Dining
Time Is Now for Good Wine
11.20.09
By Ian Blackburn
In France, wine is made with an anticipation that it will improve in the bottle over time. This works out well in France, as it has a much cooler climate than we do. In France, there is a built-in “patience” in the consumer that has been cultivated over generations and many old citizens own a home that has a wine storage cave or family wine cellar.
Here in California, “the immediate gratification culture” has it made. The warmer climate and growing conditions mature our fruit differently. Making wines in the French model didn’t always produce the best wines and by the early 1990s, we embraced our California style with a more modern, warm-climate approach. This allows consumers to purchase and enjoy wine without concern for much cellaring, so gone are the days when you must wait! However, here are a few things you should consider:
1. Statistics say that most wines are purchased and opened immediately, a majority within 45 minutes of purchase! Makes you question why we even put it in a bottle!
2. More you pay, the longer you should probably wait to open the bottle! Consult with your local wine merchant, but wines under $20 are typically ready to drink.
3. Red to white ratio: We are on our way to drinking 3 bottles of red to every 1 bottle of white. Red wine health benefits as well as more riper/modern wine making styles have helped this along. However, remember what Hypocrites (450-339 BC) said “Red wine for your heart and white wine for your liver.”
Cheers!
Ian Blackburn is the founder of LearnAboutWine.com.
Dining
Breakfast with a twist
11.20.09
Because it’s nice to be able to have more than just regular ol’ bacon and eggs for breakfast, there’s Break of Dawn. At the Laguna Hills eatery, Chef Dee Nguyen has developed a cult following for elegant offerings like the creme brulee French toast—fat slices of egg-dipped bread in a pool of Mexican chocolate and coconut custard. Then there’s eggs tempura, perfectly poached eggs that are then dipped in tempura batter and then fried. Eggs Benedict are given an updated twist with a pesto hollandaise and of course, there’s a cinnamon sticky bun that’s baked in a cast-iron skillet. Sounds like breakfast and brunch heaven, no?
Break of Dawn is located at 24351 Avenida De La Carlota in Laguna Hills.
949.587.9418
Hours:
8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 10.16.24 – Georgia’s Hosts Irvine Spectrum Center Grand Opening with Giveaways
- 10.15.24 – Sherman Library Celebrates 50 Years with Special Open House on October 22
- 10.15.24 – Autumn Music Fest in Costa Mesa
- 10.14.24 – 25th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival: Must-See Films and Exclusive Screenings
- 10.13.24 – Seasonal Sips at Press & Moka Coffeehouse in Irvine
- 10.10.24 – Capture Timeless Family Moments at Brystan Studios!
- 10.10.24 – Experience Natural, Next-Level Skin Rejuvenation at ICONIC Wellness
- 10.10.24 – Ewan McGregor to Receive TV Performance of the Year Award at 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival
- 10.09.24 – Discover Doctor Clean: Your Trusted Cleaning Solution in Orange County
- 10.08.24 – Cocktails for a Cause: Monthly Fundraisers at The Park Club
- 10.02.24 – Segerstrom Center for the Arts Continues the 2024 Fall Cabaret Season
- 10.02.24 – Grand Reopening of Lido Theater: A Celebration of Art Deco Glamour with a Free Sugar Ray Concert
- 09.30.24 – Celebrate National Taco Day at Puesto with Golden Ticket Giveaways and Exclusive Specials!
- 09.30.24 – Get Behind the Wheel at the Orange County Auto Show
- 09.27.24 – An Evening of Musical Masterpieces: Rachmaninoff, Beethoven & More
- 09.26.24 – Step into ‘The Gathering’ at Roger’s Gardens Halloween Boutique
- 09.24.24 – Flora Avocado Farm: A Scenic Venue for Private Events and Photoshoots
- 09.23.24 – Support Local Hairstylists Battling Breast Cancer: Enter The Jill Foundation’s Fundraiser Today!
- 09.23.24 – Market Broiler Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Exclusive Tasting Dinners
- 09.22.24 – Oktoberfest Menu at Bayside: New for 2024
More Daily Doses
- 10.14.24 – Join the Fall Cocktail Tour & Colors of Fall at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 10.10.24 – Better Buzz Coffee Roasters Debuts in Costa Mesa with Grand Opening Celebration
- 10.09.24 – Inaugural Mexican Food & Wine Festival at CHAAK Kitchen
- 10.09.24 – StyleWeekOC Returns to Fashion Island on October 16-20
- 10.08.24 – Renaissance ClubSport Hotel & Fitness Resort Completes Renovations
- 10.02.24 – Pop Pie Co. Celebrates 8th Anniversary with Exclusive Chef Collaborations and Special Giveaways
- 09.30.24 – Verde: A New Destination for California Cuisine and Crafted Libations
- 09.30.24 – Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach 2024: Aerial Thrills and New Beachside Action
- 09.27.24 – McG Ushers in New Era for The Lido Theater with Restoration and Expanded Entertainment
- 09.24.24 – 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival Honors Nicolas Cage, Colman Domingo, June Squibb and More
- 09.23.24 – Newport Beach Film Festival Kicks Off 25th Anniversary with World Premiere of ‘Old Guy’
- 09.18.24 – Paddle Up Pickleball Tournament to Fight Cancer
- 09.18.24 – ROL Hand Roll Bar Opens Third OC Location in Irvine
- 09.17.24 – All-New IMAX with Laser Now Open at AMC Tustin 14 at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 09.16.24 – Discover Six New Exciting Additions at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 09.16.24 – OCAPICA – An Evening with Tastemakers of Orange County
- 09.13.24 – Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Musco Center
- 09.11.24 – Learn & Grow Family Fair: Free Fun, Live Entertainment, and Activities at The District
- 09.08.24 – Darkroom: OC’s Newest Everyday Fine Dining Destination with a Vinyl Twist
- 09.06.24 – Project Playhouse: Tour, Bid, and Support HomeAid at Irvine Spectrum