Ottmar & Employees Only

We jumped back on the subway and the next stop is the Staten Island Ferry. An hour round trip to get a view of the city. After this trip, we will have to make our way back to the same area as brunch and then part ways again.

The girls have tickets to see Joan Osborne and Susanna Vega at The City Winery. I made last minute plans to see Ottmar Leibert at the Highline Ballroom.

The view of the Statue of Liberty was awesome as well as the New York skyline!

Once we got back on the train, Jess told me where I needed to get off in order to make my concert. It was close to Bathtub Gin and once again Siri guided me to my destination. A very small venue and no room to move.

He was amazing but the crowd was a bit overbearing. If you moved from your spot too damn bad. So I stood my ground and waited until after the show to get some food and beverages.

My show ended at 8:15 and I sent Tish a text letting her know I was on my way to meet them at our last stop. Their show would be another hour or longer. So I made my way toward Employees Only and figured I would find something along to the way to eat and drink.

One steak house quit serving at 8:30…really?  So I was just 4 blocks from our meet up and I smelled that wonderful aroma, cigars.

Hudson Bar & Books was a happy accident  and I had time.

They had everything on the cocktail menu and cigar menu. The eats menu not so much. Very limited but was able to find a snack to munch while I burned one in NYC.

I ordered an Old Cuban and selected the Arturo Fuente Short Story to burn. Several cocktails later and the girls texted me they were leaving soon. Perfect timing and I left this nice nugget of a find.

Being as fat as I am, I took a nice stroll through the city of NYC. Then I rolled up on a small building with a “Psychic” sign in the window. Texted Tish and Jess, they said it would be 15 minutes until they arrived. Okay I can hang.

The crowd control, okay…the days of bouncer is long gone. He was a big ole boy and had an impressive presence. We chatted about things from days gone by. The ole ‘80s and how you dealt with the A-holes at that time period. Many stories were shared and some were quite funny. Within 10 minutes, Tish and Jess arrived. At this point of the night, we were going to be just standing at the bar enjoying craft cocktails.

Little did I know my new friend was about to hook us up with a good evening. He said: “Follow ME!” Okay the fat man was ready to see what could be an epic night.

“Sit them at a good table.” Okay, redneck is down with that!

Menu’s were dropped off and I new what I wanted for a drink. Employee’s Only signature drink…

Mata Hari!

Remy Martin 1738 Cognac shaken with Chai-infused Martini Rosso & Pomegranate Juice. Served straight up.

A wonderful blend of flavors and amazing presentation. And I was very impressed with their wine list. Although this joint is known for its craft cocktails, many of the folks around us were ordering bottles of wine.

I have to say, E.O. & P.D.T. are tied as my favorite speakeasy thus far. Although, the Booze & Boobs at Bathtub Gin was another highlight of my trip.

We head home tomorrow and I’m already planning another visit and tour of the other speakeasies on my list.

I made my last visit to Hot & Crusty for coffee and croissants. The lady who took my order really took control:

Me: “Coffee & Croissant”
Chick: “You take cream?”
Me: “No.”
Chick: “Oh, you take cream today!”

Obviously she mistaken me for a regular. So I got to enjoy coffee with cream. How the hell do people do that to perfectly good coffee.

After Tish had her coffee, we went for a walk at Riverside Park before we packed up the car. A young lady riding a bike looks and smiles and that’s when I stop and turned to Tish. Her expression confirmed what I thought…it was Amy Schumer.

So, I ended my first official trip to the Big Apple with my first celebrity sighting.

It was an amazing time and I can’t wait to return. Thank you Jess for your hospitality and we will see you soon with more speakeasies and watering holes to visit.

Brunch & Burlesque…Yes Please!

Yes, I know I skipped a day. I was working in at a vineyard…imagine that!

At any rate, here is the next to last entry of this series:

Once again, blurred vision and 11 o’clock seems to be the norm for this trip. Showers and then we were out the door heading to Bathtub Gin for…wait for it…

BRUNCH & BURLESQUE!

The subway trip seemed to take forever. This is because I have not had coffee and that’s not a good thing. We get off the train and took a stroll to the stop. This is the address for the place but we are outside of a tiny coffee shop, Stone Street Coffee.  Okay I’m ready to drink rot-gut coffee at this point.

Then a gentleman asks: “Are you here for brunch?”

We give him our name and the wall opens to yet another gorgeous bar with a large copper claw foot tub in the middle of the dining room. Okay, I’m all excited at this point.

The girls decided to have Mimosas and opted for an Irish Coffee. Oh this was going down really good. For my brunch, I went against the norm. Wagyu Burger with Wild Mushrooms and Gruyere, a side of Fries and then a few Allagash White’s were consumed.

