Westchester Dining and Happenings

Another Successful TapHouse Beer Dinner featuring Westchester’s Own Captain Lawrence!

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With each of these Beer Dinner events, The TapHouse in Tuckahoe heightens the quality and creativity in both their menu and pairings. This time around the local brews of the Westchester based Captain Lawrence Brewery were featured. The six course meal was accentuated by a wide range of Captain Lawrence’s top selections that were paired perfectly by the culinary prowess of the TapHouse staff.

The first course paired a Kumamoto Oyster in a cucumber and grapefruit mix with CL’s Kolsch. This clean and crisp lager style beer is great for summer drinking and really enhanced the mild sweetness of the oyster. This was followed up by an exceptionally tasty Maine Lobster Roll which was served with the CL Saison. While it may have been simple, this was my favorite pairing of the night. The fresh and subtle herbs and spices in the lobster roll brought out all the clean orange and tangerine flavors in the Saison… really a well thought out combination.

Sticking with the seafood theme, the Steamed Crawfish and Lump Crab in a creamy Creole Mousseline was up next. This course was paired with Captain Lawrence’s flagship brew, the Fresh Chester Pale Ale. The creamy richness of the beer matched up well to the consistency of the spicy sauce without being too overpowering. As the courses moved on, so did the alcohol content in the beer selections as the CL Imperial India Pale Ale was up next. At a blurring 9% alc, this hoppy and malty concoction was served with a Spicy Braised Pork in Lettuce Wraps that just melted in your mouth. This is now on the TapHouse menu and is worth the price of admission.

The final meat entrée was the most daring pairing (yes I do know I’m a poet) of the evening. Rabbit wrapped in Bacon in a White Bean and Foie Gras Ragout was coupled up with the CL Smoked Porter. Man was this course a mouthful! The potent meaty and gamey aspects in this dish are about the only things that can stand up to this behemoth brew. And to cap off the night the Chocolate and Raspberry Mouse was teamed with CL’s St. Vincent’s Dubbel. Loaded with brown spice, rum and raisin flavors, this 8.5% doozy makes a nice addition to most desert dishes.

If you have yet to attend one of these Beer Dinners I highly recommend it. Even if you are more of a wine drinker than a beer drinker, it is really eye opening to see how the right food can bring out some amazing flavors in a well crafted brew, and vice versa. And as good as The TapHouse always is for a quality meal, they really step up their game for these specialty Beer Dinners…so be sure to get there for the next one and have a cold one with the WWG!

Westchester Magazine’s Food and Wine Weekend Scorecard

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If you missed the Wine and Food Event hosted by Westchester Magazine at the Ritz Carlton in White Plains, here is a round up of what I thought was a very successful inaugural event.

LOCATION:   B +

The Ritz in White Plains is a stunning hotel both inside and out. The afternoon grand tastings and Saturday night Winemaker’s dinner were held in the Grand Ballroom on the second floor. This is the only reason it doesn’t get the A grade, as Restaurant 42 would have been a much more impressive spot to hold the event. Up on the 42nd Floor, the window encased restaurant offers impressive views and a more upscale feel than the general ballroom.

FOOD:   A +

Westchester showed that it is second to none when it comes to top notch restaurants. Everything from high end steakhouses, such as The Willet House and Benjamin, to local sushi joints, like Sushi Mikes, to the top rated and most popular restaurants in the county such as Crabtree’s Kittle House and X20 were there in full force. The most impressive part was the lack of overlap in cuisine, as each day displayed 25 different restaurants…a treat indeed.

WINES:   A –

There was certainly a vast array of wines available to taste, with about 20% of them from the higher echelon. There were even some fun NY vineyards such as Millbrook and Shaw making an appearance along with Westchester’s own Captain Lawrence Brewery. What was very cool was the ability to purchase any wine that you tasted right on the spot. Grapes The Wine Co. set up a system where you could fill out an order sheet and have the wines shipped to you at a special discounted price. First time I have seen that, and I have to say it was pretty innovative.

