Showing newest 19 of 57 posts from July 2009. Show older posts

Well, I think it’s safe to say people now know we serve food. I was supposed to get a break Saturday, but I was called back to the shop because we had a big lunch crowd and only one person in the kitchen. After two solid hours of filling orders, I was able to actually get out, and made my way to the beach for a quick dip to cool down.

But I’m not complaining.

Actually, it all started Thursday night, when our girl Liza, from Mutual, was pouring. The kitchen was hopping for the entire tasting, and for a couple hours afterward. Flatbreads, sandwiches and cheese plates were all over the place, and wine was pouring like, well, wine.

Friday, Dave and Jeremy returned to play, and we had a good crowd in for the night. Plus, the other Jeremy stopped by and dropped off a number of wines for us to taste. Even though he couldn’t hang out, making some excuse about family obligations (he even brought them along as props, to bolster his story), he did leave us a potload of wine to drink. Which, being the sports we are, we did.

Also Friday, the inventory growth started, as we began filling our new racks with some old favorites, including the Robert Craig. One of our original customer’s enthusiasm got the better of him, and he could not sit by and let Bob sit on the shelf, so he had to open one up. Then Joy, from One Tree Hill, came in for dinner, and he had to open up another to share with her.

And we had two cool customers, who came in all the way from Albuquerque, who made wine glasses for Joel and I with out caricatures on them (I will post them online, so check out http://www.treehousebistrocb.com/ if you want to see them). We have the best customers!

We get inventory, and then people drink it. How are we supposed to keep our shelves stocked?
Oh, well, guess I have to order more this week…

Saturday, as I mentioned, was crazy. When I got to the shop between 9:30 and 10 a.m., there were several people on the porch eating bagels and drinking Pinot Noir. I commented that Pinot Noir was not just for breakfast anymore, and headed inside for a brief stint before my “break.” By the time the day was over, we were convinced that this whole food thing might just work.

And then there was Sunday. At one point, Joel thought we might spend the evening largely by ourselves. But then we hosted a book signing from 5-7, and there was pretty much slightly controlled chaos from then until we closed at 9. I do not have to worry about gaining weight, as the kitchen is like working in a sauna for eight hours (or more).

Again, I’m not complaining, I’m just sayin.


Then Monday, which is normally a slow day, saw more of the same. We had a steady lunch crowd, and a group came in just before close and bought one of our big boys – the Oakville Ranch Cab – and ordered a cheese plate. They had been told the kitchen was closed, but when they asked me I noted that I was one of the owners, and could do whatever the hell I wanted…so I fixed them a killer cheese plate.

So here it is, late Tuesday, and I am trying to remember everything that happened this past week, and I know I am leaving stuff out. Probably good stuff. I mean, I could make something up…if only I had the energy.
Instead, I think I will go to sleep, finish this in the morning, and see if I have any notes that would give me something significant to add. If not, I may make something up.

OK, no, nothing else to add, and no time to make something up, or else this email won’t get out this week! Looks like I will be doing this week’s tasting, so it will be a surprise (to me, too, because I haven’t even thought about it until just this moment…but, you know me, I will come up with something).

Anyway, stop thinking about it, and just come on down to the Treehouse Bistro, and let 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass and fix you a plate.

Shawn

The official start of the French Revolution was the storming of The Bastille, a notorious prison where political exiles were housed while they awaited their fate at the hands of corrupt, inbred royalty. Although there weren’t actually that many prisoners housed there at the time of the takeover – and the guards only put up token resistance - it was still a very symbolic event.

Of course, not nearly as symbolic as Marie Antoinette’s severed head being held aloft to a cheering, blood-thirsty mob thanks to Madame Guillotine, but, still symbolic none-the-less.

Anyway, last Tuesday was Bastille Day, the French celebration of independence. I celebrated by driving to Raleigh to taste 14 wines from Chateauneuf du Pape, one of France’s premier growing regions. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. As I have said, I am a giver; it is what I do for our customers. The only unfortunate aspect was that the tasting was held at Raleigh’s famous Angus Barn, yet there was no food served. I heard that the Barn wanted $600 for a cheese plate, which prompted me to tell Joel we need to rethink our pricing structure!

Seriously, I was not going to drink 14 wines then drive back on an empty stomach, so I headed over to the Cheesecake Factory and had a lovely Cab and some avocado eggrolls (they have this killer tamarind sauce that I could drink out of the cup!). Then I went to Godiva and picked up a little chocolate…so it was definitely not a wasted trip.

Wednesday, Liza and two others from her company came by to taste us on some Spanish wines, and it was at that point that Liza realized she was supposed to do this week’s tasting.

OK, Plan B. Liza will do the next tasting. Fortunately, I had some good stock in that most people had not yet tried, so I was able to fill in. And, of course, I killed. Although, I was lucky, because I had some good wines to work with, but, hey, that’s why they call me a wine guy. Or, at least, why I call myself a wine guy, whether other people do or not…

Anyway, Liza will be this week.

Jeremy played Friday and Saturday night, and we had good food crowds all weekend, but especially Saturday. In fact, I went into the kitchen at 11am Saturday to make the Garcias something to eat, and did not emerge until almost 5pm. Also over the weekend, two of our great Raleigh regulars celebrated their 22nd Anniversary at our shop, so we presented them with cake and a glass of champagne, to thank them for their long dedication to The Grind.

