A Meeting at Metis, Naples (Na)

Eduardo Estatico:Let's meet at Piazza dei Martiri -Tuesday night what do you think? 

What do I think, well…hmmmm…Let’s see - it’s a weeknight -second of all – it’s a weeknight.  Something that I try to avoid during the winter season.

On a positive note, Piazza dei Martiri is located in downtown Naples, one of hottest neighborhoods in the city.   I’m in!

Estatico led me down Vico Santa Maria Cappella Vecchia. I was very curious about this new adventure that my caro amico Eduardo Estatico was about to embark on. This time, not just as a consultant but also as a partner. After a few minutes, we finally arrived at the end of the Vico.  We arrived to Metis - a play on words - a mix of this and that. 

Estatico lead me to the double glass doors, opened them, and I finally got a chance to see what he had been talking about.  Here - a small comfy chic elegant /cocktail/oyster bar 

Chef Eduardo Estatico

Designed to be the next hotspot for an aperitif, a light dinner or after dinner nightcap. Inside velvety yellow and green seats. Here's a peek at my 'live'...in Italian.

Classy black tables and countertop.   Just enough for 18 people.

There I met Vincenzo Supino - oyster ambassador.

Diners on a journey, oyster voyagers enthusiastic about a tasting, but like me, needing a tour guide.  Supino is one of the best…

Vincenzo Supino

  Oyster tasting with a glass of champagne but this is not just about champagne and oysters.   Let’s add some cocktails!  Cocktails mixed by barman Mirko Lamagna.  

Mirko Lamagna

Lamagna had one one simple question what would I prefer.  I’m not a big cocktail drinker but I did share that I liked gin.  Lamagna went to work right away!

Grilled Pineapple – French gin, homemade pineapple syrup, fresh lemon and champagne…

Tea punch: rum, Clemente Blanc, homemade Tea syrup, and other ‘secrets’

Experience: cognac V.s.o.p, homemade liquor al caffè, homemade sciroppo dì cardamomo, fernet branca, champagne.

And I can't leave out my favorite - Revolution.Can you guess the ingredients?

Champagne oysters and... Metis as I mentioned earlier has 18 seats and a very small 'kitchen' which I place in quotes because there really  isn't any place to cook. That was the challenge that Estatico had - to create a menu to fit the style and vision of this location; such as beef tartare...

Shrimp bon bon filled with ricotta….

And his egg in purgatory…

Dessert?  A Neapolitan treat - la pastieria Estatico style.

It was cold that evening.  And a weeknight.  But for me it was worth it.  I can’t wait to return…maybe in the spring.  When it’s a little warmer.

In bocca a lupo ragazzi!

Champagne in 20 calici at Enoteca Divinoinvigno

Divinoinvigna Enoteca in collaboration with Luciano Piganatarowineblog

Presents

Champagne in 20 calici 20 champagne glasses

A 4 part series  where you can toast the summer with the best bubblies from France. Your guide on this journey will be Mauro Erro who will introduce you to the territory as lead you in a degustazione of  5 different Champagnes. Each appointment will be accompanied by culinary specialties prepared by Adele Chiagano.

The schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, June 22. 2030 hrs

Camille Saves Carte Blanche 1er cru brut

Etienne Lefevre Carte Blanche Grand Cru brut

Henri Chauvet Blanc de Noirs brut

Benoit Lahaje Rosè de maceration

Henri Chauvet Millesime 2004 Cuvèe Blanche


Tuesday, June 29. 2030 hrs

Chardonnet Reserve brut

Etienne Lefevre Carte d’Or Grand Cru brut

Francois Billion Cuvèe de Reserve Grand Cru brut

Voirin Jumel Millesime 2004 brut

Henri Chauvet Millesime 2004 Cuvèe Noire


Monday, July 5. 2030 hrs

Benoit Lahaje Brut Essentiel

Guy Thibaud Grand Cru brut Blanc de Noirs

Marie Courtin Resonance brut

Chardonnet Rosè de Saignè brut

Francois Billion Millesime 2002 Grand Cru brut


Tuesday, July 13. 2030 hrs

Francois Billion Cuvee Marie CatherineExtra Brut

Camille Saves Cuvèe Prestige Grand Cru brut

Marie Courtin Efflorescence

Voirin Jumel Grand Cru “Cuvée 555″

Pierre Peters L’Esprit 2005 BdB Grand Cru Brut



The price for those wishing to attend all 4 evenings is € 180

The price for each individual evening € 50

For more info or to reserve: 081.3722670 – 329.6467600 – adeluccia@gmail.com

Enoteca Divinoinvigna – Via S. Freud, 33/35 – Napoli

Greg Osby Quintet- a Fusion of Jazz and Champagne, BAG, March 7th

Sunday night is going to be special.  Bacoli Art Gallery will host the Greg Osby Quintet for an evening of mind- blowing jazz.  Here's what his web site says about this groundbreaking musician.

Saxophonist, composer, producer and educator Greg Osby has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz as a leader of his own ensembles and as a guest artist with other acclaimed jazz groups for the past 20 years. Highly regarded for his insightful and innovative approach to composition and performance, Osby is a shining beacon among the current generation of jazz musicians. He has earned numerous awards and critical acclaim for his recorded works and passionate live performances.



Born and reared in St. Louis, Greg Osby began his professional music career in 1975, after three years of private studies on clarinet, flute and alto saxophone. Coming from a vibrant and musical city, Osby showed an early interest in the performing arts and spent his years in secondary school with a heavy involvement in Blues and Jazz groups. In 1978 Osby furthered his musical education at Howard University (Washington, D.C.) where he majored in Jazz Studies. He continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) from 1980 to 1983.






Upon relocating to New York in early 1983, Osby quickly established himself as a notable and in demand sideman for artists as varied as Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Jack DeJohnette, Andrew Hill, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jim Hall and Jaki Byard as well as with many ethnic and new music ensembles in the New York area.

In 1985 Osby was invited to to join Jack DeJohnette's innovative group, "Special Edition". It was as a member of this ensemble Osby was able to fine tune the more challenging aspects of his conception in an open ended, no holds barred musical situation. Says Osby, "My musical thinking for performance and composition advanced by light years as Jack was open to my input and was very encouraging in pushing me to to maintain a steady flow of experimentation. It marked a major turning point in my development as an artist." In 1987, Osby signed his first recording deal with a new German label , JMT (Jazz Music Today). With this situation, he felt that he was finally able to document life as he saw it through music. He had free creative reign to do whatever he liked. He recorded four CD titles for that label. Osby signed with Blue Note Records in 1990 and recorded fifteen outstanding recordings for that label as a leader. In 2008, Osby launched his own label, "Inner Circle Music", which serves as a platform for many of today's brightest artists. From the pulse of the streets and the language of a generation, Osby has sketched numerous musical essays set to a contemporary score using the improvisational nature of Jazz as the connecting thread.


On "9 Levels", his latest recording on Inner Circle Music, Osby presents his wares in a sextet format and is joined by special guests, Nir Felder, guitar; Adam Birnbaum, piano; Joseph Lepore, bass; Hamir Atwal, drums; and a welcome newcomer to the international jazz scene, vocalist Sara Serpa.


So, here is a great opportunity to see this amazing jazz artist in 'our own backyard'.  To get a taste of the 'states' in Naples.  Real Jazz....

Two ways to enjoy this evening.  The Bacoli Art Gallery is a club that has two levels.  If you want to hang out on the lower level and enjoy the concert with a finger food buffet, the ticket price is 12 Euro (drinks not included).  If you would prefer to chill out upstairs in the VIP section with the Ciao Vino Winerdì crowd, with champagne and a Ciao Vino buffet which will include Stefano Pagliuca's famous pizza as well as other specialties, the price is 40 Euro.
Either way, it will be amazing... I hope to see you there!

For more info or to reserve a spot, contact

 Bacoli Art Gallery -BAG
081 52 33 802 / 338 33 12 916

Piazzetta Adriano 5/6

Bacoli, Italy, 80070

or fabrizioerbaggio@libero.it    081 509 0425


The fun starts at 9 pm...ish

WAIT!! There's More....

After publishing yeaterday's blog on the finest sparkling wines, I heard from some friends with their thoughts on the subject.

Francesco Continsio, Enoteca Mercadante, said that his number one seller is French champagne, a weakness for him as well. Topping the list Laurent Perrier Brut, in the sans annèe category and right after that, Pommery Noir, exclusively produced for the Italian market, fresh, full bodied.In third place, we Italian spumanti from Franciacorta, Monterossa Brut Cuvèe and Bellavista Brut Cuvèe.

I’m new to this bollicine world and I was a little surprised (maybe disappointed) that I didn’t see more Italian bubbly on the list. Then I opened an email from Giulia Cannada Bartoli, journalist and event organizer. She is a fan of these Italian offerings: Grotta del Sole Asprinio di Aversa Spumante Brut, Cantine del Mare Falanghina Brezza Flegrea Spumante Brut, and Fiano sSumante Cantine i Favati.

I also read an article by Angelo Di Costanzo(Campania Region’s best sommelier) that popped up on Luciano Pignataro’s web site today (here) where he lists his top 10 Campanian bollicine. The article is in Italian, but it is easy to follow. There you will see wineries such as Feudi di San Gregorio, Grotto del Sole, Cantine Astroni, and DeConcillis to name a few.

