(1319,1,'2013-06-16 17:40:55','2013-06-16 21:40:55','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1901.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858950.0525\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" height=\"267\" alt=\"Simple Spanish food: the perfect salad dressed with Spanish olive oil and sherry vinegar\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When I get back from Spain I&#39;m a bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful food and wine experiences. It&#39;s hard for me to get down to writing about it, so I&#39;m going to start today with some simple and perfect Spanish food: the composed salad.  It&#39;s anything lovely arranged on a plate and dressed most simply with top notch olive oil, vinegar and sea salt.  These plates were mainstays on my Spanish family&#39;s table...a favorite was tomato, cebolleta (baby onions), perfect oil-packed tuna or bonito. I used to have to avoid my American tendency to over-complicate and heap on ingredients...now I fully embrace the minimalism.  My only concession to a US palate today is the use of fresh ground pepper and maybe a fancy salt.  Look at this beauty I made the other day....just avocado, Kumato tomatoes and Vidalia onion dressed with Marques de Griñon olive oil, spectacular Romate aged sherry vinegar, and Soso chili sea salt. Perfect with a glass of rosado cava!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My relationship with Spanish salads has often been complicated.  Not so with the dressing.  There is nothing better than the last minute dressing of olive oil, vinegar and salt thrown together,without measuring, at the last minute.  It&#39;s the only dressing in Spain, the condiments arrive with your naked salad at the table and one lucky person is picked to dress the salad for the table.  Such a simple operation, with no recipe, can seem complicated and intimidating to the uninitiated and the quantities of olive oil used can also be initially off-putting, but try it and you will come to love it.  The lovely pool of oil and vinegar left at the bottom when you finish makes for spectacular bread dipping!   Now that I&#39;m back home, I can&#39;t even touch most prepared dressings...they are seem so heavy and sticky. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"300\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Marques de Griñon olive oil, Romate PX sherry vinegar and Soso salt make a perfect salad dressing \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1900.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858922.793\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" alt=\"Simple Spanish food: a perfect Salad dressed with Spanish olive oil and Spanish sherry vinegar\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The salads, composed, or otherwise, in Spain are usually very simple. I confess that while I lived there, I often found the salads a bit repetitive.  I craved the 15 ingredient, deluxe American salad so much that my secret vice was a regular trip to the fast food VIPS chain for one of their enormous, American-style salads.  I loved those monsters!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">More sophisticated salads have long been available in the Catalan region and other regions where vegetables are highlighted, such as Navarra, La Rioja.  Tendencies are changing, but most salads remain pretty simple, with just a handful of ingredients.  The truly inferior ones have iceberg lettuce, tasteless tomatoes, and pools of water at the bottom!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The longer I&#39;m back, the more I appreciate and miss a top quality, simple salad.  The ingredients are highlighted, you can taste and savor every one, and the meal leaves you lighter in every way.  To get those lovely salads here in the US you often have to go to fine dining establishments...what is available at the more economical level leaves a lot to be desired.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"300\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"The good stuff!  Perfect for dipping bread!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1907.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858934.7507\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" height=\"375\" alt=\"The perfect Spanish salad with olive oil and sherry vinegar\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Luckily those simple salads are so easy to make at home!  I play around a lot but here are some classic Spanish combinations:</p>\n\n<span style=\"text-align: justify; \"><ul>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">The basic ensalada mixta: romaine lettuce, great tomatoes, onions, great quality canned tuna in olive oil, and a few olives....I like the anchovy stuffed ones.  There are many variations of this salad, but it is usually quite simple.  Dressed in the typical Spanish way....heavy with both oil and vinegar</li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Green salad:  just lettuce and sweet onions, often cebolleta, dressed heavy on the vinegar.  Usually seen with the meat course.  Perfect acidic foil for a fatty dish, such as roast suckling pig or lamb, or a chuleta (steak).  Different lettuces are appreciated here, frisée, mâche, or whatever is available.  </li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tomato salad: we eat this at El Timonel in Marbella.  Just great tomatoes, minced garlic, generous olive oil, salt, and a tiny splash of sherry vinegar.  Left to marinate for a couple of hours to blend the flavors....amazing!</li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roasted pepper salad: typical everywhere in Andalucia, each place has a slight twist.  Fresh roasted peppers are best, but good quality jarred ones will do in a pinch.  Lots of roasted red peppers, grated tomato (on a box grater..discard skin), minced garlic, rings of sweet onions, lots of olive oil, and some sherry vinegar, salt to taste.  This salad gets better with time.  </li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roasted pepper with bonito: this one is just roasted red pepper with oil-packed bonito tuna on top, simply dressed.  A perfect combination.  Bonito is widely available in the US but is pricy.  Good quality oil-packed tuna can be substituted, but you&#39;ll be amazed at the bonito!  </li>\n</ul>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So many great possibilities...but simplicity and good olive oil are key to success!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wine matching here can be a challenge, sherry vinegar is very acidic.  The olive oil and any fat such as avocado or oil-cured tuna will also round out the salad and make it easier to match.   I really like a cava with Spanish salads....the acidity and sparkle really stands up well. Also a great dry Spanish rosé is excellent...the lightness and freshness of white, with the aromas of a light red...perfect!  The best of both worlds can be found in my favorite rosado cava de Nit by Raventos I Blanc!  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</span><p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Simple Spanish Food: The Perfect Salad','When I get back from Spain I\'m a bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful food and wine experiences. It\'s hard for me to get down to writing about it, so I\'m going to start today with some simple and perfect Spanish food: the composed salad. It\'s anything lovely arranged on a plate and dressed most simply with top notch olive oil, vinegar and sea salt. These plates were mainstays on my Spanish family\'s table...a favorite was tomato, cebolleta (baby onions), perfect oil-packed tuna or bonito. I used to have to avoid my American tendency to over-complicate and heap on ingredients...now I fully embrace the minimalism.  My only concession to a US palate today is the use of fresh ground pepper and maybe a fancy salt. Look at this beauty I made the other day....just avocado, Kumato tomatoes and Vidalia onion dressed with Marques de Griñon olive oil, spectacular Romate aged sherry vinegar, and Soso chili sea salt. Perfect with a glass of rosado cava!','inherit','open','open','','1318-revision','','','2013-06-16 17:40:55','2013-06-16 21:40:55','',1318,'http://planetavino.net/2013/06/16/1318-revision/',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (1321,1,'2013-07-16 03:32:59','2013-07-16 07:32:59','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374461729548.6062\" alt=\"Peña Caballera Garnacha: great Spanish wine from the Madrid region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a <a title=\"Best steaks in Madrid: Vaca Nostra\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/best-steaks-in-madrid-vaca-nostra/\">perfect steak experience</a> at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</span></p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region. I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish wines: Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/21/undiscovered-spanish-wines-vinos-de-madrid/\">blog article</a>.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo. On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority. They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically. The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels. The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it. For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat. Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish. Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','publish','open','open','','spanish-wine-review-pena-caballera-garnacha-2011','','http://planetavino.net/2013/04/21/undiscovered-spanish-wines-vinos-de-madrid/\nhttp://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/best-steaks-in-madrid-vaca-nostra/','2013-07-21 22:59:04','2013-07-22 02:59:04','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1321',0,'post','',2),(1322,1,'2013-07-16 03:32:57','2013-07-16 07:32:57','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1373959979578.1606\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" alt=\"Bodega Maroñes makes great Spanish wine near Madrid\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha.  It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone&#39;s first choice.  But I couldn&#39;t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price.  What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable!  The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak.  Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region.  I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous blog article. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo.  On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority.  They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically.  The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels.  The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it.  For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat.  Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish.  Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision','','','2013-07-16 03:32:57','2013-07-16 07:32:57','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/16/1321-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1324,1,'2013-07-16 03:48:09','2013-07-16 07:48:09','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1373959979578.1606\" alt=\"Bodega Maroñes makes great Spanish wine near Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region. I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish wines: Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/21/undiscovered-spanish-wines-vinos-de-madrid/\">blog article</a>.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo. On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority. They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically. The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels. The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it. For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat. Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish. Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so.</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-autosave','','','2013-07-16 03:48:09','2013-07-16 07:48:09','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/16/1321-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1325,1,'2013-07-16 03:33:15','2013-07-16 07:33:15','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1373959979578.1606\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" alt=\"Bodega Maroñes makes great Spanish wine near Madrid\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha.  It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone&#39;s first choice.  But I couldn&#39;t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price.  What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable!  The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak.  Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region.  I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous blog article. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo.  On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority.  They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically.  The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels.  The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it.  For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat.  Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish.  Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so. </p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-2','','','2013-07-16 03:33:15','2013-07-16 07:33:15','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/16/1321-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1326,1,'2013-07-16 03:45:11','2013-07-16 07:45:11','','peña caballera 2011 thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','pena-caballera-2011-thumbnail','','','2013-07-16 03:45:11','2013-07-16 07:45:11','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/peña-caballera-2011-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1327,1,'2013-07-16 03:36:52','2013-07-16 07:36:52','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1373959979578.1606\" alt=\"Bodega Maroñes makes great Spanish wine near Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region. I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish wines: Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/21/undiscovered-spanish-wines-vinos-de-madrid/\">blog article</a>.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo. On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority. They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically. The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels. The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it. For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat. Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish. Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so.</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-3','','','2013-07-16 03:36:52','2013-07-16 07:36:52','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/16/1321-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1329,1,'2013-07-19 23:58:23','2013-07-20 03:58:23','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374462094941.1416\" alt=\"Bodegas Tradición Oloroso Sherry: great Spanish wine\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...anspectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</span></p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though only founded in 1998, <a title=\"Bodegas Tradición: great Spanish Sherries\" href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Tradición</a> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends. They produce only four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality. The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez. The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old. They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry. The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity. It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods. The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry. It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins. Also coffee and caramel aromas. An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. I had mine in lieu of dessert with coffee after my <a title=\"Best steaks in Madrid: Vaca Nostra\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/best-steaks-in-madrid-vaca-nostra/\">fantastic steak meal</a> at Vaca Nostra.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York. DC just got its first sherry bar, <a title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\" href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Mockingbird Hill</a>! Sherry and ham bar! Flights of sherry! How exciting is that!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let\'s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','publish','open','open','','spanish-wine-review-oloroso-bodegas-tradicion-30yrs','','','2013-07-21 23:04:31','2013-07-22 03:04:31','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1329',0,'post','',0),(1330,1,'2013-07-21 13:29:45','2013-07-21 17:29:45','','Simple Spanish salad thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','simple-spanish-salad-thumbnail','','','2013-07-21 13:29:45','2013-07-21 17:29:45','',1318,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Simple-Spanish-salad-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1331,1,'2013-06-16 17:43:39','2013-06-16 21:43:39','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1901.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858950.0525\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" height=\"267\" alt=\"Simple Spanish food: the perfect salad dressed with Spanish olive oil and sherry vinegar\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When I get back from Spain I&#39;m a bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful food and wine experiences. It&#39;s hard for me to get down to writing about it, so I&#39;m going to start today with some simple and perfect Spanish food: the composed salad.  It&#39;s anything lovely arranged on a plate and dressed most simply with top notch olive oil, vinegar and sea salt.  These plates were mainstays on my Spanish family&#39;s table...a favorite was tomato, cebolleta (baby onions), perfect oil-packed tuna or bonito. I used to have to avoid my American tendency to over-complicate and heap on ingredients...now I fully embrace the minimalism.  My only concession to a US palate today is the use of fresh ground pepper and maybe a fancy salt.  Look at this beauty I made the other day....just avocado, Kumato tomatoes and Vidalia onion dressed with Marques de Griñon olive oil, spectacular Romate aged sherry vinegar, and Soso chili sea salt. Perfect with a glass of rosado cava!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My relationship with Spanish salads has often been complicated.  Not so with the dressing.  There is nothing better than the last minute dressing of olive oil, vinegar and salt thrown together,without measuring, at the last minute.  It&#39;s the only dressing in Spain, the condiments arrive with your naked salad at the table and one lucky person is picked to dress the salad for the table.  Such a simple operation, with no recipe, can seem complicated and intimidating to the uninitiated and the quantities of olive oil used can also be initially off-putting, but try it and you will come to love it.  The lovely pool of oil and vinegar left at the bottom when you finish makes for spectacular bread dipping!   Now that I&#39;m back home, I can&#39;t even touch most prepared dressings...they are seem so heavy and sticky. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"300\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Marques de Griñon olive oil, Romate PX sherry vinegar and Soso salt make a perfect salad dressing \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1900.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858922.793\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" alt=\"Simple Spanish food: a perfect Salad dressed with Spanish olive oil and Spanish sherry vinegar\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The salads, composed, or otherwise, in Spain are usually very simple. I confess that while I lived there, I often found the salads a bit repetitive.  I craved the 15 ingredient, deluxe American salad so much that my secret vice was a regular trip to the fast food VIPS chain for one of their enormous, American-style salads.  I loved those monsters!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">More sophisticated salads have long been available in the Catalan region and other regions where vegetables are highlighted, such as Navarra, La Rioja.  Tendencies are changing, but most salads remain pretty simple, with just a handful of ingredients.  The truly inferior ones have iceberg lettuce, tasteless tomatoes, and pools of water at the bottom!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The longer I&#39;m back, the more I appreciate and miss a top quality, simple salad.  The ingredients are highlighted, you can taste and savor every one, and the meal leaves you lighter in every way.  To get those lovely salads here in the US you often have to go to fine dining establishments...what is available at the more economical level leaves a lot to be desired.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"300\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"The good stuff!  Perfect for dipping bread!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1907.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858934.7507\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\" height=\"375\" alt=\"The perfect Spanish salad with olive oil and sherry vinegar\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Luckily those simple salads are so easy to make at home!  I play around a lot but here are some classic Spanish combinations:</p>\n\n<span style=\"text-align: justify; \"><ul>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">The basic ensalada mixta: romaine lettuce, great tomatoes, onions, great quality canned tuna in olive oil, and a few olives....I like the anchovy stuffed ones.  There are many variations of this salad, but it is usually quite simple.  Dressed in the typical Spanish way....heavy with both oil and vinegar</li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Green salad:  just lettuce and sweet onions, often cebolleta, dressed heavy on the vinegar.  Usually seen with the meat course.  Perfect acidic foil for a fatty dish, such as roast suckling pig or lamb, or a chuleta (steak).  Different lettuces are appreciated here, frisée, mâche, or whatever is available.  </li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tomato salad: we eat this at El Timonel in Marbella.  Just great tomatoes, minced garlic, generous olive oil, salt, and a tiny splash of sherry vinegar.  Left to marinate for a couple of hours to blend the flavors....amazing!</li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roasted pepper salad: typical everywhere in Andalucia, each place has a slight twist.  Fresh roasted peppers are best, but good quality jarred ones will do in a pinch.  Lots of roasted red peppers, grated tomato (on a box grater..discard skin), minced garlic, rings of sweet onions, lots of olive oil, and some sherry vinegar, salt to taste.  This salad gets better with time.  </li>\n   <li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roasted pepper with bonito: this one is just roasted red pepper with oil-packed bonito tuna on top, simply dressed.  A perfect combination.  Bonito is widely available in the US but is pricy.  Good quality oil-packed tuna can be substituted, but you&#39;ll be amazed at the bonito!  </li>\n</ul>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So many great possibilities...but simplicity and good olive oil are key to success!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wine matching here can be a challenge, sherry vinegar is very acidic.  The olive oil and any fat such as avocado or oil-cured tuna will also round out the salad and make it easier to match.   I really like a cava with Spanish salads....the acidity and sparkle really stands up well. Also a great dry Spanish rosé is excellent...the lightness and freshness of white, with the aromas of a light red...perfect!  The best of both worlds can be found in my favorite rosado cava de Nit by Raventos I Blanc!  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</span><p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Simple Spanish Food: The Perfect Salad','When I get back from Spain I\'m a bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful food and wine experiences. It\'s hard for me to get down to writing about it, so I\'m going to start today with some simple and perfect Spanish food: the composed salad. It\'s anything lovely arranged on a plate and dressed most simply with top notch olive oil, vinegar and sea salt. These plates were mainstays on my Spanish family\'s table...a favorite was tomato, cebolleta (baby onions), perfect oil-packed tuna or bonito. I used to have to avoid my American tendency to over-complicate and heap on ingredients...now I fully embrace the minimalism.  My only concession to a US palate today is the use of fresh ground pepper and maybe a fancy salt. Look at this beauty I made the other day....just avocado, Kumato tomatoes and Vidalia onion dressed with Marques de Griñon olive oil, spectacular Romate aged sherry vinegar, and Soso chili sea salt. Perfect with a glass of rosado cava!','inherit','open','open','','1318-revision-2','','','2013-06-16 17:43:39','2013-06-16 21:43:39','',1318,'http://planetavino.net/2013/06/16/1318-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1332,1,'2013-07-21 13:32:17','2013-07-21 17:32:17','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1901.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858950.0525\" alt=\"Simple Spanish food: the perfect salad dressed with Spanish olive oil and sherry vinegar\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1901.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"267\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When I get back from Spain I\'m a bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful food and wine experiences. It\'s hard for me to get down to writing about it, so I\'m going to start today with some simple and perfect Spanish food: the composed salad. It\'s anything lovely arranged on a plate and dressed most simply with top notch olive oil, vinegar and sea salt. These plates were mainstays on my Spanish family\'s table...a favorite was tomato, cebolleta (baby onions), perfect oil-packed tuna or bonito. I used to have to avoid my American tendency to over-complicate and heap on ingredients...now I fully embrace the minimalism. My only concession to a US palate today is the use of fresh ground pepper and maybe a fancy salt. Look at this beauty I made the other day....just avocado, Kumato tomatoes and Vidalia onion dressed with Marques de Griñon olive oil, spectacular Romate aged sherry vinegar, and Soso chili sea salt. Perfect with a glass of rosado cava!</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My relationship with Spanish salads has often been complicated. Not so with the dressing. There is nothing better than the last minute dressing of olive oil, vinegar and salt thrown together,without measuring, at the last minute. It\'s the only dressing in Spain, the condiments arrive with your naked salad at the table and one lucky person is picked to dress the salad for the table. Such a simple operation, with no recipe, can seem complicated and intimidating to the uninitiated and the quantities of olive oil used can also be initially off-putting, but try it and you will come to love it. The lovely pool of oil and vinegar left at the bottom when you finish makes for spectacular bread dipping! Now that I\'m back home, I can\'t even touch most prepared dressings...they are seem so heavy and sticky.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858922.793\" alt=\"Simple Spanish food: a perfect Salad dressed with Spanish olive oil and Spanish sherry vinegar\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1900.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a> Marques de Griñon olive oil, Romate PX sherry vinegar and Soso salt make a perfect salad dressing[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The salads, composed, or otherwise, in Spain are usually very simple. I confess that while I lived there, I often found the salads a bit repetitive. I craved the 15 ingredient, deluxe American salad so much that my secret vice was a regular trip to the fast food VIPS chain for one of their enormous, American-style salads. I loved those monsters!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">More sophisticated salads have long been available in the Catalan region and other regions where vegetables are highlighted, such as Navarra, La Rioja. Tendencies are changing, but most salads remain pretty simple, with just a handful of ingredients. The truly inferior ones have iceberg lettuce, tasteless tomatoes, and pools of water at the bottom!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The longer I\'m back, the more I appreciate and miss a top quality, simple salad. The ingredients are highlighted, you can taste and savor every one, and the meal leaves you lighter in every way. To get those lovely salads here in the US you often have to go to fine dining establishments...what is available at the more economical level leaves a lot to be desired.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1907.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1371418858934.7507\" alt=\"The perfect Spanish salad with olive oil and sherry vinegar\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/wpid-Photo-Jun-9-2013-1907.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"375\" /></a> The good stuff! Perfect for dipping bread![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Luckily those simple salads are so easy to make at home! I play around a lot but here are some classic Spanish combinations:</p>\n\n<ul>\n	<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">The basic ensalada mixta: romaine lettuce, great tomatoes, onions, great quality canned tuna in olive oil, and a few olives....I like the anchovy stuffed ones. There are many variations of this salad, but it is usually quite simple. Dressed in the typical Spanish way....heavy with both oil and vinegar</li>\n	<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Green salad: just lettuce and sweet onions, often cebolleta, dressed heavy on the vinegar. Usually seen with the meat course. Perfect acidic foil for a fatty dish, such as roast suckling pig or lamb, or a chuleta (steak). Different lettuces are appreciated here, frisée, mâche, or whatever is available.</li>\n	<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tomato salad: we eat this at El Timonel in Marbella. Just great tomatoes, minced garlic, generous olive oil, salt, and a tiny splash of sherry vinegar. Left to marinate for a couple of hours to blend the flavors....amazing!</li>\n	<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roasted pepper salad: typical everywhere in Andalucia, each place has a slight twist. Fresh roasted peppers are best, but good quality jarred ones will do in a pinch. Lots of roasted red peppers, grated tomato (on a box grater..discard skin), minced garlic, rings of sweet onions, lots of olive oil, and some sherry vinegar, salt to taste. This salad gets better with time.</li>\n	<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roasted pepper with bonito: this one is just roasted red pepper with oil-packed bonito tuna on top, simply dressed. A perfect combination. Bonito is widely available in the US but is pricy. Good quality oil-packed tuna can be substituted, but you\'ll be amazed at the bonito!</li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So many great possibilities...but simplicity and good olive oil are key to success!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wine matching here can be a challenge, sherry vinegar is very acidic. The olive oil and any fat such as avocado or oil-cured tuna will also round out the salad and make it easier to match. I really like a cava with Spanish salads....the acidity and sparkle really stands up well. Also a great dry Spanish rosé is excellent...the lightness and freshness of white, with the aromas of a light red...perfect! The best of both worlds can be found in my favorite rosado cava de Nit by Raventos I Blanc!</p>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Simple Spanish Food: The Perfect Salad','When I get back from Spain I\'m a bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful food and wine experiences. It\'s hard for me to get down to writing about it, so I\'m going to start today with some simple and perfect Spanish food: the composed salad. It\'s anything lovely arranged on a plate and dressed most simply with top notch olive oil, vinegar and sea salt. These plates were mainstays on my Spanish family\'s table...a favorite was tomato, cebolleta (baby onions), perfect oil-packed tuna or bonito. I used to have to avoid my American tendency to over-complicate and heap on ingredients...now I fully embrace the minimalism.  My only concession to a US palate today is the use of fresh ground pepper and maybe a fancy salt. Look at this beauty I made the other day....just avocado, Kumato tomatoes and Vidalia onion dressed with Marques de Griñon olive oil, spectacular Romate aged sherry vinegar, and Soso chili sea salt. Perfect with a glass of rosado cava!','inherit','open','open','','1318-autosave','','','2013-07-21 13:32:17','2013-07-21 17:32:17','',1318,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1318-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1333,1,'2013-07-21 13:36:50','2013-07-21 17:36:50','','Tradicion 30yr Oloroso thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','tradicion-30yr-oloroso-thumbnail','','','2013-07-21 13:36:50','2013-07-21 17:36:50','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tradicion-30yr-Oloroso-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1334,1,'2013-07-19 23:58:20','2013-07-20 03:58:20','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374292703287.9165\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\" alt=\"Amazing Spanish wine: aged Oloroso sherry from Bodegas Tradición \"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it&#39;s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" style=\"text-align: justify; \">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; \"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span></p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.  The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got it&#39;s first sherry bar, <a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it\'s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision','','','2013-07-19 23:58:20','2013-07-20 03:58:20','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/19/1329-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1335,1,'2013-07-21 23:05:44','2013-07-22 03:05:44','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374462094941.1416\" alt=\"Bodegas Tradición Oloroso Sherry: great Spanish wine\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...anspectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</span></p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though only founded in 1998, <a title=\"Bodegas Tradición: great Spanish Sherries\" href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Tradición</a> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends. They produce only four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality. The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez. The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old. They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry. The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity. It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods. The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry. It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins. Also coffee and caramel aromas. An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. I had mine in lieu of dessert with coffee after my <a title=\"Best steaks in Madrid: Vaca Nostra\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/best-steaks-in-madrid-vaca-nostra/\">fantastic steak meal</a> at Vaca Nostra.