Wine Outlook

If you live in the Bay Area, especially the East Bay, and haven’t been to The Parkway Speakeasy, what the heck are you waiting for??? This movie theater is pure genius: a double bill for $6, a nice selection of apps, salads, sandwiches, and pizzas, AND reasonably priced wine and beer. The seating is fun, too: love seats and comfy chairs that bounce. (There’s also a Speakeasy in El Cerrito.) Check out the schedule at their website, as it’s an eclectic blend of film and television.

I went there last night after a work field trip down to Paso Robles (more details to follow, and I promise I’m working on the third post from my other Paso trip) with a couple of friends. We ordered a veggie pizza and sat down at a table to watch Ocean’s 13. My Irish friend had a glass of Sangiovese and Will had a beer. Not feeling it so much myself, I stuck to lemonade. We also stayed for an episode of Firefly, one of those sadly fated genius-but-short-lived television shows by Joss Whedon. It was great to see it on the big screen, and it seems they show a few episodes once a month. To my absolute pleasure, they announced three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will be shown in August including the fantastic musical “Once More, With Feeling.” I’ll be there with bells on…. and a glass of wine.

The Parkway Speakeasy, Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, wine-related fun in Oakland

The other night the teacher and I continued our tradition of dinner and a movie– with wine, of course. She always tells me, “I have wine, too, you know.” But as I am trying to move some of my inventory to make more room, I usually supply it. The dinner was kabobs from Truly Mediterranean in the Mission–lamb for me, with feta added. Messy but sooo worth it. The wine was from a friend who works at a nearby SCM winery…some Pinot Noir from the bottom of the barrel, so to speak. Unnamed and unlabeled, it was a little hazy and quite spicy. Black fruits, cherry, and earthiness fought against the slight bitterness that finally subsided after being open half an hour. While the food and wine went quite well together, this time the movie didn’t fit. The Queen, despite its superb acting, was a little lacking in the spice factor. We both admitted later it was hard to keep our eyes open at the end. Our other friend (the biodegradable wine fan) had already seen it and had to tell us what we missed. She got a glass of wine for her trouble, though.

Truly Mediterranean, Pinot Noir

Last week my teacher friend kept me company while making use of a cookbook I recently received. Love Rachael Ray or hate her, but admit she knows how to make a good meal in no time. I chose to construct flank steak sandwiches, marinating one half in lemon and thyme as she suggested, and the other half in Worstershire, garlic, and dijon mustard. A nice sear before cooking in the oven, on the rack below sweet potatoes sprinkled with brown sugar and olive oil. The other side was salad dressed with a blue cheese/dijon vinaigrette and topped with pears.

I chose to serve the 2003 Ridge Independence School Zinfandel, thinking that grape would be a nice match for the blue cheese, as well as the spicy components of the mustard and garlic. It was. Turned out to also pair well with the spunky transvestite in Kinky Boots. Almost qualified as ‘a feel-good movie’ and while not quite making it (think Billy Elliot, The Full Monty), it was still a good choice. (more…)

flank steak sandwich, 2003 Ridge Independence School Zinfandel, Kinky Boots

That’s my lunch yesterday of Trader Joe’s BBQ chicken salad served with a glass of 2004 Kirkham Shiraz, although I’d usually pick a Zinfandel for the pairing. And it was going to be today’s lunch, except I watched Jesus Camp with friends tonight and the teacher had said she was going to make BBQ chicken pizza. While the movie was rather disturbing in the fervor being displayed, the food was super tasty and so was the wine. The pizza had just the right amount of heat to match the pepper in the glass, and the chocolate and plum flavors made for a nice finish.

However, as the wine was gone as we were just beginning to eat, we also opened the 2004 Red Truck Red Wine. The purchaser– big fan of biodegradable wine (and by that, she means biodynamic)–was scared I’d be mad at her for buying a bottle for its label. Red Truck Wines was started by the owners of Cline Cellars and I’ve been meaning to try it myself, so no need for worry. It’s a blend of Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Mourvedre and Grenache, and though rather simple, the juicy fruit flavors worked well with the BBQ sauce.

And while I might not fall down in prayer like the kids in the movie, the chocolate caramel crunch ice cream from Mitchell’s we had for dessert could make a girl come close.

Jesus Camp

….Farley Walker

2004 Kirkham Shiraz, Red Truck Wines, Jesus Camp