The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 66,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
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food, food and wine, history and culture, wine | Tagged: blogging, wine, wine blogger | 
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Posted by themanfrommoselriver
The Christmas tree at the entrance to Capital M in Beijing
As some of you know already, one of my favourite restaurants in Beijing is Capital M at Qianmen with its terrace overlooking Tiananmen square.
During a trip in mid-December, I had the opportunity to dine their again. It was another one of these occasions when I was ready for a treat.
A Christmas tree in the hall welcomed me this time. The whole of Beijing was full of Christmas decoration and Christmas songs were blasted from every loudspeaker in town, so it seemed.
The interior of Capital M
December view of Tian an men
The enlightenment – Bread and butter
I had come from the Enlightenment exhibition at the National Museum of China, and craved for a meal in a nice location, so my natural choice was Capital M at the south end of Tiananmen square with its warm atmosphere and splendid surroundings.
The art of the enlightenment exhibition, by the way, is a wonderful display of one of the most significant times in European history, and I was glad that I had finally found the opportunity to attend the event which is basically celebrating human freedom.
I had even bought the catalogue and had ample time to browse through it while dining at Capital M.
The lunch menu
It was not difficult to choose my meal. Unfortunately, I was by myself and hesitated to order a bottle of wine. Instead I went for the house wine by the glass which allowed me to taste two wines. Naturally, I went for the house wine which I knew from my earlier visits.
The Capital M house wine comes from Angoves, a family-owned and run winery in South Australia has supplied Capital M for two decades already.
I love the wines made by Angoves Family Winemakers which celebrated its 125 year anniversary in 2011.
Capital M’s wine list is very impressive. There is a short list with about 300 wines to choose from and a long list which makes you faint in delight.
Beetroot tart with glazed shallots, mild goats’ cheese and candied walnuts
This is just an awesome dish, smooth and full of flavours. It dissolves in the mouth and the white wine was just the right counterpoint.
A white wine from Angoves Family Winemakers
Pumpkin and almond ravioli in a sage and butter sauce
I did not feel “meaty” and therefore went for the non conventional pasta (how can you put pumpkin in a pasta?).
This is a wonderful composition of different ingredients with distinct flavours. The sage and butter sauce blows you away. My taste-buds had a wild party. The spiciness of the Shiraz accentuated the experience.
A glass of red wine by Angoves
Capital M has been founded by Michelle Garnaut, the well-known Melbourne-born restaurateur, and is the recipient of an impressive list of awards. I also like the GM, Espen Harbitz, who is always present, greeting the guests and asking for feedback.
If you should visit Beijing in the water dragon year, a meal at Capital M should be part of your itinerary.
Address:
Capital M
3/F, No.2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street
(just south of Tian’anmen Square)
Beijing 100051 China
中国北京市前门步行街2号3层
邮编 100051
Tel.: +86-10-6702-2727
Fax: +86-10-6702-3737
www.m-restaurantgroup.com
Leave a Comment » | food, food and wine, Restaurant Review, wine | Tagged: Angoves Family Winemakers, Beijing, Capital M, China, Espen Harbitz, food, Michelle Garnaut, National Museum of China, The art of the enlightenment, wine | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
The Yea butcher shop’s unassuming front
Summer in Australia is also the main barbecue season. We took the opportunity of the great meat supply to indulge in quite a few feasts. This also gave me the opportunity to train in one of the major male Australian skills: operating the barby in masterly fashion.
Where do we get the meat from, you might ask?
Well, the butcher shop in Yea (in the 19th century known as the Muddy Creek settlement) is our destination when shopping for first class meat. Two brothers are running the shop, and they are very friendly and helpful to find the right piece of meat for the planned occasion.
The shop from the inside
The quality of their produce is outstanding. We had a few big occasions for which we needed beef, lamb, pork, chicken and sausages. Whatever we took home was just super-jum. Juicy and fresh, tasty and nurishing.
Yea butcher shop: quality meats
That’s the place to stock up if you need quality Australian meats.Check it out when in Yea.
Address:
Yea Meat Supply Pty Ltd
Butchers–Retail – Yea, VIC
62 High St, Yea VIC 3717, Australia
Te.: +61-03- 5797 2501
2 Comments | food | Tagged: meat, Rural Australia, rural butcher, Two Hills Vineyard, Victoria, Yea | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
I am back at work in Bangkok after a short and exciting assignment in Myanmar. Today was my first day at the office desk. I was staring into the computer screen, reading and answering e-mails, signing contracts and organized many odd and less odd work related things.
