Tanji's Tanjents

The beginning

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:55:00 GMT

Where to begin—gratitude seems appropriate. It was a summer vacation with my husband two years ago that sparked our desire to pursue a career… a lifestyle… that wasn’t all about somebody’s else’s bottom line. We wanted to make a living doing something together that encompassed our interest in travel, wine and food.

Rosé Wines - All the Buzz

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:00:00 GMT

What comes to mind when you hear “rosé wine?” White zinfandel? Sweet wine? Well, then you’ve gotta get more adventurous! There are some really nice, dry rosé wines that aren’t white zinfandels, and they are perfect for our hot summer days. Plus, they pair nicely with a lot of different foods.

A Good Time to Get to Know Wine

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I think most wine experts would agree that it would be practically impossible to learn everything there is to know about wine. The more I learn the more I realize how much more there is to learn.

Mike and I have taken a variety of courses, read a number of books and still the pursuit to know more is in full throttle. One of the best instructors we’ve ever had just happens to live in San Antonio.

Your Favorite Restaurant

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:26:00 GMT

I get asked that question all the time! That’s a tough one to answer. I don’t have a single favorite restaurant. It goes without saying that all the restaurants featured on my site fall into that category—I asked Morton’s, Paloma Blanca’s and Luciano’s to be on the website here because I am a big fan of their restaurants.

Wonderful New Italian Restaurant

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:50:00 GMT

Okay…you can believe all the good things you hear about Jason Dady’s new Tuscan restaurant “Tre Trattoria”! We had dinner there this weekend with three other couples and had a wonderful meal. It’s different, and that’s a good thing! The food comes out family-style, so everyone gets to try a variety of dishes. We started with the marinated octopus salad with shaved fennel and a grilled radiccio salad…both delightful. Then the pasta course,linguini with chantrelles and a spicy Spaghetti All’Amatriciana. Our entres were a perfectly grilled trout and a grilled swordfish with capers…all delicious. For a wine to go with, we chose the super Tuscan called Crognolo Toscana Tenuta Sette Ponti and liked it so much we ordered a second bottle. For dessert try the Huckleberry Milkshake. It’s scrumptous and a treat to get real huckleberries in San Antonio. Tre Trattoria is located at 4003 Broadway near the Witte museum.

Coco Rocks!

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:56:00 GMT

Fun, feminine and fantastically French—I love Coco’s! What a nice new addition to our restaurant scene—fresh, innovative and fabulous! Creator and owner Philippe Place has a winner. The décor has a Moulin-Rouge appeal…lots of crystal chandeliers, plush red velvet (tasty not tacky) plenty of warm, welcoming wood tones. And then there’s the food AND the chocolate martinis. We’ve been several times and have never been disappointed. Our favorites so far – the chocolate risotto, the escargots (best I’ve had in S.A.), the rack of lamb served on creamy polenta, the Ahi Tuna Au Poivre and the salmon that’s served with an amazing red beet risotto.

But save room for dessert . The white chocolate cheesecake is laced with caramel and then topped with a passion fruit and cayenne pepper sauce—delicious. It is incredibly light yet still sinfully good. If you love chocolate (how can you not) try the Chocolate Passport Port—one whiff of the wine and you’ll be overwhelmed with its cocoa aroma—it’s dessert in a glass.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about their chocolate martinis. They have plenty to choose from, and you’ll want to try them all…probably not at the same time. Be sure and sample the chocolate macaroon…creamy chocolate laced with grated coconut.

The menu has plenty of choices and is well priced. Philippe knows his wines, so ask him for a suggestion when you go there. Besides, his charming French accent will convince you that you’re really sitting in a French bistro along the Seine…if only!

This is a great place to meet friends for drinks or spend hours over a delightful dinner. Enjoy!

