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Mura of North Hills – ZSpotCard Raleigh

February 4, 2010 By ZMaverick

What a great ZSpotCard deal!

Mura Japanese Steakhouse of North Hills Mall in Raleigh, N.C. has become a favorite for singles and couples to enjoy high end sushi in a romantic environment. This Raleigh sushi restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, as well as private dining options for corporate and special events. Be sure to visit Mura’s website to see all they have to offer.

We are excited to announce to all of our ZSpotCard holders that each time you purchase a sushi roll, you can receive a 2^nd of equal or lesser value for 50% off every time you show your ZSpotCard.

It’s as easy as that! So make sure to keep your ZSpotCard handy, and tell your friends about this wonderful deal. There are hundreds of savings everywhere you go if you own our valuable ZSpotCard, so visit the site today, and continue to save. These days, every dollar truly does count, and we promote you to support the local businesses in the world of Z that want to offer you great reasons to come experience their products and services.

Links of interest:
Mura Japanese Steakhouse
ZSpotlight.com
½ Off Gift Certificates
Every Day ZSpotCard Offers
ZSpot Daily Blog

Mura Japanese Fine Dining
4121 Main at North Hills St.
Suite 110, North Hills Mall Raleigh , NC 27609
(919) 781-7887

Filed Under: Dining, Featured, Great Deals, ZSpotCard, ZSpotlight News

Napas Appellations

January 28, 2010 By The Traveling Grape

Napa Valley is only 30 miles long and from one to five miles wide. The town of Calistoga is the northernmost part of the valley, known for their hot springs, active geyser, cool wines and warm friendly people. Traveling from the southern end of this famous wine making region to Calistoga you will drive through the cities of American Canyon, Napa, Yountville, St Helena and Calistoga. You will also find The Napa River which is 40 miles long which drains the entire valley. Although Napa is the most well known for wine making, it only produces 4% of the wine in California.

You will find over 400 wineries, ranging in size from small family-owned operations to large corporate wineries. These wineries are spread through-out Napa (the main appellation) and its 14 sub-appellations. Understanding these individual regions can help you match grape varietals with its growing terrain which influence the grapes. Napa is warmer in the summer than Sonoma making Napa a more favorable place for Cabernet while Pinot and Chardonnay are more the specialty of Sonoma.

14 Sub-Appellations (Wine Growing Regions)

Los Carneros ~ Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Wild Horse ~ least known and not yet known for their varietals
Oak Knoll ~ Chardonnay, all Bordeaux grapes and Riesling
Mount Veeder ~ Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
Yountville ~ Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Stags Leap District ~ Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon
Atlas Peak ~ Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Zinfandel
Oakville ~ All Bordeaux grapes
Rutherford ~ All Bordeaux grapes
St. Helena ~ Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Spring Mountain ~ Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet France
Diamond Mountain ~ Cabernet Sauvignon and some Zinfandels
Howell Mountain ~ Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Zinfandel
Chiles Valley ~ here will you see Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sanvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Isn’t it time to visit Napa? Contact The Traveling Grape to plan your entire vacation to Napa and Sonoma for an experience that will live in your heart!

Filed Under: Wine Tagged With: The Traveling Grape

Movies about Wine

January 21, 2010 By The Traveling Grape

I am sure you have been enjoying this warm weather but soon enough it will be chilly again and time to snuggle on the couch with a good bottle of wine and a movie. If you haven’t seen these four movies with wine as the backdrop and feature then you are in for a treat! Not sure what to drink? …. attend this FREE wine tasting experience Friday February 5th between 5-6:30 at any of these 11 participating wine shops! Winemakers will be pouring, discussing and selling their fine wines at these select wine retailers. Come sample, buy a bottle and have it signed, it is so much fun! I will be at Taylor’s Wine Shop off Six Forks but click here to find one near you!

So grab your wine, a bag of popcorn, a comfy blanket and your honey…..

A WALK IN THE CLOUDS (1995) Victoria, a beautiful Mexican-American woman heads back home to confront her family. She got pregnant by her professor and is now alone, scared to tell her father. Keanu’s character just returned from war and now a chocolate salesman who runs into her during his travels. I love this picture and I love the way he says her name. I own it and can’t see it enough. The views are spectacular and even though it’s a romance I think everyone will enjoy it. If you have been to Napa and Sonoma you will recognize many of the scenes. The Napa wineries are Mayacamas Vineyards and the Mount Veeder Winery. In St Helena Beringer Vineyards, the Redwood Cellar of the Charles Krug Winery , Duckhorn Vineyards, and Haywood Vineyards in Sonoma.

A GOOD YEAR (2006) Based on the book by Peter Mayle. Many of the wine country scenes where filmed in Luberon France and city scenes in London. Russell Crowe is great. His character Max Skinner is a selfish, womanizing, successful investment expert. One day he gets word that his uncle died and left a vineyard in Provence to him. When he goes to Provence, the flashbacks back to his childhood days with his Uncle give you a glimpse of his childhood and how much he has changed. Château la Canorgue it the main location and the vineyard Max inherits. I read somewhere that they had put in the swimming pool just for the movie and then covered it back over and replanted grapevines. One of my favorite places in the movie is the pond in the center of Cucuron – where Max and Fanny go for their date with the old movies playing on this big outdoors screen with a live band playing. This beautiful spot is on the south side of the Luberon and I place I have to visit one day! Another one I own and love!

BOTTLE SHOCK (2008) This story is centered around the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, in addition to portraying the birth of the Napa wine industry. Based on a true story, Bottle Shock shows the events leading up to the famous ‘Judgment of Paris’ tastings, told through the lives of father and son, Jim and Bo Barrett. A former real estate attorney, Jim (Bill Pullman) sacrificed everything to realize his dream of creating the perfect hand-crafted chardonnay. His business, however, is struggling, and he’s not only trying to overcome differences with his son (Chris Pine) who is a real dud, but is also in financial trouble. Meanwhile in Paris, British wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) hopes to revitalize his own failing business by sponsoring a competition which will compare the French wines with California wines. Little did Steven and Jim realize that they were both on course to change the history of wine forever.

I remember when this movie came out. I was driving through St Helena on the way to The Pink Mansion to check in and I looked up at the Cameo Cinema and saw the show times for Bottle Shock. I made a point to visit Chateau Montelena the next day, a beautiful property in Calistoga. I found Bottle Shock to be a great story. I know there are some negative reviews about how the movie wasn’t a documentary but that is what I liked about Bottle Shock. For me, it portrays exactly all the thoughts that must have gone through their minds during this time. It shows the difficulties related to making wine without being too technical, and it also helps us better understand the love and hard work of growing grapes and making wine. The locations used in this movie were so familiar to me I felt as though I was there. Buena Vista Carneros Vineyards on Ramal Road, Kunde Estate Vineyards, The Saloon at Jack London Lodge, Sonoma Plaza, Della Santina Restaurant, Enoteca Della Santina, Ledson Harmony Club, Toscano Hotel and the Swiss Hotel and Restaurant just to name a few. Yep you guessed it, own it!

SIDEWAYS (2004) A comedy/drama with the tagline “In search of wine. In search of women. In search of themselves.” Wine, particularly Pinot Noir, plays a central role. The film caused the Pinot Noir sales to rise in the USA, known as ‘the Sideways Effect’.

Miles is a miserable, destructive, divorced middle school teacher who loves wine (specifically Pinot) and is attempting to become a writer. He is the best man for his buddy Jack, so they head off to wine country for Jack’s bachelor weekend. Jack isn’t a prize but for some reason his future bride is going to marry this guy; but right now Jack’s only goal is to get laid one last time. The tale of these two adventures is quite humorous. At first I admit, I didn’t like this movie but the second time I watched it I found the humor in how dumb these characters are. It’s definitely off beat and colorful, but how did a movie create such a trend in a varietal of wine?

There is a memorable scene in the movie where Miles adamantly refuses to drink Merlot, but did this in fact have a negative impact on the consumption of Merlot, while increasing the consumption of Pinot Noir? What are your thoughts?

Miles Raymond Quotes:
• Let me show you how this is done. First thing, hold the glass up and examine the wine against the light. You’re looking for color and clarity. Just, get a sense of it. OK? Uhh, thick? Thin? Watery? Syrupy? OK? Alright. Now, tip it. What you’re doing here is checking for color density as it thins out towards the rim. Uhh, that’s gonna tell you how old it is, among other things. It’s usually more important with reds. OK? Now, stick your nose in it. Don’t be shy, really get your nose in there. Mmm… a little citrus… maybe some strawberry… [smacks lips]

• No, if anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any f’ing Merlot!

• Oh, Jesus. Don’t ask questions like that up in wine country. They’ll think you’re some kind of dumbs__,

• Uh, I don’t know, I don’t know. Um, it’s a hard grape to grow, as you know. Right? It’s uh, it’s thin-skinned, temperamental, ripens early. It’s, you know, it’s not a survivor like Cabernet, which can just grow anywhere and uh, thrive even when it’s neglected. No, Pinot needs constant care and attention. You know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and… ancient on the planet.

CHEERS!

