09/10/09 - My life as a working Sommelier

Although Thursdays, for me, are the beginning of the work week, I look forward to the end of this official week earnestly. This is historically one of the slowest restaurant weeks of the year- parents spend money on back-to-school stuff, not dining out. The restaurant I work at doesn't feel the crunch of the economy the same way the rest of the restaurants do (more on reasons for this later), but this week is still dismal for us.
I closed the place down tonight and never once had more than 3 tables at a time. I still managed to showcase Willakenzie Estate. I really support this winery, I like that they're OCSW certified sustainable (oh, you didn't know I was green? I won't berate you for your views, just drink good wine and we'll be cool), I think their winemaker is really on top of his game, and they hit some great price points- fairly and accurately. There are so many products that they produce, it's hard to talk about them briefly, but I showcased their intro-level Pinots (both Noir and Gris) to different tables tonight.
Towards the end of the evening I had resigned myself to making no headway towards my deficit in the contest, but my last table asked for a juicy spicy red, and some Yangarra Estates McLaren Vale Shiraz '06 is on the list. Not a huge bottle, but a little bit here and there helps.
Oh yeah- why don't we feel the crunch of the economy? Well, it's not entirely fair to say we don't feel it, we just absorb it better than many. The place I work is a showcase restaurant- we're 30 stories up in the sky for craps sake! Now, for you big city readers, 30 floors might not seem like much. However, those of you here in Portland know that there's only 1 building in town taller than Big Pink, and it doesn't have a restaurant in it... So! We get anniversaries. We get birthdays. We get celebrations of any and all sorts. We get business meetings. We also get tourists- people from all over the world. We still do over 200 covers on a slow night, and that's darn respectable in my eyes.
As always, if you would like more info about any of the wines that I talk about, feel free to shoot me a line or comment, and I'll get back to you.

09/08/09 - My life as a working Sommelier

What a drastically slow evening at the restaurant! I took four tables, and was out of the place by 8:30! A little Sokol Blosser Evolution hit the spot for those seeking something bright and refreshing after the afternoon heat (really?), and a half bottle of the Panther Creek Shea Vnyd to show off Oregon to a visitor from San Diego.

Joy of getting out early was that I was able to stop by Vino Paradiso and talk with Timothy about accommodating the upcoming Wine Wednesday in the Pearl! Look for an evite by the end of the week, it's coming together!

09/06-07/09 - My life as a working Sommelier

Sunday/Monday on a Labor day weekend. Although the restaurant was slammed busy, it never felt overmuch for me. Take into consideration I was in a *tiny* section with a trainee who was taking all the tables. Sadly, I wasn't called upon to do much more than run food for other servers. Sold some juice both nights, made some minor additions to the contest. Beaux Freres Pinot hit hard on Monday- 3 bottles of the WV 06. Some Illahe and Capitello on Sunday, along with some rose of Pinot from Elk Cove and our last bottle of Beringer Private Reserve Chard.
Keeping it super brief, and I feel guilty about it.
I should wax poetical about the '06 Ferrari Carano Sienna we opened up last night. I won't thought- I'll merely say that it's young and tight, and oh so good. We stuffed a couple of NY strip steaks with about 1/2 a pound of blue cheese, seared them off and broiled them to med-rare. yeah.

09/01-03/09 - My life as a working Sommelier

Lazy lazy man. Tuesday the 1st was my Friday night, had Wednesday off, and Thursday was the beginning of my new week. A quick recap of sales: Tues night Yangarra Shiraz (was actually a very minor upsell, but FAR more suited to the menu for the couple) and King Estate Pinot Gris (when a table says it's their fave, you don't argue); Thurs lunch half bottle Willakenzie Pinot Gris, Thurs dinner Illahe Pinot (big upsell from Louis Jadot Beau Villages).

Both (ok, all three) shifts at work were frustrating to me. We'll leave it at that, with a serious undertone.

Other server has pulled ahead by a buck-60 in our mini contest. We go til the end of the month, and that's a pretty piddly-wink lead.

8/29-30/09 - My life as a working Sommelier

Lazy lazy man. This is a term I frequently use to describe myself, a term that other people scoff at. Maybe I'm not lazy in some regards, but the little things (ie. writing a damn blog daily) are what I refer to when I say lazy lazy man about myself.
Although my weekend at the restaurant was a lot of fun, it was not, for the most part, wine-fun. The dining room was remodeled Friday night, so Saturday we had a brand new floor plan. Some miscues here and there, but I think we've handled the transition well so far. I had many great tables over the weekend. People were mostly friendly and enjoying themselves. For those of you who follow along with my Recycling pictures, I have nothing more to add. No wine, just nice people who tipped well.
I kind of feel guilty about such a short post, but even a Somm doesn't drink wine everyday.