Explore Hill Country With New Book

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:28:00 GMT

I recently received an advance copy of “The Texas Hill Country” A Food and Wine Lover’s Paradise and have already put it to good use. The attractive cover (a beautiful, lush grapevine) and easy to follow format got my attention. Before I knew it, I’d committed a good 15 minutes to exploring the recipes and enjoying the brief descriptions of the colorful Hill Country destinations. Being a native Texan I recognized a lot of the featured places, but there were also some nice surprises. The description of The Cypress Grille in Boerne was so enticing I called my parents and suggested it as a meeting place for brunch on Sunday to celebrate my dad’s birthday. WOW…it was fantastic! I look forward to going back for dinner and exploring their wine list.

The Cypress Grill is just one of the many ‘gems’ featured in “The Texas Hill Country”. Aren’t we lucky to live here! The fun book goes on sale October 8. Contact your favorite book seller for more info. Enjoy!

Napa at Crush

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:40:00 GMT

Richard Tiedemann checking grape sugar content at Flora Springs winery.

It’s busy, incredibly crowded but a lot of fun. Anxiety, excitement and a wonderful rich grape aroma fill the air as wine makers all over the valley begin the mammoth task of harvesting their grapes. What a fun time to be in wine country! When you go, you’ll see that it’s a scientific process that’s also part experience and gut intuition when it comes to deciding the perfect day to cut the fruit from the vine. We took a tour at Flora Springs winery into the vineyard to check out the plump little grapes and got a quick lesson on how vintners decide the grapes are ready. Check out the picture here of Richard Tiedemann, with Flora Springs, reading the amount of sugar inside one of the grapes. He squeezed the grape juice onto an ocular device that measured the sugar level. When that level gets to the desired amount (all winemakers have their own preferences), it’s time to get the fruit off of the vine…something that’s often done before sunrise. Then the wine making process begins and months and months of monitoring, measuring and adjusting the juice to get everything just right.

Tanji, Christy, Greg, Jennifer, Brenda, Louis and Hope at Quintessa Release Party in Napa.

It’s a beautiful time to be in Napa when the grapes are fully ripe hanging from the vines. The weather is spectacular, restaurants are bustling and talk everywhere is about the harvest and what to expect from the grapes. There’s a frenetic energy in the air. Because of the climate differences, soil changes, unpredicted pests, all kinds of things, every vintage is different, so each year’s finished product is always the big unknown. Some of the wine makers we talked to were not only anxious about the harvest but also wine affionado Robert Parker’s visit to their wineries next month. A good review from Parker is money in the bank!

Vela...A New Wine Bar

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:22:00 GMT

There’s a new wine bar in town, and it’s located next to a very popular restaurant—Paloma Blanca’s. “Vela” is the new kid on the block. I got a sneak peak this week, and you’ll want to check it out. It’s contemporary, cozy and has a nice selection of wines and a wonderful cheese plate. Also, if you’re in an adventurous mood, check out their sparkling wine in a can that comes with a straw! It’s a glass-size serving in a pop-top can. If you like your sparkling on the sweet side, you’ll enjoy it. If you’re REALLY in a celebratory mode, Cristal is on the menu! Vela is set to open this weekend. Their phone number is 210-822-7120.

New Restaurant to Try

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:29:00 GMT

Another new restaurant in the Stone Oak area for you to try called Tresca’s. It’s located in The Plaza at Concord Park on Sonterra Blvd. I’m a huge fan of it’s owner – Dan Ward from Piatti’s and Luca. Dan’s warm management style not only attracts top staff but also loyal customers. I recently met a friend there for a glass of wine. The decor is stylish, contemporary and inviting. The bar area is nice and roomy complete with a flat screen TV. If you enjoy exploring and tasting different wines, you’ll love the way Dan did the wine list. You can try a ‘splash’, a glass or a carafe. The food is similar in style to Piatti and Luca, contemporary Italian. We didn’t have dinner but Dan insisted we try one of the pizzas…an interesting addition to this one – eggs on top. It may sound strange but it was VERY good! I look forward to going back for dinner.