Author: Bruno Donaggio

Harvest East End 2016

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This past Saturday, August 20th I attended the 7th annual Dan’s Harvest East End food and wine event. It is the last of the trifecta of foodie events held on Long Island presented by Dan’s Paper and the Long Island Wine Council.

The event showcased North Fork Long Island wine and food with local wineries and restaurants in attendance.  It was hosted by Iron Chef’s cookbook author and restaurateur, Geoffrey Zakaria and featuring emcee Joshua Wesson, Sommelier and founder of Best Cellars.

The event was held in Cutchogue on the North Fork of Long Island under the big tents at the McCall vineyard and ranch.

All of the local North Fork wineries were at the event pouring their wines along with several beer and spirit vendors. A trend that I noticed this year was that many of the wineries released a Viognier, some of which where better than others

It seemed to me that they cut back on resources than in the previous years, no live music and much less food stalls.

 

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Secret Summer Garden Party

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This past Sunday on August 14th, I attended the second annual Secret Summer garden party. Hosted by RAPT NY, Bespoke Solutions and Highlife Productions, it was a “farm to bar” cocktail festival serving cocktails made with premium liquors using responsibly sourced herbs and greens from Farm One hydroponic garden as well Swedish cider from Rekorderlig and Tiger beer.

Live music was provided by the tuba playing band of Lucky Chops, the Coyote and Crow duo and songs by Ida Blue. Additional live performances by wandering ballerinas and aerialists with some ping-pong tables thrown in.

The event was held at ivy-covered Foundry event space across the East River from Manhattan at 42-38 Ninth Street in the industrial waterfront area of Queens at the foot of the Queensborough bridge.

The New York area was in the grip of a heat wave that weekend and the outdoor patio was steaming at start time but fortunately the indoor tastings rooms were cool enough and temperatures moderated as the sun set. It was a fun Sunday of cocktails, people and entertainment.

 

The cocktails (You were supposed to eat the garnish)

The Beetnik

Finlandia Vodka, Market Beetroot, House Made Allspice Falernum, Fresh Lemon, Red Veined Sorrel.

Doc Hollywood

Butter Washed Old Forester Bourbon, Toasted Pecan Sarsaparilla, Micro Bubble Soda, Amaranth.

The Shoemaker

Gentleman Jack Whiskey, Chambord, Mountain Huckleberry & Ginger Syrup, Fresh Lemon, Assam Black Tea, Market Berries and Shiso.

Hart’s Desire

Herradura Silver tequila, Market cantaloupe, Vanilla Bean Agave, Fresh Meyer Lemon, House Made Yuzu Bitters, Provencal Foam, Hibiscus Aviators.

Churchhill Downs

Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Cinnamon Basil Steeped Honey, House Made Bergamont Bitters, Purple Ruffles & Peppermint

 

 

 

Cider Feast 2016

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This past Saturday, August 8th, Food Karma Projects and Cook Out NYC presented this years Cider Feast cookout.

Food Karma Projects is a producer of specialty food and craft beverage events throughout the New York area. Created by NYC restaurateur Jimmy Carbone (Jimmy’s N° 43), they throw several bbq/beverage events during the Summer.

This event featured over a dozen regional, national and international cider producers pouring their ciders along with food on the grill including sliders from Schnack Burgers and tacos from Jimmy’s N° 43. It was held at the Solar One event space on the waterfront and under the FDR drive at 24-20 FDR Drive in Manhattan.

It looked like the event might have been a wash-out, at start time a storm hit, but that soon passed and the sun came out and the event went on as scheduled.

 

Some of the ciders I sampled:

Brooklyn Cider House “Half Sour” (New York). A trio of cider from NY State apples, very light yellow, very crisp with nice apple notes.

Brooklyn Cider House “Kinda Dry” (New York). Light yellow, crisp with champagne like fizz, easy drinking.

Brooklyn Cider House “Bone Dry” (New York). On tap, slightly cloudy, bone dry and tart

Doc’s Draft “Gold Rush” (New York). 100% Goldrush apples, light yellow, light body, crisp with ripe vegetable notes on the finish.

Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider “Traditional” (New York). On tap, clear light amber, bone dry with funky notes.

Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider “Scrumpy” (New York). On tap, unfiltered, cloudy amber, dry with some chewy fruit.

Big Apple Hard Cider “Brooklyn Brew” (New York). On tap, dark amber, sweet with cotton candy and apple pie spice notes.

Indian Ladder Farmstead Pear Cider (New York). On tap, cloudy light yellow, tart finish with some dried herb notes.

