What are we drinking and eating this week?

It's Restaurant Week in the summer doldrums.  We are taking a few of the dollars we were going to spend in Washington State, a trip we had to cancel, to hobble round to a couple of eateries we haven't yet graced with our presence.  Tomorrow evening at the civilized hour of 9 pm we hit Artisanal at long last -- great cheeses and superior wine list, everyone tells me.  For lunch on Wednesday: Lure Fishbar in SoHo under the Prada store.  I hope I look chic enough.  (Ha.)

Tomorrow afternoon my "wine-groupie" friend Jeff will come over for a tasting of "Undiscovered Italian Gems' - wines that are not currently imported, or only in a restricted area of the USA.  They are at different price points and from several regions of Italy.  The producers include Pianbello and Boveri from Piemonte, Fattoria Le Fonti from Tuscany and, I hope, Polvanera from Puglia (due to arrive any time now).  I like to watch...people's reactions to wine. 

We've been invited to go to Southampton for the weekend, which is a big treat.  A beautiful house close to the beach.  Great fresh food and of course wine.  Lots of laughs and killer Scrabble games.  I must admit, sometimes I feel like the Jennifer Aniston character in "Friends with Money."  No, the film wasn't all that hot, but they gave my girl Jen a lot of screen time.  (Brad, you asshole.)

Comments

[East Village Wine Geek]

Can't wait to hear about those wines! How is restauarnt week for you? I have tried a couple times and get nothing but cold-shoulder service from a staff that is used to making more money off of New Yorkers. Do you have any suggestions for nice places that don't practically throw menus and food at you with disgust? Sorry I am not Star Jones or.....Brad (asshole).

EvWg

[Terry Hughes]

I know what you mean about Restaurant week. But...We had fantastic service at Artisanal last night. Of course we didn't like what was on the RW menu so we ordered one of their big cheese and fruit and salumeria things, which was wonderful. (Also too much for 2 to eat; I told the waiter it was like a tasting menu, "More than meets the eye.") And a very nice bottle of Crozes-Hermitage 2005 for only $48. The place was packed but the staff were all very pleasant and helpful. An excellent experience all around.

[David J R]

Caro,
Greetings from Holiday Inn Central in Richmond!
What happened to yr travel plans??

Trust you are well & will enjoy the Hamptons alternative. I had friends in Sagaponack I visited back in the Summer of 1980-- they had use of John Avildsen's house while fixing it up...of course it's been 25 years by now...!

Can't wait to read/hear what you've got to say about Artisanal-- wish I could join you-- can't believe I missed Restaurant Week!

PS- Raffaldini Vineyards has sold out on all of their Blue Ridge Montepulciano, will have to settle for checking on their efforts with Sangio...

PPS- Today is the 'celebration' of the landing of US Forces under general Miles in Guánica in 1898, & the 'adoption' of Estado Libre Asociado/Commonwealth status for Puerto Rico in 1952...

[Terry Hughes]

DJR, Ken fell down the stairs at the Metropolitan Opera House and is hobbling a bit -- not conducive to a lot of travel. Don't really have the money either, but that usually doesn't stop us.

I'm not going to write too much more about Artisanal -- I'm behind on wine work of all sorts -- but, as I indicated in my response to EVWG, it was a very pleasant experience with all those artisanal cheeses and meats -- really good stuff. No wonder people love the place.

I did see an amazing number of people vacuuming up their steak-frites, but that old standby of the bistrot is so damned boring.

The wine pairing was very good at a reasonable price -- lots of fruit but not too woody or extracted, a balanced and slightly earthy Crozes-Hermitage from Moillard; nothing fancy but very pleasing.

[David J R]

Oof. What a terrible, grand, cameo!
Best wishes to Ken for a speedy recovery.