Manoavino Taste!

On The Way Home From The Beach -Thai Cuisine and French Wine Fall in Love

After a wonderful afternoon on the beach with Diana, and best friends Cathy and Conrad, we decide to try a Thai place in Sea Girt. Of course I came prepared with two wines that I thought might go well with Thai cuisine.  

The Wine: Chateau de Jonquiers Corbières, Grenache Syrah, and Avant-Garde, Sauvignon Blanc, Val D’Orbieu Cooperative $$-$$$

The Food: A feast of delicious Thai cuisine

The Place: Siam Basil, Sea Girt New Jersey

I Love Muscadet, What More Can I Say, You Will Too

More proof that Muscadet is the perfect wine for seafood.

The Wine: Le Fief Du Breil, Muscadet Sevre et Maine, Domaine de la Louvetrie $$

The Food: Sea Scallops and escarole, an Anita Lo recipe, with red peppers and Israeli couscous

The Place: Dreaming of the beautiful Loire Valley

Romantic, Spontaneous, Hangover Cure

We really did plan to have dinner at home Sunday night, had carefully chosen all the ingredients at the Montclair Farmers Market the day before. But then there was that big party Saturday night. Still too hung-over to cook, let’s find somewhere romantic to heal.

The Wine: Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosato, hair of the dog as they say.

The Food: Fiore Di Zucca, Insalata Fungi & Pizzete Nduja, a perfect hangover remedy.

The Place: Trattoria Salute, Montclair, just what the doctor ordered. And perfectly romantic on a balmy summer night.

Win Tickets to the 2014 New Jersey Harvest Wine Festival

I know November is a long time away. Summer has just begun, the last thing I want to be thinking about is fall.

But, here is an offer you should not refuse.

Win 2 Tickets to the 9th Annual New Jersey Harvest Wine Festival!

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More at NewJerseyWineFestivals.com

Great Lunch at Ed's Lobster Bar, NYC with a very good Muscadet

Joined a friend here for lunch. It was a quick trip to Maine, food and a lovely wine.

The Wine:  Muscadet, Sevre et Maine, (a river in France not the state) did not get the name, but I think they are all good.

The Food: Raw oyster sampler, six bites of heavenly delight, and  tasty Maine lobster rolls with fries.

The Place: Ed’s Lobster Bar, Downtown NYC. Maine and Maine.

A Dry Chenin Blanc Pairs Beautifully with Salmon

Wines from the Loire Valley in France are so perfect for summer dining. This one by Xavier Weisskopf is wonderful and paired so beautifully with our dinner.

The Wine: La Touche Mitaine, Montlouis Sec Cuvée, Les Rocher Des Violettes, 100% Chenin Blanc

The Food: Crispy skin salmon with a mustard tarragon sauce, roasted asparagus with garlic and quinoa with shallots and sun dried tomatoes.

The Place: Home sweet home, in our backyard outdoor living and dining room

More Summer Wine Cocktails - Pineapple Sage Champagne

Here is another beautiful summer wine cocktail from Beth Jacques, publisher of Food Fashion and Fun.

The Wine: Champagne, but Prosecco or Cava would be wonderful too $-$$

The Food: Spanish, Mexican tapas, mild cheeses, or cerviche

The Place: Anywhere warm and sunny

A Surprising Wine Pairing for Guacamole - Cantina del Taburno Amineo Coda di Volpe

The wine tasting theme was "The Exciting Wines of Southern Italy." The food was all to be Italian, Southern Italian. But, a guest brought his special home-made Guacamole. I wondered, would the wines from Sicily and Campania pair with this dish? One did, perfectly.

The Wine: Cantina del Taburno Amineo Coda di Volpe $$

The Food: A homemade Guacamole, but this wine would pair well with many Mexican dishes.

The Place: A private Manoavino tasting. When are you hosting one?