Well, it’s official folks. After 30 years on the Great White Way, my sister-in-law, Charlotte d’Amboise, is officially a Broadway legend. She’s got her illustrated mug on the walls of the legendary Sardi’s– that bastion of Broadway glory. If you ask me, it’s a little late in the coming, she’s only been nominated for a Tony twice over and starred in over 10 shows but I digress… I’m thrilled that her lovely and sparkly face is now hanging on those legendary walls alongside the likes of Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon, just where she belongs.

If you’ve never been to Sardi’s, it’s worth a trip. Saddle up to the bar on 44th St. right smack in the heart of Broadway’s best theaters and order up a classic NYC cocktail. They serve lots of Rusty Nails, Cuba Libres and Manhattans here, the usual suspects in the tried and true midtown drink lineup, but my favorite at Sardi’s is The Sidecar. It just feels right. Pre-show at Sardi’s with a Sidecar- yeah, it’s good stuff.

Vincent Sardi wrote the Sardi’s Bar Guide back in ’88- it’s chock full of “drinks of the rich and famous” and reads a little bit like you’re sipping champagne and sharing caviar dreams with Robin Leach. Old. School. This is the stuff of dreams baby- I can’t get enough. The whole place is oozing with Broadway lore. You can hear the industry chatter pouring out of the walls from decades past and admire the smiles and smirks of the stars that have adorned the walls at this institution since 1927 . If you’re a fan of the old guard and the theater, Sardi’s is a spot to put on your list to be sure. Pop in for a cocktail and a whole lot of ambience- it’s kind of perfect.

As a toast to my sis-in-law, here’s a very classic Sidecar cocktail recipe- you can never go wrong with this drink.

Cheers Char!

*My hard and fast rule is that you MUST use brandy and never vodka in your Sidecar. This classic drink’s rep was tarnished for years with the onslaught of the 90’s vodka cocktail craze. It’s brandy all the way or it just doesn’t work at all.

Photos: Ariana Debose, AMC TV

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Step up your Springtime Strappies.

A great little update for a few bucks.

Cute right?

H&M Modernist Strappy Sandal, $33

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I love a ritual. I sometimes feel like converting to Catholicism or Judaism just so that I can take part in all of those ceremonial rituals. But let’s sink to a less lofty practice- the one that involves coffee and chocolate.

Yes folks, every early afternoon just after I put the bebes down for a little nap, I can’t wait to rush to my coffee pot and brew myself a dark-roasted pot of joe (Swing’s Coffee Roasters– my local brew of choice). I break up a few squares of sea salted dark chocolate (I buy this stuff by the case from Amazon- seriously) and plop myself down on my bed for some proper R&R. It doesn’t last long because as we all know there are too few hours in the day if you actually want to attempt to be even a slightly productive person, but those few moments enjoying that chocolate and the cup of coffee are one of my favorite things these days. I feel like one of those 70s housewives in the Calgon commercials, except I don’t want to be taken away, I just want a little time out.

Indugence? Sure. Post-worthy? I don’t know. I think so. I think it’s important to remember to take a tiny bit of time for ourselves when our days always seem so full. Coffee and chocolate=contemplation, for me. And then… it’s over, time to snap back into my double time reality where things whizz by so fast, I hardly remember what happened in a given day. This little ritual helps slow things down (even though it does involve caffeine), and slowness is a rare commodity.

What about you? Any daily rituals that you look forward to?

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Lately I’ve been talking to some fellow winos about identifying wines by grape vs. terroir. For all my fellow winos out there, I know I’m preaching to the choir but indulge me.