I usually skip lunch when working in my office. Instead I eat a muesli bar or some fruit. Green mango is one of my favourites. Naturally that I was reminiscing about the recent past, the glorious days of our Christmas vacation on Two Hills Vineyard.
One very memorable meal was an Anglo-Saxon kind of food combination with roasted potatoes, silver beet, carrots and a leg of lamb. From the pictures you can see how delightful these dishes looked like. But can you also imagine the taste? Gorgeous food, awesome stuff.
The question what wine should we have with this meal was easy to answer. First of course our own 2004 Merlot. But we wanted also something else, something strong and refined, a wine with zest and character.
I selected a ‘2008 Thousand Hills Shiraz’ by one of our neighbouring vintners from the Yea area, the Rees Miller Estate.
I have written a few blog entries about wines produced by Rees Miller Estate ( I also love their Merlot), and I do not want to repeat myself. Silke Rees and David Miller produce some of the best bio-dynamic wines in our region.
The ‘2008 Thousand Hills Shiraz’ is just a wonderful wine, full bodied and spicy with lots of fruit and an intense finish. It was just the ideal accompaniment for the lamb, the potatoes and the veggies. Frankly speaking it was one of the best red wines I drank in 2011. Watch Rees Miller and their wines.
Address:
Rees Miller Estate
5355 Goulburn Valley Highway,
Yea, Victoria, 3717.
Tel.: +61-3-613 5797 2101
E-mail: info@reesmiller.com
Leave a Comment » | food, food and wine, wine | Tagged: Australian wine, David Miller, Glenburn, Rees Miller Estate, Silke Rees, Two Hills Vineyard, Victoria, Yea | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
One of the nicest Sauvignon Blanc blends I had so far this summer is the ‘2011 Deen de Bortoli VAT 2 Sauvignon Blanc’ by de Bortoli Wines.
This is a fresh and clean wine with strong herbal and tropical fruit flavours. The wine is medium bodied and low in alcohol (12%).
About 50 % of the grapes for this brand come from old vineyards in the Riverina region in South Eastern Australia; the other half comes from the cool climate King Valley in Victoria.
As you probably know, 2011 was a difficult year for wine makers all over Australia. First, there was so much rain, second there was so much pressure from fungal diseases and third not all grapes would ripen perfectly.
We enjoyed the wine with a pasta with mussels and chorizo. The perfect choice.
Life is just beautiful.
Leave a Comment » | food, food and wine, wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: 2011 vintage, Australian wine, De Bortoli Wines, Deen de Bortoli, King Valley, Riverina, Sauvignon Blanc, South Easter Australia, Victoria, Yarra Valley | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
After a very enjoyable trip to Port Melbourne where we visited our friends Phillip and Julia who live in a former church (a very interesting dwelling), we returned to the farm and spend a quiet evening at home overlooking the vineyard and the paddocks.
Since we were spoiled with good food the whole day, we decided on a simple “German dinner” meaning cold dishes only. Some Australian cheese, cold cuts, olives, a salad and an avocado together with a German bread would do for the two of us.
Our dinner table
2008 Inigo Shiraz
From under the sink, my secret stash of fine wines, I produced a bottle of ‘2008 Inigo Shiraz’ by Sevenhill Cellars in the Clare Valley in South Australia.
The bottle was left from last years special order which we got through our friend Neville Rowe, who used to work there as marketing manager.
The ‘2008 Inigo Shiraz’ is an old fashioned red, beautifully round and full of flavours, with a lot of alcohol, in short an “umpf” wine, a wine with character. The grapes come from old vines (very old ones) and display black cherries and other dark fruit aromas. The tannins are smooth and has the spicy character we so much love in Shiraz. The finish is long and memorable.
Well, when I work in the vineyard, I inevitably think of the Bible and the many stories about vineyards in the biblical age. In fact many vineyards and wineries in my home town Trier and along the Mosel valley would not exist without “clerical” support.
The Jesuits of Sevenhill Cellars in the Clare Valley know how to make wonderful wines.
My tip: try some wines from Sevenhill Cellars. You won’t regret it.
Leave a Comment » | food, food and wine, wine, wineries | Tagged: Australia, Australian wine, Clare Valley, Glenburn, Inigo Shiraz, Neville Rowe, Sevenhill Cellars, South Australia, Two Hills Vineyard, Victoria | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
We are back on the farm for our Christmas vacation. Yesterday was my first full day. After a long flight from Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia via Beijing, China and Bangkok, Thailand, I had finally gotten to Melbourne. My family picked me up and off we went to Glenburn which we reach at about midnight.