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York. DC just got its first sherry bar, <a title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\" href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Mockingbird Hill</a>! Sherry and ham bar! Flights of sherry! How exciting is that!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let\'s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-autosave','','','2013-07-21 23:05:44','2013-07-22 03:05:44','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1336,1,'2013-07-21 13:38:13','2013-07-21 17:38:13','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374292703287.9165\" alt=\"Amazing Spanish wine: aged Oloroso sherry from Bodegas Tradición \" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it\'s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a style=\"text-align: justify;\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify;\"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends. They produce only four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality. The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez. The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old. They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry. The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity. It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods. The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry. It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods. The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins. Also coffee and caramel aromas. An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York. DC just got it\'s first sherry bar, <a title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\" href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Mockingbird Hill</a>! Sherry and ham bar! Flights of sherry! How exciting is that!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let\'s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it\'s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-2','','','2013-07-21 13:38:13','2013-07-21 17:38:13','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1337,1,'2013-07-21 13:39:36','2013-07-21 17:39:36','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374292703287.9165\" alt=\"Amazing Spanish wine: aged Oloroso sherry from Bodegas Tradición \" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a style=\"text-align: justify;\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify;\"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends. They produce only four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality. The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez. The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old. They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry. The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity. It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods. The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry. It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods. The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins. Also coffee and caramel aromas. An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York. DC just got its first sherry bar, <a title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\" href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Mockingbird Hill</a>! Sherry and ham bar! Flights of sherry! How exciting is that!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let\'s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it\'s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-3','','','2013-07-21 13:39:36','2013-07-21 17:39:36','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1338,1,'2013-07-21 14:11:48','2013-07-21 18:11:48','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it&#39;s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" style=\"text-align: justify; \">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; \"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span></p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.  The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got it&#39;s first sherry bar, <a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it\'s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-4','','','2013-07-21 14:11:48','2013-07-21 18:11:48','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1339,1,'2013-07-21 14:13:17','2013-07-21 18:13:17','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" style=\"text-align: justify; \">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; \"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span></p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.  The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got it&#39;s first sherry bar, <a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-5','','','2013-07-21 14:13:17','2013-07-21 18:13:17','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1340,1,'2013-07-21 14:15:33','2013-07-21 18:15:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" style=\"text-align: justify; \">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; \"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span></p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.  The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got its first sherry bar, <a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-6','','','2013-07-21 14:15:33','2013-07-21 18:15:33','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1341,1,'2013-07-21 14:16:43','2013-07-21 18:16:43','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" style=\"text-align: justify; \">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; \"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span></p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.  The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got its first sherry bar, <a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-7','','','2013-07-21 14:16:43','2013-07-21 18:16:43','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1344,1,'2013-07-21 14:17:18','2013-07-21 18:17:18','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a style=\"text-align: justify;\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify;\"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends. They produce only four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality. The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez. The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old. They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry. The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity. It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods. The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry. It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods. The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins. Also coffee and caramel aromas. An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York. DC just got its first sherry bar, <a title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\" href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Mockingbird Hill</a>! Sherry and ham bar! Flights of sherry! How exciting is that!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let\'s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with it\'s small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-8','','','2013-07-21 14:17:18','2013-07-21 18:17:18','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1345,1,'2013-07-21 14:45:12','2013-07-21 18:45:12','','wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-16-2013-1228-jpg-2','','','2013-07-21 14:45:12','2013-07-21 18:45:12','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1346,1,'2013-07-21 14:26:02','2013-07-21 18:26:02','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374431165060.6772\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Bodegas Tradición Oloroso Sherry: Great Spanish wine\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\"></a></div>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</span></div>\n\n<!--more--><p><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Though only founded in 1998, </span><a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: Amazing aged sherries\" style=\"text-align: justify; \">Bodegas Tradición</a><span style=\"text-align: justify; \"> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</span></p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.  The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got its first sherry bar, <a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-9','','','2013-07-21 14:26:02','2013-07-21 18:26:02','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1347,1,'2013-07-16 03:47:00','2013-07-16 07:47:00','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1373959979578.1606\" alt=\"Bodega Maroñes makes great Spanish wine near Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region. I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish wines: Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/21/undiscovered-spanish-wines-vinos-de-madrid/\">blog article</a>.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo. On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority. They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically. The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels. The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it. For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat. Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish. Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so.</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-4','','','2013-07-16 03:47:00','2013-07-16 07:47:00','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/16/1321-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1348,1,'2013-07-21 14:51:35','2013-07-21 18:51:35','','wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-16-2013-323-jpg','','','2013-07-21 14:51:35','2013-07-21 18:51:35','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1349,1,'2013-07-21 14:49:09','2013-07-21 18:49:09','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha.  It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone&#39;s first choice.  But I couldn&#39;t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price.  What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable!  The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak.  Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region.  I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous blog article. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo.  On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority.  They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically.  The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels.  The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it.  For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat.  Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish.  Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-5','','','2013-07-21 14:49:09','2013-07-21 18:49:09','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1321-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1350,1,'2013-07-21 22:50:35','2013-07-22 02:50:35','','wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-21-2013-2227-jpg','','','2013-07-21 22:50:35','2013-07-22 02:50:35','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1351,1,'2013-07-21 22:50:38','2013-07-22 02:50:38','','wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-18-2013-1744-jpg','','','2013-07-21 22:50:38','2013-07-22 02:50:38','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1352,1,'2013-07-21 22:50:40','2013-07-22 02:50:40','','wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-21-2013-2212-jpg','','','2013-07-21 22:50:40','2013-07-22 02:50:40','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1353,1,'2013-07-21 22:50:42','2013-07-22 02:50:42','','wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-21-2013-2210-jpg','','','2013-07-21 22:50:42','2013-07-22 02:50:42','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1354,1,'2013-07-21 22:50:45','2013-07-22 02:50:45','','wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-18-2013-1549-jpg','','','2013-07-21 22:50:45','2013-07-22 02:50:45','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1355,1,'2013-07-21 22:50:49','2013-07-22 02:50:49','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449759.922\" alt=\"Vaca Nostra for a great steak meal in Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg\" width=\"223\" height=\"204\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Great meat is easy to find in Spain, we are spoiled with fantastic chuletón steaks and amazing ibérico pork. The best quality cuts are prepared most simply, grilled, rarely a sauce in sight, allowing the meats to shine. I have such great memories of simple Basque steakhouses or asadores, where the only thing on the menu is a great steak served with peppers, green salad and Rioja wine. Restaurante Vaca Nostra in Madrid, takes the cult of meat in Spain to an even higher level. An almost all-meat menu, with rare cuts of dry-aged beef and special artisanal lamb, a meat consultant to aid you in your selection, and a great supporting cast of starters, side dishes and wines to support your meat experience. It can come at a price, depending on how far you let yourself go, but you will have an outstanding, truly carnivorous experience.</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steaks\" href=\"http://www.vacanostra.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Vaca Nostra</a> is the showpiece restaurant of the Raza Nostra meat empire. Raza Nostra is a chain of luxury butchers that gained fame with their huge selection of gourmet hamburgers (30) and soon opened over a dozen restaurants and stands to sell both the raw and cooked product. You can find the hamburgers in such well known tapas areas as the Mercado de San Miguel and the Mercado de San Antón. The restaurants takes the Raza Nostra experience to a much more luxurious level.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The restaurant is located at far north in Madrid at Paseo de la Castellana 257, right at the foot of the new skyscrapers that have come to define the Madrid skyline. The restaurant has two parts, one the more informal barra de tapas, where you can get the great hamburgers, and one the more formal steakhouse.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449777.4343\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak \" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"418\" /></a> Cold, modern decor is made up for by war, attentive service![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decor is quite cold and modern in a way that remains popular in Madrid, but the warmth and quality of the service more than makes up for that. Really good service!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are some great starters, some nice salads and veggies, but we decided to go carnivorous even here and went for the steak tartare, which is prepared to taste tableside. Served with with a small green salad, it was a classic blend of onions, capers, mustard, and cornichons, with just enough Tabasco kick. The quality of the meat was outstanding....the most important part!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449758.048\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg\" width=\"332\" height=\"344\" /></a> Custom steak tartare[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A huge selection of beef varieties and cuts are available, plus many off menu that your meat consultant will advise you of. There is also a small, but excellent selection of lamb, as well as some great fresh cuts of ibérico pork in certain seasons. It\'s really all about the beef though!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We chose a 14-year old buey or steer from Galicia that had been dry-aged for four months! Buey is harder to find these days and I had never any had aged for so long. The steak was presented to us before grilling...see these great before and after shots below. It was served with a green salad, french fries, and some grilled spring onions.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"326\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449726.7122\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg\" width=\"326\" height=\"317\" /></a> Before[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We asked for it rare, but I would have liked it even rarer to savor all those aged flavors. It was one of the best steaks I have ever had...if not the best. Complex savory, juicy, tender, great fat and texture. It was extremely expensive, almost 100€ for a 2.5lb bone-in steak, but it was a special great for my special birthday meal.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"377\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449746.7568\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg\" width=\"377\" height=\"282\" /></a> After....yum![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can check out the menu at the website and many of the steaks and cuts are not that expensive. The starters and wine are very good value. With careful ordering, the bill can be moderate instead of expensive.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking of wine, the list is organized and fulfilled exclusively by Lavinia, one of Madrid\'s most prominent wine stores. Even the sommeliers are Lavinia trained and sponsored. The list is fairly short, but very good and really well priced.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We had a wonderful Madrid Garnacha, Peña Caballera 2011, that complemented the earthiness of the meat perfectly. Check my review here.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the ultimate steak experience, you can go to Vaca Nostra, or try one of the more casual <a title=\"Hamburguesa Nostra in Madrid for great hamburger\" href=\"http://www.hamburguesanostra.com/\" target=\"_blank\">hamburger places</a> to try some of Raza Nostra\'s fine meats.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\r\n&nbsp;','Best steaks in Madrid: Vaca Nostra','Great meat is easy to find in Spain, we are spoiled with fantastic chuletón steaks and amazing ibérico pork. The best quality cuts are prepared most simply, grilled, rarely a sauce in sight, allowing the meats to shine.  I have such great memories of simple Basque steakhouses or asadores, where the only thing on the menu is a great steak served with peppers, green salad and Rioja wine.  Restaurante Vaca Nostra in Madrid, takes the cult of meat in Spain to an even higher level.  An almost all-meat menu, with rare cuts of dry-aged beef and special artisanal lamb, a meat consultant to aid you in your selection, and a great supporting cast of starters, side dishes and wines to support your meat experience.  It can come at a price, depending on how far you let yourself go, but you will have an outstanding, truly carnivorous experience.','publish','open','open','','best-steaks-in-madrid-vaca-nostra','','','2013-07-21 23:10:00','2013-07-22 03:10:00','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1355',0,'post','',0),(1356,1,'2013-07-21 14:51:37','2013-07-21 18:51:37','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374432700647.4697\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Peña Caballera Garnacha: great Spanish wine from the Madrid region\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha.  It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone&#39;s first choice.  But I couldn&#39;t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price.  What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable!  The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak.  Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</span></p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region.  I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous blog article. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo.  On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority.  They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically.  The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels.  The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it.  For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat.  Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish.  Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-6','','','2013-07-21 14:51:37','2013-07-21 18:51:37','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1321-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(1357,1,'2013-07-21 22:52:41','2013-07-22 02:52:41','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374432700647.4697\" alt=\"Peña Caballera Garnacha: great Spanish wine from the Madrid region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</span></p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region. I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish wines: Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/21/undiscovered-spanish-wines-vinos-de-madrid/\">blog article</a>.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo. On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority. They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically. The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels. The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it. For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat. Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish. Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-7','','','2013-07-21 22:52:41','2013-07-22 02:52:41','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1321-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(1358,1,'2013-07-21 22:56:45','2013-07-22 02:56:45','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374461729548.6062\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Peña Caballera Garnacha: great Spanish wine from the Madrid region\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha.  It was a bit of a risk as I was having a <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/best-steaks-in-madrid-vaca-nostra/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Vaca Nostra restaurant in Madrid\">perfect steak experience </a>at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone&#39;s first choice.  But I couldn&#39;t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price.  What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable!  The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak.  Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</span></p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region.  I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous blog article. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo.  On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority.  They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically.  The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels.  The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it.  For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat.  Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish.  Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so. </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-8','','','2013-07-21 22:56:45','2013-07-22 02:56:45','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1321-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(1359,1,'2013-07-21 22:58:14','2013-07-22 02:58:14','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374461729548.6062\" alt=\"Peña Caballera Garnacha: great Spanish wine from the Madrid region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-323.jpg\" width=\"220\" height=\"230\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a <a title=\"Best steaks in Madrid: Vaca Nostra\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/best-steaks-in-madrid-vaca-nostra/\">perfect steak experience</a> at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!</span></p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodega Marañones Vinos de Madrid\" href=\"http://www.bodegamaranones.com/en/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas Marañones</a> has been one of the wineries that has brought recognition to the San Martín de Valdeiglesias sub-zone of the Madrid wine region. I wrote about the Madrid wine region, Vinos de Madrid and the three sub-zones in a previous blog article.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With respect for their terroir and environment as mainstays, Bodega Marañones focuses on producing reds from old-vine Grenache and white from Albillo. On their website they say that preserving the special qualities of St Martín Grenache is a top priority. They cite those qualities as being very floral, elegant and delicate, with good acidity and mineral notes.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Peña Caballera is a single vineyard bottling from 50-70 year old vines that is farmed ecologically. The Grenache is fermented in 500 liter open-top barrels, followed by 12 months of aging in used 500 liter French oak barrels. The wine is not filtered, fined or cold stabilization.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery produces four reds and the Peña is its top wine...it costs a very reasonable 25 euros retail In Spain and I was delighted to pay 30 euros at the restaurant for it. For a lower price point, you can try the Treinta Mil Maravedies, the Marañones, and the Labros, costing 11€, 16€, and 17€ respectively.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2011 Peña Caballera is lean and fresh, with bright, elegant fruit, and great acidity. Though it has 14.5% alcohol, it has great balance and you get no sense of alcohol heat. Tannic structure is noticeable but the tannins are very smooth, adding to the long finish. Great food wine...Grenache is a very versatile matcher and the elegance of this one makes it even more so.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Peña Caballera Garnacha 2011','I was back in Madrid and my first Spanish wine had to be from Madrid region and a Garnacha. It was a bit of a risk as I was having a perfect steak experience at the Vaca Nostra restaurant and elegant, lean Madrid Grenache might not be everyone\'s first choice. But I couldn\'t resist the Peña Caballera, a top bottling from Bodega Marañones, especially at such a great price. What a joy to be back where wine markups, even in expensive restaurants, are so reasonable! The Grenache turned out to be a great match for both the steak tartare and the very special 4 month dry aged Galician steak. Great balance, freshness, and a good tannic structure were the perfect, subtle framework for the meats. So happy to be drinking some great Garnacha back in Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1321-revision-9','','','2013-07-21 22:58:14','2013-07-22 02:58:14','',1321,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1321-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(1360,1,'2013-07-21 14:45:14','2013-07-21 18:45:14','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374432317382.876\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\" alt=\"Bodegas Tradición Oloroso Sherry: great Spanish wine\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...anspectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</span></p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though only founded in 1998, <a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: great Spanish Sherries\">Bodegas Tradición</a> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods.  The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-1228.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got its first sherry bar, </a><a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-10','','','2013-07-21 14:45:14','2013-07-21 18:45:14','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(1361,1,'2013-07-21 23:03:33','2013-07-22 03:03:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-16-2013-12281.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374462094941.1416\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Bodegas Tradición Oloroso Sherry: great Spanish wine\" width=\"200\" height=\"288\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I&#39;ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...anspectacular one it was!  Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception.  Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal.  I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours.  Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30-year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?</span></p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though only founded in 1998, <a href=\"http://www.bodegastradicion.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas Tradición: great Spanish Sherries\">Bodegas Tradición</a> was founded by members of old sherry families who were committed to making top, aged sherries. Thanks to the Solera system of aging, with the right connections and financial resources, it is possible to get access to older wines for sherry blends.  They produce only  four main wines, all of which have received many accolades for quality.  The four styles produced are Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximenez.  The first three are 30 years old wines while the PX is 20 years old.  They all range in price between 40 and 50€.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them are amazing complex wines that really show the uniqueness and versatility of sherry.  The Amontillado is the lightest and tanginess style, though with 30 years of aging this Bodgas Tradición wine has remarkable depth and complexity.  It is remarkably food friendly and matches really well with salty and acidic foods.  The Palo Cortado has some similar characteristics but also has some attractive candied fruit aromas, though it is completely dry.  It is also a great match for savory, salted, smoked foods. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Oloroso is much richer and nuttier and though dry can be a great digestive, also a great match for cheeses, pâtés and game. Finally the PX is intensely fruity, with dried fruits of types, figs, dates, raisins.  Also coffee and caramel aromas.  An ideal match with cheese, blue cheeses, fruit cakes, coffee, and dark chocolate.  I had mine in lieu of dessert with coffee after my fantastic steak meal at Vaca Nostra. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winery also makes some very special, rare, single vintage sherries that are very hard to find. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s so great that sherry bars are becoming fashionable in certain markets, in London and New York.  DC just got its first sherry bar, <a href=\"http://www.drinkmoresherry.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Mockingbird Hill, DC, Sherry and Ham bar\">Mockingbird Hill</a>!  Sherry and ham bar!  Flights of sherry!  How exciting is that!   </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Let&#39;s hope this sherry trend continues and this difficult, complex, but so rewarding wine, continues to grow in popularity.</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Oloroso Bodegas Tradición 30yrs','My second Spanish wine while back in Madrid (and here I\'ll stop counting) had to be a sherry...and a spectacular one it was! Bodegas Tradición never disappoints with its small line of complex, aged sherries and the 30yr Oloroso was no exception. Though dry, the multi-layer, complex nutty, roasted and cocoa notes in this amazing wine made it a perfect ending with my coffee after a very rich meal. I love that this oxidized wine stays fresh for months after opening and can be enjoyed in small pours. Though not inexpensive at around 40€ or 75$, it is really great value...what other 30 year old wine can be enjoyed for this price?','inherit','open','open','','1329-revision-11','','','2013-07-21 23:03:33','2013-07-22 03:03:33','',1329,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1329-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(1362,1,'2013-07-21 23:08:38','2013-07-22 03:08:38','','Vaca Nostra thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','vaca-nostra-thumbnail','','','2013-07-21 23:08:38','2013-07-22 03:08:38','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Vaca-Nostra-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1363,1,'2013-07-21 22:50:47','2013-07-22 02:50:47','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449759.922\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"223\" height=\"204\" alt=\"Vaca Nostra for a great steak meal in Madrid\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Great meat is easy to find in Spain, we are spoiled with fantastic chuletón steaks and amazing ibérico pork. The best quality cuts are prepared most simply, grilled, rarely a sauce in sight, allowing the meats to shine.  I have such great memories of simple Basque steakhouses or asadores, where the only thing on the menu is a great steak served with peppers, green salad and Rioja wine.  Restaurante Vaca Nostra in Madrid, takes the cult of meat in Spain to an even higher level.  An almost all-meat menu, with rare cuts of dry-aged beef and special artisanal lamb, a meat consultant to aid you in your selection, and a great supporting cast of starters, side dishes and wines to support your meat experience.  It can come at a price, depending on how far you let yourself go, but you will have an outstanding, truly carnivorous experience.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.vacanostra.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steaks\">Vaca Nostra</a> is the showpiece restaurant of the Raza Nostra meat empire.  Raza Nostra is a chain of luxury butchers that gained fame with their huge selection of gourmet hamburgers (30) and soon opened over a dozen restaurants and stands to sell both the raw and cooked product.  You can find the hamburgers in such well known tapas areas as the Mercado de San Miguel and the Mercado de San Antón.  The restaurants takes the Raza Nostra experience to a much more luxurious level.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The restaurant is located at far north in Madrid at Paseo de la Castellana 257, right at the foot of the new skyscrapers that have come to define the Madrid skyline. The restaurant has two parts, one the more informal barra de tapas, where you can get the great hamburgers, and one the more formal steakhouse.  </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"300\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Cold, modern decor is made up for by war, attentive service!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449777.4343\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak \" width=\"300\" height=\"418\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decor is quite cold and modern in a way that remains popular in Madrid, but the warmth and quality of the service more than makes up for that.  Really good service!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are some great starters, some nice salads and veggies, but we decided to go carnivorous even here and went for the steak tartare, which is prepared to taste tableside.  Served with with a small green salad, it was a classic blend of onions, capers, mustard, and cornichons, with just enough Tabasco kick.  The quality of the meat was outstanding....the most important part!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"332\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Custom steak tartare\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449758.048\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\" height=\"344\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A huge selection of beef varieties and cuts are available, plus many off menu that your meat consultant will advise you of.  There is also a small, but excellent selection of lamb, as well as some great fresh cuts of ibérico pork in certain seasons.  It&#39;s really all about the beef though!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We chose a 14-year old buey or steer from Galicia that had been dry-aged for four months!  Buey is harder to find these days and I had never any had aged for so long.  The steak was presented to us before grilling...see these great before and after shots below. It was served with a green salad, french fries, and some grilled spring onions.  </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"326\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Before\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449726.7122\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"326\" height=\"317\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We asked for it rare, but I would have liked it even rarer to savor all those aged flavors.  It was one of the best steaks I have ever had...if not the best.  Complex savory, juicy, tender, great fat and texture.  It was extremely expensive, almost 100€ for a 2.5lb bone-in steak, but it was a special great for my special birthday meal.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"377\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"After....yum!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449746.7568\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"377\" height=\"282\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can check out the menu at the website and many of the steaks and cuts are not that expensive. The starters and wine are very good value.  With careful ordering, the bill can be moderate instead of expensive.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking of wine, the list is organized and fulfilled exclusively by Lavinia, one of Madrid&#39;s most prominent wine stores.  Even the sommeliers are Lavinia trained and sponsored.  The list is fairly short, but very good and really well priced.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We had a wonderful Madrid Garnacha, Peña Caballera 2011, that complemented the earthiness of the meat perfectly. Check my review here. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the ultimate steak experience, you can go to Vaca Nostra, or try one of the more casual <a href=\"http://www.hamburguesanostra.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Hamburguesa Nostra in Madrid for great hamburger\">hamburger places</a> to try some of Raza Nostra&#39;s fine meats.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best steaks in Madrid: Vaca Nostra','Great meat is easy to find in Spain, we are spoiled with fantastic chuletón steaks and amazing ibérico pork. The best quality cuts are prepared most simply, grilled, rarely a sauce in sight, allowing the meats to shine.  I have such great memories of simple Basque steakhouses or asadores, where the only thing on the menu is a great steak served with peppers, green salad and Rioja wine.  Restaurante Vaca Nostra in Madrid, takes the cult of meat in Spain to an even higher level.  An almost all-meat menu, with rare cuts of dry-aged beef and special artisanal lamb, a meat consultant to aid you in your selection, and a great supporting cast of starters, side dishes and wines to support your meat experience.  It can come at a price, depending on how far you let yourself go, but you will have an outstanding, truly carnivorous experience.','inherit','open','open','','1355-revision','','','2013-07-21 22:50:47','2013-07-22 02:50:47','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1355-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1364,1,'2013-07-21 23:11:10','2013-07-22 03:11:10','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449759.922\" alt=\"Vaca Nostra for a great steak meal in Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2227.jpg\" width=\"223\" height=\"204\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Great meat is easy to find in Spain, we are spoiled with fantastic chuletón steaks and amazing ibérico pork. The best quality cuts are prepared most simply, grilled, rarely a sauce in sight, allowing the meats to shine. I have such great memories of simple Basque steakhouses or asadores, where the only thing on the menu is a great steak served with peppers, green salad and Rioja wine. Restaurante Vaca Nostra in Madrid, takes the cult of meat in Spain to an even higher level. An almost all-meat menu, with rare cuts of dry-aged beef and special artisanal lamb, a meat consultant to aid you in your selection, and a great supporting cast of starters, side dishes and wines to support your meat experience. It can come at a price, depending on how far you let yourself go, but you will have an outstanding, truly carnivorous experience.</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steaks\" href=\"http://www.vacanostra.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Vaca Nostra</a> is the showpiece restaurant of the Raza Nostra meat empire. Raza Nostra is a chain of luxury butchers that gained fame with their huge selection of gourmet hamburgers (30) and soon opened over a dozen restaurants and stands to sell both the raw and cooked product. You can find the hamburgers in such well known tapas areas as the Mercado de San Miguel and the Mercado de San Antón. The restaurants takes the Raza Nostra experience to a much more luxurious level.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The restaurant is located at far north in Madrid at Paseo de la Castellana 257, right at the foot of the new skyscrapers that have come to define the Madrid skyline. The restaurant has two parts, one the more informal barra de tapas, where you can get the great hamburgers, and one the more formal steakhouse.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449777.4343\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak \" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1744.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"418\" /></a> Cold, modern decor is made up for by war, attentive service![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decor is quite cold and modern in a way that remains popular in Madrid, but the warmth and quality of the service more than makes up for that. Really good service!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are some great starters, some nice salads and veggies, but we decided to go carnivorous even here and went for the steak tartare, which is prepared to taste tableside. Served with with a small green salad, it was a classic blend of onions, capers, mustard, and cornichons, with just enough Tabasco kick. The quality of the meat was outstanding....the most important part!</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449758.048\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2212.jpg\" width=\"332\" height=\"344\" /></a> Custom steak tartare[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A huge selection of beef varieties and cuts are available, plus many off menu that your meat consultant will advise you of. There is also a small, but excellent selection of lamb, as well as some great fresh cuts of ibérico pork in certain seasons. It\'s really all about the beef though!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We chose a 14-year old buey or steer from Galicia that had been dry-aged for four months! Buey is harder to find these days and I had never any had aged for so long. The steak was presented to us before grilling...see these great before and after shots below. It was served with a green salad, french fries, and some grilled spring onions.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"326\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449726.7122\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-21-2013-2210.jpg\" width=\"326\" height=\"317\" /></a> Before[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We asked for it rare, but I would have liked it even rarer to savor all those aged flavors. It was one of the best steaks I have ever had...if not the best. Complex savory, juicy, tender, great fat and texture. It was extremely expensive, almost 100€ for a 2.5lb bone-in steak, but it was a special great for my special birthday meal.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"377\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374461449746.7568\" alt=\"Raza Nostra restaurant in Madrid for great steak\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-1549.jpg\" width=\"377\" height=\"282\" /></a> After....yum![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can check out the menu at the website and many of the steaks and cuts are not that expensive. The starters and wine are very good value. With careful ordering, the bill can be moderate instead of expensive.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking of wine, the list is organized and fulfilled exclusively by Lavinia, one of Madrid\'s most prominent wine stores. Even the sommeliers are Lavinia trained and sponsored. The list is fairly short, but very good and really well priced.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We had a wonderful Madrid Garnacha, Peña Caballera 2011, that complemented the earthiness of the meat perfectly. Check my review here.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the ultimate steak experience, you can go to Vaca Nostra, or try one of the more casual <a title=\"Hamburguesa Nostra in Madrid for great hamburger\" href=\"http://www.hamburguesanostra.com/\" target=\"_blank\">hamburger places</a> to try some of Raza Nostra\'s fine meats.</p>\n&nbsp;','Best steaks in Madrid: Vaca Nostra','Great meat is easy to find in Spain, we are spoiled with fantastic chuletón steaks and amazing ibérico pork. The best quality cuts are prepared most simply, grilled, rarely a sauce in sight, allowing the meats to shine.  I have such great memories of simple Basque steakhouses or asadores, where the only thing on the menu is a great steak served with peppers, green salad and Rioja wine.  Restaurante Vaca Nostra in Madrid, takes the cult of meat in Spain to an even higher level.  An almost all-meat menu, with rare cuts of dry-aged beef and special artisanal lamb, a meat consultant to aid you in your selection, and a great supporting cast of starters, side dishes and wines to support your meat experience.  It can come at a price, depending on how far you let yourself go, but you will have an outstanding, truly carnivorous experience.','inherit','open','open','','1355-autosave','','','2013-07-21 23:11:10','2013-07-22 03:11:10','',1355,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/21/1355-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1365,1,'2013-07-25 23:57:06','2013-07-26 03:57:06','','wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-25-2013-2352-jpg','','','2013-07-25 23:57:06','2013-07-26 03:57:06','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1366,1,'2013-07-25 23:57:10','2013-07-26 03:57:10','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758245.2822\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Madrid&#39;s best bar: The Dry\" width=\"200\" height=\"321\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture.  Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation.  Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I&#39;ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics.  There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hotel Melia Fenix is in Plaza de Colon, right next to the Hard Rock Cafe.  <a href=\"http://www.javierdelasmuelas.com/eng/dry/madrid/dry-at-the-gran-melia-fenix\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Madrid&#39;s best bar: The Dry\">The Dry</a> is in the lobby and has both several parts: a beautiful classic bar, an indoor lounge area, and an outdoor terrace area.  It is actually part of a luxury chain of bars started by famous barman Javier de las Muelas, and there is one in Barcelona and San Sebastián.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"365\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Old world style bar\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758305.3784\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"365\" height=\"272\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also tapas and I&#39;m sure they are very nice but we come here for the drinks, usually after a long Spanish lunch, or before dinner.  The cocktails are not cheap, 15 to 18 euros, but they are worth every penny here.  A really good price for a premium gin tonic in Madrid is 10-12 euros and most of the poseur, pretentious places charge 16 on up.  At these second palaces you often get just an ok drink served with an extra dose of attitude.  Not so at dry bar, where the service and ambiance is a throwback to a former, more special time.  The drinks, the atmosphere and the service will make you feel like a VIP every time.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758254.8801\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"339\" height=\"454\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like a dry martini, this is the perfect place.  Choose your gin and style....there is a counter on the walk for these namesake orders.  I&#39;ve tried the gimlets, the Moscow mules and a lot of the fresh fruit monitors, all excellent.  There are lots of classics, but also some really inventive house cocktails.  One favorite, when I&#39;m in the mood for something slightly sweet, is the Shisomojito, a mojito made with vanilla rum and muddled shiso leaves....yummy!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"336\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Shisomojito in the lounge area\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758255.9717\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But I usually stick to the gin drinks, either a dry martini, or the excellent gin tonics.  The selection of gins is small compared to some Madrid bars, but they have a well-selected variety.  The barmen and barwomen really know their business and can recommend both cocktails and the alcohol choice. The snacks that come with the drinks salty, abundant and go down perfectly with these top notch drinks!  To seal the deal, it&#39;s almost always a great people watching experience.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you want to feel special and have a lovely drinks experience, try the Dry Bar in Madrid!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Madrid\'s Best Bars: The Dry','Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.','publish','open','open','','madrids-best-bars-the-dry','','','2013-07-26 01:01:43','2013-07-26 05:01:43','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1366',0,'post','',0),(1367,1,'2013-07-26 00:37:35','2013-07-26 04:37:35','','wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-26-2013-020-jpg','','','2013-07-26 00:37:35','2013-07-26 04:37:35','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1368,1,'2013-07-26 00:37:37','2013-07-26 04:37:37','','wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-26-2013-022-jpg','','','2013-07-26 00:37:37','2013-07-26 04:37:37','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1369,1,'2013-07-26 00:37:40','2013-07-26 04:37:40','','wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-jul-26-2013-024-jpg','','','2013-07-26 00:37:40','2013-07-26 04:37:40','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1370,1,'2013-07-25 23:57:08','2013-07-26 03:57:08','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374811030359.0476\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" height=\"321\" alt=\"Madrid&#39;s best bar: The Dry\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture.  Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation.  Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I&#39;ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics.  There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hotel Melia Fenix is in Plaza de Colon, right next to the Hard Rock Cafe.  The Dry is in the lobby and has both several parts: a beautiful classic bar, an indoor lounge area, and an outdoor terrace area.  It is actually part of a luxury chain of bars started by famous barman Javier de las Muelas, and there is one in Barcelona and San Sebastián.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also tapas and I&#39;m sure they are very nice but we come here for the drinks, usually after a long Spanish lunch, or before dinner.  The cocktails are not cheap, 15 to 18 euros, but they are worth every penny here.  A really good price for a premium gin tonic in Madrid is 10-12 euros and most of the poseur, pretentious places charge 16 on up.  At these second palaces you often get just an ok drink served with an extra dose of attitude.  Not so at dry bar, where the service and ambiance is a throwback to a former, more special time.  The drinks, the atmosphere and the service will make you feel like a VIP every time.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like a dry martini, this is the perfect place.  Choose your gin and style....there is a counter on the walk for these namesake orders.  I&#39;ve tried the gimlets, the Moscow mules and a lot of the fresh fruit monitors, all excellent.  There are lots of classics, but also some really inventive house cocktails.  One favorite, when I&#39;m in the mood for something slightly sweet, is the Shisomojito, a mojito made with vanilla rum and muddled shiso leaves....yummy!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But I usually stick to the gin drinks, either a dry martini, or the excellent gin tonics.  The selection of gins is small compared to some Madrid bars, but they have a well-selected variety.  The barmen and barwomen really know their business and can recommend both cocktails and the alcohol choice. The snacks that come with the drinks salty, abundant and go down perfectly with these top notch drinks!  To seal the deal, it&#39;s almost always a great people watching experience.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you want to feel special and have a lovely drinks experience, try the Dry Bar in Madrid!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Madrid\'s Best Bars: The Dry','Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.','inherit','open','open','','1366-revision','','','2013-07-25 23:57:08','2013-07-26 03:57:08','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/25/1366-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1371,1,'2013-07-26 00:55:29','2013-07-26 04:55:29','','Dry thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','dry-thumbnail','','','2013-07-26 00:55:29','2013-07-26 04:55:29','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Dry-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1372,1,'2013-07-26 01:01:55','2013-07-26 05:01:55','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462036.7222\" alt=\"Madrid\'s best bar: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"321\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hotel Melia Fenix is in Plaza de Colon, right next to the Hard Rock Cafe. The Dry is in the lobby and has both several parts: a beautiful classic bar, an indoor lounge area, and an outdoor terrace area. It is actually part of a luxury chain of bars started by famous barman Javier de las Muelas, and there is one in Barcelona and San Sebastián.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"365\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462047.7078\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" width=\"365\" height=\"272\" /></a> Old world style bar[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also tapas and I\'m sure they are very nice but we come here for the drinks, usually after a long Spanish lunch, or before dinner. The cocktails are not cheap, 15 to 18 euros, but they are worth every penny here. A really good price for a premium gin tonic in Madrid is 10-12 euros and most of the poseur, pretentious places charge 16 on up. At these second palaces you often get just an ok drink served with an extra dose of attitude. Not so at dry bar, where the service and ambiance is a throwback to a former, more special time. The drinks, the atmosphere and the service will make you feel like a VIP every time.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374813461999.7415\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" width=\"339\" height=\"454\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like a dry martini, this is the perfect place. Choose your gin and style....there is a counter on the walk for these namesake orders. I\'ve tried the gimlets, the Moscow mules and a lot of the fresh fruit monitors, all excellent. There are lots of classics, but also some really inventive house cocktails. One favorite, when I\'m in the mood for something slightly sweet, is the Shisomojito, a mojito made with vanilla rum and muddled shiso leaves....yummy!</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462039.517\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" /></a> Shisomojito in the lounge area[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But I usually stick to the gin drinks, either a dry martini, or the excellent gin tonics. The selection of gins is small compared to some Madrid bars, but they have a well-selected variety. The barmen and barwomen really know their business and can recommend both cocktails and the alcohol choice. The snacks that come with the drinks salty, abundant and go down perfectly with these top notch drinks! To seal the deal, it\'s almost always a great people watching experience.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you want to feel special and have a lovely drinks experience, try the Dry Bar in Madrid!</p>\n&nbsp;','Madrid\'s Best Bars: The Dry','Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.','inherit','open','open','','1366-autosave','','','2013-07-26 01:01:55','2013-07-26 05:01:55','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/26/1366-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1373,1,'2013-07-26 00:37:41','2013-07-26 04:37:41','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462036.7222\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Madrid&#39;s best bar: The Dry\" width=\"200\" height=\"321\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture.  Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation.  Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I&#39;ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics.  There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hotel Melia Fenix is in Plaza de Colon, right next to the Hard Rock Cafe.  The Dry is in the lobby and has both several parts: a beautiful classic bar, an indoor lounge area, and an outdoor terrace area.  It is actually part of a luxury chain of bars started by famous barman Javier de las Muelas, and there is one in Barcelona and San Sebastián.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"365\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Old world style bar\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462047.7078\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"365\" height=\"272\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also tapas and I&#39;m sure they are very nice but we come here for the drinks, usually after a long Spanish lunch, or before dinner.  The cocktails are not cheap, 15 to 18 euros, but they are worth every penny here.  A really good price for a premium gin tonic in Madrid is 10-12 euros and most of the poseur, pretentious places charge 16 on up.  At these second palaces you often get just an ok drink served with an extra dose of attitude.  Not so at dry bar, where the service and ambiance is a throwback to a former, more special time.  The drinks, the atmosphere and the service will make you feel like a VIP every time.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374813461999.7415\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"339\" height=\"454\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like a dry martini, this is the perfect place.  Choose your gin and style....there is a counter on the walk for these namesake orders.  I&#39;ve tried the gimlets, the Moscow mules and a lot of the fresh fruit monitors, all excellent.  There are lots of classics, but also some really inventive house cocktails.  One favorite, when I&#39;m in the mood for something slightly sweet, is the Shisomojito, a mojito made with vanilla rum and muddled shiso leaves....yummy!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"336\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Shisomojito in the lounge area\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462039.517\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But I usually stick to the gin drinks, either a dry martini, or the excellent gin tonics.  The selection of gins is small compared to some Madrid bars, but they have a well-selected variety.  The barmen and barwomen really know their business and can recommend both cocktails and the alcohol choice. The snacks that come with the drinks salty, abundant and go down perfectly with these top notch drinks!  To seal the deal, it&#39;s almost always a great people watching experience.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you want to feel special and have a lovely drinks experience, try the Dry Bar in Madrid!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Madrid\'s Best Bars: The Dry','Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.','inherit','open','open','','1366-revision-2','','','2013-07-26 00:37:41','2013-07-26 04:37:41','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/26/1366-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1374,1,'2013-07-26 00:59:34','2013-07-26 04:59:34','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758245.2822\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Madrid&#39;s best bar: The Dry\" width=\"200\" height=\"321\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture.  Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation.  Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I&#39;ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics.  There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hotel Melia Fenix is in Plaza de Colon, right next to the Hard Rock Cafe.  <a href=\"http://www.javierdelasmuelas.com/eng/dry/madrid/dry-at-the-gran-melia-fenix\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Madrid&#39;s best bar: The Dry\">The Dry</a> is in the lobby and has both several parts: a beautiful classic bar, an indoor lounge area, and an outdoor terrace area.  It is actually part of a luxury chain of bars started by famous barman Javier de las Muelas, and there is one in Barcelona and San Sebastián.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"365\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Old world style bar\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758305.3784\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"365\" height=\"272\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also tapas and I&#39;m sure they are very nice but we come here for the drinks, usually after a long Spanish lunch, or before dinner.  The cocktails are not cheap, 15 to 18 euros, but they are worth every penny here.  A really good price for a premium gin tonic in Madrid is 10-12 euros and most of the poseur, pretentious places charge 16 on up.  At these second palaces you often get just an ok drink served with an extra dose of attitude.  Not so at dry bar, where the service and ambiance is a throwback to a former, more special time.  The drinks, the atmosphere and the service will make you feel like a VIP every time.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758254.8801\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"339\" height=\"454\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like a dry martini, this is the perfect place.  Choose your gin and style....there is a counter on the walk for these namesake orders.  I&#39;ve tried the gimlets, the Moscow mules and a lot of the fresh fruit monitors, all excellent.  There are lots of classics, but also some really inventive house cocktails.  One favorite, when I&#39;m in the mood for something slightly sweet, is the Shisomojito, a mojito made with vanilla rum and muddled shiso leaves....yummy!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"336\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Shisomojito in the lounge area\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1374814758255.9717\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But I usually stick to the gin drinks, either a dry martini, or the excellent gin tonics.  The selection of gins is small compared to some Madrid bars, but they have a well-selected variety.  The barmen and barwomen really know their business and can recommend both cocktails and the alcohol choice. The snacks that come with the drinks salty, abundant and go down perfectly with these top notch drinks!  To seal the deal, it&#39;s almost always a great people watching experience.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you want to feel special and have a lovely drinks experience, try the Dry Bar in Madrid!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Madrid\'s Best Bars: The Dry','Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.','inherit','open','open','','1366-revision-3','','','2013-07-26 00:59:34','2013-07-26 04:59:34','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/26/1366-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1375,1,'2013-07-26 01:00:46','2013-07-26 05:00:46','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462036.7222\" alt=\"Madrid\'s best bar: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-25-2013-2352.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"321\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hotel Melia Fenix is in Plaza de Colon, right next to the Hard Rock Cafe. The Dry is in the lobby and has both several parts: a beautiful classic bar, an indoor lounge area, and an outdoor terrace area. It is actually part of a luxury chain of bars started by famous barman Javier de las Muelas, and there is one in Barcelona and San Sebastián.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"365\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462047.7078\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-020.jpg\" width=\"365\" height=\"272\" /></a> Old world style bar[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also tapas and I\'m sure they are very nice but we come here for the drinks, usually after a long Spanish lunch, or before dinner. The cocktails are not cheap, 15 to 18 euros, but they are worth every penny here. A really good price for a premium gin tonic in Madrid is 10-12 euros and most of the poseur, pretentious places charge 16 on up. At these second palaces you often get just an ok drink served with an extra dose of attitude. Not so at dry bar, where the service and ambiance is a throwback to a former, more special time. The drinks, the atmosphere and the service will make you feel like a VIP every time.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374813461999.7415\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-022.jpg\" width=\"339\" height=\"454\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you like a dry martini, this is the perfect place. Choose your gin and style....there is a counter on the walk for these namesake orders. I\'ve tried the gimlets, the Moscow mules and a lot of the fresh fruit monitors, all excellent. There are lots of classics, but also some really inventive house cocktails. One favorite, when I\'m in the mood for something slightly sweet, is the Shisomojito, a mojito made with vanilla rum and muddled shiso leaves....yummy!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1374813462039.517\" alt=\"Best bar in Madrid: The Dry\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-Jul-26-2013-024.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" /></a> Shisomojito in the lounge area[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But I usually stick to the gin drinks, either a dry martini, or the excellent gin tonics. The selection of gins is small compared to some Madrid bars, but they have a well-selected variety. The barmen and barwomen really know their business and can recommend both cocktails and the alcohol choice. The snacks that come with the drinks salty, abundant and go down perfectly with these top notch drinks! To seal the deal, it\'s almost always a great people watching experience.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you want to feel special and have a lovely drinks experience, try the Dry Bar in Madrid!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\r\n&nbsp;','Madrid\'s Best Bars: The Dry','Besides friends, wine, and food, one of my greatest pleasures of going back to Madrid is the gin culture. Spain remains obsessed with gin and despite persistent rumors, the gin and tonic wave is still going strong. The Spanish really know how to do justice to a gin tonic, with a huge selection of premium gins and tonics, carefully selected garnishes and proper preparation. Though we have great gin cocktails in many parts here in the US in what I am happy to see is a growing trend, I\'ve been generally disappointed with the gin tonics. There are many places to get a great gin tonic in Madrid, some pretentious and overpriced, others cozy neighborhood bars, but the place to go for great cocktails, perfect service, and to feel really special is the Dry Bar in the Hotel Melia Fenix.','inherit','open','open','','1366-revision-4','','','2013-07-26 01:00:46','2013-07-26 05:00:46','',1366,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/26/1366-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1376,1,'2013-07-30 23:54:16','2013-07-31 03:54:16','','Las Retamas de Regajal 2009.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-18-2013-2341-jpg','','','2013-07-30 23:54:16','2013-07-31 03:54:16','',1377,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1377,1,'2013-07-30 23:54:20','2013-07-31 03:54:20','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375243085816.3025\" alt=\"Las Retamas 2009: Spanish wine from the Madrid region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner. It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur. Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid bottles. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list. It\'s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid\'s reputation in the wine world. The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price. It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork. The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodegas El Regajal in Vinos De Madrid\" href=\"http://www.elregajal.es/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas El Regajal</a> has been producing great wines for over ten years and has been instrumental in changing the reputation of Vinos de Madrid. In a previous article I talk a little more in depth about the subregions, el Regajal is in the warmest, Arganda, specifically the Aranjuez area.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wines are warm, big and very accessible, and are similar in style to wines of La Mancha and outlying appellations. The winery follows biodynamic principles in the vineyard and has a small modern winery that respects the environment to the utmost. It\'s only about a 30 minute drive outside Madrid, so it\'s an easy visit from the capital.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are three wines, the Regajal Selección Especial, which I have been tasting for a decade and remains a benchmark for quality among Madrid wines. It\'s also great value, it has barely risen in price since I first started drinking it; it retails in Spain for about 15€. There is the ultra-premium Galia, which I haven\'t tried, for about 25€...it\'s next on my hit list!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The baby of the family is the Retamas, and it\'s a steal as it retails for only about 8€. For this price point you get a Tempranillo blend with about 10 months aging in French oak that has intense black and red fruit with some nice oak spice. Very big, round mouth with a long smooth finish. It\'s a simple, but really pleasant wine and a lot of wine for the price. A must for big red lovers. It\'s perfect with meats, barbecue, roasts of any type really.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unfortunately it doesn\'t seem to be easy to find online here in the US, but I will keep you updated if I get more info. Look for this wine and El Regajal, when visiting Madrid! Also check out Bar Amor in Malasaña!</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Las Retamas del Regajal 2009','We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner. It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur. Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid bottles. