Uncommon Ground cares about the earth and you! We use seasonal, locally produced, family farmed & organic products. Enjoy. drink…uncommon morning cocktails uncommon bloody mary smoked poblano pepper, sweet onion, roast bell pepper & garlic house-infused organic rain vodka, left hand milk stout, our own homemade uncommon spicy bloody blend, market vegetable skewer bacon bloody mary hickory smoked bacon house-infused organic rain vodka, our own homemade uncommon spicy bloody blend, proscuitto powder rim black sparrow press smoked poblano pepper, sweet onion, roast bell pepper & garlic house-infused organicrain vodka, maudite amber ale, worcestershire, cholula hot sauce, porcini powder, giant caper berry neal cassidy’s coffee vanilla bean house-infused maker’s mark bourbon, black cat double espresso & steamed maple cream wild carrot candied ginger house-infused organic rain vodka organic carrot juice, organic sparkling pear cider cold and flu buster a hot pot of chamomile tea, honey liqueur, ginger house-infused organic rain vodka blood orange bellini blood orange nectar, sparkling gruner veltliner evening cocktails tree-tini for every tree-tini you order, ‘live it green’ will plant a tree! who knew a cocktail could help save the earth? bartlett pear house-infused organic rain vodka, eau d’vie de poire, organic pear nectar, organic sparkling pear cider tom waits for no man vanilla bean house-infused maker’s mark bourbon homemade wattleseed syrup, tupelo honey blood orange bitters huckleberry finn moonshine, homemade winter bitters, homemade huckleberry & chokeberry syrup blood orange & brown sugar muddle bluegrass julep basil house-infused woodford reserve bourbon homemade mint syrup, muddled lime young goodman brown persimmon house-infused organic rain vodka homemade all-spice liquor, homemade ginger ale homemade winter bitters orange blossom special black lime house-infused organic rain vodka homemade lemon myrtle syrup, aperol orange blossom water, sparkling gruner veltliner illusion is the first of all pleasures patron reposado tequila, organic papagayo rum, homemade huckleberry syrup, elderflower nectar eucalyptus honey moonshine manhattan moonshine, woodford reserve bourbon, campari, blood orange bitters peruvian twilight caramelized apple house-infused pisco brandy, lillet blanc, wild flower honey, sparkling pear cider frida kahlo madagascar vanilla house-infused organic rain vodka, godiva dark chocolate liqueur, omanhene chocolate sauce, kahlua, homemade cinnamon & cayenne syrup tokyo plum asian pear house-infused junmai sake, green tea, plum wine, homemade ginger syrup, homemade winter bitters flying fig madagascar vanilla house-infused organic rain vodka, grand marnier, beerenjager honey liqueur, homemade mission fig, ginger & cardamom syrup witching hour lillet blanc, violet liqueur & sparkling gruner veltliner hibiscus flower sparkling gruner veltliner, candied hibiscus flower, raspberry & rhubarb syrup lemon-ginger candied ginger house-infused organic rain vodka limoncello, candied ginger skewer beer delirium tremens blonde ale, belgium goose island ‘312’ wheat ale, chicago stella artois lager, belgium dogfish head ’raison d’etre’ deaware rogue hazelnut nectar brown ale, oregon unibroue ‘maudite’ amber ale, quebec butte creek organic porter, california left hand milk stout, colorado butte creek organic pilsner, california samuel smith’s organic lager, england duvel golden ale, belgium hoegaarden white ale, belgium unibroue apple ephemere, quebec dupont saison farmhouse country ale, belgium lakefront organic ESB, milwaukee otter creek organic brown ale, vermont goose island ‘pere jacques’ belgian ale, chicago two brother’s french country ale, illinois. meantime coffee porter, england unibroue ’16 year’ belgian strong ale, quebec brasserie lebbe white ale (750ml), france 2006 goose island bourbon county stout 2007 goose island bourbon county stout Reds 2005 Castoro Cellars Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido, California…12/46 Pinot Noir, that moody grape best known in Burgundy, has long been the true wine aficionado’s best friend and worst enemy. A great one will take you to a heavenly place with intrigue and nuance while a bad one can be disappointing. This I believe is a ‘Best Friend’ Pinot Noir. This organic version is earthy and structured with notes of baked raspberry tart, mushroom and clove. 2004 Protos Tempranillo, Ribero Del Duero, Spain…10/38 Bodega Protos is not only one of the first wineries of the Ribero Del Duero region in Northern Spain, but they are also one of the most highly regarded in terms of their sustainable farming. In a region known for their Tempranillo, Protos is one of the originators, nestled beneath a large and ancient Spanish castle in a community that dates back to prehistoric cultures. To take a drink of one of their elegant reds is to take a step back in time. This example is layered and elegant, with flavors of late picked plum, black lime, and fresh roasted coffee. 