Dear NYC, meet the Holton Farms CSA... a.k.a. your dream come true.

Oh friends. Perhaps you're something like me. You *mean* to get down to the Union Square green market, you really do. But the crowds are INSANE, and it's really far from where you live, and most of it isn't organic, and... and... Well shoot, now it's too late to bother going anyway.

So then you go to Whole Foods. It's mobbed there too. And you're totally frustrated with their produce, most of which is conventionally grown anyway. The organic stuff is grown either on the other side of the country or better yet in another country altogether. You get excited about the huge honking sign proclaiming "LOCAL PRODUCE!!", and deflate quickly when beneath that sign you find three kinds of (conventionally grown) apples.

It would be so great if you could have just joined that CSA you heard about from your friend, but the membership waiting list is just ages long; they're all like that aren't they? But no, then you'd just end up with three pounds of radishes and a bunch of parsnips anyway.

Right?

Ahem. Enter Holton Farms of Westminster, Vermont and their fabulous new CSA Select program. A bit of a neighbor to the north, I'll grant you, but at a four hour drive locovores shouldn't be scoffing. I cannot take credit for this discovery; after being in my neighborhood for approximately 12 minutes, my friend Liz Cherry of the Excellent Name discovered Holton, which is so conveniently dropping off about eight blocks from my house. They're probably dropping by somewhere near your place too, or by your work maybe, since they have nearly 30 stops around the city throughout the week.

It gets better though. This ain't your mama's CSA. Unlike the others you've heard of, you don't just get a bag of whatever produce they feel like schlepping your way. You get to choose. It's like you're actually shopping for the food that you want to eat! Crazytime! Naturally what you can choose from depends on what they're growing and what is ready to harvest at that particular time, but this is one heck of a farm and the variety is great. So what you choose from is in peak season, just picked, and nearly all organic! Seriously, this is what it looks like when you log in:


As you may have gathered, the hubby and I have jumped right onto this here bandwagon. And it's kind of awesome. Last Sunday morning we strolled on over to the truck to pick up our produce - in the ecologically friendly reusable tote provided to us by Holton, of course. This week's picks included raspberries, blueberries, yellow squash, zucchini, parsley, red lettuce, a bunch of carrots, and a bunch of bok choy. The guys in the truck are so awesome - even though I know they've been awake since some obscene hour, they are still enthusiastic and funny and helpful, and really excited about the work they do. Call me idealistic, but to me there's something special about getting your food from people who actually know where it came from and are happy about providing it to you.

You get to guess at how much of our haul was actually for our darling furchild, Harvey the Rabbit. I will say that Harvey is now in LOVE with blueberries, which he had never had before this week. And he hearts carrot greens just about as much as the carrots themselves. Needless to say, the Holton Farms CSA Select program is Harvey-tested, Harvey-approved.

CSA = Community Supported Agriculture. And the more members they get, the more work they'll be able to do within the community. So if you've been meaning to look into a CSA but just haven't quite gotten around to it, THIS IS SO YOUR CHANCE. You know you want to. Is this the summer when you learn to eat local, seasonal, organic foods? It just might be...

Super Delicious Handmade Ice Cream

Found a wonderful dessert shop in Hunghom. My friend took me there. Out of my expectation, this shop is new, beautiful, clean and tidy with friendly waiters. Most important of all, VERY DELICIOUS and VERY CHEAP.

My friend lives in Hunghom and got a promotion leaflet and took us there to try. Of course, we were offered opening special price with that leaflet. But even without it, the prices are surprisely low and the desserts are so delicious.

Coconut, Mango, Pomelo Dessert

How much does it cost?

It comes in a duo, together with

the Green Tea handmade ice cream,

red bean syrup and sticky dumplings.
Only HK$35 (US$4.48)

How about my Grass Jelly Dessert Set?
Only HK$15 (US$1.9)

Some more promotions for the new shop.

I must say, even if you go here by taxi, it will still be a good deal.

They have 10 other shops, but all in Kowloon and New Territories. The one here in Hunghom is the first one with seats, the others serve only take-away.