Filed Under: Wine Tagged With: Movies about Wine, wine movies

Fins Closes to Become “bu•ku”

January 19, 2010 By zEditor8

Chef William D’Auvray’s fantastic downtown restaurant, Fins, is no more and will soon reopen under the name bu•ku. With its name coming from the mispronunciation of the French word, beaucoup, the restaurant will continue to be an Asian-influenced restaurant, but will emphasize a tapas approach: small plates be offered and will focu s on the lunch crowd. bu•ku will have a dedicated happy hour (within NC guidelines) along with a strong craft beer and artisanal cocktail program.

www.bukuraleigh.com.

Filed Under: Dining

Amedeo’s North Italian Restaurant Hosts Annual Breast Cancer Campaign

January 14, 2010 By zEditor8

February is Annual Breast Cancer Support Month
at Amedeo’s North Italian Restaurant.
Memory Candles, Wrist Band sales, memory seed packets
as well as percent of food sales will benefit the Pretty in Pink Cancer Foundation

Raleigh, NC: Amedeo’s North’s owners, Rick and Lisa DeAngelis began a partnership with the Pretty in Pink Foundation last year and have made February Breast Cancer Awareness at their north Raleigh restaurant – in honor and memory of Rick’s mother, Betty DeAngelis.

The restaurant is located in the Northridge Shopping Center, at 6006 Falls of Neuse Road, near Spring Forest Road in North Raleigh.

On Tuesdays during the month of February a percent of sales will be donated to Pretty in Pink. On the kick-off Tuesday February 2^nd, the Painted Ponies Y Princess Tribe will be selling Pretty in Pink wrist bracelets, packets of herb seeds, and Memory Candle Tea Lights – people are welcome to purchase a Memory Candle in honor of a loved one, in memoriam or as a survivor. Lit candles with names written in pink will be displayed in restaurant. All proceeds go to Pretty in Pink Foundation.

In addition there will be a featured “pink” item each Tuesday- 2/9 Mini desserts special; 2/16 Special entree w/Pink sauce; 2/23: Betty’s Birthday Cake

Customers can register throughout February to win prizes; the drawing for prizes will be held on Monday 3/1 to remember Betty and celebrate her birthday.

Pretty In Pink Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides financial resources for uninsured and underinsured North Carolinians who are diagnosed with breast cancer and have limited financial means. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Lisa Tolnitch, a breast cancer surgeon, Pretty In Pink Foundation is positioned to have a point of presence in every state by 2020. Committed to providing hope, health and healing, Pretty In Pink Foundation has a growing network of healthcare professionals and quality of life partners. For more information on fundraising events, ways to help and how to become a volunteer, visit the website at www.PrettyInPinkFoundation.org, or join the Pretty In Pink Foundation Fan page on Facebook.

For more information on this special month, please visit www.AmedeosNorth.com
6006 Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 878-7808

For media only (not to be published) contact:
Jean Best, Best Marketing
jbest@usa.net (919) 247-8699

Jean Best, Best Marketing

PO Box 98944

Raleigh, NC 27624

www.BestMarketingNC.com

off: (919) 846-8330

cell:(919) 247-8699

Filed Under: Charity Events, Dining, Events, Featured

Three Amazing Days of Exclusive Wine Events right here in Raleigh!

January 14, 2010 By The Traveling Grape

February 4th – 6th

Each year in February The Triangle Wine Experience brings to you, right here in Raleigh, exclusive wine dinners and free wine tasting events with winemakers from California and all over the world. You will have the opportunity to attend auctions where you can find lots that you never thought you could find of rare vintages and oversized bottles. Vacations to Italy, Mexico, Napa Vally and Hawaii!!! Meet new friends and simply have the evening to remember full of what a glass of wine does best ~ bring people together in celebration!

“This event is now receiving national recognition. Consumers are realizing that we have depth and quality of auction lots, offering rare `cult’ Napa Valley producers and Bordeaux selections. Internationally acclaimed vintners host our winemaker dinners and our participating restaurants serve extraordinary food. And – we’re fun!”

The Triangle Wine Experience is the Triangle and Carolina’s premier wine event encompassing tastings, dinners, and a Grand Gala with Fine Wine Auction over a three day period. Winemakers from all over the world participate in this truly amazing event.

All proceeds from the Triangle Wine Experience go to the Frankie Lemmon Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and support of children with special needs. The Frankie Lemmon School is a local public preschool in Raleigh NC for children ages 3 to 6 with developmental disabilities ranging from mild autism to Down’s syndrome, from sight impairment to mobility challenges. The Frankie Lemmon School is public and does not accept tuition, but with only 40% of the school’s budget coming from the North Carolina Public School Fund and rising costs of operating the school, they depend on the funds from The Triangle Wine Experience to keep them going.

GET INVOLVED:

If you can’t make all events, pick one and join me for the fun! Even if you are out of town you can help by donating wine or a product. Each year I pick a few special bottles from my collection and although it’s hard to give up and hand over, it feels really good to know that I am helping these kids out, kids I have gone to see at the school and have tugged on my heart strings. So give it up people…share the good stuff! And for any wineries out there that couldn’t attend locally we are still accepting wine donations and would love to have you participate in future events. You can contact the foundation at (919) 845-8880.

THURSDAY EVENING WINE DINNERS

When in Raleigh can you enjoy an intimate winemaker dinner at one of our fine restaurants? Thursday February 4^th you will have that very opportunity! Hey, you might not be able to do everything during this 3 day event, but a wine dinner in Raleigh with a high end wine that is affordable and goes to charity sounds like a no brainer to me! Believe me, I have been to several as both a volunteer and guest, and it’s an experience that I cherish and tons of fun, not a stuffy boring wine dinner at all! There are 29 restaurants participating in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.

Which wineries are involved? To name just a few, come dine with Miner Family Vineyards, Cakebread, Caymus, Kosta Browne, Patz & Hall, Reynolds Family Winery, Switchback Ridge, Duckhorn, Realm Cellars, Robert Foley or Pride. For a complete list of restaurants and wineries involved visit The Triangle Wine Experience.

FRIDAY FREE EVENT ~ Evening Sip, Shop & Sign 5-6:30pm
Winemakers will be pouring, discussing and selling their fine wines at select wine retailers. Come sample, buy a bottle and have it signed. This is a great opportunity to learn a little more about wine and make new friends while you’re at it. This event is free and no reservations are required. You’ll find me at Taylor’s Wine Shop giggling and having fun with Taylor and Gail. Join us Friday February 5th from 5-6:30 at any of the participating retail wine shops. Click here to find out which of the 15 wine stores are closest to you!

SATURDAY GRAND GALA & AUCTION
Come join me for one of the most fun nights you will have all year!! Getting all dressed up in your black tie digs with somewhere to go, drinking incredibly special wines, meeting new friends, having the opportunity to bid on and take home some rare finds that you can’t find commercially and dance the night away….. all while fighting for a great cause!

Please come join me for this grand gala with a Hollywood theme “Hollywood & Vine”. There will be two spirited auctions ~ one live and one silent. You will be delighted to see such spectacular wines, rare vintages and oversized bottles. You will see some really cool lots up for auction such as 20 (3) Liters of California wines as well as a lot with over 20 magnums! Kosta Browne, DR Stephens Estate Wines and Wind Gap have “pianos” of Wine (375’s/750’s/mags/3L/6L). You can bid on the owner’s box for a Yankees Game with Steve Reynolds that includes flight, hotel, and a DelFrisco’s private dinner. Vacation time…..there will be trips to Italy, Mexico, Hawaii, CALIFORNIA! You will find SO many wonderful things especially for the Triangle Wine Experience. The live auction will be presided over by Paul Hart of Hart Davis Hart Wine Company. After the auctions, come get your groove on dancing the night away to a live entertaining band. I would not steer you wrong my friends, I look forward to this event every year and each year, it just keeps getting better!

Cheers from The Traveling Grape!

Filed Under: Charity Events, Events, Featured, Wine Tagged With: Triangle Wine Experience, Wine Events Raleigh

Sono Sushi Bar Now Offers Late Night

January 11, 2010 By zEditor8

Sono Sushi Bar of Raleigh is starting its new Lounge Nights with a kickoff weekend! On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, Sono will be open late night from 10pm-2am. The dining room will close off and the front bar area will be transformed into a lounge, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, live music and great drink specials. Fayetteville Street’s newest late night red-hot spot launches in January 14, 15, and 16!

Remember, you get 10% off everytime you use your ZSpotCard on all food items inside Sono.

10% Off With Your ZSpotCard!

Mondays

4 course dinner for 25 dollars
Tuesdays

½ price bottles of wine
Wednesdays

$5 martinis

Thursdays

½ price drafts and hot sake
Sundays

½ off apps with purchase of entrée

Lunch Specials Everyday
2 Special Rolls for $14

$9 Lunch Everyday: Soup, Salad, and a Roll

miso soup, house salad, and your choice of one special roll

For more information, visit ZSpotlight.com or SonoRaleigh.com

See You On Z Town!

Filed Under: Dining, Events, Featured, Nightlife, ZSpotCard Tagged With: Mura, raleigh dining, raleigh nightlife, Sono Sushi Bar Raleigh, sushi raleigh

Hangover Remedies

January 7, 2010 By The Traveling Grape

hangover

Wow, can you believe another year has passed and tomorrow will be 2010?!? As we all eagerly make New Year Eve plans & anxiously await the new and exciting things ZSpotlight has in store for us, there is one thing we all must do first…..PARTY and CELEBRATE!!!

