Jared – Sally’s Pizza?!? That’s heresy! The only real pizza made in the US is at Pepe’s.

For all of you who live in CT (seems like there are quite a few) I need to give props to Le Petit Cafe in Branford. It was started by Jacques Pepin’s son probably 15 years ago and serves French food. They have two seatings a night and the food is amazing (prix fixe). I think Jacques lives in Madison (or at least he used to). When I worked at Bishop’s farm market in Guilford (high school job) he would come in all the time and want to talk about eggplants for some reason. My dad sold him a Peugeot back in the 1970s and claims his over-the-top accent is totally phony.

Gary,

Even though you can’t ship to Tennessee I watch your WLTV episodes. Some day Tennessee may move out of the “dark ages” and remove the stranglehold of the wine distributors in this state. Not to worry though, when I retire, I will be in a state where I can import.

Now we have that completed on the the question and 1 comment.

Favorite Restaurant in Memphis, TN area is easy.

Cafe Society
212 N Evergreen St
Memphis, TN 38112

The comment on Pizza was very interesting. I will try some, as I am a huge Rioja fan.

My wife and I also enjoy Champagne and or Sparkling Wine with pizza. Excellent!

Iowa might not be known for its restaurant, but Lincoln Café in Mt. Vernon is changing that. Their menu features three entrée specials that change weekly so every time you go there you are guaranteed a dinner worth the trip.

http://www.foodisimportant.com/

I have been watching your podcast for a while, but this is my first post.

love it…but can you give us some real bargains

GV,

Alright, alright. I’ve been watching WL TV for the past two months, and I haven’t held up my end of the bargain. You finally broke me and today’s my 1st comment. Pretty excited about the Ridge Zin, which is my uncle’s favorite type of wine. I think I’ll bring a bottle of the Independence School to Thanksgiving dinner back in Massachusetts. Speaking of which, a certain football team from said state will be coming to NJ and is going to roll all over your JETS this weekend 🙂

Although originally a New England native, I’ve lived in Denver the past 3 years and was in the Bay Area for 5 before that, and I must say that Denver’s food scene is highly underappreciated. If you make it to the great state of CO on your restaurant tour you should check out Rioja (http://www.riojadenver.com/). Later,

NateDogg

P.S. Just bought my first Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the 2003 Le Vieux Donjon. Unfortunately I’ll have to wait 10 years to drink it… My fiancee and I also love the Paneretta Chianti Reserva â?? your video e-mail was a great inspiration!!!

Great episode as always. Didn’t get to my question maybe one of these days. Always a fan of Ridge Zinds, haven’t had the Independence School yet and will have to try some.

Restaurants
Two in Napa in Yountville Bistor Jeanty and French Laundry when I can get by the reservation number
Used to love Emeril’s Delmonico before the Hurricanre and Commanders Palace in NO
Nobu for Japanese in NYC
Absolute favorite is one you went to El Bulli

Gary….in Cape May you must visit 410 Bank Street but unfortunately it’s only seasonal. You’ll take home two orders of the blackened scallops!

Going to a tasting of Oregon wines…any info to share?

I live in New York (Manhattan), one of the best “restaurant cities” in the country, so the selection is huge, but I would agree with a few earlier postings that Daniel is at the top. Impeccable service, outstanding food and wine and a genuinely gracious host (Daniel Boulud). Carnivorously speaking, my top steakhouse vote goes to Peter Luger (Brooklyn).

I have a question for you, Gary. If your father didn’t own a wine shop, what do you think you would be doing today careerwise?

Chinon and pizza, eh? Can’t believe I never thought of that; it’s worked with just about everything else.

Speaking of CabFranc upthread: don’t know if they have it here, but Ironstone makes a nice California CF for the price, and Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur, and Touraine will all point you in the right direction (the CRB Touraine Cabernet I picked up last year was one of the most astonishing $10 wines I’ve ever had).

QOD: since there aren’t a lot of killer restaurants in the sticks and I can usually do better on the front porch, I’ll nominate the last truly great meal I had out, at Tosca in DC–great Northern Italian stuff and Barbaresco by the glass, which was good enough to make me go in search of more. Good times.

I am in Wine Library all the time, and I have never seen you!! Looking forward to a brush with a celebrity!! Anyway, my second comment here, and still want to know if I am drinking junk wines if I only really like semi-sweet wines? Are there any hightly rated Semi-sweets?

Gary, great episode, you were like a speed demon getting thru all those questions. Reading all these responses,there are so many HUGE name places, of course their good. My favorite eating place is a gem called Bistro 614, located on Penn Ave., West Reading, PA. Private and top of the line. It’d be a real treat for you to try it, their sommelier would flip if you showed up.

