Zambrano's: Great for Food & Wine Lovers.

Guest post by Becca

Brinton and I decided to take advantage of a night out without the kids and went downtown last night.

We were looking for somewhere we could sit outside and not feel rushed. We went into the Omni Hotel (which is really amazing) and looked through their lobby of restaurants and bars only to decide that we wanted to patronize a local restaurant. The Omni was a bit too corporate for our mood.

We decided on Zambrano's, the local wine bar started by Cef Zambrano. Cef was the Somelier at Del Friscos before starting his own place -- and it is enjoyable to learn from someone who really has a passion for what he does --seriously guys, forget Wine Styles! Zambrano's, is the real deal. I was in the mood for a Rose, but did not know which one. The waitress retrieved Cef and he told us about some bottles he had in his cellar which were very reasonably priced at $25 per bottle. We chose the Sawyer Rose of Merlot from Napa and loved it! In fact we loved it so much we finished the bottle. (Editors note: just one?) For a meal we had an appetizer, and split the Garden Vegetable Pizza and Creme Brulee. Total cost: about $60.00.

Brinton and I have been visiting wine bars lately looking for a place we feel comfortable. We did not like Winslows. I wanted to leave the minute I arrived because it is too pretentious. I didn't feel like I could drop in casually with Brinton and just get a drink. On our last visit, we asked the manager/owner(?) for some help in choosing a wine and were told, in so many words, to buy the most expensive wine on the menu. When we told him our budget, he demured and suggested we buy wine by the glass. Not quite what I was looking for. We finally chose a moderately priced wine on our own and purchased it by the glass. We were approached more than once about buying the bottle. Needless to say we bolted as soon as we were done.

We have tried Wine Styles which is fine, but I don't really like the chain feel. Wine Styles is a franchise, and feels like it.

Put a Cork in It, on Park Hill, is cute but I received no help in the wine-choosing. I was overwhelmed by all the wines, and started wishing I was at Costco where I could check the ratings.

Pop's Safari is great --love the comfortable chairs! But I could do without the heavy cigar smell. I have to wash everything when I get home because the smell is so strong.

We will definitely go back to Zambrano's. The service was exactly what I was looking for. Also, Cef is licensed to sell retail, so you can call him for a special party, or have him hand pick a wine within your budget.

Z WINE CELLAR
910 Houston Street
Suite 110
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Phone: (817) 850-WINE Hours:

Mon-Thurs (4:30 pm - 11 pm)
Friday (4:30 pm - 1 am)
Saturday (4:30 pm - 1 am)
Closed Sundays

http://zambranowines.com/

The Plantation Model I Built -- kind of.

My brother recently posted pictures of his daughter's science project. It is a model of our solar system that he and his daughter built, well, together. It reminded me of the school project I was assigned many years ago -- and built -- with my mother's help.

My mother had an artistic temperament, and artistic ability. Her handwriting was something out of the Official Guide to Perfect Handwriting. I remember mom-addressed Christmas cards with each name and address perfectly written. In green ink, from an old dip-and-write fountain pen, no less.

But I had never seen the real artistic skill in action until my fifth grade history teacher assigned each student the task of building a model southern plantation. I was prepared, as any kid would be, to glue a couple of pillar-type sticks to the front of an old show box, paint it white, and call it a day. Mom would have none of it.

First, a sturdy board foundation was pulled out of a crawl space, then some white paint. The foundation was painted, and a shoe box was turned upside down and wrapped in stiff white paper with a smaller box glued on top. Holes were cut out for windows and doors. Walkways were painted on the board and greenery glued down. On and on it went until the final touch of any respectable southern plantation: the pillars were installed, which were made from unused wallpaper turned inside out, dampened and rolled tight, like pillars. They were perfect.

I remember bringing my uber-plantation into school with some pride but also a little embarrassment, thinking that others would know that I had a lot of help. But my most vivid memory was thinking to myself -- how could my mother create something like this out of household leftovers and enjoy herself doing it?

When I look at the picture of my brother in front of his daughter's solar system, I know.

Moooon River.

Prostate Test Found to Save Few Lives.

Finally. A medical study that re-enforces my dislike of medical tests. It seems that guys that have the PSA blood test for prostate cancer die more frequently from prostate cancer than guys who don't. I knew I was right in holding out on the PSA prostate exam and the more intrusive one as well.

The cancer itself is no joking matter, I know. But I hope "poking" a little fun at the one exam we hate is okay.

This study proves my theory that if I wait long enough science will prove that I am right.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/health/19cancer.html?em

DFW Population Growth #1.

We may not have the most visited tourist attractions in the USA but we do have the fastest growing metropolitan area. Or so we did in 2008. The result of job seekers, sun seekers, and babies, I assume. In one year DFW grew in population by 146,000 people. That's boom growth for an area our size. Three of the top ten growth areas are in Texas. Austin is number seven.

The north central USA continues to suffer, places like Cleveland and Detroit. It's the dynamic of a changing world and a changing economy, and they are suffering.

Our growth will not continue forever, but while it does we should be grateful for it and for a stronger than average local economy that attracts others looking for work and a great place to live.

Metropolitan area		Growth	Percentage change
DFW		146,532	2.4
Houston		130,185	2.3
Phoenix		115,978	2.8
Atlanta		114,989	2.2
Los Angeles		88,196	0.7
New York		84,227	0.4
Chicago.		72,771	0.8
Austin		60,012	3.8
San Francisco		58,406	1.4
Washington		55,835	1.1

My Favorite Movie of the Last 10 Years . . .

My son brought home a movie the other night that I had not seen in a few years, but that I had liked and watched many times. We watched it, and I am ready now, 9 years since its release, to nominate it as my number one and best movie of the last 10 years.

I am referring to Joel and Ethan Coen's, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou. My wife, son and I enjoyed it last night as if we were watching it for the first time, or more correctly, enjoyed it more than watching it for the first time.

The dialogue is perfect, from the first line, "any of you boys smithies," to the last.

One knows immediately who the main characters are, and what they are like. And what the conflict is.

The bad guy is bad.

It does not try to be funny. It does not try to be current or counter-current. It is not cute. The music is wonderful (Ralph Stanley, John Hartford, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, etc) and new to one's ear. It is a joy to view and hear.

I can not think of anything I would change. It is movie perfection, at least to me. The Coen brother's translation of Homer's Odyssey (circa 850 BC) to the 1930's South makes it even more enjoyable as one looks for parallels (I have to admit finding only the most obvious).

I have liked many movies in the last 10 years. But I would put them in a "good" category, not great, when compared to Oh Brother, Where Art Thou. That's my opinion, but I am no film afficionado.

What's your favorite of the last 10 years? Maybe I have forgotten something?

But who can forget these lines spoken by George Clooney's, Ulysses Everett:

"Well, any human being will cast about in a moment of stress. No, the fact is, they're flooding this valley so they can hydroelectric up the whole durn state. Yes, sir, the South is gonna change. Everything's gonna be put on electricity and run on a paying basis. Out with the old spiritual mumbo jumbo, the superstitions, and the backward ways. We're gonna see a brave new world where they run everybody a wire and hook us all up to a grid. Yes, sir, a veritable age of reason. Like the one they had in France. Not a moment too soon."

"Tell me, Muse, of the man of many ways"