There’s a Fire in Nizza

Posted in In the news with tags , , , , , on March 10, 2010 by jaynesgastropub

Pillowy, fresh snow blanketed the hall in Nizza last night while Asti winemakers faced off with the press over the issues surrounding the use of oak in their barberas.   Most of the major winemakers from the Nizza subzone of Barbera D’Asti were in attendance to both show their wines and to pitch their plan to achieve DOC status.   Having tasted nearly 200 wines from around the Asti region including Nizza, the overwhelming criticism from attendees, myself included, has been an excess use of barrique or small, french oak barrels in an effort to create a vastly improved or even “super barbera.”  If oak was on everyone’s mind, The Nizza conference staved these thoughts into a powder keg.

“What was wrong with the old Barbera?” was the big question, and not just from our group from the US and UK.   Visitors from around the globe: China, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Malaysia, Japan are all asking why this great shift has occurred.  The answers have been brutally honest like the crowd stunner from Piedmont’s legendary producer Michele Chiarlo last night that “A wine is good if it sells” and  a leading area oenologist saying that “like makeup can make a beautiful woman even more beautiful, such is the same with oak.”  Other explanations put the reasons on the needs of strong barbera selling markets like Norway.  The explanations are all reasonable but the results don’t lie.   Listen guys, most of us just aren’t getting excited about the majority of your wines, particularly those that are barriqued.  If sales are on your mind, we’re giving you pearls.   I understand that this is a business and that changes may be difficult make.  As a restaurant owner who also has payrolls to make and wine to buy, I can say with confidence that completely ignoring your public (one that actually does deeply love your region) will bite you in the ass.

The producers insist that the use of oak is never intended to pander to any audience, but to give a good balance of freshness, acidity, tannins and overall structure.   While I believe that this statement is honest and well intended, I hope that they note that when a very sympathetic public is having trouble finding excitement in such a huge list of wines, something is very wrong.   I have never seen such a broad rejection of  wood, as if the grape had an allergy.


A diamond in the rough was the “Suri” from Villa Giada by a young winemaker named Andrea Faccio.  The Suri is a wonderful stainless steel barbera that retails fro around $11 in the US.  This wine was fresh and simple and a pleasure to drink after so many confused, unbalanced and sometimes downright flawed wines.   The Suri wine was not actually in the tasting, his barriqued, upper tier Barbera was which in itself showed the inherent disconnect of the conference.   I made sure to talk at length with the winemaker Andrea who was a great guy and will certainly find a slot at Jaynes.  Like Mr. Chiarlo explained, this is a business, and in the end it was a simple, traditional Barbera that won mine.

Today, Monferrato….

We Are Team Blogger

Posted in In the news with tags , on March 9, 2010 by jaynesgastropub

Barbera Meeting 2010 began yesterday in Asti, Italy with an excited if a little jetlagged “Team Blogger” diving into a epic tasting day, pressing palate to over 100 wines.  Blind tasting at the Palazzo Zoia and tours at several Asti wineries made for full contact sport.   “We welcome the bloggers!” was enthusiastically proclaimed by the Asti Agricultural Ministry’s superintendent while we all fumbled with our electronics and wireless connections.   The rooms are filled with worldwide wine trade and press, but the blog presence is a brand new addition to this annual event and is creating quite a buzz.

Our team consists of 6 of the world’s great independent wine bloggers (and me).   I am stunned by the palates of this crew and their writing chops are razor sharp.  While we may not like every wine on this trip and this will certainly be documented, we will definitely fall in love with some and will come to a greater understanding of why Italy and Piedmont in particular is so dear to all of us.

I urge everyone to stay tuned to this story.   Ill be trying not to spill Nizza Barbera into my Macbook…

See the following blogs for updates throughout the week and beyond:

Barbera Meeting 2010

Bigger than Your Head

Brunellos Have more Fun

Do Bianchi

Oenologic

Saignee

Worcester Sauce

Jaynes Gastropub


Barbera NOT Barbra

Posted in events with tags , , , , , on February 22, 2010 by jaynesgastropub

Sometimes the shit just stops hitting the fan and I get a break.  The economy is off life support, the ice machine is working like a champ, our type 47 full liquor license looks like its nearly a go, the new menu changes/wine list adds are batting 1000 and I get invited to spend a week in Piedmont Italy along with one of the grooviest bunch of wine professionals Ive ever seen.

What was that last one?


