Treasure Valley Food and Wine Blog

February at The Buzz in Boise.

2012-01-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

I received this from Cristi at the Buzz in Boise. This looks like an exciting and fun month at the Buzz. Super Bowl Party, Zins and Chocolate and a special Renwood Dinner. Here is the schedule. Cheers and hope to see you there. Remember: Call or email for reservations! And be informed: Cristi will be 11 this year!! See below.

Dear Bob and Robin,
Moving right along with 2012, hope this email finds everyone safe and happy. One of Buzz Coffee and Wine's favorite months is now at hand. Lots of fun events planned so read about them, make your reservations and join us for some fun and excitement throughout the month of February.

Superbowl (Go Giants!!)
February 5th we will be hosting our annual Superbowl Party. There will be a buffet of tailgating foods, with healthy options for our guests. The focal point will be New York and San Fransico favorites. There will be wine and beer to enjoy a fun afternoon. Also we will have our proposition cards with a give-a-way for the person who guesses the best. Call for reservations or just come on in. Festivities begin at 5 PM.

Wine Club
Our Media Focused wine club for February will focus on Zinfandel and chocolate. We are completely booked for Wednesday night but have a few seats available for Valentine's day. Great evening out with an entire menu planned around Chocolate. On Valentine's Day let us know if you wish to sit as a couple or in a group. Dinner is $15 a person and starts at 6:30. Reservations are required.

Renwood Dinner
On February 23 at 7PM buzz will host Renwood for a winery dinner. this will be a fun evening wiht foods to pair with Renwood wines and the rep from the winery will be presenting their wines. the wines will be available for purchase after the dinner. It is a four course meal with some plesant surprises in store. Cost is $25 per person. Reservations are required.

Lots of music this month as well. Do not forget that we have live music and wine tasting every Friday night and frequently on Saturday Nights as well. Music for February...3rd is Lee Penn Sky, 10th Mountain Fever, 11th Fonny and Divot, 17th Wendy Matson, 24th Pat Foulkner, 25th Todd Palmer, and 29th is Sandy Sanford. Music begins at 7 each night. No reservations required just come down enjoy some good music. We have food specials each night to accompany the company and the music.

On Leap Year Day, we will have music and cake to Celebrate Cristi's Birthday. (Wednesday February 29. She will be 11.) Enjoy your extra day this year with us and who knows what will happen at the Buzz on this special day. Also, our take and bake menu is posted on our facebook page come grab some freezer meals and be ready for great food at reasonable prices when your day gets away from you.

Sincerely,
Cristi and Tom Takeda
Buzz Coffee and Wine
Reservations can be made by email at buzzwine@cableone.net or by phone at (208) 344-4321. Thank you for your support.

Don't Forget - Winter Wine Dinner

2012-01-29T13:32:00.002-07:00

Don't forget the Winter Wine Dinner at the Boise Hotel in the Castle Ranch Steakhouse on Vista Ave on February 18, 2012. Sawtooth Winery will be featured and the dinner looks awesome! Calling for reservations is strongly suggested. This will be an exciting evening. See you there!! Left-Click the graphic to get a printable copy and a larger view.

A Burgundian Wine Dinner

2012-01-20T10:24:00.002-07:00

Another fantastic Wine Dinner at Le Cafe de Paris. Here is how Mathieu described the dinner. It was awesome!

"French Region Night this month will feature the region of Burgundy, where I was born and raised! We have recently acquired several new wine labels from the area and a fabulous four course menu of classic cuisine from the area with be featured! The dinner itself is $39/person and as always we will have our resident sommelier, Christian Lamotte, there to pair our fabulous wines."

Here is the wine we had with dinner. A 2007 Pernand-Vergelesses. It went very well with our dinner.

Some folks who were at the same table as ours. Mr Quinlin (right) and friends. Great conversation and thanks for sharing the wine!

Escargot Bourgogne et Gougeres
(Burgundy Snails)
burgundy butter with pastis

Salade Paysanne
(Burgundy Country Salad)
field greens, croutons, bacon lardons, ozark poached egg

I tried to get a photo of the egg prep. It did not come out. They break the egg in cheese cloth and then tie it up so it keeps it shape. They cook it in the cheese cloth.

Sandre en Papillote
walleye filet with aromatics baked in parchment, rice pilaf, braised brussel sprouts

Note: We had never had Walleye before. It was delicious! Mild and slightly sweet. Not a strong "fishy" taste. I'd have it again.

