http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/ en-us Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:49:06 -0500 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:49:06 -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss dukecms 5 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/this-weekdeconstructed-thanksgiving-wine-and-craf/ Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6:30 pm. Deconstructed Thanksgiving Dinner @ Six BurnerPhilip Denny, the “new” chef at Six Burner in the Fan, is messing with my favorite holiday. He’s giving us the bird, deconstructed, and serving it up with some fantastic wine from local importer John Paul Cheskie of Free Run Wine Merchants. Free Run specializes in Pacific Northwest goodies and small production, natural wines from around the globe.  Here is what John Paul has to say about the event: “This will be an intimate dinner, with both myself and the chef on hand to discuss the courses and offer suggestions/consulting ... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:59:26 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/this-weekdeconstructed-thanksgiving-wine-and-craf/#2432 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/wine-dinners-tastings-and-seasonal-fun/ Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thanksgiving @ J Emerson on GroveThe knowledgeable staff at J. Emerson wine shop in the West End will host their 3rd annual “Wines of Thanksgiving” tasting. This is your opportunity to try and decide once and for all if Riesling, Pinot Gis or Gewurtraminer really does go with turkey. Turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings will be served along with a selection of seasonal wines. If you haven’t selected your wines for T-day, stop by and let them make it easy for you.  Cost: Free  Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 p.m., Sushi and ... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:23:25 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/wine-dinners-tastings-and-seasonal-fun/#2348 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/wine-dinners-tastings-and-seasonal-fun/ Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Bartholomew Broadbent Wine Dinner @ Bin22Looks like a good evening to hit the mean streets of Carytown – warm weather, fall leaves and the smell of chimney smoke wafting over from the Fan. Want one more reason to go to Carytown? Two words. Wine Dinner.Join Chef Todd Brady, formerly of Zeus Gallery and CCV, longtime chef at Bin 22, for a casual wine dinner with host Bartholomew Broadbent of Broadbent Selections. Four wines with four courses, including port.  Mr. Broadbent is a leading authority on the subject of port, so the last course should be ... Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:08:01 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/wine-dinners-tastings-and-seasonal-fun/#2347 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/local-wine-and-cheese-pairings/ It’s official: The holiday season is upon us. If you’re having out-of-town guests this month, treat them to a little local bounty, a Virginia wine and cheese pairing party. A few suggestions from Whole Foods in Short Pump include:   Meadow Creek Grayson (raw cow milk cheese made in the Italian Taleggio style), Galax, VAThis cheese has a soft, silky interior with pronounced aromas of meat, mushroom and earth and a slightly buttery salinity once tasted. Try it with a glass of Gabrielle Rausse Cabernet Sauvignon, a medium-bodied red with nice grip. The wine’s tannins cut through the creaminess of the ... Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:31:55 -0500 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/local-wine-and-cheese-pairings/#2235 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/cheap-eats-and-vinous-treats-acacia-mid-town/ “Wine dinners 10 years ago were mystical. Restaurants had no problem getting $100 to $150 a head. Now it is almost impossible to charge that – no matter who the speaker is,” says Dale Reitzer of Acacia-Midtown. “So I decided to do something informal, energetic and economical – usually I have [wine] reps come in [and speak] and sometimes winemakers. And I charge a lot less.”A lot less is $32 to $35 for three-courses of what Chef Reitzer calls “real food,” meaning no dessert. The dinners are hosted the last Wednesday of the month. October was the exception because of Restaurant ... Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:43:11 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/11/cheap-eats-and-vinous-treats-acacia-mid-town/#1881 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/six-burners-new-chef-spanish-wines-cafe-rustica-a/ Tuesday, October 20th , 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Fresh Market Wine GalaWhere can you find fava beans, seckel pears, pink sea salt and a bottle of pinot noir or pinot gris to accompany your food finds?Answer: The Fresh Market in the Westend of Richmond. This week support a good cause (the Junior League of Richmond) while drinking wine and picking up dinner. Or, make this event dinner, they’ll be plenty of food on hand.From the Junior League of Richmond press release:"Attendees will have the opportunity to sample over 30 wines coupled with amazing gourmet food pairings prepared by The ... Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:08:03 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/six-burners-new-chef-spanish-wines-cafe-rustica-a/#1826 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/wine-tasting-picks-of-the-week-j-emerson-and-wine/  Did you spend all your cash at the Italian Festival last weekend?   Here are two free tastings of non-Italian wine to help you recover from the B's--Barolo, Brunello and Broke. Wednesday, Oct 14th, 5:30-7:30 J Emerson Fine Wine with wine specialist Patrick O’Byrne from Champage Henriot Champagne and Burgundy sweetens up Hump Day this week at J. Emerson Fine Wine on Grove Avenue. They’ll have several of each open, but my picks for this tasting are: 2004 Domaine William Fevre Chablis Vaudesir This white Burgundy is stunning and aromatic,like drinking a glass of grilled pears dusted with vanilla powder and ... Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:34:15 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/wine-tasting-picks-of-the-week-j-emerson-and-wine/#1743 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/bellini-at-the-boathouse/ You couldn’t ask for a prettier Sunday. Seventy-plus degrees, gentle sunlight filtered through the just-beginning-to-redden dogwood leaves and a drive to Charles City to visit Berkeley Plantation – it was perfect. After hitting the road we stopped for brunch at The Boathouse and sampled one of their house-made bellini cocktails; freshly pureed peaches and lemon juice in the bottom of a berry-filled champagne flute presented with a split of sparkling wine for us to add to the glass ourselves. The drinks served to us were unconventional in that The Boathouse used blackberries and raspberries for garnish, as well as a ... Mon, 5 Oct 2009 10:09:20 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/bellini-at-the-boathouse/#1657 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/b-is-for-beer-dinner/ It’s hard to even think about drinking wine when one is bombarded by festive seasonal beers peeping from store displays, begging to be taken home and savored. The next couple of weeks offer three don’t-miss dinners with creative beer and food pairings featuring lots of comfort food. The best thing about beer dinners vs. wine dinners? Sweatpants and elastic Chef’s pants are common attire at beer dinners. Really.  Monday, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m., Café Rustica, 5-course Beer DinnerJoin Bridget Smith of Specialty Beverage and discover life beyond Budweiser. On hand will be the boys of Wine & Beer Westpark to guide ... Fri, 2 Oct 2009 10:27:06 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/10/b-is-for-beer-dinner/#1631 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/long-drinks/ The cooler is a classic cocktail served in a tall, skinny glass, otherwise known as a “long drink.” In America, the word “cooler” has often been buttressed next to the word “wine,” much to the chagrin of both wine and cocktail lovers. For a cocktail to be considered a cooler, it must contain spirits, a sour element, a sweet element and ice (a diluting agent). With a few warm days left in the year, we offer a collection of cooling drinks from another era.For each drink, you will need a 10 to 12 oz. cooler glass and some chunky ice cubes.Bull ... Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:06:27 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/long-drinks/#1554 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/oktoberfest-beers/ German beers can be divided into several camps: dunkles, or dark beers, and helles, or light beers; sweet or bitter beers; weak or strong beers, and quite commonly, top or bottom fermented beers. As a general rule, bottom-fermented beers are brewed for smoothness and are a little less fruity than top-fermented beers, which can appear cloudy and taste of fall fruits. Weissbier (white beer) and ales are examples of top-fermented beers. Smack in the middle of Oktoberfest, it’s a good time to highlight a few good marzen beers traditionally served during the change of seasons. Along with lager (this word means ... Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:35:42 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/oktoberfest-beers/#1518 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/f-is-for-fig/ My fig tree has pumped out two bumper crops this year. This first, early batch of figs, called “The Dream,” by my Italian neighbor, was firmer and less sweet than the second, fleshy batch, which is rapidly disappearing, partly because of my late-night raids and partly due to the birds. While this last batch of figs clings to the remaining days of summer, I’m making fig-infused bourbon to have on hand for the winter months. The late summer figs are sweet, ripe and ready for plucking.  Here’s my recipe for figgy bourbon and two fall cocktails.  Vanilla Fig-Infused Bourbon1 pound ... Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:03:24 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/f-is-for-fig/#1374 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/beer-drinkin-and-social-media/ The air is crisp, the sky is dark and it’s almost time to break out that Krizia critter sweater from the back of the closet. Yep, fall is coming. Besides the arrival of fall, good beer comes to town in September. Look for pumpkin and Oktoberfest beers at local retailers, who know that Oktoberfest is actually a September event celebrating the coming of October and that pumpkin beer makes a good dessert with creamy cheese and apples. Wine & Beer Westpark hosts a Fabulous Fall Beer Tasting tonight. And, if you are a Belgian beer fan, dinner and the best ... Wed, 2 Sep 2009 09:47:06 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/09/beer-drinkin-and-social-media/#1367 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/honey-child/ “I don’t think people drink cocktails as much anymore. People drank alcoholic drinks then. We didn’t have easy wine around. Wine was for dinner. You’d ask people over for drinks before dinner. It’s a nice custom to have cocktails.” -- Julia Child on her husband Paul’s cocktail tradition, quoted in “The Rediscovered Cocktail Recipes of Paul Child” written by Carolyn O’Neil for Gourmet Magazine 2002. Paul Child lived the life of a perfect husband. He made good drinks and stayed happily in the background. Let's compare him to that ever-present GE range on “Top Chef.” Both are fixtures often alluded to AND high functioning. But, ... Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:13:07 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/honey-child/#1328 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/start-of-the-week-with-wine/ Tuesday, August 18, 6 to 8 p.m., Chardonnay Smackdown at Belle VieCompare many expressions of the noble chardonnay grape with light cocktail party fare in a “classroom” setting. Belle Vie will be pouring several French and several California chardonnays, with various degrees of oak aging, for tasters to compare and contrast. Not sure if you prefer New World or Old World style chardonnay? Find out on Tuesday.Cost: $25RSVP via email to roufka@gmail.com or by phone, (804) 307-9809 Wednesday, August 19, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., German Riesling Tasting at J. EmersonJ. Emerson staffer and Higginbotham Beef bell ringerPage Higginbotham is back in ... Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:16:58 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/start-of-the-week-with-wine/#1314 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/martini-madness/ The three martini lunch, a frequent indulgence of Don Draper and company, has gone the way of penny loafers-- but it's destined to return in hipster self-conscious glory in the fast approaching future.  Following a 20 year trend cycle, power lunches returned to Manhattan in the ‘80s, when prodigal son Gordon Gecco declared “Lunch is for wimps” while preppy girls wore dimes in their black “penny” loafers. Another 20 years later and the world is ready to drink again. Hopefully it’ll be gin in the daytime – we just need to get that transit system thing down. Until then, here ... Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:18:56 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/martini-madness/#1308 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/free-tastings-and-restaurant-deals/ Free Tastings and Restaurant Deals Week of Aug. 6 Thursday, Aug. 6Museum District / CarytownRiver City Cellars, First Thursday Loire Valley Wine and Cheese Tasting, 5 to 8 p.m.1 North Belmont Restaurant, First Thursday, Music by Joe Scott, wine by the glass at half- price .West EndBarrel Thief, Patterson and Libbie, 5:30 p.m.Epicurean wine tasting with Jeff Albright of Robins Cellars. Make sure to try the smoked sturgeon from their dinner menu and pop some bubbly, the weekend is nigh.SouthsideBelle Vie, Alverser, 4 to 8 p.m.It’s "Almost Friday" enjoy half-priced Martinis at the bar. Real martinis are made with gin, not vodka, ... Thu, 6 Aug 2009 10:46:29 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/free-tastings-and-restaurant-deals/#1290 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/garden-fresh-tomato-water-bloody-mary/ The original Bloody Mary, half tomato juice, half vodka, is credited to vaudevillian George Jessel, aka the “Toastmaster General of the United States.” The salty, tomato juice cocktail was later spiced up by a bartender at the infamous Harry’s Bar in Paris, before becoming a staple of the Madison Avenue boardroom in the ‘50s and ‘60s.  Today, bloodies are generally brunch fare – the stronger the better – to combat the ketchup – like thickness of the tomato juice and spices. But, with gardens bursting with tomatoes, an update on this classic is in order. The following recipe calls for ... Mon, 3 Aug 2009 13:33:05 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/08/garden-fresh-tomato-water-bloody-mary/#1281 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/10-cane-rum-and-seasonal-produce/ Summertime, the living is easy and the tomatoes, cucumbers and cherries are ripe. While most citrus is out of season in August, key limes are not. Readily available at most area groceries, they lend a little more tartness to cocktails than other limes. Mixed with cucumber, cherry and rum; key lime juice smoothes the sour puss with the tastes of summer.For the rum, I used 10 Cane. What makes this rum different is that it is more like a sipping whiskey instead of something you’d want to cover up with coconut cream. 10 Cane is made from the first pressings of ... Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:49:15 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/10-cane-rum-and-seasonal-produce/#1267 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/mixing-pisco-sour/ The Pisco Sour is the Peruvian national drink -- so esteemed in Latin America, that glassmaker Riedel designed a tulip-shaped vessel especially for the libation. It is composed of a sweet, a sour, a spirit base and a dilatory foundation of ice, like all classic cocktails. And, like in bars of yore, egg white is added before it is shaken, creating a creamy foam sea that floats atop the drink. Rudyard Kipling said this about the Pisco Sour: It is compounded of cherub's wings, the glory of a tropical dawn, the red clouds of sunset and the fragments of lost ... Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:27:59 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/mixing-pisco-sour/#1248 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/luxe-life/ The ugly duckling to swan transition is a common movie plot. Think of Anne Hathaway as the disheveled ingénue in “The Devil Wears Prada” or Nia Vardalos’ portrayal of a frumpy young woman who dresses older than her years in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” These two actresses entered as wallflowers and exited as beauties by the end of their respective films. After a lengthy a wardrobe change, and some MGM-style soul searching, this is what has happened to Lemaire. In recent years, Lemaire has been the smart, but overlooked Hathaway and the prematurely dated Vardalos. The restaurant’s interior was stuffy, ... Wed, 8 Jul 2009 09:12:03 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/luxe-life/#1224 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/summer-sensation/ Incredibly fragrant, slightly fizzy and lighter in alcohol than many other wines, vinho verde is the quintessential summer quaff.   Vinho verde, meaning “green wine” is a young wine from the Vinho Verde DO (Denomination of Origin) in NW Portugal. It is usually released the spring after the grapes are harvested, so look for 2008 bottles on a retail shelf. The Portuguese make both red and white vinho verde, but it is the whites that are readily available in our market. Most of the reds are not exported.   A wide variety of Portuguese grapes are used in the production ... Tue, 7 Jul 2009 19:02:56 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/07/summer-sensation/#1216 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/berry-good-dessert-wine/ Moscato D’Asti, from the Piedmont region of Italy, is a sweet, fizzy, low-alcohol wine meant for those of us who’d rather drink our dessert than have a slice of cake. Not as sparkling as Champagne or  Prosecco, the soft display of bubbles in the glass makes for a playful ending to a meal and is also easy to drink solo. Now that fruit is plentiful, try this sparkling wine with a bowl of fresh berries and cream after a night of fireworks. The best Moscato will have a backbone of acidity and a body of flavor akin to a sweet ... Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:35:40 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/berry-good-dessert-wine/#1201 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/wine-was-smokin-central-virginia-wine-festival/ The 2009 Central Virginia Wine Festival, held Saturday at Innsbrook, was hot. Not as hot as last year, but hot just the same. Event organizers, tuckered from the steamy festivities, remarked that attendance was down slightly from previous years. Blame it on the heat, blame it on the economy, but don’t blame it on the Hokies, who drank and danced in droves. On a positive cord, this year’s attendees dealt with shorter lines to Lake Anna Winery's infamous white sangria topped with dry ice. Easy to make and quite dramatic when poured over smoky dry ice, the white sangria was ... Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:10:58 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/wine-was-smokin-central-virginia-wine-festival/#1178 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/richmond-green-drinks/ Activist Chic Copeland Casati began her eponymous company just in time for Y2K.  You can check out her website here:  http://www.copelandcasati.com/   Since Copeland Casati Media’s conception in 1999, she has crafted creative marketing campaigns utilizing a natural affinity for ethical branding, web site development and print advertising with a focus on her local community of Richmond, Va. But, what makes Copeland unique in her industry is her own sense of green chic.   For example, there is vintage hat day at the office, where employees are encouraged to wear “recycled” hats to work and the best look is voted via Facebook. ... Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:39:51 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/richmond-green-drinks/#1166 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/taste-the-good-life/ You know Farouk Chaabi. He was the Can-Can wine guy for years. Well, not THE Can-Can wine guy, that’s the estimable Bob Talcott, formerly of Buckheads. Farouk was the other wine guy; the younger, darker one with the slight burr of a French accent who poured at Can-Can’s Monday night wine tastings and had no problem conversing with Parisian expats in their native tongue. (Richmond females, you’ve met Farouk, somewhere. Trust me.) You can find Farouk these days at his new gig at Belle Vie on the Southside. Belle Vie, located in the old Bookbinder’s Grill spot, is Richmond’s newest ... Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:15:50 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/taste-the-good-life/#1148 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/cocktails-at-the-clifton-inn/ Sometimes you just got to get away. Drive. Escape. Go to a place and become part of its background while absorbing the foreground. The Clifton Inn, way down 250 West to Charlottesville, is my place. The drive down Broad Street has definitely changed over the last ten years. Goodbye farms and hello Downtown Short Pump, but whatever, there is still plenty to check out in the rearview. Approximately 50 miles out of Richmond is my favorite bar. Not convenient for a night of heavy drinking, but okay for having one perfect drink and walking it off while exploring the grounds of a Relais Chateaux property. Now ... Fri, 5 Jun 2009 11:03:07 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/06/cocktails-at-the-clifton-inn/#1101 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/bottle-shock/ I’ll have a glass of wine.House white or house red?May I see your wine list please? (Holy Moses … house white or house red? … She may as well have given me a choice between buggy or streetcar. I’m dining in an anachronism. )I’ll have water. Q: How does one go from a glass of wine to a glass of water? A: No choices for wine by the glass.  Why didn’t I order a bottle? If I decide to have a second glass of wine, I like the option of trying a different one. I don’t want a whole bottle on a ... Wed, 27 May 2009 14:48:40 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/bottle-shock/#1058 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/ice-storm-at-acacia/ The newly-opened Acacia---neutral as an UPS uniform but sleek as a Siamese kitty-- brings diners to gritty West Cary Street to sample Chef Dale Reitzer’s  inventive American menu. But, here’s another reason to go: Big Cubes. The bane of good Scotch, the enemy of small-batch bourbon; standard issue ice-cubes water drinks down. Big cubes, about the size of a plum, keep cocktails colder. Girthy ice cubes also melt slowly, thus eliminating the possibility of turning good hooch into a hydrous bomb. If the bartender has gone to the trouble to make ginger-beer and honey syrup from scratch, stocks several kind of ... Thu, 14 May 2009 14:16:57 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/ice-storm-at-acacia/#998 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/join-the-wine-century-club/ Agiorgitiko,Blaufränkisch,Catawba …Three grape varietals from over 3,000 existing, growing and fermenting – waiting for us to pull a cork and imbibe them. Or, list them. If you are THAT type, then you might consider a free membership in The Wine Century Club. This wine drinking club is for fun and on-line; created to keep record of one’s personal ABC’s of wine.Can’t wait to pop that bottle of agiorgitiko you bought at the Greek festival? Having lamb sausage with homemade applesauce and hankering for a German blaufrankisch? Or, are you a localvore sipping catawba on your back-forty? Then, you’re outside the chardonnay, merlot and pinot ... Mon, 11 May 2009 11:34:41 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/join-the-wine-century-club/#981 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/pink-tank/ Enjoy these rainy, cloudy days, ‘cause it’s going to get real hot in RVA, real soon. May I suggest a dry rosέ wine for next week, when the thermometer reaches into the 90s? One of the most famous pink wines in the world comes from Southern France, specifically, Provence. Domaines Ott is a tricky thing, the wine looks so feminine, yet enveloped in its pale pink perfume bottle packaging is an herby, spicy, berry-filled wonder that is nothing like white zinfandel.  Where to sample this rosέ in RVA? Can Can Brasserie in Carytown regularly carries the wine on its list. ... Thu, 7 May 2009 14:21:13 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/pink-tank/#969 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/homemade-grenadine/ Grenadine, it's the stuff Shirley Temples are made of, a welcome spot of color and flavor in many cocktails, and it's awfully good added to a fizzy glass of Cava. Homemade grenadine is a cinch to make.  Here's How: Homemade Grenadine Syrup16-ounce bottle of POM pomegranate juice2 cups sugarPour the pomegranate juice and sugar into a sauce pan and bring to a low boil. Then, dial down the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until a syrupy consistency is attained. The grenadine should just stick to a spoon when ready. This syrup is the color of a hot pink azalea bush in bloom. Add it to chiled ... Mon, 4 May 2009 11:16:43 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/05/homemade-grenadine/#950 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/gin-spanish-grape-juice/ This Friday, Julep’s restaurant in Shockoe Bottom gets crafty, featuring a new cocktail menu designed by craft-bartender Bobby Kruger. Gin lovers, try a hot and spicy riff on a classic – “The Dalmation.” Similar to a Greyhound, The Dalmation consists of top-shelf gin with cayenne-infused grapefruit juice & honey syrup, on the rocks with a salted rim. Mr. Kruger’s talents will be backed- up by blues, swing and jazz musicians, Kurt Crandall & True Story. Cocktail menu all evening, band begins at 10:30 p.m.   