手作りアイスクリーム

Dessert House

Japanese Tezukuri Ice Cream

13 Ming On Street, Hunghom, Kowloon

Hong Kong Food Blog - Super Dessert

Super Delicious Handmade Ice Cream

Found a wonderful dessert shop in Hunghom. My friend took me there. Out of my expectation, this shop is new, beautiful, clean and tidy with friendly waiters. Most important of all, VERY DELICIOUS and VERY CHEAP.

My friend lives in Hunghom and got a promotion leaflet and took us there to try. Of course, we were offered opening special price with that leaflet. But even without it, the prices are surprisely low and the desserts are so delicious.

Coconut, Mango, Pomelo Dessert

How much does it cost?

It comes in a duo, together with

the Green Tea handmade ice cream,

red bean syrup and sticky dumplings.
Only HK$35 (US$4.48)

How about my Grass Jelly Dessert Set?
Only HK$15 (US$1.9)

Some more promotions for the new shop.

I must say, even if you go here by taxi, it will still be a good deal.

They have 10 other shops, but all in Kowloon and New Territories. The one here in Hunghom is the first one with seats, the others serve only take-away.

手作りアイスクリーム

Dessert House

Japanese Tezukuri Ice Cream

13 Ming On Street, Hunghom, Kowloon

Hong Kong Food Blog - Super Dessert

Yukata Meet @ KLCC

Just a quick post on an old meet up ^^;

Early in May this year, a couple of friends and I had a yukata meet at KLCC! It was the first time I was going out with friends in yukata in Malaysia since 2007, so I was understandably very excited ^^;;;

We managed to schedule our meet so that it coincided with Isetan's Food Fair, so we of course headed there for lunch after having a picture-taking session at the KLCC Park. After lunch, we headed to Kinokuniya and shopped (and talked :P) for 2 hours before retiring at a cafe.

It was short, but still enjoyable! ^__^ It was nice to make new friends~~ :)

Anyway, pictures now!

I'd seen this little area in February and thought it looked nice, so I insisted that we went there to take pictures ^^;;;


We did manage to get someone to take pics of all 3 of us, but it's floating somewhere in my friend's Flickr, and I'm abit too lazy to find it ^^;

I was so amused by the fact that the flowers kind of matched me that day!

We stopped by to rest a little.


I've always been rather fond of "walking pictures"... :P"


I figured that since we were already at KLCC, we might as well take pics with the Twin Towers! Also, I always seem to take pics in Piccadilly Circus in London, so taking pics of another famous monument :P


I'm afraid we only bothered with our cameras a very little bit in the park, and rather forgot about them after that ^^; So no other photos ahahaha~

Just a little bit on my outfit:

It's a ro-weave yukata that I had bought from Oh!Japan's stall in last year's Japan Charity Bazaar & Fiesta. It was a little more expensive than I expected for something that feels like a cotton/poly mix, but I figured that it was for charity, so it's okay.

I very much like the fact that it's ro, so it feels easier to dress it up as a kimono. I tried hard to coordinate it so that it looks like a cool outfit, as we had been having a heatwave at that time. (And as cooling as the outfit looked, I was really boiling in it!!)

I was quite happy to find that my electric blue summerweave hakata obi matched it perfectly! It felt a little to stark and dark for my liking, so I paired it with white and light blue accessories. The light blue han'eri I'm wearing was a Christmas present from my kimono buddy in the UK, Chantal :) Thanks, Chan!

To complete the kimono look, I paired it with navy blue zori and white lace tabi.

My kitsuke was ok that day, but not great. I woke up late and had too little time to dress nicely, and my juban was very slippery! Since I got to KLCC early, I ended up retreating to a toilet and re-tying my obi there... ^^;;;

Next up would be a post on Bon Odori 2010 :)

Fried chicken biryani

One of my friend told me that if chicken is fried and then added to the biryani, it would taste so much better than regular biryanis. I was not sure if it would be tastier or if I could prepare biryani that way. Anyhow, I took a risk and made this fried chicken biryani.... Finally, the risk was worth it. This biryani was such a big hit at home. I was glad this preparation turned out to be a tasty feast. Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients:
Chicken - 1 kilo
Basmati rice - 4 cups
Onions (large) - 4 nos
Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Tomatoes - 3 nos
Green chillies - 2 nos
Mint and coriander leaves (chopped) - 1 cup
Lime juice - 1tbsp
Red chilly powder - 4 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1 tbsp
Chicken flavour cube - 1 small
Ghee - 3/4 cup
Salt for taste

