July 12th-
After shoe shopping in Union Square, we were in need of a little break, a comfy place to sit and something cold to drink. We stumbled upon The Grey Dog's Coffee, which couldn't have been more perfect for a late afternoon stop......as if I could pass up a spot that so honored the admirable canine. They serve everything from coffee, tea and pastries to wine, beer, sandwiches, and salads. All I had was iced coffee, but Nathan can vouch for the giant cookies. Still, the place was so cute, it is blog worthy.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Le Bernadin
July 22nd-
After contemplating a few months ago, whether or not to continue living in Manhattan, I went down a mental list of all the places I needed to visit before we embarked upon such a feat, and all I came up with was Eric Ripert's Le Bernadin. Surprisingly, we have been to a lot of places, and I didn't feel as if I would die, if I wasn't given the time to go everywhere.....that is except Le Bernadin. No one was getting me out of Manhattan without this one! I've seen Chef Ripert on numerous shows..... Top Chef, Martha Stewart, etc. We've cooked one of his recipes at home, and frankly, I just think he is a god. Do the Greeks have a god of food? Surely, they must....note to self...need to investigate this. Now that we've opted to stay in the city, we decided to schedule this visit to Le Bernadin for lunch on our three year wedding anniversary.
This is one of those restaurants that feel spa like. Nathan was commenting on how noisy the street is, and how the opposite is true inside the restaurant, when upon entering this sanctuary, all you hear are quiet soothing sounds......sounds like, "May I get you some wine?", and "Here is some beautiful smoked salmon spread for you while you peruse the menu." These are sounds I am quite fond of. The whole place is very understated and elegant, with huge, fabulous paintings on the walls, and a simple but spectacular arrangement of pink flowers in the middle. In fact, I think these are some of the exact same words I would use to describe the menu....elegant and spectacular.
I have to admit, choosing what to eat was difficult. There were just so many wonderful options! We actually spent a few minutes online going over everything before we arrived, just to give us a bit of a head start in the decision making process. We take dining out very seriously. There is nothing I hate more than ordering the wrong thing, and I take pride in the fact that this rarely happens to me. (I do actually hate soggy bacon more, but that is beside the point.)
The lunch menu is a prix fixe, which allows you to choose an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. To start, I chose the curried crab and zucchini panna cotta in a vadouvan spiced broth. Two little zucchini rolls stuffed with crab in a light, tasty broth came out- very good! I mostly tasted crab, and it was presented very creatively. Nathan ordered the marinated himachi Vietnamese style with a nuoc mam vinaigrette. It looked like a little spring roll in a citrus juice. The fish was very light, and the dish was very refreshing and summery. For my entree, I chose the bread crusted red snapper with a zucchini, mint and coriander compote in a rich citrus broth. I almost didn't order this when I saw the word "bread" in the description, because I just never feel breading is ever done crispy or light enough. This time, I was not disappointed. There was a very light, crispy top on the fish, but not encasing it- the perfect amount of breading. The citrus broth was tomato, and that, coupled with the breading on top, gave the dish a comfort food feel to it, while still possessing its light, fresh, pure, upscale flavors. Nathan ordered the crispy black bass with braised celery in an Iberico ham and green peppercorn sauce accompanied by a parsnip custard. Ok.....I might have liked his better. The sauce was amazing. It was the kind of sauce you dip your bread in to try to scoop up every last drop. Honestly, all of the sauces were like this, but this one was just my favorite. And.....the parsnip custard was to die for! I think I ate half of it. It was kind of sweet, yet still savory. It just teeter tottered between the two, and made my mouth go crazy with joy! This was so good that if they would have given us a tub of it, I would have finished it, I swear! Last, for dessert, I requested the yuzu parfait, meringue and green tea biscuit and ice cream. As one who is not a big fan of sweets, this was great. It wasn't overly sickeningly sweet, or heavy. I did not feel the sugar burst into my veins the moment I took a bite. It was light and palate cleansing. I loved it-especially the green tea ice cream. Nathan loves sweets, so he had the gianduja ice cream with Oregon hazelnuts, honey, banana and brown butter ice cream. This was good. I mostly liked the bananas, but overall, too sweet for me.
Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had....in Manhattan, or anywhere. The food was rich, yet light; simple, yet complex......and everything tasted very fresh, pure and clean. It excited, revived, and inspired me. Praise be to Chef Ripert, god of food!
After contemplating a few months ago, whether or not to continue living in Manhattan, I went down a mental list of all the places I needed to visit before we embarked upon such a feat, and all I came up with was Eric Ripert's Le Bernadin. Surprisingly, we have been to a lot of places, and I didn't feel as if I would die, if I wasn't given the time to go everywhere.....that is except Le Bernadin. No one was getting me out of Manhattan without this one! I've seen Chef Ripert on numerous shows..... Top Chef, Martha Stewart, etc. We've cooked one of his recipes at home, and frankly, I just think he is a god. Do the Greeks have a god of food? Surely, they must....note to self...need to investigate this. Now that we've opted to stay in the city, we decided to schedule this visit to Le Bernadin for lunch on our three year wedding anniversary.
This is one of those restaurants that feel spa like. Nathan was commenting on how noisy the street is, and how the opposite is true inside the restaurant, when upon entering this sanctuary, all you hear are quiet soothing sounds......sounds like, "May I get you some wine?", and "Here is some beautiful smoked salmon spread for you while you peruse the menu." These are sounds I am quite fond of. The whole place is very understated and elegant, with huge, fabulous paintings on the walls, and a simple but spectacular arrangement of pink flowers in the middle. In fact, I think these are some of the exact same words I would use to describe the menu....elegant and spectacular.
I have to admit, choosing what to eat was difficult. There were just so many wonderful options! We actually spent a few minutes online going over everything before we arrived, just to give us a bit of a head start in the decision making process. We take dining out very seriously. There is nothing I hate more than ordering the wrong thing, and I take pride in the fact that this rarely happens to me. (I do actually hate soggy bacon more, but that is beside the point.)
The lunch menu is a prix fixe, which allows you to choose an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. To start, I chose the curried crab and zucchini panna cotta in a vadouvan spiced broth. Two little zucchini rolls stuffed with crab in a light, tasty broth came out- very good! I mostly tasted crab, and it was presented very creatively. Nathan ordered the marinated himachi Vietnamese style with a nuoc mam vinaigrette. It looked like a little spring roll in a citrus juice. The fish was very light, and the dish was very refreshing and summery. For my entree, I chose the bread crusted red snapper with a zucchini, mint and coriander compote in a rich citrus broth. I almost didn't order this when I saw the word "bread" in the description, because I just never feel breading is ever done crispy or light enough. This time, I was not disappointed. There was a very light, crispy top on the fish, but not encasing it- the perfect amount of breading. The citrus broth was tomato, and that, coupled with the breading on top, gave the dish a comfort food feel to it, while still possessing its light, fresh, pure, upscale flavors. Nathan ordered the crispy black bass with braised celery in an Iberico ham and green peppercorn sauce accompanied by a parsnip custard. Ok.....I might have liked his better. The sauce was amazing. It was the kind of sauce you dip your bread in to try to scoop up every last drop. Honestly, all of the sauces were like this, but this one was just my favorite. And.....the parsnip custard was to die for! I think I ate half of it. It was kind of sweet, yet still savory. It just teeter tottered between the two, and made my mouth go crazy with joy! This was so good that if they would have given us a tub of it, I would have finished it, I swear! Last, for dessert, I requested the yuzu parfait, meringue and green tea biscuit and ice cream. As one who is not a big fan of sweets, this was great. It wasn't overly sickeningly sweet, or heavy. I did not feel the sugar burst into my veins the moment I took a bite. It was light and palate cleansing. I loved it-especially the green tea ice cream. Nathan loves sweets, so he had the gianduja ice cream with Oregon hazelnuts, honey, banana and brown butter ice cream. This was good. I mostly liked the bananas, but overall, too sweet for me.
Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had....in Manhattan, or anywhere. The food was rich, yet light; simple, yet complex......and everything tasted very fresh, pure and clean. It excited, revived, and inspired me. Praise be to Chef Ripert, god of food!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Hill Country
May 23rd-
Since it was Memorial weekend, it just felt right to eat barbecue. So......we consulted Zagat to find the best barbecue joint near Mood, where I needed to go to pick up some fabric. Hill Country was one of those spots, so we decided to give it a try. Once you enter, you no longer feel like you are in Manhattan. The place is HUGE.....roomy, tall ceilings, two floors (they have bands play downstairs).....and it was pristine clean. I thought I was in Texas! If I had to describe the decor, I would call it "rustic cute". They hand you a card when you enter and direct you to three stations: meat, sides and beverages. We started with the meat. I asked for six ribs thinking these are those tiny little things smaller than my hand. Thankfully, the guy at that station told me that was "a lot", so I ordered three, like he suggested, instead. When he brought them out and plunked them down, I got the picture. They were almost as long as my forearm! We moved on to the side station next where they offered everything from green beans to corn pudding to salad to cucumbers to mac and cheese. We opted for the last two. The tables are all set with salt and pepper, hot sauce, barbecue sauce and a roll of paper towels. I think I used half of a roll during lunch. The barbecue sauce was pretty good. I drenched the ribs in it. I've come to realize it isn't really the ribs I like, but the sauce. I wonder what else I could slather in it? Hmmm... The mac and cheese wasn't bad, either. The cheese wasn't made from some horrible powder like I expected. It was actually real mac and cheese. The cucumber were marinated in vinegar and if left for a time, would become pickles. In fact, they almost tasted like those homemade pickles you get at the farmers market. As we were devouring our lunch like hungry wolves, I noticed the drink menu out of the corner of my eye. I had to read it sideways, of course, because my hands were dripping with barbecue sauce, but I could see it well enough to discover that they had a huge selection of beer, tequila and bourbon. Oooh la la! So....bourbon does in fact go very well with ribs, just in case you were wondering. I had to try it out, solely for educational purposes, of course. The pecan pie looked good too, but we opted out of dessert. I doubt it would have been better than my mom's, and then I would just be disappointed. All in all, this was a pretty fun place. It made me feel like buying a pair of cowboy boots and booking a trip to Austin. Hee haw!
Since it was Memorial weekend, it just felt right to eat barbecue. So......we consulted Zagat to find the best barbecue joint near Mood, where I needed to go to pick up some fabric. Hill Country was one of those spots, so we decided to give it a try. Once you enter, you no longer feel like you are in Manhattan. The place is HUGE.....roomy, tall ceilings, two floors (they have bands play downstairs).....and it was pristine clean. I thought I was in Texas! If I had to describe the decor, I would call it "rustic cute". They hand you a card when you enter and direct you to three stations: meat, sides and beverages. We started with the meat. I asked for six ribs thinking these are those tiny little things smaller than my hand. Thankfully, the guy at that station told me that was "a lot", so I ordered three, like he suggested, instead. When he brought them out and plunked them down, I got the picture. They were almost as long as my forearm! We moved on to the side station next where they offered everything from green beans to corn pudding to salad to cucumbers to mac and cheese. We opted for the last two. The tables are all set with salt and pepper, hot sauce, barbecue sauce and a roll of paper towels. I think I used half of a roll during lunch. The barbecue sauce was pretty good. I drenched the ribs in it. I've come to realize it isn't really the ribs I like, but the sauce. I wonder what else I could slather in it? Hmmm... The mac and cheese wasn't bad, either. The cheese wasn't made from some horrible powder like I expected. It was actually real mac and cheese. The cucumber were marinated in vinegar and if left for a time, would become pickles. In fact, they almost tasted like those homemade pickles you get at the farmers market. As we were devouring our lunch like hungry wolves, I noticed the drink menu out of the corner of my eye. I had to read it sideways, of course, because my hands were dripping with barbecue sauce, but I could see it well enough to discover that they had a huge selection of beer, tequila and bourbon. Oooh la la! So....bourbon does in fact go very well with ribs, just in case you were wondering. I had to try it out, solely for educational purposes, of course. The pecan pie looked good too, but we opted out of dessert. I doubt it would have been better than my mom's, and then I would just be disappointed. All in all, this was a pretty fun place. It made me feel like buying a pair of cowboy boots and booking a trip to Austin. Hee haw!