Indian Ladder Farmstead Barrel Aged Cider (New York). Light yellow with very light fruit flavors.

Shacksbury “Semi-Dry” (Vermont). In a can, clear, apply with some funk on the finish.

Shacksbury “Lost and Found” (Vermont). A blend of lost apples foraged in the Champlain Valley of Vermont, clear and dry with some tannin on the finish.

Virtue Cider “Michigan Brut” (Michigan). Light yellow with citrus notes on the finish.

Virtue Cider “The Mitten” (Michigan). Bourbon barrel aged, green apple notes with a very crisp finish.

E.Z. Orchards Cider “Hawks Haus” (Oregon). Floral nose, bone dry, crisp with light apple flavors.

Urban Farm Fermentory “Ol Cranny” (Maine). Cranberried Cidah (their spelling), dark copper color, bone dry and very crisp with pixie stick flavors on the finish.

Urban Farm Fermentory “Baby Jimmy” (Maine). Oak barrel aged Cidah, 100% wild yeast, light yellow, slightly cloudy.

Austin Eastciders Hopped Cider (Texas). Medium amber, dry, tannic with green fruit on the finish, feels unbalance.

Fanjul Sidra Natural (Spain). Cloudy, tight and tart, funky with some tannin on the finish.

Cidre Fermier “Brut” (France). Copper color, fizzy, crisp with green asparagus notes on the finish.

Le Brun Cidre de Bretagne “Brut” (France). Medium yellow, fizzy, crisp, green apple notes, very crisp finish.

Le Brun Cidre “Organic” (France). Medium amber, finishes with some sweetness to it.

Aval Cidre (France). Tight and crisp and very funky.

Aspall English Draft Cider “Demi-Sec” (England). Apply, off dry but not sweet.

 

 

Chefs & Champagne 2016

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This past Saturday, July 23th I attended the 26th annual James Beard Foundation’s Chefs and Champagne Summer tasting party. The event which raises funds for the philanthropic work of the Foundation, featured over 40 Chefs serving food many from JBF awarding winning restaurants. This years honoree was New Orleans Chef and restaurateur John Besh.

This event was held under the big tents at Wöllfer Estate Vineyards on 183 Sagg Road in Sagaponick, Long Island, just East of the town of Bridgehampton.

This year the free-flowing Champagne was sponsored by Baron de Rothschild which poured a NV Rosé, a NV Brut and a NV Blanc de Blanc. The wines were provided by Wöllfer Vineyards, beer from Goose Island and the Long Island Beer Co., and spirits by Tito’s Vodka.

It was a brutally hot day that cooled off nicely when the sun set, and my Kudos to the cooks that were manning the grills in all that heat. It was also a day of competing social events with several parties being held on this Saturday afternoon including Dan’s Taste of Two Forks which I felt took a little of the thunder out of this event. Still, it was an enjoyable afternoon of Champagne and tasty bites.

 

Some of what I sampled:

Roxanne Spruance: Fossil Farms Pork Belly with Nasturtium, Black Sesame and Cocoa Nibs

Christopher Cipollone: Madai Snapper Crudo with Avocado, Flowers and Farro

Angie Mar: Tomahawk Rib-Eye with Cherry-Garlic Compote

Cédric Vongerichten: Chilled Peekytoe Crab with Sesame Emulsion, Dukkah Spice, Avocado and Basil

Jonah Miller: Basque Dog, Chistorra Sausage with Piquillo Mostardo and Aioli

Dean Jones Max: Nantucket Oysters with Uni Vinaigrette

Julian Medina: Tacos de Pato; Fossil Farms Duck Carnitos with Charred Habanero-Tamarind Salsa and Micro Greens

Alex Bois: Smoke and Wood Bread; Local Flours with Whole Grains, Applewood Smoke Barley Malt, Roasted Shagbark Hickory

Tim Cushman: Kanpachi Sashimi with Vietnamese Mignonette, Fried Shallots, Thai Basil

Paul Kahan, Perry Hendrix: Grilled Octopus with Sumac

Damien O’Donnell: Montauk Fluke Crudo with Tomatillo Relish, Blue Corn Chips and Avocado Crema

Glenn Olsson, Marcus Widell: Shrimp Skagen 2.0

Anthony Lamas: Tuna “Old Fashioned” with Bluegrass Soy Bourbon Broth, Ginger, Pineapple and Orange

Eric Gabrynowicz: Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon with Gold Bar Squash. Tarragon, Tomato Confit and Corn

Brian Cheewing: Local Spicy Octopus and Corn Salad with Calabrian Chiles and Micro Cilantro

Maille Mustard: Watermelon-Feta Salad with Maille Mustard

Jiho Kim: “Ants On A Log”, Pumpernickel Cake with Rum-Raison Reduction and Peanut Butter Custard

Pichet Ong: Valrhona Chocolate with Cherry, Honey and Saffron

Alina Martell: Profiteroles with Strawberries and Cream

 

 

Uncorked Wine Fest New York

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This past Saturday afternoon, July 16th I attend the Uncorked Wine Festival which was held at the Metropolitan Pavilion located on 125 West 18th street in Manhattan.