Then it was time for the girls to perform. I felt it was necessary to have the girls on the outside so that they could enjoy the girls. Okay I wanted them to feel uncomfortable. I know, Jerk!

Did I mention, this was my first time enjoying Sunday brunch?

Breakfast & boobs, I can get use to this. Kind of like back in the days of closing strip clubs and then going to breakfast with the talent. You know you’ve done that before! Don’t judge!

Another New York watering hole that I’ll return to on my next visit!

Jess had a surprise for us and it involved water.

PDT

It was a short stroll to our last stop of the evening. As you know, most speakeasies are disguised and you need to look for landmarks. As soon as I saw the Crif Dogs sign or the other that says: “Eat Me”, I knew we were there.

The long counter of stools were filled and there was a short line to use the phone booth. Yes, I said phone booth and it was sporting an “out of order” sign.

The routine is simple, dial 1 and wait. The adjacent wall opened to a magnificent dim,  yet sultry lit bar. The young lady asked for my name and said it would be 5 minutes. So we hung out with a very young crowd and when they called my name, we heard grumbles from the peanut gallery.

I was borderline righteous at this point and said:

“Hey Scooter, you should have made reservations…Rookie!”

We took seats at the bar. Gorgeous backlit bar with high-end spirits. Several taxidermy items on the walls made my two vegetarians nervous.

Our bartender presented us with our cocktail menus and I spotted my first drink:

Paddington
Banks 5 Island Rum, Lillet Blanc, Lemon & Grapefruit Juice, Bonne Maman Orange Marmalade, St George Absinthe

An amazing presentation of a craft cocktail with magnificent balance of citrus flavors. If the first one was this good, I can’t wait to try my second choice.

Shark
Butter infused Bacardi Silver Rum, Wray and Nephew Overproof Rum, Frangelico, Blue Curaçao, Lemon & Pineapple juice, Cream, Bitterman’s Elemakule Tiki Bitters

A true Tiki drink, I wanted the bartender to turn on some Buffett tunes at this point. The girls truly enjoying their drinks too.

And was it worth the trouble of getting reservations…

I can honestly say, this is one of my favorite bars of all-time. I will be back and will tell all my friends about this place.

At the end of the night, NYC got the best of me but tomorrow will be another day of go, go, go. This country boy is ready for another day of fun. Music and more cocktails are on the docket.

Did I mention brunch and boobs too!

Stallion!

We made our way over to the East Village to visit and have a few drinks at Cooper’s Craft & Kitchen. We were able to get a table at 5:30 for snacks.  I enjoyed a Lager from Kansas City, sorry I failed to make a note of the brewery. I know…Rookie!

Then it was time to part ways until later in the evening. I had a nice stroll to meet Stallion and the girls were only a few blocks from the theater. I got on my high horse and headed down to Madam X to meet up with my old friend.

Using the GPS on my phone, I rolled up to my destination to discover this place was a basement bar. As I walked in, I first thought it was one of those places…

you know…N.Y. Ballet!

Strip Club folks, Strip Club.

The barmaid was very nice and began to laugh as soon as I spoke.

“You’re not from around here?”

“Yes Mama, I’m from Brooklyn!”

She wasn’t buying it!

I grabbed a brew and began to look at the décor. It was dark, big puffy vinyl seats in the back that just reeked of strip club without the brass pole. Then from the back I heard the voice:

“COOP!”

It was. Stallion! The last time I saw him it was 1997 at Camden Yards. He used to cover the Orioles.

He invited me to join him and a few others on the patio, I like a deck and patio as most of you know!

One beer lead to many, many more. He was wondering where I was heading too next. I told them about PDT and the city folk were impressed that this country boy knew so much about NYC’s night life. I mentioned to them that one friend told me to visit McSorley’s and another said not too. Stallion said; “If you’re this close you are going to visit.”

Once again we were walking, Stallion and I rolled into this vintage bar as the others had to grab a train for home. The beer selection was most interesting, dark or light. Which ever you choose, they brought you two mugs for $5.25. I believe we had 4 rounds of those. So much history that if you’re ever up there, you have to visit.

We settled up with the bartender and went over and met the girls. Stallion and I parted ways and it was so Awesome to see him after all these years. I assured him that I would be back and we would tear NYC up.

Now it was time for some craft cocktails, onward to PDT!

Trees in NYC?

I rolled over and had to squint to see the clock because I’m blinder than a bat and I saw…11:00. I can’t remember the last time I got up that late. I tossed my cloths on from the previous night and headed down to Broadway to this little coffee shop called Hot & Crusty.