I’m a big proponent of focusing on the terroir that grapes hail from as opposed to the actual grapes themselves. Why? Because the characteristics of one said grape can change drastically depending on where they’re planted, how they’re grown, on what types of vines, in what type of soil, on what type of incline (or not), in what type of weather conditions (that can vary hugely from year to year), not to mention the human effect- once the winemaker gets his hands on the grapes, it’s all up for grabs. Some winemakers like to let the winemaking happen in the vineyards whereas others can’t wait to put their own stamp on their fruit. Neither is right or wrong (although I prefer the former method), they can just produce drastically different results. Case in point:  Compare an Australian Shiraz and a Northern Rhone Syrah- apples and oranges my friends, not even close.

So… it isn’t that useful to talk about grape characteristics after all, right? Ummm, with all that being said, it can be helpful to know a few basic identifying characteristics of grapes if you want to start sniffing things out and get to know your juice a little better. Personally, I find that getting a little better acquainted with my grapes in their typical states can be pretty useful.

Take it all with a grain of salt, but I’ve rehashed a former Champers Cheat Sheet of mine to put out there in the world. Taking aside the multitude of factors that can alter any of these characteristics, not to mention the subjective piece being that your nose may sniff out some Pineapple Lifesavers while mine sniffs out Swedish Fish, I think it can be helpful on a very basic level.

For Sparkling or Champers, the grapes usually used are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier but that’s for the traditional stuff. There are a multitude of terrific Sparkling wines out there made from all types of grapes- anything from Gamay to Xarel-lo to Shiraz- the possibilities are endless. Whew- and… exhale. It’s all a little overwhelming, isn’t it? It can be hard to get a grip on grapes when you’re first really getting into wine, so let’s get back to the basics.

Here a few yummy things to look for in your glass of bubbly:

Bacon? Mushrooms?, you ask. Why yes, Pinot Noir is famous for producing a very earthy mushroom-y note, especially when harvested in Burgundy- its home turf. Bacon? Sure. Sparkling wine can be incredibly complex, there’s no end to what can be found in that delicate little glass of bubbly. The bread and toasty notes are a result of the lees (the yeast that lie on the bottom of the bottles during fermentation). It’s all very colorful isn’t it?

I hope you found this helpful, I’d love to hear your thoughts. What are some of your favorite sparkly notes?

For me, a great bottle of bubbly is one of the greatest creations on the planet but I think Dom Perignon said it best- “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars.” True that, Dom.

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Happy Weekend dear readers. I hope you are all off to some fun adventures this March weekend. We are busy renovating and beginning the big move. It’s still absolutely freezing here and we Virginians (I can’t believe I’m actually calling myself that!) are over it as I know much of the country is. I’m taking my little man to the barber today for his very first official haircut. Milestone alert- this will be one for the baby book (if I had one, I WILL get to that someday).

If you’ve not had the chance to vote for moi in Saveur’s Best Food Blog Awards, ante up- of course, if you are so inclined. I would feel so honored to be be nominated amongst the talent of the blogosphere for Best Wine Blog.
Nominate Volatizing here. Grazie Mille and Thank You!!!!

What I’m Drinking:

I’m dreaming of Spring and warmer weather so I’ll be busting out one of my favorite rosés. Even though I drink this stuff year round, it still signals warm weather for me. From the house of Mas de Daumas Gassac, it’s their Moulin de Gassac Guilhem ’13 Rosé – it’s French, it’s organic, it’s $10, it never disappoints, and it’s made by a wise man (seriously- if you haven’t seen Mondo Vino and you are a fan of naturally made wines, check it out. Aimé Guibert of Gassac is truly a philosopher when it comes to making wine). Perfect with seared salmon, Domaine LA (one of my favorite wine stores in LA) sells this pink beauty so if you live in La La Land, you’re in luck. It’s widely available too so you can pretty effortlessly procure yourself a bottle. Pop that top and dream of balmier weather along the Southern French coastline. Ahhh… That’s better.
Moulin de Gassac Guilhem ’13 Rosé, $10

A Few Things:

This asterisk print is so fun. This would be fun to recreate- filed away for that rainy day when I break out the easel.