WINEMAKER’S DINNER:   A

The top Westchester Chefs, such as Peter Kelly and Anthony Goncalves, prepared individual courses and had wine guru Kevin Zraly pair up each course with an appropriate wine. Every course was memorable but the braised beef cheeks and the ‘05 E. Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape had to be the highlight. That being said there was also a Puligny-Montrachet and a 5 Puttynos Tokaji thrown in the lineup, so there were some real big guns being paired with these exquisite dishes. The mild downside being the elongated hour of awards and speeches (as interesting as they were) before the first course and wines were served.

DATE:   B –

This was the only small glitch for the event as it was scheduled on Father’s Day weekend. Not that every Father out there wouldn’t enjoy this event, however it seemed that Sunday drew much less of a crowd as I am sure burgers, BBQ and brew were probably on most Dads’ calendars.  But it did not take away from the fact that Westchester Magazine, and all involved, did a wonderful job pulling this off especially as a first time event.

Congratulations on a job well done Westchester Mag!

My Kind of Town, Chicago is…

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Last week Chicago hosted the NRA Trade Show… no not the gun guys. This NRA is the National Restaurant Association and I guarantee this show blows away anything the other NRA can come up with, no pun intended. On top of discovering a bunch of new products, services and companies in the market, I was able to once again experience all that Chicago has to offer an everyday foodie and wine geek like myself, and man is it a lot!!

Chicago is one of those All American cities filled with lots of history, beautiful architecture, warm and hospitable people and fantastic culinary venues. They have everything from your local burger joint (like the Weber Grill), to a wine a based restaurant offering various flights of wine and cheese (Bin 36) to some of the best Steakhouses in the world (Chicago Chop House and Gibson’s to name a couple). This trip we hit up a few gems hidden in the Windy City.

Fans of Spark’s Steakhouse in NYC are not going to want to miss Gene and Georgetti’s Steakhouse in Chitown. While there is an Italian fare option available here, it is a good old fashioned Steakhouse loaded with perfectly cooked cuts of beef, delicious sides and a very reasonably priced wine list filled with all the Napa Cabs you would hope to see. It also has that same Goodfellas vibe that adds just a hint of danger with your meal… so if someone asks you to take a walk outside don’t be so quick to get up.

The Brazilian Steakhouse chain Fogo de Chao delivers a wonderful dining experience on all levels. It all starts with high quality beef and poultry sliced and served right at your table, and plenty of it. Add a kick ass salad bar, huge wine list and a restaurant enclosed by a custom wine cellar and you come up with a winning culinary combination.

If steak is not your thing, make Shaw’s Crab House the first stop on your list. Here you’ll find some of the best and freshest fish in the city. Try starting out with the cold seafood/shellfish appetizer paired with the Feudo di San Gregorio Falanghina…killer combo!

One of the most fun and energetic places in town is right around the corner from the historic John Hancock building, Bistro 110. It’s got that French Bistro look, feel and menu but with all the energy of Chicago. The Short Rib entry makes a great table appetizer to kick things off, and the Shrimp and Scallops over polenta in their green peppercorn sauce may be the winning dish of the trip. Lots of local and international selections on the well priced wine list, especially from the Rhone area of France.

While these are a few of my favorites, there are so many fantastic restaurants in Chicago that it’s hard to go wrong. As a New Yorker, Chicago is really a city worth visiting as it has so much to offer people of all ages. Just tons of energy and style, but with the warmth and charm that NYC can sometimes lack. I’m already looking forward to going back!

Another Dynamite Beer Dinner at The TapHouse Featuring the Brews from Smuttynose

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Yes you read the title correctly, BEER dinner. Wine pairing and tasting menus are pretty common in the food world, however these craft beer dinners are just so creative, original and most of all…delicious. Do you know what kind of dish would pair with a hand crafted pilsner from New Hampshire? I didn’t either… but the boys at The TapHouse did, and that was just the opening course!