Ordered a large black Joe and a croissant and found a window booth so I could watch the locals walk by. Oh who am I kidding, I was watching the chicks in sundresses and cowboy boots. It’s cute when those city slickers trying to channel their inner redneck.

My phone started buzzing and it was an old friend I worked with at NVD, Dave or…I like to refer to him as: Stallion! We made some plans to meet around 8 that evening.

The girls were going to some play in the east village and I wanted to visit some local pubs and night clubs. My main goal that night was to make reservations for me and the girls at Please Don’t Tell or PDT.

By the time I got back to the apartment, the girls were finally stirring around. We got all gussied up for a day in the big city. Jess was in need of food and we stopped at Bodrum Mediterranean Restaurant that had wood fired pizza. I ordered a white pie and devoured the entire plate.

Then it was time to venture into Central Park and do the tourist stuff. It was quite impressive to see that many trees in a big city but, I can see trees in Virginia. They took me down to the John Lennon memorial, Strawberry Fields which was really cool.

In the meantime, it took me an hour to get reservations for PDT and I was able to score a place for 3 at 1:30 a.m. I hope this place is worth the trouble!

Art at the end of the night.

My First Time…

…to New York City! You have a Dirty Mind!

A few months ago, I visited NYC for the very first time. Oh, I’ve been on a bus trip a to see the Orioles vs. Yankees a few years ago but this was my first time being a tourist.

And tour I did!

Tish and I stayed with our friend Jess in Upper Manhattan for a few days. We drove up and our trip was to only take about 5 hours but… if you know us, we always stop somewhere to taste the local fare and beverages.

Using the Vinowine app, the closest vineyard to our route was Spring Gate Vineyard. After Siri took us on a 45 minute tour of the back roads of Pennsylvania, we pulled into the parking lot and we were more than ready to try wine.  And to our surprise, beer & cider too.

The Riesling, Vidal and Chardonnay was nice. Their Chambourcin was the highlight of their reds. Their biggest surprise was the brewery. The pale ale was extremely good and I could have sat there all day emptying pints. But Jess was waiting.

Once we got back on the road, our sights were set on the Big Apple!

Jess was texting wondering about our ETA, it was going to be late so all was good. I sent her a few links to some possible outings. One peaked her interest and she quickly responded:
“Sunday Brunch reservations have been made for 2:30.”
This will be entertaining to say the least.

As we rolled into Upper Manhattan, Jess was informing us to double park in the street outside of her apartment so we could unload the car. This was new to me – hell if we did this in Strasburg, Johnny Law would have us towed and in bracelets. After we carried all the crap to Jess’ place it was time to find a place to park. 30 minutes later, we found free parking for the duration of our visit.
We walked to get a late dinner at the French Roast located at the corner of Broadway and W85 St. I ordered the 8 oz. burger with bacon and Gruyere on a Brioche bun, washed it down with a Left Hand Nitro.

It was well past 2 a.m. and to my surprise the bars were still open so we had a night cap at Prohibition.  The Paulaner Hefeweizen was a good way to end my first night in NYC.

Tomorrow we will see what kind of mischief this country boy gets into.

Atlantic City, Redux!

Once again, Shorty insisted I join him for a repeat of our trip in ’14…Oh God No!
I will not go down that road again.

SHORTY: Don’t worry, folks. The first draft of this was mostly lies. I’ve edited it for clarity and accuracy.

I went over my finances (remember, I’m still out of work) and decided I need a break from applying for work and being denied. Little did I know, a sinus issue would push me to my limits.

I medicated myself heavily. Plenty of Vitamin C and good eats. After I found the right combination of drugs, I was on my way to being 100%. However, I knew that I would have to pace myself and Shorty wasn’t going to allow me to go at grandpa speed. He was going to push this old, old, old man to his limits.

Reservations were made at The Iron Room.

Once I arrived at Shorty’s crib, he was hell bent on leaving. His eyes were dilated a slight wrinkle to his brow and a bit of a smirk. His face read anxiety, and this wasn’t normal. So we got on the road and little Mario Andretti sped around the Capital Beltway. He discussed his current work situation and it appeared he was going to be in the same ranks as I was. This would explain his demeanor (I have been binge watching Lie To Me on The Netflix; that explains my details of his big ole head.)

SHORTY: I always obey the rules of the road. Perhaps I sped a little, but only because Coop was coughing, sniffing, and gagging the entire trip.



He bitched at me about the sinus issue and kept saying; “only old people get sinus problems.” Two and half hours of old bashing, I would rather be old than short like he is.

What do you want to be when you grown little boy?

SHORTY: A cranky, old man like you?

