Manoavino Taste!

South African Dinner with Two Wines You Should Try

Chenin Blanc grapes make beautiful wines.  But in America this varietal is sadly underrated and under-appreciated. It was very popular back in the 70's but then faded away behind Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. I think that is on the verge of changing as more and more people are looking for new wine experiences.

The most popular Chenin Blancs are from the Loire Valley in France, scores of wine makers produce it in Australia. But South Africa is where Chenin Blanc really shines.  Here are two we really enjoyed with a South African dinner I made.

The evening started with some hot South African Pop and Indie music, compliments of the Hype Machine a very hip new music straming site. Just search African when you get there.

The South African Cape is an abundantly green region that has much to explore.

QBA Kitchen - Great Cuban Food - New in Watchung Plaza Montclair, NJ Review -

Unfortunately QBA has closed. We wish them the best in their new ventures. They are looking for a partner to open a full table service venue.

I love Cuban food, but I never caught up to the QBA Truck as it made its way around Montclair winning awards like the Star Ledger's "Best of Season 2010" and rave reviews from street food lovers in the area.

So boy was I happy when I learned that they were opening a restaurant in Watchung Plaza. We had a quick dinner there this past Friday on the way to the movies and went away happy and satisfied.

QBA Kitchen lives up to its promise of being the "first and only premium Cuban quick service restaurant for great tasting “slow-cooked food served fast.”

Read More Montclair Reviews Here

Good Wines for QBA

A Perfect Sunday Brunch at Braai, South African Restaurant, after a Visit to the Rubin Museum of Art

After a beatific visit to the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art we longed for a special dining  experience to extend our blissful state. A trip uptown to the South African restaurant Braai rewarded us with just that.

Braai sweeps you away into a delightful South African enclave, some call it an "African wonderland retreat." They serve exotic and simple cuisine an beverages of a region that draws on influences from the UK, Holland, and places like India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Madagascar as well as the indigenous flavors of Africa.  

The environment is intoxicating as are the endless exotic fruit mimosas that we enjoyed with our brunch.

Choosing the Best Wine for Your Next Dinner Party

Here is some good wine pairing advice from our friends at Everywine.co.uk

A poorly chosen bottle of wine can let down even the most delicious, well-cooked meal. So when you are throwing a dinner party, it is vital that you select the right bottle of wine to compliment your culinary delights and ensure a happy gathering.

The first question to ponder is often whether to serve red white or white wine. If you fall at this hurdle, you might want to reconsider your future as a dinner party host!

Antano Montefalco Rosso 90pt wine from Umbria a real "value" wine

In my book there are three types of wine that fall into the broadly defined "value" category. Wines that sell for $5-10 that are just not very good. There are $10-$15 wines that are very good and well priced.

And then the $15-$25 bottles that are truly exceptional and drink like much more expensive wines. This Montefalco from Umbria by Milziade Antano Winery is one of those gems.

I first tasted this wine at my favorite wine bar, Gottino, in NYC and then was delighted to find it for only $19.95 at my favorite wine store Amanti Vino in Montclair. Oops out of stock there. Looks like we might have to wait for the 2008 vintage. BACK IN STOCK at Amanti Vino

A great lunch at the Cozy End, Montclair, NJ Restaurant Review

The Cozy End in Upper Montclair, NJ might be the town's best kept secret. That last time I had been there was the day we closed on our Montclair home back in 1987. It is no secret to the solid following of regulars that frequent this cute unassuming diner style restaurant that has served Montclair for 42 years.

I have actually been wanting to try the Cozy End again ever since they started serving dinner a while back.  The kids and I were out to lunch last Saturday and were heading to Dai Kichi but it was closed. So I suggested trying Cozy End and they said "sure, we love places like that."

Well let me tell you, while the Cozy End does not have the most elegant ambience, the food is excellent, service friendly and prices are great. Everything tastes very homemade. We really enjoyed lunch. Here is what we had.

Zinburger Clifton, NJ Restaurant Review - we liked this place in spite of waiting for an hour

Where do you go in Montclair on a Saturday night for a good beer and a bite to eat? Tierney's and Egan's are usually mobbed.

We had just finished watching a Montclair Hight Varsity Hockey game with friends and wanted to grab a quick bite. Nothing in Montclair piqued our interest, so we decided to head over to Zinburger in Clifton.

Well we did have some very good beer and some great food, but forget about missing the mobbed part. At 8:30 there was a "45 minute" wait that turned into an hour. It may have been longer if Diana had not been bugging the inexperienced hostess.

Nevertheless, we got some draft beer at the bar and found a corner with a little ledge where we could stand and talk until our table was available.  Once we sat the service was for the most part great and the food good.

JukGajee Thai Bloomfield NJ Restaurant Review - delicious Thai food paired with a delicious Oregon white wine

There is a new and very exciting contender for best Thai restaurant in our neighborhood. JukGajee, which I am told means "tickle" in Thai, quietly opened a few months ago on Broad Street in downtown Bloomfield, NJ. Fans have been raving ever since. We dined there last night and I have to say Wow! JukGajee brings fun, excitement, and the most delicious cuisine this side of the Chao Phraya.

Their secret is an absolute commitment to authenticity and quality. They make all their dishes from scratch down to their own tamarind sauce. Place that in a groovy environment with engaging and interested staff and you have a restaurant that you've just got to try. Personally I can't wait to get back for more.