Not to get too deep into the history of Smuttynose (as I have attached a link to their website below) but they are a well respected craft brewery that makes a slew of beers that are full of flavor, high in alc (in a good way) and quite food friendly. The two main consistencies that I seem to notice throughout Smuttynose is a coriander or orange peel component in their brews, and an unwritten company rule mandating facial hair (as featured by Lead Brewer Dan Schubert). Whatever the recipe is, it’s working!

So as I was saying, the opening course consisted of the Smuttynose Wunderbar Pilsner that was crisp with a good amount of hops and a really clean aftertaste. Chef Kevin Bertrand found the perfect pairing in a Bay Scallops dish in a Citrus Buerre Blanc sauce. The citrus flavors in the scallop dish elicited the subtle orange peel in the pilsner, leaving a fresh and tangerine driven finish lingering on the palate. Stellar way to start the night.

The highlight of the pairing was clearly the Veal Loin with Foie Gras, Wild Mushroom Duxelles and a Barley Risotto matched up with Smutty’s Barleywine. In a word…genius! Someone at our table realized when you got a little bit of everything on your fork and then followed it with a swig of the barleywine it was pure pleasure. You could barely even tell the brew was an intoxicating 11-12% alc…Yikes!! However the high alc in all their beers is well hidden by the beautiful structure and natural  dark spices.

While that course was a tough act to follow, the Coffee Dusted Venison with the Smuttynose Baltic Porter was no slouch. While the brew was a little smokey with aggressive hints of olive on its own, when paired with the mildly gamey Venison it took on an entirely new character that worked out beautifully. To finish the meal off The TapHouse offered up their infamous Double Chocolate Lava Cake which they paired with, what else, the Smutty Imperial Stoudt. Talk about chocolate decadence!

This is the second of these beer dinners I have had the pleasure of attending at the TapHouse and they really have gotten this formula down pat. Of course the high quality brews from Smuttynose make the pairing a hell of a lot easier, but these guys clearly have a knack for incorporating the proper fare to bring out all the best qualities that a top tier craft beer has to offer. Well done fellas!

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is Almost Over…So What Are You Waiting For?!?!

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I almost have to apologize for writing this post so late as the HVRW is coming to an end. So not to get bogged down and overloaded with attempted wit, fairly obvious observations (Seinfeld reference) and a bit of wine geek talk I’ll get right to the point…go and take advantage while you still can!

It seems the down economy has given the local restaurants a real kick in the ass to up their game and stack the HVRW menus both in quality and quantity. The participating restaurants are offering a 3 course menu for $28 including an appetizer, entrée and desert. Not a bad deal considering some of the high end restaurants that are involved.

(See the link below)

http://www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com/home.php

A large group of us went to Restaurant 42 atop the Ritz Carlton in White Plains and it was a real treat. Not only are the views spectacular and the ambiance delightful, but the portions were pretty healthy all things considered. I went with a salmon tartar that was fresh and tasty followed by an 8-10 oz skirt steak that left me feeling nicely full and satisfied. That is not always the case with Restaurant Week as some places tend to cheap out since the customers are not paying full boat. Fantastic wine list as well.

I also ventured over the bridge into Rockland with my wife and friends to the Hudson House in Nyack. Much different atmosphere, but equally enjoyable. With about 4 or 5 selections of apps and entrees respectively, there is something for everyone. The potato gnocchi were soft and tender and the beef tenderloin (yes, I like red meat) was served with a delectable polenta. On top of having a very affordable wine list, their corkage fee is only $15 so it’s a nice opportunity to bring one of the nicer bottles from your own collection.

I have heard nothing but good things from people in the area who have ventured to other restaurants as well including Ruth’s Chris, Red Hat Bistro, Restaurant X and of course my friends at The TapHouse. HVRW goes through Sunday 3/27 so if you have the chance this weekend, try and get out and taste a little of the Hudson Valley at a price that is easier to swallow than usual. Salute!!

Some Green Wine Selections for St. Patty’s Day

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I know, I know… who drinks wine on St. Patrick’s Day?!? No question that beer rules this day of parades, shamrocks, shenanigans, corned beef, ethnic confusion (drinking your face off and wearing green does not make you Irish) and the dreaded morning after regret. But for those who choose to take a more sophisticated route towards the debauchery, there are still ways to keep in the spirit of the holiday. While dying wine green is just not a real viable option, below are some ideas of how to drink Green Wine this St. Patty’s Day.

