See you tonight!

Cafe di Scala Isn't Charging a Corkage Fee on Thursdays in February.

Cafe di Scala is proud to offer three new Barolo's from Italy's Piedmonte region.

At the café, we like to find as many unique Italian wines as we possibly can so that you can have an experience like nowhere else in Iowa. We offer almost 100 wines on our reserve list and pour 14 by the glass. Every couple months or so, we like to add a few fresh bottles to our reserve list.

We know our Italian wines. We’re immensely proud of our by the glass selections, but our wine list won awards of distinction from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast magazines for a reason.  Take the time to ask your server for a good recommendation from our reserve list, and they’ll find something that can appeal to your palate or pair with your food. There are over 20,000 grape varietals in Italy… We’ve only just begun!!

Below is a look at some of the bottles that we added in February with some tasting notes. We hope to see you soon!

We have one new addition to the white wine reserve list and the rest are reds.

CHARDONNAY Umbria IGT – “Cervaro“ Castello della Sala 2009

Yellow gold color with medium forming legs and aromas of grapefruit and apple. It’s balanced and has flavours of grapefruit, pineapple, melon and lemon with a light/medium body. Bright texture with a long finish – I am not a great fan of whites but for every rule…..excellent, full flavored but subtle and bright. the Grechetto adds much diminution to the Chardonnay. Wonderful blend!

RIBOLLA GIALLA  Colli Orientali DOC -  “Rosazzo” – Le Vigne di Zamo – 2009

Zamò’s Ribolla Gialla (yellow ribolla) gives a definite textural impression, probably due to the skin contact involved in the wine’s vinification. Very complex notes of lemongrass and fennel with bracing acidity. Ribolla’s fame goes back to written documents in 1289, when even then the wine was celebrated for its quality. Now Ribolla Gialla accounts for only about 1% of vineyard area in Friuli and neighboring Slovenia. About 16,000 bottles produced.

AGLIANICO Taurasi DOCG “Terre del Vulcano” – Lava – 2003

From Aglianico grape variety. Really dark yet youthful color for a 6 year old wine. Blackberry, minerals, this wine tastes like a volcano with hints of cedar, smoke, leather, dust. In the mouth perfectly balanced with great depth and complexity. Very long, rich, subtle, textural finish.

GAGLIOPPO Ciro Rosso DOC – “Liber Pater” –Ippolito 1845  – 2009

The power and elegance of Gaglioppo, a native grape of Calabria, have found concrete expression in this wine. Characteristics: ruby red with purple hues, the nose is intense and persistent with hints of berry fruits supported by hints of spice. With very fine tannins, the palate is full bodied, velvety, well-structured. Tips: red body, it goes well with red meats, cheeses and pasta dishes well seasoned cheeses.

THREE NEW BAROLO’S!

Vietti's Barollo Castiglione

Found this interesting piece of Piedmont wine history on CellarTracker.com:

The wines of Piemonte are noted as far back as Pliny’s Natural History. Due to geographic and political isolation, Piemonte was without a natural port for most of its history, which made exportation treacherous and expensive. This left the Piemontese with little incentive to expand production. Sixteenth-century records show a mere 14% of the Bassa Langa under vine — most of that low-lying and farmed polyculturally. In the nineteenth century the Marchesa Falletti, a frenchwoman by birth, brought eonologist Louis Oudart from Champagne to create the first dry wines in Piemonte. Along with work in experimental vineyards at Castello Grinzane conducted by Camilo Cavour — later Conte di Cavour, leader of the Risorgimento and first Prime Minister of Italy — this was the birth of modern wine in the Piemonte. At the heart of the region and her reputation are Alba and the Langhe Hills. This series of weathered outcroppings south of the Tanaro River is of maritime origin and composed mainly of limestone, sand and clay, known as terra bianca. In these soils -located mainly around the towns of Barolo and Barbaresco — the ancient allobrogica, now Nebbiolo, achieves its renowned fineness and power.

BAROLO DOCG – “Castiglione”  – Vietti – 2007

The 2007 Barolo Castiglione deftly balances the open, radiant personality of the vintage with considerable underlying structure. Warm, dense and full-bodied, the 2007 Barolo Castiglione flows effortlessly across the palate with generous fruit and fabulous overall balance. It is another overachieving wine from Vietti and a bottle that is exceedingly fairly priced.

BAROLO DOCG “Cannubbio” – Francesco Rinaldi & Figli  – 2005 and 2007

Nebbiolo Prima shows liquory red fruits, sweet but nor fruity, a bit floral some herbal notes, broad with a nice mineral freshness, acids are integrated but really help freshen the palate, nice wild amarena cherry fruit, rosehips, sandalwood, nicely fresh and aromatic in the mouth, nice ripe tannins, good length, nice fruit on finale.