This wine fest was one of several Uncorked wine fests held throughout the country. They are fun wine tasting events and this one featured over 50 wineries, food trucks and music.

While the wines were of mid-level quality for the most part, there was plenty of it and the crowd all seemed to be having a good time on this Saturday afternoon.

 

Some of what I sampled:

NV Tattinger Brut Rosé

NV Bruno Paillard Brut Premiere Cuvee

2015 Jolie Folle Provence Rosé

2015 Starmont Sauvignon Blance

2014 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay

2014 Michael Chiarlo Gavi

2015 Azienda Santa Barbara Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi

2015 Fiegl Ribolla Gialla Collio

2014 Bret Brothers Macon-Villages

2015 Chateau Maris Picpoul de Pinet

2015 Patrice Moreux Sancerre

2014 Patrice Moreux Poully Fume “La Loge aux Moines”

2014 Proud Pour Sauvignon Blanc “The Oyster”

2015 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Pinot Noir

2013 BonAnno Carneros Pinot Noir

2012 Starmont Vineyards Carneros Pinot Noir

2014 Montinore Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

2013 Steltzner “Claret”

2013 BonAnno Cabernet Sauvignon

 

 

FIAF Bastille Day Fest

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This past Sunday on July 10th, the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) which is New York’s premier French cultural center, presented their annual Bastille Day festival. It was a three-block long party on East 60th from Fifth Avenue to Lexington Avenue in Manhattan celebrating the best of France in New York and the friendship between France and the United States. Bastille Day is France’s Independence Day

The block party featured food “à la française” from top rated French restaurants and bakeries, performances from cast members of the musical An American In Paris, can-can dancing and live music from the Hungry March Band and Myriam Phiro’s Accordion Trio.

And since no French party is complete without wine, there was a Champagne & Chocolate tasting featuring some of France’s most prestigious champagnes and fine European Chocolates, and a wine, beer, cocktails and cheese tasting with both events held at the FIAF building at 22 East 60th Street. There was also a VIP party hosted at Amali restaurant on 115 East 60th street which featured wines from the south of France.

 

At the wine, beer and cheese tasting I sampled a trio of rosé:

2013 Gérard Bertrand “Thomas Jefferson Brut” Cremant de Limoux. Salmon in color, big bubbles, closed nose of cotton candy, crisp citrus at the finish.

2015 Gérard Bertrand “Gris Blanc”. Copper color with strawberry notes on the nose.

2015 Espitalet des Anges “Villa des Anges” Mostly Cinsault, salmon in color, closed nose, tight with bitter cherry notes on the finish.

Champagne & Chocolate Tasting:

NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé. Light pink in color with an earthy nose.

NV Brimoncourt Blanc de Blanc. Lime notes, bread dough on the nose with the bread dough notes on the fruit.  

NV Piper-Heidsieck Brut. Bread dough on the nose, crisp and tart.

NV G.H. Mumm’s Brut. Bread dough and earth on the nose with lime and earth notes on the finish.

At the VIP party:

2015 La Grezette “Le Rosé de Julie”

2015 RS “Rosé Seduction”

2015 Chateau Lamartine Cahors

2010 Chateau Bouscasse

2015 Domaine de Pellhaut

2013 Chateau de Jonquieres

2013 Domaine du Moulin

 

 

Summer Fancy Food Show 2016

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The Summer Fancy Food Show is a bi-coastal, bi-yearly event that is America’s largest specialty food and beverage show. With over 46,000 industry professionals, 2,500 exhibitors and over 180,000 products, it is the place to find the next big product, next big company and next big trend in the food and beverage industry.

The show took place on June 26-28 and was held at the Jacob Javits convention center on 655 W 34th street in Manhattan. This years partner country was Tunisia.

I attended Sunday for an afternoon of grazing on cured ham, cheese and chocolate and sampling mostly Italian wines.

Italy

NV Arunda Brut Rosé. (Alto Adige). Light salmon in color, crisp.

NV Arunda Brut. (Alto Adige). Dry and crisp with an oily finish.