Coq au Vin
(Red Wine Chicken)
housemade taggliatelle, braised brussel sprouts

Île Flottante
(Floating Island)
poached meringue, crème anglaise, almonds

Castle Ranch Steakhouse Wine Dinner

2012-01-15T15:52:00.002-07:00

This looks like it will be an great evening. The menu looks awesome! Winter Wine Dinner at the Castle Ranch Steakhouse in the Boise Hotel on Vista. Maybe make reservations and then spend the night in the hotel. Heated pool. Spa. We have had their steaks and they are wonderful. Have you ever been to Burns Steakhouse in Tampa, Florida? This is the Idaho version. We might even be there. The menu alone is worth the price. Cheers!

Correction: 20 Jan 2012 - The date of this event is February 18!! Sorry for any inconvenience.

Brown Shuga Soul Food, Boise

2012-01-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

Need and want something different for dinner tonight? Try this -

Brown Shuga Soul Food is having BBq chicken and pulled pork for lunch today will only be on Chinden til 2pm today. Then moving to the Red lion downtown this evening from 5 till 9pm for our monthly food truck rally tonight. The menu for dinner will be bacon and potato soup, mac and cheese, black eyed peas and bbq chicken with peach cobbler for dessert.

Let Yvonne know you saw the menu here on this blog. If she sends the menus, I'll post it! Cheers and enjoy the food!

Mediterranean Cruise Night!

2012-01-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

What a super way to start the new season! Awesome program, food and wines from around the Mediterranean. Robin spent many, many hours on this program and it showed. Super job, Rob!

Thanks must also go to Bonnie Pedlow, Project Manager U.S., Sud de France Développement, Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022 Branch who sent Robin a box of brochures, wine pouring disks and cork screws.

The map shown here is one Robin made with our ports-of-call for the evening. The program for the evening incorporated all of the new Board Members who presented at least one wine. Here is Robin's report and her program.

TVWS Mediterranean Cruise : Ports of Call
Welcome with Idaho Wines – Meet the New Board

Fly from Boise to NYC to Sevilla, Spain. Bus to Jerez. Board Ship
1. Jerez de Frontera, Spain Gerald and Pamela [past pres.] C0-0P $ 12.00
17% Alc.Varietals: Palomino, Xarel-Lo Toasted Almonds
Pass thru Straits of Gibraltar Salad, Shrimp, Bread, Cheeses and Fruit
Cruise up the East Coast of Spain; optional visits to Barcelona & Ibizia.
Overland optional excursion from Perpignan to the Camargue and Carcassone.

2. Sud de France Bridgette G.Hull [V.P] and Cheryl Gibson [ AL] $13.99
2010 L’Oustal Blanc K10 St.-Chinian Propietary Blend* Boise Co-op Wine Shop
15 % Alc. Varietals: Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache, Bourboulanc, Roussane, Counoise, Picpoul Noir, Picpoul de Pinet, Muscardin, Picardin, Vaccarese. *

3. Languedoc, Sud de France Robin [Cruise Director/Menu] K&L Wines $17.99
2009 Prestige from Chateau Puech-Haut, Saint Drezery Coteaux du Languedoc
15 % Alc. Varietals: Syrah, Alicante Bouchet, Carignan, Clairette, Pelut, Lladoner. *
Side excursion re-board at Marseille and visit Count de Monte Cristo’s prison island. Visit the Plage at Bandol [suntan or swim] Riviera Native Dress Code fashion show. (Robin and Bridgette did a great job modelling the fashions!)

4. Provence Carl Abrahamson [Treasurer] $13.95
2009 Mas De Gourgonnier from Les Baux de Provence
14 % Alc. Varietals: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah
Organic and Biodynamic Wines and Vineyards Boise Co-op Wine Shop
Side excursions to Grasse Perfumeries and Monaco Casinos and SHOPPING !

5. Sicily Tom [President-elect] and Karen [AtLarge] Birch $15.99
Cantina Colosi Nero d’Avola - grown in a 10 Hectare VY in Salina; bottled in Messina
14 % Alc. Nero d’ Avola Bueno Cheapo Vino
Disembark at Tirana, Albania for overland bus tour to Budapest,then Eger, Hungary

6. Eger, Hungary – 2008 Eszterbauer “Tuke” Szekszardi Bikaver (Bull’s Blood)
Bob Young, [Captain, Century Club List] K&L Wines $21.99
14 % Alc. Varietals: 26% Kekfrankos, 24% Kadarka, 22% Merlot, 10% Pinot Noir,
8% Cabernet Franc. Hungarian Goulash with noodles, cooked celery & carrots
Load up on the bus after Hungarian Goulash – thank you Jake!
NE towards the Carpathian Mountains for dessert. Blonde Caramel Bars

7. Tokay, Tokai, Tokaj 5P Toni Smith [AL] Boise Co-op Wine Shop $36.50 / 500ml
10%Alc. V: 60% Furmint, Birsalmás grapes, which are mainly Harslevelü, Yellow Muscat Lunel, Zeta [previously called Oremus) , Koverszolo, Kabar. .
King of Wines; Wine of Kings & Queens +Thomas Jefferson: “Once in a lifetime you should experience Tokay” 1-6 Puttonyos – 25 kg baskets ->fermenting cask of 136L.
Oxidative aging with deliberate air contact for 3 up to 8 years; stable for decades.
After Cruise Photos ….. Fly home safely.

