An update, and Dara's Top 10 blurb from today's City Pages Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 11:03:54 -0600 From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> To: wine(a)thebarn.com Subject: [wine] Merlot at JP's, NY Resolutions Happy New Year one and all. Merlot be da grape, JP's be da place. Thursday at 6:30. Been a while since we've been to JPs. Merlot tastings have been particularily good. I suppose it's easier to find the nuggets when looking in a shallow pool. Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 11:00:22 -0500 From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> To: wine(a)thebarn.com Call Bob (612-672-0607), e-mail the list (wine(a)thebarn.com) or reply to me. A big thanks to those of us who made their intentions known. Merlot based wines from anywhere at JP's Bistro on Thursday, 6:30. 5 yes's. Several no's (thanks all around) Bob Russ/Sue Jeff Jim Guesses. Annette Lori Ruth Joyce Nicolai/Karin JP's American Bistro 2937 S. Lyndale 55408 (612) 824-9300 Cheers, Jim jP American Bistro It was a summer night, the sun was setting, and the sky above Lyndale Avenue was a flamingo and sapphire riot, and we sipped bubbly wine while watching the oh-so Lake-and-Lyndale passers-by: the gossip boys with their little dogs, the motorcycle men on their rumbling hogs, the punk-rock girls upon their clunky clogs. It was a lovely summer night, like so many, and I remember it only because of the head-turning shock of what arrived on the plate at our outdoor table: A salmon entree of such enchanting subtleness that the whole street crowd should have paused to gather round and point. The salmon in question seemed raw, through it wasn't. It was low-temperature olive-oil poached until it was firm as custard and twice as creamy, then paired with a ripe avocado, roasted until it was black on one exposed surface and plush as clouds. The two rich, creamy things were united with a vinaigrette of preserved lemons, decorated with grass-green chive oil, and further adorned with teensy perfect cubes of marinated shallot and preserved lemon peel. Every bite captured the easy joy of summer, and it was the rare dish that could make an everyday day one whose memory I'll keep for a lifetime. jP American Bistro, 2937 Lyndale Ave. S.; Minneapolis, 612.824.9300; www.jpamericanbistro.com