My New Favorite "Wine Bar"

It's more like a glorified wine store, with a cool Enomatic machine, but it's where I tried Norman Cellars 2006 "The Monster" Zinfandel and fell in love. Took a bottle home with me. Plan to drink it soon.

They also have a kitchen led by a hard-working chef named April. I know her name, because she also ends up delivering food, clearing glassware, etc. I suspect that's necessary because the place isn't really staffed to be a "restaurant."

Every bite of food was fantastic and I can wholeheartedly suggest the chicken satay and the citrus shrimp. YUM! Next time, we'll probably try one of the lovely cheese plates.
With the machine, you can try a taste, half glass, or full glass of any of the wines. We had fun walking around and trying to select wines that would go well with our food, based on the tasting notes posted. We were starving so food choices first. Wine selections to complement.
Tuesday nights are half-price wine night, so with all that we drank our cards still cashed in at a pretty reasonable rate. Plan to drag some friends there the next Tuesday that I'm actually in town....which will be February.

Church Street Cellars
(703) 255-0550
111 Church Street NW
Vienna, VA 22180

We Love Simon

It's actually spelled saiman and Nana and I are officially hooked. My brothers would recognize it as a soup similar to Dad Ramen, except in place of strips of Buddig beef there are pieces of Spam, scrambled egg, and fish cake that looks a lot like radishes. It is dee-lish!

It's a fish broth, so it's a lot like shrimp-flavor Top Ramen, except it's not artificially seafood flavored like the ramen is. Plus, it's traditionally a breakfast food.

Nana and I would drive up to Kapalua to the Honolua store near the Ritz-Carlton to have it. They also made great ham and cheese omelets and had good coffee. Mmmmm....coffee.....It's the cutest little place - a weird cross between a New England/Cape building and an Adirondack lodge. Just cool.

We would sit on the porch to eat and just relax in the shade.

On our first visit, we met a terrific transplant from the mainland, Athena, on her way to work. We were in line for coffee and we noticed a $5 bill drifting down near her feet. All three of us thought it belonged to the lady ahead of us. We called her back over, gave her the money and within seconds realized that it was mine. Duh.

Athena then secretly paid for our coffee! We wanted to meet up with her later - maybe at one of the wine tastings - but it wasn't to be. Instead, we left her some wine (Somersville Chardonnay, which Brigette will tell you is like liquid, fat-free butter in a glass) when we left. I'll look her up when I'm back on the Big Island next fall.

Meeting Athena and chatting with her - and her sweet gesture to a couple of Maui visitors - made us love Honolua Store even more. (That and the limes we were able to pick up for the g&ts, natch.)