(L-R) Karen and Tom Birch, Carl Abrahamson, Howard Reid, Bridgette Hull, Gail McClellan Parker

The Cruise Chef, Jake, and Crew.

Some of the wines we had.

Cheese and Fruit Plate

Salad Bar - Make your own!

Hot Vegies: Carrots and Celery

Fresh Noodles and Hungarian Goulash

Our ship!

Next Month: Zinfandel and Chocolate with Kathy Johnston. This will be another great event so we hope to see you there. It should be a lot of fun, a lot of Zin and a whole lot of chocolate in many different forms. Cooking a main dish with chocolate can be a real treat and lots of fun. Cheers!

The Buzz January 2012 Wine Club Dinner

2012-01-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

Another good Wine Club Dinner at the Buzz in Boise! The theme was Wine In The Media or Media in the Wine. In her opening comments, Cristi stated that, "In this age of information we are exposed to a variety of sources for our information. We must determine who and what to relate to or we will go into information overload ... Over the next twelve months we will discuss different media formats for wine reviews and suggestions. You will hopefully find avenues of information that are helpful and those [avenues] to take with a grain of salt." Tonight, Cristi choose to explore the reviewing of Natalie McClain, wine critic, writer, TV personality and critic from Canada. You can see her web site at Nat Decants. This site is well worth a look/see. Interesting information that may help you in your next wine selection. Once again, the ratings of the wines that we had are based on a top score of [20]. Cheers!

Appetizer
Cece Fritos and Vegetable Masala Fritters

2009 La Sefreta
13.0% alc, good color depth with a clean and fresh nose. [16]

Chop Chop Salad

2010 Essence Riesling Mosel
10% alc, bright color and a great clean and fruity nose. good sweetness [17]

Four Grain Tomato Soup

2010 KMV Pinotage (South Africa)
14% alc, great color, great balance of tannin and acid. great paring with the soup [18]

Italian Meatloaf
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Peas and Leeks
Roasted Green Beans

2007 Molines Cabernet Sauvignon (France)
14% alc, good color but light on the general appeal. good tannin/acid balance, though. [16]

Hot/Hot Chocolate Cake Floating Islands

2010 Morse Code Shiraz (Australia)
14.5% alc, another great paring with the dessert. good sweetness and body.[18]

So there you have our dinner and wine parings. Where else can you get a plated dinner like this, seven wines (Cristi had two to share before the party started), and such great company for $15.00 per person!!! And my favorites for the evening? The 2010 Morse Code Shiraz (Australia) with the Hot/Hot Chocolate Cake Floating Islands and the 2010 KMV Pinotage (South Africa) with the Four Grain Tomato Soup. Cheers!

The Buzz In January and February

2012-01-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

OK, I know. The photo on the left has nothing to do with the Buzz. I just like the photo sent to me by a friend via FB in Naples, Italy. (Thank you Gian Masciopinto!) Here is what I have received from Cristi and Tommy at the Buzz. Hope to see you there.

Dear Bob and Robin,

We Hope that everyone had a safe and fun New Year's celebration. We had a fantastic holiday season with family and friends, even visitors from far away. As the year gets started we want to remind all of our friends of the upcoming events at Buzz. January 10 and 11 will be our wine club at 6:30 make your reservations for the first of 12 installments related to wines in the media (or the media in the wines). This year should be very educational and exciting as we study wine from a new angle.

Music for January will be
Carter Freeman 1/6
Tomorrow Never Knows 1/7
Sandy Sanford 1/13
Blaze and Kelly 1/14
John Cazaan (tentative) 1/20
Gayle Chapman 1/27

Also on January 14th we will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary at Buzz. Stop by for some fun music and a piece of cake to help us celebrate. We will continue our Friday and Saturday wine tastings each week. No reservations required for weekend events.

Beginning January 6th ask for our event calendar when you check out, it has all of our scheduled events including the quarterly dinners already marked so you can make your plans to join us.

We will be hosting a Superbowl Party on February 5th for all those interested watch for more information.

We wish the best for 2012 to all of you and yours.