I thought it would be fun to share with all of you the different hangover remedies people from the West Coast to the East Coast have to survive tomorrow’s pounding head, wobbly stance, unsatisfying hunger, fuzzy remembrance of what just happened hours before, slow reaction times, sensitivity to light and pure fatigue.

Live it up and be sure to check out where these folks are and their great blogs & sites……

The Wine Spy ~ My sure fire protection against hangover: I drink 1 cup of water for each drink/beer/wine I drink (3 margaritas means I drink 24 ounces of water)

Guitar Nova ~ I think there are certain mornings where a nice glass or two works really well!

Simple Hedonisms ~ Hair of the Dog – Mimosa! (and usually some Emergen-C)

Cellar Mistress ~ I take vitamin supplements, ibuprofen, mineral water and usually have another drink later in the day. Bloody Mary’s work. As they say, “Hair of the Dog!”

Joseph and Curtis ~ Rice milk, frozen fruit (bluberry,rasberry,mango) 1 1/2 banana, drop of honey, 2 pinches cinnamon, couple almonds, put into blender and turn into smoothie!

Pardon That Vine ~ a mountain dew first thing in the morning.

The Traveling Grape ~ PET chocolate milk does the trick every time!

Taylors Wine Shop ~ My cure for a hangover is prevention. That doesn’t mean abstinence. For me it means drinking more water than wine

Segway Napa ~ A big greasy breakfast!

Thrive Energy Drink ~ One is a huge plate of waffle house hash browns and the best, a drink of water between every three drinks and a b-12 when you wake up , drinking it with a glass of really cold milk, if you got a stomach ache and head ache, goodies two packs, a glass of bitters and soda with cran-rasberry, and you are good to go

Why Wine Blog ~ This works for me all the time: Before bed I take two multi vitamins, two vitamin C
one vitamin E and two Bayer aspirin with a tall OJ or water (16 oz.). Never wake up with bad hang over. Last year started using Emergen-C in lieu of vitamin C tabs.

Girl With A Glass ~ I know this isn’t a cure but its prevention which is very trendy nowadays! Drink only the BEST champagne, drink according to your body weight & spread it out over the whole evening. You’ll feel great the next morning because you won’t be wondering what you said or did the night before, or who that is next to you in bed…or whose bed you’re in. Oh, and if that doesn’t work, sleep it off and then have a glass of white wine around 3pm.

Amy Manson Pottery ~ One can of LaCroix Sparkling water before bed! It’s a charm!

ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTORS:

~ Excedrin Migraine + strong coffee. The best is to be able to sleep late! Also Maola choc milk 2/3 + Maola 2% white milk 1/3 mixture

~ Chocolate milkshake and a dive in the ocean! Always worked in college.

~Of course it is the “hair of the dog” and a greasy country ham biscuit from Bojangles.

~Cheesy French Fry Burritos!!

~My favorite – take 2 Tylenol before you go to sleep and if you wake up still with a hangover, go back to bed and enjoy the sleep…… this too shall pass.

~Pepsi and greasy cheeseburger to get you back on your feet….husband swears by lot of water & Advil before bed. Says it prevents the dehydration.

Cheers to all for the best year to come!

Filed Under: Wine Tagged With: Hangover Remedies

Cult Wines

December 24, 2009 By The Traveling Grape

Have you heard the term “cult wines” but didn’t quite understand what it meant?

California “cult wines” are considered to be the most desired and sought after rare wines made with the finest fruit available. They are predominantly all cabernet based, very small production of around 300-600 cases per year and produced by small boutique wineries. Often the wineries that produce cult wines will sell “futures” or have a waiting list in order for the consumer to get their hands on some. They can sell for anywhere between $500 to $2,500 a bottle; making it more of a collectors wine rather than a drinkers wine. I suppose since higher prices have the perception of higher quality then it makes sense that many find these wines very desirable and are willing to pay large amounts of cash for. It’s a lot like driving a half million dollar car, looked at more as a trophy and/or investment and no doubt a status symbol. A fellow wine drinker has expressed to me “I think cult wines are normally amazing wines. However, because of such high expectations, one can sometimes be disappointed. Sometimes, though, when a cult wine lives up to its billing, it is so good to make me feel like I have experiences an amazing event!”

So as you can see, cult wines are considered to be some of the finest wines in the country, but are they really worth the price tag, especially in today’s world? As you have guessed already, these wines are reserved for only a small group of dedicated wine collectors. What I find the most interesting is I have spoke to some winemakers who have explained to me that “on several occasions we have had difficulty selling wines at $75, but as soon as we raise the price to $125 they sell out”. Crazy stuff. Sometimes you will even find a few of these bottles have made their way into some of the Z restaurants so you can only imagine the mark up there!

So why are they called “cult wines”? One definition of the word cult means a small group of followers with a similar interest followed with exaggerated zeal. Since only a small percentage of folks can actually afford these wines while many of us can only dream of taking a sip, hence the name “cult wines”. There are websites dedicated to selling these wines, lists of people getting on cult wines mailing lists, auction houses where fans flock to and a great stop in Napa you must make time for Cult Wine Central Tasting Room right off 29 in Oakville.

So which wines are these you ask? I’ll start with the ones I have had the pleasure of tasting: Ghost Block, Ghost Horse, (Thank you Todd) Fife, Pahlmeyer, Showket, Screaming Eagle, Dunn Howell Mountain, Shafer Hillside Select and Caymus.

And a few I know of that I have not tired: Araujo, Bryant Family, Colgin Cellars, Dalla Valle Maya, Diamond Creek, Dominus Estate, Grace Family, Harlan Estate, Hundred Acre, Kistler, Marcassin Estate, Napa Wine Company, Sine Qua Non, Sloan, Dumol Finn Vineyard, William Selyem Riverblock, Rochioli East and West Blocks, Volker Eisele, Kosta Brown Kanzler, Penfolds Grange from Australia, Galardi Terra di Lavoro from Italy…..plus several more!

If you need a local place to find these wines, go to Taylor’s Wine Shop off Six Forks Rd. If you can’t find it there, ask Taylor to locate it for you and please tell him Amanda with The Traveling Grape sent you!

Next time you are in Vegas pop into The Hostile Grape at the M Resort. They have 160 wines by the glass and even a few of these cult wines! You can get a 5 ounce pour of Screaming Eagle for $90. It’s really a very cool social cozy place. Experienced winos will revel in the selection of boutique wines while novice connoisseurs can sample several wines in small pours using their dispensing system. I love it; it uses pre-paid tasting cards that allow you try one, three or five ounces pours. They also serve cocktails for your non-wine drinking guests.

My advice – stock up on a few now, hold on to them for 10-20 years and you have a flawless investment!

Cheers from The Traveling Grape!

Filed Under: Wine Tagged With: Cult, screaming eagle, Wines

Bear Rock Cafe joins the ZSpotCard Program

December 19, 2009 By 10000

As ZSpotlight.com and the ZSpotCard program continues to grow, every week we will update you on special insider information. We’ve now added Bear Rock Cafe of Morrisville to the ZSpotCard Network, where they will offer you 20% off your bill each and every time you visit! With an average entree and drink of $9, this will save you almost two bucks with every visit!

zspotcard_image_highres

Bear Rock Story (www.bearrockcafe.com)

What began as a single sandwich shop and deli in 1997 has now evolved into a unique neighborhood gathering place. Our emerging national quick-casual restaurant brand is characterized by a distinctive menu of hand-crafted sandwiches, hot and savory soups, garden fresh salads, loaded baked potatoes, oven-fresh breads, and delectable desserts in an inviting, nature-inspired setting, served by a warm, friendly guest-focused team.

The original Bear Rock Cafe opened in October of 1997 as a 60-seat sandwich shop and deli in Raleigh, NC, and has now evolved into a unique neighborhood gathering place with locations in 11 states. Today, Bear Rock Franchise Systems, Inc., operates a central restaurant support center headquartered in Cary, NC. Bear Rock is 22 locations strong. The emerging national quick-casual restaurant brand is characterized by a distinctive menu of hand-crafted sandwiches, hot and savory soups, garden fresh salads, loaded baked potatoes, oven-fresh breads, and delectable desserts in an inviting, nature-inspired setting, served by a warm, friendly guest-focused team.

A thriving network of franchise owners and a dedicated team of individuals in the areas of restaurant operations, development, real estate, support services, training, accounting and marketing diligently drive the growth of the Bear Rock Cafe brand.

Our guests however, are our greatest asset. We invite you to become a part of our Bear Rock Story. Escape to a higher taste at Bear Rock Cafe. Explore the variety. Experience our passion for food and passion for people.

9575 Chapel Hill Road
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 462-1687

To check out all the amazing deals you can access every day with your ZSpotCard, visit www.ZSpotCard.com.

Brought to you by the Triangle’s Largest Dining, Nightlife, and Leisure Guide, ZSpotlight.com!

