Sunny Sunday at a Sidewalk Café with Châteauneuf-du-Pape

It’s 75 degrees out with zero humidity, a slight breeze is blowing and the sky is blue…what better way to end our weekend than at Lincoln Plaza Cinema viewing the film Buck? (Can you believe they serve fresh carrot cake at the concession stand? I don’t know about you, but I have never been to a movie theater that served fresh anything!) Buck is to horses what Cesar Milan (a.k.a. The Dog Whisperer) is to dogs. The movie let out at 7:30PM, a perfect time to grab a nosh at Bar Boulud, which was a hop, skip and a jump from the theater. I’ve dined there a handful of times. The food is nothing to write home about, but the cheese plate and cured meats are, especially if you accompany them with a 2009 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The sommelier Michael was serving this wine by the glass from a double magnum and for the record, it’s true: bigger IS better.

Side note: Wine ages more slowly in large format bottles. True or False?

Answer: True. More air = faster aging. The wine to air ratio in larger format bottles is much less than it is in standard 750ml bottles, sooooooooo disa also means dat 750s will be aging-a more subito. (Translation: 750ml bottles will age more quickly than larger sized bottles.)


P.S.: Right next door to Bar Boulud is Daniel’s latest addition, Epicerie Bouloud, where gelato, hot dogs and signature Daniel charcuterie are served. Of course, we had to try the ice cream and hot dogs. To be sure, these are not your typical NYC dirty dogs; these were lamb hot dogs which we washed down with a glass of cava. I love the concept and the presentation, but unfortunately, I feel that Daniel’s brand has become too commercial and the quality of the food reflects it... BIG SIGH :(

P.P.S.: The best dog I ever had was in Chicago at the Wiener Circle (no relation to Andrew)! We brought a 1970 Unico to pair with it... Steve would have been proud!