Somm News: Michael Muser

As you may or may not know, I am currently attending the International Sommelier Guild (ISG).  I just received news that the former ISG student and current Wine Director of The Peninsula in Chicago, Michael Muser, was just named as the "BEST SOMMELIER" in the 2011 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence. 

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February 2, 2012

THE PENINSULA CHICAGO'S WINE DIRECTOR MICHAEL MUSER IS NAMED "BEST SOMMELIER" IN THE 2011 JEAN BANCHET AWARDS FOR CULINARY EXCELLENCE

 

The Peninsula Chicago's Wine Director Michael Muser is named "Best Sommelier" in the 2011 Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence.  The winners were announced at the 15^th annual Grand Chefs Gala on January 27, 2012.  In an effort to raise funds for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the gala showcased a diverse collection of award-winning culinary artists who each prepared and presented a signature dish for over 750 guests.  Every year during this event, the Jean Banchet Awards are formally announced.

The Jean Banchet Awards is the only Chicago-based awards program that recognizes culinary originality and talent.  Forty four chefs, sommeliers, mixologists, restaurants and catering companies competed to be named the best in each respective category for the 2011 awards.  The winners were selected by participating and nominated chefs and industry experts by secret ballot.

Michael Muser joined The Peninsula Chicago in 2006 and serves as the Wine Director and Sommelier for the hotel's four venues: Shanghai Terrace, The Lobby, Pierrot Gourmet and The Bar.  He also oversees the wine program for catering functions and private events. Prior to that, he worked for Lettuce Entertain You as Sommelier and Wine Director for three of the company's restaurants: Ambria, Mon Ami Gabi, and Café Ba Ba Reeba.  While at Lettuce Entertain You, he was also responsible for creating all wine lists for restaurants in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Maryland.  Previously, Muser was Sommelier at Frasca Hospitality Group in Chicago.

After graduating from Northern California State University, where he majored in history and theatre arts, Muser studied with the International Sommelier Guild (ISG), the only formal credentialed wine program in the United States.  He then spent time traveling throughout Europe, specifically the regions of Burgundy, Champagne, Tuscany and Piedmont, working harvest and learning the fundamentals of wine first-hand before returning to Chicago to finish his last two years of training with the ISG.  Muser is now the only instructor in Chicago for the ISG.

The Peninsula Chicago was named the Number One Large City Hotel in the US and Canada by Travel + Leisure's Reader's Survey, August 2011 and Number Two Hotel in the United States in Condé Nast Traveler's annual Reader's Choice Awards, November 2010. The hotel is located on the "Magnificent Mile" at 108 East Superior Street (at Michigan Avenue), within the city's premier shopping district. The 339 guestroom hotel opened in 2001 and features three distinctive restaurants, a popular bar and a world-class spa. For information on The Peninsula Chicago, please visit www.peninsula.com/chicago.

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Congratulations and great work!  It gives me great inspiration in my quest.

Nova Restaurant - New Menu!

Just want to say thank you and congratulations to the team over at Nova Restaurant in Oak Cliff on their new menus.  It was a pleasure working with your team on the re-designs!  The menus look great and I'm hopeful that they truly help your beverage program turn up the sales!

Pay them a visit and have a drink!

Nova Restaurant

1417 W Davis Street

Oak Cliff, TX 75208

214.484.7123

Menus:

Somm Film

There was a great post on CraveDFW.com today about a new feature film that is based on the Master Sommelier Diploma test.  This is definitely one of the hardest tests in the world.  Only 170 sommelier's have gone on to pass the Master's test.  I, for one, am extremely excited to see this film upon it's release.

Here is a link to the story from CraveDFW.com

Here is more info on the Court of Master Sommeliers

1/17/12 - Local Tasting and Bottle Signing (repost)

Lewis Cellars

Wine Tasting & Bottle Signing

featuring - Randy Lewis, Founder

Sigel's-Greenville (5757 Greenville Avenue) - Tuesday, January 17^th5-7pm

Join us at Sigel's-Greenville on Tuesday, January 17^th from 5-7pm as we welcome ex Indy-car driver Randy Lewis for his first in-store tasting in over a decade. Randy will lead us through a tasting of his 2009 Cabernet and his Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc releases from the 2010 vintage. For more information about this free tasting please contact David Waddington or Ben Coyle at store01wine@sigels.com or 214/739-4012. Special discounts on all Lewis Cellars wines will be available after the tasting.

Click here to RSVP    

Wines to be tasted:

• Sauvignon Blanc Napa 10
• Chardonnay Sonoma 10
• Chardonnay Napa 10
• Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

Cheers!

Welcome 2012!

The New Year is here!  I hope that you all had a safe and exciting celebration!

We spent NYE in Austin this year and attended a 5 course dinner at Contigo.  It was fantastic.  We also picked up a few bottles of Austin's Argus Cidery's latest offering - Cameo.  We have yet to pop the cork, but I am told that it is a sparkling cider made with Texas apples that has been vinified to dry.  I can't wait to give it a run and will write an update right when I do.

More info here:

http://www.arguscidery.com/

Thanks again for your attention over the past year - 2012 is shaping up to be an exciting year already!  I have been working on a project that should go live within the next few weeks, so stay tuned!