Yuki
May 16th-
I don't even know where to start in this review of Yuki. It is definitely the best Japanese restaurant in my neighborhood, and my "go to" for takeout. Seriously, I think we eat from Yuki once a week. You can eat indoors, in its impeccably clean and modern space or when the weather is nice, you can eat outside like we did. What's good? What's not!? My favorite appetizers are the age tofu....so creamy on the inside, yet light and crunchy on the outside. How they get that tempura batter to stick to the soft wet tofu is beyond me. And, let's not forget the tuna tartar with quail egg, which is just so rich tasting, and colorful to look at......the deep red tuna playing against the bright yellow yolk of the egg.... mmm.......so decadent! I do love that the Japanese know that how something looks is just as important as how it tastes. You eat with your eyes first, after all. They also know how to make good sushi here. I have two choices for top sushi rolls. First, the shrimp tempura roll, because the shrimp is tasty and perfectly cooked, and the tempura surrounding it gives it a nice crunchy texture. They also sneak a tiny bit of a mayo based sauce on the inside, which makes it just that much more special. Second, I like the eel avocado roll. Eel coupled with avocado and eel sauce creates such an intense, distinct flavor. In all honesty, I've never had anything bad from Yuki, and I think I have tried a good portion of their menu. Their salmon sashimi is one of my favorites. I know, I know, you think there is nothing to that, but isn't there? In fact, it is the most important thing to do right, because when sashimi is bad, its really bad! At Yuki, the sashimi is awesome! First, the appearance.....it has an even, bold color, and all the salmon sashimi are the same size, the same thickness, and perfectly sliced, nothing measly and nothing obnoxious.....just the perfect size. Next, there's the smell.....fresh, like the ocean. Then, the texture.....just the right amount of firmness at first, and then, it melts in your mouth.....only the really good sashimi does this. Finally, the taste....full of gentle flavor. There is nothing like the perfect piece of salmon sashimi......with a good sake to wash it down! Last, I have one favorite entree.....just one because there is no way anything else can possibly compete with this one.....Saikyo Yaki, grilled black cod with saikyo miso flavor. Oh my god! Oh my god! It is to die for! I don't even think words can do it justice. It is the absolute best way to eat black cod, and once I had this dish, black cod became my new favorite type of fish. Yuki is never a disappointment. They even give you these little Japanese hard candies when you leave that feel like a crystallized drop of soda pop in your mouth as it dissolves-fun!
.
Sadly, Yuki is no longer in existence. Manhattan is a tough place for a restaurant.
.
I don't even know where to start in this review of Yuki. It is definitely the best Japanese restaurant in my neighborhood, and my "go to" for takeout. Seriously, I think we eat from Yuki once a week. You can eat indoors, in its impeccably clean and modern space or when the weather is nice, you can eat outside like we did. What's good? What's not!? My favorite appetizers are the age tofu....so creamy on the inside, yet light and crunchy on the outside. How they get that tempura batter to stick to the soft wet tofu is beyond me. And, let's not forget the tuna tartar with quail egg, which is just so rich tasting, and colorful to look at......the deep red tuna playing against the bright yellow yolk of the egg.... mmm.......so decadent! I do love that the Japanese know that how something looks is just as important as how it tastes. You eat with your eyes first, after all. They also know how to make good sushi here. I have two choices for top sushi rolls. First, the shrimp tempura roll, because the shrimp is tasty and perfectly cooked, and the tempura surrounding it gives it a nice crunchy texture. They also sneak a tiny bit of a mayo based sauce on the inside, which makes it just that much more special. Second, I like the eel avocado roll. Eel coupled with avocado and eel sauce creates such an intense, distinct flavor. In all honesty, I've never had anything bad from Yuki, and I think I have tried a good portion of their menu. Their salmon sashimi is one of my favorites. I know, I know, you think there is nothing to that, but isn't there? In fact, it is the most important thing to do right, because when sashimi is bad, its really bad! At Yuki, the sashimi is awesome! First, the appearance.....it has an even, bold color, and all the salmon sashimi are the same size, the same thickness, and perfectly sliced, nothing measly and nothing obnoxious.....just the perfect size. Next, there's the smell.....fresh, like the ocean. Then, the texture.....just the right amount of firmness at first, and then, it melts in your mouth.....only the really good sashimi does this. Finally, the taste....full of gentle flavor. There is nothing like the perfect piece of salmon sashimi......with a good sake to wash it down! Last, I have one favorite entree.....just one because there is no way anything else can possibly compete with this one.....Saikyo Yaki, grilled black cod with saikyo miso flavor. Oh my god! Oh my god! It is to die for! I don't even think words can do it justice. It is the absolute best way to eat black cod, and once I had this dish, black cod became my new favorite type of fish. Yuki is never a disappointment. They even give you these little Japanese hard candies when you leave that feel like a crystallized drop of soda pop in your mouth as it dissolves-fun!
