Recent Posts

momofuku ssäm bar

August 24, 2014July 19, 2016

David Chang has changed the restaurant world. His Momofuku empire was named as the "Most Important Restaurant in the US" by Bon Apetit last year, and for good reason. The Momofuku brand pushes high end food in a casual atmosphere. No longer are white tablecloths necessary for an exceptional meal.... Read More

2010 Renieri Invetro

August 23, 2014September 9, 2016

Sometimes, I pick up a bottle of wine for a completely random reason. Like tonight. I bought this IGT Super Tuscan at Total Wine for one reason only, because it had a glass stopper instead of a regular cork. Oh, yeah, and it cost $14. The Vino-Lok system uses glass... Read More

Cocktails

It’s Always Sunny

August 20, 2014July 29, 2016

I was eating at the Ravenous Pig last weekend and had the most delicious cocktail. It was barrel aged and they called it "It's Always Sunny." The menu listed the ingredients as Smooth Ambler gin, Aperol, and St. Germain a so I at least knew where to start. I didn't have... Read More

Recipe Sweets

Macarons: You CAN use store-bought egg whites!

August 19, 2014January 5, 2017 baking, cookies, macarons, pastry, sweets

I've been toying with this recipe for almost a year now. At first, it was general annoyance at having to wait days, aging egg whites and trying to use up leftover yolks. But after failed attempts, near misses, and almost successes, I became obsessed. There had to be a way... Read More

Cocktails

The Classic Manhattan Cocktail

August 18, 2014October 2, 2016 Rye, Sweet Vermouth, Whiskey, Whisky

Until a few months ago, I didn't believe I liked Manhattans. Give me a good Old Fashioned any day of the week, but Manhattans were out of my league.Truth be told, I hadn't had one since college, and that was using God only knows what whiskey, and probably no bitters... Read More

France Pinot Noir Tasting Wine

2008 Domaine Gros Frère et Soeur Vosne-Romanee

August 17, 2014September 9, 2016

When it comes to my most beloved wines, red Burgundy is very high on the list. Nowhere else in the world does Pinot Noir achieve the magical, ethereal quality that it does in this part of France. All that magic though, comes at a price. The reputation of certain villages,... Read More

Restaurants

Stone Barns in Westchester County

August 16, 2014July 29, 2016

Just 40 minutes north of New York City lies Stone Barns. I had heard of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, the super famous farm-to-table restaurant of celebrity chef Dan Barber, but had never eaten there. It's on my list, but the timing has never worked out. This summer, I decided... Read More

France Gamay Tasting Wine

2009 Domaine Diochon Moulin-a-Vent

August 12, 2014September 9, 2016

Why don't people drink more Beaujolais? Every time I open a bottle, I ask myself that very question. For roughly $25 you can get a great (not just good, not just tasty, but really damn nice) bottle of wine and tonight's Moulin-a-Vent (one of the 10 Beaujolais crus) proves my point exactly.... Read More

Cocktails

Faux Negroni

August 9, 2014July 18, 2016 Aperol, Gin, Sweet Vermouth

For the past few months, I've been drinking Cheeky Negronis. Gin, Aperol and Lillet combine to make a light, refreshing drink that pays homage to the classic. But now, as school get back in session (yes, school starts in August here in Florida) I want to take it one step... Read More

Recipe Sweets

Boozy Bourbon Pecan Bars

August 8, 2014October 2, 2016 baking, bourbon, pecan, sweets

I've always liked pecan pie. My problem with most recipes though is that there is too much filling, making them overly sweet and overly rich. These pecan bars have a thin pastry crust with a thin layer of nuts and bourbon caramel. Perfect. This recipe is adapted from several I... Read More