Thanks for all ,
Cristi and Tommy Takeda
Buzz Coffee and Wine

10 Barrel Brewing Is Coming to Boise

2012-01-03T12:45:00.004-07:00

In an article printed in today's Idaho Statesman, it is reported that 10 Barrel Brewing Company out of Bend, Oregon is coming to Boise. The brewpub will be located at 9th and Bannock. Read the Article from the Statesman. You can get an early start on the brewery by looking at Their Website. If you have never had one of their beers, you are in for a real treat! Here are some of their awards for their brews -

S1nist0r Black Ale - Gold Medal, 2011 World Beer Championships
Apocalypse IPA - Silver Medal, 2011 World Beer Championships
Pray For Snow Strong Ale - Silver Medal, 2011 World Beer Championships
S1nist0r Black Ale - Bronze Medal, Out of Category - Traditional Brewed Beer, 2009 Great American Beer Festival

The Apocalypse IPA is one of the best I have ever tasted. I will keep the jug that I have, that was full of Apocalypse IPA at one time, until they arrive in Boise. Cheers! YEA!!!

Treasure Valley Wine Society Christmas Sparkling Party

2011-12-15T15:12:00.001-07:00

It was really great to have this crowd at the Treasure Valley Wine Society's Annual Sparkling Tasting. And thanks to Howard Reid for being the spokesperson tonight.
The Society wishes to thank the following people for "stepping up" and filling some seats on the Board of Directors -

Toni Smith
Tom Birch
Cheryl Gibson
Bridget Hull

This will be an exciting time for you and we look forward to your new ideas and working with you! Here are some more photos from the event. Cheers!

It was a great crowd as this photo shows and the one above. Thanks to all who attended.

Live music by the Felzien Five +1 who were Leanne, Tara (16), Lissa (13), Robyn (17), Konzie (18) and Madison (10). Such talent! It was great to have them. I could sit and listen to them play all night. Maybe we will hear them again. Hope so!

Leanne Felzien and Gail McClellan Parker, Leanne's Mother

Wow! Three generations: Bridget, Cheryl and Elaine

Appetizer Plate
Pot Stickers
Jicama Strips
Tomatoes
Green, Black and Kamata Olives
Tomato with Mozerella and Basil

Dinner
Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Chicker in Brown Butter and Almond Slices (YUM-O!!!)
Asparagus

Dessert (Not Pictured)
Orange Chiffon Pie

The Sparkling wines that we had were -

Ste Chapelle Sparkling Riesling
Schloss Biebrich Sekt
Mionetto Prosecco il
Zonin Prosecco
M. Chevallier Cava
Canals & Nubiola Cava
Domaine Ste Michelle Blanc de Noirs
Domaine Ste Michelle Brut

All of these went very well with the food that was presented.

Wine Club Dinner at The Buzz

2011-12-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

Another fantastic Buzz Wine Club Dinner was held on December 20. Seven wines were offered from the Heredad Ugarte Winery in the NE area of Spain - close to the Basque country - two of which were Cristi's Choice, and a great 4-course dinner. The photo on the left shows Tommy Takeda at the counter keeping everyone happy.
The wines were rated on a [20] point system, [20] being a superb wine.

Here Cristi enjoys a break from the hustle of the evening and giving her voice a rest after a great informational session. For instance, did you know that French oak barrels cost about $2700.00 per barrel and American Oak barrels cost about $2000.00 per barrel. The barrels last about 5 years and then most of them are used for Whiskey, Scotch (Whisky) or Chardonnay. Some are re-finished and used again. Enjoy the photos of the dinner. Cheers!

Tapas
Dates and Bacon
Flat Bread with Romesco and Shrimp
Cabrales Phyllo Rolls

2010 Heredad Ugarte Winery White
12% alc, pretty much washes out and a light body and balance. [12} $10.00

Chickpea Stew Spinach and Chorizo
(These were Idaho chickpeas)

2007 Heredad Domino Reserva
13.5% alc, bright bouquet and good finish. [14] $19.00

2006 Heredad Domino Reserva
13.5% alc, Better balance than the 2007 and the appeal was better. [17] $12.00
(These were both the same wines, just different vintages)

It is really nice and somewhat exceptional that Tommy and Cristie will offer a Vegetarian Dinner to those who prefer a vegetarian selection. Here, Lisa Clark, she and her husband Gregg sat with us, is served a vegetarian dish.

The rest of us received:
Catalan Picada and Chicken
Green Beans
Tortilla Epanola

2008 Heredad Crianza
13.5% alc, great color and clarity. good balance and appeal. [18] $15.00

Tocinillo de Cielo and Magdalenas

2009 Mercedes Tempranillo Shiraz
14.0% alc, a really superb wine that was rich in fruit, full bodied and lasted well. [19] $12.00
This wine was the winner for the evening and it was not the most expensive!

The Buzz Releases Their Wine Club Cookbooks!