In Portugal, Vinho Verde is the white wine of choice for many reasons. It is a wine made from local grapes in a young and refreshing style with lots of citrus flavors and even a bit of effervescence… and it’s cheap! The literal translation of Vinho Verde is “Green Wine”, almost as if they named it on purpose for St. Patrick’s Day consumption. Plus it typically has a lower alcohol level than most wines (around 7-11%) so you can drink this stuff all day and still make it out to the bars after the parade.

Not feeling like the light whites are going to do the trick? How about reaching for some Organic options. While they may not look green in color or have it in the name, they are certainly green in the environmental sense of the word and get the approving nod from Mother Nature. Bonterra’s Cab from the North Coast of CA has to be one of the best values around. For about $15 this fruit driven, approachable wine is loaded with lots of tasty currant and berry flavors surrounded by cedar and spicy nuances.

If you’re looking for something a little more intense and upscale, then check out the wines from Hall Vineyards in Napa. Pound for pound they are producing some of the best wines to come out of the region, and are quite possibly the greenest winery in town.

Still not feeling like these wines have enough Irish in them? How about trying some actual Irish wine? Kidding… that is not a good idea. But trying some wines from the Green Valley of California is a great way to go! A sub appellation in the Russian River Valley, this area is producing some of the best Pinots and Chardonnays in all of Sonoma. Unfortunately because this is such an exclusive and fantastic growing area, these wines fetch a pretty penny. But St. Patty’s only comes once a year so live it up! Some of my favorite wines from the area are made by Dutton Goldfield, Sequana and Iron Horse.

Whatever Green drink you choose to indulge in this St. Patrick’s Day be sure to do it in good health, do it responsibly and to share it with some of your Irish brethren.

Sláinte!

Is Morton’s Steakhouse in White Plains Worth the Price of Admission?

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Anyone who has been to a top tier steakhouse as of late is aware of how expensive a night out for dinner can be. Steaks are clearing the $50 mark (Yikes!), sides are $10-15 a piece and wines are running on a 300-400% mark up from store prices. Yes, you read that correctly. Most steakhouses will charge 3-4 times the price for a bottle of wine over what you can get it for at the store… and not even off the sale price!

That being said, few experiences can rival an evening of decadence and hedonistic pleasure that only a high end steakhouse can offer. After recently enjoying a wonderful meal at Morton’s in White Plains, and paying a pretty penny for it,  I found myself asking the age old question… was it worth it?

Let’s do this the old fashioned way and look at the pros and cons. There are many pros as dining at Morton’s can certainly be a memorable meal. The cuts of beef are huge, cooked to near perfection even if it takes a second try, and flat out delicious. Servers are knowledgeable, attentive and display excellent presentation skills as exhibited in their explanation of all the meat and seafood options while you are enjoying your pre dinner cocktail. They really put on a hell of a show!

There is a refined and distinguished ambience to Morton’s that a lot of steak houses don’t carry, as some can be a little testosterone driven. The wine list is large and amply diverse, but no so overwhelming to be intimidating. There are always Magnum value options too which are great for groups when one bottle just ain’t gonna cut it.

OK, now for the cons. Well there’s really just one… the massive damage it leaves on your credit card bill! To enjoy all that Morton’s has to offer, meaning ordering an appetizer or two, each person getting their own steak, having a couple of sides (as the steaks are totally a la carte), finding a “reasonably” priced bottle of wine, desert and coffee, you are looking at dropping about $300 a couple after tax and tip… and that is without going over the top on wines, lobsters, after dinner drinks, etc.

I put reasonably in quotations because even if you are trying to go with something inexpensive from the wine list, you will be hard pressed to find anything under the $60-70 mark that you would want to pair up with beef of this quality. There are times to drink an inexpensive white wine or Merlot, but not when you have a juicy, mouth watering 56 dollar piece of NY Strip staring you in the face.

