The Dude of Food recommends Morandell Imports.

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

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!

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.

“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.

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.

Le Ferrare – Bar / Brasserie

Le Ferrare

23 Rue de France

77300 Fontainebleau

tel: 01 60 72 37 04

The warm potato and salami salad

was delicious as were the mashed potatoes that

followed. Good food served by good people.

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.

Santa Monica Pizza – Paris, France

At the web site listed below you may 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 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 town. Merci.

check them out at-

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

or if in Paris – 15 Rue Henri Ribiere 75019 Paris

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 lots of good characteristics.

The Dude of Food rating: Give this a try.