Frank DePasquale
FRANK De PASQUALE • 53 • Restaurateur • Bricco, Umbria, Mare, News, Express, Trattoria Il Panino Since launching his first Trattoria Il Panino in 1989, Frank De Pasquale has opened a basketful of 21 diversely styled restaurants. Though the self-made restaurateur holds fast to the uncompromising ideal of serving authentic... Read More
The Dangers of Being popular
AS IN MOST INDUSTRIES, wine has a list of the usual suspects. Inevitably, in almost every wine store or restaurant they show up, and consumers are drawn to them. To a degree it’s hard to blame the wine buyer for this when these labels have so much positive force behind... Read More
Desert Wine
That’s right, readers: thirsty devouts planted the first vineyards in New Mexico – possibly in the new world – in Socorro, New Mexico in 162O! These friars came from New Spain (now Mexico) with the first Spanish colonists in 1598 led by Don Juan de Onate. The friars ministered to... Read More
Angus O’Leary
PROFILE Angus O’Leary arrived on these shores from Dublin in 1979, in the heyday of Boston’s Irish bar scene, and a leg or two ahead of the meteoric rise of international Irish pubdom. Educated in the Irish language, O’Leary had studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, “but I couldn’t get... Read More
Loire’s Sauvignon Blancs
Of course, the French drive us a bit insane with how inconsistent their wines remain despite the supposed guarantees of the AOC system, and Loire Sauvignon is no exception. But when a Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume hits its target there is something so clean and penetrating about its flavors that whatever... Read More
Tis The Season To Beat The Chill
LOOKING BACK at my recent article about winter and it relationship to big reds and after-dinner drinks got me to thinking about the other beverages of the season. The upcoming holidays present a smorgasbord of traditional drinks and foods on which to build with a creative twist. Who doesn’t love... Read More
Central Coast Wines
THE CENTRAL COAST IS OFF THE RADAR SCREEN.” said Ian McFadden, wine director at Marty’s in Allston. “Consumers have no idea where the Central Coast is or how the wines are different.” At the 2OO6 Boston Wine Expo, I decided to ask Central Coasters what comprised the Central Coast. I... Read More
The Beer Guys!!
In the first part of this interview, I sat down with Sam Calagione, president of the Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, and Tomme Arthur, head brewer for the Port Brewing Company, to discuss the business of beer and what it takes to be the face of their brands. In this second... Read More
People Loving Chardonnay
The idea even seems a bit quaint. Having recently sat on a blind tasting panel composed mainly of sommeliers from around the world, I can report that it’s not a popular grape among many of the young guns in the field. Not that anyone comes out and actually says they... Read More
Designing A Wine List
The wine list is the primary venue for those of us in restaurants to showcase our wares to our clients. And with the evolution of modern technology, the internet has also given retailers the ability to create wine lists as well, via websites or computers kiosks in their stores. With... Read More