Australian Wine and I Might Fall In Love One Day

All I have to say is YELLOW TAIL....Y-E-L-L-O-W  T-A-I-L.

I totally agree with Paul Grieco, Wine Director of Hearth in New York City....

"Yes, there’s shite, and they ship it to us. For the small producers, we’re too big a country for them to deal with." 

I run the other way when I see Australian wine because I am not confident at all with what I am getting. So far, the bad rap doesn't even let me come close to buying a bottle for myself at a wine shop.


 Read more:   Paul Grieco on the Next Big Thing

Restaurant Drama! Gordon Ramsay Likes To Be Awful To Just About Everyone

Gordon Ramsay seems to like to take digs at everyone. He decided to try and steal the name "The Spotted Pig" and filed for the trademark in England. This is one of Mario Batali's restaurants. Its pretty impossible that he didn't know about this so it just proves that he was doing this out of spite. Rumor has it that they don't get along so it all makes sense.

I feel like its a publicity stunt to show off that he has this "I don't care" attitude. But why ruin your reputation even more? His restaurants fail, he is mixed in family drama and now burning more bridges with colleagues.

You attract more flies with sugar than vinegar, Gordon!

I have been to the Spotted Pig in NYC and loved every second of it. Foodies everywhere would love this menu and its sad that its involved in this craziness.

Read more of the story here: The Spotted Pig: Gordon Ramsay

BLT Restaurant: White Plains...Good Food With The Worst Service

I have never had a pleasant experience going in there. If it weren't for my love for steak, I would never go back. It seems like I am a glutton not only for red meat but for punishment, too. I have had drinks come after the appetizer hit the table, I have had meat completely well done even though I like medium-rare, bad oysters....blah blah blah. Every restaurant has its bad days, right? I am always forgiving of things like this because I get it. These things just happen...

What really got under my skin with this particular location was my last visit there....which I promise will be my last. It was a busy Saturday night and without a reservation (yeah, yeah, I know I should have known better) I asked if there was an opening for a table of two. The manager said it would be an hour. Fine. I head to the bar to drink my wait-time away and notice it was full. I forget to mention I have met this manager about ten times. I have been introduced to him, shook his hand and said my name OUT LOUD so many times, where I thought he was seriously joking that he doesn't remember me. The best part is that I was working right next door. As a matter of fact, when I working as a floor manager the week before at  my place, he came in and asked if we had branzino to spare because they had run out. I got it for him! ME! It was ME! I got him the DAMN BRANZINO.

A week later. I was a nobody. He didn't even smile like he maybe-kinda-sorta remembered me. Nada.

So back to this "busy" Saturday night. I put that in quotes because while I was waiting to see if I can find a seat at the bar, a regular walks in says hello to about five other people mingling around the host desk and the manager raises his hands with joy, says the regulars name out loud and asks "do you need a table...DO THE FIVE OF YOU WANT TO SIT?!?!???" Mr. Regular declines and says he is just passing thru and wanted to say hello.

I know regulars get priority but did this guy really have to do it right in front of me? It was so rude that I just couldn't get over it...obviously since I am writing about it. I was just asking for a table of two. We wouldn't have take up as much as space as five and I am a blonde standing over six feet tall in my boots on this night....you can't miss me! I gave him branzino! How do you not remember the tall blonde who worked next door to you for over a year??

Sorry, BLT in White Plains...but thats the last time I walk in there.

If Pepper Spray Is Illegal In Your State....Here's An Idea...

I was bullied when I was younger a lot but we all were...weren't we? I grew up in a very tough neighborhood in THE 80'S!!! If you weren't getting beat up....or beating someone up....you didn't count.

Cheers to using food (and their juices!) as weapons. I wish I thought of this -->> NYPD: Teen Attacks Another Teen With Homemade Jalapeno Pepper Spray « CBS New York

Delta Airlines Hates Poor People

Delta airlines won't serve its economy class good wine. Actually they will sell you the lowest of the low...

But, BUT, if you have money....you're in luck! Master Sommelier, Andrea Robinson, has been selecting wines for this "we-are-above-you" airline since 2008. Those who fly business class get to drink wines selected by Ms. Robinson. Once you pass that little curtain...to hell with you and the rest of you who can't afford it. What? You thought putting money away for your kids college fund was a good idea? Shame on you and your stupid responsibilities. (Inside Scoop)

Big soda in NYC is banned!

I hate soda!

Hopefully, this will start a trend out there that maybe a glass of water now and then won't hurt! I never understood soda lovers. How can anyone drink something with so little knowledge of what's in there? Coloring, artificial flavors, chemicals, etc. So gross.

NYC Board Of Health Approves Big Drink Ban Proposal « CBS New York

Lettuce Recall!

This kind of stuff always freaks me out....

A Northern California produce supplier said Sunday it is voluntarily recalling romaine lettuce that was shipped to 19 states, Puerto Rico and Canada over fears about possible E. coli contamination.