Whole spices like:
Cloves - 6 nos
Cardamom - 6nos
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Bay leaves - 2 nos
Mace - 2-4 nos
Star aniseed - 2 nos
Aniseed - 1 tbsp
Dried plums with pits - 2 nos

For the garnish:
Saffron strands - 1 pinch

For marinating chicken:
Hung curd - 1 tbsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Chicken flavour cube - 1 small
Corn flour - 1 tsp
Salt for taste

Oil for deep frying


Method:
Marinate chicken for 2-4 hours. Deep fry in hot oil. When its done, strain excess oil using kitchen tissue and keep this fried chicken aside.
Heat ghee in a broad bottomed vessel, add whole spices and fry till all the aroma is released. Add finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown. Now add ginger-garlic paste and saute for a min. Add chilly powder and give it a stir. Add finely chopped tomatoes and saute for 2 min. Add curd, lime juice, finely chopped mint and coriander, green chillies (slit lengthwise) and stir well. Add garam masala powder, coriander powder, and cook till the oil separates. Finally add fried chicken, chicken flavour cube, stir and turn off the flame.
Cook basmati rice (soaked in hot water for 30min) in hot boiling water with salt for taste. Cover and cook till its almost done (about 90% done). Stir well and turn off the flame. Now add this almost cooked rice into the broad bottomed vessel in which the fried chicken with masala is there. Cover tightly using aluminium foil and baked at 200 degrees for 15 - 20 min and its done. Mix well, garnish and serve.

Note:
If the bottomed vessel that you are using is not oven friendly, then transfer contents to a oven friendly bowl or tray and then follow the same method. Do not cook the fried chicken in the masala for long as it can make the fried chicken loose its texture (moreover, oven cooking is also done later).
Looking for some other biryani recipe?

Chawarma (one base for all)

I make chawarma/ shawarma at home quite often and yes with so many different fillings. Sometimes, its chicken, sometimes, meat, kebe, falafel (chickpea vadas), french fries etc. The chawarma base can be so simple yet so full of flavour, tasty and healthy. This one can be used as a common base for any chawarma. I have used a garlic mayonnaise sauce as the chawarma sauce here. One can also use hummos or tahini sauce (sesame sauce). Here goes the recipe.....

Ingredients:
Lebanese bread - 1 nos
Garlic -mayonnaise sauce - 1 tbsp
Pickled cucumber - 2-3 small
Lettuce leaves (chopped) - 1 handful
Onion - 1 nos
Tomato - 1 nos

Method:
Place the Lebanese bread on a tawa and warm it. Spread garlic mayonnaise sauce. Top with sliced or chopped pickled cucumber ( I used small Lebanese cucumber). Also add chopped onions, tomato and lettuce. Place any main ingredient of choice like falafel, chicken , meat etc. wrap into a roll using a wrapping paper or aluminium foil and enjoy.

Note:
Mix 1/4 tsp garlic paste with 2 tbsp mayonnaise to get garlic mayonnaise sauce. Soak tiny Lebanese cucumber in vinegar with salt to get pickled cucumber (can include other veggies as well). Can replace lettuce leaves with fresh parsley, coriander etc.

Stir fried spaghetti noodles (Asian twist)

Simple and quick spaghetti noodles with Asian twist. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Spaghetti noodles - 300grams
Eggs - 2 nos
Shredded chicken - 200 grams
Chilly paste - 1 tbsp
Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Dark soya sauce - 1 tsp
Aroma or flavour cube (tomato) - 1 small
Salt and pepper for taste

Method:
Cook spaghetti noodles in hot boiling water till its done. Strain water using a colander and keep the spaghetti aside. In a wok, Heat oil, add chilly paste, garlic paste and saute for a min. Add eggs with constant stirring, shredded chicken, and stir well. Add aroma or tomato flavour cube, dark soya sauce and stir well again. Add salt and pepper for taste. Toss well and serve hot.

