White Wine Pairs Best with Speedos

It's the end of June which means it's time to swap your hooded sweatshirt for a sleeve monster (sleeveless tee, preferably made by "No Fear"), your boots for a nice pair of flippy floppy's and your jeans for an American flag Speedo...You guessed it; It's summer time!!!

Summer time is strange because although it's the season where everyone wants to do as they please and go on a spontaneous road trip with the "broskis" or lay around and do nothing (like the days of our youth). The truth is we can't. Notice next time you get drunk and try to make plans with someone. You will find that you'll end up going through each weekend finding they are full then saying "We'll figure it out", high fiving said person, and walk away saying "Well that's not happening".

In Seattle, we have to face the fact that July, August and half of September are really the only months we have nice weather and can, quite frankly, actually do shit.

Take a look at your calendar or day planner and you'll find that the majority of the weekends are booked with parties, weddings, vacations, bbq's, visitors, or fake plans to get out of other lame things (It's the truth, we are adults now). This leaves you very little free time to prepare for events and sometimes forcing you to show up to these things, not empty handed (blasphemy), but contributing crap like a bag of Ruffles or a 6 pack of Zima that you clearly got at the 7-11 down the block. I don't want you to be that person this year. Don't throw a 6 pack of Busch Light into the cooler and start making yourself a mojio with the stuff someone else brought. You don't have to break the bank to be proud of what you contribute to an event.

That's why I'm having my Summer Deals Tasting tomorrow,Thursday 6/28 at 6pm. I want to provide people with some easy, low priced, quality wine that people can bust out and turn some heads this summer. I know it's not one of the manliest things I've ever said, but nothing goes better with a nice summer day than a glass of rose or white wine. At the tasting will be the opportunity to taste, enjoy, and grab some bottles of Cote de Provence Rose, a super refreshing Vinho Verde from Portugal and a wonderful, ready to drink Sangiovese from Tuscany. They are can't miss choices!

The main goal of loving wine is to find great wine for an even better price (corny, but true), I did that for you and all you need to do is come in and grab some tomorrow night! Look at it as a summer kick off and a place to get your 4th of July beverages. Lets meet at Two Tartes and not at the Parnell's Corner Store beer section. Hope to see you there!

Washington Deserves a Finger

Remember those discussions you used to have with your friends as a youngster? Who is the sickest X-Men, whose 8 ball slammer could take the most pogs in one drop, who was the hottest Golden Girl, or my favorite; if your hand was a drink dispenser, what flavor would you put on your five fingers? When you were 10 it was something like chocolate milk and Hi C from Mcdonalds, apple juice, orange juice and sprite.. Then as an 18 year old it was Coors light, Miller light, Bud light, Smirnoff Ice, and water (for the hangover bro). Extremely lame but true.


As not serious as that discussion was and still is, I'd still like to think my list has evolved into something I can be proud of. If I really could have five drinks at my convenience that could be consumed through my thumb, index, middle, ring and pinky, what would I pick? My fingers would definitely contain two red Burgundies (Chambolle and Morey with the climate undecided. Chill out, I'm not taking it that serious), a Washington state red (probably a syrah), Grolsch (dutch beer) and Manny's Pale Ale (Georgetown Brewing Company). 


I choose to leave the H2O out of the fingers because the French taught me that drinking water is for babies and you save the hydration for the day time. Grown ups drink beer and wine at night. But anywho, I truly believe Washington wines belong on my list because it is that damn good. Living in France, my appreciation for Washington grew tenfold after realizing that it does compete on the international scale. I stand by that and it's only a matter of time before Walla Walla and Columbia Valley are recognized as true world class wine regions (people are aware, but many books and experts save a massive two sentences or a paragraph for Washington when others get pages and chapters...BS!)


Tomorrow (6/21), I am running a tasting event showcasing not only wines that come from Washington state, but are from producers that are located within a mile of Two Tartes Cafe. Fall Line Winery and Bartholomew Winery will help me prove just how unique Washington truly is. Where else in the world where you can present high quality Tempranillo, a right bank Bordeaux style blend (Cab Franc, Merlot, and Cab Sauvingnon blended together), Aligote and a dry Riesling all grown in the same wine growning region? Please show me another region where you can do this that isn't in located the great state of Washington?


I think it's important to understand what is produced locally in your own backyard before you start venturing out across this vast world of wines. It's the right thing to do because if you are from Seattle or Washington state, you are supporting local businesses on top of discovering top notch wines. Drink more Washington, I guarantee one will end up as your middle finger or thumb for your next weird ass discussion.


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Back from Burgundy- Moves to be Made

This past month has been a whirlwind. After a week in London for the London International Wine Fair (which was a wonderful place for networking, but not so much for tasting top wines or meeting a wineries top people. Was really interested in learning about New York wines but it turned out I knew more about them than the woman who was presenting them. Bummer.) and a last hurrah in Paris (French Open and Fallafel with my brother and his wife) and Burgundy (grubbing and raging with my homies), I am back in Seattle. I can't write this post-France blog post without giving a shout out to my friends at Maison Ilan www.maisonilan.com. Working with Ray and Chris Walker gave me an insight to Burgundy that very few Americans can get, and they are probably the coolest and nicest people I've met in a while. If you haven't heard of their wines you probably aren't too familiar with Burgundy just yet. Ask to get on the mailing list now because they will be sold out for many years to come. See you guys soon!

I will pretend that people are super interested in my future and what I'm up to so here is what I'm up to.

Now that I have returned to 'Merica, along with writing, I will be working at Two Tartes Cafe and Catering www.twotartes.com as the head marketer and director of events (Two Tartes on FB). The Alcove at Two Tartes is a wonderful space that is perfect for intimate (small) concerts, wine and food tastings, private parties. I'm planning events right now at the Alcove so if you have any recommendations or questions I am all ears. Holler at our facebook page and twitter if you can't make it in to chat and have lunch. If you haven't seen the space yet, head down to Georgetown this Saturday 6/9 for the Georgetown Carnival between 12-5.  We will be drinking what many would call "hella beers" and pouring some very nice wines for everyone to enjoy. Also attending will be the stereo I used in college. So even though it won't be blasting Tool, 36 Mafia or Lil Wayne's Carter 2 like it was doing in 2005, it will most definitely be bothering the neighbors and satisfying those who love hanging out and listening to tunes.

Thanks to everyone who reads my blog where ever you may be. I'm very lucky (humbled) and grateful (blessed) to have awesome people read what I write. The future is going to be very interesting so stay tuned and I will make sure to do my best to make you laugh while dropping some wine/food knowledge on you.

Btw, tell me you read this when you are at the Georgetown Carnival and I will sell you beers and cookies for $1...Common gang, you can't even buy a spray of cologne or a condom at a bowling alley for $1 anymore so that is an amazing deal.