June 2009 Archives

Good news for foodees in Midtown, Aureole is offering 15% off all menus during their soft opening period (now - Sep. 15th).  In a dramatic departure from the Upper East Side townhouse setting of the old space, the new Aureole is housed in the brand new Bank of America Tower on 6th Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets, diagonally across from Bryant Park. 

The atmosphere is now more like the Aureole in Las Vegas... with the dramatic wine racking on view, and a more modern aesthetic.  It's also more approachable...  with huge glass windows at street level, it's more inviting and the format also encourages more casual visits.  The restaurant now has a bar room and the formal dining room.  The bar room features an a la carte menu and the dining room a prix fixe.  It also has seasonal outdoor seating.  The bar room is "smart, casual" and has table service for 64 and an 18 seat bar.  The dining room seats 54 and is more formal; it was designed to evoke the feeling of the former townhouse space with warm colors and luxurious textiles.  The outdoor terrace seating is on "Anita's Way" which is the pedestrian walkway connecting the 42nd and 43rd street sides of the building. The interior design was done by Adam Tihany.

Personally, I'm looking forward to trying the crispy soft shell crab with endive and granny smith apple and branzini with artichokes, capers and black olives in the bar room! 

Very bad news came today, Payard has closed earlier than expected.

Apparently, they are looking for a new space... so hopefully we won't have to wait long... and hopefully (for me at least) the new space will also be on the Upper East Side.  It's such a shame because the current space was so beautifully built-out, it really made you feel tranported to Paris... The unfortunate closure is due to a rent dispute... the landlord was asking for a very large increase.  Very sad.

I'm glad I made in it last week to pick up some macarons, it may be a while until I get more...

I'm usually a red wine drinker, except for Champagne of course... and a nice white in the Summer.  I love a nice Sancerre, Muscadet, Gavi di Gavi, Greco di Tufo.... etc. etc.

But here's a relatively new discovery: Bruno Giacosa Roero Arneis 2007. (pronounced: roh-EHR-oh ahr-NAYZ)  If you're in the NYC area, PJ Wines has it for a great price of $25.99. (vs. Wine.com for $35.99!)

I was never very familiar with this DOCG region, since Piedmont is known mostly for its reds.  The region is in the Roero hills to the north and east of Alba in southeastern Piedmont. It was granted its own DOC designation in 1985. The Roero Arneis white is made with 100% Arneis grapes.

The nose displays pear, peach and papaya scents with a hints of jasmine, minerals, honey and a dash of fresh hay. The palate features pear, orange zest and minerals that merge into white peach and finishes with delicate spice and florals. It's elegant and refreshing and pairs well with summery dishes like poached or grilled fish, crab cakes and chicken paillard.

Robert Parker has called the wine "One of the most glorious dry white wines made in Italy". Of this vintage, the Wine Advocate calls it a "knockout" with "gorgeous inner sweetness in its ripe apricots, peaches and flowers".

Green Canteen has opened in Williamsburg at 106 N. 6th Street. The new restaurant (by the same people behind Dogmatic Sausage System) is based on the simple philosophy that you can savor the great taste of fresh, delicious food and feel good afterwards. The "Eat Well. Feel Well" menu consists of Mediterranean inspired food and American classics prepared in an innovative way.

Green Canteen offers dishes using super fresh, high quality ingredients. These include fresh antipasti, flatbreads made in an earth-stone oven, fresh salads with grilled seafood, chicken or meats, hummus bowls with skewers of meats and vegetables, handcrafted mini burgers, freshly made soups and chilis, plus homemade sodas, shakes and desserts.

The menu allows you to feel good because the food is clean and wholesome. The ingredients are sourced locally wherever possible, and are free from hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, artificial flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats. Their chefs seek out sustainably grown food and free-range meats.

You can enjoy all of this in a cozy booth or at a community table. Its a friendly, non-stuffy envirnoment where you can just hang out and relax.

