Mano a Vino - Eat, Drink, Write - Great Wine, Food, Beer and Places

Hamburgers - Montclair NJ - Best in Premium Chain, Bar, BYOB, and Luncheonette

May is National Hamburger Month and in honor of this event we would like to present our annual Montclair, NJ burger round up.

Montclair is now very rich in places to get a good hamburger here is a report on the places we know. Restaurants are arranged by these categories New Burger Chains, Beer with Your Burger, Burgers and BYOB, Luncheonette Burgers . Of course there are several others so please leave a comment if we have missed one of your favorites.

Taste some Chilean Wine this Weekend at Magnolia's in Montclair

If you have been reading our recent posts you'll know we are really digging the wines that  are coming up for Chile this year.  This weekend you can taste two red wines from the very noted vineyard Tres Palacios.

In beautiful Maipo Chile, Tres Palacios is a family-run company founded in 1996 by Chilean winemakers Patricio Palacios and his wife Maria Ines Covarrubias. This weekend you can taste their delcious Cabernet Sauvignon and try something new Carmenere which is becoming very popular. You will love the price of $12.99.

Help Pass Better NJ Wine Laws

BERGEN RECORD PUBLISHES BURZICHELLI/MCHOSE OP-ED CALLING ON LEGISLATURE TO ACT NOW TO PASS RETAIL WINE OUTLET AND DIRECT SHIPPING LEGISLATION

 

 
The Bergen Record, a major north Jersey newspaper, published an op-ed today written by Assembly members John Burzichelli (D-3) and Alison McHose (R-24), calling on their colleagues in the Legislature to move quickly to pass retail wine outlet and direct shipping legislation.

 

It is critical for your voice to be heard! Please take action today and send an email to your elected state representatives. Let them know A-3897/S-2782 is the bill of choice for the NJ wine industry and the state's wine consumers.

Langosta Lounge and the New Pop's Garage in One Night I was in Heaven

Hey Marilyn and Brigette,

Thanks for the invite to the opening party of the new Pop's Garage in Shrewsbury, the food was terrific and the party was great. After we left we drove down to Asbury Park to check out your Langosta Lounge.  I was planning to go to Trinity and The Pope first but we were in a lounge mood so Langosta it was.

Boy was I surprised. I don't know why, but I was expecting Langosta to be a small bar with a few tables. A cool place to grab a drink and some small bites was the picture in my mind.  I was awed from the moment I entered the unassuming entrance to be greeted by the beauty of this awesome restaurant and bar. Obviously I never looked at your Gallery.

Of course charming hostess Christine made us feel very welcome and Tim took very good care of us over at those great little tables by the bar. In fact all the staff are so friendly. The food and drinks were great and we loved looking out at the ocean even with a cloudy sky. But I am jumping ahead, so the new Pop's Garage is totally cool.

d'Alessandro Nero d'Avola Two Beautiful Wines from the Isle of Sicily

Here are two very appealing wines from the fertile southern coast of Sicily near Agrigento a city that goes back to the Golden age of Greece as the site of Akragas, called the most beautiful city of mortals, yet obviously blessed by the deities. These wines are truly romantic and remind me of two beautiful sisters, one who became a fine artist finding her heart and soul in painting and the younger a dancer who realized her passions in another equally beautiful way.

The older sister is a Nero d'Avola / Syrah aged in French oak the younger pure Nero d'Avola that sees no oak at all. Both exquisitely blessed in their own way.