I know that several have discussed doing an Italian offline in Italy this year. It appears that this might be a fairly small group, so I'd like to throw out the possibility of doing a domestic (this side of the pond) Italian offline to continue the tradition that was begun several years ago. Late spring or early summer. Any interest?

PH

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PurpleHaze,

Why don't you guys fly up to Toronto for a visit? Youse Americanos can't host all the time.

Count me in pending no call schedule conflicts.
Toronto sounds like a plan to me.

I think that would be great. Let's see what kind of interest we get for this year's event, but Toronto sounds just fine to me. I think I've had all my shots......

If worse comes to worst, I'll just motor up there, raid your cellars and we can make some ossubuco.

PH

I would love to attend as well, pending date conflicts, etc., etc.

PH can vouch for me!

quote:

PH can vouch for me!

Huh? Who is this klymkev person?



PH

How about June, when the weather is nice?

PH, shoot me an email.

Incoming!

PH

I am going to Italy in April and May, and now you expect me to go all the way to Canada in June?

If you ask me, that's perfect timing. You could tote some fantastic goodies back from Italy for the dinner!

Oh I think you know that I already have plenty of Italian goodies. Actually I probably will not be able to make it if it is in late June as my wife will be away then for a week and I will need to stay home with the kids. Where is she going? Toronto. Going with my oldest on a church mission trip, must help out you underprivledged Canadians.

"must help out you underprivledged Canadians."

We are underprivileged, please send wine!

Duh!!! Italian wine with PH, Fut, DoktaP, and I am sure some Texans. Sounds like a winner to me.

Oh BTW, Toronto sounds great. We can do it at Fut's place and he can cook.

An Italian offline sounds great ... will be in Paris late May/early June. If the date works for my schedule, maybe someone from MD/VA can pick me up in Jersey.

quote:

Originally posted by Longboarder:
Oh BTW, Toronto sounds great. We can do it at Fut's place and he can cook.

lol. We'll see about that. Might need a slightly larger venue.

Maybe us MD/VA/DC'ers will just rent a giant RV and pick the NJ/NY'ers up on the way.

I could only imagine how that trip would turn out!!!

Sorry for the off-topic.

sarbuze, didn;t you buy some really nice Spanish wines from someone in the Buying and Selling forum? Ever open any?

quote:

Originally posted by sarbuze:
Maybe us MD/VA/DC'ers will just rent a giant RV and pick the NJ/NY'ers up on the way.

I could only imagine how that trip would turn out!!!

That sounds like the road trip of the year and the potential to provide plenty of comedic material.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Sorry for the off-topic.

sarbuze, didn;t you buy some really nice Spanish wines from someone in the Buying and Selling forum? Ever open any?

Per your recommendation, I did! And so far opened one '03 Clos Mogador with the MD people last summer...wow, what a wine. As per your rec, I'm holding off on the two '04's I bought in that transaction as well.

That said...I'm doing a Spanish wine tasting next Thursday with a restaurant I'm helping out. I'll be pouring a Priorat, two Ribera del Duero's, a couple from Jumilla, a Txakoli and a Cava...haven't picked the wines yet, but if you have any recs (good QPR is important) I'd love to see if the distributors can get me them in time!

Oh- and you think the '05 Clos Mogador is worth $90?

Yeah, I loved the '03 Clos Mogador too. I haven't tried the '05, but the '05 Rene Barbier barrel samples were amazing.

For good QPR, from Priorat I have one great recommendation- anything you can find from Mas Igneus, red or white. From Ribera del Duero, probably one of the Pesquera wines. From Jumilla, there's always Clio, which I love, but if you want something less expensive but still very good to excellent, go for Juan Gil, Finca Luzon, Altos de Luzon- actually almost anything from Jumilla. The best Cava I've had recently is N.V. Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva Heredad.

There should be a lurking emoticon.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
Yeah, I loved the '03 Clos Mogador too. I haven't tried the '05, but the '05 Rene Barbier barrel samples were amazing.

To continue the drift:
I've not had the 03 Clos Mogador, but have had the '99 and '01. Both fantastic. I'm cellaring anything younger than that, and C-M is a big 'buy' in my book. (just had to throw in my .02)

Hey, take your Spain stuff elsewhere!

I'm loving the idea of a local Italfest on this side of the pond, surely. And far be it for me to want to throw water on the road trip rally cry.

Just one thought (reality check) to a Canadian based offline is the (legal) bottle limitation coming over the border (it's 2 per person). Now you can bring as many as you want, and Customs will just tack duty on anything over the 2/person (about 65% the claimed value, I believe). Now this will be almost a non issue for the RV boys. But for the cowboys, and others flying into this shindig, it's an issue to consider.

Now, all that to say that, we Canadians have been dealing with this issue, in the reverse, for years so maybe no issue at all. Just some up front creativity required is all I'm sayin'.

And yes, it's not looking good for D and I to get over to 'the big one' in Italy.
Hate to say it, but times are, admittedly, just a tad touchy these days and that trip will likely have to hold a little, for us anyway. I do know there is a small group still planned to go and will be there.
Frustrating to miss, but a likely reality.

(Sorry, my friend, Jochems. Just an unfortunate delay in time)