Well Com with the help of Jeremy AKA “Do Bianchi” AKA “The Jar” Parzen have organized Barbera 2010. From March 8-11 I will be in Asti, Italy to take part in an event that in one fell swoop should erase all of the Quickbooks scares of 2009, increase my alcohol tolerance and Piedmontese wine knowledge sevenfold and piss off Jayne for the entirety of 2010.

Jayne has already named her price…

I will be making daily blog posts of this event here and on other blogs so please stay tuned.  I promise to be the one dishing the dirt and taking pictures of all the sexy italians I meet….

I think everyone else attending this event has a minimum of twice my education, so I might as well set the bar low early and start out with a hamfisted blogging pun. Don’t laugh.  I dig this stuff and its’ classic Wrecking Crew for those those are really hip…

Happy Birthday, Valentines and Honeymoon!

Posted in Uncategorized on February 9, 2010 by jaynesgastropub


I thought Valentine’s day was on a Thursday?  No, thats right , its always on our anniversary!
This Sunday we officially turn 3 and are hosting a special Valentine’s Day Menu.   Come wish us happy birthday and bring your special someone in for a wonderful evening.

Starters (choose one)
-Fava Bean & Mint Crostini served with spring greens and meyer lemon vinaigrette.
-Italian Wedding Soup with fresh herb chicken meatballs and escarole
-Fritto Misto of squash blossoms, asparagus, sweet onions and calamari with lemon aioli.

Entrees (choose one)
-Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon with stilton butter, garlic mashed paotatoes and bloomesdale spinach.
-Pork Milanese served with heirloom cherry tomato and wild arugula salad.
-Panko/Dijon Crusted Steelhead Salmon with beluga lentils, pancetta, carrots and garlic jus.
-Cauliflower, Leek and Swiss Chard Gratin with grana padano, gruyere and hazelnut picada.

Desserts (choose one)
-Strawberry Rhubard Crostada with tahitian vanilla gelato.
-Bittersweet Chocolate Souffle with creme anglaise.


$45/per person plus beverage, tax and gratuity
reservations required for tables. call 619.563.1011
bar is available for walk ins.

We have a boatload of great new wines from all over the world at just about every price point.  This week in honor of our great friend Jeremy Parzen of Do Bianchi and his lovely new bride Tracie P who have been honeymooning in Italy, Tuesday through Thursday we will be featuring a wine flight from one of our top fave regions, Piedmont Italy.  These are three stellar traditional producers.

2008 Cavallotto Dolcetto Vigna Scot
2006 Valpane Barbera Monferrato
2008 Produttori Del Barbaresco Nebbiolo
$12

This pairs wonderfully with the back by demand Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe and Prosciutto with Italian Grissini.

On Draft, we just tapped a new keg of St Bernardus ABT 12.

We hope to see you all this week!

xo jayne and jon

Reuben, Mussels, Belgian Flight and your Alternative to Restaurant Week

Posted in Featured Beer, Featured Dish with tags , , on January 19, 2010 by jaynesgastropub

While our plants may be grinning we all need some warming up around here.  We have some great hearty dishes this week from Tuesday through Thursday to get you back up to temperature!

-Hot Pastrami Reuben on Bread and Cie Corn Rye with Housemade Pickles and Kennebec Fries
Our favorite East Coast Sandwich, done right. $13.50

-San Quintin Mussels with Leeks, Spanish Chorizo and La Brea Bakery Baguette.
Beautiful Pan Sauteed Mussels in a to die for Spanish chorizo/white wine broth. $14.50 

Belgian Beer Flight:
Brasserie Caracole Saxo Blonde Ale
Palm Speciale Amber Ale
St Bernardus ABT 12 Quadrupel

Enjoy 3 outstanding Belgian Ales for just $8.

We aren’t participating in restaurant week, so think of us as a refuge from the crowds and a place for your larger party this week. We have a gang of new menu items in addition to our specials so this is a great time to come on in. We hope to see you all this week!

We’re Back!

Posted in Uncategorized on January 13, 2010 by jaynesgastropub

Welcome back to Jaynes, me droogs.  We had a wonderful annual break. Sorry for all those facing a darkened house, but it always gets a lot brighter around here with a good 2 week break under our belts.  We open today at 5pm with our luscious Short Ribs back on the menu along with some other great additions.  Hope to see you all very soon!  xo jayne and jon

New Years Eve Dinner, then off into the Sunset…until the 13th that is.

