Posts made by Erika Strum:

Of all the experiences I had on my recent trip to Seattle and Oregon, one theme rang true: the importance of slowing down. Being a New Yorker, I tend to rush from here to there, focusing more on the schedule and less on the moment. I think this transcends a lot of Metropolitan area East Coasters. The truth is, great things can happen when you pause, think, and let the juices flow.

One of the most eye-opening (and hilarious) experiences was on a morning when my friend and I were leaving Portland for an appointment at Scott Paul Wines. We were already running late, but had to taste some real Portland coffee before departing. Locals highly recommended the Portland chain, Stumptown,  so we decided to check it out.

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I was befuddled this morning when I read a blog post about “shelf talkers”, the printed marketing material associated with bottles of wine at the retail store. Shelf talkers typically contain the name of the wine, a description, and associated ratings. You’ll often find our ratings on these shelf talkers, which are created to aid buyers in their decision making process.

Wine accessory guru Robert Dwyer, accuses Costco of using deceptive marketing by selectively listing higher scores on shelf talkers and also listing scores for previous vintages. Though I respect Robert and consider him a friend, I have to respectfully disagree with his points. Given that his piece received 30+ comments, it seems like an issue with legs.

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Despite downward trends in financial markets in almost every sphere, including fine wine, the value of legendary first-growth Bordeaux, Lafite, has held strong. Not so for other first-growths. While Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild have been rocky over time, Lafite continues to climb.

According to a piece on Bloomberg.com this week, it’s called “The Lafite Effect”. The historic winery owes it all to the Asian market. The emerging Asian market sees Bordeaux, namely Lafite, as a kind of wine holy grail. As wealth increases there, demand for Lafite skyrockets. In July, the average price for 1982 Lafite for example, was at its highest ever, $3,386, up from 2007 and 2009. And it’s not just the first-growth, their second and fourth wines: Carruades de Lafite and Duhart Milon are in high demand as well.

I know that Bordeaux is highly regarded in Asia. It’s a status symbol. They even have a cartoon (Les Gouttes de Dieu/Kami No Shizuku) devoted to seeking out the best wines in the world (mainly Bordeaux). But how did Lafite gain its position in the sky? And why not any other top Bordeaux?

Moreover, can these prices continue to increase, or will the bubble burst, crashing them, down to a price that even a lowly American can afford?

The flames are lit, the smoke is high and the burgers are sizzling. There is no doubt that Barbeque season is upon us. Even if you’re not a big meat eater, the pasta salads, French fries, and dips are often heavy and rich in flavor. As a result I often see big Zinfandels as recommended pairings for summer cookouts. So I was surprised when I read recently that Adam Perry Lang, owner of Daisy May’s BBQ, stated his favorite wine with barbeque: Riesling. Why? Due to its palate-cleansing properties, he says. I’d never heard of Riesling as a recommendation with meat but after further pondering, I can see why it makes a lot of sense.

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It’s no secret that New Yorkers are proud of their city. Many who were born here, fall in love quickly and never leave. For those who are into food and wine, New York is an absolute playground with every type of cuisine at your fingertips, often within short blocks of each other. With access to everything, we still have a special pride for native New York foods like great bagels and pizza. It’s no surprise that New York wine regions like the Finger Lakes and Long Island have blossomed to support such an appetite. But for some reason, there is a disconnect.

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I spent last weekend with thirty prolific and passionate wine bloggers on the North and South Fork of Long Island for a new event called, TasteCamp EAST. It was hosted by the king of New York wine blogging, Lenn Thompson. One of the many highlights of the trip for me was a flavor-filled lunch and vineyard walk at Shinn Estate Vineyards, on the North Fork. 

Owners Barbara Shinn and David  Page know a thing or two about food, after spending years building elegant restaurant Home on Cornelia Street, in Manhattan, which celebrates “farm to table” cuisine. They bring that same spirit to the cooking at the winery. David prepared a beautiful spread of dishes and laid out dozens of wines from Shinn, Jamesport, and Macari Vineyards. So, when assigned the difficult task of filling up a plate and pairing lunch with any wine you like, what does one do? I experimented to my heart’s delight.

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Our Tasting Director, Joe Czerwinski recently wrote a post entitled “Wine Critics in the Age of New Media” about the confluence of online tasters (bloggers, video tasting sites, community tasting portals) and the print media critics i.e. those who taste here at Wine Enthusiast Magazine. He discussed the fact that wine critics need to be aware of the new media and set themselves apart from the crowd. It raised a point for me, about tasting notes.

In my view, one of the reasons that people like Gary Vaynerchuk are so successful is because they use tasting notes that people can relate to. If you’ve seen any of his wacky TV spots on Ellen or Conan O’Brien when he eats dirt and sweaty gym socks to display common aromas of Burgundy, you will understand.

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People ask me for wine recommendations a lot. I enjoy being the go-to wine person for friends who need guidance. It’s flattering that people trust my taste. I would bet that a lot of you serve the same purpose. The challenge though, is that I’m never given any specifics. I’m never approached by a friend who wants to give a gift to a person who only likes Austrian Pinot Noir or medium-bodied Italian reds. Instead it’s: “can you recommend a really good $50 bottle of wine?” No region or taste preference is ever specified, or a favorite wine shop to make the selection from. I’m lucky if I get an answer to the “red or white” question.

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There are many major wine events that take place at this time of year, but Monday night, I attended one in New York that while possibly more under-the-radar than most, was extremely eye-opening: the Royal Wine Corp. Kosher Food and Wine Experience. Over 700 people  attended and tasted wines poured from France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and beyond, including the sought-after To Kalon vineyard in Napa Valley. Among those present were Israel’s premier wine critic, Daniel Rogov and Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV. Of course, every bottle was kosher.

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For some, food is an adventure. There are people who try new dishes at every turn, constantly seeking new experiences. There are others who enjoy familiarity, they play it safe with comfort foods. I’m typically a member of the former, though lately my mindset has shifted. I’ve been getting cozy with foods that I know, whether it’s enjoying cooking at home, or dining on more casual foods. Am I the only one?

Last Monday I ate at Resto, a relaxed Belgian restaurant in Manhattan that boasts an extensive beer list and classic dishes like moules & frites and deviled eggs. I had the most divine cheeseburger I’ve ever had. The burger was a mixture of beef cheek, hanger steak, and fatback (pork fatty goodness) served with crisp fries and a choice of mayo dipping sauces. On a Monday evening, cozy Resto was nearly full, no small feat for a restaurant at any time of year, especially in these times.

Another restaurant was on my radar, The Redhead, in the East Village,  famous for its “bacon brittle” and fried chicken. I planned on detailing my experiece there, only to find that they had a two hour wait at 8:30 on the Friday we arrived. With some of the stories I’ve heard about empty dining rooms at upscale places, it seems people are making a shift. Perhaps my point has been proven for me?

These days, I’m less excited about going to a stuffy restaurant where the focus can be too much on pretense and less on amiability. Save the foam infusions and caviar on toast points for another time. Lately it’s all about a beautifully crafted cheeseburger, a hearty bowl of soup, or fresh roasted vegetables. I don’t want to worry about how hip my outfit is. It feels like we have bigger fish to fry these days (or maybe fries to fry?).

These warm, indulgent comfort foods are something we can cling to in uneasy times. Even if you aren’t taking comfort in the new era upon us with today’s inauguration, the comfort of a juicy cheeseburger is tangible and within reach. While I am by no means calling for us all to boost our fat intake (save the Luther burger for Paula Dean), we can treat ourselves once in awhile. You deserve it.

Have you been cozying up to your food lately? How have your eating patterns shifted this year, if at all?