2015 Ugolini Valpolicella “Pozzeto” (Veneto). The entry-level wine in a trio of excellent Valpolicella, medium to light red, red berry and tree bark on the nose, bitter cherry on the balanced finish.

2012 Ugolini Valpolicella “Rippaso” (Veneto). 100% Corvina, light brick in color, red cherry and leather on the nose, silky red cherry fruit, nice acidity and balance.

2013 Ugolini Valpolicella “Amarone” (Veneto). Dark red with black cherry and bitter almond on the nose, bitter almond notes on the fruit. Don’t taste the 16% alcohol.

2008 Tommasi “Ca Florian” Riserva Amarone (Veneto). Dark brick in color, dark leather on the nose, bitter almond/cherry and leather notes on the great balance.

2015 Francesco Malena “Bianco” (Cirò).  Calabrese wines, this one mostly Greco Bianco, medium gold with dried flower notes on the finish.

2014 Francesco Malena “Rosso” (Cirò). Mostly the Gaglioppe grape, brick in color with leather on the nose with bitter almond and red cherry on the finish.

2012 Francesco Malena “Pian Della Corte Riserva” (Cirò). Dark red with a brick robe, barnyard notes on the nose, concentrated fruit followed by big tannins at the finish.  

2012 Francesco Malena “Cutura Del Marchese” (Cirò). Dark brick, closed nose of roast meat, mouth coating tannin with bitter cherry and fuzzy tannin on the finish.

2013 Carra Di Casata “Arcòl” (Emilia-Romagna). Dark red to black, roasted coffee on the nose, concentrated, silky with roast nut notes on the balanced finish.

2011 Prima Pietra Toscana Rosso (Tuscany). Bordeaux blend, dark red with smoky, roast bacon on the nose, tight dark fruit, black licorice and bitter cherry on the finish.

Cantina Formigine Pedemontana. A co-op in Emilia-Romagna producing Lambrusco with is an excellent low alcohol red wine served  chilled for a Summer day.

NV Rosso Fosco. Made from the Grasparossa clone, purple, dry, crisp black berry fruit, balanced.

NV Sorbara. Sorbara is another clone for Lambrusco I don’t see often, pink in color, crisp and refreshing with some tannin coming through at the finish.

Austria

NV Harkamp Rosé Brut. Light pink with a strawberry nose, crisp with light strawberry flavors on the finish.

NV Harkamp Sauvignon Blanc Extra Brut. Don’t have a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc very often, light yellow in color with roast nuts on the nose, grassy finish.  

Spain

2014 Habla Winery “De la Tierra”. Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon blend, dark purple with dried red fruit and herbs on the nose, tight, firm red leather and earth on the finish.

2014 Habla Winery “Del Silencio”. A blend of three grapes, dark red with crushed red fruit and violets on the nose, tight with firm tannin and dried herbs on the finish.

2012 Habla Winery “N° 14”. 100% Syrah, dark red to black with a purple robe, closed nose of berries and leather, tight and concentrated with dried herbs on the firm finish.

2011 Habla Winery “N° 13”. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, dark red with a closed nose of roasted meat, tight with big tannin and herbs on the finish.

 

 

 

Summer Of Riesling

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This past Saturday afternoon on June 25th I attended the Summer of Riesling kickoff wine tasting event whose motto is “all German all Summer”. The event was run by the owner of Terroir Wine Bar, Paul Greico who is a booster for Rieslings in general and German Riesling in particular.

The event was held at Hudson Mercantile on 500 West 36th Street on the far west side of Manhattan. It’s another old warehouse building converted to an event space and we took a freight elevator to the fifth floor for the Riesling party. There was a rooftop outdoor space on the sixth floor that had great views of the Hudson river to the West and the Empire State Building to the East.

The wines were divided by categories such as sparkling, rosé, dry, off-dry and late harvest which were so popular with the attendees that I wasn’t able to get to all of them. There were several restaurants serving excellent bite sized portions of food to pair with the wines, it was a fun afternoon.

