Wine, Women, and Song - Redux!

#14: Wine Bar.

Full disclosure: Last night was my second time at Wine Bar (Church just south of Front).  Still, it easily qualifies as a first, due to it being a unique experience this time around.

Piera and I were seated at the kitchen.  That's right, the remarkable design includes a bar framing the kitchen, so that while patrons sit, eat, and drink, they have the opportunity to watch and possibly even interact with the chefs (depending on how busy it gets!).

We quickly created an impromptu food and wine tasting menu, with the help of the sommelier and chefs.  While I assumed the wine would be excellent - which it was - the food was outstanding, both in terms of presentation and taste.  It was a treat for the senses.

We were soon joined by Mary, one of the owners of this gem.  Mary and I had met in screenwriting class years ago, and stayed in touch sporadically over the years.  It was fantastic to see her again and catch up after all this time, especially over delicious wine and delectable apps.  Here's a shot of Mary, Bryan (another one of the owners), Piera, and me - and a LOT of jars.

This is easily one of the very best wine venues the city has to offer.  I'm already looking forward to a return trip!

#15: Berber Lounge.

So many things stood out on the first trip to Berber Lounge (Front west of Church, just around the corner from Wine Bar).

The handmade Moroccan decor was beautiful, and helped us to feel instantly transported out of the city and into a foreign land.  The plush couches were inviting and comfortable.  The food didn't disappoint.

#16: Suzana Da Camara.

Still...the best part of the Berber evening was the live music.  Suzana Da Camara wasn't just a singer...she was an experience.  A theatrical combination of cabaret, jazz, blues, performed in English, French, and Portugese, she was one of those unforgettable musical pleasures that come along very rarely.

After the final set, we had a chance to briefly sit and chat with Suzana and Mike.  They were both extremely friendly and personable, and it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to get to know these artists a little better.

Here are Piera and Suzana, two incredibly lovely women - though I think the pic more than speaks for itself.

Although I rarely buy merch when catching new live music, we snapped up a couple of CDs immediately after the show.  I think my copy is already almost worn out. :)

Magical Mystery Tour!

#12: Eight Wine Bar.

The first time going to Eight Wine Bar started with a couple of pleasant surprises.

The first surprise was for Piera, that being the the location itself.  I had decided to make the evening a little more interesting by arranging drinks and dinner in advance, and revealing the details only as we arrived at our destinations.

The second surprise was that the wine bar had a wide selection of bottles available for tastings at a dollar per ounce.  It doesn't get a whole lot better than that!  Advantage: Us!

Eight Wine Bar is situated in the Cosmopolitan Hotel on Colborne St., near Yonge and King.  It's a great little place, with very friendly serving staff (not the snooty types you get in some wine bars).

The prosciutto-wrapped figs with bocconcini were just enough to tide us over until dinner...speaking of which...

#13: Gate 403.

When I started this blog, I anticipated that every now and then, I would try a first that would have me wanting seconds!  This is one of those firsts.

I had sketched out an evening of dinner and jazz, but took a bit of a chance with the venue.  I didn't have a whole lot to go on, and had no idea how things would turn out.

While the location was a surprise for Piera, the surprise for both of us was how much we enjoyed the place.  The food was excellent, and I had my customary pasta arrabiata (my dinner of choice, whenever it's my first time at a restaurant), and it was one of the best plates I've had anywhere in the city.  The jazz was top-notch as well, and well-situated so that you could hear it clearly and cleanly, but not find it overpowering.

Again, I was very happy with the serving staff.  In fact, I feel like I've been on a roll lately when it comes to waiters and waitresses.  It's been nothing but good reviews for the entire first month of this adventure.

Gate 403 is a real find, and I would highly recommend it.  I can't wait to go back.

Disclaimer: As cool as the wine bar and the dinner/jazz club were, the best part of these firsts was, to be sure, the company. :)

A Recurring Theme!

#11: Henri Perrot-Minot Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes 2000.

It's always a noteworthy experience when trying any wine for the very first time.

When that wine is French, old(er), shared with fellow oenophiles MJ and Angie, and paired with assorted cheeses...well, that's got to be one for the 'Firsts' list!

The wine was fantastic.  I'm still working on my tasting skills, but got a lot of red fruit (without being overpowering), some vanilla, and balanced tannins.

It was a strange day weather-wise...it had rained most of the day, and looked quite like spring had come a few weeks early.  Later that night, when I was leaving to head home, the winter wonderland had suddenly returned!  Either way, it was a perfect day to stay in, sit by the fire, spend time with friends, and drink and talk wine.