.
Sadly, Yuki is no longer in existence. Manhattan is a tough place for a restaurant.
.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Momofuku Ssam Bar
April 28th-
Before heading out to the Tribeca Film Festival, Nathan and I went for an early dinner at Momofuku Ssam Bar at 2nd Avenue and 13th Street. Since we were there so early (6:45ish), we were able to walk right in. It's a pretty small place, and they don't accept reservations, so go early, really late, or be prepared to wait. The interior is modern and clean, with dark wood paneling and a long sleek bar. The bar has the little hooks underneath for your handbag, which I love a little bit too much. There is an open kitchen in the back, but it isn't loud and distracting. They offer several types of Sake, various beers and have a huge wine list, which is handed to you in a thicker than you would expect, leather-bound book that they keep behind the bar. We ordered drinks......just beer and wine....since we had to stay awake for the movie.....and then moved on to the menu. The steamed pork buns from the small plates portion of the menu were the first thing we devoured. I thought Nathan might die from excitement when they came out. They were the cutest little sandwiches made up of soft, white, spongy buns and filled with moist, tender meat.....add a touch of hot sauce and yum! Next, we had the lamb tortelloni. It was so full of flavor and texture.....my favorite! As the special entree of the night, they were offering grilled himachi collar with daikon (crunchy radish pieces, basically), umeboshi (a tart little plum colored dollop of deliciousness) and ponzu sauce. Neither one of us had ever had collar of himachi, and we wanted to be adventurous, so we ordered it. The fish had a stronger taste than I usually like, but it was a bit masked by the tasty ponzu sauce, which was key. Nathan did not get enough of the pork buns, so we ordered another round of those, and were told by our waiter/bartender that that was a common occurrence......apparently there are never enough pork buns for anyone......ever. I am usually not tempted by dessert, but when I saw what was on the menu, I made sure to leave room. How could I have possibly refused pear sorbet with pumpkin ganache and gorgonzola dolce? I couldn't! Anytime something savory is offered as a dessert in a new, creative way, I can barely contain myself. It was amazing! What a combo....a new inventive melange of scrumptiousness! Delish! I will return.
Before heading out to the Tribeca Film Festival, Nathan and I went for an early dinner at Momofuku Ssam Bar at 2nd Avenue and 13th Street. Since we were there so early (6:45ish), we were able to walk right in. It's a pretty small place, and they don't accept reservations, so go early, really late, or be prepared to wait. The interior is modern and clean, with dark wood paneling and a long sleek bar. The bar has the little hooks underneath for your handbag, which I love a little bit too much. There is an open kitchen in the back, but it isn't loud and distracting. They offer several types of Sake, various beers and have a huge wine list, which is handed to you in a thicker than you would expect, leather-bound book that they keep behind the bar. We ordered drinks......just beer and wine....since we had to stay awake for the movie.....and then moved on to the menu. The steamed pork buns from the small plates portion of the menu were the first thing we devoured. I thought Nathan might die from excitement when they came out. They were the cutest little sandwiches made up of soft, white, spongy buns and filled with moist, tender meat.....add a touch of hot sauce and yum! Next, we had the lamb tortelloni. It was so full of flavor and texture.....my favorite! As the special entree of the night, they were offering grilled himachi collar with daikon (crunchy radish pieces, basically), umeboshi (a tart little plum colored dollop of deliciousness) and ponzu sauce. Neither one of us had ever had collar of himachi, and we wanted to be adventurous, so we ordered it. The fish had a stronger taste than I usually like, but it was a bit masked by the tasty ponzu sauce, which was key. Nathan did not get enough of the pork buns, so we ordered another round of those, and were told by our waiter/bartender that that was a common occurrence......apparently there are never enough pork buns for anyone......ever. I am usually not tempted by dessert, but when I saw what was on the menu, I made sure to leave room. How could I have possibly refused pear sorbet with pumpkin ganache and gorgonzola dolce? I couldn't! Anytime something savory is offered as a dessert in a new, creative way, I can barely contain myself. It was amazing! What a combo....a new inventive melange of scrumptiousness! Delish! I will return.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Hamptons Part 2- Pierre's