Green Canteen is the first New York State restaurant to be SILVER LEED Certified. In addition to the reclaimed wood for the community table, all other woods are certified from the Forest Stewardship Council. Green Canteen features many other eco-friendly innovations: solar panel hot water system to provide hot water, low-flow plumbing fixtures and has committed to 100% wind energy usage. Most of the design and construction materials for Green Canteen have been sourced form local manufacturers, suppliers and vendors.

It's already getting good reviews.  A New York Magazine reader says "Food was really, really good and reasonably priced. We ordered several dishes for the table and it was more than enough food...the flatbreads were fantastic; my wife loved the shrimp hummus dish...definitely going back there!"

Sounds great...  Their website is not up yet, nor are they listed on Menu Pages, but I am sure they will be soon.  Cheers.

I have a few wines that I continually go back to, they're a little more special than an everyday wine but certainly don't break the bank. (listed in no particular order)  These wines are good year in, year out.  I've never had a bad year from any of them. In parenthesis is the current vintage available now in most wine shops, the Wine Spectator score and the aprox. price. 

1. Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva (Tuscany) (current: 2005 - WS 90, $20)

2. Bruno Giacosa Dolcetto d' Alba (Piedmont) (current: 2007 - WS 87, $24)

3. Travaglini Gattinara (Piedmont) (current: 2003 - WS 91, $30)

4. Antinori Chianti Classico Peppoli (Tuscany) (current: 2006 - WS 90, $26)

5. Bruno Giacosa Barbera d' Alba (Piedmont) (current: 2005 - WS 86, $30)

These are all wines that are pretty easy to find.  In New York, you can get them at Sherry Lehmann. Cheers.

I read in the New York Times that the Obamas had been to La Fontaine de Mars for dinner while in Paris last week.  I don't know the restaurant scene in Paris that well - -so I thought it was funny that this place IS one of my places that I always visit when I'm in Paris. It's a charming spot near the Eiffel Tower in the 7th.  It has that classic bistro look and serves non-fussy food like freshly sliced country ham, escargots, steak frites, daurade... etc. etc.  And they have a nice wine list with a wide selection of prices to suit everyone.

The location overlooks a charming fountain (thus the name) and there is outdoor seating in season.

Mark Your Calendars for Thursday, October 8th - Sunday, October 11th

Festival Founder and Director Lee Brian Schrager, in collaboration with Southern Wine & Spirits of New York, is pleased to announce tickets will go on sale June 15th, 2009 for the second annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine and Travel+Leisure magazines.

Taking place this Columbus Day weekend, all the proceeds from the Festival will again benefit the hunger-relief organizations Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength. "After a record-breaking year at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, we are excited to return to New York City with a one-of-a-kind program," says Schrager. "In these hard times, hunger-relief organizations need our help even more and these two valuable organizations excel at putting these proceeds to good use. We are honored to be working with them to bring awareness to this issue and help families in need."

Guests will be delighted to savor the selection of exciting new events that have been added for the 2009 Festival. The fresh program begins on Thursday, October 8th with Bacon, Bourbon and the Blues hosted by Thrillist with the following innovative programming continuing throughout the weekend:

