Comments for A Marin Foodie's Diary - WineAndFoodWorld.com http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld Former USA Today reporter Doug Levy's commentary about food and wine in Marin County and around the world. Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:28:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Canning passion for fruit to last all winter by Christine http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=301&cpage=1#comment-1070 Christine Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:28:05 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=301#comment-1070 Making jam is soooo easy. I grew up spending weekends at our beach house in Watsonville, CA. At various points in the summer we would go berry picking at a local farm that had a "pick your own" program. We would return with buckets of fresh berries and the jam making would commence! The kitchen smelled heavenly. To this day when I make strawberry jam, the scent of it cooking takes me back! (Just buy a box of "SureJell" and follow the directions. There is even a no-cooking or canning involved "freezer jam" which has the fresh fruit flavor. Can you say "yum?" Making jam is soooo easy. I grew up spending weekends at our beach house in Watsonville, CA. At various points in the summer we would go berry picking at a local farm that had a “pick your own” program. We would return with buckets of fresh berries and the jam making would commence! The kitchen smelled heavenly. To this day when I make strawberry jam, the scent of it cooking takes me back! (Just buy a box of “SureJell” and follow the directions. There is even a no-cooking or canning involved “freezer jam” which has the fresh fruit flavor. Can you say “yum?”

]]> Comment on Canning passion for fruit to last all winter by Wendy http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=301&cpage=1#comment-1069 Wendy Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:10:04 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=301#comment-1069 Thanks Doug! You have inspired me to try making preserves. :) Thanks Doug! You have inspired me to try making preserves. :)

]]> Comment on L’Appart brings rich French food and bistro flair to San Anselmo by Carolyn Trecartin http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=272&cpage=1#comment-1055 Carolyn Trecartin Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:11:53 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=272#comment-1055 I am a fellow store owner on San Anselmo Ave. and would love to talk to the owner about my three experiences there. My phone number at my store is 256-9893. Cell phone is 845 5610. I am a fellow store owner on San Anselmo Ave. and would love to talk to the owner about my three experiences there. My phone number at my store is 256-9893. Cell phone is 845 5610.

]]> Comment on Revisiting what I thought was a 97-point wine by Lisa Mattson, Jordan Winery Vlog http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260&cpage=1#comment-1039 Lisa Mattson, Jordan Winery Vlog Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:57:31 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260#comment-1039 Doug, I didn't get to taste the Velvet Glove due to my pouring and video responsibilities, but a lot of people were talking about it. It was great seeing you at WBC. Looking forward to fully checking out the design tweaks you made to your blog. Do let me know if you’re interested in pursuing one of those business angles you mentioned over lunch with John Jordan in April. Take care, Lisa Mattson <a href="http://blog.jordanwinery.com" rel="nofollow"> The Journey of Jordan: a wine and food video blog</a> Doug,

I didn’t get to taste the Velvet Glove due to my pouring and video responsibilities, but a lot of people were talking about it.

It was great seeing you at WBC. Looking forward to fully checking out the design tweaks you made to your blog. Do let me know if you’re interested in pursuing one of those business angles you mentioned over lunch with John Jordan in April.

Take care,
Lisa Mattson
The Journey of Jordan: a wine and food video blog

]]> Comment on Revisiting what I thought was a 97-point wine by Chris http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260&cpage=1#comment-1035 Chris Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:55:05 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260#comment-1035 I tasted this sixth, right in the middle of the speed tasting. All I got on first whiff was EtOH. I sipped it and enjoyed. I miswrote the price as $120 and thought that was a stretch. At $180 it's all flash and too one dimensional. When offered some later that night, I passed and tried some other wines. On quality alone, I'd rank this wine about middle of the pack of the 12 wines I speed tasted. For the price, forget about it. I tasted this sixth, right in the middle of the speed tasting. All I got on first whiff was EtOH. I sipped it and enjoyed. I miswrote the price as $120 and thought that was a stretch. At $180 it’s all flash and too one dimensional.

When offered some later that night, I passed and tried some other wines.

On quality alone, I’d rank this wine about middle of the pack of the 12 wines I speed tasted. For the price, forget about it.

]]> Comment on Mill Valley’s Piatti offers good, consistent food with a view by douglevy http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=248&cpage=1#comment-1034 douglevy Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:24:26 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=248#comment-1034 Thank you! Thank you!

]]> Comment on Revisiting what I thought was a 97-point wine by Karen G http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260&cpage=1#comment-1033 Karen G Sat, 03 Jul 2010 07:07:32 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260#comment-1033 I agree and appreciate this post. While I liked the Molly Dooker Velvet glove, I wouldn't say that it is valued correctly. From a marketing perspective, it was brilliantly presented: bottle, hype, and a lot of quick assessments. Was it good? Yes. Was it true to Molly Dooker's brand? Yes (my teeth were black). I also saved some to enjoy after the tasting and found it to be a wine to enjoy on it's own with a group of friends. I agree and appreciate this post. While I liked the Molly Dooker Velvet glove, I wouldn’t say that it is valued correctly. From a marketing perspective, it was brilliantly presented: bottle, hype, and a lot of quick assessments. Was it good? Yes. Was it true to Molly Dooker’s brand? Yes (my teeth were black). I also saved some to enjoy after the tasting and found it to be a wine to enjoy on it’s own with a group of friends.

]]> Comment on Revisiting what I thought was a 97-point wine by Bean http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260&cpage=1#comment-1032 Bean Sat, 03 Jul 2010 04:51:11 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260#comment-1032 I will admit that I opted out of both of the speed tastings this year. The one last year gave me a headache, wine spittle down my shirt and my ears ringing. I sat down for the white wine one this year but left before the starting bell. It was just too chaotic for someone with a brain injury like me. I know others love these speed tastings but no thanks. That being said, it made for a good nap time. I will admit that I opted out of both of the speed tastings this year. The one last year gave me a headache, wine spittle down my shirt and my ears ringing. I sat down for the white wine one this year but left before the starting bell. It was just too chaotic for someone with a brain injury like me. I know others love these speed tastings but no thanks. That being said, it made for a good nap time.

]]> Comment on Revisiting what I thought was a 97-point wine by douglevy http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260&cpage=1#comment-1031 douglevy Sat, 03 Jul 2010 03:10:27 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260#comment-1031 I have always preferred tasting wines first, then learning details like the price. In this case, the guy who was pouring was trying to influence us by making a big deal about the price, how we were the first in the U.S. to taste it, how the prior vintages were so highly rated, etc. He effectively created an expectation. And, you are correct, I think, because I suspect many bloggers have never tasted wines in that price range. Lessons learned all around. I have always preferred tasting wines first, then learning details like the price. In this case, the guy who was pouring was trying to influence us by making a big deal about the price, how we were the first in the U.S. to taste it, how the prior vintages were so highly rated, etc. He effectively created an expectation. And, you are correct, I think, because I suspect many bloggers have never tasted wines in that price range. Lessons learned all around.

]]> Comment on Revisiting what I thought was a 97-point wine by Pamela @ Enobytes http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260&cpage=1#comment-1030 Pamela @ Enobytes Sat, 03 Jul 2010 03:05:54 +0000 http://douglevy.com/wineandfoodworld/?p=260#comment-1030 I’m a fan of MollyDooker, but I have to be honest by throwing up a red flag here. At $180 a bottle, I expected more. Did price influence bloggers? I’m a fan of MollyDooker, but I have to be honest by throwing up a red flag here. At $180 a bottle, I expected more. Did price influence bloggers?

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