New Year's Resolutions

Where have the weeks gone??

For the last several weeks, actually, the whole month(!!!), my life was all about the holidays.  It was all about shopping and prepping for Christmas. 

You see, Giuseppe was once divorced and holidays are difficult for divorced parents, even if the children are grown.  So this year, we decided to host everyone in his family, extended and all.  Come one, come all!  It made him very happy to have everyone over in our little apartment.

That meant (for me at least) an increase in shopping on all levels -- food and presents.  I cooked and baked like my life depended on it.  Thankfully, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were wonderfully celebrated.  Tonight, New Year's Eve, is all about celebrating.  Just the two of us.  No friends, no entertaining.  I'm thrilled that I don't have to cook.  I just don't think I have much left in me!  It's time to drink up and celebrate another great year.

New Year's Resolutions

I have been pondering what I could do to improve myself in the New Year.  Usually I have a few resolutions and make a list so I can remind myself come Valentine's Day of the commitment I made in the name of self-improvement.  Exercise?  Blah!  Eat less??? Why???  My brain must still be in holiday OD, because I can't think of anything right now.  I COULD promise to travel more, but that's already self-fulfilling.  Giuseppe and I have several trips on docket.  I think a good resolution is to try a new wine every week.  Something I would normally not have and write about it.  Yes!  Now we're onto something.  What will YOU resolve to do better and more or less of in 2013???

I am scheduled to teach a class on the wines of Molise at the end of January.  Molise is one of the 20 political regions in Italy.  I was asked by a former colleague of mine to conduct a wine tasting of this region.  Why Molise you ask?  Because the group is an Italian-American cultural group dedicated to Molise.  Molise was up until 1963 a part of Abruzzo.  It has slowly achieved it own independence and has 3 designated quality regions.  So far, life is winding down with the holidays and picking-up with research.  It's work of the best kind.  In the next several weeks, I'll be pounding the pavement looking for Molise wines that are imported and available for tasting.  I'll report back on my findings.

Until then, have a VERY Happy New Year celebration! 

iPic

Guiseppe and I flew down to Florida the day after my Thanksgiving cookfest for a little R&R.  We drove past a place we've never seen before -- iPic.  It's a chain of movie theaters that just opened in Mizner Park in Boca Raton.  We heard good things about it so we decided to try it.

We paid for a premium plus seat which included a server to serve dinner at your seat!  Our server welcomed us and explained there was a server button -- similar to an airline flight attendant call button at our seat.  He also took our credit card to keep an open tab for the evening.  Before the movie ends, he would leave us with the final bill. 

Tanzy Express

The theater offered wines by the glass AND bottle.  Cocktails were  also available.  Popcorn was included with the price of admission.  iPic charges $14 for regular admission plus an additional $10 for premium seating in these lounge type recliners, pictured here with a blanket and pillow to-boot!  The seat reclined almost 90 degrees.  Guiseppe and I felt like we were on an overnight flight to Europe.  Regular seating dining options included the Tanzy Express, no server included, but pretty much the same menu.

The wine list was primarily California-based and well priced.  Rather, priced just as any other restaurant that serves by the glass.  The list was also pretty diverse.  There seemed to be something for everyone.  I chose Soter Vineyards North Valley Pinot Noir from the Willamette region in Oregon.  It was one of the most expensive wines on the list at $75.  It retails for $30.  Guiseppe and I thought it was good.  It was medium+ bodied and tasted bright with black berry fruits on the palate.  I even tasted some chocolate and minerals.  There was complexity in the palate, however, was simple enough that it could be enjoyed during a flick without thinking too much.  We ordered the buffalo chicken spring roll, which wasn't so good.  It was a little too rich for us, however, the acidity on the wine cut through the fattiness of the spring roll.  We concluded that we should go for a basic flatbread the next time we go, if we order food.  Guiseppe ordered some brownie sundae concoction halfway through the movie. 

In all, we had a great time.  Oh yes, what movie did we see?  James Bond's "Skyfall". 



Links:
http://www.ipictheaters.com