08/23/09 - My life as a working Sommelier

Lazy Sundays. I sit outside the US Bancorp Tower and read my book just about every day before I go in to work, and Sundays always seem to be the most mellow- the fewest people around. That was exactly the sort of feeling the restaurant held for most of the night. I had one table looking at some Riesling, and I steered them into a Kabinett from Markus Molitor.

There are some days that I'm a little embarrassed to even talk about what I do at the restaurant. I sit here in retrospect, looking at this one tiny little blurb of wine talk, and I think: "am I really going to post this for any-old-body to read? Is this worth the attention of said any-old-body?" The simple answer is yes, and no, in that order. My little daily journal here in dated format really doesn't warrant the reading from many people. This is not a blog that will ever be a hugely followed/read document. My ramblings about what I sold or watched go out in the restaurant in which I am employed (which, by the way, moved some really nice bottles last night- kudos to other servers!) don't serve any *purpose* that I can note.

My co-workers ask me almost every night why I'm taking a picture of some empty wine-bottles, and I just kind of shrug it off. The pictures sure aren't vanity- I mean, why would I post pics of Columbia Crest Merlot (or any other bottle that retails for $8?). Documentary? Well, I suppose some day it might have that sort of purpose. Really though? I like looking at the trends, I like seeing the patterns, the repetitions. It allows me to see my comfort zone, and see how I can stretch that and encompass new things.

This blog has a very similar goal- I can read a little more in depth about my corresponding pictures, and see what the mood was around those bottles (perhaps taking some strain off an already overloaded memory).

So is it worth you reading? Probably not. But- I like to think of myself as witty, and sometimes I think others find me funny too. So maybe for fun you read about my life and maybe I make you laugh sometimes; I don't mind being the butt of the joke for "big sale of the night" winner with the lone bottle of Apex II cab.

Wine Wednesday - Ahh a day off!

I've mentioned before that I have an odd work week. I do it to myself most of the time. I usually work six nights a week at the restaurant (not to mention the extra hours I put in researching and networking). Wednesday! Joyous Wine Wednesday! It's my day off- and I take advantage of it.

My girlfriend and I work in different industries, and although she tries hard to stay up when I get home, we simply don't have that much time together during my work week. Wednesdays! Date time!

Had a great day off yesterday. Started the day with a tour of the Historic Benson Hotel in downtown PDX. Every President since 1912 has stayed there in some capacity or another. Great tour, lots of history. Plus, scored a gift certificate for dinner at the London Grill (future Wednesday date!). We've eaten at the London Grill before, and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Went on to a late lunch at 10-01. That is one *serious* wine list, and I'd like to take a moment to give MAD props to Erika for putting it together. The list is so well organized, I'm really floundering for words to praise it enough.
We had a half bottle of Lange Reserve Pinot 06 with lunch. I think it might need some time in bottle still...

A little afternoon siesta/nap, and we headed out to have some dinner via happy hour at Bar Due at Fratelli. "Sangiovese" was all the bartender told me about the red. :)

I'm getting ready to head into the restaurant, it's time to get back to the grind. I've got banquets tonight and tomorrow, and I plan on rocking some magnums. Something about the big bottles...

08/16/09- My life as a working Sommelier

Another rough night at the restaurant, one which, contrary to my early predictions about Sunday bringing out diners vs. eaters, involved little dining and much eating. If you'll allow me a bit of a rant (non-industry, skip to next paragraph...): Do your damn sidework. I absolutely HATE having to double or triple my workload because of the lack of work-ethic on the part of others. Nuff said? ok.

Not much wine in my section to speak of, turned a couple glasses into a bottle of Apex II Cab (WA), but no big sales to speak of. The restaurant still sent out some nice bottles, and I'd like to think that I could've helped out some in that realm (if I weren't so busy doing other people's sidework).

8/15/09- My life as a working Sommelier

Rough night at the restaurant tonight- section 2 has the tables closest to the kitchen- and most likely to be refused by a party. I ended up selling 2 glasses of wine this evening, it was awesome. First night in awhile at work where I haven't had a picture to post for my recycling folder.

Luckily, presents awaited at home! A revisit of both the Sequel and EFESTE syrahs from last night. The Sequel may very well be my fave Syrah out there. EFESTE was still delicious and lush, but definitely more muted today (expected, remember that these were opened 2 days ago...).