2004 Quinta do Cao Touriga Nacional, Dao, Portugal…12/46 Okay, shut your eyes and picture this; you find yourself in a basement enotria in Portugal, and there in this den of smoke and candle light, shadows leaping all around, you find yourself surrounded by men in slick hats with even slicker mustachios attached loosely to their life-lived faces with port-pickled noses and hand-rolled cigarettes standing straight from their mouths like gravestones. In walks a perfect olive- skinned woman in a sanguine red dress with brown eyes grained like aged mahogany and a smile that makes you question your purpose. This wine is that woman, in that place. Need we say more? 2005 Kunin ‘Pape-Star’ Grenache Blend, Central Coast, California…12/46 We’re certain you’re familiar with Chateauneuf du Pape, with its rigid structure, elegance and its ancient fabled Grenache. Well, if Chateauneuf du Pape is a nobleman, then this Grenache from winemaker Seth Kunin is the half-mad rock star who crashes the castle. With flavors of ripe raspberry, kirsch, and just a hint of licorice this decadent little red reminds me of drinking cola through a Twizzler at a movie; a movie you incidentally just snuck into through the back exit without paying. 2005 Massaya Cinsault, Bekka Valley, Lebanon…9/34 When one thinks of classic old world wine, the first thought probably isn’t Lebanon, but the wine making tradition there dates back 5000 years with the Phoenicians, the ancient dwellers of Lebanon, who were tending vineyards and making wine there long before the Romans. This is our uncommon example of where wine began. This Cinsault, one of the primary grapes used in Chateauneuf du Pape, is velvety and rich with notes of lavender, muddled strawberry, all spice and clove. 2004 Domaine Lafont ‘Eringone’ Tannat/Cabernet Franc, Madiran, France…14/50 Here we have another sustainably grown wine from winemaker Pierre Speyer who runs this small farm in Southwestern France. Upon enduring a bewildering bus ride that began in his homeland of Belgium, that lead to him finding himself lost in the French countryside, Pierre found himself in love with the region; so much so that he decided to stick around and make wine, in turn quickly becoming one of the region's most sought after producers. Here we have his Cuvée Eringone made with a blend of Tannat and Cabernet Franc, that’s layered with aromas of sun dried dates, white raisin, and cassis. 2005 Owen Roe ‘Murphy’s Law’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State …9/34 “Anything that can go wrong will”. Well nothing has gone wrong with winemaker David O’Reily’s latest sustainably grown production. Washington State, over the last half decade, has truly excelled in its viniculture, and has a serious chance to make us all forget about California. Owen Roe is one of those cult wineries leading the charge. The “Murphy’s Law” Cabernet Sauvignon is O’Reily’s introduction to the region with flavors of candied blueberry & chocolate cake, yet still manages to maintain layers of fresh forest floor and muddled mint. 2005 BenMarco Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina…12/46 Truly a family project here; the husband and wife team of Susana Balboa and Pedro Marchevsky are producing a wine named after Pedro’s father who taught him how to plant, tend, and care for the vineyard. Malbec, the grape used in the French appellation of Cahors and sometimes blended in Bordeaux, has found a new home in Argentina; think of it as a Syrah meets your grandmother’s homemade jam. It’s exorbitantly complex with notes of anise seed, raspberry perfume, Mission fig and boysenberry fruit. 2005 Feusi San Giuliano ‘Nicasio’ Nero d’Avola, Sicily…9/34 Sicily, that little island just off the coast of Italy, has found its wine hero. Sicily has long been living in the shadow of Italy in terms of winemaking, but over the past decade, its savior, the grape Nero d’ Avola has come into its own, bringing Sicily well-deserved winemaking recognition. ‘The Black Grape of Avola” can be compared to Australian Shiraz or those jammy Red Zinfandels we Americans have fallen in love with. This bio-dynamically farmed example is bursting with notes of fresh baked cherry pie, white raisin and fresh cut oregano. grapes Whites 2006 Kracher Pinot Gris, Burgenland, Austria…9/34 Okay, take who just may be the best winemaker in the world, give him perfect terroir and a penchant for Pinot Gris (you may also know this as Pinot Grigio) and what you’ll have is, well, exactly this. This is the master’s (what they call him in Austria) entry level Pinot Gris, organically grown with notes of freshly cut wild flowers and pear with a clean, electric Austrian minerality. 2006 Champalou Chenin Blanc, Vouvray, France…12/46 Catherine and Didier Champalou are a husband and wife team, with Catharine handling the winemaking and the cellars, while Didier is responsible for the vineyard. Together they have become one of the truly great organic producers in Vouvray and make exceptionally delicate yet complex Chenin Blanc. This vintage is engulfed with apricot and orange blossom, with notes of honeysuckle, confectionary sugar and morning marmalade. 