Author Archives: kfreed412

Back to Black (Radish) 2/21/21

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That’s right – we are going Back to Black Radish for some of Kate Romane and her team’s best flavors combined with tasty Italian wines.

For those new to OTG, we shared a neighborhood with Kate Romane’s E2 restaurant for many years. Between E2 and Black Radish they have endured countless wine dinners and wine tastings and all manner of Jack’s wine geekiness. They are still game to adventure into new OTG territory and we hope you are too.

We will have a Zoom gathering at 6:30pm.

Dinner for Two 
spinach and cici bean fritter with lemon caper aioli

joddo’s bitter greens with lemon, focaccia crumb and shaved etrusco

ricotta gnocchi, lamb bolognese with rosemary and feta

tiramisu 

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
For this round Jack has curated two wines from Italy (one white – one red).

  • White Wine – Pellegrino Cavallina Grillo Pinot Grigio Sicilia DOC 2019 
  • Red Wine – Tenuta Buon Tempo Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2018

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.

Winter Warm Up (V8 Edition) 1/24/21

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Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. — Hippocrates, father of medicine, 431 B.C.

January is always one of the most difficult months; too little sun, cold weather and post-holiday-let-down.  But we know that food, wine and interaction with friends can provide some of the most sought-after feelings of well-being…  SO LET’S HAVE DINNER!!!

This month friends from Italy will join us for the Zoom call to talk about their beautiful Sicilian wine, AND we are super fortunate to have Jen Saffron and her Sprezzatura team offer a warm and hearty winter menu to match the equally warm and hearty Italian wines.   When these food-and-friends-and-wine elements combine, we believe our need for well-being will be fulfilled! 

Each purchase includes dinner for TWO PEOPLE, and TWO BOTTLES of wine. If you would like to join us – please purchase, and we will send confirmation and pick up directions.

We will have a Zoom gathering at 6:30pm.

Dinner for Two 
Citrus fennel salad over arugula with oil and black pepper

Chicken cacciatore with homemade pasta in butter herb dressing

Roasted carrots and cauliflower contorni

Almond cake 

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
For this round Jack has curated two wines from Italy (one white – one red).

  • White Wine – Tenuta del Buonamico Vivi Vermentino Montecarlo Toscana IGT 2018 
  • Red Wine – Firriato ‘Chiaramonte’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT 2017

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.

2020 Italian Fest (CV 7th Edition) 12/06/20

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Even in the darkest days there are reasons to celebrate. And while our celebrations will look different this year – one thing remains the same – the joy of food and wine with great people. To close out Off the Grid for 2020 our good friends at Sprezzatura have just what we need: comfort food with Northern Italian Flavors!   And of course, we know that “what grows together goes together” so we have two Northern Italian wines to complete the meal – should be fun, and, hopefully, comforting!

Each purchase includes dinner for TWO PEOPLE, and TWO BOTTLES of wine. If you would like to join us – please purchase, and we will send confirmation and pick up directions.

We will have a Zoom gathering at 6:30pm.

Dinner for Two 
Baccala whipped with the finest olive oil, fresh herbs and lemon into a delicious toast-topper, with baguette crostini

Organic arugula with shaved cheese and pears, homemade lemon dijon vinaigrette

Pork ragu over marscapone polenta

Roasted fall root vegetables in a cumin tumeric glaze

Flourless chocolate cake 

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
For this round Jack has curated two wines from Northern Italy (one white – one red).

  • White Wine – White Wine – Azienda Agricola Molinetto di Diego Carrea ‘Gavi’ DOCG 2018 
  • Red Wine – Gabriele Scaglione ‘Passeggiando in Vigna’ Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2016

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.

Covid Takeout 6th Edition 11/08/20

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Change of Seasons

Eight months into the world of COVID and we continue to seek local businesses to promote and support. As the weather turns cooler and the autumn colors emerge our thoughts turned to Prohibition Pastries with their combination of savory flavors and lovely flakey pastry. The menu calls for rustic French wines and we found two great examples to share. 

Each purchase includes dinner for TWO PEOPLE, and TWO BOTTLES of wine. If you would like to join us – please purchase, and we will send confirmation and pick up directions.

We will have a Zoom gathering at 6:30pm.

Logistics 
We will send an email confirmation with pick up details. Dinners (with the wine) can be picked up on Sunday, November 8 between 4:00 – 5:00pm a Prohibition Pastry in Point Breeze. Just pop the trunk and food and wine will be gently placed for travel.

Dinner for Two 
Feta, sundried tomato and pancetta puffs

Spinach salad with candied pecans, cranberry, blue cheese 

THREE (that’s right – 3) savory pies

  • French Onion – 3 kinds of onions cooked down with vegetable bouillon and red wine, topped with rosemary sourdough croutons and swiss cheese
  • Beouf Bourguignon – slow roasted top round roast (from Clarion Farms Beef) carrots, mushroom and onions in red wine sauce
  • Veggie Coconut Curry – carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, green beans in coconut milk green curry (contains fish sauce and shrimp paste)

Salted caramel nests 

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
For this round Jack has curated two wines from France (one white – one red).

