DelSo Wine Oh!

Here's how we do summer Sundays in the DelSo.

Drinking seasonally – a follow up to Claire’s Signs of summer

My most recent Vinoteca post when I ask - Do you drink seasonally?


Drinking seasonally – a follow up to Claire’s Signs of summer

A Tale of Two Pinots

A Tale of Two Pinots

A cool follow-up to this post - I responded to a Tweet from Empire Wines inquiring about what their followers were drinking on a Wednesday. I mentioned the Talbott Logan - I was at work, sometimes I have to have a glass of wine when I'm working. Empire must have retweeted me because I got a tweet from Talbott thanking me for enjoying their wine. I responded to them and asked if the Logan Pinot was restaurant only because Empire didn't have it available. They responded saying "no," and offered to discount my s&h if I would like to purchase some directly from them.

And that, my friends, is Marketing 101 using social media.

Shopping for the left-handed librarian in your life

Shopping for the left-handed librarian in your life

Admit 2

or perhaps I should say two admissions.  This weekend, for the first time ever, I agreed to be described with two adjectives I generally wouldn't use to describe myself.  At least not publicly.  The first was at a party last night.  The house was cozy with food and beverages and many familiar faces.  It was a nice party and I'm glad I forced myself out of the house, despite my secret desire to cozy up in a cloud of cashmere and watch a Netflix which I'm suddenly paying $30 a month for..huh?

image from: www.unm.edu

Anyway, it was nice to spend some time with two of my fellow Vinoteca bloggers and I was frequently introduced by my co-writer (correct term?) and hostess, Claire, as a blogger.  I was asked a question I had never fielded before - "Why do I blog?"  With only a nanoseconds hesitation I responded: "because I'm a writer."  I don't even think I blinked.  And, I didn't even backpedal or attempt to qualify what I meant.  Damn.

Today I ran a modified version of the route for the Last Run, something I'll try to do one more time pre-event. Even though I never aspired to have a running partner, I thoroughly enjoy running with Chrissy.  It's awesome.  I've relented a little on my no-talking-while-running-stance and today we were talking about another woman runner, and I described her as a "serious runner."  Chrissy looked at me and said "Like you.  You're a serious runner."  Gulp.  That one was harder to swallow than the writer tag.  Maybe because running is newer, (I've been blogging here for almost 2 years!!) I'm not yet accustomed to belonging in this runner lifestyle.  You know me, I've embraced being illegitimate - it's what I know.  Smile.

In the car on the drive home, Chrissy and I talked about living in the moment as the ultimate expression of peace and balance.  Recognizing different parts of one's self is  an acknowledgement of who we are right now and, knowing who one is, is always worth the price of admission.

Built

who doesn't love a luminaria?

For the second year in a row, I volunteered to pour wine last night at the Historic Albany Foundation's annual event, Built.  This silent auction and art exhibit highlights the use of vacant buildings in Albany and is a wonderful fundraiser, as well as being a really fun night. Mark Brogna, from Capital Wine and Spirits who donates the evening's wine offerings,  originally roped me in last year and I enjoyed myself so much that I asked him this year if I could participate again.  The attendees are seriously the nicest group of people I've ever taken care of - "What, no more Pinot Noir?  Ok, I'll have Merlot!"  I'm talking mellow and happy and appreciative. And, did I mention artfully dressed?

This year's festivities were held at the Cathedral of All Saints. Despite my having spent my first 2 years living in Albany less than a block from this magnificent edifice (if I gush a little it's just to make up for neglecting to give this building its due respect previously), I am sheepishly confessing to never having been inside it prior to last night. The cathedral is absolutely stunning and I think it is the ideal location for this event - can't wait til next year! My awesome neighbors, Lori Hansen and Ken Ragsdale were honored (along with Mark Brogna and John McLennan) for their contributions to Built over the last 10 years, which made the night that much more special. Way to represent the DelSo! The food, rumored to have been catered by the Lily and the Rose (confirmation, anyone?)  looked terrific and the brownie I indulged in met my criteria, which is - it must be able to be stuck back together in chocolate gooeyness.