2011-12-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Buzz, The Buzz Website, has released two volumes of their Wine Club cookbooks. Version 2009 and Version 2010, pictured here. Each volume is $15.00. Contact the Buzz directly via: (1) E-Mail #1, (2) E-Mail #2, (3) Phone (208) 344-4321 0r (4) visit them at 2999 N. Lakeharbor Lane, Ste 110, Boise, Idaho 83703. Look for the Buzz sign.

And just to let you know, we do not get any kick-back for posting these articles - we pay our own way and that's the way we want it. What we get is a pleasant smile, great food and great friends and company. Check out their website and buy a cookbook. Cheers!

Wine and Red Meat Paring

2011-11-30T15:12:00.002-07:00

Among my several blogs I read, here is an article from Snooth - Find Better Wines about the right wine(s) to serve with red meat. This can, at times, be very controversial. Here is but one discussion on the subject,

"The holidays are a time for sharing and celebrations, so it's just natural that we want to create something special for the table. Large roasts and premium cuts of meat are often the centerpiece of holiday meals, and rightly so. They're relatively easy to prepare and serve to hordes of hungry friends and family.

Just as we think carefully about the cut of meat and method of preparation that would best suit our event, we also need to consider what wine might work best. Ultimately, there is no one singular wine that is definitively the best with any one recipe, but there are certain styles of wine and attributes of grape varieties that make for more pairings that work.

Check out these great, festive recipes and see if you agree with the wines I've chosen for each. Hopefully, I can inspire you to make this holiday meal one of your best ever!"

To read the full article, Click Here. Enjoy and have a great Holiday Season full of great wines and great food and superb friends! Cheers!

The Buzz Wine Club Dinner Package

2011-11-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

I received this information from Tommy and Cristi at the Buzz. Such a deal!! (That's their scan code to the left. Use your smart phone and go directly to their web site.)

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SALE

Small Business Saturday Offering. Get your wine club coupons for next year. For only $75.00 for 6 wine club dinners, That's buy 5 and get one dinner free. The coupons are to be used throughout the whole year so give them as a gift or buy some for yourself. They are transferable but nonrefundable. The coupons are dated and each one is good for two months. Come by and have lunch at your favorite local small restaurant and pick up your Wine club dinner coupons.

Also, with the purchase of any bottle of wine on Saturday you can purchase a silk gift bag for only $2.00 that is 75%off our retail price.

We hope that everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving and hope to see you on small business Saturday.

Sincerely,
Cristi and Tom Takeda
Buzz Coffee and Wine

Indian Creek Winery Thanksgiving Sale

2011-11-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

I just received this from Tammy McClure at Indian Creek Winery in Kuna. Everyone: Have a Great Thanksgiving!

Greetings!

In case you didn't know, the weekend after Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to visit your local wineries! Here, at Indian Creek Winery, we'll be sampling wines straight from the barrel and into your glass! We'll have some light appetizers and Mama Mui's Thai cuisine, wine tastings of our current vintages, vinyl spinning on the ol' record player, holiday photo booth where you can pre-order Christmas cards by Footprint Photography and possibly the best part?

Special discounts! We rarely offer discounts this big so don't miss out!

November 25, 26, and 27th:
The Friday, Saturday and Sunday AFTER Thanksgiving: 11 AM - 6 PM

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Cheers,

Fall/Winter Winery Seekers Wine Tours Newsletter

2011-11-14T15:17:00.003-07:00

Thanksgiving is around the corner. There is lots to do in the Snake River Valley and beyond. Start with "Sippin' in the City" in Boise, ID. Next, visit the many wineries that are hosting "Open House" on Thanksgiving weekend.

Winery Seekers Wine Tours has gift certificates available for Christmas or anytime. It's a great way to visit Idaho Wine Country. Just click on the newsletter to make it larger and find out what's happening in and around Idaho.

HAPPY WINE TRAILS!

Kathy Johnson

Winery Seekers Wine Tours

www.wineryseekers.com

kathyj@wineryseekers.com

1-888-581-7768

Oregon Pinot Noirs at the Treasure Valley Wine Society

2011-11-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Treasure Valley Wine Society in Boise, held a great Oregon Pinot Noir Tasting on November 9. The tasting was accompanied by a delicious buffet line prepared by Chef James Grimes featuring a Pork with Montmorency Sauce (a recipe below). Jerry and Pamla Reimer selected 7 wines. Here they are:

2010 Carlton Cellars Agate Beach Pinot Noir Rosé ($18.00)
2008 Wilamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir ($28.00)
2009 Carlton Cellars Cape Lookout Pinot Noir ($20.00)
2008 Tualatin Estate Pinot Noir ($45.00) 90 points and #24 Oregon Best Wines
2008 Dundee Hills Thistle Wines Pinot Noir ($30.00) #8 and 93 points Oregon Best Wines Competition
2009 Andrew Rich Winery Pinot Noir ($22.00)
2009 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

That's the list. Now here is the buffet and a recipe. Cheers!

