Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1994, Napa Valley, CA
Cost: $60/bottle
A beautiful evolution of this 16 year cabernet sauvignon from one of Napa Valley’s oldest wineries. During Prohibition, the Beringer family was permitted to continue making alcohol for medicinal purposes, therefore saving many of its vineyards. I had one bottle of this wonderful cabernet in my cellar and just felt it was the right time to open it; indeed it was. Aromatics are off the charts, with lovely mature and complex notes showcasing black cassis, blackberry pie, graham cracker, polished leather and espresso, with complex background scents of lead pencil shavings. In the glass, it’s medium-bodied and lean given its age, but still has a good concentration of fruit. The supple tannins, low acidity, and alcohol are unobtrusive, allowing the cabernet grape to sing gracefully across the palate. A beautiful and elegant wine that can be enjoyed on its own, but it’s best shared over dinner with friends and family.
Rating: 95
WTF?!
This just in via Facebook® from Salman Rushdie: "Facebook deactivated my account because they thought I wasn’t me. Now they insist I call myself by the first name I have never used. What a bunch of morons…
As I don’t and will never recognize myself as ‘Ahmed Rushdie’ I will be reducing FB activities to just about zero and cutting back my list of friends to actual friends or at least acquaintances, just to keep in touch. I’m done." – Ahmed Rushdie née Salman Rushdie
Now, part of me is really pretty scared that Salman Rushdie will un-friend me for publicizing his sorta private Facebook® status update (even though obviously, I’ve done it before), but the other part of me can’t help but think this whole thing is seriously ridiculous— but I think if I had asked him first, he likely wouldn’t have allowed me to make a fuss about it or anything. It’s kinda like that time awhile back I saw the cocktail waitress at Marquee shoo Maxwell and his friends away from a table in an entirely empty room, because he didn’t want to buy a whole bottle. Maxwell decided to leave rather than assert himself, he said he didn’t “want to read about it” on like Page Six or whatever the next day.
But I mean, rilly? Salman effin Rushdie can’t just call Mark Zuckerberg to straighten this mess out, but Julia fucking Allison can use her connection to his sister to be the only person ever allowed to convert her friends to "fans" without their knowledge/permission?
(Sigh, this is just another reason why Facebook® kinda sucks, even though I do actually like it for a bunch of other reasons.)
And, it isn’t exactly a secret that Salman Rushdie is diggin on the Twitter® now. Not so long ago he asked his Facebook® friends to join him on Twitter® should they be so inclined, and then a bit afterward remarked how not many at all had done so. Myself included; sorry, I just don’t twit, it’s not my thing.
Now Salman Rushdie is threatening to leave Facebook® altogether. Whaaat? No more poems, no more limericks, no more jokes, no more updates about his new projects and awesome travels and lovely family and whanot? NOOOOoooooo!
Oh dear Zuck, if you can hear me— please don’t screw up whatever reverence your minions have mustered for you, mostly due to a probably fictitious but totally awesome couple lines in The Social Network.
Please please pleeease fix this. And then all will be right with the universe, please lord, thank you, amen.
(Also, I don’t want to have to contend with this when I’m finally famous. I aint calling myself "Mary" for nobody, fuck that.)
UPDATE (2 hours later): Oh. Well, that was quick. Evidently it’s fixed, and Salman Rushdie is “Salman Rushdie” again. Apparently he didn’t mind asserting himself after all; he started talking smack about Facebook® on Twitter®, eheee.
Well, he’s happy so that’s good.
* * * * *
Have you heard?
Until the release of PX Me – The Sequel to PX This (Spring 2012), this website will henceforth be updated only intermittently (approximately once or twice a week).
Abbe Diaz’s new (daily) blog is now at: abbediaz.com
PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of luck[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
Oh man, that light. Try this trick:
Stare at the light for fifteen seconds. Now squeeze your eyes shut and turn your head away from the light for five seconds. Now open them quickly. Did you see Jesus?
[Ha ha ha ahaa, I didn't write that, I stole it from *rollerfink*]
No but seriously though, I think I got a suntan sitting at that bar.
Please rate the Bar:
Don’t go into the light, Carrie Anne! Sorry, couldn’t resist.
And the bartender is quite the serious young man. He’s very proficient, though.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
The cocktails are very good, nice ingredients. But kinda expensive. The wine list is excellent, especially for an Asian restaurant, but again, don’t exactly expect to find any bargains here.
Please rate the Dining Room:
It’s simple, could be warmer. But it’s pretty plush. Looks kinda Californian actually.
Please rate the BOH:
Exceptional. If you’re a foodie, this is the place for you all right.
How was the staff?
Good. Maybe a wee tense. But that could just be the general aura.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Everything on the menu, I am not even kidding : The menu essentially consists of a three-course tasting and a five-course tasting. There were four of us, we opted for the fiver, there were four choices for each course offered… yada yada, we ate the whole menu. And it was very good, if you’re into that sort of thing. Personally I’m not, but I totally get the appeal. It was all very fancy and creative and artistic. I liked the amuse bouche and the "rice’" course best, I’m just sayin.
What did you like?
It’s always nice to try something new and different. I even gave the superloo a whirl. And ehee heee now I want one.
(Oh, and that Chambolle Musigny was pretty wonderful.)
What did you dislike?
Uh, alls I’m a say is "hire a decorator to come in here quick, cuz… damn."
What was your last impression?
Aww, the other superloo isn’t working right. Boo.
Would you come back?
Well, I’m not sure I would, but my very discerning pals are already planning their return with other friends of theirs. So, it’s not for all of the people all of the time. Like that.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you, it was a pleasure.
[P.S. The impending iPad menus in the dining room to match the currently single one at the bar? Please don't.]
* * * * *
Have you heard?
Until the release of PX Me – The Sequel to PX This (Spring 2012), this website will henceforth be updated only intermittently (approximately once or twice a week).
Abbe Diaz’s new (daily) blog is now at: abbediaz.com
The latest blabber within the industry has insiders recalling that a former employee who worked at Milk Street Cafe (the deli and catering shop who claimed their "booming" business was devastated by Occupy Wall St) since its inception, and who left prior to the protesters setting up camp, had noted upon resignation back in September the eatery likely "wouldn’t last past Christmas." At the time, the dispirited staffer had complained of disorganization and inefficiency, referring particularly to its persistent lack of a Catering Manager and Catering Chef despite the enterprise having commenced operations months earlier in June, which subsequently hobbled its ability to procure new accounts.
It’s also worth noting that a similar "booming" deli/catering business which thrived in the very same location as Milk Street Cafe, continued to operate a full seven years past the undeniably disastrous September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001— which, needless to say, annihilated far many more businesses in the area than Occupy Wall Street.
PX This would like to take the opportunity to express our empathy and sympathy for our fellow laborers and businesspeople whose endeavors are impeded by the audacious efforts of those who actively protest against the grave injustices of our government and the calamitous corruption of our financial systems in hope of recognition, acknowledgement, and change.
But to those who would seek to lay blame on others for their own irresponsibility or negligence, we (as always) declare:
NIZZLES, PLEASE.
"Milk" this.
** See our UPDATE on Milk Street Cafe **
= "personne extraordinaire"