Anyone who has read much Hemingway knows old Ernie spent a fair amount of time across the pond, pimping for a variety of publications before writing all his tomes about ex-pats in various states of depression (and before he came back to the states, lived in the Keys, and blew his brains out).

That being said, I came across this quote from the old dog, which I thought appropriate to share:

“In Europe we thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also a great giver of happiness and well being and delight. Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating and to me as necessary.”

Amen. A big believer in wine, though not much on punctuation.

Anyway, speaking of wine, Thursday’s tasting was a hit. Jeremy always does a great job, and, well, he is just fun to have around. In fact, we would keep him here full time, maybe in a little monkey cage so our customers could poke him with sticks……No, really, you don’t know Jeremy…he would actually enjoy that sort of thing.

Friday brought us gale force winds and driving rain, though not the snow rumored to be heading our way…which was just fine with me. I grew up in snow, and have shoveled more than my share. In fact, one of my common lines to other northerners who ask what brought me here is “you don’t have to shovel sunshine.”

Regardless, a few brave souls ignored the weather for tapas and wine, so the day was not a total write-off.

We began stocking up on our holiday wine (as much for our homes as the shop!), and I am happy to say my humble abode is better stocked than it has been in a long time (since, in fact, we opened the shop, and I surrendered my wine fridge for the greater good). I have Tin Barn Syrah (beautiful, rich Syrah full of dark fruit), BenMarco Expressivo (HUGE Malbec blend – the last time someone else ordered some they left it in the shop too long, and we drank three bottles…because, like potato chips, you can’t have just one!), Seghesio Zinfandel (excellent Sonoma winemakers, and this signature Zin is a nice blend of spice and fruit, with great balance and a long finish), Bishop’s Peak Pinot Noir (a Cali Pinot, which is unusual for me, but I really liked it when I tasted it…and drank one the other night with some fried scallops with a sun dried red pepper sauce…yum!), and, last but not least, Four Vines Loco Red (a Tempranillo from Paso Robles that is crazy good). Joel added some Raymond Reserve Merlot to his collection, and who knows what we may pick up over the next day or two…

I have also ordered my first Cabernet juice from California, and will begin making wine in the next week. I am looking for a French oak barrel, and, hopefully about a year from now, the first 2 Wine Guys wine will be in the bottle. “Wrecking Ball” Cab is the preliminary name, and it will likely be about 18 months before anyone gets to taste it.

We will close early Christmas Eve (3 p.m., so if you are thinking last minute gifts, get here early!), and will be closed Christmas Day. Saturday night we will have live music, and Sunday I have a new brunch item I am going to lay on you (haven’t made it yet, but it sounded delicious!). Next week, we will stay open until Midnight on New Year’s Eve, and feature a Champagne tasting. You will be able to see the fireworks from our deck, so make plans now to ring in the New Year at The Bistro. Then, for obvious reasons, we will be closed New Year’s Day.

And whiskey, and beer! Yes, it has been one of those weeks, full of holiday surprises, good food, wine and other adult beverages.

It all started with some Friends of the Grind, bringing some really special beer into the shop. Front Street Brewery had made beer using casks from Jim Beam’s distillery, and our friends had three large bottles that they were kind enough to share. The best was a scotch ale, which tasted like a mix of really good beer and Jim Beam. A whole new meaning to “shot and a beer.”

Speaking of Front Street Brewery, on Tuesday night they featured a pairing dinner that included four courses, each paired with a beer and an aged Glenlivet – starting at 15 year old and ending with their 25 year old. In fact, the presenter noted that the last, distilled in 1980, was older than he.

I have to say it was the first time I ever heard “Jingle Bells” played on bagpipes. After enough Glenlivet, musical notes pumped through thin pipes from a cow’s bladder actually start to make sense. Although, I didn’t have enough for a skirt to look good on me.

But they weren’t the only ones to pair food and beverage. On Wednesday, we hosted a private party for an island company, which included five courses and matching wines. We started with champagne and cheese, then Chardonnay and goat cheese salad, Pinot Noir and mushroom risotto, a Malbec with filet and roasted asparagus with a rosemary reduction, and, finally, chocolate mouse with the Corbieres (a French blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault). Wow! The mousse really turned out well, and nothing else mattered once everyone had chocolate and wine!

The weekend was slow; although I was somehow busy enough that I am just sitting down to write this on Thursday. Even for me, this is late!

Anyway, tonight, Jeremy, from Country Vintner, will be hosting our tasting. Our chef is out of town for the holidays, so I will be in the kitchen. Ed has pointed out that I am not “trained,” which means I am creative and not bound by strictures set in place by the French! Maybe not what he means, but it works for me, and people seem to like the food I make…

That being said, the holidays are upon us. We will likely close early Christmas Eve, but we will stay open New Year’s Eve until midnight, and host a special Champagne tasting. You can watch the Boardwalk fireworks from the warmth of our deck (I did mention the two new space heaters, didn’t I?), and enjoy a warm cup of coffee or a nice glass of wine while you count down to 2010.

In the meantime, we have gift certificates, great wine and food, and, well, you already know about the atmosphere. So 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

Seriously. Shortly before the Pleasure Island Christmas Parade (Holiday Parade, for you non-denominationalists, or non-Christian religions), the pitter patter of light rain began to resonate on our shutters. By the time the first fire truck siren sounded, it was downright nasty out there. The wind picked up, the rain started coming down, but the show went on.