April 12th-
After wine tasting at Wolffer Estate Winery in Bridgehampton, we drove two minutes to Pierre's, (it was just down the street), for a late Easter brunch. It was just what we pictured.....elegant, but understated and casual, with delicious food. And.. it isn't too large or too small inside. You have enough room to have a private conversation without being plagued by the conversation of your neighbors......something not always easy to come by in crowded Manhattan. Of course, this was off season. It was cold enough to wear winter coats on the beach, after all. You couldn't tell that inside, because the restaurant was full. The mostly white interior felt very peaceful and relaxing.....the antithesis of Manhattan, which is what we came for. And.......the first thing I saw when I sat down at the table was a tiny bowl of fleur de sel!!!!!! Being the salt lover that I am, I took that as a great sign! The menu was full of wonderful choices. I had a difficult time deciding what to order. In the end, we went with the classics......the Oeuf Poche Florentine (Eggs Florentine) and the Croque Monsieur Parisien. Both were perfectly created. The service was good, no complaints. I definitely recommend it. I must say, some of the patrons are a bit odd, though. A few minutes after we arrived, I noticed this older couple at the opposite end of the restaurant, where I was facing. I would have never noticed them, had they not been wearing dark sunglasses. I felt that weird feeling you experience when someone is staring at you, but I didn't know if they were, since they had their spy glasses on and were seated facing me anyway. I mentioned this to Nathan, telling him not to turn around......of course, the second you tell someone that, they do just that- turn around. He did, and the couple hurriedly removed their sunnies and tried to look away. We had to laugh.
After wine tasting at Wolffer Estate Winery in Bridgehampton, we drove two minutes to Pierre's, (it was just down the street), for a late Easter brunch. It was just what we pictured.....elegant, but understated and casual, with delicious food. And.. it isn't too large or too small inside. You have enough room to have a private conversation without being plagued by the conversation of your neighbors......something not always easy to come by in crowded Manhattan. Of course, this was off season. It was cold enough to wear winter coats on the beach, after all. You couldn't tell that inside, because the restaurant was full. The mostly white interior felt very peaceful and relaxing.....the antithesis of Manhattan, which is what we came for. And.......the first thing I saw when I sat down at the table was a tiny bowl of fleur de sel!!!!!! Being the salt lover that I am, I took that as a great sign! The menu was full of wonderful choices. I had a difficult time deciding what to order. In the end, we went with the classics......the Oeuf Poche Florentine (Eggs Florentine) and the Croque Monsieur Parisien. Both were perfectly created. The service was good, no complaints. I definitely recommend it. I must say, some of the patrons are a bit odd, though. A few minutes after we arrived, I noticed this older couple at the opposite end of the restaurant, where I was facing. I would have never noticed them, had they not been wearing dark sunglasses. I felt that weird feeling you experience when someone is staring at you, but I didn't know if they were, since they had their spy glasses on and were seated facing me anyway. I mentioned this to Nathan, telling him not to turn around......of course, the second you tell someone that, they do just that- turn around. He did, and the couple hurriedly removed their sunnies and tried to look away. We had to laugh.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Hamptons Part 1- Wolffer Estate Winery
April 12th-
So......we wanted to see the infamous Hamptons, but didn't want to do the go from crowded city to crowded highway to crowded beach thing.....so we went on Easter Sunday dressed in our warm sweaters and coats. No traffic....no lines.....no crowds......this was such a heavenly escape from Manhattan- instant relaxation! I might even have to say that it is one of the smartest things we have done in a long while. We decided to visit a winery, a restaurant and the beach.....in that order.