Cheese Plate

Buttered Noodles
Red Cabbage

Pork with Montmorency Cherry Sauce

I don't know if Chef James used this recipe or not, but here is but one of several Montmorency Sauce recipes:

Montmorency Sauce

“The sweetness makes it suitable for sautéed chicken breasts or roast duckling, as well as more robustly flavored meats such as pork chops.” (Yankee Magazine)

“Montmorency cherries get their name from the Montmorency Valley of France, where they originated.” (Product Oasis)

1 (17-oz.) can Bing cherries
1 cup tawny port
4 large cubes sugar
1 large orange
2 tbsp. cornstarch

Drain 1 (17-oz.) can Bing cherries and place cherries in a medium bowl.
Add 1 cup tawny port, cover and let stand at room temperature 3 to 4 hours (preferably overnight).

Rub 4 large sugar cubes firmly over 1 orange to remove zest and aromatic oils from skin.
Squeeze orange and measure 1/4 cup juice.

Add juice to 2 tablespoons cornstarch and stir until smooth.

In a saucepan, combine cherries and port with cornstarch mixture.
Cook, stirring constantly, until liquid is thick and clear.
Add sugar cubes and stir to dissolve.

Dinner plated

The buffet line.

Some of the 38 people who attended this affair.

Aero Vin at the Buzz

2011-11-09T10:13:00.002-07:00

Another very good Wine Dinner at the Buzz. The featured family winery was Aero Vin with vineyards in Spain, Chile and California. A good pairing of wines with dinner. Again, scored based on [20] being a perfect score.

If you look at The Buzz - Meals-To-Go article, you will see some of the new services that the Buzz is offering and the schedule of upcoming Wine Dinners. And on Friday, November 11, the Buzz is offering their exclusive Wine Club Recipe Book for $15.00 a copy. We looked at the "mockup" copy last night and it is fascinating. Cristi even used some of our photos! Order yours by visiting the Buzz or by calling them (208) 344-4321 or via email at Buzz Wine. Enjoy these photos of tonight's dinner. Cheers!

Pear and Bleu Cheese Bruscetta

NV Zonin Moscato
7% alc, bright, clear and good balance, [18] $12.00

Lima Bean Soup

2009 Aero Vin Radio Boca
13% alc, Tempranillo, full bodied but not my favorite, [14] $12.00

Apple and Cranberry Pork
Butternut Squash Risotto
Lemon Broccoli

2009 Aero Vin Picos Garnacha
13.5% alc, good body, clarity and color. great finish, [18] $12.00

Chocolate Raspberry Cake

2009 Aero Vin Tempernillo
13.5% alc, the best of the two tempranillos presented tonight. [16] $12.00

Here is the QR code for the Buzz. Use your smart phone.

Fall Schedule at the Buzz

2011-10-27T12:39:00.000-06:00

Here is the latest from Cristi and Tommy at the Buzz. Hope to see you at these events!

Hope the leaves turning and the cool brisk air is finding everyone ready for the upcoming holiday season. This Saturday night we will be celebrating Halloween at the Buzz. Join us from 7 to 10 for treats and maybe some tricks. Come in costume to recieve your treat, otherwise treats will be available for purchase. We will have the wii set up for the Wii Halloween Bowling tournament. Prizes to be awarded after the tournament.

Take and Bake
With this crazy time of year, Buzz Coffee and Wine is launching our new Take and Bake program. We have individual and family size meals prepared and frozen and ready to go home to be heated by you and your family to enjoy for dinner. These have no added preservatives and are much healthier than TV dinners or Fast Food. We are adding a new option every day so be our friend on facebook to keep up with the newest choices in healthier options for eating quickly. Call or email with any questions or suggestions. (208) 344-4321 or buzzwine@cableone.net.

Mark Your Calendars
November 8 and 9th Wine Club Dinner at 6:30 each night (reservations required cost is $15.00 per person)

November 17th is Beaujolais Nouveau night. Join us from 6 PM until close for the first tastes of the 2011 vintage.

December 11 is White Christmas Quarterly Dinner at 6:30. (reservations required cost is $30.00 per person 5 courses and 10 wines).

December 13 and 14th Wine Club Dinner at 6:30 each night (reservations required cost is $15.00 per person).

For questions or reservations call (208) 344-4321 or email to buzzwine@cableone.net. Hope to see everyone soon. Enjoy your Halloween.