A highlight for me, in addition to having some fun taking these pictures for the Times Union's SEEN gallery and the generous number of compliments I received on my vintage dress, was finding myself within a circle (natch) of women described by Lori Hansen as being "powerful women." A year ago, I felt very much like an awed witness to the contributions made by fantastic local women like Lori, Laura and Elissa, among countless others.  I am kind of amazed that a year later, I have been included in the same sentence as these ladies.   Built?  Yeah, I'd say I'm very much enjoying this life under construction. 

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre 2007

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre 2007

I'm all over the internets!

Did I mention that I'm contributing to one of the Times Union's blogs?  You know, I had an extra waking moment or two and I needed something to do with my time.  It is a really cool blog, called Vinoteca, and is about wine (yum) and adventures (sign me up!) and other things which make life an experience to be savored.  I'll probably contribute a piece a week and they'll be focused on wine and food, I imagine.  No worries - Delso will remain closest to my heart, but it is kind of nice to be part of a team.  Come see me there, too!

Sausage Fest 2011!!

A few weeks ago, I got to thinking that I should host my first solo event at Chez Silvia.  The Memorial Day holiday provided the perfect opportunity to gather friends together to celebrate the arrival of summer while also memorializing the events of the past - perfect. As I considered the invite list and the menu, some latent irreverence kicked in and I decided that all women, all sausage, was the way to go and thus, Sausage Fest 2011 was born.  Honestly, it was my easiest birth ever and completely lacked the post-partum ickiness that no one ever tells a woman about anyway.

Troy Farmer's Market bounty



While the star of the grill may have been the medley of sausages, veggies were well represented also.  These beautiful examples came from the farmer's market and were brushed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper and then lightly grilled. 



Sausagepalooza!

The sausage were a mix of Italian hot and sweet (hot Italians are, truth be told, a personal weakness), chorizo, andouille and two varieties of chicken.  I think the chorizo may have been my favorite, but all were enjoyable.

cold wine for a hot day



Pretty table, right?  The bucket of flowers came from Lisa's garden downstate and they were magnificent.  I baked a couple of loaves of bread in the morning and, thanks to thoughtful guests and another indulgent expedition to Empire, there was plenty of wine.  I made a salad  of Asian greens with a mustard vinaigrette and fresh corn, a potato salad garnished with chive flowers and tossed together a big bowl of arugula with lemon, olive oil and shaved Asiago.  Mary Lynn contributed a delicious orzo and feta salad which rounded things out perfectly.

salad three ways: Asian greens, potato , orzo and feta

Despite popular belief and false assumptions, this was not a male bashing event.  It was just some women getting together to enjoy good food, conversation and a gorgeous evening on my deck.  Don't take it personally, guys, none of you were  grilled in effigy, after all. I'd be lying if I said we didn't take a cheap shot or two, but the day was much more about having a good time and looking ahead to the future than it was about denigrating males.  Trust me, I'll always be a guys' girl, but it's nice to have a group of interesting, eclectic female friends to share sausage, memories and wisdom with.    Minced meat in a casing has got nothing on that.

Lori and Kerry

Mary Lynn and Lisa

Becky and Kaaren

me and Donna

Delso House White - Summer 2011

I am a huge fan of Empire Wine and Liquor in the Northway Mall.  I like the owners, I appreciate their marketing, which is frequent without being irritating, and I value their customer service which always saves me time.  They do this Ship 4 Free thing which is an offering of 4 bottles of wine, shipped without cost.  Pretty cool, huh?  I don't bother to have them ship to me, (why waste the resources?) but I do like the idea that they are selecting wines for me and I can avoid the feeling of being overwhelmed when faced with shelf upon shelf of bottles.  Vino overload!

I planned to pick up my four bottles of Ship 4 Free Chardonnay last Friday and decided to check in on the Empire website to see what else I could add to my order. This little gem attracted my attention and, on a whim, I added 6 bottles to my order. I mean, really, Chenin Blanc, Viognier, 90 points from Robert Parker, less than $9 a bottle  - why not?  Well, looks like I'll be picking up a few more bottles of this perfect summer swilling  sipping wine!  The flavor is floral and mildly fruity making it perfect with food (like the arugula salad I served for Sunday's brunch) or for enjoying sans food. 

Steve Barnes had a recent post on his Table Hopping blog about "chef driven" wine lists and the Pine Ridge appears on the recently updated New World Home Cooking wine list for $34 a bottle or $9 a glass.  I know I'm new to the wine buying game (but I am trying to make up for lost time!), but the pricing seems a little excessive to me.  Isn't there a loose rule about making the bottle cost in 2 pours or something like that?  I understand that Empire does tremendous volume and gets the best pricing available, but paying more for a single glass than the price of an entire bottle rankles me.  So, I'll drink this wine on my deck at home.  Feel free to stop by!