  • White Wine – Domaine Des Mazelles Sauvignon Blanc Touraine Loire Valley 2019 
  • Red Wine – Chateau Moulin De La Roquille Bordeaux Rouge 2016

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.

Covid Takeout 5th Edition 8/16/20

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Taste of Summer

In the depths of winter when we think about summer – what flavors come to mind?   Tomatoes, fresh herbs, peaches, rosé wine?  Put them together and we’ve got a dinner designed to leave a summer flavor memory mark on your palate.   We return (by overwhelming request!) to Jen Saffron and her Sprezzatura team for a tasty menu matched to a Rosé and a Vermentino – both wines are from next to the Mediterranean Sea, BUT on different sides of Italy.

Each purchase includes dinner for TWO PEOPLE, and TWO BOTTLES of wine. If you would like to join us – please purchase, and we will send confirmation and pick up directions.

We will have a Zoom gathering at 6:30pm.

Logistics 
We will send an email confirmation with pick up details. Dinners (with the wine) can be picked up on Sunday, August 16 between 4:00 – 5:00pm at Sprezzatura in Millvale. Just pop the trunk and food and wine will be gently placed for travel.

Dinner for Two 
Savory tomato pie with goat cheese and herbs

Chicken thighs in a caper, lemon and pistachio sauce

Mezze Rigate with Fresh Pesto

Organic field greens with peaches and edible flowers

Mini espresso chocolate tart 

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
For this round Jack has curated two wines from Italy (one rosé – one white).

  • Rosé Wine – Costa dei Trabocchi “Vallevo” Rosato Terre di Chieti IGT Montepuliciano 2019
  • White Wine – Sardus Pater “Lugore” Single Vineyard Vermentino DOC Sardegna 2019

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.

Covid Takeout 4th Edition on 6/28/20

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Don’t cry for us Argentina… We’re busy having dinner!

Argentina is known for many things – some not so flattering (authoritarian governments, currency defaults etc.) and some very flattering, like warm, generous people and fantastic food culture!   In addition to fine culinary traditions, wine has been commercially produced in Argentina since the late 1500s, so we MUST like a country with such history!

Here in Pittsburgh, we have a Mendoza, Argentina native who happens to be a caterer (AND she made food for Kate and Jack’s wedding!). Now that take out is our OTG dinner process, we asked Monica Aveni-Ranii to create an Argentine dinner, paired with two tasty wines.

Each purchase includes dinner for TWO PEOPLE, and TWO BOTTLES of wine. If you would like to join us – please purchase, and we will send confirmation and pick up directions.

We will have a Zoom meeting at 6:30pm – with a special musical guest performance …should be fun!

Logistics 
We will send an email confirmation with pick up details. Dinners (with the wine) can be picked up on Sunday, June 28 between 3:00 – 4:00pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Wilkinsburg. Just pop the trunk and food and wine will be gently placed for travel.

Dinner for Two 
Empanadas – two versions: beef / onion with ricotta

Salad with pears and gorgonzola on a bed of spinach and topped with walnuts

Chicken al Vino Blanco from the Mendoza region (chicken sautéed in onions with mushrooms, fingerling potatoes in cumin lemon sauce)

Alfajor with dulce de leche (signature Argentine cookies)

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
For this round Jack has curated two wines from Argentina (one white – one red).

  • White Wine – Wapisa Sauvignon Blanc, Atlantic Patagonia, Argentina 2018 / Representing the “new Argentine wine industry” the Wapisa (whale) winery is located 25 miles from the Patagonian coastline 600 miles south of Buenos Aries.   This SB is reminiscent of the Bordeaux style whites, with some grassiness kept in check by bright citrus.  92 points from famous reviewer – this is an interesting white from unusual location in Argentina!
  • Red Wine – Lamadrid Single Vineyard Malbec, Agrelo Mendoza, Argentina 2017 / Malbec OF COURSE!   Back to traditions of fine Malbec from Mendoza region.   This red again reminds one of European style reds, especially those like Cahors, France style reds, with dark, sleek fruit flavors rounding out the very fine tannins… Robert Parker said Lamadrid is “A great value winery to look for.”- tasty stuff.

Covid Takeout 3rd Edition on 5/17/20

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As the nation struggles to make sense of how to move forward, we are simply moving on with another heart-warming comfort food/wine combination dinner.   And comfort food means reuniting with Jen Saffron at Sprezzatura. Check out the menu below including TWO wines from the wonderfully rustic Abruzzo region (due east of Rome, on the other side of the boot!).   

Each purchase includes dinner for TWO PEOPLE, and TWO BOTTLES of wine. If you would like to join us – please purchase, and we will send confirmation and pick up directions.