I brought some nice Ashton 898 stogies with me. He invited me so he should enjoy the good stuff rather than the dime store variety he’s been burning. Maybe savor them after he wins the Junkies Poker Tournament.

Oh who am I kidding, he doesn’t have the patience to sit for 12 hours at poker table.

We made a pit stop once we got inside the New Jersey line. As we were getting closer to Atlantic City, he began to mellow a little. A calm had fallen across his face…give me 10 minutes I’ll have his bowels in an uproar in no time.

Then he said something that completely caught me off guard:

“You want to stop at this vineyard close to the interstate?”

Maybe there is hope for this Miller Lite swilling city boy after all.

SHORTY: I’m drinking a Miller Lite tallboy as I edit this manifest of lies.



 

Sharrott Winery was right outside of A.C. and they opened at 11, so we rolled in and it was time to broaden Shorty’s palate.

We were the first ones to taste…shocker! Their tasting options were simple, choose 6 for $8.00.

For myself, I chose Pinot Grigio, Vidal Blanc, Dry Rose´, Cabernet Franc, and their two red blends, Trio & Coeur d’Est.

 Shorty went the sweet route and I advised him to taste the Wicked, which is a Port-style. Of course, once he saw the Rose´ I was tasting, he had to sample that.

He did enjoy the Rose´…mind blowing.

Their Cabernet Franc was wonderful. Red fruit on the nose. Currant and cherry flavors on the palate with soft tannins and a hint of spice on the finish. If you’re not a red wine drinker, this would be a good wine to start evolving your palate.

As we got down to our last wines on the tasting, she let me sample the Port-style too. I explained to Shorty how this wine would go really well with a cigar. Deep rich color almost black as night. Fortified with brandy and intense flavors of black cherries. The hot alcohol finish is typical with Port-styles.

I didn’t turn him into a wino, but he’s open to tasting more down the road.

Just like last year, his agenda was to start drinking early. The Pic-a-Lilly Pub was first on the list and I knew this was going to be most entertaining. There were maybe 4 people enjoying the warm November temperatures and I’m convinced the guy sitting on the other side of the bar was at that same seat last year.

PBR Tallboys were ordered as well as the buffalo chicken egg rolls. I was still not feeling like drinking beer but Shorty had other plans. Another round was ordered and I pulled up my granny panties and knocked it back like a pro.

SHORTY: I remember a lot of complaining out of you, too. Despite the FREE FREE FREE room at Harrah’s I provided.



Now it was time to go and checked in. Some conference was in town and the check-in line was almost out the door. 30 minutes passed before we final were issued a room. This one wasn’t as nice as the suite from last year, but it will do.

After getting our bags delivered, we changed clothes and made our way to the Borgata for the evening’s festivities. We decided to grab dinner at one of the main restaurants and sandwiches and beverages were consumed and then it was time to head to the Gypsy Bar for the Junkies kick off party for their tournament.

SHORTY: I ordered a turkey reuben sandwich ($7) and was somehow charged $67 for it later. Apparently, they thought I left a $60 tip. This issue has since been resolved.

In the meantime, Shorty looked over the menu at the Iron Room. He wasn’t impressed so those reservations were canceled. I had a Plan B & C for tomorrow night!

Shorty had a plan, $3 Miller Lites were calling his name. I had another plan. I wasn’t going to have a repeat of last year and declined to enjoy the nectar from Kentucky. Instead, I chose screwdrivers. That was one way to get some Vitamin C. Then, Shorty changed his mind and ordered a Red Bull & Vodka. And proceeded to order 8 more.

I limited myself to 2 drinks as I sat back listened to the band and watched the crowd. Shorty was being the ultimate social butterfly.
SHORTY: I’m a man of the people.

And then I saw it…the mid-’80s suddenly came back to me and an old advertisement jingle began to play in my head.

“Weebles Wobble but they don’t fall down!”

Shorty looked like a pinball bouncing around the room. Tabs were paid and we made our way back to Harrah’s.

Since this was his rodeo, I allowed him to lead me out of the casino. I don’t remember getting on an elevator, but he is the pro when it comes to Atlantic City so I followed his lead. Literally I followed him to the 3rd floor of the Borgata looking for a cab.

After laughing for about 10 minutes, I pointed him in the right direction.

One good thing here, at least he didn’t insult the cab driver like he did after the Charm City Devils show in April. “Where the F@&$ is he going? We should have called a F@&$ing Uber!” Tsk, Tsk!

It was 1 a.m., and his original plan was to be up at 5 to go and observe the live broadcast of the Junkies at the B-bar. This is do-able, but in his current state maybe not.

SHORTY: Never underestimate me, son.



I had to escort him back to the room. Just like our Baltimore trip, I guided him to his bed and pushed him onto it and he was out!