First, we drove up to Wolffer Estate Winery....it looks like a Tuscan Villa from the outside, and is so welcoming and spacious on the inside- rustic with tall ceilings and french doors that frame views of the vineyard.....(check out the video below). There were only a handful of people there, so we received wonderful service. They handed us a menu of flights, glasses and bottles, as well as assorted cheese and crackers. We wanted to try as many wines as possible, so we both chose a different flight.
Nathan chose the Grand Tasting, and I chose the Spring Tasting, which turned out to be their two most popular. I'll tell you about the Grand Tasting first. Glass number one was one of their anniversary wines which we found out, they name after horses. Don't ask me what the significance of that is, because I was too excited to try the wines that I cannot for the life of me remember what she said, and I guess Nathan was feeling the same, because he can't either. Needless to say, the wine was good. It was the Caya (the horse's name) Cabernet Franc 2005 which was a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It was very light, so I liked it, but substantial enough that Nathan, who prefers heavy reds, also enjoyed it. So far, so good. Next, was possibly one of the best wines either of us has ever put into our thirsty mouths......the Premier Cru Merlot 2004, consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Oh my god! This is what they drink in heaven. I am sure of it! And......since just one glass costs $25, (the bottle is a mere $100, and the case $600), it made the $20 flight a true value! It was just perfect.....complex, easy to drink, good aftertaste......and no, much to my dismay, I am not a professional wine taster, so yes, I am describing all of this in a way anyone can relate to, I hope. After this, nothing could measure up quite the same, but there are many more wines for me to "unprofessionally" review. Following the god's nectar, was a Claletto Amarone Style Cabernet Sauvignon 2005......100% Cabernet Sauvignon.....so, so syrupy. As she poured it, I thought it may be best on pancakes.....really, it was thick. You could see the legs (Oooh! Wine jargon! See? I know a little.) so long after you made the wine twirl and took your first sip. Nathan thought it was good, but it wasn't for me. Last in the series was the Descencia Botrytis Chardonnay 2006, which was made up of 100% Botrytis Chardonnay. She told us it is every expensive because there is a fungus that grows on some of the grapes which causes them to be super crazy sweet, and these grapes have to be handpicked, one by one, because one might have the fungus, and maybe the one next to it does not.....interesting. The wine tasted like honey......and was almost the same color.....good, very intense, but good.......a dessert wine.
Next, I will tell you about the flight I chose, the Spring Tasting. First on the list was a 2008 Rose made up of 53% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Chardonnay. Ok, I admit, anything pink in the past scared me. Whenever someone approached me with Rose, all I could think about what White Zinfandel......and bad ones.....the wines that are pink and sugary and gross, and should just be served as a wine cooler, really. This was not that wine. This was lovely. This was the wine you want at brunch on a hot summer day. This was so good. I bought a bottle. Next. Pinot Gris 2008- consisting of 88% Pinot Gris and 12% Chardonnay, (yes, I brought the menu home if you are wondering how in the world I have managed to remember all of these percentages after drinking all of this wine).....this was so light and delicious and refreshing, even Nathan, who is really picky when it comes to whites, loved this one.....yes, we bought a bottle of this, too. Next was the Estate Selection Chardonnay 2005 which was all Chardonnay baby! It was fruity, and oaky, and fabulous. No, I didn't buy this one.....but I wanted to. Finally, they brought me a Pinot Noir from 2006, which was 100% Pinot Noir. It was good, but I personally liked a few others that we had better.
So, our flights were finished.......but we were? Hell no! We still had some time before our late brunch reservation.....which was thankfully two minutes down the road, so we each chose a glass of something we hadn't tried yet. Being a big fan of Chardonnay, I ordered the Wolffer Estate Chardonnay 2006, which was all Chardonnay, and happened to be our server's favorite wine. It was delightful. Nathan opted for La Ferme Martin Merlot 2004, which......ok, this is the last time I am going to do this, I promise.......80% Merlot, 18.5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and .5% Pinot Noir. The wine was good, but how can you come back from the nectar of the gods Premier Cru?
What a heavenly place! Now we must move to wine country!
So......we wanted to see the infamous Hamptons, but didn't want to do the go from crowded city to crowded highway to crowded beach thing.....so we went on Easter Sunday dressed in our warm sweaters and coats. No traffic....no lines.....no crowds......this was such a heavenly escape from Manhattan- instant relaxation! I might even have to say that it is one of the smartest things we have done in a long while. We decided to visit a winery, a restaurant and the beach.....in that order.