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list. It\'s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid\'s reputation in the wine world. The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price. It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork. The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.','publish','open','open','','spanish-wine-review-las-retamas-del-regajal-2009','','','2013-07-31 00:14:24','2013-07-31 04:14:24','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1377',0,'post','',6),(1378,1,'2013-07-30 23:54:17','2013-07-31 03:54:17','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375242860936.7966\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" alt=\"Las Retamas 2009: Spanish wine from the Madrid region\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner.  It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur.   Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid wines.  The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list.  It&#39;s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid&#39;s reputation in the wine world.  The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price.  It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork.  The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bodegas El Regajal has been producing great wines for over ten years and has been instrumental in changing the reputation of Vinos de Madrid.  In a previous article I talk a little more in depth about the subregions, el Regajal is in the warmest, Arganda, specifically the Aranjuez area.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wines are warm, big and very accessible, and are similar in style to wines of La Mancha and outlying appellations.  The winery follows biodynamic principles in the vineyard and has a small modern winery that respects the the environment to the utmost.  It&#39;s only about a 30 minute drive from Madrid, so it&#39;s an easy visit form the capital.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are three wines, the Regajal Selección Especial, which I have been tasting for a decade and remains a benchmark for quality among Madrid wines.  It&#39;s also great value, it has barely risen in price since I first started drinking it; it retails in Spain for about 15€.  There is the ultra-premium Galia, which I haven&#39;t tried.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The baby of the family is the Retamas, and it is a steal as it retails for only about 8€.  For this price point you get a Tempranillo blend with 10 months aging in French oak that has big black and red fruit with some nice oak spice.  Very big, round mouth with a long smooth finish.  It&#39;s a simple, but really pleasant wine for the price and a lot of wine for the price.  A must for big red lovers.  It&#39;s perfect with meats, barbecue, roasts of any type really.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unfortunately it doesn&#39;t seem to be easy to find online here in the US, but I will keep you updated if I get more info.  Look for this wine and El Regajal, when visiting Madrid!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Las Retamas del Regajal 2009','We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner. It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur. Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid wines. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list. It\'s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid\'s reputation in the wine world. The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price. It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork. The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.','inherit','open','open','','1377-revision','','','2013-07-30 23:54:17','2013-07-31 03:54:17','',1377,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/30/1377-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1379,1,'2013-07-31 00:00:27','2013-07-31 04:00:27','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375243085816.3025\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" alt=\"Las Retamas 2009: Spanish wine from the Madrid region\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner.  It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur.   Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid wines.  The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list.  It&#39;s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid&#39;s reputation in the wine world.  The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price.  It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork.  The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.elregajal.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas El Regajal in Vinos De Madrid\">Bodegas El Regajal</a> has been producing great wines for over ten years and has been instrumental in changing the reputation of Vinos de Madrid.  In a previous article I talk a little more in depth about the subregions, el Regajal is in the warmest, Arganda, specifically the Aranjuez area.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wines are warm, big and very accessible, and are similar in style to wines of La Mancha and outlying appellations.  The winery follows biodynamic principles in the vineyard and has a small modern winery that respects the environment to the utmost.  It&#39;s only about a 30 minute drive outside Madrid, so it&#39;s an easy visit from the capital.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are three wines, the Regajal Selección Especial, which I have been tasting for a decade and remains a benchmark for quality among Madrid wines.  It&#39;s also great value, it has barely risen in price since I first started drinking it; it retails in Spain for about 15€.  There is the ultra-premium Galia, which I haven&#39;t tried, for about 25€...it&#39;s next on my hit list!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The baby of the family is the Retamas, and it&#39;s a steal as it retails for only about 8€.  For this price point you get a Tempranillo blend with about 10 months aging in French oak that has intense black and red fruit with some nice oak spice.  Very big, round mouth with a long smooth finish.  It&#39;s a simple, but really pleasant wine and a lot of wine for the price.  A must for big red lovers.  It&#39;s perfect with meats, barbecue, roasts of any type really.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unfortunately it doesn&#39;t seem to be easy to find online here in the US, but I will keep you updated if I get more info.  Look for this wine and El Regajal, when visiting Madrid!  Also check out Bar Amor in Malasaña!  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Las Retamas del Regajal 2009','We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner. It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur. Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid wines. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list. It\'s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid\'s reputation in the wine world. The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price. It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork. The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.','inherit','open','open','','1377-revision-2','','','2013-07-31 00:00:27','2013-07-31 04:00:27','',1377,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/31/1377-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1380,1,'2013-07-31 00:12:55','2013-07-31 04:12:55','','Las Retamas del Regajal 2009 thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','las-retasmas-del-regajal-2009-thumbnail','','','2013-07-31 00:12:55','2013-07-31 04:12:55','',1377,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Las-Retasmas-del-Regajal-2009-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1381,1,'2013-07-31 00:02:02','2013-07-31 04:02:02','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375243085816.3025\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" alt=\"Las Retamas 2009: Spanish wine from the Madrid region\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner.  It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur.   Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid bottles. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list.  It&#39;s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid&#39;s reputation in the wine world.  The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price.  It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork.  The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"http://www.elregajal.es/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Bodegas El Regajal in Vinos De Madrid\">Bodegas El Regajal</a> has been producing great wines for over ten years and has been instrumental in changing the reputation of Vinos de Madrid.  In a previous article I talk a little more in depth about the subregions, el Regajal is in the warmest, Arganda, specifically the Aranjuez area.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wines are warm, big and very accessible, and are similar in style to wines of La Mancha and outlying appellations.  The winery follows biodynamic principles in the vineyard and has a small modern winery that respects the environment to the utmost.  It&#39;s only about a 30 minute drive outside Madrid, so it&#39;s an easy visit from the capital.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are three wines, the Regajal Selección Especial, which I have been tasting for a decade and remains a benchmark for quality among Madrid wines.  It&#39;s also great value, it has barely risen in price since I first started drinking it; it retails in Spain for about 15€.  There is the ultra-premium Galia, which I haven&#39;t tried, for about 25€...it&#39;s next on my hit list!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The baby of the family is the Retamas, and it&#39;s a steal as it retails for only about 8€.  For this price point you get a Tempranillo blend with about 10 months aging in French oak that has intense black and red fruit with some nice oak spice.  Very big, round mouth with a long smooth finish.  It&#39;s a simple, but really pleasant wine and a lot of wine for the price.  A must for big red lovers.  It&#39;s perfect with meats, barbecue, roasts of any type really.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unfortunately it doesn&#39;t seem to be easy to find online here in the US, but I will keep you updated if I get more info.  Look for this wine and El Regajal, when visiting Madrid!  Also check out Bar Amor in Malasaña!  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Las Retamas del Regajal 2009','We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner. It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur. Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid bottles. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list. It\'s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid\'s reputation in the wine world. The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price. It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork. The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.','inherit','open','open','','1377-revision-3','','','2013-07-31 00:02:02','2013-07-31 04:02:02','',1377,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/31/1377-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1382,1,'2013-07-31 00:15:34','2013-07-31 04:15:34','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375243085816.3025\" alt=\"Las Retamas 2009: Spanish wine from the Madrid region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/wpid-Photo-May-18-2013-2341.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner. It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur. Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid bottles. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list. It\'s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid\'s reputation in the wine world. The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price. It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork. The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a title=\"Bodegas El Regajal in Vinos De Madrid\" href=\"http://www.elregajal.es/\" target=\"_blank\">Bodegas El Regajal</a> has been producing great wines for over ten years and has been instrumental in changing the reputation of Vinos de Madrid. In a previous article I talk a little more in depth about the subregions, el Regajal is in the warmest, Arganda, specifically the Aranjuez area.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The wines are warm, big and very accessible, and are similar in style to wines of La Mancha and outlying appellations. The winery follows biodynamic principles in the vineyard and has a small modern winery that respects the environment to the utmost. It\'s only about a 30 minute drive outside Madrid, so it\'s an easy visit from the capital.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are three wines, the Regajal Selección Especial, which I have been tasting for a decade and remains a benchmark for quality among Madrid wines. It\'s also great value, it has barely risen in price since I first started drinking it; it retails in Spain for about 15€. There is the ultra-premium Galia, which I haven\'t tried, for about 25€...it\'s next on my hit list!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The baby of the family is the Retamas, and it\'s a steal as it retails for only about 8€. For this price point you get a Tempranillo blend with about 10 months aging in French oak that has intense black and red fruit with some nice oak spice. Very big, round mouth with a long smooth finish. It\'s a simple, but really pleasant wine and a lot of wine for the price. A must for big red lovers. It\'s perfect with meats, barbecue, roasts of any type really.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unfortunately it doesn\'t seem to be easy to find online here in the US, but I will keep you updated if I get more info. Look for this wine and El Regajal, when visiting Madrid! Also check out Bar Amor in Malasaña!</p>\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Las Retamas del Regajal 2009','We were in Bar Amor in the Malasaña district of Madrid for my birthday dinner. It had been a full day of great food and wine...honestly it was a bit of a blur. Bar Amor has a short, but good wine list, with a nice selection of Spanish wines and local Madrid bottles. The Retamas 2009 caught my eye right away as it was on my hit list. It\'s the little sister to the well known Madrid wine El Regajal, one of the wines that changed Madrid\'s reputation in the wine world. The Retamas del Regajal, a Tempranillo blend, is a big, fruity and attractive wine at an amazing price. It was the perfect match with our delicious presa ibérica dish, an intensely flavored cut of ibérico pork. The dish and the wine both stood out from the enjoyable birthday haze.','inherit','open','open','','1377-autosave','','','2013-07-31 00:15:34','2013-07-31 04:15:34','',1377,'http://planetavino.net/2013/07/31/1377-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1383,1,'2013-08-06 23:55:25','2013-08-07 03:55:25','','Gourmet Experience Gran Via.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2310-jpg','','','2013-08-06 23:55:25','2013-08-07 03:55:25','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1384,1,'2013-08-06 23:55:30','2013-08-07 03:55:30','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.1433\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" width=\"283\" height=\"180\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it\'s also very close to Sol. You take the elevator at the entrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area. If it\'s after store hours, there\'s a guard to make sure you only go up the elevator and don\'t enter the rest of the store.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\">It\'s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine. It\'s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from. It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678652.9014\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" width=\"332\" height=\"443\" /></a> Amazing cheeses![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats. You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee. At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine. Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.9768\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a> Great place for a drink![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself. The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer! The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience. There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There\'s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid\'s best bakeries and sandwich places. One of Hamburgesa Nostra\'s stand\'s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"461\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678683.605\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" width=\"461\" height=\"346\" /></a> Jamón and wine...[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo. It\'s his interpretation of Asian street food. Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food! Check out my <a title=\"Madrid’s Best Restaurants: Street XO\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\">review</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678673.83\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"554\" /></a> What a view![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid. Nice.</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Best Tapas with a View in Madrid','El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...','publish','open','open','','best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid','','\nhttp://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/','2013-08-08 18:14:05','2013-08-08 22:14:05','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1384',0,'post','',0),(1385,1,'2013-08-07 00:11:03','2013-08-07 04:11:03','','Gourmet Experience cheeses.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2312-jpg','','','2013-08-07 00:11:03','2013-08-07 04:11:03','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1386,1,'2013-08-07 00:11:08','2013-08-07 04:11:08','','Gourmet Experience floor.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2310-jpg-2','','','2013-08-07 00:11:08','2013-08-07 04:11:08','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1387,1,'2013-08-07 00:11:13','2013-08-07 04:11:13','','Gourmet Experience jamón.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2313-jpg','','','2013-08-07 00:11:13','2013-08-07 04:11:13','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1388,1,'2013-08-07 00:11:16','2013-08-07 04:11:16','','Gourmet Experience view.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2310-jpg-3','','','2013-08-07 00:11:16','2013-08-07 04:11:16','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1389,1,'2013-08-06 23:55:26','2013-08-07 03:55:26','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375847730312.2275\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"283\" height=\"180\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it&#39;s a great concept.  It&#39;s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one.  Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao.  Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline.  It&#39;s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week!  There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it&#39;s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert.  Lots more detail after the break...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it&#39;s also very close to Sol.  You take the elevator at theentrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area.  If it&#39;s after store hours, there&#39;s a guard to make sure you only go up the  elevator and don&#39;t enter the rest of the store.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from.  It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine.  It&#39;s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats.  You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee.  At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine.  Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours! </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself.   The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer!  The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself! </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience.  There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There&#39;s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid&#39;s best bakeries and sandwich places.  One of Hamburgesa Nostra&#39;s stand&#39;s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo.  It&#39;s his interpretation of Asian street food.  Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food!  Check out my review. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid.  Nice. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best Tapa with a View in Madrid','El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...','inherit','open','open','','1384-revision','','','2013-08-06 23:55:26','2013-08-07 03:55:26','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/1384-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1390,1,'2013-08-07 00:11:18','2013-08-07 04:11:18','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.1433\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid\" width=\"283\" height=\"180\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it&#39;s a great concept.  It&#39;s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one.  Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao.  Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline.  It&#39;s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week!  There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it&#39;s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert.  Lots more detail after the break...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it&#39;s also very close to Sol.  You take the elevator at theentrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area.  If it&#39;s after store hours, there&#39;s a guard to make sure you only go up the  elevator and don&#39;t enter the rest of the store.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\">YIt&#39;s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine.  It&#39;s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from.  It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"332\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Amazing cheeses! \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678652.9014\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\" height=\"443\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats.  You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee.  At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine.  Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"500\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Great place for a drink!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.9768\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself.   The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer!  The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience.  There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There&#39;s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid&#39;s best bakeries and sandwich places.  One of Hamburgesa Nostra&#39;s stand&#39;s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"461\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Jamón and wine...\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678683.605\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" width=\"461\" height=\"346\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo.  It&#39;s his interpretation of Asian street food.  Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food!  Check out my review. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"415\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"What a view!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678673.83\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\" height=\"554\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid.  Nice.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best Tapa with a View in Madrid','El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...','inherit','open','open','','1384-revision-2','','','2013-08-07 00:11:18','2013-08-07 04:11:18','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/07/1384-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1391,1,'2013-08-07 00:12:16','2013-08-07 04:12:16','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.1433\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid\" width=\"283\" height=\"180\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it&#39;s a great concept.  It&#39;s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one.  Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao.  Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline.  It&#39;s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week!  There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it&#39;s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert.  Lots more detail after the break...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it&#39;s also very close to Sol.  You take the elevator at theentrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area.  If it&#39;s after store hours, there&#39;s a guard to make sure you only go up the  elevator and don&#39;t enter the rest of the store.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\">It&#39;s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine.  It&#39;s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from.  It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"332\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Amazing cheeses! \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678652.9014\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\" height=\"443\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats.  You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee.  At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine.  Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"500\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Great place for a drink!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.9768\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself.   The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer!  The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience.  There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There&#39;s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid&#39;s best bakeries and sandwich places.  One of Hamburgesa Nostra&#39;s stand&#39;s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"461\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Jamón and wine...\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678683.605\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" width=\"461\" height=\"346\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo.  It&#39;s his interpretation of Asian street food.  Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food!  Check out my review. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"415\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"What a view!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678673.83\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\" height=\"554\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid.  Nice.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best Tapa with a View in Madrid','El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...','inherit','open','open','','1384-revision-3','','','2013-08-07 00:12:16','2013-08-07 04:12:16','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/07/1384-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1392,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:24','2013-08-08 21:41:24','','StreetXO menu.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2101-jpg','','','2013-08-08 17:41:24','2013-08-08 21:41:24','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1393,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:28','2013-08-08 21:41:28','','StreetXo enjoying.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2113-jpg','','','2013-08-08 17:41:28','2013-08-08 21:41:28','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1394,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:31','2013-08-08 21:41:31','','StreetXo fire.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2136-jpg','','','2013-08-08 17:41:31','2013-08-08 21:41:31','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1395,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:33','2013-08-08 21:41:33','','StreetXO shrimp5.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2108-jpg','','','2013-08-08 17:41:33','2013-08-08 21:41:33','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1396,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:36','2013-08-08 21:41:36','','StreetXO octopus.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2110-jpg','','','2013-08-08 17:41:36','2013-08-08 21:41:36','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1397,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:39','2013-08-08 21:41:39','','StreetXO panceta mussel Saam.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2116-jpg','','','2013-08-08 17:41:39','2013-08-08 21:41:39','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1398,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:42','2013-08-08 21:41:42','','StreetXo panceta saam.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2118-jpg','','','2013-08-08 17:41:42','2013-08-08 21:41:42','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1399,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:49','2013-08-08 21:41:49','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956123.8174\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome <a title=\"Planeta Vino review of Gourmet Experience\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid/\" target=\"_self\">Gourmet Experience Gran Via</a> on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!</p>\r\n<!--more--><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cozy up to the bar and you\'ll soon be presented with a paper menu and some drinks options. I loved the short but sweet wine list. I first had a glass of Alsatian Pinot Gris and then the very nice <a title=\"Spanish Wine Review: Amizade Godello 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/11/spanish-wine-review-amizade-godello-2011/\">Amizade Godello</a>. Also some nice beers available.</span>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956158.8926\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" width=\"410\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You order and the chefs prepare your dishes two feet away from you...flames and smoke rise up with the music; it makes for a great atmosphere! Everything is prepared to order and dishes arrive in a somewhat random order, but it\'s all pretty efficient despite the crowds.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"420\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956130.8315\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" /></a> Fire and mohawks in the kitchen[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All the dishes were so creative and so detailed, with multiple components. They seemd busy but were actually very simple and the primary components really shone through. The presentation was just beautiful, adding to the eating experience. The descriptions were also great, which made it very difficult to settle on a few dishes.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956194.7385\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" width=\"432\" height=\"324\" /></a> Gambas a la quinta potencía[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our first dish had the very pretty name, \"Gambas a la quinta potencía,\" or \"shrimp to the fifth power,\" and gives an idea of the intensity of the shrimp flavor. It was shrimp dumplings in a shrimp sauce topped with shrimp chips and powdered shrimp. The perfect way to eat it was to mix it all together...that\'s when all that shrimpiness came together!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"431\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956215.4924\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" width=\"431\" height=\"323\" /></a> Pulpo glazeado[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our next amazing dish was the pulpo glazeado, or glazed octopus. The description was quite lengthy and as you can see from the photo below, the dish had many components, including some ethereal algae chips. The octopus melted in your mouth yet had a nice charred element from being previously grilled. A real star of the dish was the whole braised in black butter...quite stunning!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"427\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956195.9836\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" width=\"427\" height=\"320\" /></a> Saam de panceta ibérica before[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hard to pick a favorite, but certainly the funnest dish of the night was the Saam de panceta ibérica con mejillones, Saam of ibérico panceta with mussels (and shiitakes). You can see the before and after shots above and below. All the amazing flavorful components were rolled up in our lettuce shells...messy and so flavorful! Two sauces...sriracha and tartare, made it so juicy. The panceta was the real star but the vinegar-cured mussels added a really special element.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"376\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956203.81\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" width=\"376\" height=\"502\" /></a> Saam de panceta ibérica after[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices are all pretty reasonable, ranging from 9 to 15 euros. The atmosphere and service are added pluses. This is a great place to stop by and have a tapa and a drink or to have a full meal....it\'s tough to stop after one!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you live in Madird...this is a must! If you\'re visiting, this is a great insight into what some young Spanish chefs are doing off the beaten track.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">StreetXO inside the Gourmet Experience Gran Via. El Corte Ingles Callao, plaza de Callao, 2, Madrid. Open until 11am-12am 7 days a week.</p>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Madrid\'s Best Restaurants: Street XO','You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome Gourmet Experience Gran Via on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!','publish','open','open','','madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo','','\nhttp://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid/','2013-08-13 23:09:26','2013-08-14 03:09:26','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1399',0,'post','',0),(1400,1,'2013-08-08 17:41:44','2013-08-08 21:41:44','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998109158.03\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment.  This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo.  Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order.   Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating.  I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more!  The location is actually great...in the awesome <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Planeta Vino review of Gourmet Experience\">Gourmet Experience Gran Via</a> on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao.  Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!</p>\n\n<!--more--><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cozy up to the bar and you&#39;ll soon be presented with a paper menu and some drinks options.  I loved the short but sweet wine list.  I first had a glass of Alsatian Pinot Gris and then the very nice Amizade Godello. Also some nice beers available.</span><div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\" caption=\"Standing and eating the amazing street food at StreetXO\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998109252.551\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"410\" height=\"308\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You order and the chefs prepare your dishes two feet away from you...flames and smoke rise up with the music; it makes for a great atmosphere!  