Malbec – Bodega ELENA de Mendoza 2011

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Bodega ELENA de Mendoza 2011

Vinted and bottled by B.E.D.M. Wines

Imported by Wine Brokers Unlimited, Hayward, CA

Product of Argentina

This is the Dudes favorite Malbec yet! This is the first of the bottles that I have opened that came with a real cork. Good 1st impression. Upon tasting this wine, I was immediately aware that the taste game had changed.

The bar had been raised. This is serious wine. This full bodied wine smoothly drifts over your taste buds, dangling flavors of blackberries and plums, leaving a rejoicing smile and desire for more.

There was no crazy tinny aftertaste. This was immediately my new favorite Malbec.

If it is a dollar more than the other Malbec’s in this price range, pay it! Get this Malbec!

(Note)  April 2013 issue of Bon Appetite magazine includes McCormick gourmet selection recommending this wine also.

 

 

Malbec – Cupcake 2011

Grown in Mendoza, Argentina.

The Dude of Food Wine Review
Cupcake 2011

Imported by Cupcake Vineyards, Livermore, CA

Grown at 2,400 feet under the shadow of the snow covered Andes mountains, this Mendoza region wine is more talk than action. The back of the label mentions flavors of plums, raspberries and a dark chocolate flour less cupcake. Really?

This wine is priced in the reasonable to cheap category, but you get what you pay for in this case.

Prefer the Sensual or Robert Mondavi over this Cupcake.

Malbec – Redwood Creek 2011

Raised in Mendoza, Argentina

The Dude of Food wine review

Imported by Redwood Creek Winery, Modesto, CA

www.redwoodcreek.com

I wanted to like this wine but felt it was just not quite as good as the Robert Mondavi PS  ’11 or Sensual ’12. Not sure why. Same grape, same region, same year.

This wine’s taste was much like the Sensual and Mondavi but there was a slight shift that did not work in the Redwood Creek’s favor. The price is about the same so if I had my option, I’d choose the others.

Malbec – Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2011

Mendoza, Malbec  Product of Argentina

Red Wine Review
2011 Private Reserve

Imported by CWUS Imports, Acampo, CA

Another reasonably priced, Mendoza raised wine. This tastes very similar to the Sensual 2012 used as my Malbec standard to compare the other wines.

Grapey, but not overly. OK. Not sweet. Kind of flat. Short tongue life. On the heavy side ala a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Malbec – SENSUAL 2012

Malbec - Sensual 2012

Produced & bottled by Valentin Bianchi, Mendoza, Argentina

Imported by Quintessential LLC, Napa

www.quintessentialwines.com

Reasonably priced, nicely painted and cheesily named, this Mendoza raised wine is the Malbec the Dude of Food used as my standard to compare the other wines.

Grapey, but not overly. OK. Not sweet. Kind of flat. Short tongue life. On the heavy side ala a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Seafood Guide and Watch.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium puts out a sustainable seafood watch guide booklet that recommends to avoid the following due to over fishing and/or harmful conditions-

Cod Pacific (imported)
Cobia (imported farm raised)
Crab King (imported)
Grenader
Lobster (Brazilian)
Mahi Mahi (imported longline)
Monkfish
Pacific Snapper/Rockfish (trawled)
Shrimp (imported)
Tilapia (Asian farm raised)
Tuna (skipjack, tongol, canned)

It goes on to say minimize the following consumption due to mercury levels-

California Halibut
Caviar Sturgeon (wild imported)
Chilean Seabass
Dogfish (US)
Lingcod
Marlin (striped pacific blue)
Orange Roughy
Salmon (farm raised including Atlantic)
Sharks
Swordfish (US & imported)
Tuna (albacore, bigeye, bluefin, yellowfin)

Visit www.edf.org/seafoodhealth or www.seafoodwatch.org
for more information.

World’s best fried egg by Chef Alex

>border grill's own chef alex creates a dude food favorite   

All I know is that this thing is amazing.

If you like eggs, then you’ll love this.

Chef Alex, from Border Grill Santa Monica, creates a special that happened to be one the Dude of Food will never forget. This egg dish has been raved about to all my friends in the neighborhood. The shell is pancake batter. The inside is poached.

 

 

Easy Lasagna Recipe by the Dude of Food

One of histories oldest dishes, that many folks refer to as Italian food, is actually from Greece. Early layered pasta creations existed in ancient Greece and were mentioned as early as 146 B.C. Later, in the Naples region of Italy, this dish became a staple and grew in popularity becoming what we now know as lasagna. Motto bene.

Come share the secrets of easily creating a delicious lasagna as the Dude of Food prepares lasagna before your eyes.

The Dude of Food prepares Kale

“Follow your grandma’s directions and eat your greens. She’s right, they’re good for you. Besides, blanched kale sauteed in olive oil and garlic tastes good.” the Dude of Food