2005 Altamira ‘Brandal’ Albarino Rias Baixas, Spain…12/46 Altamira means "high sight" in Spanish, and it was to this picturesque location - over 200 meters above the Atlantic Ocean in the heart of the Rias Baixas region-that the grandparents of the current owners of Altamira first planted vines more than 100 years ago. This sophisticated Albarino is packed with notes of stone fruit and white tea, with a bright light of winter citrus dancing throughout. 2006 Wieneger Gruner Veltliner, Vienna, Austria…9/34 Gruner Veltliner, the true noble white grape of Austria, has long been a chef’s best friend with its stunning ability to adapt to virtually every regional cuisine, no matter how eclectic. In other words, it’s a perfect wine for us here at Uncommon Ground! This example is truly beautiful with a floral aroma of white flowers that segues into mouth-filling flavors of limestone, white pepper and pear. 2005 Mirambeau Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux, France …10/38 We here at Uncommon Ground have been huge fans of Mirambeau’s wines for a good many years now. They consistently make clean and refreshing goodies, and now that Bordeaux whites are back in vogue we won’t seem like such old curmudgeons when we order it… and neither will you! Drink up, it’s cool. This is a delightful wine with balanced acidity, structure and notes of green apple and lemon zest. 2005 Susana Balboa ‘Crios’ Torrontes, Cafayate, Argentina…9/34 Remember that really attractive person in High School that was so attractive that everyone just assumed they already had a date to the prom only to show up at the big dance all alone? No? Well me neither, but that story is the way my Father convinced me to ask my date out, who incidentally, not only said yes, but was also pretty frisky. Well, keep that story in mind before ordering anything else, because this wine too is strikingly beautiful, and a bit frisky. Susana Balboa (a folk hero in her native Argentina) has created a truly gorgeous Torrontes that is riddled with all the bright electricity of a rainstorm and all the depth and raw sexuality of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel. In short, I love this wine and you will too. n/v Sokol-Blosser ‘Evolution’ Willamette Valley, Oregon…9/34 Oregon humbly accepts its quiet fame with earthy gracefulness. The people who work the land are friendly and approachable, the climate, similar to France's Burgundy--attracted many starry-eyed, wine-loving hippies in the 1960s and '70s, when Oregon's wine scene began to sprout. People like Susan Sokol lead the charge by creating an organic and sustainable farm “scene” that is unprecedented the world over. So in homage to Susan Sokol, a favorite here at Uncommon, we’ve added a wine that is truly as Uncommon as we are. A non-vintage blend of 9 different varietals as varied as Chardonnay, Riesling, Muller Thurgau, and Sylvaner, this is truly a beautiful wine that is quite simply, deliciously uncommon. 2005 Qupe Marsanne & Rousanne, St. Ynez, California…14/50 Calling all you Napa Chardonnay enthusiasts, time to be a bit adventurous! Here we finally have a wine that puts all those over oaked Chardonnay’s to shame. This is a Rhone styled blend from one of the original Rhone Rangers, Bob Lundquist. If you were to describe the grapes used here in terms of the T.V. show “The A-Team” (as I’m sure you often do) Marsanne would be Mr.T (tough, aggressive, and afraid to fly) while Rousanne would be Face (sexy and just a bit vane)—if you’re wondering where Hannibal is check out the wine below. (Murdoch drinks Scotch.) When these grapes are blended together, much like the A-Team, they very well may be able to save the world. 2005 Perraud Macon-Villages Chardonnay, Burgundy, France…12/46 Little else can be said about white Burgundy. For those of you that have had it know the truly mind-bending experience that it can be in terms of Chardonnay. For those of you that haven’t, now’s your chance. Order this right now and don’t think twice. This is exactly what Chardonnay should taste like. dinner…uncommon small plates… spanish tapas plate serrano ham, manchego cheese, quince paste, marcona almonds & olives mediterranean trio uncommon hummus, roast eggplant salad, mint tzatziki, herbed pita & citrus marinated olives porcini crusted beef tenderloin carpaccio arugula, white truffle oil, parmesan & crispy capers duck confit quesadilla caramelized onions, chihuahua cheese & sweet potato salsa seared jumbo sea scallops green acres farm butternut squash puree, spicy seedling pear sauce & tasso ham chip korean chili-spiced fried calamari sesame seeds & mixed greens prince edward island mussels red curry coconut broth, tomato concasse & tumeric powder baked artichoke, goat cheese, pesto dip extra virgin olive oil, crostini greens… sunshine salad organic greens, seasonal farmer’s market vegetables, avocado, sunflower seeds & sprouts, organic apple cider vinaigrette & seeded flatbread