Intelligentsia, a Chicago-based coffee company, recently opened its first location on the West Coast. One of a smattering of specialty purveyors that have recently appeared in response to the boring ubiquity of Starbucks, Intelligentsia is intensely focused on coffee and its methods of preparation. Located in Sunset Junction — a vintage “mini mall” that is also home to a flower shop, a cheese store, and a music conservatory, among others — this is one of the few places where you can ask for a cappuccino and get just that, without having to resort to any number of qualifying adjectives that still won’t guarantee a perfect cup. Bestor’s airy interior features graphic blue and white Nicaraguan tile that she has laid like wallpaper in a seamless flow of vibrant pattern over counters and floors, and asimple palette of plywood and black vinyl supergraphics (coffee-related, natch) by artist Chris Loomis. Your Clover brew may take a few minutes, but both the coffee and the room make the wait worthwhile. And p.s., if you’re in the market for a new career, you can sign up for a barista training class at Intelligentsia!

Hailed as a prodigy on the acoustic double bass within months of first touching the instrument as a 15-year-old, Esperanza Spalding has emerged as a fine jazz bassist, but has also distinguished herself playing blues, funk, hip-hop, pop fusion, and Brazilian and Afro-Cuban styles as well. Born in Portland, OR in 1984, Spalding was not well served by the public school system and soon dropped out of classes to be home schooled. Returning to the public school system at 15, she encountered her first acoustic bass (she had already been playing violin for several years) and immediately took to the instrument. Dropping out of school again, Spalding enrolled in classes at Portland State University as a 16-year-old, and earned her B.A. in just three years and was immediately hired as an instructor in the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston in the spring of 2005. After touring and playing with a whole host of artists, in addition to heading her own jazz trio, Spalding recorded and released Junjo on the Barcelona-based AYVA imprint in 2006, following it with the simply named Esperanza on Heads Up Records in 2008. Steve Leggett, All Music Guide. Be sure to check her out.

Clos des Papes
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005

98 points / $80
7,500 cases made
France

In the Southern Rhône’s recent trio of great vintages starting with 2003, no other Châteauneuf-du-Pape domaine has produced better wines than Clos des Papes. Under Vincent Avril, quality has improved steadily, and the 2003 (97 points) was Wine Spectator’s No. 2 wine in 2005. At 98 points, the 2005 is Avril’s best wine yet, displaying an enormous core of fruit and minerality along with massive structure. The Clos des Papes red (the estate also produces a white) is a blend of 65 percent Grenache, 20 percent Mourvèdre, 10 percent Syrah and other grapes from 74 acres of vines around Châteauneuf. Avril keeps yields low, picks vineyard blocks separately for ideal ripeness and vinifies the destemmed grapes in ceramic-lined vats. The wine is aged in large wooden foudres for up to 12 months before the final blend is assembled.

Omas and Maserati, both Italy, set out to create a sleek expression of their respective craftsmanship. The result is the Omas for Maserati fountain pen, which is a masterful interpretation of the Italian brand’s iconic GranTurismo automobile. Drenched in sterling silver, the satin-finished cap is crowned with a rendering of the car’s famous front grill, and side vents are engraved on either side of the aerodynamic clip. The barrel is decorated with a linear design emphasizing the conical form of the pen, perfectly contrasting the shape of the highly polished filling knob. The limited-edition series of 1,200 fountain pens, each with an 18-karat gold nib, and 714 roller-ball pens, are priced respectively at $2,950 and $2,750. Visit www.omas.com for more information. 

The Zino Platinum Scepter Series offers great tastes, complex yet harmonious experiences and exquisite aromas with a range of strengths suitable for both the novice and experienced cigar smoker of today. Scepter series smokers enjoy bold taste with a pleasurable draw and the balanced combustion that Zino Platinum has perfected.

Country: Dominican Republic

Price Tin of three: $81 to $117

Price Range: $50 - $149

Strength: Medium-strong

Type: Cigar

For more info contact www.zinoplatinum.com

The Sophisticate
40ml gin
20ml bitter orange liqueur
15ml muscat
Dash orange bitters
10 muddled muscatel grapes
Rim glass with orange dust (campari reduced to crystals in the oven, then crushed to a powder). Shake ingredients and strain into a martini glass.

Enjoy!

A seaside paradise and the nation’s youngest big city (founded in 1896), Miami, Florida is America’s Casablanca—capital of the exotic. It is often called the “Gateway to Latin America” the area’s population is 60 percent Hispanic, made up of Cubans, Nicaraguans, Colombians, Puerto Ricans, and Venezuelans—all influencing the city’s rich cultural offerings. Considered an international hub, Miami has reached a sophistication to rival Manhattan’s with hip Miami Beach at its heart boasting a classic Art Deco District and North Beach’s Miami Modern architecture. In Miami itself, a melting pot of worthwhile neighborhoods welcome visitors including the Cuban-inspired Little Havana, the art-driven Design District, architecturally rich Coral Gables, and the laid-back beachfront community of Coconut Grove. The area’s tropical climate makes it a year-round destination.

Each track on “Fire Down Below” has its own story. Steve Elmer displays charasmatic undertones that will keep you listening straight through. Even without lyrics, Steve Elmer depicts a vivid picture of the moment. Listen Here

 

Chef Andrew Weissman’s menu showcases whichever ingredients are freshest. Because nothing is ever prepared in advance, a meal at Le Rêve typically lasts at least two hours. 

Specialties

Caramelized onion tart with goat cheese; sautéed duck breast plated with Bosc pears; New Zealand lamb chops; wild salmon. 

 

Contact Information

210.212.2221
www.restaurantlereve.com