Also on Friday, Jason Savedoff, of the European Market & Café in the Fan, hosts a ... Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:47:50 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/gin-spanish-grape-juice/#945 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/pop-prosecco/ Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene is the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) for the popular sparkling wine, Prosecco. Prosecco, both an Italian grape varietal and a controlled region for wine production, is drunk at bridal showers and brunches, and is no stranger to orange juice.   In the summer, we launch the weekend at our home with “Friday Night Bubbles” - a flute of sparkling and a toast. Prosecco is like that vibe that surrounds Memorial Day weekend, fizzy, bubbly and not too complicated. Unlike Champagne, which undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, prosecco develops its tiny bubbles in a tank, resulting ... Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:52:59 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/pop-prosecco/#936 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/northside-wine-dinner/ This Sunday, Zed Café on the Northside of Richmond, along with Emerson on Grove, will feature wines from Hawley Vineyards and Winery. Presented by Paul Hawley with Katie D’Orazio from Downey Selections, Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m. MENU: Manakintowne Arugula, Dates, Slice Almonds, Apples, Manchego CheeseViognier 2007 (Sonoma Valley) Pan-Seared Scallops w/Celeriac Puree, White Balsamic ReductionChardonnay 2006 (Russian River Valley) Duck Breast, Mushroom Risotto, Black Currant SaucePinot Noir 2006 (Russian River Valley) Chocolate SouffléLate Harvest Zinfandel 2007 (Dry Creek Valley) $60 per person (all inclusive) For Reservations Call, 804-261-5656 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:45:38 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/northside-wine-dinner/#924 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/hump-day-happy-hours/ Savor Café, located in Manchester, a stone’s throw from the old Spaghetti Warehouse, goes outside its box and stays open Wednesday evenings for once-a-week happy hour.   HUMP DAY HAPPY HOURSWednesdays, 5 to 9 p.m.$3 beer, $5 glass of wine    Want to keep drinking after 9 p.m.? Legend Brewery, recently profiled in Style Weekly is a short walk away. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:33:23 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/hump-day-happy-hours/#811 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/wine-tasting-j-emerson/ Free wine tasting of older vintages from around the globe at J. Emerson, Thursday, April 16, from 5 - 7 p.m. J. Emerson is located on Grove Avenue in Richmond's West End near Libby Avenue. On deck: 1998 Leroy Bourgogne Blanc (Burgundy) 2000 Viader Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) 2000 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) 2002 D’Arenberg “Dead Arm” Shiraz (Australia) 2001 Bocquenet Echezeaux Grand Cru (Burgundy) Want to keep toasting? Cafe Caturra and the Barrel Thief are nearby. Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:04:06 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/wine-tasting-j-emerson/#884 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/belly-up-to-the-communal-table-for-bubbles-and-su/ Sushi-O hosts sparkling wine and sushi pairings Wednesdays in April; try three sparklers and/or Champagne paired with Chef’s selections, with Chuck Vaughn, a wine specialist for Republic National Distributing Company**. Cost $15. Reservations are required.    This Wednesday is booked, but there are still seats available April 22 and 29.  **Disclosure – I am employed by RNDC in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:59:40 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/belly-up-to-the-communal-table-for-bubbles-and-su/#877 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/freeze-the-leftovers/ What does one do with leftover wine?   Honestly, this is a problem I rarely have, but when I do have leftover wine, I freeze it, right in the bottle.   Before freezing wine in its bottle, make sure to remove at least one glass. The wine needs room to expand.   Full-bodied, oaked red wines can survive freezing and remain palatable once thawed. Before heading off to work in the morning, remove the wine from the freezer and leave it on the counter to defrost. By the time you get home, it will be just right.   White wines ... Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:23:29 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/freeze-the-leftovers/#813 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/tipple-ripples/ Barrel Thief, Secco, Magnolia, Café Caturra and La Cave, that’s one Herculean handful of wine bars opening in a 12-month period.   Where are we? DC?    Nope – we don’t have PX , or Hummingbird to Mars, yet.   Clearly, we’re ready for a “speakcheesy”. Something decorated along the lines of that opium den Sherlock Holmes used to hang in. But until then, Richmond Wine Stock will keep you informed of all the happenings at the wine bars, shops and parties and swap ideas on all things wine and spirits. Wed, 8 Apr 2009 17:56:57 -0400 http://social.richmond.com/blog/Genevelyn/2009/04/tipple-ripples/#810