Filed Under: Dining, Featured, Great Deals, ZSpotCard Tagged With: Bear Rock Cafe, cary lunch, lunch deals, morrisville lunch, raleigh sandwich

‘Tis the Season for Holiday Potlucks

December 18, 2009 By Diana

potluck

Where does the word potluck come from anyway? Well, the word itself comes from an English origin, and is used to define a meal-time gathering where everyone brings a dish to share. Quite literally it refers to the fact that you might get lucky and find a delicious tasty treat in a pot brought to the table by someone else… hence, potluck!

Holiday potluck parties are a great way to gather co-workers, charity groups, friends, and family while sharing the host responsibility among all attendees during this busy time of year. When each party-goer contributes something, the host is relieved of expenses of food for the masses or stresses of prepping. Also, by nature, potlucks generate a variety of dishes that one single host couldn’t possibly muster, letting guests sample from a wide variety of fare. Beware the tendency to over-indulge at these events, however. I, for one, quickly become a victim of eyes-larger-than-stomach syndrome at these gatherings.

What are you bringing to your potluck parties this year? It is always ideal to be able to transport one of your homemade (or semi-homemade) specialties along with you. Take inspiration from your family traditions, or something unique from your ethnic background. Ethnic classics are always a hit, since people are usually willing to try a bite of something new at potlucks. Recall back to some of your favorite casseroles, breads, salads & deserts. Here are some ideas in different food categories that seem to go over swimmingly in a crowd.

Appetizers: Fruit & veggie trays with various dipping sauces, meatballs, ‘lil smokies, stuffed mushrooms, deviled eggs, flavored breads & spreads

Main dishes: Chili, lasagna, baked ham, meatloaf, pulled pork, chicken tenders

Side dishes/casseroles: Mac n’ cheese, cheesy potatoes, sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, green beans, rice pilaf, baked beans

Salads: Pasta, greek, ceasar, fruit, jello, bean

Deserts: Brownies, cookies, cakes and pies galore

Personally, I enjoy bringing things prepared in a crock pot. Wake up in the morning, set it and forget it. Then, by the time you are ready to head out the door, dinner is in tow. Lasagna, chili, and roast beef are three extremely simple yet hearty dishes to set up in your slow-cooker and serve a crowd. Let’s face it, this is a busy time of year and sometimes potlucks creep up on us last minute. With holiday parties, shopping, cookie baking, and gift-wrapping added to our already crazy schedules, sometimes we have to rely on something store-bought to bring to a potluck. Never fear, there are great options out there for this. Grocery store delis are the best place to stop when in a pinch. You can pick up fresh baked rolls and a large bucket of chicken salad to make quick sandwiches. Often, they have fresh veggie or fruit trays ready to go this time of year. Places like Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s have pre-made casseroles for a crowd. Their bakeries are also very busy around this season turning out pies and other sweets with the swiftness of santas elves. If you can get to one of these places, it’s worth it for both the quality and price. If you do have the time to make something yourself, bringing along recipe cards with instructions on how others can replicate your fabulous creation is a great idea, and saves you follow-ups when someone asks, “Can I get the recipe?”

Here’s wishing you an enjoyable lucky pot experience at your next communal meal! Cheers!

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Dining, Food, holiday, potluck

Champagne Cocktails for the Holidays

December 17, 2009 By The Traveling Grape

Tis the season for celebrating with friends and family and what better way to rejoice the holidays then with some bubbly! Whether you are going from party to party, toasting at one of the many fine Z restaurants or simply snuggled at home with your loved one, make your time together more festive. Below is a list of great champagnes and sparking to try as well as some festive champagne cocktail recipes.

Here is my recommended list of some great champagne you may want to try:

Paul Goerge
Duval Leroy
Nicolas Feuillatte
Henriot
Bonnaire
Taittinger
Moet & Chandon
Louis Roederer
Krug
Charles Lafitte
Veuve Clicquot (my personal favorite)

And how about some Sparkling:
Schramsberg
J
Gloria Ferrer

Are you leaning towards a more fruit based champagne cocktail like a Bellini, Mimosa or Kier Royal? Go with a Prosseco, very inexpensive, easy to enjoy and easy to find. In fact Prosecco is one of those wines you can drink from morning to late evening. The Prosecco grape is primarily grown in Veneto, a region in Italy. These grapes are used to make their sparkling and tend to make a crisp fruity wine. Want something a tad drier, try a Cava. Cava is made in the traditional Champagne-method but comes from Spains native grape Parellada. It is a low cost alternative and usually can be found under $12.

As promised, here are a few Champagne cocktails to try.

1. Poinsettia ~ Mix Prosecco, vodka and cranberry juice and serve chilled.

2. French Martini ~ 1 shot Chambord, 1 shot pineapple juice, 1 shot vodka, Champagne. Add Chambord, pineapple juice and vodka to a flute glass, and then fill with Champagne. Toast and enjoy!

3. Ritz Fizz ~ 1/4 shot Blue Curacao, 1/4 shot Amaretto, 1/4 shot lemon juice, Champagne. Pour the blue Curacao, amaretto, and lemon juice into a Champagne flute. Add in the Champagne until full. Give a gentle stir to mix the colors and flavors.

4. Marilyn Monroe ~ 1 shot apple brandy, dash grenadine, Champagne. Many fruit wineries offer apple brandy, but if you don’t have any, get some apple juice and mix it in with brandy. Put that in the bottom of a Champagne flute. Add in a dash of grenadine. Grenadine is thick, sweet syrup made from … pomegranates! It adds a bit of red color. Pour on the Champagne and enjoy the luxurious life!

5. Ague de Valencia ~ 2 shots orange juice, 1 shot Cointreau, 1 tsp sugar, Cava sparkling wine

6. Boom Boom ~ 1 shot sweet vermouth, 1 shot dark rum, 1/2 shot orange juice, Champagne. Put the vermouth, rum and orange juice into a Champagne flute. Add in Champagne to fill.

7. Carol Channing ~ 1 shot glass Chambord, 1 tsp sugar, Champagne. Combine Chambord and sugar (traditionally this recipe calls for “gomme syrup” or simple sugar syrup) Put the mix into the bottom of a flute glass and add in Champagne to fill. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

8. Penny ~ Fill glass with vodka, add Chambord, dash of sweet & sour and top with Champagne.

9. Flirtini ~ 1 shot pineapple juice, 1 shot vodka, Champagne. Add pineapple juice and vodka to a flute glass and fill with Champagne.

10. Kir Royale ~ 1/2 shot Crème de Cassis, Champagne. Put the Crème de Cassis into a tall flute and then pour Champagne over it. Some call a “Kier Royale” a blend of Champagne and Chambord.

11. Peach Bellini ~ In a blender puree peaches until smooth (out of season, purchase white peach puree either frozen or in a can) add to Champagne and a some sugar if needed

12. Velvet Swing ~ 6oz Champagne, 1/2oz port, 1/2oz cognac, rose petals. Pour Champagne into a glass, add the port and cognac but don’t stir. This will makes two flutes. Decorate with rose petals, allowing one or two to fall into the flute.

13. Pink Mimosa ~ 4 ounces pink grapefruit juice, 4 ounces champagne. Mix in a cocktail shaker with crushed ice; strain into two champagne flutes.

14. Black Velvet for you beer drinkers ~ half a flute of Champagne & half a flute of Guinness

15. Christmas Eve Punch ~1 12 oz can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed, 1 12 oz can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed, 1 12 oz can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed OR 1 small can pineapple juice concentrate, thawed, 1 2 liter bottle chilled ginger ale, 1 2 liter bottle chilled champagne. Mix the juices in punch bowl but do not add water. Stir in the ginger ale then add the Champagne (do not stir after adding the champagne)

So before your weekend begins, head out to your locally owned wine store and stock up on some bubbly for the holidays, you’ll be glad you did ~ Happy Holidays and get your merry on! Cheers from The Traveling Grape!

Filed Under: Wine Tagged With: Champagne, cocktails, holidays

The Power of Red Wine

December 16, 2009 By The Traveling Grape

Many medical professionals* have finally recognized the benefits of drinking red wine and recommends one glass per day for woman and two glasses per day for men. What is so special about red wine and why is it getting so much attention by health professionals? The French, although they eat the good stuff like buttery croissants and cheeses, are primarily thin and have low mortality and heart disease rates. Hmmmm……..is this because they consume more red wine than the rest of us?

Elixir –noun
1. Pharmacology a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances.
2. Also called elixir of life. an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of prolonging life.

We have all heard that there are many health benefits of drinking red wine, but what exactly are those benefits, where do they come from and what varietal holds the most benefit?

Some of these benefits come from Resveratrol, which is an antibiotic produced by plants when under attack by bacteria or fungi. Many foods and drinks contain resveratrol but only in small amounts. Peanuts, grapes and blueberries for example. The skin of grapes used to make red wine have the highest levels of this powerful antioxidant making red wine the best source for a daily dose of resveratrol, even more so than simply eating the grapes. Why red and not white wine? Because reds have higher levels due to how they are fermented with their skins and seeds. The skins are removed from most white wines grapes before fermented.

All reds contain resveratrol, but Pinot Noir is found to contain the highest levels of this age/cancer fighting chemical substance. Pinot Noir’s grapes are thin making them more delicate causing them to potentially rot easier so they naturally produce more resveratrol to protect themselves. It has even been said that the region in which the Pinot Noir grape comes from can also affect the levels present. If the climate is both cool and moist it will produce higher resveratrol; so areas like Washington, Oregon, New York and even North Carolina may be a good choice. It stands to reason that certain vintages could be affected as well.

