By Ken ColluraIntroduction: I work the floor as a sommelier/manager in a busy restaurant five nights a week and try to dine out on at least one of my days off, so I’ve written this piece from the perspective of someone who has been an active participant on both sides of the table for many years. There are ways a customer can assist a restaurant in making their evening out … [Read more...] about Restaurant Customer Etiquette
Small Wines – Suggestions for Good, Everyday Drinking Wines
I have this memory from when I was a teenager. I had developed an insatiable appetite for Mandarin oranges. You know the kind, the ones that come in a can covered in sweet syrup. I would pop them open and devour one after the other. Then one day, after about four of these cans, I became quite ill, somewhat hallucinogenic in fact. At the end of this orange-induced trip, I … [Read more...] about Small Wines – Suggestions for Good, Everyday Drinking Wines
So you’re a Sommelier?
Customers often say to me, “You must really love your job. But I’m not sure exactly that you do?” So with that in mind, I’ve decided to outline my perception of what a sommelier is, and what he/she should be expected to do.Basically, I dispense hedonism for a living. I bring wines, great and small, to thirsty folks. I also believe wine to be one of the magnificent gifts … [Read more...] about So you’re a Sommelier?
What are the things that matter most to you when you dine out?
What are the things that matter most to you when you dine out? They include ambiance, location, pricing, quality of food and service. The best restaurants provide all of these elements, although sometimes there are certain places which we frequent, but aren’t exactly sure why. The French would call this the je ne sais quoi factor.When polls are taken in the major food and … [Read more...] about What are the things that matter most to you when you dine out?
Wine Descriptions – Terms Wine Writers Use
Ken Collura has been around the wine scene for many years. His bio is rather impressive: a syndicated columnist for over five years (printed on the east coast in Tampa and Richmond and in Taos, NM.,) and writes for the trade magazines Cheers (on the Editorial Advisory Board) and Sante on a regular basis. Prior to moving to Portland, he was head sommelier for nine years at the … [Read more...] about Wine Descriptions – Terms Wine Writers Use