Bienvenido!

Welcome! Lately, I have been spending a good portion of my free time enjoying wine and fine dining. The goal of this blog is primarily to document the experiences for my own benefit. I'd like to be able to remember what wines I drank and where I drank them six months from now! Of course, I could do this on my own without sharing, but this forum will allow friends and strangers alike to learn from (and critique) my observations.

Now, some basic information about me.

I live in Detroit, Michigan. Now, you may be thinking "Detroit?! What kind of culinary enjoyment could possibly be derived from that dump?" However, that could not be further from the truth. Granted, Detroit is not New York, Chicago, or even remotely comparable to any city in California, but people forget that Detroit is still one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, which attracts a good deal of variety and talent when it comes to restaurants.

I cannot claim to be a wine expert. In fact, I have really only been drinking wine for the last three years or so. Over the last six months, I have learned an incredible amount from the "Wine Club". One of our members has substantially more knowledge regarding wine than the rest of us, and has graciously imparted his wisdom over the last few months in twice-monthly 'gatherings'. Up until then, I had no idea what the differences were between Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, had never heard of Barolo and Barbaresco, and generally judged wine quality by its price. So, hopefully you can understand that I'm still learning here.

Periodically, I'll update this site when I go out to eat at a nice restaurant or try a new wine and give my opinions.

For starters, a few recommended restaurants in the Metro Detroit area:

220 & Edison's - Birmingham (Italian) An upscale Italian steakhouse located in the middle of downtown Birmingham, this restaurant has an impressive menu that is enhanced with a variety of daily specials. The wine list is also fairly robust. Trendy decor make this a local favorite.

Gaucho - Northville (Brazilian Steakhouse) For those of you who have never been to a Churrascaria, it is an experience you have to try. Included in the flat rate of around $35-$40 is an endless supply of high quality meats, ranging from Filet Mignon to Lamb to traditional pork sausage. Salad bar, bread and other sides are also included, but let's be honest: You're going for the meat.

Zinc Brasserie and Wine Bar - West Bloomfield (French/European) As you might guess from the name, Zinc puts its wine front and center, with a lengthy and impressive wine list. The food is also outstanding, and I highly recommend the Lamb Osso Bucco.

Paesano's - Ann Arbor (Italian) Not located directly in downtown Ann Arbor, I feel that Paesano's does not receive the recognition of other Italian restaurants like Gratzi and Palio. However, Paesano's has one of the most creative menus I have seen and a very extensive wine list comprised exclusively of Italian wines. Very authentic.

Cafe Habana - Royal Oak (Cuban) Cafe Habana may not look like much from the outside and only has about ten tables, but the food is excellent and is very representative of Cuban cuisine. I can also personally recommend the Mojitos.

Bangkok 96 - Dearborn (Thai) Of the many Thai restaurants in the Detroit area, Bangkok 96 might be the best. Be sure to go on Monday, Wednesday or Friday, when they serve their Hot and Spicy soup.