I had traveled a fair bit to get back to Australia, not only distance wise. But Mongolia had minus 37 Celsius (Beijing minus eight) and it went to about 26 plus in Bangkok. The Melbourne night was cool and I slept like a baby in our shed in the countryside about 2 hours north of the Victorian capital.
It is so quiet out here. The night is very dark. We are out in the countryside and one does not see many people. I worked a bit around the house. After that we had our first family meal together. I tell you it was just sensational to have a zucchini paste and an insalata caprese.
Look at the two pictures below, doesn’t the food look delicious?
What about the wine, you might ask?
No, we did not have a Two Hills Merlot with the meal, but instead….
Zucchini pasta
Insalata caprese
….we had a ‘2008 Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay’ blend by Paul Bettio from the King Valley.
I am not a fan of a SB-Chardonnay blends in general. I prefer the two varieties as single grape wines. But this medium dry wine was just a great refreshing drink. The tropical and citrus fruit flavours went very well with the light pasta and the salad.
The King Valley is one of my favourite cool climate wine regions in Victoria. I will tell you more about its wines at a later stage.
2008 Paul Bettion Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay
Leave a Comment » | food, food and wine, wine | Tagged: Australian wine, Glenburn, King Valley, Two Hills Vineyard, V, Victoria | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
A long history of Mongolian civilization
Mongolia is a great place to visit. There are quite a few fast food places in Ulaan Baatar. I liked the Mongolian barbecue place. Altai was its name.
You select your ingredients and your selection will be ‘cooked” on a very hot metal “plate”.
The menu
The cook at work
The result
We drank beer with the food, neither wine nor vodka; after all it was lunchtime only. But as a bonus our host ordered a cooked sheep’s head. You need a sharp knife and off you got and cut off the piece you like. Our host wanted to expose us to “the real stuff”.
Experienced travelers cannot be shocked though.
Delicious sheep’s head
Leave a Comment » | culture, food | Tagged: Altai, beer, Mongolia, Mongolian food, Ulaan Baatar | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
At Friedrichstrasse train station
One of the culinary delights in Berlin, the capital city of Germany is the curry sausage or ‘Currywurst’ in German. I could not resist and even tolerated the long lines of people waiting patiently for their turn to order this very “special” fast food.
The original Berlin “Currywurst”
It does not look as good as it tastes.
You can even have a glass of wine with it, though most people order a beer or a soft drink.
From the long queues, by the way, you can tell the quality of the sausage dish (this felt like Asia where the same rule applies). So do not worry, the service is rather fast and efficient. But try it when next in Berlin.
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Posted by themanfrommoselriver
City gate and Tian an men square seen from Capital M, Beijing
When in Beijing I try to visit at least two places, both my favourite destinations: Red Gate Gallery run by my old friend Brian Wallace and Capital M is a wonderful eatery located right next to the South gate of Tian an men square with a splendid terrace with a great view,. The former I visit to immerse my senses in modern Chinese art, the latter to indulge in good food and enjoy fine wines.
Both places you should visit if in Beijing.
Part of the terrace at Capital M
The menu
A picture of parts of the wine list
I was with a dear friend of mine, and we were ready for lunch after a walk around Tian an men square. We made our way to Capital M. One has a great view from the terrace. It was a sunny autumn day, just the right temperature to sit on the terrace and have lunch.
I did not feel “meaty” and ordered some greens as a starter and a seafood pasta as a main. Needless to say, the food was most delicious. Awesome, especially after days of “only” Chinese food (I do not complain, Beijing has wonderful eateries with great Chinese food), I am craving for something else.
Salad and veggies
Seafood pasta
I was delighted to find a ‘2010 Sauvignan Blanc’ by Shaw and Smith from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia.
2010 Sauvignon Blanc by Shaw and Smith
Shaw and Smith are one of the best producers of Sauvignon Blanc in Australia. The wine is bone dry. Aromas of grapefruit and lime came to my nose with some floral notes as well. It is crisp and clean. This medium bodied wine has a great balance, good acidity and a long finish.
And after lunch, a coffee
We had a very enjoyable lunch at Capital M. The service was, as always, perfect. This is value for money and if you happen to be in Beijing just check it out yourself.
Address:
Capital M
3/F, No.2 Qianmen Pedestrian Street
(just south of Tian’anmen Square)
Beijing 100051 China
中国北京市前门步行街2号3层
邮编 100051
Tel (86 -10) 6702-2727
Fax (86-10) 6702-3737
Leave a Comment » | culture, food, food and wine, Restaurant Review, wine | Tagged: Adelaide, Beijing, Brian Wallace, Capital M, Red Gate Gallery, Sauvignon Blanc, Shaw and Smith, South Australia | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
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The Man from Mosel River
The Man from Mosel River 