Note:
Can add chilly powder, instead of chilly paste. Can add light soya sauce instead of dark soya sauce. Can try with other flavour cubes as well. Can include some veggies instead of chicken and egg for a veg version. Great way to use leftover chicken, egg, veggies etc.

Mengintip Manado dan Surga Kecilnya

Manado adalah kota yang cantik. Kota yang berada di ujung utara Pulau Sulawesi itu menawarkan tak hanya lanskap yang indah, namun kekayaan bawah air yang tiada duanya. Manado yang tahun lalu menjadi tuan rumah World Ocean Conference dapat dicapai dengan penerbangan selama 3 jam dari Jakarta.

Ada beberapa objek wisata yang sempat saya kunjungi. Antara lain Makam Pahlawan Tuanku Imam Bonjol, Monumen Yesus Memberkati, Pantai Malalaya, dan Danau Linao. Yang tearkhir ini cukup berkesan. Walaupun mesti membayar cukup mahal yaitu 25 ribu sekali masuk (gratis minuman dan snack), tidak nyesal rasanya ke sini. Danau yang terletak di daerah Tomohon ini terdiri dari 3 warna dan sangat bersih. Selain itu mereka juga membangun infrastruktur yang cukup bagus untuk duduk-duduk, keliling-keliling, dan jalan-jalan santai di daerah situ. Rasanya, betah sekali duduk lama-lama sambil menikmati keindahan danau yang cantik sekali.

perbukitan - menjelang pilkada - makam Tuanku Imam Bonjol

Satu yang saya ingat, jalan raya disana kondisinya sangat baik. Bahkan sampai ke daerah luar kota dan daerah perbukitan, saya sangat jarang sekali menemukan jalan rusak. Selain itu, deretan angkot yang gaul (penuh lampu dan musik yang hingar bingar). Oh ya, karena menjelang pilkada, pemandangan paling mencolok adalah gempuran poster dan baligo para calon pemimpin yang memenuhi semua sudut kota.

ikan woku super pedas - danau linao

Satu warning untuk para orang yang baru datang ke Manado : masakan disini ekstra pedas! Bahkan, keluarga saya yang orang Sumatera asli dan terbiasa dengan masakan pedas benar-benar dibuat pusing dengan pedasnya makanan disini. Berbagai olahan ikan sangat terkenal disini. Tak hanya itu, jangan lupa cicipi bubur manado, aneka pisang goreng yang ada di setiap sudut kota, juga bermacam es campur yang menggugah selera.


Namun yang paling juara dari Manado, tetap saja keindahan Bunaken. Dari Teluk Manado, kita naik kapal selama satu jam untuk ke Bunaken. Di perjalanan, kita bisa menikmati lautnya yang biru berkilauan di bawah sinar matahari. Saat sudah di Bunaken, bagian kapal pun ada kaca dimana kita bisa mengintip keindahan bawah laut yang ditawarkan. Aneka macam tumbuhan laut berpadu dengan ikan-ikan cantik dibalut air yang sangat jernih. Display ini seolah ‘menggoda’ para orang yang datang untuk menyelam langsung dan menikmati keindahan yang ditawarkan di bawah sana. Hmm, makin bikin penasaran!


Sampa di pantainya, jelas saya langsung menyelam. Awalnya saya agak kecewa karena tidak bisa diving pada saat itu. Namun ternyata, sensasi snorkeling juga di atas ekspektasi saya. Ada sensasi luar biasa ketika berada dalam air. Tenang, damai, sambil tak henti-hentinya takjub dengan keindahan alam. Visibility Bunaken sangat tinggi, rasanya seperti berada dalam aquarium. Lanskap nya sungguh mengundang decak kagum, dengan susunan karang, hamparan anemon yang menggeliat, serta aneka jenis spesies ikan yang mondar mandir. Apalagi kalau sudah memberi makan ikan dan diserbu ikan-ikan kecil penuh warna. Rasanya ingin jadi Mermaid sesaat.

