Manoavino Taste!

From Sicily with Love, a Very Fine Nero D'Avola, Case Ibidini, with Saturday Dinner, Rib Eye, Polenta, Burrata and...

Gaetana Jacono, owner and winemaker at Valle dell'Acate, Case Ibidini

By now you must know we love Sicilian wines, each year they get better, first tried this lovely Nero D’Avola from Case Ibidini at a tasting I hosted a few months ago, so excited to sip it again.

The Wine: Nero D'Avola, Case Ibidini, Valle dell'Acate – 2012 $$

The Food: Rib eye steak rubbed with fresh rosemary and garlic grilled outdoors in spite of the snow, creamy polenta, burrata cheese over greens.

The Place: Happy at home on a Saturday night, with pictures of Sicily dancing in our heads.

A Marco Polo Selection: Mongolian Stir Fry and Italian Wine

I don’t often think of Italian wine to pair with Asian food. But this discovery, a Pecorino, the grape not the cheese, from a winery Terre di Chieti in the Abruzzo region of central Italy was perfect with a Mongolian stir fry. It inspired thoughts of Marco Polo who spent 24 years of his life exploring Asia and served in the court of Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. I bet he would have loved this wine.

The Wine:  Pehhcora Pecorino, Terre Di Chieti $$

The Food:  A Mongolian stir fry with Tofu and Asian vegetables

The Place:  Sunday dinner at home. Before settling down for an episode of Downton Abbey.

At the End of Elm is the Beginning of Goodness

Our second visit to this charming Gastropub, End of Elm, that delivers deliciously creative American fare, well crafted cocktails and 24 taps of thoughtfully selected local, American and European craft beers. And a great wine list.

We loved a Saturday brunch at the welcoming communal table and then small plates on a Monday evening at the well tended bar.

The Wine: Eventually, after cocktails and beers, an outstanding Merlot from Chateau Des Landes-Lussac in Saint Emilion, France

The Food: New American Brunch and Small Plates

The Place: End of Elm, Gastropub, Cocktails and Cuisine, Morristown, NJ

Happy Valentine's Day

For Valentines Day, Pink of Course, Ferrari Rose Sparkling Wine

The Wine: Ferrari Rose $$$

The Food: White Pizza to White Truffles

The Place: Wherever you choose to celebrate.

Cantine Ferrari, Trentino, is Italy’s most popular producer of sparkling wines, spumante as it is called in Italy. Which is good because all Ferrari makes is sparkling wine, which is also good because, specializing in one type of wine makes them the best. And of course, rose is the perfect color for Valentine’s day.

Sexy and Romantic, Cocktails, Small Plates and a Fabulous Merlot at Upstairs

Arrive early, by 6:00ish, and find a seat at the bar, Upstairs in Montclair fills up quickly, its popularity is well deserved.

The Wine: Started with cocktails of course, then a fabulous Columbia Valley, Washington State, Merlot from Powers Winery $$

The Food: Delicious small plates, soup, salad, meat and – OMG - Foie Gras, dipped in bitter chocolate and hazelnuts served in a port reduction. Amazing.  

The: Place: Upstairs Restaurant and Bar, Montclair, NJ

A Wonderful Discovery Wallflower West Village NYC

This charming little cocktail bar and French inspired restaurant, that just opened a few months ago, has everything you want in a place like this, great cocktails, wine, beers and sexy food in a welcoming setting with charmingly pleasant people. We came upon it by happenstance on the way to the theater when my mobile Foursquare app popped up a suggestion to check this place out. 

The Wine: Chateau Soucherie, Anjou Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Loire Valley $$

The Food: Fabulous French Inspired Small Plates

The Place: Wallflower, 12th Street near Greenwich, West Village NYC

Stay Warm With Mulled Wine

Recipes