Sunday was a good day, too, but I wasn’t here. I went downtown to pour wine at the Taste of Wilmington, and was out of wine two hours into the five-hour event. Oh, well, it was my first time there, though I was told that we had the best wines and I had the best pour. Alas, there was no people’s choice category for best pour, so I won exactly nothing. But, hey, we got our name out there to a couple hundred people, and all it cost me was a case and a half of wine.

Afterward, I rewarded myself with a stop at Circa, an interesting Syrah blend followed by a Cotes du Rhone, and, thanks to some people I overheard talking about dessert, I found myself ordering a pot du crème. And I was glad I did. Chocolate was what that first wine needed to soften its rough edges, and the French wine was a nice, balanced and smooth finish.

While I was out, our friend Joy Galeotti – of One Tree Hill and Everly fame – met with a director at our shop to discuss her new project, The Notebook – The Musical. You can learn more about it here http://www.thenotebookmusical.com/

And, here we are, ready to do it all over again. So, get your thirst on, bring your appetite, and come on down to the Treehouse Bistro and let the 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass and fix you a plate!

Shawn

Lunch, anyone? Well, apparently people have started to notice the food. One foursome on vacation came in for coffee, came back for lunch, and returned again for dinner. The Treehouse Trifecta! One of them said they were going to see if they could try everything on the menu during the 72 hours they were here at the beach.

So, I think they liked it.

We had good crowds all week, leading into the wine tasting Thursday, hosted by our girl Choice Spice. Kristin showed up early to taste on some more Willamette wines, from Chehalem and Torri Mor, both wineries we visited when we were in the valley. Then she began pouring wine for the tasters, and we sold out of everything she brought, and started selling off the shelves. There were also a fair number of plates coming out of the kitchen, as Susan and Ed did their magic.

After the tasting, Julie Gribble and her drummer made their way here from the Boardwalk to entertain our late crowd. She was awesome, and signed a CD for us, saying, “To the Treehouse, Seriously…I love you guys.”

Sigh.

Of course, we did feed her again.

On Friday, Jeremy visited us to once again taste us on a nice mix of wines. Shortly after he left, the health inspector came in to issue our first grade as the Treehouse Bistro, and we scored 100. Not bad. It was a little nerve-wracking, but I had already hidden all the…just kidding! No, it was nerve-wracking, but it went well, and ultimately turned out to be a learning experience. For me, I mean…she pretty much knew what she was doing.

Friday, a couple guys on vacation came in and played some music, and they were actually really good. A nice surprise, and we had a pretty decent crowd in to listen.

Saturday, young Jeremy (not the wine one, the other one) made his triumphant solo return, and he, too, got a good crowd in. Saturday, food sales actually beat wine and coffee, which was a pretty big deal for us.

Now that we feel pretty good about what is coming out of the kitchen, we are going to start introducing a few tapas specials coming up this week. The chefs are busy with their scratch pads, and, as always, the creative juices are flowing and there will be some pretty interesting stuff available for tasting. The excitement level is palpable, as I think they are anxious to get beyond just sandwiches and flatbreads (although those items will remain staples on the menu). Not that they haven’t done a tremendous job creating great food and awesome presentations, I just think they want to be challenged a little more…so get ready to be wowed!

We are also eagerly awaiting our new wine racks, which will transform our retail space into a more user-friendly shopping experience, plus enable us to institute a better inventory system so we quit running out of things…and that is good for all of us. We have the wine you want, and, well, we have the wine you want.

Our girl Liza will be doing this week’s tasting, and she never disappoints. In fact, several of her tasting wines made it onto our glass list, so we are always interested to see and taste (more importantly) what she will be pouring.

Music over the weekend, and, of course, the food. Oh, the food. And the wine. Yes, the wine. The food AND the wine. Or beer if you like. But the food. I’m just sayin.’

Anyway, there it is. Come on down to the Treehouse Bistro, and let the 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass and fix you a plate!

Shawn

OK, not a fifth, but definitely some wine. In fact, between all the vendors who came in Wednesday, we tasted about 21wines. Jeremy brought some good stuff in, and then Kristin took us back to Willamette, reintroducing us to Argyle and Elk Cove. We enjoyed them so much, I had to email two of the winemakers who we met in the valley.

Kristin also brought an amazing bottle of champagne along to celebrate the opening of our kitchen. We shared the bubbly before diving into seven other wines.

We had a good group in for Thursday’s tasting, and then Jeremy returned Friday with another line-up, and spent the better part of the day here. In fact, he was here so long he brought us a bottle of “apology cab” on Saturday. That is the sign of a really good day…

Friday night, The Elected Officials once again rocked the house, and we had a great crowd, some of whom stayed well after closing.

They say necessity is the mother of invention (although I don’t know who they are), and it has proven true in our kitchen. I ran out of pesto and did not have a food processor here, so I was forced to improvise, and ended up with a chunky and delicious version of this basil-based spread. So, we liked it so much, that is how we will make it from here on out, and we call it “Pesto Rustica.” Just for fun.

Also, a 6-year-old and a 5-year old each declared the flatbreads the best pizza in the world, and I figure they’ve been around, so I am taking their word for it.

