Newsletter 040 – sent 8/22/2008

If you have a surplus of crops growing and cannot possibly use all the abundance of produce please drop it by Blue. We will happily use the fresh produce that you have an abundance of. Extra tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, squash, eggplant, fruit, etc… we can also use fresh herbs that you have growing as well. Drop off as much as you want. I promise it will be used. We can always make a fresh soup or special with great fresh ingredients.

The new menu is awesome. Simo Nouri our executive chef is awesome. This is our best menu so far. There are plenty of choices with lots of vegetarian and friendly items. I have personally been very interested in getting into better shape so we also have a lot of healthy choices on the menu. The Provencal salmon is amazing as well as the grilled caesar salad. Many of you know that Simo was born in Morocco so he has added at my pleading an authentic Moroccan tagine chicken dish on the menu. This is my favorite entrée on our new menu.

Maiden Ground is playing at Blue tonight (Friday 8/22) you will not want to miss this popular musical duo.

Keep in mind every Thursday we have Wine & Cheese Tasting

Monday through Thursday We offer 3 courses for $30 which has been very popular – This is a great way to try a sampling of the new menu.

Newsletter 039 – sent 8/06/2008

REMINDER:
Italian Wine Dinner August 13th & Spanish Wine Dinner August 27th

Announcing our new menu

We have been very busy at Blue working on our new menu which will debut on Friday August 8th. Simo Nouri our Executive Chef has been working diligently on the new menu. It is a huge undertaking to change the menu. We need to order the new ingredients while still maintaining the current menu. It is quite the juggling act to order enough food to support the current menu while also ordering new ingredients to test and bring out the new menu. I have had the opportunity to taste many of new menu items AMAZING. We have many tapas choices on the new menu. Go to our website to see the entire menu www.bluewinebar.com Below I have listed our tapas choices.

Marinated Olives, Feta & Roasted Cajun Almonds… $7

Fonduta… $12
Fontina is an Italian cheese with a rich salty flavor. This delicious cheese dip is served with vegetables; sausage and warm focaccia bread add your favorite wine to make a truly enjoyable tapas dish to share

Moules Mariniere… $9
Steamed mussels in white wine, garlic, shallots & smoked Gouda cheese

Maryland Crab Cake… $10
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with lobster sauce

Country Pate… $9
Homemade Duck Pate served with cornichons, French Dijon mustard, French baguette

Seafood Ceviche… $9
Shrimp, New Zealand green mussels, jumbo lump crab marinated in cilantro, scallion, garlic in fresh lemon lime juice

Smoked Chipotle Hummus… $7
Homemade – chickpeas with tahini, extra virgin olive oil served with grilled pita bread

Bruschetta… $8
Toasted baguette topped with fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil vinaigrette

Spicy Tuna Spring Roll… $9
Ahi tuna oriental vegetable served with Thai chili sauce

Lamb Chop Lollipop… $11
Pan seared lamb chops with pine nuts, rosemary, sautéed spinach, mint and apricot sauce

Tuna bocadillo…$9
Fresh Yellow Fin tuna marinated in olive oil, garlic and herbs served with grilled crostini and chipotle aioli sauce

Grilled Shrimp Twareg… $9
Grilled Shrimp with paprika cumin in garlic tomato sauce and fresh cilantro

Jamon Serrano Ham… $9
Thin slices of buttery Jamon Serrano ham with grapes and grilled pineapple

Newsletter 038 – Sent 8/01/2008

WEEKLY SPECIALS:

Wine & Cheese Tastings
Every Thursday in August: 8/7, 8/14, 8/21, 8/28
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
By popular demand Every Thursday in August we will have three different wine tastings paired with three different cheese tastings for $20.

The 5/20 List
Monday through Saturday
One select red wine and one select white wine for:
$5 a glass or $20 a bottle

The 3/30 List
Monday through Thursday
3 courses for $30

Half priced wine bottles
Every Tuesday
We have 10 select wines at half price.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

August 13th Italian Wine Dinner

August 27th Spanish Wine Dinner

We will be celebrating our one year anniversary the entire month of September. I am a woman of many favorites wine, beer, great food and football. Here are some of the details. More information we be available soon:

September 4th Kickoff Party Celebrating our one year anniversary and the start of football season. The Super Bowl Champions New York Giants vs The Washington Redskins those of you that know me well know which team is my favorite and yes I am a huge football fan.