bunaken yang super berkesan

Spot paling menawan adalah daerah di bagian perbatasan tebing laut, dimana keindahan keanekaragaman bawah laut berdampingan dengan laut dalam yang serba biru penuh misteri. Luar biasa indahnya! Rasanya ingin terus menyelam dan malas naik ke permukaan lagi.
Di balik keindahan bawah laut Bunaken luar biasa, ada satu yang kurang : infrastruktur pariwisatanya. Pantai nya kurang terawat dan agak jorok. Kamar mandi umum nya juga tidak bersih. Hal yang amat sangat disayangkan, padahal pesona bawah laut nya benar-benar surgawi. Selain itu, kapal-kapalnya juga kondisinya kurang baik. Padahal, keindahan Bunaken bisa menjadi aset pariwisata level internasional.


Yang jelas, rasanya semua orang yang pernah menyelam di Bunaken akan setuju pada satu hal : keindahannya akan tetap terekam di benak dan seolah ingin memanggil kembali untuk datang lagi kesana.

Noodle soup

I usually make noodle soups with non-veg ingredients like chicken, meat etc. This time I made it with just veggies and eggs. Simple and healthy one. Here it goes...

Ingredients:
Wheat noodles - 200grams
Carrots - 1 nos
Capsicum - 1 nos
Oyster mushrooms - 1 handful
Eggs - 1 nos
Veg stock cube or aroma cube - 1 small
Dried herbs like parsley, chives, thyme etc. as per need
Salt and pepper for taste
Water - 1-2 litre
Oil - 3 tbsp

Method:
In a stew pot, heat 1 tbsp oil, add carrots and capsicum (both cut into thin strips) and stir well. Add oyster mushrooms and stir again. Add enough water and cover and cook 45 min along with all the dried herbs. Add the wheat noodles, veg stock or aroma cube. And cook till its done. Add scrambled egg, salt and pepper and serve hot.

Note:
Separately do the scrambled egg with the remaining 2 tbsp oil and finally add. Do not add before hand.

Stir fried frog legs

Few days back, had been to a Vietnamese restaurant here in Abidjan and there was this fried frog legs on the menu. Everybody (except me) wanted to try that and they really enjoyed it. Every time, I used to see this frog legs in the supermarket, but never knew what it was cause the legs were folded and almost resembled clams or something of that sort???!!! I mean yes! For the 1st time in my life, I tried to prepare stir fried frog legs and the efforts were well appreciated. Though it almost looked like pan fried chicken which I usually prepare, I had used little more ingredients as well. Here goes the recipe...

Ingredients:
Frog legs - 12 nos
Onions - 1 nos
Ginger - garlic paste - 1 tsp
Chilly powder - 1 tbsp
Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Dark soya sauce - 1/4 tsp
Oyster sauce - 1 tsp
Salt for taste

Method:
Heat oil in a wok, Add finely chopped onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute for a min. Add chilly powder and stir well. Add the frog legs, and stir fry till its almost done (can add little water if required). Add the remaining ingredients and stir fry till its done and completely dry. Serve hot.

Note:
Can follow pan fried chicken recipe as well.

Suggestions?: Obi-Matching Dilemma

As mentioned in my earlier posts, my godsis Carolyn bought a yukata at the Jusco Yukata Fair. Since the fair didn't have any proper undies or even koshihimo (shocking!) and she hated the obi her yukata came with, I decided to get her a proper matching obi and yukata undies set for her birthday. (Don't worry about my posting this in public - she already knows what she's getting for her birthday :P)

My only problem is deciding what colour obi I should get her. Her yukata has a base colour of dark purple, with lighter shades of purple and white, and a motif of sakura. I can see it matching with so many colours - mustard yellow, pale yellow, pale green, light blue, all sorts of pinks, white, lilac.... I just don't know what to get her :/

I did ask her what sort of colour she'd like, but she said it'd be very difficult to decide without actually seeing the obi in person. Also, her taste is generally a less bright and more sedate sort of colour combination. Her favourite motif is sakura, but I'm afraid of accidentally turning her outfit into a sakura overload ^^;;;

Soooo..... Any suggestions?

