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Happy Spring from Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro !! 
Greetings!
Along with the blooming of rhododendrons, tulips, dogwoods and lilacs comes green lawns and PATIO DINING!! Our patio is now open for business so we hope you can join us for the phenomenal views of Gillette Stadium and the Hall at Patriot Place. We'll be holding many exciting events in the weeks and months ahead as we take advantage of the great weather. Don't forget that concert season is also upon us and you will be able to take in some phenomenal concerts this summer from the comfort of Tastings' beautiful patio. You will feel like you're in the stadium, yet able to enjoy world class cuisine, wine, cocktails and beer from the comfort of our patio and no bathroom lines!. Stay tuned for details on our concert packages. Also, weather permitting, our patio will become the focal point of our Tuesday Night Tastings.
In this edition of our newsletter, our Executive Chef, Rich Garcia, elaborates on our new Spring 2009 menu in his "From the Chef..." article. Our self-avowed cork dork, GM & Sommelier Dave Cicciarella, provides his views on some great spring wine selections that you can try. We also would like to introduce our newest staff member, Master Mixologist Scott Shoer. We finally convinced Scott to come out to the suburbs and you will soon learn why he has been deservedly recognized as one of Boston's most talented bartenders for years. Finally, we also are providing you with a rundown on some of the exciting events we are planning for the weeks ahead.
We look forward to seeing you out on the patio. Cheers!
Patti Martin | |
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 From the Chef....
To anyone who supports localism, farm-to-table relations, or just plain great 'haute farm cuisine', the menu you've been waiting for has arrived! Spring is finally upon us, and some of the most sought after ingredients are starting to make their way to the table. We have created a menu that reflects the best that this season has to offer. Some of the offerings right now..., ramps, fiddleheads, sun chokes, spring dug parsnips, veal raised naturally in upstate New York, Atlantic halibut and Maine diver scallops to name a few.
One of the great things about the new Spring menu is that we have decided to give you a true farm-to-fork experience. We will be changing the seasonal section of the menu often, to assure that we are providing you with only the freshest and best tasting products the local farms, ranches & fisheries have to offer.
Right now is honestly the slowest time of the year for the local produce farms, most of the winter root vegetables are running out, wild spring vegetables are limited and all the summer vegetables and herbs are in their early stages of life. But this is the sign that chefs wait for, the time of the year that things will just keep getting better and product more plentiful. Please be sure to come back often and experience the change in the seasons through food.
We have also added a "Chefs Tasting Menu" which is already proving to be very popular in just it's second week. This option includes 5 courses designed with you in mind. We will personalize a menu for you and let you enjoy your experience the way food and wine should be enjoyed... in a beautiful, relaxing environment with your friends and family. Let us do all the work and create a menu that will allow you to taste your way through our menu and the season. Our sommelier will also be on hand to pair the perfect wines with the cuisine. I hope to see you here this spring!
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Wine Tips from Dave
It's springtime!!! The days are getting warmer and longer, which means we have more time to have fun and DRINK WINE!!! Nothing beats the feeling of gathering with friends after a long day's work and letting the splendorous essence of some good vino subdue our busy minds. After six long months of overcast skies and snow storms, the time has finally come when we can sit out on the patio, let the late afternoon sun gently beat upon us, and enjoy the fresh riches of the earth. This spring, I've added some great little gems to our list which I just can't wait for everyone to try! My goal when moving into this excitingly refreshing season is to find wines that are reflective of the season's character and spirit......young, bright, and vibrant. Here are some of my favorites for spring: 2007 Tim Adams Pinot Gris - Clare Valley, Australia - This wine hits all of the major points for me and is very well balanced. It starts with fresh peach and pear notes, shows a hint of sweetness and fullness on the mid palate, and finishes with a cleansing acidity. 2006 Chateau de Sancerre - Loire Valley, France - This sauvignon blanc has been on the list for a while, but now we're offering it by the glass! I love the tangy orange and lime notes expressed in this one.....vibrant citrus, but not overdone. It finishes crisp, with great minerality and leaves the palate begging for more. 2005 R. Merlo Chardonnay - Trinity County, California - Might be the best value as far as the chardonnays go on this list. The complex flavors that emerge from this wine make it a steal for $32! Lots of vanilla cream, fresh pineapple, and citrus blossom to name a few......lightly oaked chardonnay with a hint of caramel apple. 2006 Patricia Green, 'Balcombe' Pinot Noir - Dundee Hills, Oregon - This one's perfect for a cool spring day. Intense aromas of bing cherry and roses flow throughout the wine and the flavors are focused on juicy red fruit compote. Excellent. 2005 Clos Mimi, 'Petite Rousse' Syrah - Paso Robles, California - 100% syrah from Paso Robles. This is, by far, the most unique tasting syrah I've ever had. Very light bodied and is bursting with wild berry and plum flavors with a silky mouth-feel. Good minerality. Vegan wine. 2005 Turley, 'Juvenile' Zinfandel - California - Always a consistent winner in my book. This one is beaming with zesty raspberry flavors with a touch of smoked wood and pepper. Runs the gamut of a zinfandel profile all in one wine. Superb! In addition to the new list, we are also offering a Chef's Tasting Menu every night paired with wines. Rich, Matt, and I have a blast putting these menus together and really look forward to sharing our passion for food and wine pairing with you! Whether you choose to have us create a menu of existing dishes from our menu or put it ALL in our hands and let us play with a spur of the moment menu, I know you'll enjoy every course!!