Earlier in the week, we hosted a wedding reception, and I felt like I was in college again, bartending for the masses. On the bright side, many in the wedding party were bartenders, and bartenders are good tippers, so I took home more money Monday night than I have since we opened this place!

So, if you need a place for a private function…

Anyway, Susan and Ed have been putting out some really pretty plates of delicious food, and we will be ready to start growing our tapas menu soon, unleashing their creative talents on the world…bwahahahaha! Sorry, a little overexcited. We are also expanding our wine retail room, to provide a good, solid selection of wines to drink here, take home, or enjoy with one of our culinary specialties.

Speaking of culinary specialties, we have a new website, thanks to some good FOTGs (again, that’s Friends of the Grind, for those of you keeping track at home), and it is delicious. Over the next few weeks, it will become more dynamic, as we feature wines, our menu, and other items of interest to our customers (at least, we hope you are interested!). The site is http://www.treehousebistrocb.com/. Check it out; it is really cool, and far more impressive than something a hack like me could design.

OK, on to the immediate future. Kristin, our girl Choice Spice, will be hosting this week’s wine tasting. And following the tasting, national recording artist Julie Gribble will make an appearance from 9:30 to 11, so taste some wine, grab a bite and sit back for some killer sounds. Julie won the 2005 L.A. Music Award for Best Adult Alternative Artist, and was nominated for 2007 L.A. Music Award for Female Vocalist.

How, you ask, does our little shop attract such talent? Well, I asked that question myself, and then remembered that we fed her when she was here last time. Our food is that good, I’m just sayin.’

Sunday night, 2 the Ninez played, and we had a full house. We went through so much beer and wine, our shop looks like it did before we actually opened for business last May! The delivery people will be busy this week…

Anyway, we should be back to normal music schedules this week, with Jeremy and Dave both back in their usual rotation, so we are excited about that. They played together Saturday night, and Dave’s daughter, Aurie, took the stage and played a little piano. She and her brother, Simon, are both very talented, and they are both in elementary school!

Well, that is enough random information for one week, so quit reading, come on down to the Treehouse Bistro, and let the 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass.

Shawn

Come on in!

Holy moly! If you weren’t here last week, you definitely missed something. If you aren’t here this week, well, don’t blame me for what goes on at the Bistro!

I will get to last week in a minute, but first, I need to mention that this Sunday, July 5, 2 The Ninez return to The Grind (yes, I know, don’t get confused…it’s all the same place, we just call it a lot of different things!) to play their bluesy, soulful mix of awesome music. Anyone who has seen these two play will definitely want to come back and celebrate their independence from boredom with us. I believe they will play 7-9pm, so come have a bite to eat, drink some wine, and hear some amazing sounds.

Also next month, national recording artist Julie Gribble returns to The Grind to play her original songs for our customers. She played here last year, after a gig at The Boardwalk, and sounded fantastic. Same thing this year, she will play The Boardwalk, and then come to our shop for a 9:30-11 performance. So, it will be a post wine-tasting music extravaganza that you will not want to miss.

That’s right, all this is happening right here in CB, at 2 Wine Guys’ Treehouse Bistro at The Grind…or something like that. Anyway, you signed the book, so you know where we are.

OK, back to our regularly scheduled program.

Thursday, we had a great crowd at the wine tasting, and we rolled out food for the first time. The flatbreads and paninis went over well but the antipasti platters and cheese plates were the biggest hits with the wine-drinking crowd.

Earlier in the day, Steve, from Millennium Beverage came into the kitchen and demanded a sandwich. I tried to tell him we weren’t open yet, but he saw the prep table, he saw the food, and he refused to take no for an answer, so we made him a sandwich. And then Liza from Mutual came in, but she asked nicely, so we made her a sandwich, too. Well, once we started making sandwiches, other people wanted them too, so, we were open for business.

Friday, Dave returned to play, and we were happy to have him back. He played both piano and acoustic guitar, and when some customers came in late he plugged his guitar back in and played a few extra songs for the newcomers.

Saturday, The Elected Officials played and absolutely rocked the full house we had. People ate, drank, and were definitely merry. Lou admitted, somewhat begrudgingly, that they had actually rehearsed, and it showed. These guys get a little tighter every time they play. Although, I don’t know how many musicians we can actually fit in our place, but they looked like freakin Earth, Wind and Fire they had so many people up there playing. I lost count at one point, because the band wrapped around the corner, there were so many of them.

Jeremy, from Country Vintner, brought his lovely lady and their incredibly well-behaved little man (although he did barf on Shell) in for sandwiches, and other vendors threatened to come but never showed. Jeremy had come in the day before with seven different wines, which, as you know, we always appreciate.

Anyway, the kitchen is open every day now. The menu is limited, but the food is awesome! And I’m not just saying that because it’s us, I am saying it because it is absolutely the truth. And, if you don’t believe me? Well, come on down and taste for yourself. Come on, I dare you. Prove me wrong. Seriously.

I did cut the end of my finger off the first day, demonstrating that the new knives are very, very sharp. So sharp, in fact, it cut through my fingernail like it was butter. But, what the hell, I’ve got nine more, right? So, I got that out of the way the first day, and I had already cut myself on the slicer, so the only thing left is for me to burn myself, and then I will have completed the kitchen trifecta.