September 6th One Year Anniversary Block Party Passport to Wine & Spirits Sponsored by Capital Wines & Spirits

September 18th Dogfish Head Beer Dinner Featuring Dogfish Head fantastic Beers My personal favorite the 60 minute IPA, The Punkin Ale (they spell it that way) will be released on September 1st so we will be trying it. Four course dinner with beer pairings.

September 27th SeptemBEER Fest – We will be hosting a SeptemBEER Fest at Blue featuring local Micro Brews

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT:

Musical Duo: Maiden Ground
4th Friday of every month in 2008
8/22, 9/26, 10/24, 11/28 and 12/26
8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
You’ll enjoy new and classic rock songs with a unique mix of female vocal power and alt-country electric guitar. The live music will enhance your dining experience not over power it.

Newsletter 037 – Sent 8/01/2008

We have been very busy at BLUE lately. There are so many great things planned it will take a few emails to describe all the events leading up to our one year anniversary in September.

Our wine dinners continue to be one of our most popular events. I’m happy to tell you we have two wine dinners scheduled this month! Please try to book your reservations as early as possible: 717.909.6500

Italian Wine Dinner

Sample the vino and cuisine of Italy with a special dinner prepared by Chef Simo Nouri at Blue Wednesday August 13th 7:00 – 9:30 with a cocktail hour featuring two Italian cocktails prior to the wine dinner Negroni (Gin and Campari Martini) and a Bellini (Peach infused Prosecco). Join us at 6 p.m. for cocktails before dinner

$75 per person

Italy’s glowing reputation with wine is due not only to the fact it produces and exports more than any other country but it offers the greatest variety.

1st course Insalata Di Finocchio:
Marinated Grilled Fennel Salad with fresh mozzarella, baby arugula and grape vinaigrette shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese
Paired with Zonin Prosecco Sparkling Wine

2nd Course Shrimp & Scallop Scampi:
Shrimp and scallop in garlic butter, served with ricotta papardella pasta
Paired with Nozzle Le Bruniche Chardonnay

3rd Course Vitello Arrosto con salvia:
Roasted veal loin with sage, creamy polenta with gorgonzola mascarpone fresh marjoram, apricot sauce, watercress and roasted artichoke
Paired with Colle Dei Venti Barbaresco

4th Course Homemade Canolli:
Served with poached peaches
Paired with Michel Chiarlo Nivole Moscato D’ asti

Spanish Wine Dinner

Come and spend the evening with us on a journey of the fantastic wines of Spain and authentic Spanish 4 course dinner prepared by Chef Simo Nouri at Blue Wednesday August 27th 7:00 – 9:30 with a cocktail hour featuring red and white Sangria starting t 6 p.m. before dinner.

$75 per person

1st Course Seafood Ceviche:
Marinated seafood, shrimp, crab, & Mussels, Scallion, cilantro, lime and tomato, onion, pepper
Paired with Martin Codax Albarino

2nd Course Salad Di Serrano:
Grilled Radiccio, Romaine, green olive, Spanish Sarreno Jamon toasted in Tequila w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette
Paired with Gran Familia Rioja

3rd Course Cerdo De Langostinos:
Marinated Mediterranean prawn in Spanish spice and grilled.  Pork Loin ala plancha served with chorizo saffron rice, smoked chipotle garlic tomato coulis
Paired with Cim De Porrara Solanes

4th Course Andalucia Cream Leche Cake:
Sweet cream over soft cake topped with a fresh fruit compote
Bodegas Dios Baco Oloroso sherry

Please note: Wine dinner menu items are subject to change.