 

Rosé

NV Kruger-Rumpf Estate Trocken

2014 Von Buhl Rosé

The Pinot Trio

2014 Valckenberg Pinot Blanc

2014 Louis Guntrum Pinot Gris

2014 Becker Family Pinot Gris

Dry Riesling

2013 S.A. Prüm “Luminance”

2014 Dr. Loosen “Red Slate”

2014 Eva Fricke “Kiedrich”

2014 Schäfer Fröhlich Estate Reserve

2014 Dönnhoff “Felsenturmchen”

2013 Weingut Dreissigacker “Morstein”

2011 Pfeffingen “Ungsteiner Herrenberg”

2014 Liebfrauenstift

Off-Dry Riesling

2014 Schloss Johannisberg “Gelblack”

2014 Hexamer “Porphyr”

Some tasty eats

Lukes: Lobster Roll

Oaxaca Taqueria: Pork Tacitos

Mr Bing Beijing Street Food: Duck Crepes

Stinky Brooklyn: Assorted Cheeses

 

 

Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Fest 2016

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On June 8-12, Westchester Magazine held their 6th annual Wine & Food Festival . It was “five days of fun!” that included 100+ local restaurants, 200+ world class wines, dinner tastings, chefs demos and seminars.

The signature event of the festival was the Grand Tasting Village which was held on Saturday afternoon. It was an outdoor event held under tents that featured 50+ local restaurants and over 200 wines and spirits.

The event was held in the bucolic Westchester hamlet of Valhalla which is a 40 minute train ride north from Grand Central Terminal and then a ten minute walk from the train station to the Kensico Dam Plaza where the event was held.

I noticed there were more food vendors this year than last which made for some good eating to go with all the wines. I was able to get into the Connoisseur tent which was a separate area that poured some extra special juice. Unlike many other food events, the crowds were much more manageable at this event which meant that lines for food and wine were comparatively short and that made for an enjoyable experience. Overall, this is one of the best wine and food events of the year.

Some of the wines I sampled:

 

NV Ruinart Blanc de Blanc (Champagne)

2015 Chateau Minuty “Rosé et Or” Rosé (Provence)

2015 Domaine Ott “Clos Mireille” Rosé (Provence)

2015 Chateau du Ronet Rosé (Provence)

2013 Merry-Edwards Sauvignon Blanc (Russian River Valley)

2012 Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc (Knights Valley)

2014 Flowers Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast)

2013 Jean-Louis Chavey Pugliny-Montrachet (Burgundy)

2011 Aurelie Verdet Morey St-Denis (Burgundy)

2012 Domaine Antonin Guyon “Les Cras” Chambolle-Musigny (Burgundy)

2012 Angela Estate Pinot Noir “Abbott Claim” (Yamhill)

2014 Angeline Estate Pinot Noir “Reserve” (California)

2013 Truchard Pinot Noir (Carneros)

2011 Pio Cesare Barberesco (Piedmont)

2010 Castigilon Del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany)

2012 Mt Brave Cabernet Sauvignon (Mt Veeder)

2010 Stags’ Leap Cabernet Sauvignon “Audentia” (Stags Leap District)

2012 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Private Reserve” (Napa Valley)

2012 Heitz Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

2011 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

2012 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon (Rutherford)

2013 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)

2012 Beaulieu Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Rutherford” (Napa Valley)

 

 

 

Upper West Side Party

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The 9th annual New Taste of The Upper West Side was held this past weekend, June 3-4. It was a two-day food festival featuring over 40 local restaurants serving some of their signature dishes along with wines, beer, cocktails with some acrobatics thrown in.

I attended the Best of the West event on Saturday evening which took place under the Grand Tent at the O’Shea Complex school yard on Columbus Avenue between 76-77th streets on the upper west side of Manhattan. And a good thing the tent was up because soon after the start time, the torrential rains came which made for a slightly more damp of a good time.

There was music provided by Joe Battaglia and his 16 piece New York Big Band and a DJ and it was hosted by Sara Gore of NBC’s New York Live and Open House.

Some of the food I sampled:

Bar Boulud: Veal & Foie Gras Pâté

Boulud Sud: Ora King Salmon “Mi-Cuit”

Crave Fishbar: Faroe Island Salmon Crudo

Jeans-Georges: Maine Lobster Summer Roll

Red Farm: Beef Dumpling & Chanterelle Mushroom

Cesca Trattoria & Enoteca: Tuscan Summer Farro Salad

Caffè Storico: Insalata di Polpo

Lincoln Center Kitchen: Chilled Pea Soup with Fresh Crabmeat & Crispy Bacon

The Mermaid Inn: Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho with Jonah Crab Salad

Rosa Mexicano: Guacamole En Molcajet

The Smith: Toasted Ricotta Gnocchi with Truffle Cream

The Leopard at des Artistes: Parmigiana of Zucchini

Firehouse: Boneless Buffalo Chicken Wings BBQ

Andanada: Paella Mariscos

Tavern on the Green: Smoked Salmon Mousse and Tequila Cured Scottish Salmon, Pickled Cucumber Salad, Dill