Keep up the great work, Gary. Bring your wife to PA.

GV thank you for asnwering my questions you rule like chicken nuggets on a teusday.

QOD – all in Rochester,Ny…here ya go Chris V.

Hogans Hideaway – great home town feel, small wine list though, dinner $15-$25 http://www.hoganshideaway.com/

pomodoro grill and wine bar – Nice place, casual dress, dinner about $20

Mama Sans – Great thai food, very few wine choices dinner $10-15 http://www.mamasans.com/

2vine – favorite for a date, dinners $20-30, awesome wine list at great prices http://www.2vine.com/Default.asp

The grill at strathallan – got wine spectators top award of excelance, HUGE wine list, great but expensive food

Gary, great show as usual. My favorite restaurant of all time is C’era Una Volta. It’s a family run restaurant in the hills of Tuscany right outside Montespertoli. Freshest Veal Chop my wife and I have ever had. Great local Chianti which unfortunately we did not buy enough of while there.

Gary, I want to second Sam Zen’s (who always makes very thoughtful and smart comments) recommendation about devoting one episode a week to JUST answering questions. This past episode was so educational. By answering so many questions – you address the education of thousands of viewers. Maybe do a Wed or Firiday “question-only” day. 4 days of wine tasting, one day of question answering. What do you think?
Joe

OK. De-lurking as per your request and finally leaving a comment.

I enjoy the blog very much.

Since I am writing, here is a suggested sign off for you (QOD from days gone by). Just throw a cork at the lens. We’ll see what kind of aim you have, Jets fan.

Favorite restaurant: Flagstaff House, Boulder, Colorado- Outstanding wine selection and food with a view of Boulder and Denver from the mountainside.

GV, great energy on ep 88, way to come back strong after a day off on Fri!

QOD – Here are my two cents on Chicago restaurants. There is one clear winner, and it is Alinea. If you live in the Chi area and haven’t been there you are missing a true experience. Forget Trotter’s, Tru (which is great), Blackbird, et al. Owner and head chef came from Trio, which when he was there was consistently ranked right with French Laundry and Le Cirque in what I will call the “new world” category of restaurants, very creative, my wife describes it as “Willy Wonka for adults.” Dinner for two will run about a bottle of Amarone easy so it’s only a special occasion place for me… dining with GV and other WLTV viewers from chitown would certainly qualify as a special occasion

Hi Gary,
I really like your TV show a lot. I discovered it by using DemocracyPlayer software in which WLTV is available.

I would like to know your feelings about french wines from Loire. In this episode you told about Chinon and I remember that you already tasted and appreciated a Sancerre wine. I like other wines like some Bourgueil, Saumur-champigny, Anjou-villages, coteaux du Layon and coteaux de l’Aubance. Do you know these wines and do you like?

QOD: Menelik in Paris (food from Ethiopia), great!

Jean F. from Anjou, France

Gary, My favorite restaurants are: Cote D’azur in Naples, Florida and Saporitos’ Florence Club Cafe in Hull, Massachusetts. Both restaurants offer superlative food and have quaint, rustic settings that are perfect pairings for enjoying excellent wine. All the best to you, as I’m just beginning to be interested in wine….thanks to you and your WLTV. Kathy H. Naples, FL

Gary, another great show. My favorite restaurant is Al Forno Restaurant in Providence RI.

http://www.alforno.com/

Thanks

BillD,
I was also inspired to blog about Gary and WLTV last month – I even beat you by about a week 🙂
I’m glad to see that Gary is getting some great press and feedback from wine lovers from around the world. Gary told me that he had seen my blog soon after it was posted, so we know he’s out there looking for reactions to WLTV. My blog entry can be found at http://blog.thegrapenuts.net/?p=35

Steve B

Chad Penn… who?
Mike Vick Baby!!

Best restaurant RAINWATER in Atlanta. Food incredible, service impeccable, superb wine list and the after dinner NOVAL port well it finished a glorious evening for my family of 17 folks. Keep up the good work and yes the Seattle Seahawks will beat the Jets.

Hey if you guys want real pizza, come to Brooklyn….Totonno’s in Coney Island has the best pizza outside of Naples (and believe me, I had the pizza in Naples and nothing compares). I am convinced that there is no pizza in the US that tastes as good as pizza does from NY, especially Brooklyn. I may be biased because I live in Brooklyn, but I have had pizza in many other states and its sad what they think good pizza is.