First, we drove up to Wolffer Estate Winery....it looks like a Tuscan Villa from the outside, and is so welcoming and spacious on the inside- rustic with tall ceilings and french doors that frame views of the vineyard.....(check out the video below). There were only a handful of people there, so we received wonderful service. They handed us a menu of flights, glasses and bottles, as well as assorted cheese and crackers. We wanted to try as many wines as possible, so we both chose a different flight.
Nathan chose the Grand Tasting, and I chose the Spring Tasting, which turned out to be their two most popular. I'll tell you about the Grand Tasting first. Glass number one was one of their anniversary wines which we found out, they name after horses. Don't ask me what the significance of that is, because I was too excited to try the wines that I cannot for the life of me remember what she said, and I guess Nathan was feeling the same, because he can't either. Needless to say, the wine was good. It was the Caya (the horse's name) Cabernet Franc 2005 which was a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. It was very light, so I liked it, but substantial enough that Nathan, who prefers heavy reds, also enjoyed it. So far, so good. Next, was possibly one of the best wines either of us has ever put into our thirsty mouths......the Premier Cru Merlot 2004, consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Oh my god! This is what they drink in heaven. I am sure of it! And......since just one glass costs $25, (the bottle is a mere $100, and the case $600), it made the $20 flight a true value! It was just perfect.....complex, easy to drink, good aftertaste......and no, much to my dismay, I am not a professional wine taster, so yes, I am describing all of this in a way anyone can relate to, I hope. After this, nothing could measure up quite the same, but there are many more wines for me to "unprofessionally" review. Following the god's nectar, was a Claletto Amarone Style Cabernet Sauvignon 2005......100% Cabernet Sauvignon.....so, so syrupy. As she poured it, I thought it may be best on pancakes.....really, it was thick. You could see the legs (Oooh! Wine jargon! See? I know a little.) so long after you made the wine twirl and took your first sip. Nathan thought it was good, but it wasn't for me. Last in the series was the Descencia Botrytis Chardonnay 2006, which was made up of 100% Botrytis Chardonnay. She told us it is every expensive because there is a fungus that grows on some of the grapes which causes them to be super crazy sweet, and these grapes have to be handpicked, one by one, because one might have the fungus, and maybe the one next to it does not.....interesting. The wine tasted like honey......and was almost the same color.....good, very intense, but good.......a dessert wine.
Next, I will tell you about the flight I chose, the Spring Tasting. First on the list was a 2008 Rose made up of 53% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Chardonnay. Ok, I admit, anything pink in the past scared me. Whenever someone approached me with Rose, all I could think about what White Zinfandel......and bad ones.....the wines that are pink and sugary and gross, and should just be served as a wine cooler, really. This was not that wine. This was lovely. This was the wine you want at brunch on a hot summer day. This was so good. I bought a bottle. Next. Pinot Gris 2008- consisting of 88% Pinot Gris and 12% Chardonnay, (yes, I brought the menu home if you are wondering how in the world I have managed to remember all of these percentages after drinking all of this wine).....this was so light and delicious and refreshing, even Nathan, who is really picky when it comes to whites, loved this one.....yes, we bought a bottle of this, too. Next was the Estate Selection Chardonnay 2005 which was all Chardonnay baby! It was fruity, and oaky, and fabulous. No, I didn't buy this one.....but I wanted to. Finally, they brought me a Pinot Noir from 2006, which was 100% Pinot Noir. It was good, but I personally liked a few others that we had better.
So, our flights were finished.......but we were? Hell no! We still had some time before our late brunch reservation.....which was thankfully two minutes down the road, so we each chose a glass of something we hadn't tried yet. Being a big fan of Chardonnay, I ordered the Wolffer Estate Chardonnay 2006, which was all Chardonnay, and happened to be our server's favorite wine. It was delightful. Nathan opted for La Ferme Martin Merlot 2004, which......ok, this is the last time I am going to do this, I promise.......80% Merlot, 18.5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and .5% Pinot Noir. The wine was good, but how can you come back from the nectar of the gods Premier Cru?
What a heavenly place! Now we must move to wine country!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)