Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 4, 2014

8

FOOD & DRINK 

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 4, 2014 

GLORIA FERRER HITS THE SPOT

Many of you had a favorite subject in school. Many studies have said that what you are good at is 
what you liked. I love Sparkling Wine and Champagne so it gives me a great satisfaction to a wine 
that really sparkles. A quick history lesson Even though he spent most of his career trying to rid 
his Champagne of bubbles, Dom Pérignon’s pioneering techniques used to make white wine from 
red wine grapes would influence the development 
of modern sparkling Champagne. Seems that the 
wine in the monks caves often exploded, lucky 
for us Dom actually embraced the process. Once 
he got the process down his famous words were 
“Come quickly, I am drinking the stars !! We look this week towards the region of Sonoma to Gloria 
Ferrer, I have enjoyed their sparklers for years, not as common or assessable as their counterparts in 
Napa, but a truly delightful wine this Brut consists of 91% pinot noir and 9 % chardonnay. Award 
winning? You bet!! Over 400 gold medals and 90+ over 30 times in the past five years. When I see 
Gloria Ferrer on a restaurant menu especially by the glass I don’t hesitate to order it, the Brut has a 
phenomenal taste backed up by a toasty finish. In laymans terms a wonderful bubbly sensation in 
your mouth. Goes great with roasted chicken and king crab legs, now we are talking.

My recent entrée to a wine and cheese party where the guests were asked to bring a bottle of wine was 
the Gloria Ferrer 
Brut.

Dills Score


Each week I will 
give you my Dills 
Score. I have added 
points for value. 
I’m starting with a 
base of 50 points; I 
added7 points for 
color, 7 points for 
aroma or “nose”, 11 
points for taste, 9 
points for finish, and 9 points for my overall impression, which includes my value rating.

Total Score 93, retail 

Tune into Dining w/Dills Sunday 5 PM KABC Radio email Peter at thechefknows@yahoo.com


BEEF AND BRUSSEL SPROUT 
STIR FRY

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

INGREDIENTS

1/2 pound flank steak 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 

2 tablespoons peanut oil, divided 

1/2 cup beef broth or water 

1 tablespoon light brown sugar 

2 tablespoons soy sauce 

2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 

1/2 teaspoon cornstarch 

12 ounces fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved 

1 red jalapeño or red serrano pepper, sliced 

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger 

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 

Hot cooked rice 

DIRECTIONS

 

1. Cut steak diagonally across the grain into thin strips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2. Stir-fry steak, in 2 batches, in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a large cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet over high 
heat 2 to 3 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Transfer to a plate, and wipe skillet clean.

3. Whisk together beef broth and next 4 ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.

4. Stir-fry Brussels sprouts in remaining 1 Tbsp. hot oil over high heat 2 minutes or until lightly 
browned. Add jalapeño pepper, ginger, and garlic, and stir-fry 1 minute. Pour soy sauce mixture 
over Brussels sprouts, and bring mixture to a boil. Cook, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes or until 
sprouts are tender. Stir in mint and steak. Serve over rice.


SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS: 

Review By Sean Kayden

MY FIVE FAVORITE FILMS OF 2013

5. Fruitvale Station - On 
Jan 1st, 2009, in the wee hours of the night, tragedy 
struck Oakland that would forever change a city. Oscar 
Grant, 22 year-old African American, was shamelessly 
shot and killed by a transit police officer at the BART 
train station. “Fruitvale Station” is the film based on the 
last day of Grant’s life. You already know the outcome, 
but “Fruitvale Station’s” retelling of an ordinary man 
trying to do well will move you and ultimately, leave 
you shattered. Actor Michael B. Jordan gives a subtle 
yet stirring performance as Oscar. The film follows 
Grant as he tries to navigate through his laborious day. 
Everyone who comes across Oscar’s radiant personality 
is somehow, some way moved by him. He isn’t a thug. 
He isn’t a bad human being. He’s made mistakes that 
he’s paid the price for. Oscar is genuinely trying to 
improve himself for those who continually lift him 
up. “Fruitvale Station” is an undeniably small movie 
that tells a larger story of a man’s life unexpectedly 
coming to an end for really no good reason other than 
the misguided intentions of particular police officers’ 
definition of “protect and serve.” Since the audience is 
already aware of what happens in the end, the results 
are a little less painful, but nonetheless heartrending. 
While the movie surely isn’t for everyone and doesn’t 
scream typical summer escapism, “Fruitvale Station” 
stands tall as the one of the most important films of 
2013.

