THE BARREL ROOM: A WINETASTER’S TREAT IN RANCHO BERNARDO
Printer-friendly version A column for East County wine and beer enthusiasts 16765 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego CA 92128 (858) 673-7512; www.thebarrelroomsandiego.com By J.J. Gold, guest columnist April 7, 2009 (Rancho Bernardo)—Could a place that received both theWine Spectator 2009 award of excellence and the Wine Enthusiast 2008 award of distinction possibly live up to the hype? I headed off to the Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo, determined to find out. Much to my delight, the wines that I sampled were both unusual and highly pleasing—and the food was equally delectable. With more than 250 wines to choose from, the toughest part was narrowing down the selection to a handful of vintages ranging from $5 to $9 a glass, though the menu includes far pricier options. On this cold and blustery spring day, I nestled down on a leather sofa beside a patio-view window and chose a selection of red wines to sample. First was a 2006 Greg Norman cabernet/merlot that was rich and velvety smooth, with subtle tannins—an ideal companion for Mama’s Brie-a special appetizer of warm brie topped with raspberry preserves and candied pears baked in a puff pastry shell and served with fresh apples. A 2007 Carmel Road pinot noir was even more pleasing, aromatic with flavors of red currant, cherry and spice. But my personal favorite was a 2006 Cinnabar merlot from Pasa Robles. The menu described it as having hints of blackberry, mocha, smoke and vanilla complementing a palate of deep ripe berries and spice. I can’t say that I could detect a smoky taste, but the sensation was definitely pleasing to my palate! The most delectable surprise from a culinary standpoint was the “Sweet and Salty” appetizers—bacon-wrapped dates. Served with a savory mustard, these tidbits virtually melt in your mouth—the perfect aphrodisiacs. For an entrée, I selected Ravioli Florentine, a menu special with spinach, garlic, parmesan cheese and marinara sauce. Other options on the menu included Paninis, salads, Cajun lamb chops, jambalaya, steak, poultry and seafood. My meal was deliciously rich, though the portion was modest. Still, I was sufficiently sated. Next time, I look forward to returning and sampling desert—certain it will be every bit as satisfying as the wines and gourmet foods I’ve already feasted upon. If you’re looking for an upscale yet moderately priced restaurant to while away an afternoon or evening while savoring distinctive wines and foods, I highly recommend The Barrel Room. J.J. Gold is a wine aficionado who has tasted her way through California’s wine regions in the Napa Valley, California’s North Coast, Temecula, and now SanDiego County. Printer-friendly version
FREE FOOD! SPRING VALLEY LIBRARY TO HOST VEGETARIAN DAY
Printer-friendly versionApril 1, 2009 (Spring Valley)–The Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton Street, will host “Vegetarian Day @ Your Library” on Saturday, April 25 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. This one-day free event will offer a wide variety of presentations on the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. The public is invited to sample a variety of vegetarian foods, fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Fruits and vegetables contain many powerful and important disease-fighting nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Most of them help reduce the risk of many cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. A vegetarian diet that incorporates these food groups and other key nutrients can be the healthiest lifestyle choice you’ll ever make. The day’s events will include: A vegetarian sampling of foods from Henry’s, Albertson’s, Fresh n’ Easy, Sunshine Burgers, Chipotle, Tierra Miguel Foundation and more. Vegetarian and Raw food cooking demonstrations and samples from Bryan Au and Healthy and Whole. Presentations by Dietician Kelli Gray Meisner, Certified Nutritionist Sara Krencicki, the Tierra Miguel Foundation, and author Bryan Au (Raw in Ten Minutes). Resource tables, displays and promotion of coupons, literature and giveaways. Crafts for all ages. This event is open to the public and reservations are not required. For more information please call Jennifer Teitelbaum at (619) 463-3006. Printer-friendly version
CA DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION TO PROMOTE ON-SITE RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION AS ALTERNATIVE TO NEW TRANSMISSION LINES, MASSIVE WIND OR SOLAR FARMS
Printer-friendly versionMarch 20, 2009 (El Cajon)—The East County Democratic Club has adopted a resolution calling for local, on-site generation of solar and wind power as alternatives to massive wind and solar farms, which would require new transmission lines including Sunrise Powerlink. Advocates hope to persuade the State Party’s Resolutions Committee to allow the measure to be considered by delegates at the California Democratic Party convention in Sacramento in late April. The resolution notes that “large solar arrays and wind farms, while reducing air emissions, cause significant environmental impact, keep the consumer dependent on utility control and pricing of electricity, require the installation of roads through sensitive wilderness areas, and require the installation of large scale transmission lines and substations to service those facilities. In addition, the resolution cites problems associated with overhead transmission lines that are “costly, unsightly, damaging to the environment, pose excessive risk of wildfire1, limit conventional airborne fire-fighting techniques, are easily damaged by vandalism or terrorism, and consume a significant fraction of the power being transmitted (losses in the USA were estimated at 7.2% in 1995” as reasons why the measure should be adopted. In addition, proponents point to recent advancements in small-scale, on-site wind turbines, photovoltaic electricity generation, passive technologies and conservation and notes that combining such technologies can make generation of energy at or close to the point of use both cost effective and efficient, avoiding transmission line losses and providing a positive net “green collar” job-creation statistic when compared with conventional energy production technologies. The resolution, if adopted by the State Democratic Party, calls for support of opportunities to advance on-site passive and active generation of electricity with wind and solar technologies, including” innovative funding approaches to allow homeowners, small businesses and large businesses alike, to rapidly deploy such technologies on millions of residential and business properties by mitigating up-front capital requirements and providing for a means to transfer the investment from one owner to the next and to allow the owner to sell excess power back onto the distribution network.” The latter would require a change in state law, a change advocated by Supervisor Dianne Jacob and others. In addition, the resolution calls for de-emphasizing large transmission lines, large solar and wind farms. It would also seek to have undergrounding of new transmission lines become the primary installation technique—a move aimed at “minimizing environmental and fire-risk impacts and simultaneously making their use economically undesirable, with the result that on-site technologies will find favor.” The cost to underground two miles of Sunrise Powerlink transmission lines in Alpine has been estimated at $92 million by SDG&E. If adopted, the resolution’s provisions would become part of the official party platform and reflect the party’s intent, but would not carry the weight of law unless adopted by the California Legislature. The measure was drafted by Raymond Lutz, former candidate for the 77th Assembly District, and Jeanette Hartman, Land Use Committee Chair, Sierra Club of San Diego. Printer-friendly version