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Local Resources | Wine Pairing with Paul |
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Page 1 of 5  The Wilmington Wine Shoppe in nearby Wilmington, has undoubtedly become the Downtown
Wilmington gathering place for locals to taste, buy and educate on all
that is wine. After several months of whining to Paul D'Angelo, owner
of the Wilmington Wine Shoppe, he has agreed to share his knowledge and
expertise with our members. So, pour a glass of your favorite grape and
enjoy our new featured article section!Phoenix Rising By Paul D'Angelo Owner, Wilmington Wine Shoppe I always get a little nervous when I enter a restaurant on my own. Whether I’m waiting on a friend, popping into an already crowded restaurant, or heading towards the bar ‘cause I’m solo, that sense of slight jitters is always present … even after years of attending and/or working in restaurants. And maybe that says it right there … I may associate restaurants with work, looking around to see if I can help out or make things run better. When it comes down to what I’m looking for in a restaurant & an excellent dining experience, atmosphere has always been crucial to me. Perhaps atmosphere is most interesting because I am looking to settle in and get to that comfortable place where I can actually relax and enjoy dining out. The food used to take second place in my dining experience (Hey, if someone else cooks it and I don’t have to … it tastes that much better to me), Wine third and Service fourth (not one of those guys that needs to be entertained by the server … they have plenty to do then keep me occupied). But since owning the Wine Shoppe, Wine is now #2 on this list, as it should be, with a bullet. Back in my restaurant management days, I used to say, mostly to myself so I didn’t look too much like a corporate Joe, that to succeed, a restaurant had to have Great LAFS … Location, Atmosphere, Food & Wine, and Service … all excellent & not necessarily in that order. But each point does matter, and each point ranks differently with every diner. If you are good at all of these aspects, I feel a restaurant has much less to worry about, and a much better chance at succeeding. Now with Wine moving up my Dining Out chart, a new nervousness has taken over … the inevitable difficulty of pairing a glass of wine with my meal. And, unfortunately sometimes, I’m expected to somewhat of an expert about it. But I’m still learning. It’s a total learning curve, with some easy and tough choices sometimes, but I’m willing to stay on for the ride. Most people know the basic rules … red wine with red meat, white wine with fish, pair flavors, keep region in mind, etc. Google this and you will find more than enough basic information. Everyone from Martha Stewart to Emeril to perhaps even David Letterman seems to have a Top Ten list on what to do when pairing wine. When I first sit down & am approached by the server, I usually order something right away to enjoy while I am examining the menu & wine list. This used to be a cocktail (I was a rum & coke boy), but since I’ve enjoyed wine so much more these last few years, I go with something easy to indulge in while getting comfortable and settling in to what I hope will be a great dining and wining experience. Café Phoenix is one of my favorite restaurants downtown and has been since I moved here several years ago. It’s got all the bases covered, and yup, you guessed it, I love the atmosphere. Crisp & clean with a great earth tone palate, it’s the perfect place to settle in for a nice evening. |
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