WS Annual Recap;Charleston

Maui

Forgot to mention that Costco has Kauai shrimp - shrimp with their heads on that are farm raised in Kauai. They were cheap, $10, per pound,  fresh not frozen and absolutely delicious.Not sure if they are available on the mainland.

Wine Spectator annual recap

They tasted 15,711 wines with an average price of $81 (wow); 44% scored 90 or above and 93% 85 or above.
Talk about grade inflation! I guess there are no bad wines. But I think it is the price that troubles me. Averages prices can be deceiving as there are many very expensive wines but still $81!! The average California Cabernet Sauvignon  was $145 and only 46% of these wine rated 90 or better. Be careful what you buy. On the other hand, wines from Piedmont   averaged $87 and 67% of the wines rated 90 or above.
Once again the most reliable region for quality is Champagne where 85% of the wines were rated 90 or above at an average price of $96.
California Syrahs are good values as 60% rated 90 or above and the average price was $58. I have really been enjoying  Syrahs from Washington and California. Try Denner, Betz, Tablas Creek, Daou, Municipal Wines, etc. 
Germany had the highest scoring wines of any country 67% scored 90 or above although France was very a respectable 57%.

Food

Roasted veal loin double chops and they were spectacular. Cook to a 140 degree internal temperature in a 350 degree convection oven.

Perfected an apple tart.

Also made my passion fruit hot souffle. You will need to use your imagination (remember that concept?)

Charleston

I visited Charleston and the food scene redeemed itself as I had never had truly great food there. Ate in The Macintosh http://themacintoshcharleston.com/, we had a whole 3..5 pound bass and a whole duck done 3 ways. Yummy. Passion fruit tart for dessert. My favorite.

 

   Fig (Food is Good) http://eatatfig.com/ 

The food was very good and refined. The chef knows how to cook.

 Had a salad of TIARA CABBAGE leek, black trumpet, farm egg, buttermilk, seeds

 then GRILLED GREY TRIGGERFISH carolina gold rice, radish, sweet onion, sprouts…

 also Nantucket bay scallops

 Finally WARM APPLES & FRANGIPANE honey cinnamon cream

 167 Raw http://167raw.com/charleston/ This a small 18 seat counter restaurant that is very trendy. You wait outside on the sidewalk and have a drink if you want. Menu changes daily.  It was good not great but the place has the right vibe. The scallop po boy looked awesome. They have some reasonable and interesting beer and wines.

This is a pastrami swordfish sandwich.



Charleston is a pretty city with many restored historical buildings.

 Fort Sumter

 Rainbow row.

Add to my collection of favorite signs.

Madeiras(Portugal) are the spirit of the month. Check them, out. Henriques & Henriques or Barbeito.

Enjoy.