"wine bars" news and stories

Wine bars are often chosen for their ambiance and menu (Is it a place to be seen? How are the small plates?). I've found a few that -- while the ambiance and food are great -- are set apart because they hone in on specific wine-growing regions or grape varietals.

Consider a visit to one of these wine bars a quick 101 lesson in one type of wine.

French Champagne is the name of the game at Pops for Champagne in Chicago. In a single visit you can sip a virtual voyage around France. Only half or full bottles are available (no wines by the glass) but that might be all the more reason to round up a few friends and assemble a casual tasting at Pops. A few unusual wines grabbed my attention, such as August Hill Winery Fronterac Rosé (Illinois, $42); under the "Sparkling Rose" category are a few non-French producers. The Magnum-sized bottle of 1990 Jacquesson Avize Grand Cru Dégorgement Tardif ($1,250) also stood out. Other producers represented include Bollinger, Krug, Gaston Chiquet, Michel Arnauld et Fils and H. Billiot Fils. Artisan cheeses from Oregon, Wisconsin and Vermont are on the food menu, as are items like house-made pickles, smoked almonds, chocolate ganache cake, charcuterie platters, oysters, caviar, foie gras and fries with a side of garlic-herb butter.Consider this a good place to learn about what pairs well with Champagne.

Wine bars are multiplying in New York like Starbucks circa 1997, and they've got good food too! Is this really new?

Increasingly discriminating undergrads are prompting college dining halls to revamp their menus, offering sophisticated choices like curried butternut squash soup and à la carte lobsters. I knew I should have deferred a couple years!

Everyone's going crazy for cachaça, a Brazilian sugar cane liquor.

Traditional French food is back at upscale New York restaurants. Hello again, pâté en croûte.

The Minimalist does poached fish in lettuce leaves. Looks a bit odd, but I trust the Minimalist, don't you?

Recipe: crispy tofu with shiitake mushrooms and chorizo. I'm trying this one.

And a one-pot recipe for Mediterranean fish soup.

Source

Back in the day, when I didn't want to drive from the Westside all the way to Hollywood to go clubbing, I'd settle for a small club called Sugar in Santa Monica. It wasn't really "settling," as the small warehouse-y space was cozy but cool, the people were beautiful, and the bass was deep.

But I've grown up now, and clubbing isn't something I do all that often. Luckily, the space where Sugar used to be has grown up, too. It is now the second location of Bodega Wine Bar, a chic, sleek little wine bar whose older sister in Pasadena has a loyal following. They serve wine (obviously), as well as beer, sake, soju, and a bit of food so you can pace yourself. 

Bodega Wine Bar's westside location is at 814 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (310)  394-3504.