Herbivore No More

After a very long and slightly stressful day at work, I went to Happy Hour (see July 7 post) and dinner at The Wine Bar.

I had an eclectic sampling (and by sample, I mean a whole glass) of wines: Windmill Petit Syrah (offered at the Happy Hour price!), Palmer Cabernet Franc, and my favorite (recently reintroduced to WB), Erath Pinot Noir.

Sounds like a lot of wine, but recall the long, stressful day...

As I mentioned in my last entry, I was (operative word) a vegetarian for quite a while (17 years to be exact). You may also notice that I have recently been consuming more meat than the typical vegetarian. 

Well, after nearly two decades and several consultations with a rather anti-herbivore, pro-animal protein nutritionist, I reclaimed my carnivorous nature. And as you have and will learn, I've been enjoying every moment of it...

The best part of ditching the vegetarianism is being able to try things for the first time all over again. My food options have become more interesting and it's a pleasure to be able to finally order anything off the menu. 

The dinner choices for this evening were delicious. The prosciutto was salty, yet slightly sweet - a perfect combination with the mellow pungency of the stilton cheese and the tangy sweetness of the peach. The duck was like nothing I'd ever tasted and I now get what it means for something to taste 'gamey'...

The Eats

Green Salad:

Prosciutto, Peach, Stilton Cheese, Mustard Vinaigrette 

Scallops:

Fennel, Olive, Orange, Basil

Smoked Duck:

Beet, Cherry, Ginger

Happy Hour at The WB

Just when you thought it couldn't get better...

The Wine Bar celebrates Happy Hour throughout the week from 4-5pm.

The deal: $4 for a red wine, white wine, or cocktail (all house choice)

With this in mind, Lenora and I decided to meet at the WB to get some work done, partake in a couple happy hour-priced beverages and, eventually, enjoy some dinner. 

The Drinks

The red wine selection for happy hour this evening was, ready for this, a 2002 STG Dry Creek Zinfandel (see last post) from Sonoma County, California. 

I actually enjoyed this Zinfandel a bit more than the Clockspring. The full-bodied, yet not heavy, STG has a more intense cocoa, bittersweet chocolate and dark berry/fruit flavor - mostly blackberries and plums, but for me, the strawberry aroma translated to the palate as well. Not only was the STG uncomplicated with a smooth finish, the structure and crispness was an ideal complement to my meal (keep reading). 

Lenora chose the cocktail option, which was then spontaneously created by Holly (see June 29 entry). It doesn't have a name yet and unfortunately "The Hollypolitan" is already taken. 

I'll call it the Togapolitan

What's in it: Strawberry Stoli, Cointreau, and Grenadine served with an orange garnish. The perfect cocktail for a hot and hazy Saratoga summer afternoon.

The Food

Whether you are a Saratoga native or just visiting for the weekend, if you haven't eaten a meal at The Wine Bar, you are missing out. Innovative and versatile, Executive Chef John Ireland uses fresh, local ingredients to create a menu that complements the wine list (I personally think the whole rigid pairing of wine with food thing is bunk, but I'll leave that for another post) and never disappoints. 

Vegetarian or vegan? Have no fear. With some advance notice, the kitchen will work to accommodate dietary needs.

For dinner tonight, Lenora and I split two small entrees:

The Beef from the menu: 

"Bok choy, golden raisin, pine nut salad, potato mille-feuille, Dijon emulsion"

The Gnocchi from the menu: 

"Chevre emulsion, pancetta, mushroom"

As always, everything was delicious...