Photo courtesy of Left Bank Brasserie

It's that time of year again -- Beaujolais Nouveau, the “first wine” of the harvest season is being fêted at Larkspur's Left Bank Brasserie November 20.  The celebration features Georges Dubœuf, Beaujolais-Villages, Nouveau, 2014 ($9.00 per glass, $27.00 per carafe, $36.00 per bottle), plus a celebratory $46.00 three-course prix fixe menu available for lunch and dinner in addition to the restaurant's regular à la carte offerings. The prix fixe price excludes beverage, tax, and gratuity and each course can also be served à la carte. The menu, with al la cart pricing as well is:

Appetizer

Terrine de jambon persillée, céleri-rave a la graine de moutarde

et croûtons à l'ail $12.00

herbed ham terrine, whole grain mustard, celery root salad, garlic crouton

or

Quenelle de poisson sauce Nantua $15.75

traditional baked fish dumpling, crayfish sauce

Main Course

Le bœuf Bourguignon $26.00

24 hour Beaujolais marinated beef stew with aromatic vegetables,

bacon, pearl onions, and mushrooms

Dessert

La tarte amandine aux poires et cassis, crème a la pistache $8.00

Burgundy style pear and huckleberry almond tart,

pistachio whipped créme fraîche

Left Bank Brasserie Larkspur

507 Magnolia Avenue

Larkspur, CA 94939

(415) 927-3331

www.LeftBank.com

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

California story

After a busy and enjoyable day, there was no time for photos (especially driving to Napa for one), so I found this beauty at iStock photos. Besides swimming and a bit of hot tubbing, my Dad, a friend and I went to see "Bottle Shock". Having a close relationship with a winery that placed in the competition covered, I couldn't help but want to see it. It is a very enjoyable portrayal of the events.

Viva Zinfandel! Yesterday I enjoyed attending the 2007 Zinfandel Festival at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
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I was lucky enough to attend with a trade member, so got in before the crowds were unnavigable. There was no way to even taste a reasonable sampling of the show, so I just ambled along enjoying randomly. Zinfandel is considered the wine and vine of America, although the origins are from Croatia originally. I enjoyed my old favorite, Ridge Vineyards various offerings. Someone standing behind me in line said that Ridge's Lytton Springs old vine zinfandels are the standard against which all other old vines zins are compared. One can never go wrong with a Ridge wine.

The new taste I enjoyed most at the show was a 2004 Zinfandel from Rombauer Vineyards. I am not facile with wine tasting descriptions, I just know what I like, and this one I would add to my collection.

I put all the tastes I tried from the show into the slide show above... There were two huge buildings filled with rows of wineries -- wow! It was a treat to go, and I would recommend the show as a wonderful way to educate your wine buds and an unparalleled opportunity to compare so many zinfandel wines side by side to find out what your individual tastes are.