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton

The world of wine blogging can be a fickle mistress, one day you're swamped in enotecas for your autograph, cheered and back slapped, the next you're attacked with a Parma ham (on the bone) for dismissing a paisans favourite grape. As many of you know, wine geekery is not my formal training, I am actually a full blown net nerd paid to work in SEM/SEO, that little talent helped elevate this blog and the keyword Italian Riesling atop the Google rankings and my cheerful raspberry to Italian Riesling continues to top my e-complaint list.

So, just two years later and after one suit and several beatings, I have decided to write about another Italian Riesling and this one, the Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton from the Alto Adige is nothing short of scrumdiddly (winespeak for "on par with anything from Franken").

The Kuenhof estate, run by Peter and Brigitte Pliger is located just outside the town of Brixen (70% of the towns population are German speakers) or Bressanone as we shall call it and just a short distance from the Austrian border. This 4 ha vineyard in the South Tyrol holds the honour of producing Italy's northernmost wines. As such, the wines at the Kuenhof estate are Italian only in postcode, growing grape varieties you'd expect from the Austrian vineyards across the way. Strangely, grapes do not respect international borders and so it comes to pass that some of the worlds finest and best value Gruner Veltliners, Rieslings, Sylvaners and Gewurztraminers come from this part of the Alto Adige and the Kuenhof estate.

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton, like all the Kuenhof wines from this tiny estate is produced in small numbers. Considering the quality of this wine and the small scale production these wines are hotly priced. The Sylvaner (as you could guess) has the largest production but still comes in at just under 11,000 bottles per year. The wines are also well received with Gambero Rosso year on year with the '07 Sylvaner taking the Tre Bicchiere and still we are getting change from a €20? You can buy the wines directly at the vineyard for closer to the €10 mark.

So, onto the Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton itself. At the beginning of this week I was in Venice and along with a chum shared a bottle of the '08 vintage sat next to the Rialto bridge feasting on seafood risotto as the the mosquitos, in turn, fed on me. I'm sure the location and late evening sun helped but this was perhaps the most elegant, lengthy and pure Riesling wine I've tasted from any region. No one made me say that. Honest. No one.

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton 2008 - BUY - €19
A light golden colour in the glass. A focused and stylised wine with some herbaceous and mineral notes, even a little orange peel on the nose. The palate is concentrated, lustrous and coating with a long finish. This is one of those wines that is almost a little one dimensional but does that one dimension so well that it's a good thing! (that makes sense) 90 Points

Where can I buy this Wine?
Karadarshop.com - €19

Leave a Comment
What is your favourite thing from Austria? Apart from this wine... which isn't.

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton

The world of wine blogging can be a fickle mistress, one day you're swamped in enotecas for your autograph, cheered and back slapped, the next you're attacked with a Parma ham (on the bone) for dismissing a paisans favourite grape. As many of you know, wine geekery is not my formal training, I am actually a full blown net nerd paid to work in SEM/SEO, that little talent helped elevate this blog and the keyword Italian Riesling atop the Google rankings and my cheerful raspberry to Italian Riesling continues to top my e-complaint list.

So, just two years later and after one suit and several beatings, I have decided to write about another Italian Riesling and this one, the Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton from the Alto Adige is nothing short of scrumdiddly (winespeak for "on par with anything from Franken").

The Kuenhof estate, run by Peter and Brigitte Pliger is located just outside the town of Brixen (70% of the towns population are German speakers) or Bressanone as we shall call it and just a short distance from the Austrian border. This 4 ha vineyard in the South Tyrol holds the honour of producing Italy's northernmost wines. As such, the wines at the Kuenhof estate are Italian only in postcode, growing grape varieties you'd expect from the Austrian vineyards across the way. Strangely, grapes do not respect international borders and so it comes to pass that some of the worlds finest and best value Gruner Veltliners, Rieslings, Sylvaners and Gewurztraminers come from this part of the Alto Adige and the Kuenhof estate.

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton, like all the Kuenhof wines from this tiny estate is produced in small numbers. Considering the quality of this wine and the small scale production these wines are hotly priced. The Sylvaner (as you could guess) has the largest production but still comes in at just under 11,000 bottles per year. The wines are also well received with Gambero Rosso year on year with the '07 Sylvaner taking the Tre Bicchiere and still we are getting change from a €20? You can buy the wines directly at the vineyard for closer to the €10 mark.