Newsletter 036 – Sent 7/18/2008

You may not know that I am a huge cycling fan. If watching the Tour de France this month has you thirsty for the fruits of the French vine, join us at Blue on Wednesday, July 23rd for a special celebration of French wine and cuisine. The Tour de France started in 1903 and is the world’s largest cycling race. It is a 23-day, 21-stage  bicycle road race usually run over more than 2,200 miles. The route traces a circuit around most areas of France, and often passes into neighboring countries. The race is broken into stages from one town to another, each of which is an individual race. The time taken to complete each stage is added to a cumulative total for each rider, to decide the outright winner at the end of the Tour. Next Wednesday July 23 our Tour De France Wine Dinner will be the same day as stage 17: the High Mountains, which start in Embrun and end in L’Alpe-dHuez. This is the last real chance for the climbers to take the lead in the overall placing before leaving the Alps, with the climb of the Galibier, the Croix de Fer and the final climb up the Alpe d’Huez.

Simo Nouri, our executive chef has returned from his trip to France. He will be truly inspired to prepare an authentic French meal paired with French wine next Wednesday. I love the word inspired… and I guess you could say I am feeling inspired to write this email. And what does the word inspire mean… It is derived from two words “in spirit.” When I am inspired, I never have to ask about my purpose.

New Summer Menu Debut
I am also very excited about the debut of our summer menu at the end of the month.

Newsletter 035 – Sent 7/15/2008

As many of you are aware we have been working to update our wine list and wine program. What many of you may not be aware of is the issues/struggles that we are challenged with from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Many licensee’s that offer a wine list order what are called SLO’s which stands for Special Liquor Order. The PLCB has been installing a new computer system and has been experiencing continued difficulties with its online SLO order system. As a result, it has made it difficult to count on our wine orders. Even without the new system being implemented we have experienced many delays in orders. We submit an order when we go to pick it up, often our wine order is not at the store.  Despite these continued issues, we have been committed to offering one of the best wine lists in central Pa. We have our new wine list featuring some fantastic wines by the glass. We certainly have one of the biggest selections of wines by the glass in central PA. We are also focused on bringing in incredible wines at great prices. We have started a new program which I call the 5/20 list. Every day we will offer at least one red and one white wine for $5 a glass or $20 a bottle.

The 5/20 List Every day we have at least one Red and one White Wine Priced at $5 a glass & $20 a bottle. My favorite red wine by the glass is:

Trinchero Merlot, Monterey California… $9
Trinchero Family wines typically express the purest manifestation of the grape variety, which means they’re often fruit-driven and delicious. This Merlot is no exception. The wine is lush, rich and remarkably smooth with ripe, juicy fruit and mouthwatering acidity.

My favorite white wine by the glass is:

Francis Ford Coppola Directors Cut Chardonnay, Russian River, Sonoma CA… $10

Full-flavored, creamy with hints of pear and fig – with ripe, well-defined citrus, green apple and melon fruit that’s fresh and lively, ending with a pithy grapefruit note.

Newsletter 034 – Sent 7/2/2008

At BLUE we serve world class beers and real wines. We are into flavor… checkout our ever-changing offerings. Our staff will guide and help you through your choices, but we are never stuffy or pretentious. We are an everyday casual wine bar offering an excellent choice of wine, beer, martinis, and seasonal menu. We are happy to serve you. Casual attire is always welcomed at Blue; shorts and sandals are my personal favorite this time of year.

Delicious Series of Wine & Cheese Pairing Every Thursday
Every Thursday in July, Blue will host a wine and cheese tasting. Each week we will feature different cheese and wines to pair. Savor the wine and taste the cheese. Wine and Cheese is the perfect culinary match. $20 for 3 wines and 3 cheeses to pair.

At BLUE, wine and cheese takes center stage for the next month. Come to BLUE for an evening of wine tasting and grazing. Try our awesome selection of cheeses and flights paired together. Now is the time to come to BLUE to enjoy happy hour at the bar… hold a business meeting or to celebrate the end of a great outdoor summer day. The idea is to have lots of fun trying new wines and cheeses. Fun yet affordable flights of wine & wine by the glass.

Fouth of July weekend at Blue
We will be open July 4th weekend. Celebrate independence day  weekend with good friends, let us do the barbecuing and of course some great cocktails and wine.