Sincerely,
Cristi and Tommy Takeda
Buzz Coffee and Wine
2999 N Lakeharbor Lane
Boise, Idaho 83703

So there you have the schedule for his Fall. Hope to see you there for some fantastic food, great wines and a friendly smile. Don't miss the special events that are listed, but remember: Reservations Are Required! for the Wine Dinners. Cheers!

All NEW Breakfast Menu at The Buzz Coffee and Café in Boise!

2011-10-20T13:10:00.000-06:00

I was riding along the Greenbelt this morning and it was cold. About 42 degrees F. I needed a warm cup of coffee and the Buzz was close. So I went in, got some great coffee and talked to Tommy for a while. He told me the NEW breakfast menu was due to start this weekend - Saturday, October 22 - and run during the week after that. For more information, you can always check their web page at The Buzz Coffee and Café.

In the meantime, here is the Brand New Breakfast Menu. Left-Click the graphic for a full screen view and one you can print out. From their webpage - link above - the following information is available:

BUZZ coffee and cafe is Boise's finest coffeehouse. We are a WiFi (free Internet) hot spot and serve only fair trade certified, organic certified and shade grown coffee as well as excellent food and a great selection of beer and wine. We also have wired (Ethernet) access to the Internet.

BUZZ is open from 6 am to 9 pm Monday thru Thursday, 6am to 10pm Friday, 8am to 10pm Saturday and 8 am to 3 pm on Sunday (Breakfast Served All Day on Sunday). We are located at 2999 Lakeharbor Blvd (State Street at Lake Harbor in the Idaho Athletic Club).
(208)344-4321 Café
(208)473-7147 FAX
Email us at: BuzzCoffee@cableone.net or BuzzWine@cableone.net

I think Robin and I will be there on Saturday morning to try the new menu. Oh, one other thing! Tommy said that yes, indeed, Tommy's Meatloaf will be on the menu, too! This is a wonderful meatloaf. Come and try the all new menu. We have never had a bad meal there - some better than others, but nothing bad. To rate the meals out of 5, definitely a 5! Cheers and hope to see you there.

Indian Creek Winery Harvest Party

2011-10-16T16:37:00.001-06:00

Rain or shine - the Harvest must go on and especially the Harvest Party at Indian Creek Winery in Kuna, Idaho. Such a great time. Too bad, the weather didn't cooperate. It rained. All day! 0.41 inches of rain here at the house today. But the food was good and the wines were good. And if you wanted too, you could even see how much grape juice you can stomp in one minute! It really was a good time and there was a fairly good crowd there. It's October, Idaho. It could have been snow! Oh, hush yo' mouth! Enjoy these photos. Cheers!

Bill Stowe and Mike McClure explaining about the Indian Creek wine.

Marnie and Mac enjoying some good food.

One of the tasting tables.

Some of the flowers on the grounds.

Filling the barrels with grapes to stomp.

Clearing the drain hole. Is that the stem of a cattail she is using? And what is "Mans Best Friend" doing?

I think he is keeping the grounds cleaned of all the spilled wine.

Two brave souls enter the barrel to do the Grape Stomp! It was raining.

See? Really they are mashing the grapes.

Home Winemaking 101 - The Main Event

2011-10-13T15:58:00.001-06:00

Such a great hobby - Making your own wine, or beer! 200 gallons per household is a goodly amount! I know its probably more than Robin and I consume out of our cellar in a year. (That's why the cellar never decreases in size!) You can adhere to the KISS philosophy (Keep It Simple Stupid) and have a small process. Or you can have several of your neighbors or friends join in. Share the cost and the equipment. Use a garage. The process photographed here is a neighbor cooperative and it works out fine.

These are some wines that Robin and I have made. We use a very small process - 5 gallon bucket, 5 gallon fermentation jar; syphon plastic tubing; reused bottles; our own labels.
But to keep this in perspective. one should always have food with wine and this party was no exception. Look at the buffet that Chef James and his staff prepared for us! A wonderful Potato Bar with all the toppings. Thanks James and your Staff.

Custard, Cheese and Vegetable Platter, Shrimp Salad

Shrimp Salad and Potato Toppings

Baked Potatoes

Beef Tips with Mushrooms
(Delicious!)

The plated dinner.

Now that we've eaten, let's have some wine!

President Gerry Riemer welcomes everyone.

KC Jones from Brewers Connoisseurs on State Street in Boise, shows everyone how a small fruit press works and then we all tried the fresh Merlot juice.

Ray Oelrich from the Riverwoods group, explains how a port - fortified wine - is produced and the difference between a Port and Sherry. It's a matter of sweetness and alcohol.

Here are some of the tools used in wine production of a home winemaking level.