The only thing out of the gate that wasn’t perfect was my Finnerty’s Flatbread. It didn’t quite translate from the home oven to the commercial kitchen the way I had wanted, so I had to work on it for a couple days. But, after a few tweaks, I believe I nailed it, and am now proud to put those puppies out.

This Thursday, Lee, from Ocean South (formerly of Country Vintner), will be here to taste everyone on some wines. Don’t know what he is bringing yet, but, like Nancy Drew, I love a good mystery…especially when there is wine involved. He has never done a tasting here (well, not with the general public anyway), so it should be interesting.

So, there you have it. The Treehouse Bistro is now open, we are in the middle of the season, and it is high time for you to come on down and see the 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind and let us pour you a glass!

Shawn

Post Date: 06/28/2009

OK, in case you didn’t check out the blog online (that’s www.2wineguys atthegrind.com for those of you playing at home), we had a happy visit from the New Hanover County Health Department on Friday, who issued a permit for our kitchen…so we can now offer food to our wine-drinking customers. All right, you don’t have to be a wine-drinking customer to eat here, but, if you aren’t, wouldn’t this be a great time to start?

Anyway, we will come out of the gate relatively slow, and build our menu as we go. Our initial focus will be our antipasti platters, the already famous Finnerty’s Flatbreads, and Panini sandwiches. We have more ideas than you could fit in the space shuttle, so once we get comfortable in the new kitchen, there will be some amazing things showing up on tables at the Treehouse Bistro. In the meantime, have a glass of wine and relax, and watch our menu grow!

Thursday, Liza rocked, as always, as we sold out of almost every wine she showed. People stayed and drank off the shelf, and the Chamber of Commerce once again put on a great fireworks display just for us. This week’s tasting should be even better, as you will be able to order something to eat to go with your selection. Or, order a selection to go with something to eat. Either way, we can hook you up.

Friday, The Elected Officials once again shook The Grind, and a nice crowd showed up to imbibe in adult beverages and listen to a little rock and roll. Next week, the boys play on Saturday night… Rumour has it Dave returns Friday night!

All in all, we have had a great beginning to our summer, and we are really looking forward to firing up the kitchen this week, and seeing if we can put all that shining stainless steel to the test. And, hey, even if nobody eats here, at least we will be able to get a decent meal at night. Seriously, after we closed Saturday we tried to find something to eat, going to three different places and being rebuffed each time. We couldn’t even get a stinkin’ gas station hot dog! Seriously, what is this world coming to?

We actually had to get in line with 47 other cars at the McDonald’s drive-thru. I can’t remember the last time I ate that swill, but with the aftertaste fresh in my mouth, I can assure you it will be a long time before I do it again. I’m not kidding, even their French fries suck. They used to be the best fries in the business, then they decided to get healthy, and used another oil. Now, they are flavorless cardboard strips. I mean, if I want nutrition, I am NOT going to McDonald’s! So, quit it! Give me full-fat, lard if you’ve got it, and I will decide when it is too much!

I’m sorry, was that me? As you can see, I am fairly passionate about food. As much, if not more so, than I am about wine. So, the natural pairing upon which we are about to embark is tremendously exciting for me. I sure hope all of you are just as excited, because your taste buds are about to get a total freak out! And I’m not just saying that because we make good food, I am…OK, well, actually, I am saying that because we make good food. But, also, because we are creative, and will have fun…yes, fun, dammit!...and the chalkboard menu will give us the ability to change things up and keep the food interesting.

Wow. All of that just came out by itself. Maybe I won’t have that stroke after all. Which would be nice, because I don’t have health insurance, and Congress doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to give it to me, and I already owe enough money for the kitchen without adding a major health event to the pile. Of course, if I was a veg, I probably wouldn’t care…maybe I should have that stroke…

Kidding, of course. I am anxious to get our Bistro cranking, and haven’t slept much anyway, so, obviously, I can go a long time without it.

So, bring your appetite, and come on down to the Treehouse Bistro, and let 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass!

Shawn

Post Date: 06/24/2009

Did you ever have one of those days, where it seemed like simply everyone wanted you to taste their wine? Yeah, I know how you feel. Thursday was like that for me.

First was Kristin, with a nice old vine Grenache from 100 year old vines. Rich, chewy fruit, and reasonably priced.

Then, our boy Jeremy came on the scene, with six wines, ranging from an absolutely delicious Columbia Valley Riesling (although he couldn’t get Susan to try it, even though she is the unofficial “Riesling Queen”), to a couple nice selections from Oregon – including a pretty Rose. I don’t remember the last two so well, as my notes become less clear.

As Jeremy was wrapping up his little song and dance, Drew, from Alliance wines, came in with his Big Guy Red, a Merlot/Cab/Syrah blend from the makers of the Little Wing Syrah we tasted a few weeks back. Interesting.

All in all, about two-and-a-half hours of tasting wine (yes, I am slow, but deliberate). Of course, I revisited one or two wines, just to make sure…

[Editor’s Note: No, that’s not why this email is late…we were here until 11 last night doing our punch list for the Health Department so we can pass our inspection and get our permit to serve food…so, I know I am tardy, but I have a non-alcoholic excuse…for once!]

Then, of course, there was the tasting. Unfortunately, I had a Planning and Zoning meeting, so my civic obligation prevented me from enjoying the tasting in my own shop! I cannot wait until my term is up. Like to give back, and all, but I DO have my priorities, and, hey, they call me a wine guy for a reason, and it doesn’t have anything to do with ruling on fence heights or setting requirements for conditional use permits!