• Beloved and controversial New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni will hold a culinary discussion to share insights from the field and discuss the highly anticipated release of his book "Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater" (Penguin, 2009)
• An unprecedented dinner series in conjunction with the James Beard House will include:
  • The intersection between food and fashion will be examined at the highly anticipated dinner hosted by fashion designer Zac Posen with Giada De Laurentiis (Giada at Home) and Marcus Samuelsson
  • 2009 James Beard Award "Best Chef New York City" Gabriel Kreuther of The Modern hosting an Oktoberfest Dinner
  • An unprecedented dinner with Alain Ducasse and his chefs who will cook in the Beard House kitchen for the first time
  • A decadent Jacques Torres & Friends Chocolate Brunch
• TimesTalks presented by New York Times will feature a new line-up of discussions with Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, and Anthony Bourdain
• The Festival's interactive wine and spirits seminars and cocktail clinics will return, taking place at Festival headquarters, The Standard, New York with new headliners like Kevin Zraly, Tony Abou-Ganim, Andrea Robinson, Anthony Giglio and Josh Wesson
• Not-to-be-missed wine seminars at the Astor Center, featuring in-depth discussions with brand aficionados including Boisset, Perrier-Jouet Fleur led by Agnes Laplanche, and Chateau de Beaucastel led by fifth generation owner and winemaker Marc Perrin
• Delta presents Dim Sum & Disco Brunch hosted by Ming Tsai, featuring talent such as Shang's Susur Lee and Chinatown Brasserie's Joe Ng at China Grill
• An all-day affair Flavors of the Farm: A Day with Stone Barns Center and Blue Hill at Stone Barns
• Hill Country will play host to the queen of Southern cuisine and her friends as Paula Deen hosts Down South Up North with boys Bobby and Jamie Deen; featuring the latest creations from the Lee Bros., along with Art Smith, Chris Lily and Katie Lee Joel
• Closing out the weekend is an unprecedented tribute to Little Italy's most iconic dish the "meatball", with Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis at la venue at the Waterfront

Returning Festival favorites include the kick-off event Chelsea Market After Dark presented by Food Network and hosted by Guy Fieri (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) and Sandra Lee (Sandra's Money Saving Meals); the Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Allen Brothers hosted by Rachael Ray held under the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO; the chic neighborhood-wide tasting Meatpacking Uncorked; RED hosted by Tom Colicchio with Paul Bartolotta; the celebration of sugary delicacies known as Godiva Chocolatier presents SWEET sponsored by Perrier-Jouet, hosted by Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes); and the unparalleled tasting of food, wine and spirits found in the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite at Pier 54 in Hudson River Park.

SOURCE Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

This is quite unusual, but PJ Wine actually sells the half bottles of Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label for less than half price of the normal bottle!  I've never seen that before.... not to mention their price on a full bottle is one of the best in the market... so it's really a killer deal.

750 ml bottle = $36.97

375 ml bottle = $17.27

At regular places on the Upper East Side it is about $22, if you can find it at all!

Half bottles are great to have around for when you want to start dinner (or pre-dinner) with a little bit of Champagne... and then you're moving on to a red to go with dinner.  I hate to open a whole bottle because even with the stoppers they sell to preserve it, they don't work that well.  And with real Champagne, it's a shame to waste any.

There was a great article in the New York Times on Sunday, "A Town Fights to Save an Osais of Baguettes" by Dan Barry.

It's a charming story about a French couple who moved to a small town in New Hampshire and opened "Le Rendez-Vous" a French bakery.  It opened in 2001 and was embraced  by the community.  Recently the State Dept. denied the renewal of the E-2 investor visa of one of the owners because the business was determined to be "marginal" and not meet the need of having a significant economic impact in the U.S.  And the bakery would have to close.  Of course, town residents were up in arms at the thought of losing their baguettes (and friends) and petitioned, wrote letters, etc. etc.  And it worked!  The decision was reversed.

Nice to see that sometimes things do work out for the best.  As a fellow baguette fanatic, I would definitely have done the same.

Wine prices have been creeping up over the last year or so... it seems all of my favorite wines are at least a few dollars more than they used to be.  But happily, there are still plenty of good wines under $15.  Here are my top 10:

1. Carpineto Dogajolo, $9.49

2. Villadoria Dolcetto d' Alba 2007, $9.99

3. Di Majo Norante Sangiovese 2007, $11.79 

4. Luccarelli Primitivo 2006, $10.99

5. Sierra Cantabria Rioja 2006, $9.97

6. Dom Martinho Quinta do Carmo 2005, $10.95

7. Chandon Blanc de Noirs NV, $13.97

8. Terre Primitivo 2007, $8.95

9. Banfi Col di Sasso 2006, $7.39

10. Vina Mayor Ribera del Duero 2006, $9.95