There were 30+ folks who attended the event and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the information that was given. Many, many thanks to all of the presenters.

And here are some photos of the Riverwoods group production. There are several households that go together to make the wine. They all share in the cost, the time needed to produce the wine and then, the end product.

Sampling the wine as it ferments directly from the barrel.

Clearing the sediment from the top of a sampling jar.

Robin and Lee Buddecke evaluate and discuss the wines.

Robin tastes and evaluates the wines. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!

The wines need to be punched down to keep the grape skins in the juice.

An exciting program. Hope we do this again next year. Cheers!

Mont Gras Winery at the Buzz in Boise

2011-10-12T11:23:00.000-06:00

A wonderful evening at the Buzz exploring the wines of the Colchagua Valley of Chile and the Mont Gras Winery. Overall, a high scoring wine dinner and wines. There are not many times I give a wine a score of [20] out of [20], but the wine pictured to the left is one of those. A rich, deep purple cab and wonderful bouquet of spice, pepper and huge cherry. Long lasting without the "barbs" of some cabs. This was an awesome wine. Enjoy the photos and our dinner. Especially look at the Tommy's Meatloaf below and my comments.

Runza Pockets
(Originally an old German dish that was adopted by the settlers in the Mid-West, Nebraska. It is a meat and cabbage filled yeast roll.)

2007 Mont Gras Quatro
14.5% alc, [18], $18.00
A good wine that went very well with the cabbage of the Runza Pocket.

Ice Berg Salad
ice berg lettuce, cucumber, grape tomato, carrots, ranch dressing

2010 Mont Gras Reserva Sauvignon Blanc
13.5% alc, [15] [19], $14.00
Interesting thing about this wine. Look at the double score! In my opinion, don't even think of drinking this without food, the [15] score. This wine went superbly with the Ranch Dressing of the salad and the raw onion, the [19] score. Just goes to show you: Drink wine with food!!!

Wild Rice Soup

2009 Mont Gras Reserva Carmenere
14.5% alc, [17], $14.00
Sorry but a carmenere is not one of my favorite wines. But still a good score.

Tommy's Meatloaf
Scalloped Potatoes
Green Beans
Herb Biscuit
(This meatloaf, Tommy's Meatloaf, is awesome. Joe Swan, Swan Vineyards, Forrestville, CA., once made the comment that you can not get a good meatloaf at any restaurant. I am sorry he did not get this one. Usually one compares the meatloaf that Mom made to one in a restaurant. Tommy's Meatloaf is very close and I suggested that they put it on the menu along with the Scalloped Potatoes. An awesome plate and it went extremely well with the wine!!!)

2009 Mont Gras Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
14.5% alc, [20], $14.00
This wine is superb! See the description above. Think about having it with a meatloaf, beef or lamb, or a Rib-Eye or standing rib roast. Wow!

Apple Pie Ala Mode

2009 Mont Gras Bicentennial 200
14.5% alc, [19], $18.00
Another superb job of pairing a wine with the food. Cristi has done an excellent job and we look forward to the next Wine Dinner at the Buzz! You should also! See you at the next Buzz Wine Club Dinner.

Home Winemaking 101

2011-10-11T15:14:00.001-06:00

On October 12, the Treasure Valley Wine Society (Boise) will hold a Wine Making 101 tasting. This should be a lot of fun and very educational. Hope to see you there! There will be a Potato Bar to accompany the wine; A great "How To" handout and informational talk. "Homemade Wines" will be available for you to sample. Some good. Some .... More photos and information will be posted on this blog when available. The photo on the left is a small press that can be used at home to collect the juice.

Buzz Coffee and Wine Events

2011-10-10T15:59:00.000-06:00

It must be Fall because I just received this from Cristi and Tom at The Buzz. Hope to see everyone there. Robin and I will be there Tuesday night. It's the best buy in Boise!!! Cheers!

Buzz Coffee and Wine
October at Buzz
Our Wine Club for October

will be October 11 and 12 at 6:30 PM.

There are still seats available both nights just call or email for reservations. (208) 344-4321 or buzzwine@cableone.net. We will feature Americana food and the family of Mont Gras Winery. The cost for dinner and wine (Usually eight, 8, wines!!) is $15.00 per person.

Our new breakfast, coffee, and tea menus are in place with our new wine flights and appetizer menus due out by week's end. The musical talent for the 14th is Gayle Chapman, on the 21st we will feature Mountain Fever and on the 28th Tomorrow Never Knows will be our musical guest. Don't forget about holiday wines we are featuring one each week with our regular wine tasting on the weekends.

Hope everyone has a nice week and hope to visit soon.

Sincerely,
Cristi and Tom Takeda
Buzz Coffee and Wine