Resveratrol studies show that it can potentially affect diminishing heart disease, diabetes, allergies, preventing damage to blood vessels, prevents blood clots, Alzheimer’s, cancer, lowering “bad” cholesterol and reduce memory loss as well as prolonging your life (wow, I am going to live to be 100) and check this out, helps protect from obesity.

Now this does not mean if you drink a bottle of Pinot Noir each day you will live a long healthy life, but possibly by consuming more Resveratrol it could be a powerful life-enhancing natural substance. If you don’t care for wine, there are supplements you can take that contain Resveratrol, which is what is found in the skin and seeds of the red wine grapes.

Cheers to your good health!

*American Heart Association

Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Featured, Wine Tagged With: benefits, red wine

New Menus at The Oxford

December 11, 2009 By Tara

Raleigh’s premiere gastropub, The Oxford, is well-known for more than their extensive beer and spirits list. Their delicious high-quality cuisine has delighted many palettes and now, fans of The Oxford can rejoice over the introduction of revamped menus!

At lunch you won’t lose your savory smoked chicken empanadas or classic reuben, but you will get to introduce your taste buds to special new menu items like the unique Asian short rib sandwich and tantalizing fried catfish and okra entrees.

New dinner menu items include herb-roasted free range chicken with steamed brown rice and osso bucco, which is a dish of braised lamb hindshank served with chipotle whipped sweet potatoes, chorizo braised red cabbage and lime gremolata. When it comes to these new dishes, gourmet is an understatement.

These new menus are guaranteed to make your next Oxford visit a little extra special, and with live music on some weekend nights, there’s plenty to entice you to make that visit soon.

Courtesy of Triangleblvd

Filed Under: Dining, Featured, ZSpotlight News Tagged With: Dinner, downtown, downtown raleigh, lunch, menu, new menu, The Oxford

Proper Temperature to Store Wine

December 3, 2009 By The Traveling Grape

Wow – I didn’t realize that the topic “What temperature should I store my wine” would raise such a ruckus! The truth is, a lot of wine is ruined due to improper wine storage. From the casual wine drinker to the avid wine collector, people have wasted money due to unknowingly damaging their wines from wavering temperatures, moisture, exposure to light and vibration. To keep your treasure at its optimal flavor it is more than just tossing the bottle under the sink in the corner, in the pantry or closet.

Humidity is another factor to keep in mind. If the humidity is too high, mold can grow and labels can be damaged. If the environment is too dry, the cork will crack and air will get into the bottle oxidizing the wine.

First, if you drink wine, no matter if it’s Two Buck Chuck, an eight dollar bottle of the red sweet stuff or a $300 bottle, GO GET A WINE FRIDGE! Remember, wine is perishable like food. You have invested in a refrigerator at home to keep your veggies longer and your milk fresh, right? You can find all shapes, sizes and price ranges to fit your space and budget, so just get it over with and go do it now to save yourself lots of disappointment and money! My favorite place is online at The Wine Enthusiast. If you have a trash compactor in your kitchen, replace it with a fridge. If you are short on space, get a small six bottle unit. If you don’t want to junk up your home, get a unit that looks like furniture. There are some beautiful furniture-style wine cellars available which I own and love. If you have the room and money, customize your own cellar. Make sure your choice stores the wine on its side, allows at least two different temperature-controlled areas and the motor has little vibration. Laying the bottle on its side keeps the cork moist so it won’t crack and oxidize the wine. A moist cork simply maintains a seal between the juice and the air.

Another thing to keep in mind, which I get push back from but I stand behind, is that wine can be stored too cold as well, ruining the flavor and aromas of the wine. Just like storing in warm temperatures can age wine prematurely causing them to lose flavor and balance, being chilled too cold will cause the wine to lose its flavor and aroma.

Let’s be real, most of us keep a bottle around for maybe a year, and two is stretching it; we aren’t collecting it as an investment. A collector’s storage needs are a bit more challenging and demanding taking into account more than just multiple temperature levels, but also humidity levels and needed dampeners to cut down on vibration.

Ideally, wines should be stored and served at a cool “cellar” temperature around 45°F – 60°F, depending on the varietal but again, let’s be real. Most of us don’t have the means to have a unit which can control a dozen different temperatures, so let’s keep it simple.

Ideal range of temperature for storing red wine is 55ºF. White wines can be stored at lower ranges at 41º-48ºF. If you only have one temperature control in that new cooler you just bought (and no, I don’t mean your regular fridge), keep it at 55ºF. This will allow your wine to keep and age properly, and you will never have to be disappointed again.

Review:

Buy a wine cooler and if you can, buy one a tad larger than you think you need
Don’t use your regular refrigerator as your wine cooler
Keep bottles on their side
For long-term storing, maintain high humidity levels (65% – 90%)
Keep in a dark area away from light
Keep away from heavy vibrations (motors shutting on and off)
Find out the age-worthiness of your wines before they are past their prime
No wine should be stored over 55 ºF or served over 65ºF
Stay away from those decorative wine storage racks that sit on your kitchen counter or worse, above the refrigerator.

So take the proper precautions now, invest a little money and ENJOY!!

Filed Under: Wine Tagged With: storing, temperature, wine

Feeding a Sushi Craving and More

December 1, 2009 By Diana

We’ve all been there. It’s a busy day at work, and 4pm strikes with the beginnings of hunger alerts. That noon-time lunch of soup and salad has run its course and it’s time to start planning for your next nourishment. You’ve been eating relatively well all week, so you want something healthy yet satiating and a tasty reward after a long day. Then it hits – the sushi craving. There is something about the combination of wasabi, tempura, ginger, and seafood that can derive a unique must-have urge. You have plans to meet friends for dinner after work, and you’re hoping; really hoping that when you suggest sushi, they too will exclaim, “Perfect, I have been craving that all day.”

In addition to the hand-crafted rolls that we all adore and crave, most sushi restaurants serve other unique items only found in their establishments, which just ups the craving ante even more. Recently, friends introduced me to sake. Being a self-proclaimed win-o, I often disregarded this not quite wine, not quiet beer ferment. I have to admit; however, upon trying this I was hooked. Filtered or nigori, I love both types of this beverage and it goes great with Asian eats.

Also, when I go out for sushi lately, I’ve been trying a new sashimi each time. You really can’t go wrong, after all, because even if by some marginal chance you don’t like it they are usually only $4-8 for two pieces on average. Recently, I tried sashimi scallops with a little lemon juice and they were surprisingly delicious. Other sashimi favorites include yellowtail, salmon, & tuna varieties. You can never go wrong with northern bluefin tuna, and I definitely recommend this for any first-timers. If you’re lucky, the restaurant will treat you to a little wasabi root, which Mura did for me a on a special night out. This is the actual root vegetable where that great wasabi paste flavor is derived from. It is very rare to find this served in a restaurant, due to its uncommon sightings in state-side grocery stores as well as its price tag. Surprisingly no spicier than the paste form, wasabi root is a true delicacy and a superb accompaniment to sashimi.

And finally, desert – at a sushi place? Yes… another unique culinary creation that you should sample on your next visit. Green tea, the antioxidant winner, is usually the featured ice cream flavor alongside ginger and mango options. Often, you’ll find tempura fried ice cream on the menus as well –yum!

Have I encouraged that sushi craving a little? If you didn’t have one already, you likely do now. Perhaps you are a pro at this cuisine and can even pick up a grain of rice with chopsticks. We want to hear your favorites and suggestions for new places and dishes to try. Luckily, here in the triangle, there is a plethora of exceptional choices when it comes to restaurants that specialize in sushi & associated cuisine. ZSpotlight has several reviews of sushi restaurants throughout the triangle, so do a quick search and find one near you! Some of my favorites are listed below, but I will boldly say I’ve never been disappointed by any sushi restaurant in the triangle.

Few Suggestions:

Raleigh (inside beltline): Sono, Shaba shabu, and Sushi Blues

Raleigh (North): Mura, Hayashi, Waraji, Tasu

Cary: Sushi-Thai

Durham: Shiki Sushi, Mount Fuji

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Dining, Hayashi, Mount Fuji, Mura, Sake, Shabashabu, Shiki Sushi, sono raleigh, Sushi, sushi blues cafe, Sushi-Thai, Tasu, Waraji

Best Spots to Entertain Out-of-Town Guests: Durham

December 1, 2009 By Donna

We certainly hope you and your guests are planning to enjoy some of the fun spots we mentioned in Chapel Hill. But of course one city, in all the Triangle, couldn’t possibly be enough! Why don’t we take a good look at Durham now? After all, this is a long holiday stretch, which means we’ve got lots of entertaining to do. There is so very much fun to have.

For family fun, Durham offers a fantastic array of educational entertainment. The exquisite Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is currently hosting both Picasso and Andy Warhol exhibitions. Or perhaps you have younger children to entertain? The expansive Museum of Life and Science is ranked as one of the top family-friendly museums in the Southeast. They have outdoor exhibits like the Dinosaur Trail and the Butterfly House, in addition to the vast array of hands-on, interactive fun like Explore the Wild and their holiday make ‘n’ take crafts sessions. Additionally, the have a special Santa Train that runs every holiday season, which is perfect to delight the little ones in your family. And finally, you can’t miss the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, if the weather allows, because natural beauty is never out of season.

