July 9, 2009
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
WINE TASTING AT CAPRICCIO
Tuesday July 28 at 7 PM. $20/person
Reservations not required 
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ENTERTAINMENT
THIS WEEK
 
AT MEZZANOTTE
TERRY PARKER
Friday 7/17
7 to 10 PM

terry

The Port Arthur born native of Texas has been mesmerizing audiences for more than 20 years, with his silky smooth renditions of some of the world greatest legends, such as Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Little Anthony, Smokie Robinson and The Platters. Known as Mr. Entertainer, Terry brings the candle of love to any party, by taking us back down memory lane, with Unchained Melody and Sixteen Candles.
 
Lisa
LISA WHITLEY
Saturday 7/18
7 to 10 PM
Lisa is the 2004 winner of KPRC TV's Houston's Gimme the Mike.  Lisa was selected out of 1600 contestants. She has also performed live on the Jerry Lewis Telethon and sang the national anthem for the televised game of the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
 
 
AT CAPRICCIO
GUILLERMO SERPAS
Friday 7/17
7 to 10 PM
Guillermo2
Evoking the influence of legendary guitarist Carlos Santana and popular folk
players, Guillermo produces the electrifying rhythms of salsa, Latin jazz, and bolero, representing his Latin American roots and pumping vigorous life into his virtuoso classical-guitar performances.
NEW TAPAS AT CAPRICCIO!
 
Morcilla Andaluza
Perfectly grilled morcilla sausage accompanied with a pine nut, mango, apple and peach chutney. 
 
Scallops Parmesan
Fresh scallops topped with parmesan cheese and butter are broiled to a delicate crust. A squeeze of lime tops this wonderful tapa.
 
Mussles Chalaca
Large New Zealand mussles are topped with a lime, onion, tomato and cilantro mix. Served chilled this is a perfect summer tapa.

CAPRICCIO TAPAS

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MEZZANOTTE RISTORANTE
 
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In This Issue
Upcoming Events
New Tapas
Super Tuscans
New Summer Cocktails
Prix Fixe Menu
Featured Wines
SUPER TUSCAN WINES ARE FEATURED THIS WEEK AT MEZZANOTTE
Super Tuscans are one of my very favorite wines. But, what are they? Is the term "Super Tuscan" a label, a name, a region, etc.? Well, none of the above. It is actually kind of a nickname.
 
Families have been making wines in Italy for centuries. The Ricasoli family, owners of Castello di Brolio, has been making wine since 1141. It was Barone Bettino Ricasoli who standardized a recipe for Chianti Classico in the mid-19th century. This formula called for sangiovese, the dominant grape, to be blended with red grapes of lesser character, such as canaiolo and mammolo, and two white grapes, malvasia and trebbiano. During the next 100 years, this recipe remained largely unchanged. But some producers wanted to make a richer, riper style of wine, which would mean eliminating the white grapes. Piero Antinori did that in 1970, but because the wine did not conform to the Chianti Classico recipe, he had to give the wine a different name. He chose Tignanello, the name of the vineyard. The following year, Antinori added cabernet sauvignon to the blend. Tignanello became a sensation, and the blend has remained to this day.
A new type of wine had been created, and soon after, the term "super Tuscan" was coined for any Tuscan red that fell outside the traditional blending laws, but came to describe the most expensive, most full-bodied wine a producer offered. 

This week we are featuring 3 Super Tuscans. They all are of different blends and different prices. I am sure you will enjoy them (they go particularly well with food).
 
Cheers!
Gerry
NEW SUMMER COCKTAILS MENU
This is our second week with our new Summer Cocktails menu. It was very well received. Try any one (or all) of them. If you attempt to try them all we may have to drive you home - but that would be fine!
 
