Saturday May 15th

10:00pm

155 Varick Street

City Winery is a truly a hybrid of a space –  you can purchase a barrel of private-label wine, order a case for delivery, take a class, dine in the private cellar, have brunch or dinner in the main dining room upstairs, sip wine at the bar or attend one of the many weekly events. A friend emailed me about a Burlesque Show there, and always up for something new we purchased tickets (a mere $10 each). We arrived early to grab a glass of wine but were turned away until 11pm because the earlier show was still clearing out. When we returned the line moved quickly and we were able to choose our own seats for the show. Given the amount of people the service was surprisingly spot on. The only downside was due to the event the menu was limited to the “Concert Series” selections which was a paired down version of the regular dinner menu and wine list. All in all it was a great night – where else can you enjoy a glass of Cava and a cheese plate while watching a master roper yielding whips followed by Miss Coney Island performing her seductive routine.

Note: City Winery is the brainchild of Micheal Dorf who also started the Knitting Factory.

Wine

• Cristalino Cava Brut

Concert Series Cheese Tour

• Petit Billy, Taleggio and Roncal

Good for: Owning your own private label barrel, Wine, Brunch, Dinner, Events, Dining in the Private cellar, Taking a class, Cava paired with Burlesque

Thursday April 8th, 2010
6:45pm
637 Hudson Street

I love ‘inoteca, cucina on Rivington Street, so when brothers Jason and Joe Denton opened Corsino in the West Village I couldn’t wait to try it. The interior evokes a bit of ‘inoteca—hard wood floors, wooden walls, bottles of wine lining the shelves, casual yet elegant. Unfortunately that’s where the similarities ended. The service was spotty and over the course of our hour and a half there we had at least 3 different servers. The wine list by the glass is small (Italian Reds, Whites and a few Sparkling) and I found the food to be over-priced (each piece of crostini costs $2.50). The mushroom & tallegio and cannellini bean & artichoke were the standouts, however the olive tapenade (over salted) and shrimp and arugula (fishy and creamy with one lone piece of arugula on top) were inedible. Our server let us pick out another to try to make up for it, and the substitute ricotta and orange honey proved to be a good choice. My bill was nearly $40 (including tip) for a glass of wine, a few shared crostini and a cheese plate. I really wanted to like Corsino, but I think the concept is far better than the execution.

Wine

• 2007 Brigaldara Valpolicella - a balanced medium-bodied Italian red with notes of berry

Appetizers (shared by the table)

• olives
• mushroom and tallegio
• cannellini bean and artichoke (had a nice hint of cinnamon)
• ricotta and orange honey
• olive tapenade (inedible – flavor overpowered with salt)
• shrimp and arugula (inedible – a creamy, fishy blend topped with one sad piece of arugula)
• cheese plate – fresh cow’s milk ricotta, taleggio and capra sardo

GOOD For: A GLASS OF WINE AT THE BAR, PRE OR POST DATE DRINK

Sunday March 28th, 2010
2pm
31-86 37 Street
A friend told me about a Croatian food and wine pairing at their favorite wine bar, Winegasm. I was intrigued, and at the cost of $45 for a 6 course pairing, couldn’t think of a better way to spend (yet another) rain soaked Sunday. Taking the train from lower Manhattan to Astoria should speak to the fact that it’s a great neighborhood gem. A long high-top communal table separates the bar from a few private tables, and in warmer weather the wall opens out to sidewalk seating. The owners are very knowledgeable and friendly, and the tastings are laid back. It feels like you’ve been invited to someone’s home for the afternoon. Rather than listening to someone speak about what you’re eating and drinking, each course was introduced briefly with the focus on enjoying. The wine was from the portfolios of Oenocentric and Vinum USA and the food was prepared by the owner’s mother – and nothing is better than “mom” food on a Sunday.

First Course:

• “Bakalar” – Adriatic cheese, prosciutto, and olive platter
• Wine: Toljanić Žlahtina 2008

Second Course:

• Octopus salad with potatoes
• Wine: Zlatan Hvar Pošip/Maraština Blend 2008

Third Course:

• Black squid ink risotto
• Wine: Bibich Debit 2008

Fourth Course:

• Ćevapi” - Lamb/Pork/Beef grilled sausage served with pita and red pepper tapenade
• Wine: Bibich Riserva Babich/Lasin/Plavina Blend 2006

Fifth Course:

• “Fuži” with veal sauce – Istrian bow tie pasta
• Wine: Lirica Plavac Mali 2007

Dessert:

• “Palačinke” and “Fritule” – carmel filled crêpe, bread dough fritters with powdered sugar
• Wine: Kozlović Muškat 2006

GOOD FOR: WINE BAR, WINE TASTINGS, CLASSES, DATE NIGHT, SMALL GROUPS, OUTDOOR SEATING, SMALL PLATES

Wednesday March 24, 2010
9pm
11 West 31st Street

The name says it all – wine and chocolate – but add in my third weakness, cheese, and this is easily one of my favorite places in NYC. The only downside is Ayza is a little geographically undesirable, situated in the odd nexus just between Midtown and Gramercy. The Wine Dutchess and I were in the area for a networking event and decided to stop in. The menu features cheese and charcuterie, salads, soups, panini, small plates, and  Jacques Torres chocolates alongside the regular dessert menu. The wine list by the glass isn’t very extensive but they do offer the option of a flight of red or whites. We were able to get a table outside, and even though the heaters were still going it was nice to be al fresco again.

