[ June 26, 2010; 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm. ] Saturday, June 26th 9:30pm Movie Nite @ DISH Join us for a movie under the stars on DISH’s back patio. Order from our fresh, seasonal spring menu, or just relax with a cocktail. Charles Town 304.728.8464

[ June 12, 2010; 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm. ] Saturday, June 12th 9:30pm Movie Nite @ DISH.  Join us for Movies Under the Stars. We’ll be starting the flick on the back patio at 9:30 p.m. promptly. Folks are encouraged to order from the dinner menu ahead of time, or swing by the bar for a cocktail. Admission is free.

By Christian & David Asam
David: Continuing last month’s column—Anything But Chardonnay—we thought we would give our thoughts on some more obscure red varietals. Because cabernet sauvignon is probably the king of red grapes, it’s much harder to bash than its white counterpart, chardonnay. Still, we hope to entice you into trying a few lesser-known reds.
Christian: [...]

Even though I know better, I planted too many greens in my garden. By mid June the once tiny plants were practically gushing from the earth in luxuriant green waves, thanks to compost and the almost perfect spring weather. Though most spring greens will bolt in hot weather, the biennial chard soldiers on in its first year, as long as it is cut regularly. My plants boast gigantic glossy leaves, beautiful and overwhelming. After a few too many dinners with variations on sautéed greens, I turned to my Middle Eastern cookbooks for inspiration.

Swiss chard, a cousin of beets, has a delicate flavor and a sturdier texture than spinach, which makes it ideal for stuffing. Recently I treated dinner guests with this: [...]

David: Chardonnay may be the biggest selling and most popular white grape in the world. And there are certainly some outstanding chardonnay based wines that command very high prices. However, chardonnay has slowly become a household name that most often refers to an establishment’s house white wine.

Christian: I, too, have tasted and loved chardonnays. Actually, I am lying. I usually hate chardonnay. I just can’t get over all the oak treatment. The aromas of most of them remind me of hard labor in a lumber yard. So, I am happy to share some ABC’s and more good news: the wines I’ll recommend are usually cheaper than Chardonnay as well!

D: To begin, let’s try viognier, pronounced (VEE Own YEAH). This grape produces wines with a very similar body and consistency to chardonnay, yet has a much fresher taste that often is described as floral tropical fruits. It’s indigenous to the Rhone Valley of France, but California and South America are making gorgeous wines with viognier. Try one with fresh seafood, especially crab meat. [...]