Everything is prepared to order and dishes arrive in a somewhat random order, but it&#39;s all pretty efficient despite the crowds.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"420\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Fire and mohawks in the kitchen\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998109203.7969\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All the dishes were so creative and so detailed, with multiple components.  They seemd busy but were actually very simple and the primary components really shone through.  The presentation was just beautiful, adding to the eating experience.  The descriptions were also great, which made it very difficult to settle on a few dishes.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"432\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Gambas a la quinta potencía \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998109163.6123\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" height=\"324\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our first dish had the very pretty name, \"Gambas a la quinta potencía,\" or \"shrimp to the fifth power,\" and gives an idea of the intensity of the shrimp flavor.  It was shrimp dumplings in a shrimp sauce topped with shrimp chips and powdered shrimp.  The perfect way to eat it was to mix it all together...that&#39;s when all that shrimpiness came together!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"431\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Pulpo glazeado \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998109253.9863\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"431\" height=\"323\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> Our next amazing dish was the pulpo glazeado, or glazed octopus.  The description was quite lengthy and as you can see from the photo below, the dish had many components, including some ethereal algae chips. The octopus melted in your mouth yet had a nice charred element from being previously grilled.  A real star of the dish was the whole braised in black butter...quite stunning!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"427\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Saam de panceta ibérica before\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998109228.0688\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"427\" height=\"320\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hard to pick a favorite, but certainly the funnest dish of the night was the Saam de panceta ibérica con mejillones, Saam of ibérico panceta  with mussels (and shiitakes). You can see the before and after shots above and below.  All the amazing flavorful components were rolled up in our lettuce shells...messy and so flavorful!  Two sauces...sriracha and tartare, made it so juicy.  The panceta was the real star but the vinegar-cured mussels added a really special element.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"376\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Saam de panceta ibérica after\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998109186.8855\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"376\" height=\"502\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices are all pretty reasonable, ranging from 9 to 15 euros.  The atmosphere and service are added pluses. This is a great place to stop by and have a tapa and a drink or to have a full meal....it&#39;s tough to stop after one!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you live in Madird...this is a must!  If you&#39;re visiting, this is a great insight into what some young Spanish chefs are doing off the beaten track.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">StreetXO inside the Gourmet Experience Gran Via.  El Corte Ingles Callao, plaza de Callao, 2, Madrid. Open until 11am-12am 7 days a week.</p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Madrid\'s Best Restaurants: Street XO','You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome Gourmet Experience Gran Via on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1399-revision','','','2013-08-08 17:41:44','2013-08-08 21:41:44','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/1399-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1401,1,'2013-08-08 17:55:05','2013-08-08 21:55:05','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998904439.9753\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment.  This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo.  Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order.   Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating.  I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more!  The location is actually great...in the awesome <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Planeta Vino review of Gourmet Experience\">Gourmet Experience Gran Via</a> on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao.  Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!</p>\n\n<!--more--><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cozy up to the bar and you&#39;ll soon be presented with a paper menu and some drinks options.  I loved the short but sweet wine list.  I first had a glass of Alsatian Pinot Gris and then the very nice Amizade Godello. Also some nice beers available.</span><div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\" caption=\"Standing and eating the amazing street food at StreetXO\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998904508.0935\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"410\" height=\"308\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You order and the chefs prepare your dishes two feet away from you...flames and smoke rise up with the music; it makes for a great atmosphere!  Everything is prepared to order and dishes arrive in a somewhat random order, but it&#39;s all pretty efficient despite the crowds.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"420\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Fire and mohawks in the kitchen\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998904498.7485\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All the dishes were so creative and so detailed, with multiple components.  They seemd busy but were actually very simple and the primary components really shone through.  The presentation was just beautiful, adding to the eating experience.  The descriptions were also great, which made it very difficult to settle on a few dishes.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"432\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Gambas a la quinta potencía \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998904454.6453\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\" height=\"324\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our first dish had the very pretty name, \"Gambas a la quinta potencía,\" or \"shrimp to the fifth power,\" and gives an idea of the intensity of the shrimp flavor.  It was shrimp dumplings in a shrimp sauce topped with shrimp chips and powdered shrimp.  The perfect way to eat it was to mix it all together...that&#39;s when all that shrimpiness came together!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"431\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Pulpo glazeado \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998904495.1248\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"431\" height=\"323\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> Our next amazing dish was the pulpo glazeado, or glazed octopus.  The description was quite lengthy and as you can see from the photo below, the dish had many components, including some ethereal algae chips. The octopus melted in your mouth yet had a nice charred element from being previously grilled.  A real star of the dish was the whole braised in black butter...quite stunning!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"427\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Saam de panceta ibérica before\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998904468.161\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"427\" height=\"320\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hard to pick a favorite, but certainly the funnest dish of the night was the Saam de panceta ibérica con mejillones, Saam of ibérico panceta  with mussels (and shiitakes). You can see the before and after shots above and below.  All the amazing flavorful components were rolled up in our lettuce shells...messy and so flavorful!  Two sauces...sriracha and tartare, made it so juicy.  The panceta was the real star but the vinegar-cured mussels added a really special element.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"376\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Saam de panceta ibérica after\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998904513.725\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"376\" height=\"502\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices are all pretty reasonable, ranging from 9 to 15 euros.  The atmosphere and service are added pluses. This is a great place to stop by and have a tapa and a drink or to have a full meal....it&#39;s tough to stop after one!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you live in Madird...this is a must!  If you&#39;re visiting, this is a great insight into what some young Spanish chefs are doing off the beaten track.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">StreetXO inside the Gourmet Experience Gran Via.  El Corte Ingles Callao, plaza de Callao, 2, Madrid. Open until 11am-12am 7 days a week.</p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Madrid\'s Best Restaurants: Street XO','You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome Gourmet Experience Gran Via on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1399-revision-2','','','2013-08-08 17:55:05','2013-08-08 21:55:05','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/1399-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1402,1,'2013-08-08 18:02:39','2013-08-08 22:02:39','','StreetXO madrid thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','streetxo-madrid-thumbnail','','','2013-08-08 18:02:39','2013-08-08 22:02:39','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/StreetXO-madrid-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1403,1,'2013-08-08 17:55:57','2013-08-08 21:55:57','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956123.8174\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment.  This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo.  Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order.   Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating.  I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more!  The location is actually great...in the awesome <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"Planeta Vino review of Gourmet Experience\">Gourmet Experience Gran Via</a> on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao.  Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!</p>\n\n<!--more--><span style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cozy up to the bar and you&#39;ll soon be presented with a paper menu and some drinks options.  I loved the short but sweet wine list.  I first had a glass of Alsatian Pinot Gris and then the very nice Amizade Godello. Also some nice beers available.</span><div><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\" caption=\"Standing and eating the amazing street food at StreetXO\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956158.8926\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"410\" height=\"308\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You order and the chefs prepare your dishes two feet away from you...flames and smoke rise up with the music; it makes for a great atmosphere!  Everything is prepared to order and dishes arrive in a somewhat random order, but it&#39;s all pretty efficient despite the crowds.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"420\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Fire and mohawks in the kitchen\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956130.8315\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All the dishes were so creative and so detailed, with multiple components.  They seemd busy but were actually very simple and the primary components really shone through.  The presentation was just beautiful, adding to the eating experience.  The descriptions were also great, which made it very difficult to settle on a few dishes.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"432\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Gambas a la quinta potencía \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956194.7385\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"432\" height=\"324\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our first dish had the very pretty name, \"Gambas a la quinta potencía,\" or \"shrimp to the fifth power,\" and gives an idea of the intensity of the shrimp flavor.  It was shrimp dumplings in a shrimp sauce topped with shrimp chips and powdered shrimp.  The perfect way to eat it was to mix it all together...that&#39;s when all that shrimpiness came together!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"431\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Pulpo glazeado \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956215.4924\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"431\" height=\"323\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> Our next amazing dish was the pulpo glazeado, or glazed octopus.  The description was quite lengthy and as you can see from the photo below, the dish had many components, including some ethereal algae chips. The octopus melted in your mouth yet had a nice charred element from being previously grilled.  A real star of the dish was the whole braised in black butter...quite stunning!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"427\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Saam de panceta ibérica before\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956195.9836\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"427\" height=\"320\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hard to pick a favorite, but certainly the funnest dish of the night was the Saam de panceta ibérica con mejillones, Saam of ibérico panceta  with mussels (and shiitakes). You can see the before and after shots above and below.  All the amazing flavorful components were rolled up in our lettuce shells...messy and so flavorful!  Two sauces...sriracha and tartare, made it so juicy.  The panceta was the real star but the vinegar-cured mussels added a really special element.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"376\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Saam de panceta ibérica after\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956203.81\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid&#39;s best restaurants\" width=\"376\" height=\"502\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices are all pretty reasonable, ranging from 9 to 15 euros.  The atmosphere and service are added pluses. This is a great place to stop by and have a tapa and a drink or to have a full meal....it&#39;s tough to stop after one!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you live in Madird...this is a must!  If you&#39;re visiting, this is a great insight into what some young Spanish chefs are doing off the beaten track.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">StreetXO inside the Gourmet Experience Gran Via.  El Corte Ingles Callao, plaza de Callao, 2, Madrid. Open until 11am-12am 7 days a week.</p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Madrid\'s Best Restaurants: Street XO','You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome Gourmet Experience Gran Via on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1399-revision-3','','','2013-08-08 17:55:57','2013-08-08 21:55:57','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/1399-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1404,1,'2013-08-08 18:15:15','2013-08-08 22:15:15','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.1433\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" width=\"283\" height=\"180\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it\'s also very close to Sol. You take the elevator at the entrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area. If it\'s after store hours, there\'s a guard to make sure you only go up the elevator and don\'t enter the rest of the store.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\">It\'s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine. It\'s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from. It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678652.9014\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" width=\"332\" height=\"443\" /></a> Amazing cheeses![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats. You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee. At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine. Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours!</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.9768\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a> Great place for a drink![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself. The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer! The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience. There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There\'s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid\'s best bakeries and sandwich places. One of Hamburgesa Nostra\'s stand\'s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"461\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678683.605\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" width=\"461\" height=\"346\" /></a> Jamón and wine...[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo. It\'s his interpretation of Asian street food. Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food! Check out my <a title=\"Madrid’s Best Restaurants: Street XO\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\">review</a>.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678673.83\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"554\" /></a> What a view![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid. Nice.</p>\n&nbsp;','Best Tapas with a View in Madrid','El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...','inherit','open','open','','1384-autosave','','','2013-08-08 18:15:15','2013-08-08 22:15:15','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/1384-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1405,1,'2013-08-07 00:13:33','2013-08-07 04:13:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.1433\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid\" width=\"283\" height=\"180\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it&#39;s a great concept.  It&#39;s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one.  Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao.  Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline.  It&#39;s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week!  There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it&#39;s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert.  Lots more detail after the break...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it&#39;s also very close to Sol.  You take the elevator at theentrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area.  If it&#39;s after store hours, there&#39;s a guard to make sure you only go up the  elevator and don&#39;t enter the rest of the store.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\">It&#39;s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine.  It&#39;s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from.  It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"332\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Amazing cheeses! \"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678652.9014\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\" height=\"443\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats.  You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee.  At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine.  Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours!</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"500\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Great place for a drink!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.9768\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself.   The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer!  The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience.  There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There&#39;s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid&#39;s best bakeries and sandwich places.  One of Hamburgesa Nostra&#39;s stand&#39;s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"461\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Jamón and wine...\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678683.605\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" width=\"461\" height=\"346\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo.  It&#39;s his interpretation of Asian street food.  Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food!  Check out my review. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"415\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"What a view!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678673.83\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\" height=\"554\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid.  Nice.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best Tapas with a View in Madrid','El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...','inherit','open','open','','1384-revision-4','','','2013-08-07 00:13:33','2013-08-07 04:13:33','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/07/1384-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1406,1,'2013-08-08 18:05:58','2013-08-08 22:05:58','','Gourmet Gran Via thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','gourmet-gran-via-thumbnail','','','2013-08-08 18:05:58','2013-08-08 22:05:58','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Gourmet-Gran-Via-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1407,1,'2013-08-08 18:05:35','2013-08-08 22:05:35','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.1433\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg\" width=\"283\" height=\"180\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it\'s also very close to Sol. You take the elevator at the entrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area. If it\'s after store hours, there\'s a guard to make sure you only go up the elevator and don\'t enter the rest of the store.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\">It\'s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine. It\'s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from. It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"332\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678652.9014\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2312.jpg\" width=\"332\" height=\"443\" /></a> Amazing cheeses![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats. You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee. At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine. Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678647.9768\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23101.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a> Great place for a drink![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself. The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer! The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience. There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There\'s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid\'s best bakeries and sandwich places. One of Hamburgesa Nostra\'s stand\'s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"461\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678683.605\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2313.jpg\" width=\"461\" height=\"346\" /></a> Jamón and wine...[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo. It\'s his interpretation of Asian street food. Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food! Check out my <a title=\"Madrid’s Best Restaurants: Street XO\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\">review</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375848678673.83\" alt=\"Gourmet Experience Gran Via: Great Spanish Tapas with a few\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-23102.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"554\" /></a> What a view![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid. Nice.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\r\n&nbsp;','Best Tapas with a View in Madrid','El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it\'s a great concept. It\'s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one. Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao. Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline. It\'s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week! There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it\'s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert. Lots more detail after the break...','inherit','open','open','','1384-revision-5','','','2013-08-08 18:05:35','2013-08-08 22:05:35','',1384,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/1384-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(1408,1,'2013-08-11 23:22:48','2013-08-12 03:22:48','','Amizade Godello 2011.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-19-2013-2101-jpg-2','','','2013-08-11 23:22:48','2013-08-12 03:22:48','',1409,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1409,1,'2013-08-11 23:22:52','2013-08-12 03:22:52','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1376278317354.5845\" alt=\"Amizade Godello 2011: Spanish wine from the Monterrei region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"306\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, <a title=\"StreetXO: exciting Asian street food in Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\" target=\"_self\">StreetXO</a>, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about 10€ in Spain and about 15-20$ here in the US. The labels for the Spanish and US market are completely different, you can see the Spanish label here...the US label is totally black.</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2010 vintage of this wine is mentioned in a New York Times <a title=\"New York Times article on Godello\" href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/dining/reviews/godello-wines-from-spain-wines-of-the-times.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0\" target=\"_blank\">article</a> about Godello from 2012. It mentions \"light minerality\" as part of the flavor profile. I have only tasted the 2011, maybe it\'s the vintage, but the wine did not seem mineral at all but rather fruity and floral, with a bit of lees. My favorite Godellos are generally intensely mineral but in this case the easy floral and citrus notes made it a much better match for the StreetXO dishes. I hope to try the 2010 soon as the 2011 has not arrived in the US market yet.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Amizade is a collaboration between top Albariño producer Do Ferreiro and the American importer De Maison Selections in the region of Monterrei in Galicia. It is mostly Godello, with a touch of the Treixadura variety added in. It spent 12 month aging with its lees in stainless steel.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check out some more of my recommended Godellos <a title=\"Spanish Wine Review: Avanthia Godello 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/09/spanish-wine-review-avanthia-godello-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a title=\"Spanish White Wine Review: Louro do Bolo 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/01/24/wine-review-louro-do-bolo-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a> and <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish Wines: Ribeira Sacra\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/05/14/undiscovered-spanish-wines-ribeira-sacra/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>. If you see the Amizade at a good price, it\'s a good introduction to Godello....give it a whirl! Any favorite Godellos out there?</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Amizade Godello 2011','I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, StreetXO, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about','publish','open','open','','spanish-wine-review-amizade-godello-2011','','http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\nhttp://planetavino.net/2013/04/09/spanish-wine-review-avanthia-godello-2011/','2013-08-11 23:39:14','2013-08-12 03:39:14','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1409',0,'post','',0),(1410,1,'2013-08-11 23:22:50','2013-08-12 03:22:50','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376277772275.2954\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"230\" height=\"306\" alt=\"Amizade Godello 2011: Spanish wine from the Monterrei region\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties!  I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, StreetXO, and it was a perfect match.  This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well.   It&#39;s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case.  The price is really budget friendly at about 10€ in Spain and about 15-20$ here in the US.  The labels for the Spanish and US market are completely different, you can see the Spanish label here...the US label is totally black.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2010 vintage of this wine is mentioned in a New York Times article about Godello from 2012.  It mentions \"light minerality\" as part of the flavor profile.  I have only tasted the 2011, maybe it&#39;s the vintage, but the wine did not seem mineral at all but rather fruity and floral, with a bit of lees.  My favorite Godellos are generally intensely mineral but in this case the easy floral and citrus notes made it a much better match for the StreetXO dishes.  I hope to try the 2010 soon as the 2011 has not arrived in the US market yet.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Amizade is a collaboration between top Albariño producer Do Ferreiro and the American importer De Maison Selections in the region of Monterrei in Galicia.  It is mostly Godello, with a touch of the Treixadura variety added in.  It spent 12 month aging with its lees in stainless steel.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check out some more of my recommended Godellos here, here and here.  If you see the Amizade at a good price, it&#39;s a good introduction to Godello....give it a whirl!  Any favorite Godellos out there?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Amizade Godello 2011','I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, StreetXO, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about 10€ in Spain and about 15-20$ here in the US. The labels for the Spanish and US market are completely different, you can see the Spanish label here...the US label is totally black.','inherit','open','open','','1409-revision','','','2013-08-11 23:22:50','2013-08-12 03:22:50','',1409,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/11/1409-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1411,1,'2013-08-11 23:40:24','2013-08-12 03:40:24','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1376278317354.5845\" alt=\"Amizade Godello 2011: Spanish wine from the Monterrei region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"306\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, <a title=\"StreetXO: exciting Asian street food in Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\" target=\"_self\">StreetXO</a>, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about 10€ in Spain and about 15-20$ here in the US. The labels for the Spanish and US market are completely different, you can see the Spanish label here...the US label is totally black.</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2010 vintage of this wine is mentioned in a New York Times <a title=\"New York Times article on Godello\" href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/dining/reviews/godello-wines-from-spain-wines-of-the-times.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0\" target=\"_blank\">article</a> about Godello from 2012. It mentions \"light minerality\" as part of the flavor profile. I have only tasted the 2011, maybe it\'s the vintage, but the wine did not seem mineral at all but rather fruity and floral, with a bit of lees. My favorite Godellos are generally intensely mineral but in this case the easy floral and citrus notes made it a much better match for the StreetXO dishes. I hope to try the 2010 soon as the 2011 has not arrived in the US market yet.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Amizade is a collaboration between top Albariño producer Do Ferreiro and the American importer De Maison Selections in the region of Monterrei in Galicia. It is mostly Godello, with a touch of the Treixadura variety added in. It spent 12 month aging with its lees in stainless steel.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check out some more of my recommended Godellos <a title=\"Spanish Wine Review: Avanthia Godello 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/09/spanish-wine-review-avanthia-godello-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a title=\"Spanish White Wine Review: Louro do Bolo 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/01/24/wine-review-louro-do-bolo-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a> and <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish Wines: Ribeira Sacra\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/05/14/undiscovered-spanish-wines-ribeira-sacra/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>. If you see the Amizade at a good price, it\'s a good introduction to Godello....give it a whirl! Any favorite Godellos out there?</p>\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Amizade Godello 2011','I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, StreetXO, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about','inherit','open','open','','1409-autosave','','','2013-08-11 23:40:24','2013-08-12 03:40:24','',1409,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/11/1409-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1412,1,'2013-08-11 23:32:25','2013-08-12 03:32:25','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376278317354.5845\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"230\" height=\"306\" alt=\"Amizade Godello 2011: Spanish wine from the Monterrei region\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties!  I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\" target=\"_self\" title=\"StreetXO: exciting Asian street food in Madrid\">StreetXO</a>, and it was a perfect match.  This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well.   It&#39;s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case.  The price is really budget friendly at about 10€ in Spain and about 15-20$ here in the US.  The labels for the Spanish and US market are completely different, you can see the Spanish label here...the US label is totally black.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2010 vintage of this wine is mentioned in a New York Times article about Godello from 2012.  It mentions \"light minerality\" as part of the flavor profile.  I have only tasted the 2011, maybe it&#39;s the vintage, but the wine did not seem mineral at all but rather fruity and floral, with a bit of lees.  My favorite Godellos are generally intensely mineral but in this case the easy floral and citrus notes made it a much better match for the StreetXO dishes.  I hope to try the 2010 soon as the 2011 has not arrived in the US market yet.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Amizade is a collaboration between top Albariño producer Do Ferreiro and the American importer De Maison Selections in the region of Monterrei in Galicia.  It is mostly Godello, with a touch of the Treixadura variety added in.  It spent 12 month aging with its lees in stainless steel.