4. Dallas Buyers Club - 

McConaughey stars as Ron Woodruff, an electrician 
by day, a rodeo riding, drug taking, and woman loving 
homophobic man by night. Bigoted and selfish, Ron’s 
life takes a dark turn after he collapses one evening 
at home. Shocked to hear he’s been diagnosed with 
HIV and has a mere 30 days left to live, Ron doesn’t 
come to terms that he actually has the disease. After 
a night of binge drinking and drug use, Ron doesn’t 
feel the same. He starts to look into the causes of HIV 
and discovers you can contract it from other things 
aside from homosexuality. His world turns upside. 
McConaughey, weighing in at 135lbs, gives what 
should be hailed as not only his finest performance, but 
also one of the best of the year. While the film could 
have easily been an utter downer, director Jean-Marc 
Vallée finds dynamic wit and humor in the grimmest 
situations. McConaughey gives a fearless performance 
and Jared Leto’s presentation, while subtle, is intriguing 
and delicate. “Dallas Buyers Club” hits you hard in 
some scenes, but it never desperately tries to tug 
on the strings of one’s heart. However, you will feel 
something though Woodruff’s plight. It’s refreshingly 
straightforward with a pair of brave, unconventional 
performances that place them among the very best of 
the year. What “Dallas Buyers Club” is sellin’ is worth 
buyin’. 

3. The Spectacular Now - Writers Scott Neustadter 
and Michael H. Weber crafted a joyously heartfelt, 
wryly humorous, endearingly sweet coming of age 
tale that embodies the teenage human spirit. Director 
James Ponsoldt brings a deep sensitivity to the film. 
“The Spectacular Now” on the surface appears to be 
another coming of age, puppy love story, but it’s so 
much deeper than merely just that. In fact, it tackles 
a considerably darker theme that enfolds greatly in 
the third act. The film is a rare depiction on screen of 
two 18 year-old high school seniors that look and feel 
like real human beings. Sutter and Aimee’s relationship 
doesn’t seem manufactured. The mistakes they make 
feel authentic and they’re hell of a lot more confident 
on the outside than on the inside. Their story unfolds 
naturally and there’s so much beauty on display. It 
doesn’t rely on nostalgia or any artificial beats. This 
is a truly stunning portrait of what it’s like to be the 
youngest you’ll ever be. When you’re on the cusp of 
a new chapter in life, filled with both promise and 
uncertainty. “The Spectacular Now” will have you 
remembering what it was like to be young, free, and 
carrying much needed momentum. It also reassures 
you that all that can be gone in a heartbeat. Wherever 
you are in life, don’t forget that living in the now will 
prepare you in living for tomorrow, for better or worse 
that is. 

2. The Wolf of Wall Street – Leonardo DiCaprio 
and Martin Scorsese once again team up to make 
the most entertaining and high-energy film of the 
year. DiCaprio stars as real life stockbroker, Jordan 
Belfort, who ultimately throws away everything for 
his obsession with money, drugs, and power. The film, 
which is definitely a black comedy, is three hours of 
pure adrenaline. With a copious amount of drugs, 
sex, and money being thrown at you on screen, you 
almost need an intermission to catch your breath. 
Every second of this movie was spectacular. “The 
Wolf of Wall Street” has more energy and liveliness 
than other film released this year and it comes from a 
director who’s 71 years old. DiCaprio gives a brilliant, 
over-the-top performance and if this doesn’t earn him 
the Oscar this year, something just isn’t right. The film 
has a running time of 179 minutes, but never is there 
a monotonous moment to be found. It was one of the 
few films this year to have by undivided attention 
from beginning to an end. It’s riotously funny, wildly 
audacious, and undoubtedly the most fun you could 
have at the theater all year. This one actually deserves 
all the buzz and attention over the unwarranted 
acclaimed “American Hustle.” 

1. Short Term 12 - “Short Term 12” is a moving 
drama about Grace (Brie Larson), a fierce yet fragile 
twenty-something year-old supervisor at a foster-care 
facility for at-risk teenagers. In addition to navigating 
through the trouble waters at the group home, she 
is dealing with her own personal issues and difficult 
past. However, by her side is her long-term boyfriend 
and co-worker, Mason (John Gallagher Jr.). When 
a problematic teenage girl enters the facility, Grace 
is reminded of her past that she’s tried to put behind 
her. This leads to an electric connection between the 
two girls. With a subject matter that is often ominous 
and multifarious, “Short Term 12” easily finds the 
balance of drama and humor in the most unexpected 
scenarios. Destin Daniel Cretton’s second feature film 
(adapted from his own short film) supplies superb 
performances, razor-sharp writing, and stunning 
direction. “Short Term 12” is sincerely poignant and 
an exceptional movie going experience that should not 
be missed by film lovers of all ages. It’s a prime example 
of not only what independent filmmaking is truly 
all about, but also all cinema alike. It will move you, 
send chills down throughout your body, and may even 
have you shedding a tear or two. At the same token, 
it’ll toss a few laughs your way, inspire you, and have 
you leaving the theater with a smile. If that’s not a rare 
experience these days, I don’t know what it is. “Short 
Term 12” is the best American film of 2013.

*Note: At the time of writing this, I haven’t seen the 
following possible contenders from 2013: “Blue 
Jasmine,” “Gravity,” “Her,” “All is Lost,” “Nebraska,” and 
“Inside Lleywn Davis.”