Manoavino Taste!

Exotic Cocktail Ingredients

Thinking about making some special cocktails for New Years Eve?

Your liquor cabinet may already be stocked with cocktail staples like red and white Vermouth; orange liqueurs like Cointreau or Gran Marnier or a lesser substitute Triple Sec; maybe you also have other popular mixing liquors like the raspberry Chambord.

But if you want to do something different you will need exotic ingredients like these.

Sushi Lounge Rocks - In Search of Sushi Part Two

We dined at Sushi Lounge last week to satisfy a raw desire for some good Sake and Sushi.

Sushi Lounge delivered well on both points. We were very happy as a trip to Nori in Montclair, last week left us disappointed.

Recessionista

Recessionista, Frugalista oh the word spinners are at large. We love these terms that swing saving money into a fashionable event. We have embraced the concept of scoring great values on wine. And look to deliver this to you every day. Thanks for reading.

Be sure to share your favorite wine bargain by posting a comment.

So You Think You Hate Lima Beans?

Mention Lima Beans or Brussels Sprouts and your likely to hear groans of distaste, they are two much maligned foods, but quite undeservedly.

My mother served both when we were kids and I detested them, they came from a can or out of the freezer not fresh from the garden as she no doubt enjoyed them as a child.

But correctly prepared both Limas and Brussels can  be utterly delightful.

The Queen of Cocktails

Working in New York has opened up a wonderful spell to read and listen and now watch stories, music and all sorts of content.  I once gazed in disbelief at people watching movies on the bus with tiny devices they held in their hand, but now thanks to my slick video IPod and the abundance of great content in the ITunes podcast library I have to say I am hooked on video podcasts.

A series I have been enjoying lately features a dynamic woman I consider the undisputed Queen of Cocktails, Alberta Straub. In the predominantly male field of cocktail experts, Alberta stands out as one of the most creative. Her video podcasts are wonderfully entertaining and educational.

Two I enjoyed recently include this one on Alberta's techniques for assembling cocktails.

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Argentina

While shopping at Kings in Upper Montclair I was intrigued by a very happy person offering samples of a nice looking Fair Trade Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Great Olive Oil is an essential staple of our kitchen, we favor Santini Extra Virgin that we buy at Trader Joes. It is a very good inexpensive olive oil. 

I have been looking for somethng at a more premium level without a high price. The last find was from Australia but went out of stock at TJ's before I could buy more.

This oil may become a new favorite.  

In Search of Sushi

With all the Japanese restaurants in Montclair, 9 in all, I regret to say that there is not one I really like anymore.

Dai Kichi in Upper Montclair has always been a favorite and is still pretty good but has lost some of the qualities in atmosphere and staff that made it perfect a couple of years back.

Gave Nori a try a few nights ago and was disappointed.

Maybe I am jaded, or just spoiled by restaurants in NY like Blue Ribbon Sushi.

A Compulsion for Cocktails

I apologize, for being off-line for so long. The new job in New York City has kept me quite busy. It is exciting and I love being in New York every day, but it has distracted me from posting.

This week's Dining section in the NY Times focused on Cocktails, the articles got me fired up to start posting again. You know how I love cocktails.

Oliver Schwaner-Albright's great article entitled Let 100 (O.K., 8) Bartending Philosophies Bloom got me started on a mission to explore all the exotic cocktail bars in NY City. 

Here is my initial list. I am learning that this journey could take years.