Sunday, February 21, 2010

And the winner was...

As most of you have heard, Mercy Wine Bar was a finalist in Wine Bar of the Year, picked by the trade magazine, Bar and Nightclub. We were in GREAT company and only 4 were selected as finalists from over 200 across the country. Mercy was picked along with Ultra Lounge and Wine Bar from San Diego, Zebra’s Bistro and Wine Bar in Massachusetts and Flute from New York City. At the end of the day, Flute was selected as the #1 wine bar in the US. This is a very elegant wine bar that specializes in Champagne only. It is a quaint, elegant, below street level wine bar that is renowned in New York City. They have two locations in NYC and one in Paris. Check out their web site at www.flutebar.com. Mercy congratulates Flute on their success and recognition.

It is such an honor to have been placed in the same league with these beautiful wine bars and restaurants and for an industry publication to have considered us as one of the best in the country. There was not another restaurant, bar or nightclub from Texas that made the cut, which meant making it as a finalist that much more special for us. I can honestly say that 7 years ago it never even crossed our minds that we’d be considered one of the best in the country. We were thinking, “how can we make Mercy the go-to place in our town”? We were thinking about local neighborhood and creating a concept where people could come in and feel like they were in their living room with friends learning about wines and eating wonderful cuisine.

This past February 14, Mercy celebrated our 7th anniversary. It seems like yesterday we opened our doors for the first time and launched, what we considered to be a unique, experience for our area. We have you, our guests, to thank for being here 7 years later by continuing to believe that we bring something unique to the market and we will continue to raise the bar to exceed your expectations. All of us at Mercy remain committed to bringing you a great experience with wine and food. I am very much looking forward to our next 7 years!!!

Mercy……..

Glen

Monday, February 8, 2010

Valentine’s Day and Wine

Even Cupid knows that a good wine is the perfect sharing beverage for Valentine’s Day! Red, the color of love and the color of the wine that most people will choose to drink this Valentines! There is still time to surprise your sweetheart with a bottle of wine to share with at Mercy for Valentines Day. Even if you don’t know your lover’s favorite wine, select one you think you will both enjoy; you really can’t go wrong. Think of it as a time to share and experiment together. Even if you don’t get a chance to come to Mercy this weekend here are some recommendations that I believe will add to the romance of your experience together.

I often describe some wine as being a sexy wine, what this means to me is the first the smell of the wine. When I smell a “sexy wine” I look for scents that remind me of rich chocolate, bright fruit and spices like cloves and cinnamon. All of these fragrants can be associated with this particular day. I then taste the wine and look for all flavors that I found in the bouquet! We all have certain taste for flavors that can be an aphrodisiac for our palate. Most importantly the finish of the wine should be what we say in the wine business as silky and smooth. Look for wines that have these characteristics and you will sweep your lover of his or her feet.

Red Zinfandel should be the perfect Valentine’s Day wine. It is big, deep red with bright fruit, hearty and soft-edge and meant for sheer pleasure. In theory, zinfandel is custom-tailored not only for a day devoted to romance, but also the time of year where it is a chilly and dark month that begs for warmth and heat. Zinfandel by nature embraces traits that kill other wines. It revels in big, hearty gobs of fruit flavor with earthy undertones. Don’t want that much fruit? Get a zinfandel that is blended with cabernet sauvignon. Cabernet will compliment the zinfandel and add a bit richer of a finish.

When we think of Valentine’s, what is one of the first things that come to mind? For me it is hearts and chocolate. Ahhhh, chocolate a sure way to please your lover on this sexy day! In matters of pleasure, chocolate and wine are ideal partners: the marriage of the soft tannins or elegant acidity of wines with meltingly smooth cocoa flavors. For those who have not yet acquired the taste should just breathe in the fragrance of a Merlot, Tempranillo, Grenache or Cabernet Franc. It is not rare for the bouquet of these wines, to hint of cocoa and chocolate. Here are some rules when pairing wine with chocolate:

High quality wine - high quality chocolate.
The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate, the drier the wine may be. Bitter sweet or semi-sweet chocolates are best combined with red wine. The higher the tannin content of a red wine the stronger the chocolate should be. Wine first on the tongue, then the chocolate.

Follow these basic ideas and I can assure you that your evening will be a successful way for you and your loved one to have a perfect romantic evening. See you at Mercy!

Craig Brazeal
Bar Manager

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Memories are made of shared experiences

Memories are made of shared experiences. The sights and surroundings, the tastes and aromas, and your significant person to share those special memories. Beginning on Monday, Feb 8th, we will introduce an additional new menu experience, Mercy - you and MEnu ~ a shared food and wine experience. We feel the best memories are those which are shared and to that extent,we will help you accomplish this.

A dining experience for two people:
A shared appetizer ~ our Smoked Bruschetta (4 pieces).
A small House Salad accompanied by a glass of Fiano Di Avellino

An entree for each from among these Plates:
Tortellini Pasta with Chicken, New York Strip Steak or Blackened Salmon accompanied by a glass of Les Fontanelles Pinot Noir.

Something sweet for the senses, a Dessert from among the following:
Chocolate Marquise, Red Velvet Cake or Raspberry Lemon Drop.

This shared dining experience is yours for an all inclusive price of $99 per couple. We invite you to experience all the shared memories that await you at Mercy, a wine bar and restaurant.