Though many proponents of privatizing liquor sales in PA thought that 2011 was the best opportunity for this to happen in some time, Harrisburg insiders are now saying that talks on the issue have cooled and is unlikely to happen in the near future. To quickly summarize, there are more important issues on the state docket for the rest of this year, and many feel that 2012 will be an unlikely year for the bill due to re-election for all house members. (For more info on this developing news, go here). On the other hand, Governor Corbett has finally gone public with a report on the issue (story).

Fear not, lover of wine who happens to live in this state. Many online wine shops have quietly begun shipping to Pennsylvania addresses (likely based on the 2005 Supreme Court ruling that our state’s law is illegal, even though it has never been officially changed). Though this was an absolute anomaly a few years ago, it is now somewhat easy to find wine online that can be shipped to your door.

There are drawbacks, of course. Firstly, there is no brick & mortar presence. If you need a last minute bottle, you’re certainly out of luck. If you want to have a conversation with a wine expert (not that you can currently do that in our state stores), you’re also out of luck (though some may offer it via email).

The second major issue is shipping. Shipping wine is not like shipping DVDs. It is expensive. Many sites offer shipping sales or free shipping with a large purchase (i.e. 6 bottles, $200, etc.), but that often revolves around buying the wine that is on sale or featured. If you want to seek out a specific wine, expect to pay high S&H prices or wait around and hope you catch a shipping deal.

The other problem with shipping is exposure to the elements. Wines, especially ones meant to age, do not respond well to extreme heat or cold. Though most reputable wine merchants attempt to avoid shipping during these times, UPS and/or FedEx are not as careful, so almost all wine shipments have some risk of poor handling. Your best bet is to order during the Spring and Fall when temperatures are mild, though this too requires some advance planning.

ProTip 1: Ship directly to UPS Store or FedEx/Kinkos – this way the package will not spend a lot of time in a residential truck. Especially helpful if you aren’t home to sign for it during the day.

ProTip 2: Order from East Coast vendors when you can – less time in transit.

Read on to find out where to shop…

Flash Sale Sites:

Flash sales are websites that sell a single item (or small selection of items) at a time, for a discounted price, until they sell out. These are all the rage online right now (see also), and wine has carved out a nice little niche. Sign up for emails or follow these sites on Twitter or Facebook to find out when the offers change. Most offer free shipping with a minimum purchase (2-6 bottles, depending on price).

• Last Call Wines
• Wines Till Sold Out (WTSO)
• Last Bottle Wines
• WineShopper
• Cinderella Wine
• Wired For Wine
• Bacchus Selections
• Gilt Taste

Regular Sites:

These are your typical online shops that specialize in Wine. It’s harder to come by shipping deals, although most usually have a sale of some kind at any given moment.

• Wine.com
• Zachys
• Wine Library
• Wine Access (headquarters are in Narberth, interestingly. This is actually an umbrella site that manages inventory for many smaller wine shops. Not all ship to PA, but some do. They also have an email deals newsletter that does always ship to PA)
• Pop’s Wine & Spirits ($1/bottle shipping to PA!)

Know of others? Let us know in the comments.

Note: We cannot confirm with absolute certainty that all of these vendors will ship to PA or, even if they do, that it is legal to do so (or to receive the shipment). This is merely a list that we’ve compiled through internet research (mostly by looking up the shipping policy on each site). Shop at your own risk.

Villanova’s Mixx, part of the WIN Signature Restaurant group and located in the downstairs portion of everyone’s favorite recent restaurant disaster Maia, is getting a new concept (“global small plates”), chef (Aniwat “Chay” Vadhanacha) and menu (menu available here).

For more details, check out The Latest Dish (WIN’s PR firm), Main Line Today or Philly.com.

Landor Associates image of new PLCB store in South Philly

As part of his campaign, new PA governor Tom Corbett promised to privatize liquor sales in Pennsylvania, but we’ve seen little action on this issue so far. It appears, however that this is about to change.  Last week, the movement gained a key ally when Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) announced his support for the bill (House Bill 11) originally proposed by House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, which proposes to close 625 state liquor stores and sell 1200 licenses to the highest bidder. In addition, according to the PA Independent, Corbett has just recently received a report from a Philly-based business research firm detailing the potential revenue gains from selling off the state stores (this report has yet to be made public). Lastly, the Pennsylvania think tank Commonwealth Foundation has recently launched http://freemydrink.com/ to bring more exposure to the issue.