An annoying alarm began to go off! He wasn’t kidding about wanting to be up at 5.

He stirred around for about 2 or 3 minutes and reset the alarm for 5:30. Bam! He was up, bitching about his head hurting and telling me to get my old ass out of bed and dressed.

I was interested in one thing…coffee and croissants. We made it to the Borgata and the B-bar and I found overpriced swill for coffee but the croissants were nice.

Then I saw it. Shorty had a drink in his hand. A shot…really for breakfast?

SHORTY: Yes, really. This ain’t Disney World, old man!



His plan was to buy the Junkies shots and drink with them. Only 2 joined in and before I knew it, the time had come to start playing poker.

I found a quiet, non-smoking area in the Borgata and began working on my blog posts for that week and I got a chapter written for my book. I met a few folks who were a part of the medical conference going on. These fine folks hooked me up with good coffee, water, and snacks. I did find a high-end wine bar, where I enjoyed an ’09 Grenache.

After having lunch at Tony Luke’s Cheese Steaks, I made my way back to our room for a short nap…don’t judge!

SHORTY: So, to recap: he didn’t get drunk the night before and yet he had to take a nap in the middle of the day in Atlantic City. Not a good look.



Texts were coming in and Shorty busted out of the Junkies Poker Open around 3 ,p.m. so he lasted 5 hours. Not bad but next year you’ll be there for the duration and win this bitch! The tournament ended at 2 a.m., so Shorty needs to work on his game.

Hungover and needing to rest, he rolled into the room got his swimming trunks on and headed to the Harrah’s pool area and the hot tubs. I found a decent glass of wine and waited for him to return. During this time, I did my research and made our plans for the evening. Va. Tech was playing football that night and there was talk about going to Hooters to watch.

SHORTY: Actually, he sat at a table next to the hot tub and refused to enjoy the 104-degree water. Why? I have no idea. I guess he doesn’t like good things.

He waddled back in the room, put on his big boy pants and off we went to dinner at Angelo’s Fairmount Tavern. This establishment has been open for 80 years, and it looked like it. The décor looked straight out of the Godfather era.

For some reason, Shorty wasn’t having a drink with dinner. Sissy!

I opted for a Chilean Malbec to go with my meal, Steak Maryland (New York Sirloin with Jumbo Lump Crab and Bleu Cheese and Gorgonzola).

Just rich goodness!

This was one of the best streaks I’ve ever had. Shorty also got a steak with a salad. He wasn’t feeling up to par so when I suggested Hooters, he wanted to go back to the room.

And he gives me crap about being old!

The next morning, we loaded up and headed over to Gilchrist Restaurant and Marina. I got a short stack and sausage while Shorty got his usual crab and spinach omelet.

SHORTY: If you go to Atlantic City and don’t eat breakfast here, you are an alien.



He was rather quiet on the trip home, but I was able to coax him into enjoying a beer for lunch at The Tilted Kilt. It seems like this trip will always end at the Tilted Kilt. It’s not a bad thing y’all!

SHORTY: Also of note, we had the same bartender as we had last year on our return home. She was not unattractive.



We got back to Shorty’s, I loaded my car up with my bags, and got directions to Whole Foods in Fair Lakes, where I picked up a couple of the pizzas for the weekend.

Tish and I did get to visit a new brewery in the area, Escutcheon Brewery in Winchester. Great beer, and we have since been back several times.

My trip to A.C. was subdued, but Shorty showed his true colors and got drunker than 10 monkeys once again. With the new year, I still need to find work, but I know that Shorty has some plans down the road and until he reveals these trips, I’m going to be leery of his plans. He has good intentions until the the first drink is consumed and then its a free for all.

Hey Shorty…wanna Red Bull and Vodka?

SHORTY: Hell yes!

I’m Done in Loudoun

Tish was off to visit her mother over the Thanksgiving holiday (I told you I was behind). I was a good boy, I enjoyed a few plates of meat during this time. Since I knew Tish would be needing wine once she arrived home, I visited Glen Manor Vineyards to purchase a few bottles.

Shorty was coming back to the valley on Thanksgiving eve and we decided to meet and have a few adult beverages. We started at The Depot Lounge at The Hotel Strasburg. One of my classmates joined us (Dave) for a round or two. Dave called it a night and Shorty was ready to party!

The next stop was the Old Mill Grill for just a round. He wanted to head back to the Depot Lounge for a few more before we ended the night on my deck with Miller Lite’s and Ashton 898 stogies.

Joey came and picked Shorty up to take him to Momma’s house. I got my house in order then crawled into bed.

Thanksgiving fest at Momma’s and Pappy’s then I ended the day at Sandy & Mike’s for a night cap.

