Wine – Page 2 – THE DUDE OF FOOD

“Wait until they discover Il Barroccio, in Florence.” the Dude of Food.

It’s true what they say about Il Barroccio on Trip Advisor and elsewhere on the internet. It is just a matter of time before folks will discover and be flocking to Il Barroccio . They are located just around the corner from a huge crowded plaza and under a jail window that once was home to Niccolo Machiavelli and is an easily found hidden gem.

On my first visit the Dude of Food asked to try “the homemade noodles wrestling with soft chunks of wild boar in a seriously delicious sauce”, please. I went back 3 or 4 times during my visit as these folks were good people and the place was great.

The boar sauce pasta dish looked unbelievable as it made it’s way over to my table. It truly tasted even better than it looked! My taste buds were over joyed. I followed the delicious pasta with a bath of decadent Tuscan red wine.

Photo of wine cart from inside restaurant.

Giovanni and Roberto are top notch folks and Il Barroccio offers food to match. If you are in town, the Dude of Food highly recommends any foodie to go here.

Motto grazie Il Barroccio.

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

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.

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.

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

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 is curious to experience your food product.

After years of independent merchandising for surf companies and the Hawaiian Tropic brand, the Dude of Food is switching gears and working on a list of quality food and beverage products to offer in his upcoming market.

If your company is looking to get in other markets, whether domestic or international, then please by all means let’s talk.

The Dude of Food can be emailed at- weallgottaeat (at) g mail (dot) com

Eat well and be happy.

The Dude of Food

The Dude of Food likes Bogle 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

When you are looking for a full bodied Cabernet that is not short on flavor and you’re not sure what to do because you don’t want to over spend, look for this bottle of wine. Bogle 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is a really good choice around $12. It may not be an expensive bottle but when folks taste it they won’t think you’re a cheapo, instead they should realize a smart deal and learn.

The Dude of Food reviews Las Rocas Garnacha

If you are in LA, on your way to a party and are looking for a good internationally grown red wine, choose Bodega Elena before you choose this wine. The reason people make wine is for enjoyment and taste. This Las Rochas Garnacha sports an underwhelming flavor and watered down taste at best. The red flavors try to creep through but don’t cut it. There are better choices in the $12. range.

The Dude of Food says – PASS

Spaghetti squash pasta and Miss Zurich!

From what the Dude of Food understands, you can purchase a device that you stick vegetables in and when you turn the handle it magically turns the veggies into 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 a coffee at home, pretending to be served by Miss Zurich in my amber room that overlooks the river. I ask her to dip her finger in my coffee to sweeten it just right. I sip my delicious cup of brew while relaxing in bed watching the ducks on the river. I’m imagining a zucchini pasta with assorted onions and mushrooms smothered in a cheesy white wine glaze served with a side of warmed buttery green beans and 3 poached eggs on sourdough toast and an avocado half is about to arrive. I see Miss Paris has joined in to help and is pushing a cart with food my way. 2 of Germany’s Next Top Models have arrived also. 1 is setting a up tray so I can eat in bed and the other is setting up a massage table so I can relax later. A breakfast for champions, served in bed by beautiful women, is a great way for the Dude of Food to greet the new 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 under the knowing connoisseurship of Karen MacNeil herself. Karen, an award-winning author, lecturer and television personality, knows food and wine. Pair her wine knowledge with more than 150 cooking light recipes and you have all the notes you need to reach new levels of cooking glory. Find a copy and give it a chance to make your chef skills shine.

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

Follow The Dude of Food on Yelp

Curious about the more than 500 restaurants the Dude of Food has reviewed?

Ride your mouse over to Yelp logo and click to find out more. Dude Food G on Yelp.

Bon appetit!

Hawkstone Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa

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, like the sophisticated lady, 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 one.