Manoavino Taste!

For the Morning of January 1, 2011 Hangover Helper

A friend of mine in the PR business sent this along and I thought you might enjoy it.

AgroLabs has a series of products that can help cure even the worst hangover, providing your body with sufficient vitamins and nutrients to help you bounce back to normal in no time. Wow, I love that.

AgroLabs Hangover Helper

½ oz. Green Envy Daily Detox
½ oz. Acai Daily Cleanse
Juice from ½ a lime
4 Mint Leaves
Ginger Ale

Mix ingredients in a glass filled with ice, top with ginger ale and stir

Personally I might throw in a shot of Vodka as well, "Hair of the Dog." 

New Years Eve 2010 Sparkling Wine Values

Like me you are probably running out to pick up some sparkling wine to toast in the New Year today. Here are some suggestions you might want to consider.

Keep in mind that Champagne is not your only option. There are many sparkling wines done in the champagne style that can't be named as such because of legal restrictions. There are also wonderful Cavas from Spain and Proseccos from Italy that make a great New Year's toast.

Here are some suggestions all very good values at their price of $15 to $20:

Discovered at a holiday party, Rustic Food a great caterer and two really good Pinot Noirs

I love the holiday season with all the parties , food, wine and merriment. Truth is however  much of what we endulge in at these big holiday parties is just ok, low cost and quantity are the driving force. Not so at this party thrown by old New York friends who are now Montclair friends.

It was a great party and very worthy of note was the great food and service provided by Rustic Food the Custom Caterer out of Clifton, NJ. I would also like to share the names of two really good and well priced Pinot Noirs that were served. Permutations Pinot Noir by R Wines of Victoria, Australia and Yealands Pinot Noir form Marlborough, New Zealand. 

Both these wines came from Gary's Wines.

 

Gottino Enoteca e Salumeri has a New Blog

Stopped by our favorite wine bar Gottino to celebrate my brother's birthday.   

As usual we enjoyed immensely delicious wine and some very good food.  While chatting with my friend and Gottino Wine Director, Jeremy Mustakas, he told me about the new Gottino blog and I wanted to share it with you, www.ilmiogottino.com. Check it out.

 

Our 2010 Christmas Cocktail - Pomegranate and Lime Martini

I love it when I can combine something really healthy like Pomegranate juice and well who says good Vodka is not good for you.

Anyway the red and green colors add to the holiday spirit. The drink is delicious and will add life to any party, even a party of one.

The recipe is below, you can make it clean like the version here or get fancy and do a sugar and lemon or orange zest rim. A little extra work but your guests will love you.

Happy Holidays.

A Perfect Winter Food and Wine Pairing - Rich Martin Codax Albarino and a Hearty Pea Soup

I love Albarino the Spanish grape that reminds me of Savignon Blanc. I usually drink it in the summer with fresh shellfish and seasonal summer dishes. It is my favorite wine for White Sangria when fresh peaches are in season.

But it is December and I am wondering how will this wine work with a winter dish like the hearty pea soup I just made. As it turned out it went very well.

Martin Codax Albarino is a rich, elegant wine that fills your mouth with wonderful flavors of apple, lemon, and peach, with undertones of fresh herbs and delightful minerality. 

Widely available and selling for around $12 it is a great wine to try.

My pea soup was made from a recipe....

Alex Elman, with passion and a mission, presents her "Authentic Wine Treasures" from Argentina

I had the great pleasures of speaking and then meeting Alex Elman this weekend. What started as a phone conversation arranged by Alex's PR team turned into a trip to Sparta, NJ where she was showing her wines at the eclectic Burke's Wine.

I was so intrigued by Alex Elman's life story and approach to wine I just had to meet her in person. Plus, Diana needed some wine for a fund raising event she was doing with Garden State Yoga in Bloomfield, NJ. What better wine for an event with a Yoga group than Elman's pure organically produced, terroir authentic, wines.

We tasted her four new offerings from Argentina and heard more of her story. It is quite a tale.

Salt, Stanhope, NJ - New Jersey's First and Best Gastropub (A pub with high quality food)

There is a tradition in my family that goes back generations.  I carry on that tradition with pride and there is nothing that makes me happier than "dinning at the bar" at a well run Pub, Inn, Bar, Restaurant, Gin Mill, "Gastropub" what ever you choose to call it. If there is a nice bar, with a friendly bartender, comfy stools, good food, and a nice selection of beer, wine or spirits I am in.

Today, my favorite of such establishments in the NY-NJ area is the fabulous "Gastropub" called Salt in Stanhope, NJ.

The passionate creation of Bradley and Laurie Boyle, Salt delivers on all points, friendly people, a flavorsome interesting menu, and lots of good beer on tap and over 50 to choose from in bottles. I just love this place.