BAROLO DOCG –“Brunate” -  Andrea Oberto – 2007

Full garnet in color with delicate orange highlights. Wide, clean but complex aroma with scents of dried flowers and red berries. Well-integrated oak with toasty notes of coffee and leather linger in a perfect balance between elegant body and concentration.

FOUR NEW NERO D’AVOLA AND NERO D’AVOLA BLENDS

From the foothills of Mt. Etna in Sicily, Graci's Etna Rosso

NERO D’AVOLA Sicilia IGT  ”Rossojbleo” -  Gulfi – 2010

Grapes: 100% Nero d’Avola. Young red, minor structure, which intends to propose a particularly approachable Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s south-east, while retaining the full expression of varietal and territorial identity. It also lends itself to the combination with appetizers and meats and fish dishes with a slightly aromatic seasoning. Finally, the intriguing pairing “Autumn” with chestnuts roasted on the grill. Recommended serving temperature between 14 and 16 degrees.

NERO D’AVOLA/FRAPPATO BLEND Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG – Gulfi – 2010

Tony’s Favorite!! Cerasuolo di Vittoria is an Italian wine DOCG of Sicily, covering the intensely colored red wines from the eastern end of the island’s south coast. Introduced in September 2005, it was the very first DOCG in Sicily, having also been one of the first DOCs on the island when it was granted that status back in 1973. The quality of Cerasuolo di Vittoria wine showed marked improvement during the 1980s and 1990s, hence the promotion in 2005, and it is now the most consistent showcase of modern Sicilian wine. 60% Nero D’Avola and 40% Frappato.

NERO D’AVOLA Etna Rosso DOC- Graci- 2009

From the heels of Mt. Etna, Graci’s Etna Rosso is a wine that is incredibly aromatic with scents of wild herbs and barley and an abundance of dried cranberries. The palate is as unique and expressive as the aroma. First you will find smoke with a flinty mineral quality followed immediately by layers of pomegranate, overripe cherry, and cranberry blended with subtle arid spices of paprika and white pepper. This is a gorgeous red with a split personality: on the one hand it’s very expressive, but it’s also refined and almost elegant at the same time. It may sound like such a simple thing for a wine to be enjoyable, but it’s much harder to accomplish than you might think.

NERO D’AVOLA AND FRAPPATO BLEND Sicilia IGT – Daino Azienda Agricola

100% organic/biodynamic Nero D’Avola. Herbal on the nose. The palate is flush, full and very rich. Balanced though. Sweet raisin on the nose. Named after cork oak, Nero d’Avola with a clone called Frappato, and a touch of something else that resembles Grenache. This could technically be DOCG but right now, with 800 cases being the total production, its not there…yet.

BRUNELLO: Sangiovese Grosso  (Brunello)  Brunello di Montalcino DOCG   – Conti Costani – 2006

This pure Sangiovese is fermented in stainless steel with 3 weeks’ skin maceration, then aged 18 months in tonneaux of French oak and another 18 months in 30-hl. Slavonian oak barrels, previous to a year’s bottle age (totaling 3 years in wood, 1 in bottle). Brilliant ruby in color, intense, ripe aromas of berry fruit prelude a lush, full-bodied palate.

Starting Wednesday February 1st, through Friday February 10th, visit Boesen.com and download theirFREE FloralApp™ for your smartphone.  With that download, your name is entered in a drawing to win an amazing Valentine’s Day prize package valued at over $450!

This package includes:

• One dozen gorgeous, long-stem red roses from Boesen the Florist;
• Dinner for two at the charming Café di Scala;
• An overnight stay in a suite at the beautiful Suites of 800 Locust!

You can have the roses delivered to your sweetheart anywhere in central Iowa on Valentine’s Day, and then get ready for a wonderful weekend!

A table for two is reserved at Café di Scalafor 7:00 pm on Saturday February 18th,where you’ll be able to share a gourmet meal and the best wine in Des Moines.

Suites of 800 Locust will have a private whirlpool suite ready for your arrival.  This dreamy suite includes a whirlpool tub and wet bar for your enjoyment and relaxation, plus a full made-to-order hot breakfast in the morning.

With a fantastic, romantic Valentine’s Day Getaway package like this one, you’re bound to want better odds of winning!

Once you download the Free FloralApp™ and get your first entry to the drawing, be sure to use your new FloralApp™ to send flowers and gifts to everyone on your Valentine’s Day list – your mother, sister, daughter, mother-in-law, cousin – and get an additional drawing entry for EACH order made with your FloralApp™!