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check out some more of my recommended Godellos here, here and here.  If you see the Amizade at a good price, it&#39;s a good introduction to Godello....give it a whirl!  Any favorite Godellos out there?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Amizade Godello 2011','I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, StreetXO, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about','inherit','open','open','','1409-revision-2','','','2013-08-11 23:32:25','2013-08-12 03:32:25','',1409,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/11/1409-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(1413,1,'2013-08-11 23:37:41','2013-08-12 03:37:41','','Amizade Godello2011 thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','amizade-godello2011-thumbnail','','','2013-08-11 23:37:41','2013-08-12 03:37:41','',1409,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Amizade-Godello2011-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1414,1,'2013-08-11 23:37:11','2013-08-12 03:37:11','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1376278317354.5845\" alt=\"Amizade Godello 2011: Spanish wine from the Monterrei region\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-21011.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"306\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, <a title=\"StreetXO: exciting Asian street food in Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/madrids-best-restaurants-street-xo/\" target=\"_self\">StreetXO</a>, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about 10€ in Spain and about 15-20$ here in the US. The labels for the Spanish and US market are completely different, you can see the Spanish label here...the US label is totally black.</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2010 vintage of this wine is mentioned in a New York Times <a title=\"New York Times article on Godello\" href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/dining/reviews/godello-wines-from-spain-wines-of-the-times.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0\" target=\"_blank\">article</a> about Godello from 2012. It mentions \"light minerality\" as part of the flavor profile. I have only tasted the 2011, maybe it\'s the vintage, but the wine did not seem mineral at all but rather fruity and floral, with a bit of lees. My favorite Godellos are generally intensely mineral but in this case the easy floral and citrus notes made it a much better match for the StreetXO dishes. I hope to try the 2010 soon as the 2011 has not arrived in the US market yet.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Amizade is a collaboration between top Albariño producer Do Ferreiro and the American importer De Maison Selections in the region of Monterrei in Galicia. It is mostly Godello, with a touch of the Treixadura variety added in. It spent 12 month aging with its lees in stainless steel.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check out some more of my recommended Godellos <a title=\"Spanish Wine Review: Avanthia Godello 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/04/09/spanish-wine-review-avanthia-godello-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>, <a title=\"Spanish White Wine Review: Louro do Bolo 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/01/24/wine-review-louro-do-bolo-2011/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a> and <a title=\"Undiscovered Spanish Wines: Ribeira Sacra\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/05/14/undiscovered-spanish-wines-ribeira-sacra/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>. If you see the Amizade at a good price, it\'s a good introduction to Godello....give it a whirl! Any favorite Godellos out there?</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Amizade Godello 2011','I always love to recommend another Spanish wine made with Godello ...one of my favorite grape varieties! I had the Amizade 2011 with Asian fusion flavors at one of my favorite Madrid fast food spots, StreetXO, and it was a perfect match. This 2011 has very floral and citrus notes and it really handled the complex Asian combinations well. It\'s a fairly simple wine but really crisp and attractive and just what you are looking for in this case. The price is really budget friendly at about','inherit','open','open','','1409-revision-3','','','2013-08-11 23:37:11','2013-08-12 03:37:11','',1409,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/11/1409-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(1415,1,'2013-08-12 23:41:30','2013-08-13 03:41:30','','Raventós i Blanc rosado cava.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-26-2013-2132-jpg','','','2013-08-12 23:41:30','2013-08-13 03:41:30','',1417,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-2132.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1416,1,'2013-08-12 23:41:33','2013-08-13 03:41:33','','Raventós i Blanc de Nit cava.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-may-26-2013-2132-jpg-2','','','2013-08-12 23:41:33','2013-08-13 03:41:33','',1417,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-21321.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1417,1,'2013-08-12 23:41:38','2013-08-13 03:41:38','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-2132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1376365298353.4397\" alt=\"Raventos i Blanc de Nit: lovely rosado Spanish cava\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-2132.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Spanish Cava is a bit on the outs here in the US and it\'s a great shame. The recent cava appellation controversy has led to mixed messages and there has been a perception of reduced quality. Prosecco is everywhere, yet I would definitely question the quality of most of it. There is a lot of mediocre cava out there and it sucks that it is ruining the reputation of the rest. It\'s a shame because it is such a great Spanish wine and there are so many good producers. Rosado, or rosé cava has been a trickier category...growing but very inconsistent. The best and the best value for years has been the Raventós i Blanc de Nit....so drinkable, yet super food friendly, great in every season. Not only my favorite rosado cava, one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines in general!</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are looking for a great cava at less than 10$, you\'re unlikely to find one. Drinkable ones, plenty. Perfect for making mimosas and such.... The sweet spot is 10-20€ or 15-30$, where you can find some really nice cavas that offer great value for money. These wines many times are a lot better than the basic cuvées of many major champagne houses that go for 50$!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lots of favorite wines in this category, including this de Nit, which retails for about 13€ in Spain or 20$ in the US.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Above this range there are some truly great cavas from such houses as Gramona and Recaredo, special cavas that can compete head to head with champagne in a blind tasting and win! Expensive, complex, fine wines. Wines for another post....</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The de Nit 2010 is made of the three traditional cava varieties, Macabeo, Xarel.lo and Parellada, with a little red Monastrell added in. It is aged at least 15 months on lees before degorgement and release which maintains its fruity character, but also rounds out the edges and makes the wine harmonious. The nose has very pretty red fruit aromas, the mouth is surprisingly fresh and citric, though the red fruits carry on through, especially on the long finish. Many rosado cavas are a bit heavy-handed but this retains all the elegance of the Raventos i Blanc white cavas with an elegant and pretty layer of red fruit added in from the Monastrell.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"371\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-21321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1376365298365.1653\" alt=\"Raventós i Blanc de Nit: lovely rosado Spanish cava\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-21321.jpg\" width=\"371\" height=\"497\" /></a> So easy to polish off a bottle![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">De Nit, which means \"of the night\" in Catalan, is a great wine for just sipping....it\'s so easy to polish off a bottle with friends! But it\'s such a versatile cava, the combination of freshness and light red fruit aromas make it a great food matching wine. It still matches with many lighter foods that cava traditionally matches with, seafood, lighter cheeses, but it can also handle some heartier fare, salads, grilled seafood, paellas...many things you would put a rosé wine with.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s a vintage cava, but released in most years, so you can look for the 2009, 2010 and even the 2011 on the market. De Nit is a dry Brut cava with a low residual sugar from the dosage of about 7.5 gr/l.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Try this cava and you will rethink cava as a cheap cocktail mixer. I just tasted the Perrier-Jouët rosé champagne this week and it was very nice...well-balanced, fruit forward style of rosé champagne....for at least 70$! I\'ll take my de Nit any day for its charm, quality and value!</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Raventós i Blanc de Nit Cava','Spanish Cava is a bit on the outs here in the US and it\'s a great shame. The recent cava appellation controversy has led to mixed messages and there has been a perception of reduced quality. Prosecco is everywhere, yet I would definitely question the quality of most of it. There is a lot of mediocre cava out there and it sucks that it is ruining the reputation of the rest. It\'s a shame because it is such a great Spanish wine and there are so many good producers. Rosado, or rosé cava has been a trickier category...growing but very inconsistent. The best and the best value for years has been the Raventós i Blanc de Nit....so drinkable, yet super food friendly, great in every season. Not only my favorite rosado cava, one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines in general!','publish','open','open','','spanish-wine-review-raventos-i-blanc-de-nit-cava','','','2013-08-14 00:24:16','2013-08-14 04:24:16','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1417',0,'post','',0),(1418,1,'2013-08-08 18:04:04','2013-08-08 22:04:04','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956123.8174\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome <a title=\"Planeta Vino review of Gourmet Experience\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid/\" target=\"_self\">Gourmet Experience Gran Via</a> on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!</p>\r\n<!--more--><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cozy up to the bar and you\'ll soon be presented with a paper menu and some drinks options. I loved the short but sweet wine list. I first had a glass of Alsatian Pinot Gris and then the very nice Amizade Godello. Also some nice beers available.</span>\r\n<div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956158.8926\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" width=\"410\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You order and the chefs prepare your dishes two feet away from you...flames and smoke rise up with the music; it makes for a great atmosphere! Everything is prepared to order and dishes arrive in a somewhat random order, but it\'s all pretty efficient despite the crowds.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"420\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956130.8315\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" /></a> Fire and mohawks in the kitchen[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All the dishes were so creative and so detailed, with multiple components. They seemd busy but were actually very simple and the primary components really shone through. The presentation was just beautiful, adding to the eating experience. The descriptions were also great, which made it very difficult to settle on a few dishes.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956194.7385\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" width=\"432\" height=\"324\" /></a> Gambas a la quinta potencía[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our first dish had the very pretty name, \"Gambas a la quinta potencía,\" or \"shrimp to the fifth power,\" and gives an idea of the intensity of the shrimp flavor. It was shrimp dumplings in a shrimp sauce topped with shrimp chips and powdered shrimp. The perfect way to eat it was to mix it all together...that\'s when all that shrimpiness came together!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"431\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956215.4924\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" width=\"431\" height=\"323\" /></a> Pulpo glazeado[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our next amazing dish was the pulpo glazeado, or glazed octopus. The description was quite lengthy and as you can see from the photo below, the dish had many components, including some ethereal algae chips. The octopus melted in your mouth yet had a nice charred element from being previously grilled. A real star of the dish was the whole braised in black butter...quite stunning!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"427\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956195.9836\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" width=\"427\" height=\"320\" /></a> Saam de panceta ibérica before[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hard to pick a favorite, but certainly the funnest dish of the night was the Saam de panceta ibérica con mejillones, Saam of ibérico panceta with mussels (and shiitakes). You can see the before and after shots above and below. All the amazing flavorful components were rolled up in our lettuce shells...messy and so flavorful! Two sauces...sriracha and tartare, made it so juicy. The panceta was the real star but the vinegar-cured mussels added a really special element.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"376\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956203.81\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" width=\"376\" height=\"502\" /></a> Saam de panceta ibérica after[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices are all pretty reasonable, ranging from 9 to 15 euros. The atmosphere and service are added pluses. This is a great place to stop by and have a tapa and a drink or to have a full meal....it\'s tough to stop after one!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you live in Madird...this is a must! If you\'re visiting, this is a great insight into what some young Spanish chefs are doing off the beaten track.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">StreetXO inside the Gourmet Experience Gran Via. El Corte Ingles Callao, plaza de Callao, 2, Madrid. Open until 11am-12am 7 days a week.</p>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;','Madrid\'s Best Restaurants: Street XO','You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome Gourmet Experience Gran Via on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1399-revision-4','','','2013-08-08 18:04:04','2013-08-08 22:04:04','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/08/1399-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(1419,1,'2013-08-13 23:10:35','2013-08-14 03:10:35','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956123.8174\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2101.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"307\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome <a title=\"Planeta Vino review of Gourmet Experience\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/06/best-tapas-with-a-view-in-madrid/\" target=\"_self\">Gourmet Experience Gran Via</a> on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!</p>\n<!--more--><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cozy up to the bar and you\'ll soon be presented with a paper menu and some drinks options. I loved the short but sweet wine list. I first had a glass of Alsatian Pinot Gris and then the very nice <a title=\"Spanish Wine Review: Amizade Godello 2011\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2013/08/11/spanish-wine-review-amizade-godello-2011/\">Amizade Godello</a>. Also some nice beers available.</span>\n<div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956158.8926\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2113.jpg\" width=\"410\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You order and the chefs prepare your dishes two feet away from you...flames and smoke rise up with the music; it makes for a great atmosphere! Everything is prepared to order and dishes arrive in a somewhat random order, but it\'s all pretty efficient despite the crowds.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"420\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956130.8315\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2136.jpg\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" /></a> Fire and mohawks in the kitchen[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All the dishes were so creative and so detailed, with multiple components. They seemd busy but were actually very simple and the primary components really shone through. The presentation was just beautiful, adding to the eating experience. The descriptions were also great, which made it very difficult to settle on a few dishes.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"432\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956194.7385\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2108.jpg\" width=\"432\" height=\"324\" /></a> Gambas a la quinta potencía[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our first dish had the very pretty name, \"Gambas a la quinta potencía,\" or \"shrimp to the fifth power,\" and gives an idea of the intensity of the shrimp flavor. It was shrimp dumplings in a shrimp sauce topped with shrimp chips and powdered shrimp. The perfect way to eat it was to mix it all together...that\'s when all that shrimpiness came together!</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"431\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956215.4924\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2110.jpg\" width=\"431\" height=\"323\" /></a> Pulpo glazeado[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our next amazing dish was the pulpo glazeado, or glazed octopus. The description was quite lengthy and as you can see from the photo below, the dish had many components, including some ethereal algae chips. The octopus melted in your mouth yet had a nice charred element from being previously grilled. A real star of the dish was the whole braised in black butter...quite stunning!</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"427\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956195.9836\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2116.jpg\" width=\"427\" height=\"320\" /></a> Saam de panceta ibérica before[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hard to pick a favorite, but certainly the funnest dish of the night was the Saam de panceta ibérica con mejillones, Saam of ibérico panceta with mussels (and shiitakes). You can see the before and after shots above and below. All the amazing flavorful components were rolled up in our lettuce shells...messy and so flavorful! Two sauces...sriracha and tartare, made it so juicy. The panceta was the real star but the vinegar-cured mussels added a really special element.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"376\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1375998956203.81\" alt=\"StreetXO: one of Madrid\'s best restaurants\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2118.jpg\" width=\"376\" height=\"502\" /></a> Saam de panceta ibérica after[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices are all pretty reasonable, ranging from 9 to 15 euros. The atmosphere and service are added pluses. This is a great place to stop by and have a tapa and a drink or to have a full meal....it\'s tough to stop after one!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you live in Madird...this is a must! If you\'re visiting, this is a great insight into what some young Spanish chefs are doing off the beaten track.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">StreetXO inside the Gourmet Experience Gran Via. El Corte Ingles Callao, plaza de Callao, 2, Madrid. Open until 11am-12am 7 days a week.</p>\n\n</div>\n&nbsp;','Madrid\'s Best Restaurants: Street XO','You have to eat standing up and you are on the top floor of a department store, but despite that StreetXO is one of the most exciting places to eat in Madrid at the moment. This is the casual street food outpost of the most sought after reservations in Madrid, Diverxo. Chef David Muñoz is now presenting his Asian fusion cuisine at this open kitchen joint where the music is loud, the atmosphere slightly chaotic, and young dynamic chefs prepare each dish fresh to order. Really unique flavor combinations and beautiful presentations made for exciting, adventurous eating. I loved all the dishes I tried and wished I could fit more! The location is actually great...in the awesome Gourmet Experience Gran Via on the top floor of the El Corte Ingles Callao. Stay for a drink afterwards and watch the sun set over the rooftops of Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','1399-autosave','','','2013-08-13 23:10:35','2013-08-14 03:10:35','',1399,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/13/1399-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1420,1,'2013-08-14 00:20:40','2013-08-14 04:20:40','','de Nit cava thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','de-nit-cava-thumbnail','','','2013-08-14 00:20:40','2013-08-14 04:20:40','',1417,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/de-Nit-cava-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1421,1,'2013-08-14 00:25:25','2013-08-14 04:25:25','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-2132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1376365298353.4397\" alt=\"Raventos i Blanc de Nit: lovely rosado Spanish cava\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-2132.jpg\" width=\"230\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Spanish Cava is a bit on the outs here in the US and it\'s a great shame. The recent cava appellation controversy has led to mixed messages and there has been a perception of reduced quality. Prosecco is everywhere, yet I would definitely question the quality of most of it. There is a lot of mediocre cava out there and it sucks that it is ruining the reputation of the rest. It\'s a shame because it is such a great Spanish wine and there are so many good producers. Rosado, or rosé cava has been a trickier category...growing but very inconsistent. The best and the best value for years has been the Raventós i Blanc de Nit....so drinkable, yet super food friendly, great in every season. Not only my favorite rosado cava, one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines in general!</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are looking for a great cava at less than 10$, you\'re unlikely to find one. Drinkable ones, plenty. Perfect for making mimosas and such.... The sweet spot is 10-20€ or 15-30$, where you can find some really nice cavas that offer great value for money. These wines many times are a lot better than the basic cuvées of many major champagne houses that go for 50$!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lots of favorite wines in this category, including this de Nit, which retails for about 13€ in Spain or 20$ in the US.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Above this range there are some truly great cavas from such houses as Gramona and Recaredo, special cavas that can compete head to head with champagne in a blind tasting and win! Expensive, complex, fine wines. Wines for another post....</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The de Nit 2010 is made of the three traditional cava varieties, Macabeo, Xarel.lo and Parellada, with a little red Monastrell added in. It is aged at least 15 months on lees before degorgement and release which maintains its fruity character, but also rounds out the edges and makes the wine harmonious. The nose has very pretty red fruit aromas, the mouth is surprisingly fresh and citric, though the red fruits carry on through, especially on the long finish. Many rosado cavas are a bit heavy-handed but this retains all the elegance of the Raventos i Blanc white cavas with an elegant and pretty layer of red fruit added in from the Monastrell.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"371\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-21321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1376365298365.1653\" alt=\"Raventós i Blanc de Nit: lovely rosado Spanish cava\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-21321.jpg\" width=\"371\" height=\"497\" /></a> So easy to polish off a bottle![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">De Nit, which means \"of the night\" in Catalan, is a great wine for just sipping....it\'s so easy to polish off a bottle with friends! But it\'s such a versatile cava, the combination of freshness and light red fruit aromas make it a great food matching wine. It still matches with many lighter foods that cava traditionally matches with, seafood, lighter cheeses, but it can also handle some heartier fare, salads, grilled seafood, paellas...many things you would put a rosé wine with.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s a vintage cava, but released in most years, so you can look for the 2009, 2010 and even the 2011 on the market. De Nit is a dry Brut cava with a low residual sugar from the dosage of about 7.5 gr/l.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Try this cava and you will rethink cava as a cheap cocktail mixer. I just tasted the Perrier-Jouët rosé champagne this week and it was very nice...well-balanced, fruit forward style of rosé champagne....for at least 70$! I\'ll take my de Nit any day for its charm, quality and value!</p>\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review: Raventós i Blanc de Nit Cava','Spanish Cava is a bit on the outs here in the US and it\'s a great shame. The recent cava appellation controversy has led to mixed messages and there has been a perception of reduced quality. Prosecco is everywhere, yet I would definitely question the quality of most of it. There is a lot of mediocre cava out there and it sucks that it is ruining the reputation of the rest. It\'s a shame because it is such a great Spanish wine and there are so many good producers. Rosado, or rosé cava has been a trickier category...growing but very inconsistent. The best and the best value for years has been the Raventós i Blanc de Nit....so drinkable, yet super food friendly, great in every season. Not only my favorite rosado cava, one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines in general!','inherit','open','open','','1417-autosave','','','2013-08-14 00:25:25','2013-08-14 04:25:25','',1417,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/14/1417-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(1422,1,'2013-08-12 23:41:34','2013-08-13 03:41:34','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-2132.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-2132.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376365298353.4397\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"230\" height=\"308\" alt=\"Raventos i Blanc de Nit: lovely rosado Spanish cava\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Spanish Cava is a bit on the outs here in the US and it&#39;s a great shame.  The recent cava appellation controversy has led to mixed messages and there has been a perception of reduced quality.  Prosecco is everywhere, yet I would definitely question the quality of most of it.  There is a lot of mediocre cava out there and it sucks that it is ruining the reputation of the rest.  It&#39;s a shame because it is such a great Spanish wine and there are so many good producers.  Rosado, or rosé cava has been a trickier category...growing but very inconsistent.  The best and the best value for years has been the Raventós i Blanc de Nit....so drinkable, yet super food friendly, great in every season.  Not only my favorite rosado cava, one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines in general!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are looking for a great cava at less than 10$, you&#39;re unlikely to find one.  Drinkable ones, plenty.  Perfect for making mimosas and such....  The sweet spot is 10-20€ or 15-30$, where you can find some really nice cavas that offer great value for money.  These wines many times are a lot better than the basic cuvées of many major champagne houses that go for 50$!</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> Lots of favorite wines in this category, including this de Nit, which retails for about 13€ in Spain or 20$ in the US.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Above this range there are some truly great cavas from such houses as Gramona and Recaredo, special cavas that can compete head to head with champagne in a blind tasting and win!  Expensive, complex, fine wines.  Wines for another post....</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The de Nit 2010 is made of the three traditional cava varieties, Macabeo, Xarel.lo and Parellada, with a little red Monastrell added in.  It is aged at least 15 months on lees before degorgement and release which maintains its fruity character, but also rounds out the edges and makes the wine harmonious.  The nose has very pretty red fruit aromas, the mouth is surprisingly fresh and citric, though the red fruits carry on through, especially on the long finish.  Many rosado cavas are a bit heavy-handed but this retains all the elegance of the Raventos i Blanc white cavas with an elegant and pretty layer of red fruit added in from the Monastrell. </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"371\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"So easy to polish off a bottle!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-21321.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-26-2013-21321.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376365298365.1653\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"371\" height=\"497\" alt=\"Raventós i Blanc de Nit: lovely rosado Spanish cava\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">De Nit, which means \"of the night\" in Catalan, is a great wine for just sipping....it&#39;s so easy to polish off a bottle with friends!  But it&#39;s such a versatile cava, the combination of freshness and light red fruit aromas make it a great food matching wine.  It still matches with many lighter foods that cava traditionally matches with, seafood, lighter cheeses, but it can also handle some heartier fare, salads, grilled seafood, paellas...many things you would put a rosé wine with.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It&#39;s a vintage cava, but released in most years, so you can look for the 2009, 2010 and even the 2011 on the market. De Nit is a dry Brut cava with a low residual sugar from the dosage of about 7.5 gr/l. </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Try this cava and you will rethink cava as a cheap cocktail mixer.  I just tasted the Perrier-Jouët rosé champagne this week and it was very nice...well-balanced, fruit forward style of rosé champagne....for at least 70$!  I&#39;ll take my de Nit any day for its charm, quality and value!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review: Raventós i Blanc de Nit Cava','Spanish Cava is a bit on the outs here in the US and it\'s a great shame. The recent cava appellation controversy has led to mixed messages and there has been a perception of reduced quality. Prosecco is everywhere, yet I would definitely question the quality of most of it. There is a lot of mediocre cava out there and it sucks that it is ruining the reputation of the rest. It\'s a shame because it is such a great Spanish wine and there are so many good producers. Rosado, or rosé cava has been a trickier category...growing but very inconsistent. The best and the best value for years has been the Raventós i Blanc de Nit....so drinkable, yet super food friendly, great in every season. Not only my favorite rosado cava, one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines in general!','inherit','open','open','','1417-revision','','','2013-08-12 23:41:34','2013-08-13 03:41:34','',1417,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/12/1417-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(1424,1,'2013-08-14 19:51:36','2013-08-14 23:51:36','','Garnacha Salvaje 2010.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-aug-14-2013-1736-jpg','','','2013-08-14 19:51:36','2013-08-14 23:51:36','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1425,1,'2013-08-14 19:51:38','2013-08-14 23:51:38','','Garnacha Salvaje back.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-aug-14-2013-1736-jpg-2','','','2013-08-14 19:51:38','2013-08-14 23:51:38','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1426,1,'2013-08-14 19:51:41','2013-08-14 23:51:41','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España.  A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain.  But it&#39;s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value.  The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this <a href=\"https://vimeo.com/33955194\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo video\">link</a> for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/72377094\" width=\"500\" height=\"305\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"></iframe><br>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/72377094\">Garnacha Salvaje wine review</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/planetavino\">Mary O&#39;Connor</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</div>\n\n</div><!--more--><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\" caption=\"Dramatic old-vine Garnacha on the label\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301290.045\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"334\" height=\"446\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a></div>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"336\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"All the info on the back label\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301210.6213\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review Video: Garnacha Salvaje 2010','From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España. A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain. But it\'s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value. The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this link for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.','publish','open','open','','spanish-wine-review-video-garnacha-salvaje-2010','','\nhttp://vimeo.com/72377094','2013-08-14 21:30:00','2013-08-15 01:30:00','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1426',0,'post','',1),(1427,1,'2013-08-14 19:51:40','2013-08-14 23:51:40','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España.  A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain.  But it&#39;s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value.  The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this <a href=\"https://vimeo.com/33955194\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo video\">link</a> for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/72377094\" width=\"500\" height=\"305\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"></iframe><br>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/72377094\">Garnacha Salvaje wine review</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/planetavino\">Mary O&#39;Connor</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</div>\n\n</div><!