10 Rarely Seen Images of Jackie O. What a rockin’ grandmother. That hat is killing me.

The greatest little side dish courtesy of Anna Watson Carl at The Yellow Table. Her cookbook is cooking along, this is my latest favorite recipe.
P.S.: The Yellow Table is one of the best food blogs around. If you don’t read it, you should and if you agree, nominate The Yellow Table for the 2014 Saveur Best Food Blog Awards here.

Fennel Orange Cocktail anyone? Sounds like Springtime to me.

A Few More Things:

This made me happy.

So did this.

This made me sad. Come on- you can’t leave out Jonathan Winters and Dennis Farina- really people. Shame Shame.

Particle Fever– The Search for the Higgs Boson. You know, just some light movie material, like particle physics and the structure of the universe- no biggie. Our pal Matt Bennett was involved with the development of this doc (he also married us- fun fact). A worthwhile subject to be sure, I can’t wait to see it. The trailer looks mind-blowingly cool.

A DIY even I can handle- a spray paint-splattered cowhide rug. This is great.

The “Ugly Marble” trend. This stuff is so delicious, I just want to eat it.

The PBS American Masters tribute to Marvin Hamlisch is fabulous and worth a watch. Seeing him light up all of those great 70s variety shows and specials makes me so nostalgic for those days (not that I much remember them, but I’ve always felt akin to the 70s). I have so many Broadway friends who were fortunate to work with him, he was so loved. What a talent.

The Great Baby Escape. Ha ha.

And A Few Really Random Side Notes:

My friend Matt Miranda brought to light an interesting ponder this week:
Read this.
And then think this: “Skynet IS the virus. It’s the reason everything’s falling apart!” – John Connor
Things are getting a little too Terminator-esque, if I do say so myself.

And lastly, Lorde- you make me want to sit in the dark corner of a smoky bar with a well-made drink and act all moody. Thank you Lorde for sending me straight back to my early 20s. We all need a healthy dose of moody youth in our lives now and again.

Happy Weekend! Cin Cin and Enjoy!

Haricots Verts photo: Signe Birck, Moulin Gassac photo: Domaine LA

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Not exactly thrifty if you’re going to deck out a ton of cabinetry, but definitely thrift-worthy for a quick dresser zhush, or something of the sort.

If you’re super DIY-oriented, you could probably figure out how to make these little beauties for even cheaper but who has the time. At $14, I love these.

Anthropologie Antler Melody Knobs, $14

P.S.: These are pretty great too for a simple skinny brass pull at $6.

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Here it is folks, my top 5 picks to clink your glasses of vino in Old Town Alexandria. This was a toughie as there are a slew of terrific bars in Old Town, but these 5 are the tops for this vinophile. Tried and true, each spot in this quintet boasts a homegrown feel, a bar you’ll really want to sit at, and most importantly- great juice.

Grape + Bean
The most perfect little family-run local wine shop/wine bar/restaurant/coffee bar, this is the place I want to open one day. I’ve always dreamed of opening a cozy little spot that served up la dolce vita. These guys are big proponents of honest made, natural and terroir-driven wines- my kind of peeps and my kind of bar. I’m a big fan of their classes and winemaker evenings as well. There’s nothing like drinking wine with the guy or gal who made it. The Old Town location fills up quickly, so go early to grab a spot at the tiny bar or an outside table if the weather’s nice. Situated on the magical Royal Street- my favorite street in town- it’s next door to the locally owned cupcake shop, Lavender Moon, across the street from the greatest little creperie, Fontaine, and down the street from a very cool industrial design shop, Carbon. You can’t go wrong on this block. Pop in for a glass of really good vino and a strong cup of coffee. Does it get better?
Grape + Bean  118 S. Royal St.  703-664-0214

