nineteen eighty eight

Sitting in tonight, after an unsuccessful recruit mission to fulfill my gambling needs at the Paiute Palace (the only 24 hour casino nearby) just 30 minutes south from here in Bishop.  Earlier tonight I drank one of the worst wines... i want to say ever (Firefly Ridge 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon).  I knew it would be bad ...maybe just felt like proving a point.  Kinda tasted like cranberry juice, ocean spray.. in a very bad way. After half o' glass, turned that bitch into some sangria... apples and oranges, drizzle of lemon juice, much better but hey i guess i was quite hot faced at that point...maybe on the verge of schrodered...

I thought of some good wines I drank a month back on the east coast, then i thought of the 88 mouton, and the 88 chatuea d'yquem... what was going on in the year 1988?  Well i was only 3, but it reminded me of a recent video post on facebook.  More specifically, what was going on in '88 in the world of snowboarding?  After watching triple flips amongst other ridiculous tricks on Winter X Games 15 on ESPN this week,  it felt very comforting to go back 23 years and see how simple and fun snowboarding once was....

Craig Kelly, Brekenridge Colorado in the year 1988.

In 2003 Craig died in an avalanche, but he will always be remembered as a pioneer and godfather of snowboarding.

Tyson vs. Spinks June 27, 1988.

Mike Tyson 22 years old (34-0) knocks out Michael Spinks (31-0) in just 91 seconds.

Mammoth Snowpowcalypse

Mammoth Mountain, celebrating the record breaking december snowfall of 209 inches with the big snow bash this weekend.... 50 degree days, shredding, and kicking it in the sun with $3 burritos and coronas at Roving Mammoth on top of chair 4, some live ass bands at main park.. and superpipe being built in south park right now, good fucking times!

roving mammoth

entrance to the art park dedicated to Jeff Anderson....

what does the next few days have in store? ... heres a typical mammoth lakes, CA forecast

34°F | °C Current: Partly Cloudy Wind: E at 13 mph Humidity: 52% Sat 44°F | 19°F Sun 49°F | 20°F Mon 48°F | 21°F Tue 50°F | 22°F

Friulian slip

 

As I awake at 5 am from a restless night in California, I make a Cappuccino and while half watching Sabato, Domenica, E Lunedi I search through my fellow bloggers pages (particularly Samantha's) and read about the anticipation for the COF2011 Friuli trip.  Sleep deprived and out of it, my Friulian mind starts wondering into fantasies of Prosciutto di San Daniele.  The cured ham produced in San Daniele del Friuli that is slightly sweeter and more delicate than the more famous Prosciutto di Parma...  I have always favored the San Daniele and now I must visit it's home.  A shared love for the art of cured meat is one thing that makes me and my sister very close (as seen below).  A well made, simple, beautiful piece of prosciutto crudo is an art form and until you understand it's concept you haven't lived gastronomical life.  Can't wait to taste with y'all... Grappa and Cigarettes.. (not a bad blog name)

My sister ''Ashcan'' and I, shopping for jamon in Alicante, Spain. January 2009

wish you were here...

first edition of the crewsaiderz webisode for the 2011 season... take back the slopes!
minimal snowboarding, ma tanta grinta, tanto bordello!!!

Throwback CZ 4

just Re-discovered the link to CZ 4, A croosadabilia snowboarding film released in 2006 by the Crewsaidurz...4th edition
ENJOY!

CZ..FOUR

G | Myspace Video

Seared ahi tuna at skadi

The seared Ahi Tuna at Skadi restaurant was epic last night.  Served with chanterelle mushrooms and green beans in a ponzi sauce.  Paired quite nicely with a bottle of Falanghina... Thanks Peter!

Skadi
587 Old Mammoth Rd
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
760.934.3902

Later, a stop at Whitebark bar for a Blanton's & Canton. A brilliant concoction of Blanton's Bourbon. Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, lemon juice, and some bitters.  (Check out the amazing composition of dropped rocks which makes up the ceiling over the bar.)

Whitebark bar and restaurant at Westin monache resort
50 Hillside Drive
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Terje...snow porn

Gigondas drinking like a charm

Met up with some old friends at Skadi Restaurant on a Sunday night in Mammoth Lakes, California. A brilliant little restaurant which we shall be dining at later this week.
Indulged in a few half bottles of E. Guigal Gigondas 2006

60% grenache

30% mourvèdre

10% syrah

production: 120,000 bottles

aging: 2 years in oak

price range: $20

The wine was drinking gorgeous for me.  After 15 minutes really opening up with heaps of red fruit and a beautiful layering on the palate, perfect acidity and tannins present.  The second bottle we opened was oxidized, and after 10 minutes undrinkable.  The third was a charm again... 
This gigondas is a nice value at around $20....I'm a big fan of E. Guigal lately, especially the 2007 Cotes Du Rhone at around $10 a bottle is tough to beat for an everyday table wine.

road from reno to mammoth lakes...