And last but certainly not least, we are now offering to tailor make a special cocktail, beer or wine tasting party for you and your friends or colleagues in either Tasting's beautiful wine room or out on our patio overlooking Gillette Stadium and The Hall at Patriot Place. This is a great way to gather with friends, entertain clients, reward employees, or have a staff social event.
If you want to learn more about wine you can book your own private session with me and I can help you become an instant expert!! I can offer topics ranging from learning how to taste wine to food and wine pairing, or sessions on how to blind taste wine. If you have a certain aspect of the world of wine that you'd like to know more about, I will be happy to customize the class to your desired subject. Each session is $50 per person and light fare will be served.
If either of these new programs interest you, feel free to call me at the restaurant at 508-203-WINE (9463) or e-mail me at dave.cicciarella@tastingswinebarandbistro.com .
Cheers! Dave Cicciarella |
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Meet the Mixologist...
If you are like me, then you can't wait for the warm weather. It's right around the corner here in New England, where the turf on the field at Gillette Stadium will look like real grass, the herbs will be grown on the roof of the restaurant, and the drinks will be cold and plentiful. Many changes are upon us, not only seasonally, but behind the bar as well. As the new Bar Manager here at Tastings, I will bring over a dozen years of experience mixing fresh quality cocktails, classic prohibition era libations, and my love of all things beer to the already fantastic wine program put forth by Sommelier Dave Cicciarella. I look forward to mixing spring/summer classics such as Dark and Stormy, Pisco Sours, and Margaritas using only fresh squeezed juices and quality spirits. Join me at Tastings for new cocktails featuring fresh fruit infusions, straight from the (roof) garden ingredients, and cocktails that are soon to be classics! If you are a beer lover, don't worry, we have you covered. The bar at Tastings will be serving local, seasonal, and classic brews from Nantucket to Belgium. Draught beer, bottled beer, and several large format microbrews great for sharing will continue the tradition of 'tasting' at Tastings all year long. Executive Chef Rich Garcia is also in on the bar action serving $3 pintxos at the bar daily from 5-7. These affordable small bites are the perfect pairing with a casual beer after work, or a night of cocktails and wine on the patio. Make sure to stop by the bar and ask what's new, and be sure to say hello to the new guy in Foxboro. Oh... and stay tuned for more details on special upcoming Thursday evening Mixology Mixers where we will serve up some great summer cocktail specials, highlight our kick-ass selection of beers and offer specials on some great bar snacks. This is sure to become one of Patriot Place's coolest happy hours!
Cheers!
Scott Shoer
Bar Manager
Alcohol Aficionado
General Wisenheimer
Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro |
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Click on events for more info or call us at 508-203-WINE. |
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May 28: Foxboro TurfsUp Benefit(6 to 10pm)
July 18: Elton John & Billy Joel Concert
July 28: AC/DC Concert
August 15: 6th Annual Country Music Festival
August 20: Pats vs. Bengals
Sept 20 & 21: U2 Concert
July 28: AC/DC Concert | |
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