The debate is far from over, of course. Over the summer, Senate President Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, spoke out against the bill, showing support instead for removing “handcuffs” to allow PLCB to operate more like a private business. Other state senators, including John Blake, D-Lackawanna, also remain skeptical.

So, from that standpoint, I must say that I’m quite looking forward to checking out the swank (for PLCB standards, at least) new Paoli digs, which are planned for the ACME shopping center, in the space where Blockbuster used to be. The store, which will dwarf the current cubicle that hides behind BK, will feature more than 3000 additional products. It will also have a 8-seat bar for tastings, a plethora of Chairman’s Selections (including high-end choices), a temperature-controlled room, and even a wine chiller that’ll cool any shelved bottle of wine in less than 15 minutes. And – gasp – it’ll be open on Sundays!

When will this store open? Well, that’s just the thing. Apparently it was planned for July, but is held up in Harrisburg. Shocking.

Local Cookbooks is a feature at MLD where we share a recipe from a cookbook with local ties. Have a cookbook we should consider? Let us know.

This month we’re featuring Corked & Forked by Keith Wallace, founder of The Wine School of Philadelphia, released in August 2011. As Wallace is known (previously to this book, at least) more for his drink knowledge than his cooking, one of the unique aspects of this book is that every recipe has a suggested drink pairing. Many are wine, but beers, cocktails and even coffees are also included.

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While perusing the selection one Thursday afternoon at the Great Valley Farmers Market, I was drawn towards a booth that was covered in pretty little cakes. (Somehow I leave the Farm Market with just as many baked goods as produce these days.) Not only did the cakes look tasty, they had a tasty name as well: MacDougall’s Irish Victory Cakes. The story behind these cakes is actually quite fascinating, yet I think owner Deborah Streeter Davitt does it better justice than I could (on their website):

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I recently had the opportunity to take “The Wine Foundation” course at The Wine School of Philadelphia, which is described by the school as “the only certificate program of its kind in the United States.” The course description goes on to say that “students will learn the techniques and knowledge to become extraordinary wine tasters. Graduates are able to identity major wine varietals in a blind tasting: a skill many seasoned sommeliers cannot accomplish.”

Though I was an experienced wine taster before taking the class, and thought I knew quite a bit about wine, it turns out I still had a lot to learn. This program opened my eyes to a deeper level of appreciation and understanding of the wines that I drink, and it truly did establish a foundation for lifelong learning. Though it is difficult to explain or detail what we learned in the class without sharing a few glasses of wine, here are 9 tidbits that I can share:

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New feature here at MLD, where we share a recipe from a cookbook with local ties. Have a cookbook we should consider? Let us know.

Today we’re celebrating the end of summer with The Grassfed Gourmet Fires it Up by Rita Calvert and Michael Heller (which was released in April 2011). Although the authors are based out of Maryland, the Grassfed Gourmet series (which contains one other book, by a different author) is published by Eating Fresh Publications of Haverford, PA.

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It’s been a strange couple of years for 720 Lancaster Ave. in Berwyn. For more than 10, the Berwyn Coffee Company lived here, casually and perhaps inconspicuously serving coffee and snacks to a small dining area. In 2010, however, after the departure of the coffee specialist, a tea specialist — Royal Tea House — moved in. Caffeine, in milder form.

Things started to get interesting in early 2011 with the introduction of La Petite Maison, a French bistro that opened in March, sharing the space with the tea house. Chef/Owner was Maurice deRamus, who’s worked at several area spots, including Meridith’s and A la Maison in Ardmore. Though we never made it there, the restaurant got wildly mixed reviews for both food and service, but universal confusion as to why there wasn’t a sign of any sort indicating that the restaurant even existed in the Tea Room space.

Fast forward a few months, and the Royal Tea House closes, announcing that they will be moving up the street to 682 Lancaster Ave. at the end of September (online ordering is still available). The space is vacated. Since La Petite Maison had no sign or no website, it merely disappears.

Then, all of a sudden, an onslaught of PR for the new, glitzy, high-end restaurant in the Wayne Hotel, Paramour, overtakes every food-related publication in the area. This is clearly a big-money opening — as big as we get in the ‘burbs, surely. The chef of this new venture? As if you had to guess – it’s Maurice deRamus! (Incidentally, the Paramour press release does not list La Petite Maison as part of deRamus’ experience.)

