Wine, Beer and Restaurant Reviews

A New York Birthday, The Met, Upper East Side, Oficina Latina in Nolita, and The Way on 12th St.

We celebrated Diana's January 2nd Birthday in New York City with a trip to the Met, wherewe enjoyed the Ancient Near Eastern Art collections and the amazing new Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands. We had a late lunch at the perfect new Nolita restaurant called Oficina Latina which this post is about and then on to Cinema Village on 12th Street for a viewing of Emilio Estevez expressive new film The Way.

Needless to say it was a wonderful day full of surprises.

Where else but New York can you experience beautiful Middle Eastern culture, pretend your traveling the Pan American higway, and then experience a walk from the Pyrenees across Spain.

MANO A VINO AFTER DARK Agwa de Bolivia by Nell

We have a new author here who will be writing a new series of posts called MANO A VINO AFTER DARK. Please let me introduce Nell Conway.

Millennial, Gen-Yer, what ever label you may attempt to apply, she offers the voice of another generation. And we are excited to share her words.

Here is her first review of a very interesting liquor called Agwa de Bolivia. Not to my taste in particular but very enjoyable nonetheless.

Congratulations to One of Our Favorite Bars, Employees Only, New York City

This July, spirits from around the world descended on America’s most soulful city as Tales of  the Cocktail® returned to New Orleans.

We are very excited to congratulate one of our favorite NY cocktail bars Employees Only for winning these awards:

World’s Best Cocktail Bar

World’s Best Drinks Selection

 

Tales of the Cocktail is always held in July at various locations throughout the French Quarter. Some of the best-known local mixologists and noted bartenders from around the country assemble to shake, stir and pour their colorful concoctions. 

Summer Wines 2011 Part 31/2 of 4 Summer Cocktails - Red, White and Blue

Here is another simple summer wine cocktail that turned out just delicious.

It has a patriotic twist, red, white and blue. Very refreshing and easy to make.

The wine was a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from The Wairau River Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand. It is an excellent wine in it's own right, and I don't think this is really what the wine maker had in wine, but it made a fabulous base for this watermelon, wine, blueberry cocktail, with a splash of Agave. 

Here is the recipe.

Summer Wines 2011 Part 3 of 4 Summer Cocktails - Fresh Fruit and Sparkling Wine

Summer is a great time for wine cocktails. Flavorful fresh fruit is available in abundance and the lower alcohol content of cocktails made with wine instead of hard liquor means you can quench your thirst without worry.

Here is one I made recently, with fresh plums, apricots, cherries, blueberries, lemon, mint leaves and a wonderful effervescent Moscato by Seven Daughters.

"This is really like a fruit salad with wine and could be served with a spoon."