Tish came home on Friday and I decided to visit the newest watering hole in the Shenandoah Valley, Woodstock Brewery. Nice beer and wonderful Vanilla Porter.

Once Tish arrived home she dove into the Rose´ from GMV. On Saturday, she rested as I headed into Loudoun to visit my last two vineyards in that county.
I had to call Loudoun Valley Vineyards just to confirm they were open. There  were some rumors they had closed until Spring.

They responded that they would be open for the weekend. The vineyard has been purchased and the new owners won’t take over until the early spring. In the meantime, I would get to sample only 3 wines.

’09 Viognier, done in stainless steel. Grilled peaches and fresh apricots dominate the nose. Tropical fruits on the palate with a tart finish. This would go well with spicy Asian dishes.

’08 Legacy, a port-style made with Touriga Nacional. A bouquet of dark fruit. Dark chocolate flavors on the palate with a finish of sweet black cherries. A very nice port-style that will soon be gone.

My next vineyard is one I visited over a year ago. Sampling wines from a bag was a bit weird but they are worth a taste.

Raspberry Apple Wine, lush goodness from some nice fruit. This wine has a touch of dryness on the palate with a sweet shot on the finish. Anytime I taste one of these fruity wines, it makes think of field parties, ’80s hair bands and mullets. Not a bad memory. Basically I know most of my classmates would enjoy this wine.

Petit Verdot, rich black currants and leather on the nose. A very soft red fruit presence on the mouth. A smooth low tannin finish makes this a nice red wine.

Did I mention the wines are in three liter bags?

You get 4 bottles of wine in a bag for around $30, which isn’t bad.

I was in need of some food so I stopped and visited Jody & Jay at Quattro Goomba’s for some of their kick ass pizza and did a sampling of their beer. Quattro Goomba’s Brewery is open for business and is quite good.

Tish is on deadline this week which means I may visit a handful in the Richmond area or beyond.

With only 2 stops this week, It brings my total to 153 for the year.

A Lot of Meat & Wine

Tish was leaving for the OBX area for 5 days.

I was going to be left alone to deal with the felines and fend for myself while she enjoys some sun and sand with her old friend Granny Smith.

I helped her load her car and we said our good-byes. She left me at 1:15 and at 1:20 I was heading south to the local butcher shop to score a few steaks. I had been planning my menu for some time.

The boys behind the counter sold me two of the most gorgeous Delmonico steaks I have ever seen. No sooner than I arrived home, I got out the spices and began rubbing my meat – oops that was bit dirty, I’m sorry.

Sun-dried Tomato Powder and Dried Basil macerated for 6 hours. I visited the grocery store and got the ingredients for my side along with America’s finest Pilsner, Pabst Blue Ribbon. I sat on my deck enjoying the 70º weather and got updates on Tish’s travels. After plenty of dead soldiers were lined up  on the table, I began preparing this evening meal.

I cleaned the potatoes, minced the garlic and onion. grated some pepper jack and then it was time to grate the potatoes and turn them into…Cheesy, Old Bay Hash Browns.

After sautéing the onion and garlic, I added the spuds, Old Bay and a little heavy cream. Once golden brown, I flipped and placed the pan in the oven to finish the plate there.

That heavy cast iron skillet was smoking from the oil when I placed that slab of red meat inside the vessel. Just enough sear for a light crust. After flipping, I removed the spuds and placed the steak in the oven just for about 4 minutes.

I plated the hash browns then the steak and allowed the meat
to rest for a few minutes to let the juices redistribute throughout. Wonderful red flesh color…you can’t get any better. I retired to my deck to enjoy the evenings great weather.

Tomorrow’s weather was going to be even better, which means I need to visit one of my favorite spots…Glen Manor Vineyards.

Coffee was made, shower was taken and it was time for some grub. But first, I had to prep this evenings steak. Espresso Powder, Ancho Chili Powder and fresh Cracked White Pepper. I coated the meat and allowed to air dry for almost 7 hrs. In the meantime time, I headed toThe Queen St. Diner, and I had to have their signature burger named after the establishment. BBQ sauce, sharp cheddar cheese and a big ole fat onion ring with a side of fresh cut fries. I’ll have the meat sweats after this day.

Temps in the mid 70s and it is a perfect day for the ’14 Morales Rosé.This wine gets better each time I open a bottle. After a few hours of healthy Vitamin D, I headed to the homestead and relax on the deck before dinner.

Once the last of the Rosé was poured, I thought I should a bottle I received as a gift a few weeks ago.

