Great Kid Friendly Restaurants in San Diego

Kid friendly restaurants in San Diego?  I can just hear restaurants screaming, “don’t put me on this list!”  Relax…kids are people too.  Well, half way there.  However, some parents are serious diners and are not willing to give up the luxury of dining because they have kids.

Maybe it’s a cultural thing.  I was brought up in a Mexican family and we did everything together.  I noticed that as I was growing up, my American friends all had baby sitters or nannies. I never did.  It was either my Abue (grandma) when my mom was at work.  Other than that my brother and sister tagged along. Read Full

The Wine-Phabet: N is for Nebbiolo

 In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

Nebbiolo is the champ of all middleweight grapes in Italy!  This is a bold statement and I bet the Brunello producers in Tuscany would disagree.  But put them against each other in a death match and there is no doubt that a Barolo would outlast, out muscle and be ready to take on another grape at the end of the blood bath.  A great analogy would be like putting Anderson Silva, the UFC middleweight title holder (Nebbiolo) and Michael Bisbing (Sangiovese) in the Octagon.  Sangiovese’s mouth would stop running when Nebbiolo’s technique and experience outclassed his opponent.

Nebbiolo’s home is Piedmont, one of the larger wine growing regions of Italy.  It is located in the Northwestern part of Italy.  If you were putting on the boot (map of Italy), Piedmont is located right around where you would tie the bow to your laces.  Nebbiolo’s most admired wines are those of Barolo and Barbaresco.  The greatest influence in this region are the wines of Burgundy.  They are made with, only one variety and made to last. Read Full

Now I know my Wine-Phabet: M is for Master Sommelier

 In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

Mythical, Magical and Masterly are the best adjectives that I can think to describe that über-human being, The Master Sommelier. The Master Sommelier is so rare that even Nessie, the Loch Ness monster has been sighted more times. They are elusive and can only be found in cellars deep in the dungeons of the colossal hotels of Las Vegas.  Funny to think that my hometown, San Diego, the back woods of the wine world is home to the 1st American Master Sommelier, Eddie Osterland.

Is a master sommelier a member of the free masons? Read Full

The Price of Wine: Quality or Status Symbol?

The price of wine is usually the deal breaker when purchasing wine.  Does the price of wine determine the quality of wine?  Are people drawn to higher priced wines or to lower priced wines?  Do people have a deeper motive when selecting a wine, other than the price of the wine?

At the restaurant, I catch people selecting their wines by looking at the right column, the price.  My next list should be written with the price highlighted on the left column.

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Now I Know My Wine-Phabet: L is for Loire Valley

 In this new series called “Now I know my Wine-phabet”, I will explore letter by letter wine and what I believe are some of the most important and/or influential aspects in the world of wine.  Since I am only choosing one topic per letter, many will be missed.  Hopefully these posts come across as being whimsical and informative.

There is one place in the world that has something for everyone, the Loire Valley.  The region is formed by the Loire river which runs from east to west.  All along the way it is lined with some of the grandest castles.  The river deposits that are left behind create each regions specific soil identity, however they share a limestone base.

Something for everyone I said.  If you are a wine connoisseur or a history buff, the Loire Valley has it all.  Let’s board our yacht and start our journey.  We will head up the river to its source, the mountains around Cévennes. Read Full