Restaurant Eve
Yep. Eve. Not Society Fair, The Majestic or PX– though I would be sorely remiss not to mention these 3 bars/restaurants that complete Chef Cathal Armstrong’s Alexandria dynasty- they are all fabulous, each with its own kind of perfect bar and innovative wine list (they would be my 6th, 7th and 8th pick), but the little bar in the front room of Restaurant Eve is tops for me and my vino. Thanks to master mixologist Todd Thrasher, Eve boasts a great cocktail list too but I’ve never gone wrong with a glass of wine here. The Restaurant is most famous for hosting Presidents, politicos and Washington’s finest in its terrific tasting room, an experience not to be missed, but the bar feels like a little secret, an in-the-know local spot. It’s just a good old-fashioned bar, the kind of room that you want to hang out in and catch up with good friends or spend some quality time solo.
Restaurant Eve  110 S. Pitt St.  703-706-0450

Hank’s Oyster Bar
The Alexandria offshoot of this locally owned seafood restaurant has recently added a gorgeous rowhouse-length marble-topped bar. The better to saddle up to and eat your dollar oysters on, my dears. Hank’s offers up a great wine list serving up salty Muscadets, luscious Italian rosés and zippy sparkling wines- all perfectly paired with those bicoastal bivalves. This is one of my favorite spots in Old Town in general. I’m a “regular” there, it feels a little like Cheers and who doesn’t want that in a bar? Don’t miss the fried oysters with that Muscadet and make sure to show up early. No longer a secret (it never really was but used to be much easier to get into), that long marble top is lately summoning the masses. Even with its recent addition and subsequent boom, Hank’s still feels small and quaint. You’ll count yourself lucky to nab a barstool here.
Happy Hour Dollar Oysters Monday-Thursday from 5-7pm and Fridays from 3-7pm
Hank’s Oyster Bar  1026 King St.  703-739-4265

Brabo Tasting Room
Sitting on the opposite end of King Street, Brabo Tasting Room is the dressed-down little sister to its adjacent and swanky big sis, Brabo Restaurant. I’m more comfortable in the tasting room where they don’t take reservations and I can get a great wood-fired tart with my 3 and 5-ounce pours. A taste or a glass offering of any wine makes it easy for the indecisive, taste a few- that’s the point here, I think. There’s plenty of good juice to go around and any joint that lists a good Loire Valley Savennieres is aces on my list.
Brabo Tasting Room  1600 King Street  703-894-3440

Bilbo Baggins
Ok, so it’s not on this list for the vino, but a glass full of delicious microbrew beer is a worthy clink afterall. Baggins offers up over 150 microbrew vintages with over 32 by bottle and 10 on tap. Mostly, this is a great local joint just off of King Street where you can grab a good glass of suds with some pals. It’s not fancy but it sure is fun and it’s named after a Hobbit. Need I say more?
Bilbo Baggins Global Restaurant  208 King Street  703-683-0300

Images: Hank’s- Andrew Collins, Brabo- Urban Spoon, Baggins- Matthew Culbertson

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I recently went to a tasting of Tuscan whites and was blown away by this zippy and finessed contender- the ’11 Sono Montenidoli Tradizionale Vernaccia di San Gimingano. I am not exaggerating in the least when I tell you that this is one of the best darn Vernaccias I have ever had the pleasure of sipping. What’s more, the Montenidoli Tradizionale is just a great go-to all around white.

This little beauty will drink spectacularly with all types of lean meats and fish and even that hard to pair asparagus. It’s got a nice dose of bitterness on the finish that elevates this wine to another level (making it a nice match to that grilled asparagus). Its generous acidity and minerality make it cry out for food. “Food!” But make no mistake, this is not a needy wine, it sips well solo too boasting some lovely citrus and even a bit of mint.

Three Cheers for Sono Montenidoli’s Tradizionale Vernaccia.

Cin to the Cin and a Chinny-Chin Cin!

Here’s What I Got:

Here’s Where You Get It:

Sono Montenidoli Tradizionale ’11 Vernaccia di San Gimignano, $16

Cin Cin and Enjoy!

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