Apple Martini (Somewhere USA)
Vodka, Apple Puckers, apple juice
 
Limoncello Martini (Cypress, TX, USA)
Vodka and Limoncello
 
Caipirinha (Brazil)
Brazilian Cachaca, sugar and limes
 
Caipirosca (Brazil)
Vodka, sugar and limes
 
Pisco Sour (Peru)
Peruvian Pisco, lime juice, syrup, Angostura bitters
 
Mojito (Puerto Rico)
Bacardi Rum, mint leaves, sugar, limes.
 
Premium Margarita (Mexico)
Patron Silver Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, syrup
 
Negroni (Italy)
Vodka, Sweet Vermouth, Campari, OJ
 
Cosmopolitan (Minneapolis, USA) 
Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry and lemon juices
 
Blissini (Italy)
Champagne, pomegranate juice, OJ
 
Sgroppino (Italy)
Champagne, Vodka, Lemon Sorbet
PRIX FIXE MENU
And don't overlook our Prix Fixe menu. It was also very well received:
 
4 COURSE PRIX FIXE MENU AT MEZZANOTTE - $35
 
FIRST COURSE
Torre de Verdura
Or
Penne Vodka
Or
Risotto ai Funghi
 
SALAD 
Insalata Mezzanotte
 
MAIN COURSE
Brasato al Barolo (Short Rib)
Or
Tuscan Pork Stew
Or
Chicken Picatta
 
DESSERT
Tiramisu
Or
Canoli
 
Iced Tea & Coffee
 
4 COURSE SAMPLING MENU PAIRED WITH 4 WINES - $48
FEATURED WINES OF THE WEEK
 
Wine Bar
 
MEZZANOTTE
This week we are featuring 3 fantastic Super Tuscans:
 
Toscana Rosso IGT - Villa Antinori
Bottle $46 - Glass $12
Intense ruby red color. Fruity hints on the nose blend well with the toasty, chocolate and vanilla notes from ageing in wood. A complex, well-structured wine with smooth, stylish tannins.  This is a fantastic Super Tuscan made with 60% sangiovese, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot and 5% syrah grapes.

Toscana Maremma IGT - Tommasi Rompicollo
Bottle $30 - Glass $8
This Super Tuscan is 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It opens very nicely with extremely fruity aromas and flavors of ripe cherries, pepper, oak and licorice. The perfumed palate is youthful yet shows some complexity with good depth of ripe fruit and length. Pairs very well with Italian pasta with red meat sauce, white meats, fresh cheeses.
 
Fonterutoli Poggio alla Badiola IGT - Mazei
Bottle $36 - Glass $9
75% Sangiovese and 25% Merlot. This tuscan IGT has a deep inky purple hue and great extraction. At the palate the wine is an explosion of wild berries and cocoa. It is soft, intense, persistent, balanced and it shows creamy, well integrated tannins. Summing up, it seems to drink a much more expensive wine. This is a wonderful wine to enjoy with all different kinds of food: rich and creamy pasta dishes, grilled and braised meats.

CAPRICCIO
This week we are featuring two exciting Spanish wines based on the Monastrell grape (in France is called Mouvedre):
 
Sierra Salinas Alicante "Mo" (Valencia, Spain)
Bottle $28 - Glass $7
Outstanding blend of 90% Monastrell, and 10% Garnacha, Tintorera, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Parker rated it 90 points. Inky ruby. Peppery cherry and dark berry compote aromas, with subtle licorice and chocolate qualities. Livelier on the palate, showing sweet blackberry and blueberry flavors, tangy minerality and dusty tannins. The tannins gain strength on the finish, adding structure and grip to the lush fruit.
Monastrell - Altos de la Hoya (Jumilla, Spain)
Bottle $28 - Glass $7
Stephen Tanzer of International Wine Cellar gave 91 points and wrote, "Deep ruby. Ripe, powerful scents of blackberry, cassis and candied plum, with a bit of garnacha in the blend seeming to brighten the darker fruit character. Fat and lush, with deep, sweet blackcurrant and blackberry flavors and no rough edges. Finishes dense, fresh and long, with a repeating blackberry note. This has the concentration and sappy texture of a much more expensive wine."