OH! OH! OH! MOCool!

I say multiple Os are always a good thing!

CABIN NEWS:
Everyone who requested cabin space should have received an email from Clay. There is no waiting list, at this time (which is due to Clay's masterful juggling). Saturday evening is completely booked. Please contact Clay via the MoCool page if you put in a request and have not heard, or wish to be on a waiting list.

http://www.mocool.org

For those staying at the Whitmore Lakes Best Western we will provide information to arrange transportation.

IF you haven't signed up for MoCool yet, you WANT to..trust me. Everyone needs The Big O!

JB

It is possible that there is still some room in Cabin 2. So if you are interested, or won't come unless you get cabin space, please contact Clay. I suspect the open space won't last long.

Hey Ol' Willy, I'm in cabin #2, so look forward to seeing you there. I can regale you with stories of big bass in the U.P. when we are there in the last 2 weeks of July.

I just signed up at the OCool website and have picked out my wine... I guess I am ready to go

Attaboy! The middle child always tries harder!

JB-N

CABIN SPACE !!

Clay, the Cabin Czar, has informed me that due to a couple of recent cancellations, there is space available. Their misfortune, is your good luck! The setting is so beautiful and tranquil. When you're not stopping by for the impromptu wine tasting, you can grab your fishing pole (and a glass of wine) and go for the big one , walk in the woods (with a glass of wine), or just relax on the deck...you know someone will come along and fill your glass!

Email Clay NOW!

clay@chatermi.net

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

If you have signed up to go to MoCool (and I can't imagine why you haven't) we would appreciate your help!

As the old saying goes "Many hands make work light", this is so true of MoCool. The difference is, chores are usually rewarded with something pleasant in the glass!

Please let me know if you are willing to come around 10:00 on Saturday to:
Put up chairs and tables
Cover tables
Hang Signs
Get ice
Help with kitchen prep.

After the event..Sunday (as soon as your head is clear) come out and:
Help clean the main lodge
Take down chairs and tables
round up the trash
box glasses
bag up leftovers

Anyone coming in Thursday and Friday who'd like to help pick up last minute items, and do kitchen prep work, would be most welcome!

Let me know via this thread, PM, my email or go to
http://WWW.Mocool.org and let me know

Thanks!
Can't wait!
JB

Julia,

Cindy and I will certainly help on Saturday and Sunday. Not sure of our arrival time on Friday yet so can't commit there.

Okay - I'll help out. I wasn't going to, because I was just planning on drinking wine and eating, but, okay, I'll help out.

Okay - I'll help out. I wasn't going to, because I was just planning on drinking wine and eating, but, okay, I'll help out.

Yeah, sure, Howie..we all know what a slacker you are!

Thanks, dear!
JB

Julia,

Cindy and I will certainly help on Saturday and Sunday. Not su re of our arrival time on Friday yet so can't commit there.

Thanks Mike and Cindy! .ike, you're on my list..er..the "good one" this time!

JB

WOW! Another great MoCool has come and gone. Cindy and I had a wonderful time reconnecting with the gang, drinking, eating..... A very large thank you to the folks that organize and execute this event year after year..... I know it takes a lot to pull it off and want you folks to know that we appreciate your efforts. Kudos to Sally, Joel, Clay, Jay, Guido, and their assistants with Special Mention to Chef Kerr and the kitchen crew! If I missed anyone, my apologies....still a little foggy from the weekend.

Already have the calendar marked for next year!

It was indeed a wonderful weekend! And I second all of Mike's kudos. The appetizers and dinner were fantastic, not to mention the wonderful wines, all weekend long. I didn't take notes, but one of my favorite wines was the '97 LaLagune and a disappointment was the '05 Margeaux that I brought (all tannin and not a very long finish). Once again, thanks to all who made it happen. Next year will be the 20th annual.

It was indeed a wonderful weekend! And I second all of Mike's kudos. The appetizers and dinner were fantastic, not to mention the wonderful wines, all weekend long. I didn't take notes, but one of my favorite wines was the '97 LaLagune and a disappointment was the '05 Margeaux that I brought (all tannin and not a very long finish). Once again, thanks to all who made it happen. Next year will be the 20th annual.

Howie,
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that your Margaux was just opened too young. I mean 5 years is a short time for a Margaux.

I too had a whopping good time as I do every year. 2010 was year 19 of the festival, and I've attended the last 14. I would be very hard pressed to pick out my favorite year, they are all so good. The opportunity to meet up with friends like the Goldberg's, Baldwin's, Guimond's, and the Johnson's, to mention only the local organizer crew is not to be missed if at all possible.. Then there are those who come anywhere from only a few miles, to many hundreds of miles whom are too numerous to name, IMO the people are what Mo'Cool is about. Yes, the wine and the food is stupendous, but it's the people! Some of us come up on Thursday of Mo'Cool, And I would be seriously remiss if I didn't take care to mention the Noland Brothers and their Food and wine on The arrival date. I mean who can argue with Bob's mussels in a steamed milk/cream bath, (and other ingredients) served with muscadet. Then there was Tom's rendition of whitefish lightly browned, then coated with a pistachio crust and baked, and too many great wines to even recall, that accompanied. Then, not to be outdone by his brothers 1,& 2 number 3 (James) grilled venison backstrap to perfection, and out came the reds! Now, I call that a great kickoff to Mo'Cool! It was great to see all my friends again this year, and I also want to say that it would not have been as good had Katherine Shensky decided not to come. She has been there so many years, and this has been a tough year for her, so I was very pleased that she did come.

Sounds like most of us missed a real treat. Bob, did you Marsanne it?!