Posted in events with tags on December 19, 2009 by jaynesgastropub

Jayne at the helm of the "Chocolat Blanc." Jost Van Dyke, BVI


Jaynes is having a special New Years Eve Dinner, Thursday 12/31.   Options:  There will be a $45 prix fixe menu.  Choose one of the starred items in each course, along with a glass of champagne.   A la carte ordering is also available including our much beloved Jayne Burger.   Options are good….

Menu

Starters
Triclore Salad  of   Radicchio   Arugula   Belgian Endive   with  Lemon Vinaigrette and   Shaved Grana Padano   9.50  *

San Quintin Mussels with  Spanish Chorizo   Braised Leeks    Yellow Tomatoes    Sliced Garlic  and   Grilled Baguette  12.50 *

Grilled Asparagus with Organic Fried Egg and Aged  Parmesan 10.50 *

 Entree

South African Black Sea Bass  with Cauliflower Puree    Pea Tendrils    Sweet Corn    Baby Carrots   Cremini Mushrooms    Basil Vinaigrette   23.50 *

Bacon Wrapped Grilled Filet Mignon with Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes    28 *

Fresh Local Fettuccine with Wild Mushrooms  House Made Ricotta   Thyme   Olive Oil    Aged  Parmesan   19.50

Jayne Burger  Grilled Niman Chuck   Aged Vermont Cheddar   House Pickled Onions  Garlic  Aioli    Frites   16.50

White Sea Bass Fish and Chips   Garlic Snap Peas   Housemade Caper Tartar  Sauce   Lemon   17.50

 Dessert

Profiteroles with Tahitian Vanilla Gelato and Bittersweet Chocolate Sauce * 9.00

Pear Apple Crostada with Maple Walnut Gelato * 9.00

This is always a very special evening for us at Jaynes and is a perfect sendoff for our annual Jaynes Holiday aka the envy of the San Diego restaurant community.   We will be closed from 1/1 until 1/12 and reopen on Wednesday the 13th.  This is a time for some much needed rest and time to give our beloved 4677 30th some extra love and attention.  We always return very inspired and fired up for the new year. 

We hope to see you this year!

xo

jayne and jon




Now Playing At Jaynes: Don Covay’s “Mercy Mercy” x 2

Posted in Now Playing at Jaynes with tags , , , on December 18, 2009 by jaynesgastropub

Check out these two versions of the great Don Covay song “Mercy, Mercy.”  One by the Roling Stones and then the original by Don Covay featuring a 22 year old Jimi Hendrix.   Both amazing…

SD Food Bank Benefit Tonight

Posted in In the news with tags on December 15, 2009 by jaynesgastropub

Jaynes is taking part in a neighborhood Food Drive for the San Diego Food Bank.  Our neighbors the Green Door Collective are putting on an event tonight Tuesday the 15th starting at 9pm at the AC Lounge, right door next to Jaynes.  The cover is $4 with a non-perishable food donation.  You may also bring donations directly to Jaynes if you prefer.   Jaynes and the Green Door will be starting out the stack with a $550 purchase of bulk foods to help feed San Diegans in need this season.   Area organizations like the SD Food Bank have been hit hard this year. Donations are way down and the need is through the roof.  

Here is a breakdown of what they need most.  

Please stop by and give what you can.  

xo jon & jayne

My Goodness, My Christmas, It’s Guinness! $3 Pints Until 2010

Posted in Featured Beer with tags on December 9, 2009 by jaynesgastropub


What better has come from the Emerald Isle than U2 or Daniel Day Lewis?  Guinness. I think if I only could have one beer for the rest of my life it would be this one.  Think about it, It’s got great flavor, it’s not too hoppy, not too malty, has a nice creamy texture and it’s low in alcohol, 4 or 4.5 percent, so I can drink a lot of it.  Guinness began way back in 1759 when Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease for an empty four acre brewery at St. James Gate in Dublin. The space was bought for 100 pounds with and annual rent of 45 pounds. Still today, after 250 years of history, Guinness poured in Great Britain, Ireland, and North American, comes from the St. James Gate Brewery. An astonishing 1.8 billion pints of Guinness are sold every year. That’s 1 beer for every three people in the world.

In celebration of Guinness’ 250th anniversary and the holiday season, we are pouring 20 oz Imperial pints of Guinness all December through to the New Year for $3.   That’s right, $3, all the time until 2010.   With our new nitro/direct draw system you are guaranteed a perfect creamy pint, every time.   So head on over to Jaynes and get your Guinness.   I’ll try my best to make one of those cute little clovers in the beer for you.

author:eric