Wine

• Cabernet Sauvignon, USA Heller, Organic, 2006

Cheese

• Manchego, Valdeon and Bucheron served with fresh berries, caper berries and guava paste

GOOD FOR: THE TRIFECTA OF WINE/CHEESE/CHOCOLATE, DATE NIGHT, SMALL GROUPS, OUTDOOR SEATING, PRIX-FIXE LUNCH

Tuesday March 16, 2010
8pm
95 Allen Street (at Broome Street)

I don’t usually frequent many Italian restaurants since I tend to cook a lot of Italian food at home. When given the opportunity to select the restaurant for the night  it was time to delve into the  “list”. Sorella seemed promising – located in the LES and a little off the radar – the menu piqued my interested with small plates and a nice selection of wine. The restaurant isn’t on OpenTable so you’ll need to call ahead for a reservation (the dining room only seats about 20), or grab a seat at the bar or the communal table in the front. It should be noted that 95 Allen Street shares the same address as a residential apartment building, just look for the dark wooden door, dim lighting, and namesake signage (right next to the red graffiti door). The service was attentive, the food was well done in flavor and presentation, and the atmosphere was intimate with a laid back vibe.

Dinner (shared)

1^st course

• Hearst Ranch Beef Carne Cruda - cavalo nero, parmesan, lemon aioli, crispy shallots
• Gnocchi - cream sauce, brown butter pears, chives

2^nd course

• Beet Risotto - with prosiutto
• Agnolotti - beef, parmesan, sage butter

Wine Pairing:

• Garbay Rosé

Desert

• Chocolate Cheesecake – served with a hazelenut crisp and a thin chocolate coating

Good for: date night, small plates, wine, small groups

Saturday March 13, 2010
6:15pm
52 Stone Street

It was a wash-out of a weekend and my plans with the Wine Dutchess to go to a gallery opening in Brooklyn were quickly replaced with an evening closer to home. Vintry Wine & Whiskey opened last November and proved to be a nice addition to Stone Street. Maybe it was the rain falling on the empty cobble stone street, but the Vintry had a warm, sultry feel as I walked by the large window and peered into the bar. The interior is dark wood, the walls are lined with mirrors and candles flicker on each table.

Upon arrival, the waitress took our soaked umbrellas and hung our coats, which I thought was a nice touch. She was very knowledgeable of the menu, made great recommendations and was very attentive. The wine list is extensive but not overwhelming, and you can order a 2 ounce taste, a 5 ounce glass, or a full bottle of every wine. There’s also a creative cocktail list, and of course a large whiskey selection as the name would imply. Perhaps it was due to the good company, but I really enjoyed this bar. It was welcoming, unpretentious, and a nice alternative to the pubs in the area.

Wine Tasting:

Charcuterie:

• Bresaola
• Iberico ham
• Proscuitto
• Served with a relish tray of cornichons and mustard

Cheese (2 plates, 3 per plate):

• Valdeon (creamy blue, Spain)
• Cypress grove humboldt fog (goat’s milk, California)
• Sartori stravecchio (parmesan style, Wisconsin)
• Roncal (sheep’s milk, Spain)
• Fontina val d’aosta (cow’s milk, Italy)
• Tomme crayeuse (cow’s milk, France)
• Served with a relish tray of apricot compote, pickled onions and and roasted marcona almonds

Small plates:

• House marinated olives seasoned with rosemary
• Lobster stuffed mushrooms

Good for: Date Night, Small Groups, Wine, Whiskey, Cocktails, Small Plates, Wine Tasting

Friday March 5, 2010
6:20pm
211b West Broadway

The Wine Dutchess invited me to a free wine tasting at Maslow 6 in TriBeCa. I had never heard of it an assumed it was just another wine shop. Upon entering it’s actually a hybrid of a wine store and a wine bar separated by a wall of glass. The wine bar side was dimly lit and candles illuminated each of the tables that lined the side wall and a chalkboard on the back wall listed food and wine. The wine shop side was well-stock and the owners at the register were very friendly and knowledgeable – they even gave us a 5% discount for attending the wine tasting which was sponsored by Communal Brands of Brooklyn. Maslow 6 hosts various tastings and classes each month.

Wines purchased:

• Alpha Zeta Soave, Italy (Verona), 2008
• Otto’s Constant Dream, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, 2008

Good for: neighborhood wine store, wine tastings, wine classes, wine bar, pre or post dinner drink