We plan to have Jen and Jack talk us through the food and wine on a Zoom Meeting at 6:30pm – should be fun!

Logistics 
We will send an email confirmation with pick up details. Dinners (with the wine) can be picked up on Sunday, May 17 between 4:00-5:00pm at Sprezzatura in Millvale. Just pop the trunk and food and wine will be gently placed for travel.

Dinner for Two 
Lemony chickpea salad with cucumber, parley, celery

Beef and escarole stuffed shells with red sauce served with rustic bread

Local greens with pancetta and egg

Mini chocolate raspberry tarts

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
For this round Jack has curated two wines from Abruzzo (one white – one red).

  • White Wine – Casal Bordino Terre di Chieti Sabelli Pecorino IGT 2016
  • Red Wine – Marramiero DAMA Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2017

Covid Takeout Round 2 on 4/19/20

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We hope you are all staying safe and healthy while the world tries to slow the spread of the virus menace.

In midst of all this distancing and fear – some small relief may come in the form of a nice Sunday evening meal (and yes – that includes wine). SO, we teamed up with and our friend and “Chief Comfort-Foodie Chef” Jen Saffron and her Sprezzatura Cafe team to offer you the menu (and matched wines) listed below!   We’ve already tried the food (and the wines – yes, research is work!) and we think you’ll enjoy this robust, flavorful, Italian, Sunday supper!

We plan on doing another Zoom with Jack and Jen will join us to talk food, Millvale, and much more. Mangia!

Logistics 
We will send an email confirmation with pick up details. Dinners (with the wine) can be picked up on Sunday, April 19 between 3:00-4:00pm at Sprezzatura in Millvale. Just pop the trunk and food and wine will be gently placed for travel.

Dinner for Two 
Olive feta mint dip with crackers

Veg lasagna (red sauce variety) with a side of Sprezzatura famous meatballs

Salad of spring greens, peas, prosciutto and asparagus with lemon dijon balsamic vinaigrette

Biscotti

BOTTLES – yep – TWO BOTTLES – of wine 
In response to your requests for a head to head … Jack has curated two wines for this virtual OTG edition.

  • I Fabbri Lamole, Chianti Classico DOCG 2018
  • Civias Acanteo Nero d’Avola, Sicila IGT 2017

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.

Virtual Edition on 3/29/20

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These are trying times – but it is exactly in these situations that we need more connection, more support for each other, more innovation and frankly… some fun…. yep, fun. In a true test of being able to pivot – OTG is going virtual!

We are not offering you advice on how to live or behave – instead we offer you dinner!!!   In the best way we can, without congregating, we invite you to join us for dinner on Sunday 3/29 (in your own home).   We will provide the write up for the food and the wine, and you can read it to each other, while enjoying food and wine like we would all have together.

With our longtime fish friends at Penn Avenue Fish, we offer you this DINNER FOR TWO (and wine… don’t ask where it came from – just know that it is Jack approved and enjoy).

Logistics 
We will send an email confirmation with pick up details. Dinners (with the wine) can be picked up on Sunday, March 29 between 2:30-4:30pm at Penn Ave Fish in the Strip.

Dinner for Two 
Big Summer Salad

Blackened Salmon
white bean ragu / sautéed greens / apple cider vinaigrette

Surprise dessert

BOTTLE – yep – A BOTTLE – of wine 
Jack is curating a specially selected bottle of wine for this virtual OTG edition – you won’t be disappointed (especially magic now that the PLCB is closed)

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.

A Tryp to Marseille on 3/08/20

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The Mediterranean Sea gives much to the culinary history of Western Civilization. Coastal regions around the Med have their own flavors and intricacies, each presenting a slightly different take on the regional cuisine. Marseille is a bustling city with cuisine that reflects the richness of both land and sea – equally, the wines are rich and giving as well.

We are delighted to reunite with Kevin Costa, now Executive Chef at the Tryp Hotel. Please join us at a NEW location for the cuisine of Marseille.

First Course 
Potted smoked trout

Aimery Sparkling Crémant de Limoux Rosé Brut NV

Second Course
Bouillabaisse

Mas Amiel Vertigo Blanc 2018  Languedoc-Roussillon

Third Course
Greens with romesco and crispy lentils

Chateau Ollieux-Romanis Cuvee Classique Rouge 2016 Languedoc-Roussillon 

Fourth Course
Braised pork shank, roasted potatoes, haricot vert, mushrooms and artichoke

Chateau Saint Roch Roubials Rouge 2016 Languedoc-Roussillon

and

Chateau Ollieux-Romanis Cuvee Classique Rouge 2016 Languedoc-Roussillon 

Fifth Course
Pear tart with citrus curd

Please note that all sales are final. If you find you are unable to use your seats, please contact Kate and Jack and they will see if there is someone on the wait list who can use them (although this is not guaranteed).  Thank you.