CorkRules - Episodes | Bungalow Kitchen

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About this Episode

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at a Long Beach hotspot, Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina. This restaurant offers a welcoming vibe combined with great food and a bohemian design where guests can drop in for a bite, meet for lunch and stay for dinner and wine. The ethos here is live long, love life, and get together with good friends for good times.

Wines reviewed include:

Rose Poe Vander Kamp, Sonoma
2013 Bond Quella, Napa
2017 Chinon Cabernet Franc, Le Rochete des Violettes, Loire Valley

Transcript: Bungalow Kitchen

Bungalow Kitchen

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace, it’s great to have you!

GH: Hey hey Robert! Just another day to talk about wine!

RT : hahah totally Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well… it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Today Grace and I will be reviewing Michael Mina’s Long Beach hot spot – Bungalow Kitchen. Grace, what are your initial thoughts?

GH: I am digging the vibe of this place! The menu looks really elevated but the ambiance is totally laid back casual coastal chic. That’s what SoCal is all about baby!

RT: Very cool – how is their wine list looking?

GH: Well on first glance, I notice that it’s done totally in alphabetical order! Which is pretty unique. Usually, wine lists are organized by country or style, but this one is alphabetical, so it’s pretty fun to read! And they have lots of different styles and price points, so it’ll be a pretty unique list to review

RT: Awesome! Is champagne still at the front of the menu though?

GH: Always Robert! Hahah! They’ve got a really lovely selection of smaller producers from Champagne – Chartogne Taillet or Egly ouriet would be my picks. Or if you wanted a domestic sparkling, I would go with the Rose Poe Vander Kamp from Sonoma.

RT: Love giving our listeners domestic and international options. How are they looking in whites? If we’re starting at the top of the alphabet…hmmmm….would it be Albarino?

GH: Ding ding ding!! 10 points for gryffindor! Circle gets the square! Hahah! Another correct answer would have been Assyrtiko, which they have as well. Since it's a California-centric restaurant they have lots of Chardonnay on the menu too. The one that stuck out to me was the Bien Nacido vineyard from the Santa Maria valley, or the sandhi also from the central coast.

RT: Awesome. Any noteworthy rose’s to try?

GH: yes actually! They have one of my favorite effervescent roses – Txakolina from the Ametzoi vineyard in the Basque region of Spain

RT: Oh yes, I remember you mentioning your love of Tkazolina. Sounds perfect for a coastal California meal. Now they must have some killer reds too….

GH: Oh they absolutely do. Want to guess what might be alphabetically at the top of the red list?

RT: Hmmmm….. Aglianico?

GH: That was my guess too! But no it’s a very small production indigenous varietal from Greece called (and I might butcher this pronunciation) Agiorgitikio. But right under that they have Barbera which would have been my second guess!

RT: Oh, wow I’ve never even heard of that Grecian grape. Always learning something new here on CorkRules. The real question is – how many California cabernets do they have haha

GH: The answer – a lot!! Haha but the one that interests me the most is definitely the 2013 Bond Quella from Napa

RT : Oh that’s a great bottle. I’ll get the decanter ready

GH: haha totally! If Cabernet isn’t your jam, then you could also go with a 1993 Chateauneuf de Pape, or a 2000 Barolo riserva from Massolino. And for my fellow pinot noir lovers out there, they have a 2008 Brewer Clifton from Santa Rita Hills

RT : Love those choices. All different but all delicious. Now what about some value bottles on the bungalow kitchen list? I’m sure they have some great options for our listeners on a budget

GH: They sure do Robert – for a White, I would go with the 2018 Muscadet from Melon Marc Bredif, and for a red, you could do out of the Loire valley

RT: Amazing. And then what if you were looking to splurge on a bottle?

GH: Well they have a 1988 champagne from Jacquart le Cuvee Nominee. And then if wanted to go big on a red. Gotta be the 2000 Lynch Bages from Pauillac Bordeaux. I’ll take both please and thank you hahah

RT: I love it – Grace, thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at The Bungalow Kitchen. To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules. If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. Follow us on social media @CorkRules and @wineswithgrace

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End