Tour De France Wine Dinner July 23rd – This is an Event That You Will Not Want to Miss!
Simo Nouri, our Executive chef, is in France for his sister’s wedding and a chef competition for the next two weeks. Simo Nouri is currently working on a new menu that he will debut upon his return at the end of July. Of course Simo will be here in time for our Tour de France Wine Dinner on July 23rd. I promise you, Simo will deliver a truly inspired French dinner with French wine pairing. Reservations are starting to fill up. The Tour de France Wine Dinner is Wednesday July 23rd. The cost for this event is $85 which includes a four course dinner with four French wines to pair with each course.

Check our website for upcoming wine dinners and other events:
http://bluewinebar.com/?q=event

Newsletter 033 – Sent 6/12/2008

I just found out that our elected Pennsylvania leaders just passed the CLEAN INDOOR AIR act!

In 90 days, smoking in most public places will be prohibited.

BLUE has always been smoke free.

If you’re interested in learning more about this new law, here’s the press release from the state: www.portal.state.pa.us

Newsletter 032 – Sent 6/12/2008

Wine & Food Pairing is an adventure but not an exact science. Admittedly I let my heart (passion) instead of my head sometimes rule my decisions. Our summer white wine dinner was a hit. The most outstanding quality of this particular dinner was how well (actually spectacular) the wine & food paired with each other. Without a doubt both the wine and food tasted better together. Of course Simo Nouri our executive chef is a genius.  The food was incredible. We have decided to add these great summer white wines to our glass list for a limited time. Below is a description of the summer whites and suggestions on our current menu for making the perfect match.

Before moving forward I wanted to add a couple of comments/suggestions on pairing food with wine. With food & wine pairing of course personal taste does enter into the equation. Never let anxiety rule your pairing choices. Enjoying the journey not the destination is the goal here. Actually isn’t that the goal for life? Back to wine… the best advice I can offer is go out (of course to BLUE) and experiment. The concept of pairing wine with food at first seemed overblown… any maybe even by design to further mystify the world of wine and keep it just for the enlightened snobs. But with experimentation I discovered that WOW there really is something to it. And you know when you get it right. Both the food & wine seem to come alive. But don’t take my word for it… discover, experiment, and most of all enjoy your journey.

Wine & Cheese Tasting
We will have some fun during the month of July with exploring wine & cheese. Join us every Thursday in July for wine & cheese tasting hosted by Charlie.

Tour De France Wine Dinner
Our next wine dinner is scheduled for July 23rd Tour De France. You will want to book this one early. Simo Nouri is going to France for his sister’s wedding and to participate in a chef competition. He is sure to be inspired for this event upon his return.

New website feature
Our website has a new feature! It’s a Blog! It’s okay if you don’t know what that means… Essentially, these newsletters appear on the web… and, if you wish, you can add your own comments. Please check this out when you get a chance: http://bluewinebar.com/?q=blog

Promotion
We continue to pick a $25 Gift Certificate winner each week! 9 winners have been chosen since we started this promotion back in April. Be sure to check the front page of our site to see the current winner. We also have a page that contains every winner. If you are a winner you have up to a year to claim your prize.

Check our website for upcoming wine dinners and other events:
http://bluewinebar.com/?q=event

The 2007 New Gewurz surprises just about anyone who tastes it. One sip and they become instant fans. They may be the unitiated who have never heard of the varietal or the skeptic who think every Gewürztraminer is sweet. What brings them back time and again is the wonderful crispness and bright fruit that makes New Gewurz such a versatile wine. Some love the wine because it’s a great sipper, whether they are enjoying the wine as an aperitif or as a summer sipper on a sultry evening. This wine pairs beautifully with food. Our scallop appetizer is a must have with wine. Blackened Diver Scallop Mango salsa, soy reduction and micro greens

Tin Roof 2006 Sauvignon Blanc was produced entirely from North Coast Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Sourcing fruit from cool-climate coastal vineyards enables us to produce a crisp, zesty Sauvignon Blanc that complements a broad array of foods. Boldly flavored, smoothly textured and unusually complex, Tin Roof wines are designed to please wine lovers seeking distinctive varietal character. Our 2006 Sauvignon Blanc was fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks, and bottled just a few months after harvest to preserve its fresh, racy aromas and flavors.The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc offers layers of bright, juicy, citrus fruit flavors that gain elegance from a refreshing, underlying minerality. It’s an ideal match our seafood dishes and Caesar salad. My recommendation: our Nicoise Salad with Tuna Organic greens, radicchio, haricot verts, new potato, radish, tomato, cucumber, olives, hard boiled egg, red pepper with light house dressing