--more--><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\" caption=\"Dramatic old-vine Garnacha on the label\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301290.045\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"334\" height=\"446\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a></div>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"336\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"All the info on the back label\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301210.6213\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review Video: Garnacha Salvaje 2010','','inherit','open','open','','1426-revision-v1','','','2013-08-14 19:51:40','2013-08-14 23:51:40','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/14/1426-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1428,1,'2013-08-14 19:52:46','2013-08-14 23:52:46','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España.  A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain.  But it&#39;s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value.  The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this <a href=\"https://vimeo.com/33955194\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo video\">link</a> for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/72377094\" width=\"500\" height=\"305\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"></iframe><br>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/72377094\">Garnacha Salvaje wine review</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/planetavino\">Mary O&#39;Connor</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</div>\n\n</div><!--more--><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\" caption=\"Dramatic old-vine Garnacha on the label\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301290.045\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"334\" height=\"446\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a></div>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"336\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"All the info on the back label\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301210.6213\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review Video: Garnacha Salvaje 2010','','inherit','open','open','','1426-revision-v1','','','2013-08-14 19:52:46','2013-08-14 23:52:46','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/14/1426-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1429,1,'2013-08-14 21:22:28','2013-08-15 01:22:28','','Garnacha Salvaje 2010 thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','garnacha-salvaje-2010-thumbnail','','','2013-08-14 21:22:28','2013-08-15 01:22:28','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Garnacha-Salvaje-2010-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1430,1,'2013-08-14 21:24:09','2013-08-15 01:24:09','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España. A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain. But it\'s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value. The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this <a title=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo video\" href=\"https://vimeo.com/33955194\" target=\"_blank\">link</a> for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/72377094\" height=\"305\" width=\"500\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/72377094\">Garnacha Salvaje wine review</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/planetavino\">Mary O\'Connor</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</div>\n</div>\n<!--more-->\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301290.045\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" width=\"334\" height=\"446\" /></a></div>\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301210.6213\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" /></a> All the info on the back label[/caption]\n\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review Video: Garnacha Salvaje 2010','','inherit','open','open','','1426-autosave-v1','','','2013-08-14 21:24:09','2013-08-15 01:24:09','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/14/1426-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1431,1,'2013-08-14 21:24:21','2013-08-15 01:24:21','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España. A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain. But it\'s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value. The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this <a title=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo video\" href=\"https://vimeo.com/33955194\" target=\"_blank\">link</a> for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/72377094\" height=\"305\" width=\"500\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"></iframe>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/72377094\">Garnacha Salvaje wine review</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/planetavino\">Mary O\'Connor</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301290.045\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" width=\"334\" height=\"446\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301210.6213\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" /></a> All the info on the back label[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Wine Review Video: Garnacha Salvaje 2010','','inherit','open','open','','1426-revision-v1','','','2013-08-14 21:24:21','2013-08-15 01:24:21','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/14/1426-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1432,1,'2013-08-14 21:30:00','2013-08-15 01:30:00','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"> From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España.  A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain.  But it&#39;s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value.  The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this <a href=\"https://vimeo.com/33955194\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo video\">link</a> for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><iframe src=\"http://player.vimeo.com/video/72377094\" width=\"500\" height=\"305\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"></iframe><br>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://vimeo.com/72377094\">Garnacha Salvaje wine review</a> from <a href=\"http://vimeo.com/planetavino\">Mary O&#39;Connor</a> on <a href=\"http://vimeo.com\">Vimeo</a>.</div>\n\n</div><!--more--><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\" caption=\"Dramatic old-vine Garnacha on the label\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-1736.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301290.045\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"334\" height=\"446\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a></div>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"336\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"All the info on the back label\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-14-2013-17361.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1376524301210.6213\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"336\" height=\"448\" alt=\"Garnacha Salvaje de Moncayo: unique Spanish wine from the Ribera del Queiles area\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Spanish Wine Review Video: Garnacha Salvaje 2010','From the same people behind Matsu, some of my favorite Spanish wines from Toro, we have the Proyecto Garnachas de España. A very original and personal selection of Garnachas from several regions, all very good value and beautifully labelled. These people understand marketing because the website is beautiful, filled with neat videos about the old-vine Grenache vineyards of Spain. But it\'s not just a nice story and pretty packaging...the wines are quite nice, unique and very good value. The wine I taste in my video today is the Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2010. Check out this link for a long, but very cool video about the abandoned vines this wine came from and check out my review below.','inherit','open','open','','1426-revision-v1','','','2013-08-14 21:30:00','2013-08-15 01:30:00','',1426,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/14/1426-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1433,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:33','2013-08-23 03:39:33','','Delicatus-logo.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','delicatus-logo-jpg','','','2013-08-22 23:39:33','2013-08-23 03:39:33','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1434,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:34','2013-08-23 03:39:34','','Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','delicatus-logo_thumb-jpg','','','2013-08-22 23:39:34','2013-08-23 03:39:34','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1435,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:36','2013-08-23 03:39:36','','Delicatus-interior.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','delicatus-interior-jpg','','','2013-08-22 23:39:36','2013-08-23 03:39:36','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1436,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:37','2013-08-23 03:39:37','','Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','delicatus-interior_thumb-jpg','','','2013-08-22 23:39:37','2013-08-23 03:39:37','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1439,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:42','2013-08-23 03:39:42','','Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','delicatus-charcuterie-jpg','','','2013-08-22 23:39:42','2013-08-23 03:39:42','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1440,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:43','2013-08-23 03:39:43','','Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','delicatus-charcuterie_thumb-jpg','','','2013-08-22 23:39:43','2013-08-23 03:39:43','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1441,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:44','2013-08-23 03:39:44','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260746.781\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\"></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is <a href=\"http://www.delicatusseattle.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in coolSeattle deli\">Delicatus</a>.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break. </p>\n\n<!--more--><p> </p>\n\nDelicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.<br>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260745.9849\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260702.4834\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260739.387\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\n\n<p><style type=\"text/css\"><!--<br/>.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { 	font-size: small; 	color: black; 	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; 	background-color: #ffffff; 	/*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt  { 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	width: 100%; 	margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }<br/>--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.<br>\n</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there. The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine. For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus. Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products. The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events. They even make their own wine! More on that after the break.','publish','open','open','','delicatus-cool-plates-and-wine-in-hipster-seattle-deli','','','2013-08-23 19:42:24','2013-08-23 23:42:24','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1441',0,'post','',0),(1442,1,'2013-08-22 23:39:44','2013-08-23 03:39:44','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img title=\"Delicatus logo\" style=\"border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" align=\"left\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.&#160; The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.&#160; For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.&#160; Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.&#160; The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.&#160; They even make their own wine!&#160; More on that after the break.</p>  <div align=\"justify\">   <pre class=\"csharpcode\"><span class=\"kwrd\">&lt;&lt;!</span><span class=\"html\">--more—</span><span class=\"kwrd\">&gt;&gt;</span></pre>\n</div>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.&#160; The space is big and and airy and and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img title=\"Delicatus interior\" style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.&#160; they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.&#160; The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.&#160; Starting a 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen. </p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.&#160; Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" style=\"border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Eve Chardonnay:  crisp un-oaked Chard from Washington State\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" /></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.&#160; It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.&#160; It’s from Charles Smith Wines.&#160; Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.&#160; Look at the pretty presentation.&#160; It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!&#160; Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product. </p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" style=\"border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" /></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The&#160; star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.&#160; This is a non-vintage red, a <style type=\"text/css\">\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre\n{\n	font-size: small;\n	color: black;\n	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace;\n	background-color: #ffffff;\n	/*white-space: pre;*/\n}\n.csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; }\n.csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; }\n.csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; }\n.csharpcode .str { color: #006080; }\n.csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; }\n.csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; }\n.csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; }\n.csharpcode .html { color: #800000; }\n.csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; }\n.csharpcode .alt \n{\n	background-color: #f4f4f4;\n	width: 100%;\n	margin: 0em;\n}\n.csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }</style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.&#160; </p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.&#160; It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.&#160; But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.&#160; It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.&#160; It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.&#160;&#160; Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.&#160; It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.&#160; Very complex, yet simple.&#160; </p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.&#160; A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-22 23:39:44','2013-08-23 03:39:44','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/22/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1443,1,'2013-08-23 13:49:54','2013-08-23 17:49:54','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus logo\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break.</p>\n<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;\" title=\"Delicatus interior\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\n\n<style type=\"text/css\"><!--\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { 	font-size: small; 	color: black; 	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; 	background-color: #ffffff; 	/*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt  { 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	width: 100%; 	margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }\n--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-autosave-v1','','','2013-08-23 13:49:54','2013-08-23 17:49:54','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/22/1441-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1444,1,'2013-08-22 23:44:36','2013-08-23 03:44:36','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus logo\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.&nbsp; The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.&nbsp; For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.&nbsp; Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.&nbsp; The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.&nbsp; They even make their own wine!&nbsp; More on that after the break.</p>\r\n<<!--more-->>\r\n\r\n<div align=\"justify\">\r\n<pre class=\"csharpcode\"><span class=\"kwrd\">&nbsp;</span></pre>\r\n</div>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.&nbsp; The space is big and and airy and and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;\" title=\"Delicatus interior\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.&nbsp; they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.&nbsp; The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.&nbsp; Starting a 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.&nbsp; Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" alt=\"Eve Chardonnay:  crisp un-oaked Chard from Washington State\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.&nbsp; It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.&nbsp; It’s from Charles Smith Wines.&nbsp; Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.&nbsp; Look at the pretty presentation.&nbsp; It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!&nbsp; Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The&nbsp; star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.&nbsp; This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\r\n\r\n<style type=\"text/css\"><!--\r\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { font-size: small; color: black; font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; background-color: #ffffff; /*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt { background-color: #f4f4f4; width: 100%; margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }\r\n--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.&nbsp; It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.&nbsp; But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.&nbsp; It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.&nbsp; It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.&nbsp;&nbsp; Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.&nbsp; It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.&nbsp; Very complex, yet simple.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.&nbsp; A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-22 23:44:36','2013-08-23 03:44:36','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/22/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1445,1,'2013-08-22 23:46:28','2013-08-23 03:46:28','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus logo\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break.</p>\r\n<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;\" title=\"Delicatus interior\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting a 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" alt=\"Eve Chardonnay:  crisp un-oaked Chard from Washington State\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\r\n\r\n<style type=\"text/css\"><!--\r\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { font-size: small; color: black; font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; background-color: #ffffff; /*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt { background-color: #f4f4f4; width: 100%; margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }\r\n--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimentón, and boquerón anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-22 23:46:28','2013-08-23 03:46:28','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/22/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1446,1,'2013-08-22 23:47:28','2013-08-23 03:47:28','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus logo\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, super friendly people, and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break.</p>\r\n<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;\" title=\"Delicatus interior\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting a 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" alt=\"Eve Chardonnay:  crisp un-oaked Chard from Washington State\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\r\n\r\n<style type=\"text/css\"><!--\r\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { font-size: small; color: black; font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; background-color: #ffffff; /*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt { background-color: #f4f4f4; width: 100%; margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }\r\n--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimentón, and boquerón anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-22 23:47:28','2013-08-23 03:47:28','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/22/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1447,1,'2013-08-23 13:46:51','2013-08-23 17:46:51','','Eve-Chardonnay.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','eve-chardonnay-jpg','','','2013-08-23 13:46:51','2013-08-23 17:46:51','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1448,1,'2013-08-23 13:46:53','2013-08-23 17:46:53','','Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','eve-chardonnay_thumb-jpg','','','2013-08-23 13:46:53','2013-08-23 17:46:53','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1449,1,'2013-08-23 13:46:54','2013-08-23 17:46:54','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img title=\"Delicatus logo\" style=\"border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" align=\"left\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.&#160; The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.&#160; For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.&#160; Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.&#160; The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.&#160; They even make their own wine!&#160; More on that after the break.</p>  <p align=\"justify\">&#160;</p>  <p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.&#160; The space is big and and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.</p>  <p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img title=\"Delicatus interior\" style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>  <p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.&#160; they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.&#160; The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.&#160; Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>  <p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen. </p>  <p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.&#160; Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>  <p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" style=\"border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" /></a></p>  <p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.&#160; It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.&#160; It’s from Charles Smith Wines.&#160; Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>  <p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.&#160; Look at the pretty presentation.&#160; It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!&#160; Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product. </p>  <p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" style=\"border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" /></a></p>  <p align=\"justify\">The&#160; star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.&#160; This is a non-vintage red, a <style type=\"text/css\">\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre\n{\n	font-size: small;\n	color: black;\n	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace;\n	background-color: #ffffff;\n	/*white-space: pre;*/\n}\n.csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; }\n.csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; }\n.csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; }\n.csharpcode .str { color: #006080; }\n.csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; }\n.csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; }\n.csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; }\n.csharpcode .html { color: #800000; }\n.csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; }\n.csharpcode .alt \n{\n	background-color: #f4f4f4;\n	width: 100%;\n	margin: 0em;\n}\n.csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }</style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.&#160; </p>  <p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.&#160; It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.&#160; But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>  <p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.&#160; It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.&#160; It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.&#160;&#160; Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.&#160; It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.&#160; Very complex, yet simple.&#160; </p>  <p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.&#160; A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-23 13:46:54','2013-08-23 17:46:54','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/23/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1450,1,'2013-08-23 13:48:45','2013-08-23 17:48:45','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus logo\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break.</p>\r\n<<!--more-->>\r\n\r\n<p align=\"justify\"></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;\" title=\"Delicatus interior\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\r\n\r\n<style type=\"text/css\"><!--\r\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre\r\n{\r\n	font-size: small;\r\n	color: black;\r\n	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace;\r\n	background-color: #ffffff;\r\n	/*white-space: pre;*/\r\n}\r\n.csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; }\r\n.csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; }\r\n.csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; }\r\n.csharpcode .str { color: #006080; }\r\n.csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; }\r\n.csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; }\r\n.csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; }\r\n.csharpcode .html { color: #800000; }\r\n.csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; }\r\n.csharpcode .alt \r\n{\r\n	background-color: #f4f4f4;\r\n	width: 100%;\r\n	margin: 0em;\r\n}\r\n.csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }\r\n--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-23 13:48:45','2013-08-23 17:48:45','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/23/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1451,1,'2013-08-23 13:50:01','2013-08-23 17:50:01','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus logo\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\" align=\"left\" border=\"0\" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break.</p>\r\n<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img style=\"float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;\" title=\"Delicatus interior\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Eve Chardonnay\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img style=\"background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;\" title=\"Delicatus charcuterie\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\" border=\"0\" /></a></p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\r\n\r\n<style type=\"text/css\"><!--\r\n.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { 	font-size: small; 	color: black; 	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; 	background-color: #ffffff; 	/*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt  { 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	width: 100%; 	margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }\r\n--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.\r\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\r\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-23 13:50:01','2013-08-23 17:50:01','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/23/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1452,1,'2013-08-23 19:30:07','2013-08-23 23:30:07','','Delicatus logo thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','delicatus-logo-thumbnail','','','2013-08-23 19:30:07','2013-08-23 23:30:07','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1453,1,'2013-08-23 19:39:20','2013-08-23 23:39:20','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301086750.8765\" class=\"\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\"></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is <a href=\"http://www.delicatusseattle.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in coolSeattle deli\">Delicatus</a>.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.<br>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301086753.2776\" class=\"\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301086760.8228\" class=\"\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301086796.758\" class=\"\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\n\n<p><style type=\"text/css\"><!--<br/>.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { 	font-size: small; 	color: black; 	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; 	background-color: #ffffff; 	/*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt  { 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	width: 100%; 	margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }<br/>--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.<br>\n</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there. The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine. For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus. Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products. The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events. They even make their own wine! More on that after the break.','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-23 19:39:20','2013-08-23 23:39:20','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/23/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1454,1,'2013-08-23 19:40:09','2013-08-23 23:40:09','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301197402.8855\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\"></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is <a href=\"http://www.delicatusseattle.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in coolSeattle deli\">Delicatus</a>.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break. </p>\n\n<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.<br>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301197426.8984\" class=\"\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301197395.245\" class=\"\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301197370.2712\" class=\"\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\n\n<p><style type=\"text/css\"><!--<br/>.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { 	font-size: small; 	color: black; 	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; 	background-color: #ffffff; 	/*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt  { 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	width: 100%; 	margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }<br/>--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.<br>\n</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there. The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine. For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus. Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products. The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events. They even make their own wine! More on that after the break.','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-23 19:40:09','2013-08-23 23:40:09','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/23/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1455,1,'2013-08-23 19:41:07','2013-08-23 23:41:07','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260746.781\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\"></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is <a href=\"http://www.delicatusseattle.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in coolSeattle deli\">Delicatus</a>.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break. </p>\n\n<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.<br>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260745.9849\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260702.4834\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260739.387\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\n\n<p><style type=\"text/css\"><!--<br/>.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { 	font-size: small; 	color: black; 	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; 	background-color: #ffffff; 	/*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt  { 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	width: 100%; 	margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }<br/>--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.<br>\n</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there. The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine. For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus. Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products. The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events. They even make their own wine! More on that after the break.','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-23 19:41:07','2013-08-23 23:41:07','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/23/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1456,1,'2013-08-23 19:41:45','2013-08-23 23:41:45','<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260746.781\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"184\" height=\"244\"></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is <a href=\"http://www.delicatusseattle.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delicatus: great food and wine in coolSeattle deli\">Delicatus</a>.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break. </p>\n\n<!--more--><p> </p>\n\nDelicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.<br>\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260745.9849\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260702.4834\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"364\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" target=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377301260739.387\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle\" width=\"644\" height=\"484\"></a></p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>\n\n<p><style type=\"text/css\"><!--<br/>.csharpcode, .csharpcode pre { 	font-size: small; 	color: black; 	font-family: consolas, \"Courier New\", courier, monospace; 	background-color: #ffffff; 	/*white-space: pre;*/ } .csharpcode pre { margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .rem { color: #008000; } .csharpcode .kwrd { color: #0000ff; } .csharpcode .str { color: #006080; } .csharpcode .op { color: #0000c0; } .csharpcode .preproc { color: #cc6633; } .csharpcode .asp { background-color: #ffff00; } .csharpcode .html { color: #800000; } .csharpcode .attr { color: #ff0000; } .csharpcode .alt  { 	background-color: #f4f4f4; 	width: 100%; 	margin: 0em; } .csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }<br/>--></style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.<br>\n</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>\n\n<p align=\"justify\">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Delicatus: cool plates and wine in hipster Seattle deli','Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there. The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine. For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus. Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products. The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events. They even make their own wine! More on that after the break.','inherit','open','open','','1441-revision-v1','','','2013-08-23 19:41:45','2013-08-23 23:41:45','',1441,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/23/1441-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1457,1,'2013-08-24 23:53:10','2013-08-25 03:53:10','','Umami Burger menu.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-aug-12-2013-1409-jpg','','','2013-08-24 23:53:10','2013-08-25 03:53:10','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1458,1,'2013-08-24 23:53:15','2013-08-25 03:53:15','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569300.786\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain <a title=\"Umami Burger: seriously awesoem burgers in Miami Beach\" href=\"http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/eats/south-beach/\" target=\"_blank\">Umami burger</a>. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Umami burger has lots of locations in California but so far only two on the East Coast, one in South Beach and one in NYC. The location on Alton Rd in Miami Beach was a burger place before and the decor is the same, an old-fashioned look with a pressed tin ceiling and a marble-top bar.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"414\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.718\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" width=\"414\" height=\"551\" /></a> Inviting bar[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The menu has some salads and alternative burgers for the folks who are dragged to burger joints by meat lovers. They have also developed a special Cubano Burger just for the South Beach location, which is a burger version of the classic Cuban pressed sandwich. They rate the burgers on the menu for Umami flavor, Umami being the fifth flavor, along with salty, bitter, sour, and sweet.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite numerous tempting choices, including the truffle burger, the Royale, and the triple pork burger, I went for the Original first time around. The staff explained that their burgers run pink, which I love, so I ordered mine medium rare. It is so hard for me to actually get a burger as rare as I like them, but it was super rare!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569283.9504\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"553\" /></a> The awesome The Original burger[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check the picture...not the most impressive looking burger, but the flavor is all in there! The meat, which they grind fresh in-house several times a day, was tender, juicy and full of flavor on its own. Then there were the perfect simple toppings that added that rich, savory umami flavor. The Parmesan crisp and the roasted tomatoes especially stood out, but you could definitely get the shiitake mushrooms and the caramelized onions. Everything was in balance...not too much of anything, one large party was perfect in this case. A very messy burger to eat...luckily the bun caught a lot of the juices.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"474\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.5894\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" width=\"474\" height=\"356\" /></a> Serious juiciness and umami![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had also ordered truffle fries. I usually hate truffle fries...mostly of them are pretty bad...not very truffely. The fries here were excellent, thin and crispy, and the truffle flavor was pretty intense. It was layered on with both truffle salt and truffle cheese. I was pretty stuffed after my burger but still managed to finish those fries.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can also get your fries with short rib and umami gravy...what?</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569307.8557\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a> Also great truffle fries...[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What about drinks? Good stuff. Lots of cocktails and beers on draft. Even some sake... A very decent selection of wines for a burger place. The air conditioner was a bit on the fritz the summery Miami day I was there, so the reds were being served a bit warmer than usual. So despite the burger, I ordered a refreshing Spanish white, the Arindo Verdejo from Bodegas Shaya. It was perfect for the hot day and surprisingly it went really well with all those umami flavors on the burger. Sometimes the less obvious match just works.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The burgers are not cheap, between 11 and 15 dollars, but I\'m still thinking of that burger two weeks later! I\'ll be going back soon and I think I\'ll go for the Triple Pork Burger, with bacon and chorizo ground in with the pork...seriously!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What\'s your favorite burger place?</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Best burger in Miami...so far!','I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain Umami burger. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.','publish','open','open','','best-burger-in-miami-so-far','','','2013-08-25 01:32:13','2013-08-25 05:32:13','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=1458',0,'post','',0),(1459,1,'2013-08-24 23:53:12','2013-08-25 03:53:12','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377402795792.0994\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints.  Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie&#39;s.  I also like Elevation Burger because it&#39;s got organic beef and it&#39;s right by my house for a quick fix.  But the best burger I&#39;ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch if the LA chain <a href=\"http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/eats/south-beach/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Umami Burger: seriously awesoem burgers in Miami Beach\">Umami burger</a>.  I&#39;ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I&#39;ll be going back soon for some more and to try some other burgers.  Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Umami burger has lots of locaiton in California but so far only two on the East Coast, one in South Beach and one in NYC.  The location on Alton Rd in Miami Beach was a burger place before and the decor is the same, an old fashioned look with a pressed tin ceiling and a marble-top bar.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The menu has some salads and some alternative burgers for the folks who are dragged to burger joints by meat lovers.  They have also developed a special Cubano Burger just for the South Beahc location, which is a burger version of the classic Cuban pressed sandwich.   They rate the burgers on the menu for Umami flavor, Umami being the fifth flavor, along with salty, bitter, sour, and sweet.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite numerous tempting choices, including the truffle burger, the Royale, and the triple pork burger, I went for the Original first time around.  The staff explained that their burgers run pink, which I love, so I ordered mine medium rare.  It is so hard for me to actually get a burger as rare as I like them, but it was super rare!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check the picture...not the most impressive looking burger, but the flavor is all in there!  The meat, which they grind fresh in house several times a day, was tender, juicy and full of flavor on its own.  Then there were the perfect simple toppings that added that rich, savory umami flavor.  The Parmesan crisp and the roasted tomatoes especially stood out, but you could definitely get the shiitake mushrooms and the caramelized onions.  Everything was in balance...not too much of anything, one large party was perfect in this case.  A very messy burger to eat...luckily the bun caught a lot of the juices.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had also ordered truffle fries.  I usually hate truffle fries...mostly of them are pretty bad...not very truffely. The fries here were excellent, thin and crispy, and the truffle flavor was pretty intense. It was layered on with both truffle salt and truffle cheese.  I was pretty stuffed after my burger but still managed to finish those fries.    </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can also get your fries with short rib and umami gravy...what?</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What about drinks?  Good stuff.  Lots of cocktails and beers on draft.  Even some sake...   A very decent selection of wines for a burger place.  The air conditioner was a bit on the fritz the summery Miami day I was there, so the reds were being served a bit warmer than usual.  So despite the burger, I ordered a refreshing Spanish white,  the Arindo Verdejo from Bodegas Shaya.  It was perfect for the hot day and surprisingly it went really well with all those umami flavors on the burger.  Sometimes the less obvious match just works.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The burgers are not cheap, between 11 and 15 dollars, but I&#39;m still thinking of that burger two weeks later!  I&#39;ll be going back soon and I think I&#39;ll go for the Triple Pork Burger, with bacon and chorizo ground in with the pork...seriously!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What&#39;s your favorite burger place?</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best burger in Miami...so far!','I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch if the LA chain Umami burger. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon for some more and to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.','inherit','open','open','','1458-revision-v1','','','2013-08-24 23:53:12','2013-08-25 03:53:12','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/24/1458-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1460,1,'2013-08-24 23:54:59','2013-08-25 03:54:59','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377402795792.0994\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints.  Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie&#39;s.  I also like Elevation Burger because it&#39;s got organic beef and it&#39;s right by my house for a quick fix.  But the best burger I&#39;ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain <a href=\"http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/eats/south-beach/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Umami Burger: seriously awesoem burgers in Miami Beach\">Umami burger</a>.  I&#39;ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I&#39;ll be going back soon for some more and to try some other burgers.  Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Umami burger has lots of locaiton in California but so far only two on the East Coast, one in South Beach and one in NYC.  The location on Alton Rd in Miami Beach was a burger place before and the decor is the same, an old fashioned look with a pressed tin ceiling and a marble-top bar.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The menu has some salads and some alternative burgers for the folks who are dragged to burger joints by meat lovers.  They have also developed a special Cubano Burger just for the South Beahc location, which is a burger version of the classic Cuban pressed sandwich.   They rate the burgers on the menu for Umami flavor, Umami being the fifth flavor, along with salty, bitter, sour, and sweet.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite numerous tempting choices, including the truffle burger, the Royale, and the triple pork burger, I went for the Original first time around.  The staff explained that their burgers run pink, which I love, so I ordered mine medium rare.  It is so hard for me to actually get a burger as rare as I like them, but it was super rare!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check the picture...not the most impressive looking burger, but the flavor is all in there!  The meat, which they grind fresh in house several times a day, was tender, juicy and full of flavor on its own.  Then there were the perfect simple toppings that added that rich, savory umami flavor.  The Parmesan crisp and the roasted tomatoes especially stood out, but you could definitely get the shiitake mushrooms and the caramelized onions.  Everything was in balance...not too much of anything, one large party was perfect in this case.  A very messy burger to eat...luckily the bun caught a lot of the juices.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had also ordered truffle fries.  I usually hate truffle fries...mostly of them are pretty bad...not very truffely. The fries here were excellent, thin and crispy, and the truffle flavor was pretty intense. It was layered on with both truffle salt and truffle cheese.  I was pretty stuffed after my burger but still managed to finish those fries.    </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can also get your fries with short rib and umami gravy...what?</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What about drinks?  Good stuff.  Lots of cocktails and beers on draft.  Even some sake...   A very decent selection of wines for a burger place.  The air conditioner was a bit on the fritz the summery Miami day I was there, so the reds were being served a bit warmer than usual.  So despite the burger, I ordered a refreshing Spanish white,  the Arindo Verdejo from Bodegas Shaya.  It was perfect for the hot day and surprisingly it went really well with all those umami flavors on the burger.  Sometimes the less obvious match just works.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The burgers are not cheap, between 11 and 15 dollars, but I&#39;m still thinking of that burger two weeks later!  I&#39;ll be going back soon and I think I&#39;ll go for the Triple Pork Burger, with bacon and chorizo ground in with the pork...seriously!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What&#39;s your favorite burger place?</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best burger in Miami...so far!','I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain Umami burger. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon for some more and to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.','inherit','open','open','','1458-revision-v1','','','2013-08-24 23:54:59','2013-08-25 03:54:59','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/24/1458-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1461,1,'2013-08-24 23:55:48','2013-08-25 03:55:48','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377402795792.0994\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints.  Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie&#39;s.  I also like Elevation Burger because it&#39;s got organic beef and it&#39;s right by my house for a quick fix.  But the best burger I&#39;ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain <a href=\"http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/eats/south-beach/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Umami Burger: seriously awesoem burgers in Miami Beach\">Umami burger</a>.  I&#39;ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I&#39;ll be going back soon to try some other burgers.  Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Umami burger has lots of locaiton in California but so far only two on the East Coast, one in South Beach and one in NYC.  The location on Alton Rd in Miami Beach was a burger place before and the decor is the same, an old fashioned look with a pressed tin ceiling and a marble-top bar.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The menu has some salads and some alternative burgers for the folks who are dragged to burger joints by meat lovers.  They have also developed a special Cubano Burger just for the South Beahc location, which is a burger version of the classic Cuban pressed sandwich.   They rate the burgers on the menu for Umami flavor, Umami being the fifth flavor, along with salty, bitter, sour, and sweet.  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite numerous tempting choices, including the truffle burger, the Royale, and the triple pork burger, I went for the Original first time around.  The staff explained that their burgers run pink, which I love, so I ordered mine medium rare.  It is so hard for me to actually get a burger as rare as I like them, but it was super rare!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check the picture...not the most impressive looking burger, but the flavor is all in there!  The meat, which they grind fresh in house several times a day, was tender, juicy and full of flavor on its own.  Then there were the perfect simple toppings that added that rich, savory umami flavor.  The Parmesan crisp and the roasted tomatoes especially stood out, but you could definitely get the shiitake mushrooms and the caramelized onions.  Everything was in balance...not too much of anything, one large party was perfect in this case.  A very messy burger to eat...luckily the bun caught a lot of the juices.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had also ordered truffle fries.  I usually hate truffle fries...mostly of them are pretty bad...not very truffely. The fries here were excellent, thin and crispy, and the truffle flavor was pretty intense. It was layered on with both truffle salt and truffle cheese.  I was pretty stuffed after my burger but still managed to finish those fries.    </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can also get your fries with short rib and umami gravy...what?</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What about drinks?  Good stuff.  Lots of cocktails and beers on draft.  Even some sake...   A very decent selection of wines for a burger place.  The air conditioner was a bit on the fritz the summery Miami day I was there, so the reds were being served a bit warmer than usual.  So despite the burger, I ordered a refreshing Spanish white,  the Arindo Verdejo from Bodegas Shaya.  It was perfect for the hot day and surprisingly it went really well with all those umami flavors on the burger.  Sometimes the less obvious match just works.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The burgers are not cheap, between 11 and 15 dollars, but I&#39;m still thinking of that burger two weeks later!  I&#39;ll be going back soon and I think I&#39;ll go for the Triple Pork Burger, with bacon and chorizo ground in with the pork...seriously!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What&#39;s your favorite burger place?</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best burger in Miami...so far!','I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain Umami burger. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.','inherit','open','open','','1458-revision-v1','','','2013-08-24 23:55:48','2013-08-25 03:55:48','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/24/1458-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1462,1,'2013-08-25 00:22:38','2013-08-25 04:22:38','','Umami Burger bar.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-aug-12-2013-1356-jpg','','','2013-08-25 00:22:38','2013-08-25 04:22:38','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1463,1,'2013-08-25 00:22:40','2013-08-25 04:22:40','','Umami burger wine.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-aug-12-2013-1359-jpg','','','2013-08-25 00:22:40','2013-08-25 04:22:40','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1464,1,'2013-08-25 00:22:44','2013-08-25 04:22:44','','The Original Umami burger.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-aug-12-2013-1402-jpg','','','2013-08-25 00:22:44','2013-08-25 04:22:44','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1465,1,'2013-08-25 00:22:47','2013-08-25 04:22:47','','Umami Burger truffle fries.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-aug-12-2013-1411-jpg','','','2013-08-25 00:22:47','2013-08-25 04:22:47','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1466,1,'2013-08-25 00:22:48','2013-08-25 04:22:48','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569300.786\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a></div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints.  Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie&#39;s.  I also like Elevation Burger because it&#39;s got organic beef and it&#39;s right by my house for a quick fix.  But the best burger I&#39;ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain <a href=\"http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/eats/south-beach/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Umami Burger: seriously awesoem burgers in Miami Beach\">Umami burger</a>.  I&#39;ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I&#39;ll be going back soon to try some other burgers.  Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Umami burger has lots of location in California but so far only two on the East Coast, one in South Beach and one in NYC.  The location on Alton Rd in Miami Beach was a burger place before and the decor is the same, an old fashioned look with a pressed tin ceiling and a marble-top bar.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"414\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Inviting bar\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.718\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"414\" height=\"551\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The menu has some salads and some alternative burgers for the folks who are dragged to burger joints by meat lovers.  They have also developed a special Cubano Burger just for the South Beahc location, which is a burger version of the classic Cuban pressed sandwich.   They rate the burgers on the menu for Umami flavor, Umami being the fifth flavor, along with salty, bitter, sour, and sweet.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite numerous tempting choices, including the truffle burger, the Royale, and the triple pork burger, I went for the Original first time around.  The staff explained that their burgers run pink, which I love, so I ordered mine medium rare.  It is so hard for me to actually get a burger as rare as I like them, but it was super rare!  </p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"415\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"The awesome The Original burger\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569283.9504\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\" height=\"553\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check the picture...not the most impressive looking burger, but the flavor is all in there!  The meat, which they grind fresh in house several times a day, was tender, juicy and full of flavor on its own.  Then there were the perfect simple toppings that added that rich, savory umami flavor.  The Parmesan crisp and the roasted tomatoes especially stood out, but you could definitely get the shiitake mushrooms and the caramelized onions.  Everything was in balance...not too much of anything, one large party was perfect in this case.  A very messy burger to eat...luckily the bun caught a lot of the juices.</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"474\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Serious juiciness and umami!\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.5894\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"474\" height=\"356\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had also ordered truffle fries.  I usually hate truffle fries...mostly of them are pretty bad...not very truffely. The fries here were excellent, thin and crispy, and the truffle flavor was pretty intense. It was layered on with both truffle salt and truffle cheese.  I was pretty stuffed after my burger but still managed to finish those fries.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can also get your fries with short rib and umami gravy...what?</p>\n\n[caption id=\"\" width=\"500\" align=\"aligncenter\" caption=\"Also great truffle fries...\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\" \"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569307.8557\" class=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\"></a>[/caption]\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What about drinks?  Good stuff.  Lots of cocktails and beers on draft.  Even some sake...   A very decent selection of wines for a burger place.  The air conditioner was a bit on the fritz the summery Miami day I was there, so the reds were being served a bit warmer than usual.  So despite the burger, I ordered a refreshing Spanish white,  the Arindo Verdejo from Bodegas Shaya.  It was perfect for the hot day and surprisingly it went really well with all those umami flavors on the burger.  Sometimes the less obvious match just works.</p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The burgers are not cheap, between 11 and 15 dollars, but I&#39;m still thinking of that burger two weeks later!  I&#39;ll be going back soon and I think I&#39;ll go for the Triple Pork Burger, with bacon and chorizo ground in with the pork...seriously!  </p>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What&#39;s your favorite burger place?</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Best burger in Miami...so far!','I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain Umami burger. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.','inherit','open','open','','1458-revision-v1','','','2013-08-25 00:22:48','2013-08-25 04:22:48','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/25/1458-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1467,1,'2013-08-25 01:27:57','2013-08-25 05:27:57','','Umami Burger menu thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','umami-burger-menu-thumbnail','','','2013-08-25 01:27:57','2013-08-25 05:27:57','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Umami-Burger-menu-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(1468,1,'2013-08-25 01:31:18','2013-08-25 05:31:18','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569300.786\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain <a title=\"Umami Burger: seriously awesoem burgers in Miami Beach\" href=\"http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/eats/south-beach/\" target=\"_blank\">Umami burger</a>. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.</p>\n<!--more-->\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Umami burger has lots of location in California but so far only two on the East Coast, one in South Beach and one in NYC. The location on Alton Rd in Miami Beach was a burger place before and the decor is the same, an old-fashioned look with a pressed tin ceiling and a marble-top bar.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"414\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.718\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" width=\"414\" height=\"551\" /></a> Inviting bar[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The menu has some salads and alternative burgers for the folks who are dragged to burger joints by meat lovers. They have also developed a special Cubano Burger just for the South Beach location, which is a burger version of the classic Cuban pressed sandwich. They rate the burgers on the menu for Umami flavor, Umami being the fifth flavor, along with salty, bitter, sour, and sweet.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite numerous tempting choices, including the truffle burger, the Royale, and the triple pork burger, I went for the Original first time around. The staff explained that their burgers run pink, which I love, so I ordered mine medium rare. It is so hard for me to actually get a burger as rare as I like them, but it was super rare!</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569283.9504\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"553\" /></a> The awesome The Original burger[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check the picture...not the most impressive looking burger, but the flavor is all in there! The meat, which they grind fresh in house several times a day, was tender, juicy and full of flavor on its own. Then there were the perfect simple toppings that added that rich, savory umami flavor. The Parmesan crisp and the roasted tomatoes especially stood out, but you could definitely get the shiitake mushrooms and the caramelized onions. Everything was in balance...not too much of anything, one large party was perfect in this case. A very messy burger to eat...luckily the bun caught a lot of the juices.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"474\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.5894\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" width=\"474\" height=\"356\" /></a> Serious juiciness and umami![/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had also ordered truffle fries. I usually hate truffle fries...mostly of them are pretty bad...not very truffely. The fries here were excellent, thin and crispy, and the truffle flavor was pretty intense. It was layered on with both truffle salt and truffle cheese. I was pretty stuffed after my burger but still managed to finish those fries.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can also get your fries with short rib and umami gravy...what?</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569307.8557\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a> Also great truffle fries...[/caption]\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What about drinks? Good stuff. Lots of cocktails and beers on draft. Even some sake... A very decent selection of wines for a burger place. The air conditioner was a bit on the fritz the summery Miami day I was there, so the reds were being served a bit warmer than usual. So despite the burger, I ordered a refreshing Spanish white, the Arindo Verdejo from Bodegas Shaya. It was perfect for the hot day and surprisingly it went really well with all those umami flavors on the burger. Sometimes the less obvious match just works.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The burgers are not cheap, between 11 and 15 dollars, but I\'m still thinking of that burger two weeks later! I\'ll be going back soon and I think I\'ll go for the Triple Pork Burger, with bacon and chorizo ground in with the pork...seriously!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What\'s your favorite burger place?</p>\n&nbsp;','Best burger in Miami...so far!','I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain Umami burger. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.','inherit','open','open','','1458-autosave-v1','','','2013-08-25 01:31:18','2013-08-25 05:31:18','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/25/1458-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(1469,1,'2013-08-25 01:30:08','2013-08-25 05:30:08','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569300.786\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1409.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"188\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain <a title=\"Umami Burger: seriously awesoem burgers in Miami Beach\" href=\"http://www.umami.com/umami-burger/eats/south-beach/\" target=\"_blank\">Umami burger</a>. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Umami burger has lots of location in California but so far only two on the East Coast, one in South Beach and one in NYC. The location on Alton Rd in Miami Beach was a burger place before and the decor is the same, an old fashioned look with a pressed tin ceiling and a marble-top bar.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"414\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.718\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1356.jpg\" width=\"414\" height=\"551\" /></a> Inviting bar[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The menu has some salads and some alternative burgers for the folks who are dragged to burger joints by meat lovers. They have also developed a special Cubano Burger just for the South Beahc location, which is a burger version of the classic Cuban pressed sandwich. They rate the burgers on the menu for Umami flavor, Umami being the fifth flavor, along with salty, bitter, sour, and sweet.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite numerous tempting choices, including the truffle burger, the Royale, and the triple pork burger, I went for the Original first time around. The staff explained that their burgers run pink, which I love, so I ordered mine medium rare. It is so hard for me to actually get a burger as rare as I like them, but it was super rare!</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"415\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569283.9504\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1359.jpg\" width=\"415\" height=\"553\" /></a> The awesome The Original burger[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Check the picture...not the most impressive looking burger, but the flavor is all in there! The meat, which they grind fresh in house several times a day, was tender, juicy and full of flavor on its own. Then there were the perfect simple toppings that added that rich, savory umami flavor. The Parmesan crisp and the roasted tomatoes especially stood out, but you could definitely get the shiitake mushrooms and the caramelized onions. Everything was in balance...not too much of anything, one large party was perfect in this case. A very messy burger to eat...luckily the bun caught a lot of the juices.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"474\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569259.5894\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1402.jpg\" width=\"474\" height=\"356\" /></a> Serious juiciness and umami![/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had also ordered truffle fries. I usually hate truffle fries...mostly of them are pretty bad...not very truffely. The fries here were excellent, thin and crispy, and the truffle flavor was pretty intense. It was layered on with both truffle salt and truffle cheese. I was pretty stuffed after my burger but still managed to finish those fries.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can also get your fries with short rib and umami gravy...what?</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]<a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" id=\"blogsy-1377404569307.8557\" alt=\"Umami Burger: seriously great burgers and drinks in Miami Beach\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-Aug-12-2013-1411.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" /></a> Also great truffle fries...[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What about drinks? Good stuff. Lots of cocktails and beers on draft. Even some sake... A very decent selection of wines for a burger place. The air conditioner was a bit on the fritz the summery Miami day I was there, so the reds were being served a bit warmer than usual. So despite the burger, I ordered a refreshing Spanish white, the Arindo Verdejo from Bodegas Shaya. It was perfect for the hot day and surprisingly it went really well with all those umami flavors on the burger. Sometimes the less obvious match just works.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The burgers are not cheap, between 11 and 15 dollars, but I\'m still thinking of that burger two weeks later! I\'ll be going back soon and I think I\'ll go for the Triple Pork Burger, with bacon and chorizo ground in with the pork...seriously!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">What\'s your favorite burger place?</p>\r\n&nbsp;','Best burger in Miami...so far!','I love a really great burger from time to time, and the greater Miami area has some great gourmet burger joints. Some favorites are Charm City Burger, Burger Fi, Shake Shack, and Quickie\'s. I also like Elevation Burger because it\'s got organic beef and it\'s right by my house for a quick fix. But the best burger I\'ve had in Miami so far has been from the new branch of the LA chain Umami burger. I\'ve only been there once so far, but the Original Umami burger blew me away and I\'ll be going back soon to try some other burgers. Good drinks selection, great service and really awesome truffle fries added to the experience...but the outstanding burger is what sealed the deal.','inherit','open','open','','1458-revision-v1','','','2013-08-25 01:30:08','2013-08-25 05:30:08','',1458,'http://planetavino.net/2013/08/25/1458-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),