Simplicity and Elegance

I am writing this month’s blog from beautiful sunny Miami, and if you are asking, what does that have to do with Mercy? Well, quite a bit actually. I have been coming to Miami for 10 years at this same time to attend the Sony Ericsson professional tennis tournament.

As part of this pilgrimage every year, I have dinner at the Blue Door in the Delano Hotel (www.delano-hotel.com/). This is a classic 50's art deco hotel which is one of Miami's "hot spots". The hotel is adorned with ceiling to floor white sheers throughout the interior. This was the inspiration for the sheers we have at Mercy. They flow in the wind when the doors open and create great spaces to enjoy a drink with privacy. I have always been impressed with the simplicity and elegance of this space. While Mercy is very Italian in it's "feel" the Delano is ultra modern but you can not help
but notice the beauty the draping creates in the space.










As usual, we dine on the back patio overlooking the wading pool. It is a balmy evening with a cool breeze. The stark white nature of everything in the hotel creates a simplicity and elegance unsurpassed! There is a constant parade of beautiful people from all over the world. High fashion is in vogue and everyone is dressed like they just left their GQ modeling gig! Of course the food is incredible. Nouveau Americana cuisine is impeccable.

This is my 10th anniversary at this tournament and one of the highlights of my year and the Delano never ceases to impress. Everything about the dining experience is simply amazing. Next time you are in Miami stop by, even for a drink. You will not be disappointed, I promise you. Stay for dinner if you can and treat yourself to one of the better dining experiences you might have.

By the way, we are working on our summer and spring menu and will have it all ready for you in another few weeks. We are excited about some of the changes. However, do not fear, many of your favorites are remaining but we have some great surprises in store! Also, stop by and see our new patio fire pit!

Gotta run, tennis is about to start and can't miss one shot!

Mercy..........................
Glen Agritelley

Easter Yumminess!

Spring is here, and Easter is just around the corner! Easter, like Thanksgiving has its traditions. So what pairs best with Easter Dinner? That depends on what your Easter dinner is comprised of. Typically, you either see ham or lamb and if you’re at my house it's both! In this blog I will cover some basic pairings for your dinner starting with the ham...

Wine Pairing for Ham
In general, ham is typically glazed with a light, sweet sauce often using honey or apricot, which brings balance to the inherent saltiness of the meat. One of the most traditional pairings is Riesling with its aromatic notes of peach and apricot. Some of you are in for a surprise when I tell you what you want is a fine, dry Riesling. Yes, there is such thing as a dry Riesling and with this pairing it is very important! When pairing ham it’s important to balance both the sweet and salty elements of the dish. Riesling offers enough sweet fruit to balance the salt, yet enough acidity to support the flavor combination without throwing either out of balance. One of my favorite regions to find such lovely, unusual wines is Alsace. Sitting just over the border from Germany; Alsace, produces many of the same varietals, but unlike its neighbor, 95% of the wines from Alsace are dry. Not many people are familiar with Alsace, but this price-point friendly region is well worth your investigation!

Wine Pairing for Lamb
I adore lamb just about any way you serve it! Leg of lamb, stuffed lamb, roast lamb, braised lamb they all delight my palate! Lamb can be paired according to the style you choose to prepare it, or you can go with a fantastic little wine that is almost guaranteed to fit any and all. The sexy little Pinot Noir is once more making an appearance to add the perfect finishing touches to your Easter feast. The pinot you are looking for has a touch of bright fruit with a little bit of zippy acidity. This pairing will make your palate sing! The acidity brings harmony with the fat, while the fruit bridles the gaminess. The region I would choose for this pairing: Willamette, hands down! When Willamette Valley takes the stage, this Oregon region shines! These pinots offer a delectable balance of fruity acidity making it the perfect wine for sipping or pairing.

I hope as you sit down to your fantastic feast, whatever it may be, you take a moment to appreciate all the newness of the world! And remember: always be willing to try new things, but drink what you love!

Happy Easter!
Jacqueline Thain

Chris Isaak "Mr. Lucky"

Although over the past 20 years Chris Isaak has been a household name, the fact that this is his first release in over seven years definitely deserves our attention. Mr. Isaak has always been a Mercy favorite and his new album "Mr. Lucky" proves to be no exception. 

This time around, Isaak seems to have drawn from a wider range of musical influences rather than just honing in on one sound. Die-hard fans won't be disappointed with his soft pop melodies, but rather interested to find that he has added a hint of edginess that has bumped him from the pop genre into the rock category.

A few of my top tracks on the album include the opener "Cheater's Town" with it's nice alternative country feel, "Take My Heart" offers a rarely done country swing track to the album, and my personal favorite "Baby, Baby" features Chris Isaak's soothing vocals and tender lyrics which personify why we love him so.

My only complaint regarding this album is that it took seven years to get here. Rest assured you'll be hearing a few tracks from "Mr. Lucky" on the Mercy play list soon.

Liz Williams

Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Picture this: a tender, flavorful filet mignon followed by a dense, thick chocolate torte, you reach for your glass, and taste a heavy extract, California Cabernet Sauvignon called Earthquake.

Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon hails from the Lodi region at the northern tip of the San Joaquin Valley, just east of the San Francisco Bay. Earthquake received its name commemorating the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake which coincided with the vineyard’s initial planting.

Ok, let’s see if I can make your mouth water with this description. Imagine a bittersweet, chocolate fudge cake, in harmony with freshly roasted coffee beans, with just a hint of vanilla. Now, bite into a couple of dark, ripe cherries……yummy !

I shared a bottle of Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon with my girlfriend this week. Ladies, if you enjoy a wine with a rustic feel but with friendly, silky tannins, then you will enjoy it as much as she did.