If the performing arts are your thing, Durham is absolutely going to satisfy you! The new Durham Performing Arts Center, with a capacity of 2,800, is a spectacular space in itself. Add the enticement of the touring version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, and you can expect nothing short of a breathtaking experience. If a smaller venue is more your style, the Bryan Center Reynolds Theater on Duke University’s West Campus might be just your thing. This 570-seat theater hosts concerts, recitals, and even lectures and readings. Just in time for the holidays, the Barriskill Dance Theater School will be presenting The Nutcracker mid-month. Also on Duke’s campus is Page Auditorium, which hosts a variety of performances, including portions of the American Dance Festival each year.

If the latest blockbuster movies are about as interesting to you as the crowds at the megamalls, perhaps you and your gang should try the newly renovated and pristine Carolina Theatre. They are currently showing classic Monty Python films, but they also host live performances by the Durham Symphony and an intriguing variety of film festivals.

As for shopping, since it is the time for giving, after all, Historic Brightleaf offers boutique shopping at its best. Be sure to stop in to Satisfaction Restaurant and Bar for a healthy dose of classic rock, an ice-cold pitcher of draft beer and a slice of some of the best pizza this side of the Mason Dixon line. Then you can take a stroll down Ninth Street for even funkier boutiques and some mouth-watering desserts and snacks.

And finally, there are two spots in Durham you simply cannot miss. One is Tyler’s Taproom, smack in the middle of the refurbished historic American Tobacco District, which has become downtown Durham’s entertainment central. From their expansive patio you can indulge in some great comfort food accompanied by one of their many unique beer selections, and simply enjoy everything fun unfolding around you. This would be the perfect spot to take your group to watch the Lucky Strike Tower Lighting on Friday, December 4th at 7pm which promises, of all things, snow in the finale! The other “must-do” is the “funkified” Papa Mojo’s Roadhouse: authentic Cajun Creole food that will rock your world, and rocking music that will “put a spell on you”. If you want to give your guests a brunch or an evening out they will be eager to recreate for years to come, you must put Papa Mojo’s on your list.

Filed Under: Dining, Featured Tagged With: American Tobacco District, Bryan Center Reynolds theater, DPAC, duke University, Durham, Durham Performing Arts Center, Historic Brightleaf, Museum of Life and Science, Nasher Museum of Art, Ninth Street, Page Auditorium, Papa Mojo's Roadhouse, Satisfaction Restaurant and Bar, The Triangle, things to do, Tyler's Taproom

The Red Room Unveils New Menu

November 30, 2009 By zEditor8

The Red Room Tapas Lounge Unveils New Menu

Rocky Top Hospitality Restaurant Menu Brings New Variety

RALEIGH, N.C. – Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality (www.rockytophospitality.com), has announced that the Red Room Tapas Lounge has released their new menu. In addition to new items such as the coriander crusted tuna, grilled marinated steak, paella and a delicious flan dessert, the menu now features a new section of “Red Room specialties” and entrées such as grilled salmon, stuffed pork chop and filet mignon. For more information and to view the new menu, visit www.redroomraleigh.com.

QUOTES:

“Our customers, both old and new, are going to be very pleased with the new menu,” said Ogan. “We take special care to make the food and drink offered at Red Room as authentic as possible when it comes to tapas.”

NEW MEDIA CONTENT:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-NC/The-Red-Room/95782941800

http://twitter.com/DeanOgan

http://twitter.com/RedRoomNC

ABOUT RED ROOM TAPAS LOUNGE:

The Red Room Tapas Lounge, located at 510 Glenwood Ave. in downtown Raleigh, is Raleigh’s only Spanish-influenced tapas lounge. Appetizer-sized portions are reasonably-priced and made for sharing. Menu items can be served with sangria, any one of the signature red cocktails or wine from the extensive and unique Spanish wine list. With the lounge groove of the disc jockey, The Red Room offers a unique atmosphere that is perfect for festive and intimate gatherings. Lounge and Latin music is played Sunday through Monday, and on Thursday the restaurant offers free salsa lessons for Salsa Night. For more information, visit www.redroomraleigh.com

ABOUT ROCKY TOP HOSPITALITY:

Rocky Top Hospitality has been devoted to improving Raleigh, North Carolina’s local dining scene since 1998, when its first restaurant opened. Michael Dean’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar was the culmination of years of planning by Dean Ogan. Six other restaurants have now opened under the Rocky Top Hospitality name and include The Twisted Fork Grill, Market & Bar, The Red Room Tapas Lounge, Bogart’s American Grill, Hi5, The Mash House Brewery & Chophouse, as well as 1705 Prime Catering & Events, a thriving events facility and catering business. Rocky Top Hospitality always builds restaurants from the menu-out, so the emphasis is always on the food and how to create an experience you cannot find anywhere else. For more information visit the Web site at www.rockytophospitality.com.

Michelle Fowler

MMI Public Relations

(919) 233-6600

michelle@mmipublicrelations.com

http://twitter.com/MMIPR

www.mmipublicrelations.com

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: raleigh dining, raleigh martinis, raleigh restaurant, raleigh tapas, raleigh wine, red room lounge, red room raleigh, the red room

Best Spots to Entertain Out-of-Town Guests: Chapel Hill

November 27, 2009 By Donna

The next six weeks are “holiday” time, and you’re probably scratching your head wondering how to entertain your out-of-town guests. You hope to choose something your guests will want to come back to again and again. Don’t look at this as a chore. View it as an opportunity to share with them what the Triangle is all about! We take so much of what we have here for granted, so let’s take this chance to step back a bit, look at this progressive and prosperous place from an outsider’s perspective, and proudly see what treasures we hold here. We’re proud to be ranked “among the nation’s best places to live, start a business, raise a family, and earn a world-class education.” But it’s not all about reasonable cost of living, world class hospitals, and mild weather. It’s also about having fun!

Let’s start with Chapel Hill, home of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Any college hoops fans in your family? Take them to the Dean E Smith Center, the headquarters of Carolina basketball, where championship banners fly and the memorabilia room has everything to whet even the biggest fan’s appetite.

If shopping is more to everyone’s taste, skip the mega-malls, and try some local flavor. A Southern Season offers one-of-a-kind items, a to-die-for bakery, deli, a spectacular wine and coffee selection, and more Tarheel State products than you could ever imagine. You can also visit the boutiques, shops and restaurants of Fearrington Village. If you’re lucky, the weather will cooperate and your entourage can check out the breathtaking grounds and perhaps even spot a wedding party, braving the brisk fall air, in the midst of their nuptials.

For a more formal afternoon, you may wish to try the Afternoon High Tea Service at the historic Carolina Inn. This requires reservations, but is well worth the planning, especially if you have difficult-to-impress family visiting from out of the country. This hotel also sponsors a “Twelve Days of Christmas” special event series, one of which is certain to delight any member of your family.

If the arts are what you seek, the university art collection at Ackland Art Museum is sure to please. There you will find an impressive selection of American, European, African, Ancient Mediterranean, and Asian art, as well as traveling exhibitions. For performing arts, spend a day at the beautiful Playmakers Theatre. The Playmakers Repertory Company is currently offering Charles Dickens’ “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby”.

When you have little eyes and ears to consider, perhaps Morehead Planetarium is a good choice. They offer “star-studded” multimedia shows and interactive exhibits to make any child’s eyes widen with amazement. This year marks the 60th season of their “Star of Bethlehem” show, which could become your family’s next holiday tradition!

As for the dining and nightlife of Chapel Hill, it’s hard not to go the nostalgic route on Franklin Street and hit some old, tried-and-true favorites. 411 West offers probably the best California-inspired Italian food you’ll find anywhere, in a quaint atmosphere only Chapel Hill could pull off. Perhaps you just want to kick back with great food and flowing beer? If so, there are two important spots to hit. Ham’s is never a bad bet, and has been a long-time college student favorite. However, if your feet are tired from all the sight-seeing of the day, sipping a microbrew and watching the sunset from the rooftop bar at Top of the Hill may be your preference. If just drinks are your pleasure, you absolutely must stop by He’s Not Here. No trip to Chapel Hill would be complete without hitting THE rowdy college bar, and mingling with the masses in the courtyard. It’s a UNC tradition, after all.

Look here in the coming days for hints just like these for Durham and Raleigh. And let us know how you like our suggestions, or offer your own! We here at The Z are just as eager as you are to find the fun, for ourselves and for our guests, this holiday season.

Filed Under: Dining, Featured Tagged With: 411 West, Ackland Art Museum, Carolina Inn, chapel hill, chapel hill entertainment, Dean E Smith Center, Fearrington House, Fearrington Village, Ham's Restaurant, He's Not Here, microbrew, Morehead Planetarium, North Carolina Tar Heels, out-of-town guests, out-of-town visitors, Playmakers Repertory Company, Playmakers Theatre, Star of Bethlehem, tea service, The Triangle, Top of the Hill, tradition

Wine Lingo – what does that mean?