Everyone wins and YOU look like Superman!

*The winner will be notified by phone and email on February 12th, with an announcement on February 13th through Twitter, Facebook, and a blog post on FlowersDesMoines.com.

Reservations have been made for 7:00 pm, February 18th at Café di Scala and The Suites of 800 Locust, but the flowers can be delivered ON Valentine’s Day or picked up by the winner and delivered personally.

Thank you! And GOOD LUCK!!

Now, CLICK HERE to go to the FLORAL APP DOWNLOAD PAGE!

Whether your wrapping up a round of golf or finishing raking the leaves you thought you could put off until April, we’d love for you to join us. We have a few spectacular menus to savor after a day of basking in the February sun.

Scala Sunday Beatles Brunch. Get a jump start to your Super Sunday….

For The Love of Food
Grab a lover, grab a date, or grab a group of friends and experience Chef Phil and Tony’s five-course offering on Valanetines Day. Tony will be visiting the wine cellar and pulling out a few bottles of reserves to offer by the glass and serenade your palate a step further. Here’s the menu:

No Corkage Thursdays (In February)
Grab that special bottle of vino and head over the Cafe on a Thursday evening. Chef Phil Shires always runs a couple extra features on these laid back evenings..

Cheerios!

Tony and Scala Staff

P.S. Please continue the conversation with us by “liking” us on our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/cafediscala

Here’s the menu… See you Sunday!

I hope you’re having a January. We are too. Okay, glad we had this talk. Just a couple of things to remind you about…

First, we’re bringing back No Corkage Fee Thursdays starting tonight and every Thursday in February. You’re welcome. Tell your

In February, We're Bringing Back No Corkage Fee Thursdays!

best friends and even your not-so-best-friends that you just enjoy having around. Today we’re running a contest on Twitter and Facebook where we’re asking people to either retweet, share, commend on or “like” the post and we’ll enter you in a drawing to win a $30 Scala gift card. So there’s that,  right?

Second, our Beatles Brunch is happening Sunday, February 5th. Reservations: 515-244-1353.

Thirdly (is “thirdly” even a word? I really should think about hiring a copywriter), Cityview Magazine’s “Food Dude” Jim Duncan had some nice words to say about us in his column this week:

The top local food trend in 2011 was expanded hours. Restaurants, grocers, even farmers’ markets added hours and days of operation. On paper, that made sense — you have to work harder to make ends meet in a stagnant economy, right? Certainly if you’re trying to qualify for a bank loan in this era of tight-assed, formulaic diligence. That got me thinking, what if Tony Lemmo took his 2005 business plan for Café di Scala to a banker today. The latter would probably gather his colleagues for a good laugh. “This guy wants to borrow money to buy a 19th century restaurant, without a parking lot, and he’s only going to be open three nights a week.”

Jim’s a real sweetheart. You can read the full column here.

Finally, don’t forget to get your reservations in for Valentine’s Day. We’re almost full. Call us at 515-244-1353.

Smooches!

Tony and Bob want you to win a fabulous prize today.

Please Vote for Chef Phil Shires!

We usually don’t like to toot our own horn too often, but once per year, Des Moines Cityview Magazine does it’s annual “Best of Des Moines” competition and occasionally we liked to be liked. Last year, we were fortunate enough to win “Best Wait Staff” and earn the distinction of Runner-Up for such prestigious categories as “Best Chef” and “Best Restaurant.” This year, we’d like to win the “Best Restaurant” and “Best Chef” competition. Please take a minute of your day today to vote for Cafe di Scala for “Best Restaurant,” “Best Wait Staff” and Chef Phil Shires as “Best Chef” if you feel we deserve this honor. Please click on the logo below to vote or click here.

Tony and Phil Want You to Try Our Beatles Brunch

Dear Friends,

We welcome in the new year with promises of a new beginning — a fresh start on all that we wish to become and gratitude for all that we are. We hope you can welcome in the new year by joining your friends at our cafe with some hand crafted Calabrese-style cuisine, a glass of wine and a promise of renewed friendship.

BEATLES BRUNCH: Join us this Sunday, January 8th from 10am-2pm for our monthly Beatles Brunch. Reservations are recommended by calling us at 515-244-1353. View the menu here (the link to the brunch menu is in the first paragrah).