One of my redneck friends gave me a bottle of homemade wine he wanted me to try. Based on the swill I drank back in the day, I wasn’t scared to try his concoction. Rich is a crafty, resourceful redneck. If you are in search of something, he seems to know an outlet. If he can’t find it for you, he will do his best to create it.

Now, he didn’t use traditional wine grapes, they either came from a grocery store, or he was able to obtain some from a friend down the road. He makes a sweet and a dry red, the latter  has been opened and I’m allowing to breath while I finish my Rose.

The color was a nice cherry red, this reminds me of being a kid and seeing the pitcher of Kool-Aid on Mamma’s kitchen counter. It was very fruity with a touch of sweetness on the nose. Definitely a young wine with a medium body structure. A mild finish of pomegranates and a surprise of the day.

A good ole boy can make wine even in this own kitchen. I gave him my feedback and I’m looking forward to seeing what next years vintages will taste like.

Dinner was wonderful and I decided to lay low on Friday. A former coworker contacted me about joining him and his wife at the beer festival in Ashburn at Lost Rhino Brewery on Saturday.

I rolled out of bed pretty early on Saturday. Took care of my flea-bag felines then headed into Loudoun to taste at two vineyards before meeting Carl & Jackie.

It was such a gorgeous day, I decided to try and avoid Rt. 7 as much as I can. Rt. 50 across Paris Mt. and then I took the Mt. Weather road that runs along the top of the mountain. After dropping out onto the opposite side of the mountain, I took the side road through Round Hill to get me on the North end of Rt. 9 near Hillsbourough. Once on the narrow road, I drove to my first stop of the day, Cardamon Family Vineyards.

This is one of four in Loudoun Co. I haven’t visited. After today though, that number will be cut in half.

Four wines were on the tasting list and each paired with a salsa made by the winemaker.

MACHA, a pale lemon color. The nose of fresh grilled peaches. Bold flavors of honey dew with a
burst of effervescence on the palate. A touch of sweet melon and low acid on the finish. A perfect wine for a plate of cheese and a baguette.

Peter Pie, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich red color with a hickory smoke and leather essence on the nose. A fruit forward with a medium bodied structure. Dark red fruits and jammy flavors on the palate. Refreshing light sweet finish. Pasta, Salmon or Steak, take your pick.

I asked about my next stop, the group said in unison; “Oh Bob!”

With that comment, I knew this was going to be entertaining.

About 7 miles away was the last stop for wine today, Crushed Cellars.

A tiny tasting room, that was filled with 4 young ladies out tasting wine and heading for a day at the spa.

Bob was a trip!

He doesn’t play by the wine rules. Six wines were made available for tasting and the pours were quite generous.

Chardonnay, butter and vanilla aromas on the nose. Smooth flavors of light oak on the palate. Well balanced acids make this a superb wine.

Meritage, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Aged in French oak, ruby color. Dark red fruit with a touch of smoke on the nose. Jammy flavors of currants, pomegranates, and hints of leather on the palate. Nice tannins, with a spicy white pepper finish.This is your steak wine!

It was on to meet Carl & Jackie at the brew fest. By the time we arrived some of the breweries had kicked their kegs and they were packing up and heading for home. They invited me to join them for dinner at Ford’s Seafood House. They enjoyed Oysters on the half shell and savored the fish and chips.

Tish comes home tomorrow!

I did a rough clean of the house and planned to make her some baked tofu with an apple bar b que sauce for her dinner.

I have time and decided to visit a few wineries near Warrenton area.

Magnolia Vineyards is one of the newer vineyards to the area.

Located outside of Amissville, it was time to see what they had to offer.

’13 Black Walnut White, a blend of Vidal Blanc, Tramminette, Petit Manning,Chardonnay, Viognier and Riesling. Meyer lemons on the nose. Crisp flavors of tropical fruit like pineapple dominate the palate. Refreshing flavors of orange give this wine a succulent finish. This wine would be a good choice for a warm evening on the deck.

’12 Cabernet Franc Reserve, a rich colored wine. Nose of currants and some cloves. Fruity raspberry flavors fill the palate. Earthy notes and a touch of spice on the finish. A true meat lovers wine but I wouldn’t rule out a plate of roasted mushrooms for our vegetarian friends.

It was on to the next stop and it was a surprise!

Granite Heights located in Opal has been a point of interest for me but we never had the time to stop. I’m glad I did.

’13 Petit Manseng, done in stainless this was a big flavored white. Sweet apricots on the nose. A touch of effervescent with flavors of lavender and honey on the palate. The finish was super sweet on the finish but is only 2% residual sugar.

’11 Humility, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Deep ruby color, with a smoky white pepper nose. Jammy flavors of cherry with some leather on the palate. Big bold, crunchy tannins give this a spice finish. One of my favorites this year.