November 26, 2009 By The Traveling Grape

Why does tasting and enjoying wine seem to be so difficult at times? It seems like when I finally get a moment to sit still, chill out at one of the many great ZSpotlight restaurants and enjoy a nice glass of Cab someone comes along and ruins the moment by flashing out their “knowledge card” and talking in a language not many can understand. So I peer over my upturned wine glass at them as I slowly sip, desperately trying to find the “smooth tannics” or the “flabbly finish” or hey; what about the unacceptable “acidity level” and the beautiful “structure” that they are speaking of.

Wine lingo is important if you want be able to describe your palate and what taste and feel you enjoy the most. This way when you are at a ZSpotlight restaurant or buying wine you can accurately describe your likes and dislikes to ensure you get a bottle that suits your palate. If you can learn some simple common descriptors when it comes to wine smells, taste and feel in the mouth it can take your enjoyment of wine to another level.

The following are a few basic tasting terms you may have heard:

Wine Varietal – this is the kind of grape a wine is made from. There are regulations that regions have to follow in order for a wine to be labeled a varietal. For example, for a California wine to be called a Merlot the wine must be made from 75% of that grape.

Legs – the liquid that runs down the glass of wine. Some say the legs determine the quality of wine but really it is simply the alcohol content of the wine. When the “legs” evaporate is when you truly get to the fruit of the wine.

Big – high in alcohol content. If this is the case let the wine sit, allowing the alcohol to dissipate so the fruit and flavors can come through

Nose – What you smell in the wine

Bouquet – another term used for the nose, or aroma.

Tannins – Tannins in wine come from the grape skins, seeds and stems; and sometimes from the fermentation and aging process in oak barrels. They serve as a natural preservation and also as an antioxidant. Reds are more tannic because they grape skin stays in contact longer with the juice when crushing and aging. If when you drink a red wine and you get a bitter or astringent taste; this is caused from high tannic levels, making your mouth pucker or feel like your tongue is dried out. Red wines with little tannin should be drunk younger as the opposite true for those with higher tannin levels. These wines need to age to mellow out and soften the tannins.

Dry – misused quite allot but it’s pretty confusing because dry can mean many things. Most people use dry to describe tannic wine and it makes sense because high tannic wines can dry your mouth out, but it really means a wine with no residual sugar, the opposite of sweet.

Flabby – not enough acid or tannins, also called “flat”, lacking structure.

Acidity – an important element of wine, essential for aging, flavor and freshness making it a preservative as well as affecting the color wine. The amount of acid added to wine help the “structure” of the wine giving it more intensity, as well as add shape the flavor and finish. Without the right amount of acid the wine will taste flat but too much acid can make the wine too tart.

Structure –what gives wine its intensity and lift. A combination of equal amounts of tannins and alcohol are a large part of a wine structure. Think of balance, a wine not being too much of one thing and lacking another in terms of tannins, alcohol, acid, fruit, aging, etc.

Body – the thickness of the wine, how it feels in your mouth, like comparing skim milk to buttermilk. A light bodied wine will be soft and airy while a full-bodied wine will be rich and big with mouth filling texture.

Crisp – pleasant fruit acid levels

Balance – to me the best wines have the perfect balance, simply meaning that all the components of the wine (structure, fruit, alcohol, tannins, acidity, aging, fruit, etc) are all equal, without one standing out more than the other. The fine wines I enjoy have harmony and elegance.

Finish or length – length of time the wines flavor lingers after swallowing, the aftertaste. To me, the best wines stick around for a while, tempting you to have more.

I always say, it’s all about what you enjoy. Also know you aren’t alone when it comes to deciphering the language that wine geeks use, but don’t let it intimidate and confuse you. Just learn a few of the basics and feel free to contact me with any questions. Cheers!

Filed Under: Wine

618 Bistro

November 21, 2009 By Donna

618

Standing out as the highlight of the newly-opened Marketplace at Lake Boone is an enchanting new restaurant called 618 Bistro. Created by local Chef Alex Azzam, who many of you know from Ciao! Osteria in Apex and Bentley’s American Grill in Cary, this upscale yet accessible bistro offers simple luxury and a provocative flair. Soon to be a favorite of romantics and foodies throughout the Triangle, 618 Bistro is raising the bar for decadent dining out.

Quite often restaurants become fixated on design and stylish décor, and these can even become far more important elements in the dining experience than the food itself. This is certainly not the case with 618 Bistro. While the stunningly modern and dramatic space grabs your attention the moment you enter, the seductive aromas from the open kitchen assure you there is so much more to delight and excite here. Elegant, creative and flavorful food is certainly the focus, yet it is carefully balanced with the entire dining experience. The sultry atmosphere and hip music are hardly an imposition, but rather a subtle complement to your evening out.

Also enhancing are the staff, who deliver exactly the style of service you’d want from such a smart venue. From the host to the bartenders to the wait staff, everyone is inviting, genial and eagerly accommodating. Your waiter will be surprisingly non-judgmental and knowledgeable, so you can feel free to ask for suggestions and ideas.

As for the food, 618 offers an innovative and original menu with impressive plate presentation. In ambitious dishes such as the Grilled Salmon heaped with colorful roasted peppers or the melt-in-your-mouth seared Ahi Tuna, you will see various influences, not simply or easily described, accented by Italian, French and Mediterranean inspiration. Sublime flavors predominate, as with the pumpkin pasta, which imparts just the slightest hint of sweetness and spice. You may expect gratifying portions, but no heavy sauces or mere butter masking the delectable flavors of your dish. It is clear Chef Azzam adheres to the “less is more” philosophy when it comes to preparation. These are delicate flavors designed to surprise and subtly delight you.

The elegant 618 Bistro is a must-try restaurant. Although it is a tad expensive for an everyday meal, if your parents are in town, or you’re trying to impress a client or a date, this is going to be the perfect spot. It will also become an understated yet swank scene for the sophisticated over 30 crowd to rival the excitement that has been brewing at North Hills the past few years. This summer both the seductive bar and the expansive patio should be sizzling.

Forget about merely “eating” out. 618 Bistro is defining the ideal of dining out. In Raleigh there is no longer any need to settle.

Filed Under: Dining, Dining Reviews, Featured Tagged With: 618 Bistro, Dining, dining out, expansive patio, raleigh dining, seductive bar

Mix up the holidays with a Wine Blending Party

November 19, 2009 By The Traveling Grape

The holidays are here and it’s time for planning a party. Liven up your holiday with a different spin by hosting a wine blending party! It’s easy, creative, and informative, bringing out everyone’s imaginative spirit. This is a great opportunity to deepen your knowledge of wine while having a blast!

The purpose of a wine blending party is to create traditional blends from single varietal wines while bringing people together, having fun and enjoying the time of year meant for celebration. If you haven’t read the post dated Nov 5th on “What exactly is a Meritage Wine,” please do. This will help you understand what a blend is and what makes a traditional Bordeaux blend wine. Keep in mind, during this party, do what you want, experiment and bring out the chemist in you! There are no rules, just match your personal preferences and who knows what will happen. You will be surprised and enjoy all the different palates your guests bring to the party even though you may have been sharing wine together for years.

Picking the wine: (if you purchase a kit you won’t need to buy the wine; however the kit does not include a Malbec, so you may want that varietal on hand. If you don’t go with the kit and purchase your own wine, try to stay with the same producer, but it’s not a rule.)

Cabernet Sauvignon: Most blends focus on this as the main varietal, making it the backbone of blends to carry the rest of the varietals through. Look for rich red to black fruit; not overly tannic, but well-balanced.
Merlot: Traditionally a very fruit forward wine and usually the lighter of the reds with raspberry and cherry. A little bit can go a long way in a blend.
Cabernet Franc: Can be a bit more aromatic then the other reds, offering more on the nose in a blend.
Malbec: Deeper red fruits and very thick wine, bringing a lot of structure and texture to the blend, velvet and big tannins.
Petite Verdot: Gives the blend that long lingering finish, known as “the finisher” and maybe some floral notes.

Getting the tools together:

Once you make the guest list (and keep it manageable), make it easy and purchase a wine blending kit online that will have just about everything you need. You can either get your own wines and tools or purchase a kit online at Fusebox Crushpad or just Google Wine Blending kits as many wineries offer these as well to promote their wines. For example Bourassa Vineyards offers a kit for $79 (on sale now for $39)

Fusebox costs $80. It takes about five business days to receive so give enough time since shipping may take longer during the holidays. You get half-bottles of Napa-sourced wine which includes two Cabernet Sauvignons, one Merlot, one Cab Franc, and one Petit Verdot. These are the four of five main blending grapes used to make Bordeaux (lacking only Malbec, for some reason). Each kit will accommodate four people with four placemats, four mouth pipettes (used to transport a measured volume of liquid) and a cork pull. You can also create your own label online. What a great holiday gift this would be for your friends and family – a wine blended by you with your own label! Very cool.

