Bottega del Vino – Superb Italian Cuisine on Manhattan’s Upper East Side

•February 6, 2008 • Leave a Comment

This charming Upper East Side restaurant (7 East 59th Street, between 5th & Madison) offers an excellent selection of Italian wine by the glass and bottle. My friend and I enjoyed several appetizers prepared with Chef Massimillano Convertini’s Northern Italian (Veneto) influence: Calamari alla Griglia, Caprese di Bufalo, Carpaccio di Tonno Affumicato, and Coscia di Anatra. All were delicious and uniquely prepared; the Carpaccio, for example included fresh grapefruit and marinated ginger. The Italian wine list was both comprehensive and creative, and we were pleased to enjoy the by-the-glass selections in large-bowled stemware (each glass is poured at the table from a mini carafe.) We were also impressed with the very friendly and attentive service. The décor is a replica of their sister restaurant in Verona, Italy called Antica Bottega del Vino. This pleasant New York restaurant has a warm, friendly atmosphere, complemented by delicious food and a smart wine program. www.bottegadelvinonyc.com

Posted in Restaurants

The Tasting Room Restaurant, NYC – Unique, Fresh, and Delicious Cuisine!

•February 5, 2008 • Leave a Comment

When I was employed at Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits in New York in 1998/99, I was fortunate to meet and work with  a food and wine geek named Colin Alevras. He often talked about a plan to own and operate a restaurant in Manhattan, and he and his wife, Renée, subsequently opened The Tasting Room Wine Bar & Cafè (in the East Village at 72 E. First Street, at 1st Avenue) in November of 1999. Renée and Colin both graduated from Peter Kump’s NY Cooking School and apprenticed at Arpege in Paris. I had a great dinner at their first location several years ago, but with the opening of their new restaurant, The Wine Bar & Cafè now exclusively serves American wines, espresso, cheese, terrines, desserts, and homemade breads. The Tasting Room Restaurant (in NoLita, just south of Houston at 264 Elizabeth Street) opened in the Summer of 2006. My friend, Marsha, and I had an amazing dinner comprised of unimaginable combinations of unique ingredients and flavors. Colin uses fresh ingredients from local purveyors and changes the menu daily. We started with Tetsukabuto pumpkin salad with leeks and pork cracklings, and Porchetta di Testa with Newtown Pippin apples, sun-dried Korean chilies, and pistachios. We then enjoyed a day boat cod entree with whole wheat gnocchi and miso-braised radishes, and a second dish of 12-hour cured Muscovy duck breast with Japanese sweet potato and Hakurei turnips. We finished with a delicious selection of American farmhouse cheeses, and what Colin calls a “Six Point Rye Ale Ice Cream Sandwich,” that included a hazelnut cookie, popcorn and marshmallow. The thoughtful wine list, built by General Manager and Wine Director, Carolyn DeFir, is also a distinct treat. It is always a pleasure to see by-the-glass selections presented and poured from the bottle at the table. Try to have a glass of Once Pinot Noir as soon as possible, because supposedly, the frequency of this Oregon/California vintage will be holding true to its name. The Tasting Room Restaurant & The Tasting Room Wine Bar & Cafè are unique establishments with incredible food and wine, and warm, smart service.  www.thetastingroomnyc.com

Posted in Restaurants

Hotel Plaza Athénée, New York City – Charming Elegance on The Upper East Side

•February 4, 2008 • Leave a Comment

 

This was my second visit for a two-night stay at this superb Upper East Side hotel (37 East 64th Street (at Madison)). I experienced the same great service and meticulously-prepared room that I was was exposed to a few months earlier. The staff is warm and friendly, but everything is laced with a high level of sophistication that one expects from a property at this level. After all, in their January, 2008 issue, Travel & Leisure magazine called Hotel Plaza Athénée, “One of the world’s best hotels.” Although this is a full service hotel with all of the amenities, it is tucked away on a tree-lined street surprisingly buffered from the hustle and bustle of Madison and Park Avenues. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to eat at their restaurant, Arabelle, but the modern French cuisine has also generated strong reviews from a variety of sources. John Mariani’s New York Corner critique will give you a good feel for their highly-rated cuisine. Hotel Plaza-Athénée has 115 rooms and 35 suites, banquet and meeting space (called Le Trianon), a private dining room, and stunning wedding accommodations. Rooms start at about $695, but check out the special packages on their website, including Valentine’s Day, Whitney Arts & Culture, Honeymoon & Romance, and Bloomingdale’s Shopping. www.plaza-athenee.com 

 

Posted in Hotels

Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2006 – Versatile White Rhone Blend

•February 3, 2008 • Leave a Comment

This delicious blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc produces a silky, round wine with intense fruit, spice, layers of flavor and a long finish. It is a full-bodied white that pairs beautifully with hearty fish cuisine such as lobster, swordfish, and salmon, but also stands up to a wide variety of dishes. I enjoyed a glass as an aperitif at A.R. Valentien at The Lodge at Torrey Pines (see February 2, 2008 post) and enjoyed it so much that I had another pour with my beet and chanterelle mushroom ravioli soup. You can pull the cork and enjoy this blend now, or lay it down for five to ten years. Tablas Creek, located in Paso Robles, California, is owned and operated by the Robert Haas family and the famous Perrin brothers, Jean-Pierre and François, of France’s Rhone Valley (owners of Chateau de Beaucastel). This is a spectacular wine made by wonderful people with long wine histories in the United States and France. Also, try their reds from Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Counoise, among others. All Tablas Creek wines are made from their own certified organic vineyards. Tablas Creek Esprit de Peaucastel Blanc is available at most fine wine stores for about $29.00. www.tablascreek.com 

Posted in Wine

The Lodge at Torrey Pines – A Unique Resort with High Standards & Exceptional Service

•February 2, 2008 • Leave a Comment

 

Tiger Woods recently won the 2008 PGA Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, CA. If you missed seeing him play at this annual tournament in the San Diego area, don’t fret, because he will be back for the 2008 U.S. Open (www.usopen.com) at the same course from June 12-15. The fine people at The Lodge at Torrey Pines couldn’t be happier about the extra event this year (arguably the most prestigious tournament of the year). In December, I stayed at The Lodge for the first time. When I pulled into the valet I was greeted by doormen outfitted in kilted Scottish dress. The Lodge’s grand porte cochère (as they like to call it) was filled with the magic of a quartet of spectacular holiday carolers. I had heard plenty of great things about this property, but at this distinct point in my trip, I realized I was in for something very special. The Lodge, opened six years ago and designed in the California Craftsman style of the early 1900s, has 171 rooms, and boasts of the San Diego area’s only Mobile Five Diamond designation for resorts. I arrived at night, and the next morning when I looked out the window of my room, I was literally stunned by the breathtaking scenery. I was on the fifth floor overlooking the golf course and the ocean; there is really nothing quite like this unique view. The staff was professional and cordial, and I received consistent service throughout the entire property. The same incredible effort that goes into every other detail of the resort, is also poured into their restaurants. The Lodge’s top restaurant, A.R. Valentien (named after one of San Diego’s most famous artists, an Impressionist from the early 1900s.), was also a distinct treat. The California cuisine, based on fresh, local ingredients, was complemented by warm, sophisticated service. For golf enthusiasts, The Lodge offers their guests guaranteed tee times and special packages. I did not have time to enjoy the spa, but it is a world-class, 9,500 square-foot facility with 14 treatment rooms and an extensive menu of services and activities. The Lodge at Torrey Pines is truly a very special place. www.lodgetorreypines.com

Posted in Hotels

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