crisp uncommon chopped salad romaine, roast chicken, bacon, bleu cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, scallions, smoked tomato ranch organic baby spinach & seedling farm apple salad warm capriole goat cheese, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries & balsamic vinaigrette between bread… veggie burger served on herb-ciabatta roll the millman burger half pound angus beef, nueske peppercorn bacon, boursin cheese & piquillo peppers black angus half pound burger served on an onion challah bun helen’s famous chicken sandwich grilled naturally raised breast of chicken, swiss emmenthal, avocado, red onion, tomato, alfalfa sprouts & honey-mustard on grilled hearth bread large plates uncommon cassoulet seedling farms apple cider glazed duroc pork belly, duck sausage, nueske peppercorn bacon, white beans, crispy onions chorizo stuffed cumin & coriander crusted naturally raised chicken breast chipotle cheddar mashed potatoes, mixed peppers & tomatillo crème grilled buffalo ribeye yukon gold pommes frites, spicy black cat espresso & cocoa nib rub, onion marmalade duo of duck duck confit, seared duck breast, black river gorgonzola, “crunchy” potatoes, braised cabbage & port wine duck jus compart family farms duroc pork chop Seedling ginger pear glaze, green acres butternut squash, sage pear salsa bouillabaisse mussels, scallops, shrimp, tilapia, white wine, san marzano tomato & saffron broth bacon wrapped midwestern meatloaf yukon gold mashed potatoes, gravy, caramelized onions, sautéed spinach pistachio crusted tilapia crab & red pepper israeli cous cous, blistered tomatoes, orange reduction pastas and pizzas… pumpkin ravioli sage & brown butter cream sauce, toasted hazelnuts, blue cheese & flash fried sage prosciutto, artichoke & asiago pizza rosemary oil & lemon zest pesto, grape tomato & 3 cheese pizza smoked mozzarella, black river gorgonzola & goat cheese breakfast…uncommon uncommon huevos black bean corn cake, eggs over easy, ancho-chili sauce & chihuahua cheese montana omelet bacon, potatoes, scallions , cheddar cheese, sour cream sun-dried tomato, basil & mozzarella omelette naturally raised chicken breakfast burrito scrambled eggs, mixed peppers, chihuahua cheese, cumin crème, spinach tortilla, smoked chili sauce uncommon breakfast melt eggs over easy, nueske black peppercorn bacon, cheddar ale cheese, organic spinach, red hen bakery onion black bread italian breakfast pizza scrambled eggs, italian sausage, mushrooms, peppers, fresh mozzarella, house-made red sauce wild alaskan smoked salmon platter chive & dill cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, onion, capers & choice of red hen bakery bagel spicy chorizo & chihuahua cheese chilaquiles scramble eggs, chorizo, jalapenos, crispy corn tortillas, salsa verde & sour cream 2 eggs any style add cheddar, swiss, bleu or goat cheese whole wheat banana pancakes organic himalayan goji berry syrup french toast duo red hen bakery cinnamon raisin & multi grain bread, fresh seasonal fruit buttermilk pancakes summertime granola & organic yogurt & fruit rolled oats, chicago honey, cinnamon, dried cherries, toasted almonds & pepitas lunch--uncommon small plates and greens… sunshine salad organic greens, seasonal farmer’s market vegetables, avocado, sunflower seeds & sprouts, organic apple cider vinaigrette & seeded flatbread crisp green goddess tuna melt salad growing power herb & buttermilk tuna salad, white cheddar, grilled crostini, organic greens uncommon chopped salad romaine, roast chicken, bacon, bleu cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, scallions, smoked tomato ranch dressing organic baby spinach & seedling farm apple salad warm capriole goat cheese, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries, balsamic vinaigrette baked artichoke-goat cheese, pesto dip extra virgin olive oil crostini uncommon hummus uncommon hummus, fresh veggies & toasted pita pasta and pizza pumpkin ravioli sage brown butter cream sauce, toasted hazelnuts, bleu cheese prairie pure macaroni & cheese prairie pure farms butterkase, aged white cheddar, gruyere, tart apple slaw pesto, 3 cheese & grape tomato pizza smoked mozzarella, bleu & goat cheese prosciutto, artichoke & asiago cheese pizza rosemary oil & lemon zest between bread… pork belly sandwich onion marmalade, fresh seedling farm apples, arugula on baguette open faced meatloaf sandwich bacon wrapped, mashed potatoes, caramelized onions, sautéed spinach, gravy fall roast turkey sandwich walnut cream cheese, cranberry sauce, red onions, romaine, whole wheat bread chili crusted tilapia fish tacos sweet potato salsa, cabbage, tomatillo creme helen’s grilled chicken sandwich naturally raised breast of chicken, swiss cheese, avocado, red onion, tomato, sprouts, honey-mustard dressing on hearth baked bread the millman burger half pound angus beef, nueske peppercorn bacon, boursin cheese, piquillo peppers uncommon half pound angus burger onion challah bun veggie burger herb-ciabatta cheese, bacon, grilled onions or mushrooms |