Sample some at Mercy (Bottle $55, Glass $18) with your special someone, as it will definitely place you in the mood.

Vincent Havard

Thanks to all !

For all of you that joined us at Mercy for Valentine’s Day, I’d like to thank you for choosing us to help celebrate this holiday with your special someone. It was a special night for all of us. It was our 6th anniversary and, with your help, we set an all time sales record. Your vote of confidence in us to deliver a great experience every time you visit is something we treasure. Our people are passionate about food and wine. They love what they do and look forward to sharing that experience with you.

While some might say we have proven our viability by the test of time, we do not take this for granted ! We know that we have to prove ourselves every day and we “earn our stripes” by delivering a great experience, one guest at time. Delivering a great experience EVERY TIME is our goal. You continue to reward us with your patronage and after 6 years, breaking one sales record after another, it tells us we are doing the right thing by our guests.

The beauty of wine is that it is constantly changing and there are always new things to find. It is a constant journey of discovery. It is exciting to find new wines or discover the greatness of a new vintage and share that knowledge with our guests. We are always on the “hunt” for new wines every day and adding more gems to our list.

We have just begun the process of revamping our dining menu. We are excited that 6 years into our journey, we have continued a process of changing our menu twice a year. While many of your favorite items will remain; we are looking for new food offerings to pair with our wines to bring that new experience to you. Our spring/summer menu will be ready before May and we are excited about the direction it is taking. More to come on this!

Thank you once again for your loyalty to Mercy and know that we will continue to work hard to earn that loyalty. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at Mercy.

Glen Agritelley

Pairing Wine and Cheese

One of my favorite things to do when I am not behind the bar, is to enjoy a flight of wines that have been well-paired with a cheese tray. As much as I adore and prefer reds, I love seeing what happens to whites when they are paired correctly! This set of pairings will contain a white, a red and a fortified wine. Although you might typically prefer one style of wine over another, I highly encourage you to stretch outside of your comfort zone and try these. You might discover a new love.

This first pairing is considered ages old. The wine is Chateau de Sancerre and the cheese is a goat gouda. Sancerre is the name for both a style and a region from the Loire Valley in France. Sancerre wines are always 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Chateau de Sancerre is a winery that sits in the heart of Sancerre and is owned by Chateau Lapostolle in Chile. The wine is perfectly refreshing with subtle floral and flint qualities, the body is structured with fantastic acidity, carrying soft fruit and grass notes. A goat gouda is perfect for people who are looking to experience goat cheese for the first time or who typically don't like it. This cheese is much softer with less acidity than one often sees in a goat cheese. It is semi hard with a creamy, slightly elastic texture. The pairing of Chateau de Sancerre and a goat gouda works well because both are fairly mild with similar acidity. It is the similar accidity styles that makes for a very happy, balanced marriage between the two.

The second pairing is Taurasi Gaetano with a 6 year-old yellow cheddar from Wisconsin. Taurasi is chiefly made with Aglianico (ah-LYAH-nee-koe), a black grape originating from Greece. It is produced in province of Avellion, a region of Campania, not far from Mount Vesuvius. This wine is big and rustic with lots of tannins, very little fruit and a dry finish.The cheese is fairly strong and sharp yet strikes the perfect balance with a creamy finish. I absolutely adore this pairing. When paired, Taurasi Gaetano and the cheddar morph into something better together than either was alone. The Taurasi goes from being a big tannic bully to a full bodied supple red. The cheddar is able to stand up to it perfectly, softening the wine yet remaining present to the palate.

The third and final pairing is one of my all-time favorites and possibly doubles as my favorite dessert as well. It is Domaine de Coyeux Muscat de Beaumes de Venise with Roquefort. Pairing blue cheese and dessert wine or port is not a new concept, but sometimes unknown. It is a pairing that is always fun to introduce to people who have never experienced it before. I have converted many blue cheese or fortified wine haters with this capricious pairing. The name Domaine de Coyeux Muscat de Beaumes de Venise is a mouthful. To break it down a bit, Domaine de Coyeux is the producer, Muscat is the grape and Beaumes de Venise is a sweet-wine appellation in the south of France. I love this dessert wine because it isn't cloying and filled with overwhelming sugar. It is, however, filled with abundantly floral and apricot fragrances carrying through with touches of sweet citrus on the palate. Roquefort or 'king of blue cheese", made from sheep's milk, is complex, creamy and pungent. But where the blue could become overwhelming, the wine settles it and rounds out the flavor. This pairing is fun because the cheese manages to retain what it is outside of the wine, while still bringing balance to its partner.

I personally extend an invitation to you; whether at the bar, in the lounge, or relaxing at a table, to try one of these pairing. At Mercy Wine Bar, we would be thrilled to put together one of these pairings or we could create one of the many other possible wine and cheese trays with our outstanding selections!

Jacqueline Thain

Two Time Emmy Award Winner

I am pleased to tell you that this week we are bringing in two time Emmy award winning Josh Goode.

A little bit of background on Josh, he has been performing and playing music for well over a decade. The UT graduate has been touring for years all over the world, including Greenland, Japan, Italy, Egypt and the Caribbean Islands. He has more recently dedicated his talents to producing local artists and writing for television and film. Among his many accomplishments, his efforts have earned him two Emmy's in a two year a time span.

Josh has been playing at Mercy for over a year now and for those of you who have not had the opportunity to catch him live, this weekend would be a perfect time to start. His set list is very eclectic, mixing in his own originals as well as covering other great artists as well. His style reflects his love for blues and jazz but with a contemporary twist and pop driven hooks. His influences include but not limited to, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer, The Beatles, Jason Mraz and Led Zeppelin.

I hope to see you all this weekend and don't forget to reserve a table as this is sure to be a packed house.

Liz Williams