CITYVIEW “BEST OF DES MOINES:” We usually don’t like to toot our own horn too often, but once per year, Des Moines Cityview Magazine does it’s annual “Best of Des Moines” competition and occasionally we liked to be liked. Last year, we were fortunate enough to win “Best Wait Staff” and earn the distinction of Runner-Up for such prestigious categories as “Best Chef” and “Best Restaurant.” This year, we’d like to win the “Best Restaurant” and “Best Chef” competition. Please take a minute of your day today to vote for Cafe di Scala for “Best Restaurant,” “Best Wait Staff” and Chef Phil Shires as “Best Chef” if you feel we deserve this honor. Please click on the logo below to vote or click here.

VALENTINES DAY: Keep an eye out for our Valentine’s Day menu which will be posted in the next week or so on our blog. We encourage you to get your reservations in early by calling us at515-244-1353.

PRIVATE PARTIES: So we hear you, your friends or a family member got engaged? That’s great news! Congrats! Let us take care of the rehearsal dinner for you. Check out our private parties page on our website for more information by clicking here. So think of us the next time you plan a baby shower, office party, wedding shower, rehearsal dinner or anniversary party. Email our event planner Lisa Hutchins (eventplanner@cafediscala.com) if you have questions.

Thanks to all of you who made 2011 our best year ever, and many blessings to you and your family for a safe and healthy 2012!

Have a Blessed New Year!

Tony and Scala Staff

P.S. Please continue the conversation with us by “liking” us on our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/cafediscala

Since it’s the holiday season and all, we’ve decided to give back.  This time, with a fist full of gift cards. We’re going to be super generous, and for two hours only, we’re going to let people purchase a $60 Cafe di Scala gift card for only $50, or a $120 gift card for only $95. We’re only doing this from 4pm-6pm, on Friday, December 16th.  One day only. So if you work downtown, stop in before you head home and pick up a few gift cards.  To sweeten the pot even more, we’ll hold a drawing for a $25 gift card for anyone who shows up to buy a gift card on Friday. You can also call us during that time and we’ll take your gift card offer over the phone. You can use it yourself if you want, or you can give it to your friends, employees or co-workers. See you Friday the 16th and spread the word to your friends and family!

If you can’t make it in person, just give us a call at 515-244-1353 from 4-6 and we’ll do it for you over the phone.

In the meantime, check out this killer Christmas tune from Sufjan Stevens.

Dear Friends,

It’s been a great year here at Cafe di Scala. We hope you can join us this month for a toast with friends, a bowlful of homemade pasta or just to stop in to say a warm hello. Here are a few things to keep on your radar this month.

BEATLES BRUNCH: Join us this Sunday, December 4th from 10am-2pm for our monthly Beatles Brunch. Reservations are recommended at 515-244-1353. View the menu here (the link to the BB menu is in the first paragrah).

GIFT CARD SPECIAL: Since it’s the holiday season and all, we’ve decided to give back.  This time, with a fist full of gift cards. We’re going to be super generous, and for two hours only, we’re going to let people purchase a $60 Cafe di Scala gift card for only $50, or a $120 gift card for only $95. We’re only doing this from 4pm-6pm, on Friday, December 16th.  One day only. So if you work downtown, stop in before you head home and pick up a few gift cards.  To sweeten the pot even more, we’ll hold a drawing for a $25 gift card for anyone who shows up to buy a gift card on Friday. You can also call us during that time and we’ll take your gift card offer over the phone. You can use it yourself if you want, or you can give it to your friends, employees or co-workers. See you Friday the 16th and spread the word to your friends and family!

HOLIDAY PARTIES: Would you like to make a big impression this year by having your office/family/friends Holiday Party here at Cafe di Scala? There are still a few dates available for you to choose from. Check out our private parties page on our website for more information by clicking here. Keep in mind that our cafe is always available for your office Holiday party. We’re offering you an incentive to ask your boss to hold your company’s party at Cafe di Scala.  We’re offering a $50 gift card to you if your company ends up having their Holiday party at Cafe di Scala (for parties 20 or more). It’s a big incentive, but a huge thank you to you for spreading the word about us. So think of us the next time you plan a baby shower, office party, wedding shower, rehearsal dinner or anniversary party. Email our event planner Lisa Hutchins (eventplanner@cafediscala.com) if you have questions.

HOLIDAY HOURS: The Week before Christmas, we’re going to be open on Wednesday the 21st, Thursday the 22nd and Friday the 23rd, but we’ll be closed on Christmas Eve.

NEW YEAR’S EVE: You’re invited to a special prix-fixe menu on New Year’s Eve at Cafe di Scala. It’s a four course menu that Chef Phil and Tony created which includes a sparkling wine toast. View our menu for this event below the text of this email and call us at 515-244-1353 to save your spot.

Have a blessed Holiday season!

Tony and Scala Staff

P.S. You can view our menu for the New Year’s Eve event below: