters above sea level, make their way into this wine. The selectivity of this wine is probably why it is imported by the Moet Hennessy company.

Personally, this wine is almost as good as my still favorite Malbec, Bodega de ELENA. The Terrazas is kind of similar to the Elena, but I found it to be a touch lighter in body and flavor when landing on the tongue. The Terrazas is flowery and fruity. Perhaps the Terrazas could be imagined as a Merlot version of the Elena if it were imagined as a Cabernet style of the same producer.

The Terrazas is a good wine, reasonably priced and will be gone before the other bottles that folks brought to the party.

For comments or contact with the Dude of Food, please visit me at

Yelp as Dude Food G.

Red Rock Malbec Reserve 2010

Grown and bottled by Red Rock winery Healdsburg, CA

This Malbec is grown here in California, not Argentina.

The flavor of this reserve wine lacks the depth of the Bodega de ELENA Malbec, which is my current favorite. It is not a bad wine, but if looking for a reasonably priced California red, I’d go Murphy-Goode Cabernet.