Bealeton was my next stop, Morais Vineyard and Winery. Huge facility and impressive tasting room.

Rose´, a light orange in color. A subtle nose of cherries and smoke on the nose make this a unique Rose´. Soft flavors of strawberries with a finish of rose petals. Another deck sitting wine.

Cabernet Franc, a light bodied red. A bold fruity nose. Sweet currants and black cherries on the palate. The finish was surprising with leather and spice. As light as this wine was it had incredible flavors. A good pizza and pasta wine.

After this weeks visits, this takes my total to 142 for the year.

Next week will have me visiting the Warrenton are one last time with a few other mixed in.

In the meantime, Tish arrived home and brought presents.

It was a good week y’all!

A Tough Week With A Little Wine

This week started out on a sad note.

I found out that my favorite Uncle had passed away. The way I discovered this news was from a friend on Zuckerberg’s social media. Not the proper way of being notified but, what do you do.

Med was a jokester and I had just talked to him about a month ago. Still sharp witted but you could see he was a bit frail. Now the cool side of the family are all gone. Med, Zada & Butch – all are missed…very much.

A phone interview turned into an actual face-to-face on Friday. This went well and another is scheduled for Monday. I felt like a small celebration was in order. I visited Al in Browntown, my new cigar smoking buddy. A veteran of both WWII and Korean War, we enjoyed some sticks and wine on his front porch.

A swing with an amazing view.

CAO stick courtesy of Al!

Saturday came and Tish and I made our way into Loudoun to visit a few vineyards, including the newest one to open.

Our first stop was 50 West Vineyards, this is a tasting room for Sunset Hills Vineyard. Their focus is pouring S.H.V.’s higher end wines. All were very nice including the ’13 Cabernet Franc. I inquired about their Mosaic, after being part of the Governor’s Cup a few years back I still haven’t had the opportunity to taste this wine.

Just my luck, they had a bottle open.

Such a nice wine!

’12 Mosaic, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc gives this wine its deep rich color. A bouquet of dark red fruits including pomegranates. Blackberries and currants were dominate on the palate. Bold tannins with a peppery finish make this one of the best wines I’ve tasted this year.

Our next stop was a few miles north on Rte. 15 and down a gravel road, Zephaniah Farm Vineyard

The tasting room is located in a vintage house that is rumored to be haunted. I’m just here for the wine not for the ghoul’s floating around.

’13 Rose´, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin done the French way. Earthy notes and minerals on the nose. Lush flavors of strawberry and cherry on the palate with a dry smooth finish.

’12 Cabernet Franc, done in French oak. Dark red cherry aromas in the glass. A fruit forward wine with jammy flavors of blackberries. Soft tannins give this wine a smooth finish.

The next stop is just outside of Hamilton, Hunters Run Winery.

Located right on Rte 9, I  expected this place to be crowded. Other than the handful of folks on the deck listening to music, foot traffic was kind of low.

Here are my choices:

Hunters Run Riesling, a nice wine with apricot aromas. Low acids with a sweet honey flavors on the palate. The sweetness gives way to a crisp finish.

Hunters Run Wine Bar Red, a blend of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Deep colors with licorice nuances on the nose. Rich blackberry flavors and a smokiness on the palate. The spicy white pepper finish gives this wine a low tannic finish.

Now it was onto the newest vineyard to open in the past few weeks, Terra Nebula.

Traveling the roads in Waterford is relaxing unless you have one of those out of state A-holes trying to pass you on a narrow road. I just slowed down even more to make them madder than a hornet.

With no signal, my GPS wasn’t any good to me. I simply relied on signs and traffic to get me to this location.

The sign was funny and I can only hope this is what we were looking for or it could be another new vineyard to add to the list.

This sign makes me laugh.

Riesling, done in stainless, this wine had floral notes of tropical fruits. Sweet lemon flavors on the palate give this wine a soft, crisp low-acid finish. Perfect for shellfish.

Cabernet Franc, this wine is young. earthy notes of tobacco and currants filled the aromas in the glass. Jammy flavors of black cherries and raspberries. Wonderful tannins give the finish a slight peppery flavor. This wine will age well.

The Chamborcin Port-Style at Terra Nebulo

Tish wanted a  glass, of course she did.

After our 4 stop of the day we closed the day with a glass at Sunset Hills Vineyard just off of Berlin Parkway.

A nice view to end the day.

I enjoyed the Petit Verdot and Tish got the Viognier.

With marking these 4 off my list, this brings me to 124 visited this year. My next visit to Loudoun will be my last as I will have visited them all.

Next week will take me into Lousia county and the Lake Anna area.

It’s October and this ride is coming to an end.