Casa di Vino may be closed but your Wine & Food Guy is always in the field doing research. Here's some brief updates.
My wife and I visited Baru 66 for the first time last week for our anniversary. We had a very nice meal. She had the french onion soup, provencal lamb & creme brulee. I had escargot & sweetbreads, a truffled chicken sausage on risotto, and apricot 3-ways for dessert. We will definately return to try some of the chefs other creations. By the way, Baru's wine list just got a Best of award from Wine Spectator.
Enjoying Lagavulin 16 yr. and cigars recently courtesy of Kerry & Joe. Thanks much and good on ya' folks.
Some fine corks have been pulled over the past few weeks and the juice has flowed. 04' Mollydooker's The Boxer & The Maitre' d. Both at their peaks. Orin Swift Machete, 1996 Lynch Bages (outstanding), 2001 Harlan Estates Cabernet (superb), & 1995 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet. Also and ethereal 2004 Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo. Great pours.
While in Detroit, pastrami from The Bread Basket deli. Sorry Des Moines, nothing like it here. Detroit also has it's own style coney dogs that must be a local thing. Native Detroiters go nuts over them, New Yorkers & Chicagoans go "huh?".
If you haven't tried the sandwiches being made by Pronto down around Nollen Plaza you're missing the boat. I had their Banh Mi sandwich the other week and it was spectacular. Marcus, you rock!
Anyway, that's the scoop. Eat well, drink well, live well.
Howard Bernstein
Owner (now defunct), Casa di Vino
Wine & Food Guy,
Des Moines Wine & Food Connection