notes from a wineaholic/the applewood winery

i've always enjoyed the annual fall visit to the apple orchards with friends and family. this year more so because applewood orchard is also a winery, and amidst the mayhem in the orchard and the face paining and puppet show for the kids, there was the brief, yet very luscious tasting of fermented and distilled beverages produced there. for a mere five dollars a person can taste five of their 18 blends. i tried their seyval chardonnay reserve (dry, crisp blend aged in american oak), the vidal (semi-dry with fruit and floral notes), the merlot (dry, with distinct peppery finish), the cabernet franc (dry, with berry notes and spicy finish) and the oak barrel reserve (dry, with an earthy, smoky finish). they were all quite yummy and i brought home a bottle of the seyval and the merlot to age a bit. that day we also visited the heaven hill farm where we went on a hayride, picked pumpkins, watched pig races and played tag in the corn maze (which was sooooo much fun, and a little scary!) so often this annual outing is just about the kids; but this year i think the adults found some fun and more age appropriate entertainment too.

Come into my parlor...

...said the spider to the fly. i had no trouble, though, willingly walking into the Parlor steakhouse on the corner of 90th street and 3rd avenue, and i've been back several times. that's no surprise since i'm known for willingly walking into trouble when cajoled by a spider. there was no trouble here though, and fortunately for me, my folks didn't think so either. my mom, luis and my grandmother joined me and john for a brunch this past sunday and we all walked out happy and full. it's not any small feat to entice my grandmother into public eateries. whereas i'm happy to try anyplace for the sake of the experience, she's of the mind that there can't be anything better than home cooked food and her standards are high. at Parlor the decor is spartan, clean and sleek; but the food and service are lavish, and satisfying; a pleasure to the eyes and the palate. as always with repeat visits to restaurants i like trying something different so this time it was the lobster roll. it could have been a little bigger for the price; but not better for sure. the kumamoto oysters i had for appetizers were the star here though. beautiful, small cupped shells, plump and only slightly briny meat. i'm always fascinated by oysters because they are so beautifully ugly on the outside; and so luscious and opalescent on the inside. highly sculpted, fluted shells, crusted and rough. their insides adorned with gorgeous mother-of-pearl. and the pearls! its so amazing the perfect gem that an irritating grain of sand can produce. its testimony to the fact that bitterness and adversity in life can lead to beautiful, priceless creations. so much lovely art, memorable books, acts of valor and genius are the products of lives of misery and misfortune, strife and toiling against unimaginable odds. so be an oyster babies! take your lemons and make lemonade! if someone leaves a cow in your living room, milk it and sell the milk and cheese! turn your life's irritation into gems!

Wu Liang Ye

anyone that knows me knows that i would rather eat chinese food more than just about anything else. so here's another "fave in the hood", wu liang ye on 86th street between third and second avenues is the best szechuan you'll ever have, anywhere. one of the hallmarks of a good ethnic restaurant is whether it is frequented by persons of that nationality, and yes if you go to wu liang ye you will certainly see many, many asian patrons. i'm pretty sure that i must have some asian heritage somewhere along the line. there were many chinese in cuba so it is not totally outside the realm of possibility that there could be a bit of a "slant" in my gene pool. interestingly, the chinese in cuba were the butt of many jokes, much the same as the poles seem to have been in many american jokes. when a cuban was plagued by bad luck, it was said that "he was being followed by a chinaman" ("tiene un chino atras"). regardless, all are welcome at wu liang ye; we all know a good thing when we see/eat it. their lunch special is a steal for $7.95. you get choices of appetizer, different types of rice, and many really yummy entrees. i decided my first time there that i was going to make a habit of the lunch special and work my way down the list of entrees. i'm still working on it, and having a great time doing it. some may think that the prices are a little high; but the menu is not your run of the mill chinese food and well worth the visit.

notes from a wineaholic/moscatel

i figure the best way to come back is with something to drink, and what better way than with some moscatel. while at dinner with john and shivann at one of the best italian restaurants in manhattan, luna piena, the owner, luigi, sent some moscatel to the table and i knew there was a reason why i loved that place so much. a delicate wine with the subtle taste of peaches and apricots, this sparkling more prestigious cousin of the asti is not considered spumante (sparkling) at all, just a bit frizzante (fizzy). delicate, lightly sweet and gorgeously fruity, the moscato is particularly low in alcohol and therefore fairly fragile. generally made in tiny batches and limited quantities it is highly desirable and should be drunk fresh and soon after release. the rest of the dinner was no slouch. grilled shrimp with warm white bean salad, asparagus wrapped in mozzarella and prosciutto, spinach greens with strawberries and toasted almonds. my entree of homemade squid ink fettuccine with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp in a light red sauce brought to mind the rice with squid in its black ink my grandmother makes. the rice turns out a beautiful black color. make sure you visit luna piena and tell luigi i sent you. have a glass of the moscatel, and enjoy one of the great wonders of wine.

don't be afraid, vegetables don't bite

the lower east side has long been my favorite area of the great island of manhattan. i love being surprised by the variety of hip and delicious places to eat. at an invitation from melissa king, love ya mel %^*, to a happy hour meet and greet/networking party i was happily introduced to counter. on first ave. between 6th and 7th streets, it is billed as "an organic wine and martini bar and vegetarian bistro". their wine list is extensive and impressive, and their cocktail menu is serious and seriously funny, with drinks named "tie me to the bed post" and "the angry lesbian". their menu of vodkas infused with herbs grown in their own roof-top garden will definitely tempt you and provoke your palate. i had the angry lesbian..."tarragon infused vodka, framboise and orange puree", and as a card carrying member of that group i approve. no really, ask lori barry, i AM lesbian...and chinese, and nigerian, and swedish and indian... the noshes and entrees, some completely vegan, were beautiful to look at, delicious to smell and yummy to eat. the spiced seytan ragout on the hummus royale was sharp, aromatic and delicious; the chickpea fries and corn beignets with remoulade sauce were so good it was impossible to stop eating them. i had the italian farmhouse panini made from walnut-lentil pate, plum tomatoes, greens and slivers of red onion, and rosemary aioli on a crunchy ciabatta served with a generous side of baby greens with a dressing so light it never weighed down the delicate leaves but was sharp and crisp. the bartender was gracious and where else do you know that will actually just BRING you a glass of water when you sit down at the counter? stop by after work, for a lunch or brunch, you'll have to keep going back, as i will, to sample the whole menu.

kittichai

it is probably a thai word which means "i'm too sexy for you", and rightly so. the soho restaurant by the same name is so cool, its hot; so in it could be impossible to get into and so sexy i think i just came writting this. ok, so i liked it, you get the idea; but really, the place is beautiful and unfortunately trendy. kinda like i describe the hamptons..."love the place, hate the people". stylish alcoves where small to midsize groups can dine in relative seclusion; red, orange and yellow fabric colored walls uplit for drama and style; a ceiling simulating bamboo screens; dim spot lighting on the tables; a large pool with floating candles that tumble against each other and clink lightly together, and a flawless, and beautiful staff that seems to appear and disappear as if from nowhere to make sure your service is perfect. oh, and by the way, the food doesn't suck. if you could eat the presentation it might just taste as wonderful as the food actually does. they are currently participating in restaurant week and have extended this menu to march 31st; but they also have a prix fixe brunch on saturdays AND sundays. take advantage folks!