Advice from my betters, please

[MLipton]

originally posted by SFJoe:
Wow, what a jointI wasn't really aware of these guys. Such a pile!

Where have you been, my esteemed colleague? Have you lived under a rock lo this past decade? Teh Interwebz have been ablaze with paeans to this pointy monstrosity. Some insight into their mentality and (a)esthetics might be gleaned from their Persian-American background, if the garish pink mansions in LA of the 1979 expats are any indication.

Mark Lipton

 

[BJ]

Drink their goddamn wine and get over yourself.

 

[John McIlwain]

originally posted by mark e:

originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Wine List

originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
If no-one brings a bottle, you won't have to drink what the other person brings. They have an amazing list, too.

If the wine list is still good the influence of Ellenbogen must still be represented. The food is so inferior to what it used to be it's just terribly sad. They are the victims of their own success. I wouldn't think of eating there anymore. I remember when. It was so good!!!!

Thanks, Lou. The point of the list in my day was to make it very difficult to order something that didn't work with the menu (and tons of stuff I actually wanted to drink.)

My favorite was to start the meal with a cool vintage of Schaefer Domprobst Kabinett, followed by a Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Spätlese.

The ingredients were very different once upon a time.

Your wine list was totally gamechanging for me years ago. You, Dressner, Chambers, and Paul Grieco set me on the path to high acid/low alcohol perdition. Thank you.

 

[Florida Jim]

For those who have not entered the halls of Darioush, you need to be cautious of the tasting room.
There are pendant lights suspended over the bar that move up and down slowly. This can lead one to believe that the wine is 80 proof or that it is laced with LSD.
Maybe a little Dramamine prior . . .
Best, Jim

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by MLipton:
Have you lived under a rock lo this past decade?

Well, yes.

garish pink mansions in LA of the 1979 expats are any indication.

"Trained as a civil engineer and with a career in construction, Darioush left Iran in the late 1970's and emigrated to Southern California where he was faced with the challenge of rebuilding his life. Darioush and his brother-in-law pooled their resources and purchased a failing grocery store in the city of Los Angeles. Now thirty years later, together they operate one of the most successful independently owned grocery businesses in the United States, which alone employs over 1500 people."

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by SFJoe:
What's the matter with them? I agree with fb, the Darioush must definitely be the shit, but how come it's only $45? How much prestige does that really buy?

Ah, this is what is wrong with looking at wine-searcher rather than going to The Source. If you follow the link under "Acquire" you will see that there is a wine available at a much more prestigious price.

 

[mark e]

originally posted by John McIlwain:

originally posted by mark e:

originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Wine List

originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
If no-one brings a bottle, you won't have to drink what the other person brings. They have an amazing list, too.

If the wine list is still good the influence of Ellenbogen must still be represented. The food is so inferior to what it used to be it's just terribly sad. They are the victims of their own success. I wouldn't think of eating there anymore. I remember when. It was so good!!!!

Thanks, Lou. The point of the list in my day was to make it very difficult to order something that didn't work with the menu (and tons of stuff I actually wanted to drink.)

My favorite was to start the meal with a cool vintage of Schaefer Domprobst Kabinett, followed by a Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Spätlese.

The ingredients were very different once upon a time.

Your wine list was totally gamechanging for me years ago. You, Dressner, Chambers, and Paul Grieco set me on the path to high acid/low alcohol perdition. Thank you.

Thanks, John. When I first starting putting Dressner wines on the list, they were really tough to get. How times have changed. You'd probably have to fend off other buyers with a sharp stick to get the wines you want these days; more power to 'em. David Lillie at CSW deserves a lot of credit, too.

 

[georg lauer]

originally posted by Florida Jim:
For those who have not entered the halls of Darioush, you need to be cautious of the tasting room.
There are pendant lights suspended over the bar that move up and down slowly. This can lead one to believe that the wine is 80 proof or that it is laced with LSD.
Maybe a little Dramamine prior . . .
Best, Jim

After seeing the photos of the winery we actually decided it a must visit for the next California trip. And the perfect occasion for my first exploration of mushrooms.....

 

[Brian C]

originally posted by BJ:
Drink their goddamn wine and get over yourself.

this.

 

[MLipton]

originally posted by georg lauer:

After seeing the photos of the winery we actually decided it a must visit for the next California trip. And the perfect occasion for my first exploration of mushrooms.....

Amanita phalloides might be the appropriate pairing.

Mark Lipton

 

[Kay Bixler]

originally posted by Brian C:

originally posted by BJ:
Drink their goddamn wine and get over yourself.

this.

Yes, this is the correct answer. Be thankful.

 

[Larry Stein]

originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Wine List

originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
If no-one brings a bottle, you won't have to drink what the other person brings. They have an amazing list, too.

If the wine list is still good the influence of Ellenbogen must still be represented. The food is so inferior to what it used to be it's just terribly sad. They are the victims of their own success. I wouldn't think of eating there anymore. I remember when. It was so good!!!!

The last time I was there was in March '09 (Mark E, were you still there or had you left?). I believe the only reason the food was really good was because we were with Steve Edmunds who had a wine on the list. They kept comping us extra dishes. It's the only time Sandi has eaten at SD. I told her afterwards that we should never go again because it won't be as good, both food-wise and the experience.

My friend Greg was a waiter at the original Valencia St. location. I asked him about the possibility of having an offline there. He asked Charles (Phan) and the answer was yes. The first of many was with Yaniger, John Sprow, and others. I keep thinking Rob Adler was there, but my memory is too hazy.

 

[mark e]

originally posted by Larry Stein:

originally posted by Lou Kessler:
Wine List

originally posted by Oliver McCrum:
If no-one brings a bottle, you won't have to drink what the other person brings. They have an amazing list, too.

If the wine list is still good the influence of Ellenbogen must still be represented. The food is so inferior to what it used to be it's just terribly sad. They are the victims of their own success. I wouldn't think of eating there anymore. I remember when. It was so good!!!!

The last time I was there was in March '09 (Mark E, were you still there or had you left?). I believe the only reason the food was really good was because we were with Steve Edmunds who had a wine on the list. They kept comping us extra dishes. It's the only time Sandi has eaten at SD. I told her afterwards that we should never go again because it won't be as good, both food-wise and the experience.

My friend Greg was a waiter at the original Valencia St. location. I asked him about the possibility of having an offline there. He asked Charles (Phan) and the answer was yes. The first of many was with Yaniger, John Sprow, and others. I keep thinking Rob Adler was there, but my memory is too hazy.

Yup. I was still there in March 2009. I left in June 2010. Rob certainly came to a number of dinner, just can't remember that one.

 

[Unknown]

originally posted by Kay Bixler:

originally posted by Brian C:

originally posted by BJ:
Drink their goddamn wine and get over yourself.

this.

Yes, this is the correct answer. Be thankful.

for the record, the overturned bureau mentioned in the notorious "wine therapy" (tm) thread "fatboy - sfjoe new york summit (etc.)" was, i am assured, the result of an accident. i, for one, have never met the mythical "jeff connell" (the only person to witness the destruction), and claims that i nevertheless bribed him with esoteric macons have never been substantiated.

more to the point, despite my best attempts i have never been able to replace the treasures that little writing table bore. i have consoled my heavy heart with chinon.

fb.