What a fabulous weekend!! Piling on the praise for the Founding Fathers & Mothers: Jay and Cindy Baldwin, Joel and Sally Goldberg, Clay and Cindy Johnson, Mary and Dave Guimond plus the help of worker bees BobH, the Noland Brothers, and OW Holmes; each contributed much time and legwork to make this a stellar event.

Now about that picnic...OMG!! The standing ovation that Chef Alan Kerr received was well deserved. After becoming totally and happily sated with appetizers of chorizo sopes with tomatillo salsa, portobello and prosciutto flat breads, chilled gazpacho shots, artichoke and goat cheese bruschetta, shrimp lollypops with almond pesto, "Goat Roti" Mildly spiced Trinidadian goat curry with Naan bread, grilled chicken satey with peanut sauce, artichoke and goat cheese bruschetta ,Vietnamese pork and crab spring rolls with spicy chili dip,Croustade of duck breast with morel mushroom sauce and an assortment of heavenly cheeses and dips...yes, you read correctly..those were the APPETIZERS! How could he possibly top that?? With the entree' of lamb osso bucco and porcini mushroom risotto, and assorted salads. Knee-buckling fantastic!! I'm swooning at the memory. Of course the assortment of sinful pastries and desserts could not be neglected. Many of the attendees have remarked that even if one did not partake of the vast array of wines, the food alone is worth coming to MoCool!

As others have remarked, as phenomenal as the cuisine is, the real draw is the people. I'd mention those I look forward to seeing each year, but the list is growing out of proportion to name here. However,I will say, sleeping with the Noland Brothers is one of the best parts of my weekend. We had a blast..thanks gentlemen!

For those of you who have not attended a MoCool, I suggest you mark the second and third weekend of your August 2011 calendar to be safe. There will be a MoCool next year and it will be the 20th Anniversary gala !. The date has not yet been confirmed, but should be announced in a few months. I wouldn't miss this one for the world!!

Cheers!
JuliaB

Sounds like most of us missed a real treat. Bob, did you Marsanne it?!

Bob, there were so many "on theme" wines that I decided that a marsanne was not required. (save them for me?) : For the Thursday event though I did bring an "off theme" wine as I \felt it really needed to be drank, and since it was a 1.5, I needed help in drinking it. I took no notes (I seldom do) so this is only a recollection. The wine was a 1999 Ch. Woltner Howell Mountain chardonnay. I purchased a few of these several years ago when Ladera bought the Woltner winery and closed them out at as I recall $25 per. I was worried that it would be far gone, but, while it was not apoint, it was no where about to turn up it's toes either.

Bob, if your friends who are coming the equestrian event here in Lexington would contact me, I would be happy to give them a few bottles of the marsanne to carry home to you. Let me know. I will email with contact information should you accept my offer.

Sounds like most of us missed a real treat. Bob, did you Marsanne it?!

Bob, there were so many "on theme" wines that I decided that a marsanne was not required. (save them for me?) : For the Thursday event though I did bring an "off theme" wine as I \felt it really needed to be drank, and since it was a 1.5, I needed help in drinking it. I took no notes (I seldom do) so this is only a recollection. The wine was a 1999 Ch. Woltner Howell Mountain chardonnay. I purchased a few of these several years ago when Ladera bought the Woltner winery and closed them out at as I recall $25 per. I was worried that it would be far gone, but, while it was not apoint, it was no where about to turn up it's toes either.

Bob, if your friends who are coming the equestrian event here in Lexington would contact me, I would be happy to give them a few bottles of the marsanne to carry home to you. Let me know. I will email with contact information should you accept my offer.

Wow, a tremendous offer, thanks. I will pass message on!

the real draw is the people. JuliaB

I agree with you, a stellar event with really great people.

Unfortunately there was some sadness this year... I seen lots of drunken mosquito's fly head on into a tree and many more had an untimely death underneath a quick hand. You were right Julia, the real draw was the people

Now that I've regenerated some of those lost brain cells, I remembered that I wanted to mention a new highlight of MoCool..THE WATER! George McAtee brought his artesian spring water to pour for the crowd as needed between wine tastings. For those who think "water shmater, it's all the same." WRONG! This was great tasting water! What a treat to refresh the palate with pure, unadulterated H2O. (Sans plastic bottle litter). Just another reason that MoCool is mo' and mo' cool every year!

You can read about McAtee's water in an article Joel Goldberg wrote for the Ann Arbor Chronicle:
http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/03/06/column-arbor-vinous-17/


JB
No, I am not affiliated with this business in any way; but thanks for asking.

C'mon. Water TNs are fine but I'm surprised not a bit more chatter about the wine. Oh, that's right, "it's about the people".

. Oh, that's right, "it's about the people".

Well, Winger, if you came we wouldn't say "it's about the people"!
One of my favorite Friday night wine was OW's Musar Rouge 95(?) Are you listening, Otto? It was all funky barnyard and layers of plums and dried red fruit. Happily, at the picnic, the Altesimo Brunello di Montalicino Vendemmia '03 that I brought was a nose-in-the-glass party! Lovely lush fruit that kept on giving. Chef Kerr posted some nice pics of the wines on FaceBook...read 'em and weep! Next year, why don't you join us!?


JB

C'mon. Water TNs are fine but I'm surprised not a bit more chatter about the wine. Oh, that's right, "it's about the people".

Another wine of note that OW also brought was served at the picnic on Saturday. Fleur de Pingus, I did not catch the vintage, but this Ribera del Duero gem had an expressive nose of red fruit and a touch of tar, a silky smooth midpalate of red berry fruit and acidity that ended with a long, luxurious finish. This was what I call a seamless wine that has no flaws and just keeps on going . Probably the best tempranillo I have ever had and definitely one of my top 3 wines of the entire weekend.