Mother's Day

pretty table, pretty plate, pretty tasty

Sunday evening I thanked my boys for a lovely Mother's Day and I wasn't even kidding.  There was nothing I would have changed about the day, other than to have included more guests. There was very little indulgence in the traditional sense, but you folks know how I am -  happy to be productive, and that was what the day was all about.  Despite having a mental list of things to do, I slept in a bit and then forced myself to not get out of bed until 9 a.m.  Just so you know, this is actually harder for me than getting up at the crack of dawn to go to the gym.  Since the boys are not really capable of making breakfast (although making a mess is a skill they have mastered),  I cooked up some waffles and sausage and we enjoyed a delicious breakfast accompanied by the day's editions of the Times-Union and the NY Times, courtesy of Liam.  Very indulgent - I haven't regularly read the Sunday Times since before I became a mother. 

 

pretty special neighbors and friends

Next up was laundry, sweeping the "helicopter" debris from the neighbor's enormous tree off of my deck,organizing flower pots, and planting some herbs and lettuce in a couple of large containers.  I had picked up some flowers on Saturday at the Delaware Avenue Neighborhood Association plant sale and happily got my hands dirty arranging geraniums, pansies, nicotina and a couple of other things in an array of planters.  I also weeded the front yard, planted some morning glories and nasturtium, re-grouted the shower drain upstairs and re-wired the door lock release button - and still had time for a 3 mile run! 

The only way to end a day like this was with an impromptu dinner party.  I already had a mess of pork chops marinating in soy sauce and kecap menis, so I decided to call the neighbors, add some chicken breasts to the grill and make it a party.  Ken and Lori shared their crop of freshly picked spinach so I made a salad of the greens with Gorgonzola, strawberries and a light lemon and olive oil dressing, along with some grilled asparagus and baked sweet potatoes.  The table was lovely, the evening was mild enough for comfort and the wine, a 1997 Petite Syrah from Lava Cap, was fantastic.  Since I hadn't a chance to bake (I know, I'm such a lax hostess!  What the hell was I doing all day instead of sifting and stirring?!), we finished our meal  with leftover Easter candy, including a fresh box of Peeps, and sips of Navan.  Delightful.

I may not have been the recipient of a spa gift certificate as I have been past years, but the gifts bestowed upon me were sincerely simple; the newspapers and the chance to read them somewhat leisurely, breakfast with my boys, the opportunity to accomplish many tasks which will give me pleasure for months to come, and a couple of  handmade coupon booklets good for shoulder rubs, garbage removal and vacuuming.  And who needs commercial flowers anyway when you have a  house filled with fresh lilacs?  Being a mother isn't always easy, but a day like this one reminds me what the real gifts of being a mom are, and, just like that handmade card proudly mounted on my refrigerator, I will cherish them forever.

Tasting Tuesday - August 24, 2010

The theme for tonight's bi-weekly Tasting Tuesday at Dale Miller Restaurant is "An American Affair." As always, the wines featured were carefully selected by Tom, and he has included a couple of my favorites.

Pacific Rim Riesling, 'Organic,' Columbia Valley, WA, 2008 

Have you had this before?  It was originally a Bonny Doon product but it looks like Randall Graham spun this popular bottling off to some former employees who moved the operations from California to Washington.  A lovely, drinkable wine that goes really well with fish and spicy food.

Four Vines 'Naked" Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, CA, 2008

100% Stainless steel for those of us who prefer to not drink wood.

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier, CA, 2008I am convinced that more people would order viognier if they were more comfortable pronouncing it - (vee-ohn-yay).  This wine was selected by Robert Parker as one the top 50 super domestic value wines for their 2008 vintage.

Gary Farrell Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA, 2006 

The Wine Spectator gave this vintage an 87, perhaps not the strongest bottling from Gary Farrell, but I think it would be lovely with lamb or salmon nonetheless.

Saucelito Canyon Zinfandel, Arroyo Canyon, CA, 2006

It looks like zinfandel is what the Saucelito canyon folks specialize in.  On an overcast August evening, this might be just the ticket to help ease me into autumn.