I’m sorry, was that a rant?

OK, back to your regularly scheduled program. The Elected Officials played Friday, and they just keep getting better. We are going to have to start paying them pretty soon, I am afraid. Lou played piano and bass, demonstrating that the intensive schooling his parents paid for did not go completely to waste. Rhonda Sparks got up and belted out a few numbers with the boys, getting the crowd all rowdy…there was even a little hootin’ and hollerin’ at The Grind.

We had some of our Raleigh regulars in, who we always enjoy seeing (even though one of them put an ice cube in a lovely Pinot Noir…sheesh!...but it was hot, so I gave her a pass. They are good customers, after all, so I won’t say any more. Right now.).

Also Friday, we received our visit from the Health Department, who gave us a list of items as long as my arm…OK, maybe not that long, but plenty of things to cross off just the same. We anticipate we will complete the list and be re-inspected by the end of the week, and that we will have our permit to operate…so, next week, we will start rolling out a limited menu, and then I can have my stroke and recuperate in peace at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

[UPDATE: Friday, the Health Department issued our permit...next week, we will begin a limited menu, so get ready!]

Thursday, Liza will be back to taste us on some wine, so get here early…you know how things go. She has some interesting selections, including a Sauv Blanc, a Chard and two Cabs…
Friday, The Elected Officials return to rock the house. I know I keep saying this, but if you haven’t seen them, they really are a fun little group. Perhaps a little rowdier than The Grind is used to, but they are a lot of fun, and Lou has promised that they will continue to practice.

So, there you have it. The Treehouse Bistro is almost here, the wine is flowing, the beer is cold and summer breezes are making our deck the place to be, so come on down to 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind and let us pour you a glass.

Shawn

Post Date: 06/19/2009

We learned a new term this past week…”field blend.” Apparently, that is when someone mixes two varietals…well, no, we never got an actual explanation, it just so happened that Jeremy was pouring wine, and Joel wasn’t yet finished with the previous selection. In his haste, Jeremy poured the new one on top of the wine already in Joel’s glass…and when he had realized what he had done, declared it a field blend.

Actually, it was a Petit Verdot on top of a tannic Cab, so the fruit in the Verdot actually softened the Cab and made for a nice blend. A theory kind of along the lines of “you got your chocolate in my peanut butter…”

Anyway, yes, that is how our weekend began. Jeremy was back, sampling us on six wines from Country Vintners international selection. Basically, he is our “ruffi,” as we sometimes have trouble recalling events after he leaves. Fortunately, we have someone else working, so we are free to nap, order pizza, drink more…or all three. And, actually, we did open up a bottle of the ’02 Bridgeway Napa Cab to “re-taste.” What a nice cab for the price! Good structure, bold tannins and subtle fruit. Yum!

All of this led to discussion for a new game show, which Jeremy coined “Dirty Family Feud.” I will leave it at that.

Billy, from Tryon, poured at Thursday’s tasting, and the wines absolutely rocked. All but one sold out, and the place was packed, full of regulars and some newbies. People were parked down the street, in neighboring lots, on the grass, by the lake…there were a lot of people here!

Over the weekend, Jeremy played Friday, and Dave was joined by Lou on Saturday, giving us a nice selection of wine drinkers good music to listen to while they enjoyed their adult beverages.

Monday, Kristin, from Choice Specialty Wines, took us to dinner at Mason’s Haunt to celebrate our anniversary. We drank several bottles of a Carneros Pinot Noir, a lovely Napa Zin, and a beautiful French white…oh, and we ate some really good food. The chef sent us an unbelievable sushi/tempura roll to start, and we spent the better part of the evening eating, drinking and laughing. In the process, Kristin got a new nickname, “Choice Spice.” I can’t explain here, because this is a family blog, but suffice it to say it was funny stuff, and made her husband less conscientious of his infamous “Tall Poppy Tumble.” (If you don’t remember that story, check out www.2wineguysatthegrind.com and click on the Willamette Valley tab…great stuff).

Anyway, Kristin was our very first vendor, and helped tremendously when it came to opening this shop. Since then, she has continued to bring her wine knowledge to the table, tasting us on hundreds of wines…oh, and there was that trip to Oregon…

This week, I will be hosting Thursday’s tasting. The Theme will be “Shawn’s grab bag.” In other words, I haven’t decided yet, but, hey, we both know it will be good, right? Right?! RIGHT?!

Ok then. Plus, there will be fireworks at dark. Once again, the town has decided to help compliment our wine tasting with a fireworks celebration. We appreciate it, obviously, as our deck provides a great view of the show, and what goes better with pyrotechnics than good wine?

Friday night, Your Elected Officials return to rock the house. If you haven’t heard these guys, it is worth the trip. They are a fun house band, and I have a sneaking suspicion they have actually been practicing, so it should be a good evening.

There you have it. June is upon us, school will be out soon, and summer will be in full swing. What better time to come on down to 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind, and let us pour you a glass?

Shawn

Post Date: 06/04/2009

A weekend to remember, if only I can remember all of it!

