San Gusme’s best restaurant – Sira e Remino in Tuscany.

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The Dude of Food recently visited the gorgeous Tuscan region of Italy. Luckily, my aunt and uncle were in the area and invited me stay at their rented villa for a couple nights. The place happened to be a short walk from the cool old Italian village called San Gusme. In this village you will find one of the world’s finest culinary dreams come true. A place called Sira e Remino.

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The restaurant’s sign which says Sira e Remino un cult, is exactly the kind of cult I need to join. Their place is located within the small old village walls and is absolutely awesome. The greeting and hospitality were warm and genuine. Our party of 7 were shown to the ‘Frank Sinatra room’ in the back away from the local soccer club filled bar. The local team was loudly rooting for a national team.

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Our group began this heavenly experience with lots of wine followed by salads, anti pasta, then more wine followed by pasta and incredible sizzling meat trays. There wasn’t a thing that wasn’t perfect about this entire place, staff and meal. The prices were far from greedy. The quality and portions were ultimately generous. This meal will be remembered for life.

Thank you Sira e Remino. Now I’m thinking I should get a job here just to be close to your quality food.

Volterra, Italy: History and fine Tuscan dining at Restaurante Enoteca del Duca

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Restaurante Enoteca del Duca      Volterra, ITALY

Opening just in time for 7 hungry tourists walking by to enjoy lunch, we lucky visitors were led to the back patio garden of this place, by a friendly staff member, to enjoy a warm spring day and some Tuscan lunch. After some refreshing wine the group chose a number of various items that can be seen above. All were incredible tasting. If you are unsure which place to eat while visiting Volterra then decide to eat at Restaurante Enoteca del Duca. Luckily, The Dude of Food and friends chose to go here and it was one of the best decisions ever!

Motto bene! Grazie.

The Dude of Food recommends Morandell Imports.

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Carl Morandell being interviewed on KABC Talk Radio 790 in Los Angeles 

http://morandell.us/

Quality knows no boundries. Morandell Imports has the expertise and experience to share these product options with you.

If you are having a party, opening an eatery or just want options for stock, then go to this web page and see their line of  beverages available or ask me, the Dude of Food, how you can order any of the fine products that the good folks at Morandell Imports can provide.

Prost.

The Dude of Food reviews Las Rocas Garnacha

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When you are in LA and are looking for a good internationally grown red wine, choose Bogle or Bodega Elena before you choose this Las Rochas wine. The reason people make wine and the enjoyment for me is to taste flavor. This Las Rochas Garnacha is a watered down taste at best. The red flavors try to creep through but there are better choices in the $11. range.

Vegetable pasta. Spaghetti squash. Miss Paris!

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From what the Dude of Food understands, you can purchase a thing that you stick vegetables in and when you turn the handle it magically turns the veggies into, voila!, spaghetti! This is a kitchen item that I need to add to my kitchen toolbox.

Right now the Dude of Food is sitting down with coffee at home, pretending to be served by Miss Paris in my amber room overlooking the river. I ask her to dip her finger in my coffee to sweeten it just right and sip my delicious cup of brew while relaxing in bed watching the boats on the river. I’m imagining a zucchini pasta with assorted mushrooms smothered in a cheesy white wine glaze served with a side of warmed buttery green beans and 3 poached eggs on sourdough toast is about to arrive next pushed in on a cart by 2 of Germany’s Next Top Models. A breakfast of champions in bed is a great way for the Dude of Food to greet the day.

See what happens to you if you purchase one of these Paderno Spiralizer from Williams-Sonoma.

Bon Appetite.

The Dude of Food’s cool cookbook review

The Dude of Food knows wine and cooking enthusiasts will immediately realize that they have uncorked something truly magical with Karen MacNeil’s food book “Wine, Food & Friends”. This book sizzles with the culinary expertise of cooking light with the wine connoisseurship of Karen MacNeil. Award-winning author, lecturer, and television personality, Karen is a champion when it comes to knowledge of food and wine. Pair her zeal for the art of wine with more than 150 cooking light recipes and you have all the notes you need to reach new levels of gastronomical glory.

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“I like the simplicity and knowledge this food book retains” says the Dude of Food

 

Hawkstone Cabernet Sauvignon

 Hawkstone of Napa Valley

Barney’s Heritage Cuvee

2012

Limited release of 5491 cases

While sipping this wine, the Dude of Food felt like he had obtained a bargain. This bottle radiates heritage. From the moment you handle the bottle time slows down a little and you begin to feel the serenity of this creation. This is no fast lane wine. This wine exudes the tranquility, longevity and educated qualities of a chateau in the countryside owned by a university scholar/author. The flavors do not jump out of the glass as a sophisticated lady would not sit with her legs open. The characteristics of this wine are more subdued. They have a sense of time and are not in a hurry to get to the end. The delicate balance of depth in fruitiness, richness of earth tones and uniqueness of flavor are well balanced and make this an enjoyable bottle of wine at a reasonable price if you can find it.

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Magistrate Cabernet Sauvignon

This 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley is not my favorite.

The label says Limited Production and I wonder if it is because they gave up.

While the bottle is nice, the label sophisticated and the expectations somewhat

elevated, this wine lacked thoroughness in both the richness and flavor departments.

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Captain Croc – Paris, France

                                                               Captain Croc   –  Paris, France

11 Rue Toullier 5 eme

tel: 0143255664

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

I needed to eat and when in Rome you do as the Romans so, in this case french, 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.

If you are in the area then I recommend  you walk over and eat lunch here. You won’t be disappointed by the food, prices or friendly service.