Selby Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, CA, 2006

Susie (yeah, I've met her, I can call her Susie.  Actually everyone calls her Susie) made 2000 cases of this Cabernet and released it last August.  She is an incredibly thoughtful winemaker and I enjoy her wines, which I think she makes in a perfectly balanced feminine/masculine style.  I'm going tonight to drink taste this wine specifically.

Hedges Red Mountain '3 Vineyards' Red Mountain District, Washington, 2005

This is considered by some to be Hedges' flagship bottling.  Primarily Cabernet and Merlot with a bit of Cabernet Franc, this should be drinking really well.  Another reason to love Washington State.  

So, you know where I'll be tonight - why don't you join me?

Beekman Street Bistro

Unfortunately, we don't get to Saratoga very often.  It isn't the distance, as much as the drive home, that usually prevents us from heading north for an evening out, but, last night we had a driver and off we went in style.  The Beekman Street Bistro has been on our list to try for a couple of years and I am so glad we finally had an opportunity, and an occasion, to get there. 

The restaurant's location is enough off of the beaten track (not this track, more this one) to not be inundated with horse racing revelers, although trainer Bob Baffert was there to lend a little Saratoga summer flavor to the evening.  The space is cozy, well lit and comfortable, and I swear they robbed one of my playlists because the music (Dave Matthews, Etta James, some hip jazz) was eclectic and reminiscent of what we play Saturday nights at McGuire's.  The menu was fantastic.  It wasn't overwhelming in size, but there was no lack of enticing options and I went all out with four courses. 

I started with the Wellfleet little neck clams and they were a perfect launching point for the evening, tender and beautifully paired with crumbled sausage and "chic" peas.  Tom was in charge of wine selection and the bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte was the ideal accompaniment to our preliminary courses.  He had an order of sardines (an evening special) grilled and simply presented with olive oil and lemon.  They required a bit of delicate work in terms of bone avoidance, but the fish was sweet and tender.  We shared a salad of arugula with shaved foie gras, another special addition to the evening's menu.  The salad was more than adequate for sharing and I enjoyed it, but the foie gras was a bit more subtle than I had anticipated.  Nonetheless it was a fine middle course.  For my entree, I ordered the duck breast which was served with a perfectly balanced plum sauce (not overly sweet) and, boy, was it amazing with the Willamette Valley  Pinot Noir from Auteur that Tom had selected.  Other entrees present at the table were the quail and the hangar steak - all were relished.  The portion sizes were ideal, satisfying without overwhelming, local ingredients were appropriately credited, and the service was a genuine team effort.  For dessert we shared a couple of cheese plates (served with 3 selections and honey in the comb), an ice cream cake, a generous serving of lemon mousse that only could have been improved by a bit more refrigeration, and my choice, panna cotta, which truly was memorable with the syrupy balsamic vinegar drizzle on top. 

Tom, me, Maura, Kay, Jim and Stu

It was so nice to finally get to the Bistro and to have an experience which was well worth the wait.   I think I know where I want to go for my birthday next month - the $75 five-course chef's tasting menu is calling my name. And I definitely need to have the hubby get his hands on some of that fine Oregon wine, it is the perfect pinot for fall and will certainly sweeten the inevitable end of a wonderful summer.

Solstice Sipping

Last night, the official start of summer, was also supposed to be the inaugural event of Tom's birthday week celebration.  The plan was to meet friends at the Wine Bar & Bistro on Lark Street, to enjoy their Pagan discount and share Tom's natal holiday with friends here in Albany, since we'll be out of the country on the actual day.  However the fates transpired to muck up our plans - Tom was called in to work and Quinn was feverish and ultimately pukey.  Plans were canceled and I prepared myself to spend the evening cuddling my little man on the couch while dodging any vomiting recurrences.  

When I first arrived at home, Q was passed out on the couch putting off a good sweat.  He woke-up about 5:30 and I offered him a cool cloth for his head, which he accepted with a grateful head nod.  After about 5 additional minutes of quiet time, he sat up and requested a donut, which he proceeded to scarf down in no time.  I watched him dart around the house for about 90 minutes, with no signs of feeling ill, before I decided to revisit the idea of sharing a beautiful bottle of rose' on the longest evening of the year.  Wine Bar, here I come!

