tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post6627607878889721426..comments2023-10-09T11:45:33.422-04:00Comments on McDuff's Food & Wine Trail: Putting Riedel Stemware to the TestDavid McDuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274955351036700406noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-21323309456005533922008-08-06T04:40:00.000-04:002008-08-06T04:40:00.000-04:00D - Yes, sorry about what an onerous undertaking i...D - Yes, sorry about what an onerous undertaking it has become to visit Europe these days. Many thanks for the compliment--I would be honored to serve as your European correspondent when there's something useful to contribute. Please drop me a note to josephlogan (@) airpost.net and let me know what you'd like to see. Would also be happy to offer a take on other European locations if there's an audience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-3662814456331614382008-08-04T23:05:00.000-04:002008-08-04T23:05:00.000-04:00I'd love to take you up on the invite, Joseph, as ...I'd love to take you up on the invite, Joseph, as soon as my dollars climb out of the hole they're hiding in.<BR/><BR/>On another note, your comment is post-worthy in its depth and detail. I don't know how many readers I have in The Hague but perhaps you should/would consider writing a guest review here???David McDuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03274955351036700406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-87058966354857564772008-08-04T04:40:00.000-04:002008-08-04T04:40:00.000-04:00Hard to say for sure, D. There are very few place...Hard to say for sure, D. There are very few places to get American wines here, so I would lean toward novelty (or niche targeting, given how swanky the place is). We are under two hours from Germany and about three hours from France here, so I would imagine proximity and maybe a tiny bit of snobbery play a role in the rarity of treats from the West Coast.<BR/><BR/>Puck is excellent. The name once stood for Pure Unlimited California Kitchen, but the "C" is now "Creative". The kitchen is one of the most open kitchens I have seen, integrating smoothly into the dining space without being a Benihana-style show. The food is notable for its freshness and the care with which it is prepared. Though the sushi is one dish on the menu, it rivals the very upscale Oni Japanese restaurant two doors down. Even simple fare such as fish and chips gets a nice twist with the addition of Madras curry and exquisite, thoughtful presentation.<BR/><BR/>Puck seems to do very well for dinner, but I'm surprised they keep the lunch. I have had some lovely lunches there and been almost completely alone in the place. Yet, getting a table for dinner, especially on weekends, requires a bit of advance booking or being a familiar face there. There is also a basement room with an intimate but somewhat clubby feel (if you know Washington Square in Philly, you're getting warmer) called PIP--Place In Puck. They are unusual in that they serve a small bites menu until 12:30 most nights, which is a couple of hours later than most restaurants in The Hague. Ronya and I have had some good jet-lag meals there.<BR/><BR/>The Hague has a wealth of good restaurants, much out of proportion to its size. Puck is among the most interesting, and if you find yourself up for a visit, it would be my pleasure to take you there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-8287368776525477652008-08-03T22:30:00.000-04:002008-08-03T22:30:00.000-04:00Thanks for the clarification, Joseph. I should hav...Thanks for the clarification, Joseph. I should have known better. Btw, Puck looks like a pretty damn stylish spot. I was surprised by the American wine theme. Is there a large demand for that in your area or is it more of a novelty attraction?David McDuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03274955351036700406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-46581686113667576552008-08-03T07:38:00.000-04:002008-08-03T07:38:00.000-04:00Quick amendment to my comment: I am known for ina...Quick amendment to my comment: I am known for inadvertently breaking <I>my own</I> Riedels, not those of the establishments I frequent. That would be poor form.<BR/><BR/>Excellent advice on acknowledging the costs an establishment has incurred in order to provide a better experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-22883800921996145312008-08-01T23:09:00.000-04:002008-08-01T23:09:00.000-04:00WP,I do think the Vinum series offers a measurable...WP,<BR/><BR/>I do think the Vinum series offers a measurable step up from the basic Magnum and Overture glasses but, of course, I can't guarantee you'll agree. <BR/><BR/>As to Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir showing better in the Cab glass, it could be anything from personal preference (on the subjective end of the scene) to alcohol and extract levels (on the objective). As more and more red Burgs are hitting 13.5% and Barolo is notching up as high as 15% (for some '04s I've tasted), a taller, narrower glass may indeed prove more effective.<BR/><BR/>I've said here before that if I were to own just one Riedel glass, it would be their Chianti/Zin/Riesling stem. Extremely versatile, focused enough for delicate wines and just large enough for powerful ones. The Cab glass is very much like an amplified version of the same design. And I too will sometimes use it for whites. <BR/><BR/>Just drank the '05 Briords last week, btw. Not too shabby.David McDuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03274955351036700406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-4612685842762927222008-08-01T00:02:00.000-04:002008-08-01T00:02:00.000-04:00Stemware design vexes me. I have Riedel's cabernet...Stemware design vexes me. I have Riedel's cabernet set and basic pinot/nebbiolo set, but even for the latter varietals I had a better, more focused aromatic experience with the cabernet stemware. Why would this be, I wonder? Should I upgrade to the Vinum line for a better experience?<BR/><BR/>In any case, I use the cabernet glasses for all my wines, even Muscadet -- and tonight's Briords was, I think, nicely showcased. It may be a bit naughty to pour that way, but I gots what I gots...Wicker Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15976225032244371755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-62146765559845249882008-07-31T15:48:00.000-04:002008-07-31T15:48:00.000-04:00Mr. Harden,I must say, thoughts of the Lab crossed...Mr. Harden,<BR/>I must say, thoughts of the Lab crossed my mind as I was writing this. A worthy experiment for your team, I should think. It would be interesting to compare notes.<BR/><BR/>Joseph,<BR/>I was just wondering where you've been. And here you are!<BR/><BR/>I'm always happy to find a restaurant that cares enough to use good stemware, though I do try not to break it ;-) <BR/><BR/>Also, I always try to bear it in mind when considering their corkage fees and/or wine list pricing.David McDuffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03274955351036700406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-11114313693038239082008-07-31T05:51:00.000-04:002008-07-31T05:51:00.000-04:00Attended a tasting several years ago in Kentucky, ...Attended a tasting several years ago in Kentucky, of all places, where the Austrians came over to conduct a similar lab (long before many of the new fashions, I think). The most convincing aspect for me was a comparison between the thin lip of their stemware and the thick, rolled lip of cheap restaurant/bar stemware. The latter had the effect of deadening wines that had seemed much more alive in the good stuff.<BR/><BR/>Incidentally, the restaurant <A HREF="http://www.puckpip.nl/" REL="nofollow">Puck</A> down the street uses Riedel exclusively and for everything--water, wine, the whole thing. Given how many of these I have inadvertently retired and their cost even at wholesale, I'm not sure how they manage it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8017457764988110566.post-86790676416411388212008-07-30T15:53:00.000-04:002008-07-30T15:53:00.000-04:00A Lab worthy trial. Nicely done. Twenty years ag...A Lab worthy trial. Nicely done. Twenty years ago, I was a skeptic about bulb shape, but now I'm never surprised when a Riedl design delivers.Director, Lab Outreachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10624832393197386064noreply@blogger.com