So this leads us to the final verdict….is it worth the price of admission? The answer…it can be. Everything is obviously relative so if spending a few hundred bucks for a night out to enjoy a really solid steak dinner doesn’t put a huge dent in your armor, then go for it! But if you are saving your weekly pay check to splurge on a Morton’s dinner, you may want to rethink that plan.

There are so many wonderful dining options in White Plains, and Westchester in general, that you could spend half of what you would there and still enjoy a great meal at over a dozen different local restaurants. Or you can do what I did and cash in on those AMEX points and grab some Morton’s gift cards… then the decision is  a no brainer.

A Taste of White Plains…

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The question of whether White Plains has become a main hub in the world of wining and dining in NY has officially been answered…. Absolutely! Any doubters should have attended The White Plains YMCA Culinary Experience on Tuesday night at the Crowne Plaza . The city’s finest eateries displayed why White Plains has become a force in the “foodie” world. Below are some of the highlights of the evening.

The venue was set up in the round with restaurants offering up samples at every table, alongside wine pairings specially selected for each dish. The boys from Graziella’s and Blue offered a variety of specialty bruschettas and a smoked salmon with truffle aioli over a crispy lotus root… both delicious especially paired with a 2008 Etienne Boileau Chablis. La Bocca was serving trofie pasta in a wild boar ragu which was really enhanced by the 2007 Villa Antinori, always a fantastic value Super Tuscan.

The PF Chang’s, Morton’s Steakhouse, City Limits, Melting Pot and Legal Seafoods chains all were there with some of their more popular dishes. Not to be overshadowed, some of the newer kids on the block presented some fun and tasty samples as well. 97 Lake Street Sports Café and Restaurant brought their homemade Pulled Pork Sliders that matched up brilliantly with the Greppicante and Vitticio Classico Riserva that were situated right alongside.

One of the greatest tables of the night was housed by the White Plains Fire Department who served up their infamous Chili, both mild and hot. It certainly lived up to its reputation, and thank God they were there as it seemed to set a few people’s mouths on fire. The pairing of the Pillar Box Shiraz was the perfect complement to not only accentuate the flavors, but to help extinguish the internal flames!

I would say the only disappointment of the night was that the turnout seemed a little lackluster. The event was so well put together and fun, that I would hope in years to come everyone in the area takes full advantage of this food and wine event right in our own backyard. So put it on your calendar for next year, and in the meantime get out to some of those White Plains restaurants and enjoy a culinary experience… Westchester style!

The White Plains Culinary Experience is just around the corner…

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Just a friendly reminder about what is shaping up to be a wonderful evening of culinary delights and delicious wines to match. Check out the info below and I hope to see you there!

If you have yet to sample all of what White Plains has to offer, then check out the White Plains Family YMCA Culinary Experience that will be held on January 18th at the Crowne Plaza. It will be an evening of delicious food, tasty wines and an opportunity to help contribute to a worthy cause (The White Plains YMCA’s Scholarship Assistance Program) .

Just click on the link below for all the event details…

White Plains YMCA Culinary Experience

A White Plains Wine and Food Event You Don’t Want to Miss!

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Over the last decade, White Plains has transformed into a true city in every sense of the word.  You can see it in the emergent skyline whose view from 287 is really quite impressive. You can feel it in the hustle and bustle that dominates the shopping venues ranging from the trendy and lavish Westchester Mall to the modern yet everyday feel of the White Plains City Center. And most importantly (to the wine and food lovers anyway) you can smell and taste it in the abundance of quality restaurants, eateries and wine options in the area.

If you have yet to sample all of what White Plains has to offer, then check out the White Plains Family YMCA Culinary Experience that will be held on January 18th at the Crowne Plaza. It will be an evening of delicious food, tasty wines and an opportunity to help contribute to a worthy cause (The White Plains YMCA’s Scholarship Assistance Program) . Check out the flyer attached and I hope to see everyone there, as the Westchester Wine Guy wouldn’t miss an event like this… especially in his own backyard!

Just click on the link below for all the event details…

White Plains YMCA Culinary Experience