As would be expected, the place was hopping, and Yas & I had to wait a few minutes for a table on the back patio.  No worries - Kevin recently upgraded the A/C and the inside temperature was very refreshing.  We made it to a table, ordered a delicious bottle of wine and paired it with a cheese and fruit plate for a perfect "welcome summer" sort of meal.  I know, the picture is completely washed out and apologize.  Here's a better picture.  The wine was from Domaine Lafond in Tavel, aka The Cradle of French Rose', and was a blend of 3 grapes, Grenache, Roussanne and Viognier.  If you haven't caught the Drink Pink* wave yet, you really should.  Trust me, nothing tastes better on a summer night than a dry rose'.

*Drink Pink is the theme for the summer in the DelSo.  Notice I didn't specify which summer...

Tasting Tuesday - Joe Carr Edition

This week's Tasting Tuesday at Dale Miller Restaurant featured Joseph Carr - the man and his wines. If you aren't familiar with Joe, you should know that he is a local guy, originally from Berlin, N.Y., who has followed his passion for wine and created a successful career doing something which he loves. In 2005, following a number of years working in the hospitality industry, as well as for major wine importers and distributors, Joe, along with his wife, daughter and dog, began his own wine company. He is a negotiant - which means he buys fruit and makes wine which he bottles under his own Carr label. His wines are available in both retail stores, and select restaurants, in a fairly broad geographic area.

This would probably be a good time for me to mention that I have no formal wine training or knowledge - that would be the husband's forte. My hope is to not be embarrass myself here by revealing how little I truly know about wine, I'm only offering my own impressions.

Joe offers an array of varietals, all fairly priced, and we sampled six wines Tuesday evening. The first two wines were from his Josh line; the Chardonnay (2008) and the Cabernet Sauvignon (2007). These wines are named after his father, and are considered to be his entry level wines. They can be found in local retail stores (try Capital, Empire, Delaware Plaza) for about $18 per bottle. Both of these wines were easy to enjoy and had the characteristics that one would expect from their respective grapes.

The order we sampled the wines in was a bit unique. I'm accustomed to starting with the lightest of whites and then proceeding to more substantial whites, light reds and then full bodied reds, but this particular evening we bounced around a bit as Joe led us through his offerings. We followed the Josh Cabernet with a delicious Sauvignon Blanc (2008). I found this wine to be an ideal warm weather sipping wine - with or without food. Lovely.

Our next wine was one with which I was familiar, the 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, which retails for about $20. I have been a fan of this wine since it was initially released and it remains a household favorite. If you haven't tried this wine, you'd better get it soon - there isn't much left and the '08 release is going to be a bit different as the fruit is being sourced from the Santa Cruz Mountains rather than the coast. This is a terrific Pinot, with berry flavors and a wonderful viscosity for dangerously easy drinking.

We finished with two of Joe's Reserve selections. The Reserve Chardonnay (2008) was my absolute favorite wine of the event. It was intense without being woody and had a beautiful straw color. Joe only made 500 cases of this wine and, upon release, it will be available both on Tom's winelist at Dale Miller and at Tom's house, because we're getting one of those cases - hello, Summer 2010 wine. This wine should retail for about $28 a bottle, while the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (2007), the event's final wine, is currently retailing for ~$25. I wish I remembered to take more notes about where Joe sourced his fruit from, or more detailed tasting impressions, but after about 5 different tastings, I honestly get a bit muddy. Sorry.

There are two more Tasting Tuesday events prior to our family trip to Italy - go ahead, hate me now. On June 8th, Joe Armstrong will be presenting wines (and sake!) from his portfolio and on June 22nd Old World selections from Michael Skurnick's portfolio will be offered by sales rep, Doug Berenthal. Of course, I'll be present at both of these educational opportunities trying, as ever, to expand my knowledge. Maybe I'll see you there!

Tasting Tuesday!

I'm really looking forward to joining my husband at the bar tonight @Dale Miller for some educating...that's right, it's Tasting Tuesday. A couple of things being offered tonight that have piqued my interest are the Hugel 'Cuvee Les Amore' Pinot Blanc Alsace, France, because you know I love me some Alsatian white, the Tir Na N'og Grenache 'Old Vines' McLaren Vale, Australia, because you've got to like an Australian wine with a Gaelic name, and the Selby Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, Ca, just because we visited Susie on one of our trips to Cali and she was just another cool lady following her passion. Unless you've got a thing going on with the Wine Director at Dale Miller, you should probably call for a reservation. And if you do have a thing going on with the Wine Director, we should probably talk.