I do know that it all started Thursday, when John, from Turner Wine Imports, came to taste everyone on an interesting selection of reds and whites. We had a great crowd, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Friday, we had Hans Hoss, whose family has been making beer in Germany since the 1600’s, come in to tell our customers about his beer. His U.S. distributors poured a fair amount of the delicious liquid, and we sold even more. Out of the four different beers he showed, not one was a dud. Each was delicious, from the lager to the Bavarian, the hefe to the dopelbach, I enjoyed each one several times (just to make sure…it is important to revisit from time to time to ensure your first reaction was the correct response).

Hans visited New York City, and Carolina Beach. Obviously, he knows all the hot spots. From Studio 54 to The Grind, he will have stories to tell all of his friends back home, and we were happy to be a part of it – and to be future German lore.

Anyway, Jeremy followed the tasting with his excellent, mellow sound, keeping some of the crowd here until late.

Saturday, Your Elected Officials rocked The Grind. Just a fun group, they really get the crowd going, and they definitely bring out some beer drinkers. This place was hopping for two-plus hours, and we look forward to their return. They will be playing every Friday in June, so, if you haven’t seen them…

This week, our boy Billy returns to the tasting table, to show off a good selection. In fact, we like one of the reds so much, we had to replace the case we got for the tasting, because we either drank or sold about 90% of it over the weekend.

Did I mention we were busy this weekend?

Good music this coming weekend, and Dave returns Saturday night, which is always a treat.

Speaking of treats, we should get our refrigeration in this week, which is one of the last elements to the kitchen. Then, we will await all of our inspections and approvals, and be ready to start playing in our new space. I anticipate by mid June we will actually be serving food, so get ready.

In the meantime, summer is upon us, we have a great selection of wine and beer, so come on down to 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind and let us pour you a glass.

Shawn

Post Date: 05/28/2009

Well, we made it a year. All in one piece, not too much worse for wear, and I have only gone slightly mental…but I am working on that, with the help of some of the best medical minds out of Switzerland.

Laurence has hooked us up more than once, and, along with these wines, we will be getting Saddlerock’s higher end Semler Library Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a beautifully balanced Cab with great structure, that we will be able to offer at a fantastic price due to his generosity.

Oh, and Billy came in and tasted us on five other wines…so, all in all we tasted another 14 wines. I know, that is low by our standards, but it still beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Wow! What an eventful couple weeks, which has included several mini-trade shows hosted by our vendors. From Circa, to Deluxe, to Marc’s on Market, we have had the pleasure of tasting many, many wines. In fact, this past week alone, I have tasted 49 wines. That, fortunately, has helped take some of the edge off the construction stress (though it hasn’t affected the cost at all, so if you have a pile of money lying around doing nothing…).

Anyway, looking through my notes, I have entries for 1,008 wines. Unfortunately, I have not been diligent enough to notate every wine we have had, especially when you consider dinners, and our trip to Oregon (where I know we tasted more than 50 wines), so I have tasted many more than reflected in my bulging folder or various journals, notepads and business cards.

Still, 1,008 wines since last April. I love this business…now if only I can make some money at it…
[Update: Just when I thought it was safe to go back into The Grind, Jeremy showed up Monday afternoon with a South African winemaker, who tasted us on three of his reds, including a Pinotage, a Cab and a red blend…so, 1,011 and counting.]

Two of the tastings were Country Vintner, and one was Juice. Jeremy, from Country Vintner, has made it a point to see how much wine he can pour down my gullet, and I absolutely love him for it. Twenty-six of the wines I tasted were at his company’s mini-show at Marc’s on Market, and then he brought some crazy Aussie in here Friday to taste. But that’s how he rolls.

We had two great tastings here last week, with Kristin – from Choice Specialty Wines – starting things off by showing some great varietals on Thursday. Her selection included the Hyatt Syrah, a Washington State wine that was wonderful – and people agreed, because it sold out. Friday, as I said, Jeremy and a member of the Longview wine family from Australia showed up to pour the wines his family makes. Great crowd Thursday, nice crowd Friday, which led into Dave and Lou rocking the house. Dave and Jeremy played Saturday, and they always sound good together.

Wednesday, I am pouring a red (the Sacred Stone) at the Chamber Social, as well as preparing a couple appetizers to get people thinking about the Treehouse Bistro.

Thursday, Amanda, from Juice, will be hosting our tasting. She will present some really nice reds from Tin Barn (YUM!) in Sonoma, including a Syrah that will absolutely knock your socks off, along with a Champagne and an Oregon Pinot Gris. Juice has amazing wines, and they were one of our original vendors (although our rep was Billy, who is now with Tryon).

Friday is our anniversary, and I know we will do something, but I don’t know what. We had one customer who was kind enough to offer to make us a sheet cake, so, if nothing else, there will be cake! And, well, wine goes with cake. Plus, Your Elected Officials will be back to play Friday.

We made that determination one night after we closed, as the four of us drank one of our last BenMarco Expressivos (we have one left until next year!), discussing the heart healthy qualities of the beverage we were enjoying. Strictly medicinal, of course.

Anyway, we kicked off the weekend with a well-attended tasting, as Esther poured wines from Italy, France and Chile. People said si, oui and ole, and drank quite a few of the night’s selections. And, some people drank outside the box, picking wines from our shelves to follow the tasting wines. It won’t be long before people can have a bite to eat with their wine.

