down the avenue

Slow Food and Wine at its Best

Below are a few interviews and takes from last week's Golden Glass Slow Food event in San Francisco.

Also check out my blog post from the event, which is full of photos of the best in slow food and wine, and includes entertaining sommeliers and chefs, largely from northern California.

Golden Glass Slow Food Event at SF's Fort Mason

I attended this year's Golden Glass event at San Francisco's Fort Mason. The event celebrates the efforts of over 100 international wine producers who strive to protect, nurture, and revive the indigenous and classic varieties of their regions. In other words, think slow food thinking: organic, local, fresh and authentic.

The MyFarm folks were there whose goal is to increase local food production, so they can create a secure and sustainable food system.

The wineries were clustered in designated, regional areas throughout the pavilion, starting with the deeper, fuller bodied reds at the entrance, then moving into the Pinot Noirs, lighter sauvignon blancs and champagnes as you made your way to the back. Here sat bread sticks, prosciutto (ham, pork and turkey (with pistachio, pepper and fennel) and cheese, which sadly I couldn't touch.

All under one roof, there were so many authentic small family stories, you could easily sit at each table for hours listening to their starts, stops, wins and losses, each one of them proud of their own blends.

For example, one of my favorites was the Prunetto Mompertone 2006, which apparently won a silver award at the event. Emanuele Baldi, their marketing head told me that it was the only wine they had that was a mixed blend.

I can't say that I don't have a practiced palate of international food and wine, having lived in over ten countries and traveled to nearly 70. Then again, how practiced can it be when the only solos I'm comfy with once cork leaves the bottle are California Chardonnays and Cabernets.

That said, I'm open to them all, even the Syrahs they announce with a starter like: "people either love this one or hate it," or "this isn't your typical Syrah so it's an acquired taste." What are they saying? I don't have that acquired taste therefore think again unless I've popped at least a dozen corks with their sommeliers.

I'm still relatively new to learning the nuances of Italian reds. Every time I've gone to Italy, my friends pour Chiantis down my throat from decanters without labels.

It wasn't until my Italian restaurant and wine store owner friend from NY's West Village introduced me to Perbacco's Mauro Cirilli that I learned about Barolos and Barbarescos. Mauro is a pro; more than a pro - he makes learning about wine not just fun but irresistable.

A sample of their salame below: Nostrao, Piccante and Sanguinato Dolce. Which one I asked Mauro? Which one he asks back as if to say what kind of question has the word one in it? When he wasn't looking, I went for the Nostrano because frankly by that stage of the day, my poor stomach couldn't have handled a taste of all three.

That brings me to food. Slow food. Each booth is a gastronomic and educational experience. One of my favorites was from entertaining chef Suzette Gresham of Acquerello in San Francisco. She made sure I got the delicacy right, particularly when I came back for thirds. Below is a glimpse of her oil leached swordfish with candied silicon olives and almond and parsley pesto.

A few more fun tastes below:

Fromage at its Best

Causa Casera Potato Causa with Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado and Tomato Confit with Basil Cilantro Oil - La Mar Restaurant

Bruleed Mission Figs Burrata and Sliced Prosciutto

Decadent Chocolate Baby before during and after each taste (okay, maybe in my twenties)

There was a delicious looking Strawberry Gazpacho I never managed to try but people were raving about.

Group shot in the middle of the full bodied reds and the Pinots

To the left Laura Gallino, Sales Manager with Filippo Gallino wines

Bodego Del Sur Winery owner Victor Reyes Umana and Renee Blodgett (I loved both his Tempranillo and his Sangiovese (the 2006). Worth a try.

Below shot from Slow Food SF photo pool

Poggio Trattoria's chef Peter McNee

It's so much more fun and interactive covering food and wine than technology. And frankly, is there not far more interesting choices? I've seen reporter pal's offices and homes piled with hardware and software boxes, but its a far cry from the wine and food writer's cube at USA Today during a visit in the last year. How do you get through it all I was thinking as I passed the mile high stack of samples.

And there's so much to learn, particularly when you take a deeper dive into the diversity of each wine from regions around the world. I learned about Scacciadiavoli for the first time. Unusual taste I thought. What is it?

It is one of the most ancient wine production estates of the Montefalco zone. The name Scacciadiavoli (Devil banisher) derives from the exorcism carried out in the XVII century, as described by Johannes du Rupescissa in a treatise on quintessence.

If you haven't been to a slow food event before, I'd recommend it. If you don't know much about slow food in general, then dive in and learn more.

First Round Capital's Annual West Coast Bash

First Round Capital held their annual west coast bash in San Francisco last night at the Great American Music Hall.

The venue was perfect for a shindig: great flow for networking traffic, food in all the right places and an on-stage spectacle from Fliptography who were shooting 7 second videos of people which resulted in individual flipbook leave behinds for attendees.

Did I mention the complimentary valet and the fact that a boat load of A-listers showed up to partake in an evening of schmooze and cocktails.

Below is a sample of shots I took in relatively poor light so sadly, some of them are grainy. Thanks to Josh and team for hosting a fabulous event.

First Round Capital's partners: Howard Morgan, Chris Fralic, Josh Kopelman and Rob Hayes

Harilaos Loukos, Mike Copeland and Nicholas Goubert

Joe Hurd, Paul Martino and Chris Law

Daniel Rudick and Filip Tack

Renee Blodgett, Susan Bratton, Mary Hodder (taken by Susan)

Ted Rheingold and Jason Shellen

Thor and Amy Muller, Oren Michels

Ron Conway

Eric Tilenius and Dan Arkind

Nat Goldhaber, Mary Hodder and Janice Fraser

Alexander Mouldovan, David Ellington and Karl Simmons

Mike Copeland

The Zynga team and Robert Goldberg

Barak Berkowitz

Renee Blodgett, Christine Herron

Toktumi's Peter Sisson

The First Round Capital Team

SF's Memorial Day Carnival Parade in Action

I can see San Francisco's Memorial Day Carnival Parade along Mission Street from a 3 story house rooftop.

It's cold for late May in the same way that Mark Twain's infamous quote that he never really said, reminds me of the reality of San Francisco summer every year. I want to grab a parka, but realizing that notion is ridiculous, I merely think about San Diego where I'll be for a chunk of this week.

A very human but colorful shot by Alaskan Dude taken at a previous parade which will you a flavor of an event I have chosen not to shoot this weekend.

Who is the Real Wizard?

Have you ever wondered, either as a child or an adult, who is the wizard? The real wizard? Evan Schwartz who did a three minute talk at TED in February, just released the book Finding Oz, which you can now purchase on Amazon among other places.

Here is a creative and fun YouTube movie with a bit of tease. You can also join the growing in popularity Facebook Group.