Summit, NJ. Sunday morning farm market

Wood burning oven pizza with Sarah, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, mini-quiche and Bureckas lady, local artisanal cheese stand, veggie stand, old hippie singing Beatles, Mutz (north jersey for mozzarella)

Wines gone bad

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Remember Country Joe and the Fish:

"Don't Bogart that joint, my friend."

Well I've been holding onto some white wines too long. I've been "Bogarting" some hard to find or get wines and now I'm paying the price. 

Last night we went to a BYOB restaurant and had to trash a L'Ecole Semillon 2008  that had turned and was undrinkable.

Tonight, even worse, I popped open a Lavender Ridge Roussanne, 2009. It's impossible to get to the East Coast and I've been sitting on 3 bottles.  The bottle wasn't totally undrinkable, but not what it should have been.  

My lesson for today: drink the good whites when they are young. Don't be a putz and think your white wines will mature in your basement or cellar.  (Unless they are supposed to).

By the way, if u have a friend in California who loves you, ship them this wine and have them send it to your home.  It's $28 and worth every penny.

Cafe Lava

Another new Russian restaurant on Bustleton Ave in Northeast Philly. Very nice food, lots of options, generous portions, BYOB.  Prices are very fair.

Grilled veggie salad, Greek salad, Tongue plate, schmaltz herring, Buffalo chicken skewers, zucchini pancakes with salmon caviar and sour cream, skewered lamb ribs, stewed rabbit with white sauce and absolutely awesome potatoes, chicken schnitzel, dinner check for four.

Cline Viognier, 2011, $8.99

When you're tired of Chardonnay, want something crisp and dry. This is a great everyday wine at $8.99 in PA state stores.

Spinach and Cheese Ravioli

Get home from work late. Pull out some spinach and cheese frozen ravioli .  These were Pasta Perfect from Costco.  Trader Joes marinara sauce and parmagiana cheese (take the 5 seconds to grate it.,

Hendricks gin, chilled, up with a cucumber slice. Delicious and very different.

Oyster Stew at Docks Oyster house in Atlantic City

May not look like much, but this was a delicious oyster stew.  Milk-based, thin, loaded with oyster flavor.  Second only to the Oyster Bar's in Grand Central Station.  Theirs seems to have a bunch of cream as well or more butter.  Both places use freshly shucked oysters and fabricate their stew "a la minute."