Oh, the kitchen? I’m glad you asked. Plumbing and electrical rough-ins have been inspected and passed, framing has been inspected and passed, insulation is in and drywall starts Wednesday. Sinks and work tables are being delivered today, and other equipment is on order, so it won’t be long before the room really starts to come together. Although, all this activity has me writing really big checks, so I don’t sleep much these days.

As Warren Zevon said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Of course, he is sleeping right now, so perhaps I need to adopt a different philosophy…or get some high powered sleep medication. Or a horse tranquilizer. Something.

But it will all be OK, once that sucker gets open and we start putting out unbelievable food, all will be right and good, birds will sing, clouds will part and the sun will shine.

OK, so I guess that was fairly predictable…I actually tasted 32 wines, along with the bottle we drank at Café Phoenix because we were a little early for the show. A lot of good stuff, including some big boys from Tor Wines (poured by winemaker Tor Kenward). Big boys with big price points, but I sure would like to bring a couple of them into the shop…perhaps for the restaurant wine list. Anyway, Juice has a great book, as they really specialize in boutique, low production wines. This was a great opportunity to taste some fantastic wines.

Well, I can hear the screwgun in the kitchen, meaning drywall is being hung as I write this. Excited? Me too. So, don’t be shy, come on out to 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind and let us pour you a glass!

Galileo said that, among other things. Pretty bright guy, which, of course, is why The Church had a problem with him (back in the flat earth, sun revolves around us days). Anyway, I heard that line while we were watching “Bottle Shock” Tuesday night. Great movie.

A number of customers told me I absolutely needed to see it, and they were right. We ended up watching it twice, back-to-back, it was that good. If you are interested in wine, and enjoy seeing the French lose at anything, then this is the movie for you. It is out on DVD, so run, don’t walk, to your nearest movie store and pick it up!

Anyway, seriously, it is worth seeing. Make sure you have wine.

Speaking of wine, Amanda, from Juice, hosted last week’s tasting, and we had a big crowd in to enjoy some good Paso Robles products from Tarrica winery. This south-central Cali coast region has been producing some excellent wines, and we carry some from Eberle, along with the Curious Beagle. All fine wines.

Friday morning, Jeremy, from Country Vintner, returned to ensure I would not be operating any heavy machinery. He tasted us on about eight wines, including a blind taste on a bottle that no one could identify. We were all over the map, and it turned out to be a big California Pinot Noir. We guessed everything from Sangiovese to Malbec. It was big and hot, and not anything like the Pinot Noirs our taste buds have become accustomed to. And I think Jeremy got a kick out of tricking us, because that is just the kind of dirty bastard he is. Which, of course, is one of the many reasons we like him.

Friday night was a little slow, but Saturday was a busy day all the way through, with the Chowder Cook-off right next door. I was actually a judge, so I was forced to drink beer and eat chowder all afternoon. But I’m a trooper, so I pulled through. Michael’s Seafood won, hands down, on a beautiful Chamber of Commerce day.

We also had a visit from an all-female barbershop quartet, who enjoyed themselves so much they belted out a couple numbers. It just goes to show, you never know what you are going to miss if you aren’t at The Grind.

Saturday night, Dave brought along a cast of characters to sit in, including Lou, Larry and Johnny on the percussion. They got tighter as the night went on, and by the end of the evening sounded like they had been playing together for years (although Dave occasionally had to shout out what key Lou should be playing).

Which is why I am writing this on Wednesday.

Some drunken Roman said that, but he was mostly right: “in wine there is truth.” It can mean many things, some of which aren’t so nice, but I prefer to focus on the positive. I use my drinking for the purposes of the greater good; to help spread knowledge and appreciation of that fine little fruit we call the grape.

It was for that reason that I found myself at Circa last Thursday, with Jeremy, from Country Vintner, tasting 36 wines. OK, the last one was a Champagne, so, technically, 35. For those who don’t know, Country Vintner was one of the original three vendors who visited us when we were getting ready to open. Although Jeremy was not our original rep, he definitely has the right disposition to deal with us. In other words, he is a very sick man.

Anyway, that night, he and one of his vendors did our tasting, and we had one hell of a crowd. Unfortunately for me, I had to attend a Planning and Zoning meeting, so I missed the bulk of the festivities. And, after the aforementioned 35+ wines, I was in no mood to legislate. But, alas, the common good and all…

Good weather led to a great weekend. We must be the talk of the town in Raleigh, because we had several groups in from the capitol city, drinking fine wine and listening to excellent music compliments of Dave and Jeremy. Oh, and Lou was involved, too. And by the end of the night, they actually weren’t booing; they really were saying “Lou.” I guess Dave finally impressed on Lou the concept of how much better the music would sound if Lou actually knew the songs. And Dave ran with it, since he was more comfortable with his baseline, he started belting out the vocals, and the music sounded fantastic.

Monday, Amanda, from Juice (another one of our original vendors), tasted us on some good wines, including a beautiful Cotes du Rhone, from Domaine de la Solitude. Rich cherry notes, light tannins, great balance…the French have been doing this for a few years. And at the price this is a great value for an excellent example of this classical style.

Amanda will be doing Thursday’s tasting, featuring the wines of Tarrica, a nice Paso Robles, Cali winery, that makes some really tasty wines. We will feature their Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio (yes, a California Pinot Grigio…don’t be scared), Merlot, Cab Sav and Pinot Noir. Now, those of you who have followed the blog know that we view Oregon’s Willamette Valley as the premier Pinot Noir region. However, for a California Pinot, this one is quite nice. They source the fruit from Monterey, which is a little cooler growing climate than Paso Robles, and Pinot likes cool weather.

