Order Modicum Wine from The French Laundryposted by snekse

Modicum Wine Label

Several months ago I wrote about some of the mystery around the amazing Modicum Cabernet Sauvignon served at The French Laundry as their house wine. Thanks to an anonymous commenter and Paul Roberts, the Corporate Wine and Beverage Director for The French Laundry, I have some more exciting news for everyone.

While you may still find it difficult, if not impossible, to get a reservation at The French Laundry , you can now at least drink their wine. Though only available in very limited quantities, they have decided to start offering Modicum, along with a new Bordeaux blend, for off-site sales. Pair this wine with some French Laundry recipes and you have the next best thing to actually getting a reservation.

September 15, 2007

We are pleased to announce the second release of wines under the Modicum label. This offering includes the 2003 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2005 St. Helena Red Wine. These bottlings are a collaborative project between Chef Thomas Keller and Master Sommelier, Paul Roberts.

The meaning of modicum is “a small amount of something unique.” To us, Modicum represents a small amount of the very best fruit that we can locate.. This fall Modicum has grown to two wines: a 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford and a 2005 Napa Valley Red from St. Helena.

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a dramatic site located in Rutherford. In this vineyard, sandy loam soils cover composted volcanic ash, and coupled with its locale above the valley floor compose a site that yields distinct fruit with remarkable ripeness and still the elusive element of finesse.

Our newest offering is the 2005 Napa Valley Red Wine from St. Helena. This wine is a blend of three vineyards in the St. Helena AVA, which are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The unique terroir of each site is apparent in the complexity of this blend. The backbone of the blend is from a rocky, high elevation parcel east of the city of St. Helena. Two vineyards in the western hills of the appellation complete the blend: one parcel is north of the St. Helena city limits planted in dusty red soil, the other is nestled against the base of Spring Mountain along an alluvial plain filled with decomposed river rocks.

As envisioned, the Modicum project is extremely small in production. Only 100 cases of the 2003 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and only 150 cases of the 2005 St. Helena Red Wine were produced.

Thank you for joining us in the excitement of our second public release! We look forward to hearing from you soon. If you have any questions, we welcome you to contact Paul Roberts by fax at 707.944.0447 or by email at proberts@modicum.net

With Warm Regards,

Thomas Keller     Paul Roberts, MS

MODICUM ORDER FORM

RELATED LINKS:
RESTAURANT REVIEW: The French Laundry, Yountville (by Alder @ Vinography)
PHOTOS: Dinner at The French Laundry
INTERVIEW: Thomas Keller
NOTES: Modicum on CellerTracker.com

Tags || CABERNET SAUVIGNON | WINE | MODICUM | THE FRENCH LAUNDRY | THOMAS KELLER | NAPA | more... | YOUNTVILLE | GFC | FOOD |

Mister C's - Omaha, NEposted by snekse

Mister Cs

As many already know, Mister C's Steakhouse is closing it's doors at the end of September. Since they're closing, it doesn't make sense for us to do a full review of the place, but at the same time, they should get recognition for what they have grown to become over their rich history.

To be honest, I had never been to Mister C's and really had no desire to go until I heard they were closing. It's kind of a shame really because they have a lot to offer. I'll come right out and say their food is not the greatest, but I'm not really sure that even matters. You come here for two things: the atmosphere and the steak. Both of which are Omaha classics.

Prime Rib at Mister Cs

The steak here actually took me a bit by surprise. There are endless debates by the people of Omaha about who has the best steaks in town. It never fails - you have visitors in town and the first thing they want to do is try one of those famous Omaha steaks. You take the time to explain to them that an "Omaha Steaks"^TM steak is not the same as an "Omaha" steak and there is no such thing as steak from Omaha. That's right all you Qwest Center visitors, there are no cows in Omaha. Sure Midwest cattle may get shipped here and turned into some of the best corn-fed beef you can find, but it's still not from Omaha. Now that they have that clear, you cite the merits of each of the big steakhouses such as Gorat's, The Drover, Omaha Prime, Johnny's Cafe, Anthony's, Cascio's (perhaps briefly morning the loss of Caniglia's) and of course Mr. C's. And if you're like me, there are very few of these names you mention with much enthusiasm, because you know the best steaks in Omaha are found right in your own back yard. If you're lucky, you may get through to them that your local specialty butcher has access to better quality meat than a restaurant that has to buy in bulk quantities. If not, you're off to one of the restaurants I listed above. As it turns out, that may not be so bad. I learned steak is the one thing Mister C's does really well and the reason their steaks taste so good is because they taste exactly like my steaks. I mean exactly. For that reason, I think one could argue that Mister C's has some of the best steaks in Omaha.

Piazza Di Maria at Mister Cs

Now the ambiance, that's something else entirely. It's hard to describe and do it justice. Pictures do a better job, but they still don't fully capture the magic. Sure the place is kitsch and corny, but who cares. It's fun, interesting and immediately puts you in a festive mood. There's also a touch of reverence owed to a place with so much history told within it's walls. Looking at the diorama full of famous Omaha figures, you'll know what I mean. And putting aside any preconceived notions, you'll find some of that Italian melodrama has a beauty all it's own, such as the Piazza Di Maria, the colorful garden space behind the restaurant which is frequently used for weddings and banquets. At night the lights and stained glass create a mosaic that has a bit of magic to it.

So if you've never been or haven't been since you were a kid, I highly urge you to go before they close. I'm sure you'll be hearing more about the 50+ year history of Mr. C's Steakhouse and the Caniglia family in the coming weeks. Give yourself some memories to add to those stories. Feel free to share your Mister C's stories in the comment section below. If you want to keep a piece of that history, a liquidation auction will be held October 6th & 10th.



Mister C's Steakhouse
30th & Fort

5319 N 30th St. (Map)
Omaha, NE 68111
Phone: (402) 451-1998

Hours of Operation
Lunch:
  Tuesday - Friday: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Dinner
  Tuesday - Saturday: 5:00 pm to close
  Sunday: noon to close
Closed on Mondays
Closed permanently September 30th, 2007.

P.S. - Please don't steal their menus.

Tags || MISTER C'S | STEAKHOUSE | OMAHA | RESTAURANTS | FOOD | NEBRASKA | more... | GFC |