Is the new Pizza and Beer. Sometimes tasty surprises come at the most unexpected times, which is why they are called tasty surprises. I’m in the process of writing about yet another “one of those meals” I had the other day but I’m just running out of time, so instead I decided to write about my day today so far (Yeepee, how exciting! I know, right?)
At noon today I took a wine class with Corkbuzz in Union Square, examining the great reds of Piedmont and Tuscany. While I’m mostly already familiar with Tuscan wines overall, I still learned a great deal about them, such as the story behind bad boys “Super Tuscans”. But it was Piedmont I was mostly interested in, to prepare for my upcoming white truffle orgy trip in the fall. We tasted some fine Brunello (which made me dizzy just thinking about all the zigzagging Ziggy Andretti did on the way to Montalcino last summer which got some of us sick), Super Tuscan, Barbaresco, Barolo and more. All nice and dandy, until master Sommelier and owner of Corkbuzz, Laura Maniec poured a bonus bottle of 2000 Pianpolvere Soprano Barolo Bussia Riserva that made the other Barolo, and everything else seem light and uneventful. Dark, intensely aromatic (I can still smell it as I type) with big tannins, and a beautiful finish. Hints of plum, vanilla, and scallions (I wonder how long it was stuck between my teeth as I didnt have any today). Quite a lovely bottle, and the heaviest one I ever held. This was a very informative class overall and I’m looking forward for more from Laura, but its really just Italian wines I’m into
So I come out and right away I realize that my much anticipated pasta appointment across the street at All’onda is cancelled because they are not open for lunch on weekends. The Chutzpah! So what to do, where to eat. All that truffle talk with my neighbors at Corkbuzz got me in the mood for truffles so I was ready to settle for truffle oil with Pappardelle and sausage at nearby old fave Da Andrea. Oops, DA never open for lunch which I keep forgetting. Perhaps go to Gaia finally? Mighty Quinn’s for wings? Random filthy thoughts fill my mind. Oh what I’d do to that Motorino Pizza right now.
But then I remembered the recently opened Root and Bone and their infamous fried chicken, so off to Alphabet City I Citibike. Let me tell you folks about this crazy bird. Insanity in a basket. Sweet and zesty, dusted with dehydrated lemon powder which looks sort of weird at first. The bird is brined in sweet tea, onions and garlic for 24 hours before drying, and is simply marvelous. Cant get much better than this in NYC. Bike, dont run to Root and Bone folks
Eating With Ziggy 
Just had a great Italian dinner in my hometown, con la famiglia, with incredible Brunello. Envy your trip to Italy.