So, onto the Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton itself. At the beginning of this week I was in Venice and along with a chum shared a bottle of the '08 vintage sat next to the Rialto bridge feasting on seafood risotto as the the mosquitos, in turn, fed on me. I'm sure the location and late evening sun helped but this was perhaps the most elegant, lengthy and pure Riesling wine I've tasted from any region. No one made me say that. Honest. No one.

Kuenhof Valle Isarco Riesling Kaiton 2008 - BUY - €19
A light golden colour in the glass. A focused and stylised wine with some herbaceous and mineral notes, even a little orange peel on the nose. The palate is concentrated, lustrous and coating with a long finish. This is one of those wines that is almost a little one dimensional but does that one dimension so well that it's a good thing! (that makes sense) 90 Points

Where can I buy this Wine?
Karadarshop.com - €19

Leave a Comment
What is your favourite thing from Austria? Apart from this wine... which isn't.

Jusco Yukata Fair 2010 - My Finds!

As promised, here is my post about the stuff I bought at the Jusco yukata fair!

1)Pale blue stripes and spots yukata. I found this pattern quite adorable, and I don't have any pale blue yukata.

I'm not entirely sure what sort of obi I'd like to wear this with, but I think the one in this photo makes for a rather refreshing combination. I'm not too fond of the idea of wearing such a plain yukata obi with this yukata, but the colours are really spot-on for my taste...


2) Brown with bunnies yukata. I was really happy to have found this! I haven't any brown kimono or yukata or even obi, so this was a very nice surprise. Plus, the saleswomen told me that they have only one yukata of this pattern, and they all remembered me for buying it ^^;;

I found this one obi that seems to be a great colour match for the yukata. It contrasts the darkness so well, and at the same time, the roses match the bunnies quite perfectly. I think it lends a rather cute appeal to a yukata that is otherwise slightly too old for me. Any ideas on other colour combinations? I think I might try a pale yellow or something.


3) Yet another navy blue roses and false shibori yukata! I love that sort of combination. The roses here look really elegant, I feel.

For this photo, I paired this yukata with a plain white obi so that I can show off my new obijime :)


4) Navy blue and gold yukata obijime. I bought this because the colour is quite hard to get right on screen, so it's more difficult to find the correct shade when shopping online.

I didn't really know how to tie the obijime properly, so I just fudged it ^^;; I think it turned out looking rather well!


5) All the obi that came with the yukata! (and one extra from my godsis, who also hated the obi)

I'm still not sure about what I'm going to do with all these... I think I might keep them to lend out to people who want to wear yukata, but can't tie an obi. However, if you want one, I'd be willing to trade! Just send me a message or leave a comment XD


6) One of the three pairs of geta I bought.

At RM20, these were really worth it. Even my godsis Carolyn, whom I dragged along and convinced to buy lots of stuff at the fair, bought a couple of pairs and said they were really comfy for everyday wear!


7) Navy blue uchiwa fan.

I'm of the opinion that you can never have too many fans! XD The fact that this fan matches my new navy blue yukata doesn't hurt either :P


8) Pearl obi kazari.

I've always wanted one, so I thought I'd just buy one to see. I ended up buying another one when this one worked so well ^^;


9) Kimono stickers!

These weren't actually from the Jusco yukata fair. However, I did bump into them at Art Friend, Gardens when my godsis and I went to the fair. I couldn't resist such cuteness!! I can't wait to start using them the next time I send a card or a letter to my kimono friends :)


These actually weren't all the items I bought - I also have parasols, more geta, more obi kazari, a child's yukata set, and a couple of items for my brother..... But I got lazy to post all of them :P

Bon Odori is this weekend (zomg forgot to post about it!) so I might wear one of my new pretties there ^_^ If my brother goes with me, he'll be wearing one of the yukata I bought for him yay! I can't wait 8D

Hope you enjoyed seeing what I purchased XD I certainly had a good time shopping haha!

Toodles and goodnight!