Set up:

The day of the party, organize a blending station for pairs or groups of four. If you have the kit make sure you also have plenty of wineglasses, a spit bucket and pencils. If you didn’t get the kit you will need to either purchase the tools or rummage through your kitchen. Tools you will need:

Wine (see above for picking the wine)
- Measuring device, preferably a graduated cylinder for precise blending. If not, use a measuring cup but it won’t be very accurate
- Since a wine thief is not something we all keep around you can use a turkey baster or plastic straw, but use only one per varietal
- Index cards
- Placemats (not the good ones, use vinyl if you can)
- Several empty bottles to put your finished blend. You can use old ones, just remove the label and run through the dishwasher with hot water.

Why a spit bucket you ask? Every wine brings something very different to the table. By spitting the wine it allows you to have a cleaner palate because swallowing the wine will create a lingering taste and aroma which affects how the next wine tastes. Plus, your blend may not taste so great if you get too tipsy while creating your wine.

Ideas for the index cards:

WINE BLENDING PARTY

Budding Winemaker Name or Group:____________________________

VARIETAL PERCENTAGES NOTES

Blend #1

Blend #2

Blend #3

Blend #4

Blend #5

Let the blending begin:

Keep your formula a secret from the other groups and then everyone can pick their favorite at the end. As you go about blending and experimenting you will be excited about your new discoveries of how each varietal can really change the aroma and flavor of your blends.

Pour each wine varietal into a glass (you can use a beverage glass for this part since it is more steady than a wine glass). Print the name of each varietal on an index card and place the correct glass on each card.

Start where your palate takes you and don’t worry about picking the wrong varietal because there are no rules! Start with about 35% of the varietal you want and pour it into the cylinder or use the wine thief (or straw) into a measuring cup. It’s important to keep track of the amount you are using of each varietal as you begin your recipe. As you add each additional piece smell the wine, but don’t taste yet. Let your nose tell you where to go next. Keep track of your math so you don’t go over 100%. Remember, you don’t have to use all five of the varietals.

Once the final blend is created, have each group take their recipe and make an identical blend for the group to taste using the new bottles.

Tasting the finished product:

Swirl, sniff and sip — vote on the top three looking at the nose, the intensity of the fruit, weight and finish. Give the winners a bottle of Meritage to honor their winemaking talents. If you’re lucky, they’ll open them up and share!

Cheers!

Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Featured, Wine Tagged With: Blending, holidays, party, wine

Delight in the Unexpected

November 15, 2009 By Diana

fish_chips

As creatures of habit, we sometimes find ourselves airing on the side of comfortable, tried and true, contented, and familiar. Particularly when it comes to food, some of us can be reluctant to try new restaurants, or even different dishes, for fear that perhaps we’ll miss the old faithful stand-by. Certainly, everyone has their favorites for a reason, and I’d never underestimate the sacred neighborhood pizza joint. However, join me for a quick read on how I stepped out of my comfort zone and became inspired by the unexpected.

Recently, I spent a week in England, and although it was nearly 100% business, I still had to eat. Being in a completely new setting, I took the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and sample many different establishments & fare to which I wouldn’t normally partake. I was delighted in several discoveries, one of which is a restaurant I’ll depict in this article. The experience awakened my senses, not just of taste but of sight as well, as I found myself stumbling upon culinary art where I least expected it. Perhaps after reading this, you’ll take a gamble on tonight’s restaurant choice and let in on your experience.

Having checked off the local must-eats (fish & chips of course) earlier in my travels, I took an opportunity one evening to meet colleagues for dinner at a restaurant of their choice. They suggested a quaint place to dine called The Old Rectory. The name says it all… this really was an old rectory turned Bed & Breakfast and oh by the way they occasionally serve dinner. A bit skeptical I’ll admit, I approached this establishment on a dark, rainy evening and appeared to be the first and only customer for the dinner bell. The owner/waiter/resident took my coat and politely escorted me to a lounge area where my colleagues awaited. After enjoying drinks, olives, and potato chips (yes, you read that right), the waiter brought us menus for the evening. As I scrolled the options on the leather-framed bill of fare, I was startled by a fluffy cat suddenly rubbing against the couch. There was only one animal roaming, and yes I’m getting off-topic, but wanted you to really understand just how surprising the establishment was. When the waiter returned, I ordered the goat cheese tart, followed by an entrée of beef medallions. He enthusiastically nodded as to confirm I’d made a good choice. When our food was ready, he escorted us to a dinner table, and I was relieved that we weren’t actually eating around the feline lounge. Taking my seat, I must say, my expectations were low until I laid eyes on was brought to our table. My appetizer was quite the culinary work of art, as appealing to the eyes as it was the sense of smell and my palate began to salivate. Looking down at this beautiful tart, it’s soft, freshly-baked base topped with a rainbow of layered caramelized onions, ripe avocados, seasoned tomatoes and creamy goat cheese, I found myself pausing in surprise at the artistry behind this. The colorful layers were topped with a generous cut of pancetta which blanketed the savory goodies underneath, keeping them warm and, by guilty association, flavoring them with juices from the meat. Now, I am quite certain that the chef behind this creation did not intend for this simple appetizer to be classified as culinary art, but his skills in this area influenced even the simplest of fare before me. The remainder of dinner continued to exceed my expectations, and still today I am remembering the unexpected evening for its culinary feats.

Next time you dine out, take a moment to pause and enjoy the unexpected. Whether it is the food’s presentation, taste, or texture, indulge your senses and enjoy something different. Tell me about what surprised you, or at least where I may find yet another awe-inspiring treat.

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: Dining, Dinner, Restaurant

Kaze Japanese Restaurant of Garner joins ZSpotlight

November 15, 2009 By zEditor8

ZSpotlight.com continues to expand throughout the Triangle and now welcomes Kaze Japanese Steakhouse in Garner to it’s exclusive list of advertisers thriving in the ZSpot Network. This upscale hibachi/sushi restaurant is located on 1227 Timber Drive East in Garner (phone number 919-329-6789.)

Kaze is an upscale Hibachi Restaurant that offers high end sushi and delicious chicken, steak, and shrimp entrees carefully prepared with an entertaining show of course!

Want to try this restaurant and bring a friend or the family? Click here and you can access $50 Gift Certificates for only $25. It’s an amazing way to try out this restaurant for the first time and also save enough money to take a date or your kids to this wonderful restaurant.

Show your ZSpotCard each time you visit and receive a free appetizer with the purchase of any entrée during dinner! To see all the ZSpotCard deals, click here.

To visit ZSpot and see all this restaurant has to offer, click here.

Great Hangover Food

November 13, 2009 By Donna

We’ve all been there: the dreaded morning after a big night out. You’re dehydrated, dizzy, headachy, weak, tired and the sun seems like it has gone supernova. Sure you can drink lots of water or Gatorade, down a BC Powder with a strong cup o’joe, or even take a run around the lake to sweat out the alcohol, but what fun is that? You want to laugh and rehash all the gory details of last night’s revelry, so you throw on a hat, gather your party pals, and head out for that perfect hangover food.

But where will you go? You party pros have spoken and I honor your wisdom! Here is a list of the most popular places in the Triangle for the grease, sugar boost, fresh air, strong coffee or hair of the dog, as recommended by you:

1) A heaping platter of Mexican food from your favorite El Rodeo location, guaranteed to give you plenty of wonderful starch to soak up all that alcohol. The staff is also fanatical about keeping your soda or water full, which is great for combatting that darned dehydration.

2) Tir na nog has one of the best Sunday brunches in the Triangle. It’s all you can eat, and they’re always offering different dishes to stick to your ribs and soothe your sour tummy.

3) Big juicy burgers like The Pub Burger at The Oxford Gastropub or Sullivan’s “Best Burger in Town”. Add a beer and you’re ready for a day of football and fun.

4) Spicy Asian food, to open your sinuses and get your blood flowing, like what you can get at ShabaShabu or Tom Yum Thai. An extra side dynamite sauce or wasabi will not only wake you up, but it will help you sweat out the Jager from last night’s shots in no time!

5) The Farmer’s Market Restaurant offers home cooking and comfort foods made from fresh-off-the-farm ingredients. Fresh vegetables, fruit cobblers and fried chicken to rival your grandmother’s secret recipe. They close at 3PM both Saturday and Sunday, so don’t sleep in too late!

6) Elmo’s Diner has an elaborate menu of feel-good foods, great coffee, and breakfast all day. If you aren’t mobile until early afternoon, you can still get that heavy slab of quiche and side of thick cheese grits you were craving.

Or maybe you don’t want to go out? Leftover pizza from greats like Sauced, Stromboli’s and Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza is just as good the next day as it was when you ordered it.

Honorable mentions go to the scattered, smothered and covered grease and sassy service you can only find at Waffle House. A nod also to McDonald’s, where a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, large fries and a Diet Coke are an American staple. Last, but not least, I must mention the all-time favorite, Bojangles. There is nothing better than their chicken, biscuits and a gallon of Sweet Tea to make any North Carolinian feel satisfied and sturdy. Anyone who’s passed the Western Boulevard Bojangles line around the block on a weekend morning knows it is THE place to right the previous night’s wrongs.

Feel free to share your insight. If there’s a great place worthy of your hangover, maybe we’ll find it helpful too.

Filed Under: Dining Tagged With: comfort foods, El Rodeo, Elmo's Diner, Fuhgeddaboudit Pizza, grease, hair of the dog, hangover, Mexican food, Sauced, Shabashabu, Stromboli's, Sunday brunch, Tom Yum Thai