Murphy-Goode Chardonnay Grapes from Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley are the heart and soul of this bright Chardonnay with a rich and creamy texture. In 2006, we had a long, cool growing season which led to a late, drawn out harvest. We’re not complaining though – longer hang time intensified the flavor and development of the grapes. The wine’s 23% stainless steel fermentation helps retain its fruit esters for flavors of baked apple, pear and peach, while its 77% oak fermentation lends characteristic flavors such as vanilla and nutmeg. The wine also underwent 12% malolactic fermentation to add texture and a broader mouth-feel. This is a bright and approachable wine that tastes like apple pie in a glass that’s better than Mom’s! Food pairing suggestion from our menu: The King Salmon – Slow roasted wild King salmon with caramelized fennel and marionberry chutney, creamy polenta and roasted asparagus. If I had to pick one item from our current menu as my favorite this is it… It is the best salmon dish ever.

Newsletter 031 – Sent 5/29/2008

The weather has finally turned nice. The college students are now home. My daughter Nicole, just finished her first year in college at Temple University in Philadelphia studying Environmental Science. She finished her first year with almost perfect straight A’s with one B+. What is most amazing about this accomplishment is that she managed to do this and still have fun. I communicated to her that if she can get her job done superbly well and manage to have fun while doing it, that is the secret to success in life. So I am going somewhere with this… We have been having lots of fun at the restaurant with more exciting events/fun coming. We have an incredible staff at BLUE.

Quote to live by at BLUE… Be good at something, it makes you valuable!!

Vodka & Caviar at BLUE Wednesday June 4th 6:00 – 7:30 p.m… Join us for a night of indulgence…with authentic, chilled Russian Vodka. Our Bar Staff will lead the evening through a choice of three Martinis: Original Vodka Martini, Raspberry Martini, Lemon drop Martini, Pineapple Martini, Kiwi Martini, Melon Martini. Vodka Martinis will be paired with three appetizers: Halibut Tartare with Caviar & Ponzu Sauce, Warm Artichoke & Crab Dip and Duck Confit Cigar with Red Plum Sauce

Time is 6 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $45. Make reservations at 717-909-6500 Stay for dinner Chef Simo Nouri is offering a special steak dinner following the event for $25.

Wine Dinner Summer Blondes with Barbie Wednesday June 11th 7:00 – 9:00 p.m Cost $65… Barbeque with a bistro twist… Summer’s here and it’s time to head to the beach, hit the golf course and of course, fire up the grill! Simo Nouri will be firing up the grill at BLUE for this event. Grilled Diver Scallop with Smoky Chipotle Barbeque Sauce and Golden Raisin Cucumber Salsa, Baby Arugula with Plum Tomato & Goat Cheese Terrine, Grilled Hanger Steak with Miso Curd in Carrot Ginger Broth with Grilled Normandy Vegetables, Grilled Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Pineapple Brandy Sauce. All four courses will be paired with four fantastic summer white wines.

Father’s Day at BLUE Sunday June 15th… Whether he’s your hero, your friend, or your role model come celebrate Father’s Day at BLUE Bistro & Wine Bar… Surf & Turf for two only $55… Filet & Crab Cake for two only $55… how can you pass up this opportunity to treat Dad.

July is Uncorked Month at BLUE… Wine & Cheese Tasting July 3rd, July 10th, July 17th, July 24th and July 31st… Join us in the bar for an evening of wine tasting and cheese sampling every Thursday in July. The first event is July 3rd from 6 – 8 p.m. This event is only $20 and you get to sample three wines with matching cheese sampling. This is great opportunity to learn more about vino and cheese pairing. These events will be hosted by our front of the house Manager Charlie. Each week we will be featuring different wines and cheeses so you will want to attend every event.