Construction on the kitchen continues, and we hope to have our plumbing and electrical permits in the next day or two. It is quite strange to me that the permitting process takes longer than the actual construction, but I guess that is how government justifies its existence. Oops, did I just say that out loud? Darn, guess I did. Of course, if any inspectors are reading this, I was only joking. You guys are doing a helluva job.

Susan thought we should call the restaurant 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind’s “Treehouse Bistro.” We all liked that, so that is where we are heading.

On a totally unrelated note, several people have come into the shop to taste wine, and after the first sip, admitted that they couldn’t taste the wine because they had just brushed their teeth, eaten a mint, or chewed gum. Please, we don’t care how bad your breath is, only that you enjoy the wine we offer. If it is that bad, we will stand back while we pour. I’m just sayin.’

Our friends at the Weather Channel are forecasting sunshine this weekend, the shelves will be stocked with delicious wine, and the music will be awesome, so, come on out to 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind and let us pour you a glass.

Shawn

Post Date: 04/14/2009

Yes, demolition was in full swing last week, as we began ripping into walls in preparation for kitchen construction. Joel even got into the act, taking advantage of some slow times to beat the living hell out of defenseless 2X4s. Well, not defenseless…this place was pretty well built, and those boards were nailed in, but good!

Actually, after the two of us spent a couple days ripping and tearing, I came to the conclusion that it might be best for us to pay someone else to do this, in the interest of keeping on schedule and not hurting ourselves. So we did, and the boys from Bluewater Structures made quick work of all the demo, doing in eight hours what would have surely taken us a week.

Our contractor should have permit in hand today, and, with luck, construction will begin in earnest.

The chefs, Susan and Ed, got together to begin planning the first couple weeks’ menus, and we are meeting with food vendors and getting samples to help us decide how we will do all the magical things we are going to do. Susan has accused me of creating high expectations, but, hey, I know what we are capable of, and we all have high expectations of ourselves, so I know that what we turn out of the kitchen is going to be nothing short of exceptional. So there.

This Thursday, Liza, from Mutual, returns to wow us with her wines. She will feature an international selection from Portugal to Chile, Argentina to California. We tasted them yesterday, and there are some really interesting wines in the mix.

In fact, that is one of the reasons I am writing this today, sans wine, instead of yesterday (when I may have had too much wine). I am kidding, of course, there is no such thing as too much wine, and I just couldn’t seem to work the writing in between the tasting, as three different vendors came in yesterday. The morning started early with Domaine Serene’s Yamhill Cuvee, an absolutely delicious Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, We visited this winery in September, but the current vintage of the Cuvee had not been released, so this was the first time we got to taste it. Yum!

What a weekend we had at The Grind, from an unbelievable wine tasting to great music and a room full of TV stars. If you missed it, you were one of the few, because we had a couple standing room only nights.

Everly played again on Saturday, this time for a full hour, covering Tom Petty and singing some of their originals. Amber belted out Peter Gabriel’s “In your Eyes,” (great pipes!) and the boisterous crowd fell silent when the girls sang their signature (soon to be) hit “Home is Me, You Are Mine.” I truly believe this song will be getting major radio play before we know it. It is absolutely haunting, and shows the range these two have. If it doesn’t give you goose bumps, you aren’t alive!

Joy and Amber received a lot of support from the One Tree Hill cast and crew, with several co-stars, the creator and at least one editor coming out to hear them sing. A few of them seemed to enjoy our place, and one or two said they would be back. Hopefully, we will get Everly in here one more time to practice before their Nashville performance.

If you missed last week’s wine tasting, boy howdy did you miss a good one! Both parking lots were full, cars were lined up the street, and we were standing room only inside. I’m not sure if it was the wine, or the fudge, or both. But the crowd enjoyed the pairings, as we matched wines with different fudge flavors from Carolina Beach’s own Fudgeboat. An almond champagne, a fume blanc, a Syrah, cab and zin, and then wrapped it up with a sweet sparkler (matched with chocolate-covered strawberries). We ran out of fudge, and most of the wine, so I think it is safe to say the response was good.

Friday night, Dave and Jeremy rocked the house, and at the end of the evening, after the crowd had cleared out, Dave sat back down at the piano and serenaded us with a couple numbers. It was pretty cool. Saturday, before Everly played, Lou and John Garcia came in with a couple other gentlemen, calling themselves “Your Elected Officials,” and got the crowd warmed up for the girls. They rocked, and had the crowd wound up with “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” as Joy and Amber walked in the door.

Dave and Jeremy played Blackhorn Saturday night, so after we closed, we all went over and closed down Blackhorn. It was a very interesting evening, and there were several situations that caused me to exclaim, “This is why we close at eleven!” I can’t relate them all here without offending any number of people, so let’s just say I am glad we close at eleven.
This morning, I bought myself a new pry bar and small sledge hammer, as I prepare to tear into the walls in advance of kitchen construction. Wednesday, we will be in Raleigh for Sysco’s food trade show, getting more ideas and seeing new products. Chef Ed will be travelling with us, so the creative juices will be flowing.