In the Treehouse, though, the weather was anything but frightful. In fact, it was downright warm, packed with coffee and wine drinkers, and a fair number of diners, all of whom got to watch the parade from the comfort of our lofty perch. Of course, we paid for it Saturday night as the Holiday Flotilla took everyone to the other side of town…

Thursday, we had the pleasure of attending the Chamber of Commerce cruise aboard one of the Winner boats. It was a nice evening of drinking and eating (yes….mostly drinking), and then even a little dancing on the deck (“Brick House” always gets me on the floor, regardless of how much I’ve had to drink). We thought about taking a crowd back to the Bistro, but decided we had all had too much to drink to actually work, and, well, self-service was out of the question.

Speaking of wine, we decanted a BenMarco Expressivo, and then got distracted…for about an hour and a half! When we got back to the wine, it was AMAZING! I mean, Mr. Marco is a fantastic wine as it is, but the magic of decanting shown through on this particular bottle of juice. A little air, and a little time, and Mr. Marco was mighty fine!

I got bored Sunday afternoon, and decided to try something new…”open-faced lasagna.” Pie dough, spread with tomato sauce and ricotta, sprinkled with pepperoni and prosciutto, and then covered in mozzarella. Some naysayer said “a lasagna needs pasta,” but that is the advantage of creativity, I don’t need no stinkin’ boundaries or definitions to confine my cooking! (Also the advantage of not being classically trained, as I often remind my chef). Anyway, it came out of the oven looking pretty f-in good! Although I couldn’t get unanimous consent on the name, everyone at least agreed on its deliciousness.

But I didn’t get much time to revel in it, as a local music teacher brought his students in for an afternoon recital, which included parents and other family members, amounting to a quick rush that had us moving from “0” to “60” in seconds flat. I was suddenly in the kitchen cooking, and Joel and Shell were scrambling to put coffee and wine on everyone’s table before the recital started. After it was over, most of that group left, but were replaced by a nice dinner crowd.

Anyway, back to the future. I will be doing this week’s tasting, so look forward to that. Christmas is just around the corner, and we are reserving private parties for those evenings that we are usually closed (that would be Monday through Wednesday, for those of you playing at home).

Coincidentally, New Year’s Eve is a Thursday this year, so we are going to stay open until midnight, and host a special champagne tasting that night. You can see the Boardwalk fireworks from our deck, so make plans now to have a nice, low-key New Year’s Eve at the Treehouse!

In the meantime, wine makes a great gift, even if it’s for yourself! And, of course, we have gift certificates. Shameless plug, I know, but I can’t help it…spent a few years in corporate marketing! Regardless, 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

Oscar Wilde said that, and I have to believe there was wine involved. A beautiful wine, to be sure, but wine just the same.

As it is the gorging season, what goes better with good food than good wine? Well, of course, I believe good wine goes with everything…including more good wine. My Thanksgiving included a number of good wines, two as a result of the generosity of my gracious business partner.

I was set to drive to Tampa to see mom, but concerned about the ability of my aging Rodeo to make such a journey without leaving parts on the side of I-95. Joel offered me the use of his car; a seemingly gentle, gas-conscious Honda that I knew would be reliable and comfortable.

What I didn’t realize is that this little six-speed SI is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a bad-ass six speed that left my worries about my vehicle in a very fine dust. What’s more, Joel, who is always kind and generous, left two bottles of wine in the back seat with red ribbons around their supple necks. One, the fabled BenMarco Expressivo, would have to be saved, so the woman who gave me life could sample a great wine. The other, an amazing Temperanillo called, aptly, “Loco,” would not make it beyond South Carolina. Rich and complex, with dark fruit and bold tannins, yet spicy overtones and a smooth finish, this bad boy is worth checking out for any serious wine drinker.

I also had a bottle of Seghesio Zinfandel, which I tasted with family members who claimed to have never met a Zin they liked. Well, on the day before the sacrificial turkey, they met one. Seghesio makes excellent wines, year after year. And the only Zin better, is Seghesio’s Old Vine. Elegant spice, plumy fruit, and a smooth delivery. Mmmm.

One notable white, I had Erath’s Pinot Gris with the bird, and it was delicious! Those of you who are regular attendees of our tastings may remember this Willamette Valley wine, full of pear notes and a round mouth-feel.

There were numerous others, from mimosas in the morning to Bogle’s various offerings in the evening, and some really good stuff in between. But I was drinking, not taking notes, so suffice it to say I had a good trip.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the shop was slammed on Wednesday, and again on Friday, even though the shop didn’t open until 5. Brunch, once again, drew a crowd, and John and Rhonda have obviously started to practice together. Chef Ed’s brokeback frittata has become quite popular, and we may roll something else out this week.

At the request of several customers, I made a soup (black bean and chorizo), and the weather immediately shot back into the 70’s. Anyway, Ed’s Matchstick Salmon is back on the menu, we are doing creative things with shrimp, and, well, there’s always wine.

Friday, the parade starts right at the corner of Lake Park and The Treehouse, so what better place to watch it unfold than right on our porch? Of course, seating will be at a premium, so you might want to get here early (parade starts 7-ish).

Remember, we won’t be having a wine tasting Thursday. I will tell you all about it next week. Friday and Saturday we are back to normal, and Sunday, of course, is brunch.

So, the weather outside ain’t frightful, but the wine is oh, so delightful, as long as there’s nowhere to go…come on down to the Treehouse Bistro and let the 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass and fix you a plate (OK, so it doesn’t rhyme…but it is deee-licious!).

Shawn