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Dinner Parties, Entertain, Events, Food & Drink, On the Table, Tastes of Italy, Wine
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Fifty Pounds of Cheese

On Wednesday March 30, passport in hand, our intrepid MELTers traveled through the raclette rivers and fondue forests to visit each of our five amazing cheese stations. First stop? The accompaniments table! A veritable cornucopia of mouthwatering treats from homemade pretzel bites to Gordy’s pickles, to a selection of our favorite charcuterie, this table featured something special for everyone (and every cheese).

Passport to Cheese

Choosing Accompaniments

Next, our fearless cheese fiends found sanctuary in a down-home Midwestern favorite: Wisconsin Cheese Curds. These ooey-gooey, deep fried pieces of heaven were an instant classic–especially when paired with Chef Johanna’s homemade marinara! Don’t just take our word for it though, stop by Spritz O’Clock soon to taste these mini marvels for yourself.

Wisconsin Cheese Curds

Further into the cafe, our daring patrons were treated to the dazzling spectacle (and mouthwatering aroma) of raclette being melted to order. When paired with Gordy’s Pickles and starchy potatoes, this station was a #MELTy indulgence beyond compare. For those of you looking to recreate this moment at home, stop by and pick up a Partyclette machine from our cheesemonger and be the host with the most at your next dinner party.

Enjoying Plates of Raclette

Before following the scent of cheesy goodness upstairs, our noshing nomads made a quick stop in the wine room for a triumphant taste of American Pub cheese. This beer based bite of bliss paired perfectly with the Port City Porter and Chef Johanna’s homemade pretzel bites. Pretzels, porter, and pub cheese? What more could a party provide?!

Dipping into American Fondue

The answer to that question lay waiting for patrons upstairs in our laboratorio where Chiara was serving an Italian Fonduta over perfectly toasted baguette. This truffle infused #MELTy masterpiece was clearly a crowd favorite, as it was the first to disappear. Fortunately, Federico came to the rescue and delighted our dauntless diners with handmade cheese ravioli. For those who missed it, he will be hosting an encore pasta performance in the Cafe every day at lunchtime.

Italian Fonduta Station

Last, but certainly not least, our gallant and engorged guests found themselves faced with a meal of mountainous proportions…or at least flavors. The Alpine Fondue station, featuring smooth, garlicky, Swiss flavors had everyone yodeling for more.

Bill at the Alpine Fondue Station

We would like to say a special Thank You to all of our courageous cheese connoisseurs for making this event such a success. We went through fifty pounds of cheese, but our cheese counter is still stocked! For those of you who weren’t able to attend (or want to relive the night), we have a special treat: visit our cheese counter and take home a fondue kit, specially curated by in-house Cheesemonger Alice Bergen Phillips and make a little #MELTed magic of your own.

Mini Fondue Kits

A MELT Retrospective Read more

On Wednesday March 30, passport in hand, our intrepid MELTers traveled through the raclette rivers and fondue forests to visit each of ...

Food & Drink, Wine
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Wine Wednesday – Scacciadiavoli Vineyard

 

Founded in 1884, Cantina Scacciadiavoli, literally meaning “cast out the devils,” takes its name from a 10th century exorcist who lived in the small village bordering the vineyard. He was known to use the wines while performing his exorcist ritual of ridding poor souls of demons.
Today, we feel that taking one sip of this heavenly wine will cast out the devils of your day and ease you into la dolce vita.
Now the oldest winery in the Montefalco appellation, Scacciadiavoli is currently run by Lacopo, Amilcare, Liu, Romeo and Fiammetta Pambufetti. They are the fourth generation, committing their time and energies to the great art of winemaking and to carrying on the name of the family estate. Two years ago, Bill wrote about a visit to the vineyard, and meeting Liu.

 

“As the [tour] group later agrees, a visit to the Scacciadiavoli winery is well worth the “sacrifice” they made to go.  There, not only were we treated to the company of two beautiful hosts – Liu Pambufetti, the daughter of the winery’s owner who has spent two years studying winemaking in France and her new assistant who, on her first day on the job, has been tasked with managing tours of the family’s winery – but we are treated to a fascinating tour of this most interesting winery.  Oh, and by the way, we get to taste their wines.

And what an interesting place it is.  One of, if not the oldest winery in Umbria, the architecture alone at Scacciadiavoli makes the visit worthwhile – the intentional layout of the levels of the winery to utilize gravity to do much of the work of pressing, vinifying and storing wine, the pitched floors to channel spilled wine and the enormous vats for storing and aging wine.  And then getting an opportunity to taste the family’s wines, which include the region’s only sparkling wines made from the local sagrantino grape and using the French methode champagnoise (one of the fringe benefits of having studied winemaking in France, no doubt).  Now that’s a “sacrifice” you can make, late in the afternoon after having just eaten and tasted wine.”

 

Here is a small vision of our return visit to the vineyard during Vinopalooza 2015!

 

And tomorrow we will be tasting all four of the Scacciadiavoli wines. Please join us from 6:00-7:30 PM here in Georgetown! RSVP here.

Four generations in the art of winemaking Read more

https://vimeo.com/127069230   Founded in 1884, Cantina Scacciadiavoli, literally meaning "cast out the devils," takes its name from a 10th century exorcist who lived in the ...

Comings & Goings, Events, Food & Drink, Wine
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Wine Wednesday – Sunday Routine 

We know, this last stretch of winter is rough. Just when you think you hear the birds tweeting about spring you are blasted with another arctic chill.

This can sometimes make Sunday’s turn from a day reserved for socializing on the town to a day reserved to snuggling as deep as you can possibly get into your covers. And while we respect that, sometimes you need something to entice you to get out of bed…

So how about tasting some wine on Sunday’s at Via Umbria?

dickII

Our friend and wine connoisseur, Dick Parke, will be joining us in the store every Sunday from 2 to 5, offering complementary tastings of wines he has hand selected from our stock.

dick

Up this week? Vincastro Umbria Rosso and the Adanti Nispero both just $14 and the same blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. Stay tuned as we learn more about these delicious wines later this week!

—Via Umbria

Come on in and taste some great Italian wines Read more

We know, this last stretch of winter is rough. Just when you think you hear the birds tweeting about spring you are ...