Travels to Mammoth means flying into Reno, and an inevitable stop at the casino...

For you east-coasters unfamiliar with In and Out Burger...

Sun setting on Rt 395 towards Mammoth..

On the mountain Sunday January 9th, big winds.

Memorable wines while ringing in the new year like a Tsar.

Magical night at the castle, working for the first time on a New Years Eve.  Was well worth it, tasting and serving some incredible french wines.  As I'm now taking time off to travel, work on a wine project and shred the epic snowfall on the west coast, I will miss the folks and extraordinary wines I had the chance to work with.

balloons, champagne, dancing...

Sommelier Luc Chevalier with the Imperial of Veuve Clicquot.

Opening this gigantic bottle was not so easy.  We resorted to the pliers, and then the corkscrew eventually striking wine.

Marcassin ''Blue-Slide Ridge'' Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2001- Was quite a sensation to drink, and everyone dug it being paired with the duck, fig and mache.  Very full bodied, sharp bright red fruits, nice acidity.  The best pinot noir I have had coming from the United States...

Domaine de la Romanèe-Conti La Tache 2000 -  Always a pleasure to be able to drink a DRC, whether you like them or not its a memorable experience.  This 2000 was aromatic and very clean, direct and clear in its delivery.  Those brilliant DRC red fruits coming out... Still holding back much complexity that will come in ten years.  For me it was no contest next to the

DRC Romanèe-Saint-Vivant 2001 I tasted the day before.  Romanee-Saint-Vivant has been described as ''a magical wine, rich, elegant, sophisticated and remarkably harmonious and complex''.  With age it is said to take on a nose of a wilted rose (une rose fanèe).

This Saint Vivant had aromas bursting out of the glass that were incredibly complex, irresistible and just plain delicious (it much helped having a proper burgundy glass).  Possibly the most enticing bouquet I have ever experienced in a wine.  Unfortunately I only tasted very little of the wine but it was extraordinary and very memorable.

the very large cork, coming out of the imperial (6 lt bottle)

Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac 1988 - Label art by Keith Haring, New York City artist.  This wine showing some terroir love.  Deep dark fruit, but most of all strong mushroom, forest, and herbs all over the place.  Complex, Smooth, and drank beautifully the next day as well, not showing any flaws after 24 hours.  Watch Christelle open this monster on vimeo below...

Opening an Imperial of Mouton Rothschild 1988 with Christelle Cotar from croosadabilia on Vimeo.

The chateau d'yquem 1988 was straight gorgeous.

Was great poppin' a magnum of 2002 Cristal Rosè at midnight, but I was a bit disappointed and expected much more out of this bottle.
At midnight Christelle brought us out side scurrying over to release three balloons representing three wishes for the new year in french tradition.
Happy new years brothers and sisters!
drink well

Frascati spotting in Albany

Was psyched to see Frascati on the wine menu at Caffè Italia, in Albany NY the other night in occasion of my mothers 50th birthday party.  I am very sheltered from certain wines when in western Massachusetts, even from some of these mass produced ones.  Frontana Candida produces 8 million bottles of Frascati a year of which 6.5 million are exported.  It is a classic ''supermarket wine'' in Rome, costing about 4 or 5 Euros, and is very nostalgic for me.  Seeing this label I instantly remembered the hot summer days spent in Rome drinking Frascati and cooling off on our noisy ass terrace overlooking busy and chaotic streets.


Frascati: terra di principi, vino di papi e poeti.
Frascati is a very small and historical town, which is part of the Castelli Romani located southeast of Rome.  The wine has been a staple of roman culture for over 2,000 years.  Frascati is made up mainly of Malvasia, Trebbiano, and Greco.  There are three styles of wine produced: Superiore (dry), Cannellino (sweet), and Spumante (sparkling).

Marino, a nearby town in the Castelli Romani holds a sagra di uva in the fall, you can peep wine coming out of the fountain in the main piazza.  A true shit show, where all come to fill their cups with the flowing wine free of charge, and then watch the local teens puke their guts out not too long after...

Remembering Frascati....a mid day picnic style lunch in Frascati with the freshest salumi, olives, wine bread and cheese served with local honey.  The wine served chilled on a hot summer day is one amazing way to refresh yo-self!

xmas foto slide

the 2006 oddero barolo showing great potential, recently released and so young still.. but after an hour or so opening up with some herbs and liquorish, big tannins, but still beautiful food wine, nice with the prime rib that evening.

potato peeling

roast pork, in the style of porchetta.. roasted with skin which gets crispy, and is unbelievably tasty, especially the next day in a sandwich.

contenta family in action

i struffoli

caffe' kimbo makes for a one of a kind espresso

la crema.. this neopolitan concoction is made by taking the very first coffee which seaps out of your moka coffee maker.  you take that and whip it with sugar in the raw and it becomes creamy like shown above.  layer your empty espresso glass with this mixture and pour the espresso and you will notice the difference. 

big franks homemade eggnog

ending the night with mercante in fiera, a classic italian card game