Which brings me to today. It looks like yet another restaurant is coming to this very same spot: Tiramisu, with a subhead of “Cucina Romana,” which is especially interesting when considering how close this spot is to Alfredo BYO, a popular neighborhood joint that specializes in Southern Italian cuisine (you could throw a rock), and Fellini Cafe, another popular red-sauce joint. I’ve always heard that McDonald’s and Burger King franchises actually do better when they are across the street from each other than when they are alone, so perhaps Berwyn is on its way to becoming an Italian mecca. And the idea of authentic Roman cuisine is certainly something I can get behind — especially if we can get Carbonara without cream, and guanciale instead of pancetta in both the Carbonara and the Amitriciana. How about some Fried Artichokes? Cacio e Pepe? Maybe even Coda alla Vaccinara? I’m getting excited just thinking about the possibilities.

Of course, I have no idea what Tiramisu will actually sell, or if it is even a sit-down restaurant (though I did see 7 tables through the window). All I do know is that they have a sign.

It’s a start.

Billed as “Sophisticated dining in the iconic Wayne Hotel,” Paramour will open this fall in the newly renovated space that once held Taquet. Though my first thought upon reading the headline was “Wow, this is going to be expensive,” an “affordable” menu is promised, especially in the more casual areas. Paramour will actually offer four areas for guests to dine, grab a light bite or have drinks: the outdoor veranda, with a garden-like setting and comfortable, mocha-colored rattan chairs and couches; a contemporary lobby lounge featuring high-backed cream leather chairs, ottomans and a working fireplace; a bistro bar with plush semi-circle banquettes; and a formal dining room with direct views of the chef’s bar and open kitchen.

“At Paramour, we’ve created an inviting, energetic restaurant that our guests will want to visit again. This will be the perfect place for a special-occasion meal, but also a fun spot for a cocktail or a glass of wine and a quick bite. Paramour is all about a great experience,” says Michael Giampa, Director of Restaurant Development for S.W. Bajus Ltd., owner of the Wayne Hotel since 1985 which recently completed an extensive two-year renovation to the property, including an expansion of the original restaurant space.

The menu at Paramour will feature cuisine from Chef Maurice Kim deRamus, who most recently appeared (and then quickly disappeared, apparently) at La Petite Maison in Berwyn.

In the main dining room, a black granite chef’s bar accented with nickel “penny” tiles will showcase the day’s raw bar and crudo offerings and will seat up to eight guests. Dinner items will include:  Crudo Sampler; Salt Cured Lancaster Beef; Pork Cheeks, with creamy grits and onion jam; Shaved Root Vegetable Salad, made with heirloom beets, water melon radish, bell carrots, parsnips, fennel and açai-guava dressing; Charred Himachi Collar, with young green beans, crispy rice and chili vinaigrette; and Chestnut Ravioli, filled with shredded Lola duck, chanterelles and brown butter. The dining room menu also offers a “Primal Cuts” section featuring local beef, Berkshire pork and Colorado lamb with steakhouse inspired side dishes and “Fresh Catch” a whole-baked fish, encrusted in salt, that will be filleted table-side. Menu prices will range from $9 to $38.

An all-day menu will be available in the bistro bar, lobby lounge and on the veranda. Guests may choose from a variety of dishes including shareable and small plates, entree salads, burgers and sandwiches like Kobe Beef Sliders; a large selection of made-to-order flatbreads including Salumi and Ricotta Salata; Lancaster Bacon and Truffle English Pea Pesto; Roasted Eggplant and Half Dried Tomatoes; and a selection of “Bar Bites” including Crispy Chicken Oysters with creamy cilantro dipping sauce; Devils on Horseback, Medjool dates stuffed with Gorgonzola and Lancaster bacon; and Lola Duck Meatballs with Korean Hot and Sour sauce. Prices will range from $5 to $18.

The bistro bar’s drink list will focus on wines and craft beers from the United States, as well as a list of handcrafted cocktails that will include: Lemon Basil Mojito, 10 Cane rum, mint, basil, agave nectar and limonata; Salted Plum Martini, white rum infused with Japanese salted plums, Dom de Canton Ginger Liqueur, fresh lemon sour and vanilla cotton candy garnish; and Pineapple Pisco Fizz, Capel Reservado, limoncello, egg white, pineapple and black peppercorn.

Paramour at The Wayne Hotel
139 East Lancaster Ave.
Wayne, PA
610-977-0600
http://paramourwayne.com
Twitter  |  Facebook

Hours:
Lunch: Monday – Friday, from 11:30am to 3pm
Dinner: Sunday – Thursday, from 5 to 10pm and Friday – Saturday until 11pm
An all-day dining menu will be available in the bistro bar, lobby lounge and on the veranda from 11:30 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week.
Sunday brunch will begin a few weeks after opening.

Above Image via Paramour’s Facebook Page