We can’t try them all tonight, but keep them in mind for your celebrations during 2010!

The Finest of the Season!

I’ve had the good fortune of attending two amazing sparkling wine tastings over the last several weeks. Ever since then, I have become very interested in the subject. With New Year’s Eve coming up, I was curious what the bollicine scene was like around Naples, so I called on a few friends for their input. Here are their responses:

Tomasso Luongo, professional sommelier and president of AIS Napoli (Association of Italian Sommeliers, Naples) likes Italian sparkling wines, but when it comes down to it, he is a big fan of champagne “Mi attraggono per la capacità di esprimere: grande finezza aromatica, sferzante acidità e vellutata cremosità delle bollicine. In other words, he is attracted by its ability to express itself; great aromatic elegance, striking acidity, and the velvety, creaminess of the bubbles. Viva la France!

Mimmo Brasiello, voted the Campania region’s best nonprofessional sommelier, picked Italian sparkling Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore. I looked this up on the Italian Wine Hub website and I learned that ‘the wine is made with Chardonnay grapes cultivated in the Trentino region, following the lead of Giulio Ferrari, who first planted the variety there at the beginning of the 20th century, after experimenting with the variety in France. To the nose it reveals perfume of lavender and orange blooms, melon and bergamot. In the mouth it is fresh and long lasting. A precious wine for special occasions.’ Hmmmm.

But what are people buying?

The best selling bollicine this season according to Fabrizio Erbaggio,professional sommelier and owner of Ciao Vino, are as follows: in the category of champagne; Dom Ruinart 1996 - Krug – Crystal. As far as Italian Champenoise; Giulio Ferrari - Annamaria Clementi - Monte Rossa Cabochòn. According to Fabrizio, these are top quality wines, and it is hard for him to pick a favorite. He, for example, has an emotional attachment to Bruno Palliard, particularly the Assemblage Millésimé 1996. He has been sharing this champagne with friends on numerous occasions in the past few weeks thus adding the memory of good times shared con i amici to his overall experience. Isn’t that what celebrating the New Year should be about? Well said, Fabrizio!

Tanti Auguri!

Trippa and Champagne -Ciao Vino, November 27

Last Friday, November 27, most Americans were recovering from a Thanksgiving meal, or shopping. I decided to take the opportunity and attend the champagne tasting at Ciao Vino. The weather on Friday morning wasn’t the best, but inside the Enoteca, a packed crowd enjoyed themselves as we were introduced to Bruno Paillard and 5 of his top French champagnes. This was my first ‘champagne’ tasting and a great eye opener.

We tasted 5 different champagnes; Brut Première Cuvée brut S.A, Rosè Première Cuvée S.A,Brut Assemblage Millésimé 1996, Blanc de blancs Millésimé 1996, and Blanc de blancs Millésimé 1995. Each champagne was a treat, and unique. My favorite was his Brut Assemblage Millésimé 1996, a blend of Chardonnay and Pinoit Noir. I really enjoyed the aroma of pane di spezie or bread with spices. There was also an aroma of caffè and candied fruit, a first for me. Another noteworthy offering was Rosè Première Cuvée S.A. 100% Pinot Noir, a brilliant rose color with small, tiny bubbles. This champagne would be great for all courses of your meal (except dessert), particularly if you are serving carni bianche and formaggio.

Mr. Palliard’s champagnes are not easy to find, meaning they are not on the shelf of our local supermarkets. He produces 500,000 bottles a year, with 80% going to top class restaurants. The rest are to high end enotecas. Click on his site, www.champagnebrunopaillard.com to learn more about Mr. Paillard as his champagnes. Click on to the Ais site here to see some photos of the event.

Champagne wishes...

Ciao Vino and Ais Napoli have something great in store for us this Friday, November 27. They have invited Bruno Paillard, a respected champagne maker from Reims, France. Bruno will tell his story of how over 30 years ago he sold his old jaguar, to follow his dream, producing champagne. His hard work and dedication is impressive. In fact, his champagne has conquered the planet!

What better place than the cozy ambiance of Ciao Vino’s living room to share his experiences. What better place than Ciao Vino to try great champagne such as Brut Première Cuvée brut S.A, Rosè Première Cuvée S.A,Brut Assemblage Millésimé 1996, Blanc de blancs Millésimé 1996, and Blanc de blancs Millésimé 1995.

Followed will be a buffet with tripe and mozzarella.

The cost is 30 Euro, show time, 1130 am. For reservations, give Fabrizio a call at 081.5090425 – 3337267080 or email fabrizioerbaggio@libero.it

Enoteca Ciao Vino
Via Madonna del Pantano, Varcaturo (Na)