Mano a Vino Montclair

Limani Seafood Grill - Westfield, NJ - Restaurant Review

I enjoyed a very pleasing dinner at this seafood oasis in Westfield. The owner George Vastardis is from the  beautiful coastal city of Piraeus and brings all the delights of the Mediterranean to his restaurant here in New Jersey.

The occasion was a wine tasting hosted by CoolVines in Westfield. a 5 course meal was served to about 30 people. Serving great food in volume is a challenge that some of the best restaurants fail. For this event, George's kitchen and wait staff performed beautifully.

Wine Tasting - CoolVines and Banville & Jones

Mark Censits, the man behind www.CoolVines.com a great new concept for helping you to find wine that you will really enjoy, invited me to a wine tasting at Limani Seafood Grill in Westfield, NJ.

When I arrived I was delighted to find friends from the great importer Banville and Jones Wine Merchants who were sponsoring the event and showing some of their fine wines.

Let me tell you about the great wines that were served.

Stand and other NY Burgers - Restaurant Review

On a never ending quest for the next great burger we went to Stand on 12th Street in NYC, this past weekend.

Lilla Trebbiano d' Abruzzo - Italian White Wine

Trebbiano is "a grape variety that probably makes more white wine in the world than any other. It gives good yields, but makes undistinguished wine at best."

Except in cases like this.

Lilla is a delicious low priced Trebbiano d' Abruzzo bottled by San Lorenzo Vini and imported by H.Squared Wines.

Found it at Home Liquors in Verona for just $4.99. Wow.

Bistro 18 - Montclair, NJ Restaurant Review

On South Fullerton, Bistro 18 has opened. My friend Ann Goldstein whose opinion I trust gave it a thumbs up.

  "We tried Bistro 18 last night.  I’d go again, maybe not Sat. night.  They seem to run a tight ship."

Others posting in Baristanet say yes. Guess I will have to give it a try.

Bistro 18

(973) 233-0800

18 South Fullerton Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042

Desert Island Wine by Miles Lambert-Gocs - Book Review

What wine would you crave if you were castaway on a dessert Island? What wine book would you desire?

You might choose Dessert Island Wine where author Miles Lambert-Gocs pokes serious fun at the often pretentious world of wine and enlightens us to its many wonders.

Serious because each of the 29 articles in this well written book contain substantial thought on their topic, yet all have the twist of light hearted humor which makes them fun to read.