Salinas-based Tanimura & Antle said the recall is limited to a single lot of its Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine that was available at retail stores starting Aug. 2. The lettuce is packed in a plastic bag with the UPC number 0-27918-20314-9, and it may have a “best by” date of Aug. 19.

The company said some 2,095 cases were potentially affected. Of those, 1,969 cases were shipped to Puerto Rico and the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

New York, New Jersey Included In Romaine Lettuce Recall « CBS New York

Please Don't Order That Cabernet with Your Fish

I want to scream when someone orders a heavy red wine with their fish. I like being this dramatic for a very good reason... it destroys your experience. Besides the obvious hesitation to pour the wine, its not me that will ruin your meal, rather its the actual chemical reaction going on in your mouth.

The iron in red wine in combination with the fatty acids in fish produce a very unpleasant odor. Whats sad about this is that a guest would blame the restaurant for the bad meal. Whenever I have someone order the two I always try to talk them out of it and it works. Heavy wines such as Cabernet, Zinfandel, Chianti, Montepulciano, Merlot, and Barolo are only some to avoid. Let me just say that Pinot Noir is your safest choice if you absolutely don't want white wine.

I know its simple to say "well, I like cabernets" and "I really want fish tonight" where thinking about the pairing is the last thing on your mind or even if you care at all...you just want your dinner!! Well, don't go off ruining your meal if you all you have to do is change the wine.

Food and wine pairing is so important and it took me a long time to learn that. It wasn't until I did a wine pairing at Degustation in NYC. It was ten courses with ten different wines where they weren't only focused on the dish itself but the sauces and herbs they were garnished with. I never thought that a spanish rose can bring out the lemon in a butter sauce more than any other wine I would have probably ordered with friends who "just want anything". I had dinner there twice and both have been a religous experience.

So, this will be the first step in pairing : Be careful with fish and red wine!! Science says so. So there.

I Am Not As Empty Inside As I Thought I Was

So, I started a blog so people can get some quick wine news, humor, gossip, recipes, etc. I didn't think my thoughts or opinions mattered so much that I had to give details on everything I posted about. I have kind of kept to myself but did bless you all with my dark humor, sarcastic attitude and shared my passion about cooking. At one point of my life, I was a sommelier at a three-star New York City restaurant with a celebrity chef...I have multiple certificates in wine from respected institutions...my facebook name for three years has been "Vino Gal"....I have been to Barolo, Italy....I MEAN REALLY...how can anyone possibly resist hearing anything I have to say on wine & food??

So I am taking the advice from everyone who reads my blog and making it more personal. There is no time like the present so I will start with stories starting with where I am in my life right now.

Moving from Manhattan was very rough for me because I really don't know what to do with myself. There isn't really a need for sommeliers up here in Westchester and the one time I interviewed for the position at BLT in White Plains, the general manager seemed to be more concerned I was a female. I have an amazing resume, live across the street from the restaurant and had a very successful restauranteur I once worked for personally call him to talk about me. Nope. Not hired. I found out a few months later that "he doesn't like to hire chicks"....and a few months after that he saw me in a parking lot and introduced himself to me as if he has never seen me before.

Now, I work as a bartender. Its something I love to do and always will and really the one thing you can always go back to working for extra cash whether you're 22 or 45. I come alive behind the bar. I love the attention from all the guests and most of all I love that I am creating something for them to enjoy. Sitting behind a desk is not for me. I get too antsy...or maybe I crave attention too much and need people around all the time. I don't know....its one of those.

I did notice that not a lot of people up here like to order wines by the bottle. This is very much a "by-the-glass" area and I assume thats because its very family-oriented. It would be nice to see more half-bottles of wine being sold on lists of better quality that the plonk we serve around here. Also, there really has to be a better reply than a shoulder-shug when I ask what region the chardonnay is from. I think I am already asking for too much. Just get a decent wine list...trust me....it can only get better from there.

Baby steps.

Lesson: Learn your favorite grape first and stick with it. (You'll notice the differences in what region it was grown naturally over time)

This is why you always have to keep it sexy!

I noticed a big difference when I went blonde. I love it so much because my personality changed as well, all due to the type of attention I was getting. A few Years ago I started wearing red lipstick and got noticed even more. Just about every single time I wear it, someone makes a comment.

Going through this transition was hard considering I have been in the restaurant business all my life.  I wish I knew this when I started! I missed out on a ton of tips walking around trying to me the "down-to-earth" chic with the nice personality. Screw that. Glam is better.

Researchers leave a good tip for waitresses -- wear red lipstick - NYPOST.com

I need to start doing other things with my life...

Great. Drew Barrymore has a wine coming out. Its Pinot Grigio.

Why does everything I love get shit on...

Pregnancy Be Damned, Drew Barrymore’s New Wine Hits Stores Next Week