Update/correction - When I originally posted this (at like 4:45 a.m.) I confused Susie Selby with Cathy Corison. I apologize for any bewilderment this may have caused. Believe me, sometimes those California trips get a little addled to say the least.

Wine-ing

I am feeling a bit whiny. This is primarily because I am very impatiently waiting for my Monday appointment with the ENT. I'm sorry, but 2+ weeks is a little too long to wait to find out what that thing is that is growing on my parotid gland. Since I am basically a positive person (and, of course, I am positive it is a new version of cancer for my body to deal with), I'm going to transfer my whining to wine-ing.

My husband and I enjoy wine. From our earliest days together, we've gravitated towards wine producing vacation destinations and have spent many days tasting and exploring wine countries both in the States and in Europe. Through a chance encounter many years ago while swimming in Friend's Lake (hello, random!), Tom was able to turn his interest into a career in the wine business. After stints working as a sales rep for a distributor, and as Daniel Darves-Bornoz's "wine guy," he has been the Wine Director at Dale Miller Restaurant for the past year. Wifely pride aside, he has developed an excellent reputation for both his palate and his personality. You know how some of those "wine-guys" are insistent that they know what good wine is and you don't? Well, he isn't. If you like it, it's good - 'nuff said.

While I enjoy wine, sometimes I can be a bit particular and if I'm not enjoying a glass of wine, I'm not interested in drinking it. I generally prefer New World wines, although I am a sucker for Alsatian whites, obscure Italian whites (Pigato) and Amarones. One of the best things about living with a wine-guy is that we have, at least until the boys are old enough to indiscriminately drink it with their derelict friends, a large collection of bottles from which to choose. If Tom opens something and I don't like it, he doesn't hesitate to pull something else, which is really quite a luxury, yet another reason I consider myself to be a lucky girl.

He does these Tasting Tuesdays things down at DM and I was just looking over the schedule. I was trying to prioritize and limit myself to one or two of the tastings, but, honestly, for me, there are more reasons to go than there are to stay home. Especially when you're directly comparing number of children at home (3) to number of wines to be tasted (a minimum of 6 or 7). Factor in nibbling on Dale Miller's tasty food, instead of cajoling my boys to "just try one bite" of something I made at home, and there is a clear winner. So, if you're looking for me, I mean, trying to expand your wine knowledge, give DM a call and make a reservation - these things have been filling up way faster than the time between my doctor's appointments.

Lilly Bistro Bar?

I've been getting asked, with increasing frequency, when Tom and I going to open our own place. I have a couple of standard replies to this question such as, "when the boys are old enough to stand on milk crates to wash dishes, " or "when the right location/opportunity presents itself." The truth of the matter is that the entire imagined process completely overwhelms me. Not the actual management of the place or the physical work involved, just the paperwork and financial risk necessary to become a business owner. I am completely confident that Tom & I would work well together - we generally share the same sensibilities about what makes a positive dining experience, and would perhaps even get to see each other more often if we co-owned a place. Tom's knowledge of wine and my sensibility about intuitive service would certainly provide us with a foundation to support a successful bistro/wine bar, but how does one get their head around all the other stuff?

I worry that I'm not ambitious enough - all I would want to do would be to provide guests with a quality product at fair value in a setting which is attentive to their comfort. I don't want to create an empire or make a killing. I don't want a humongous place - 10 or 12 tables would suit me nicely. I've always imagined a place with cushiony seating, mismatched china and good glassware. Perhaps a small bar where folks would feel comfortable eating and a positive mix of warm lighting and dim corners. A place that would open in the late afternoon and be appealing to a range of people - the early evening hours would attract families interested in a well-prepared dinner along with a thoughtfully selected bottle of wine, while the vibe would be decidedly more adult oriented as the night progressed.

Now, I can see all of this in my mind's eye, I can even hear the play list of music in my head, but what I can't imagine is how to find the nerve to make the leap. How do entrepreneurs find the daring to take a chance? Does this lack of courage mean the Lilly Bistro Bar will exist only in my imagination forever? Might this be an occasion when the right shoes, even some that are red and sparkly, might not be enough and I simply have to believe in myself and Tom and our abilities?