Wine Pairing

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition, the touring exhibition that is currently set up in downtown Charleston, is hosting an intimate dining experience at Festival Hall on Friday, August 27th from 7:30 pm to 10 pm.

This Taste of Italy event features a chef-driven menu by Charleston’s Rosemary & Rye catering and wine pairing selected by Squeeze Cocktails of some of Italy’s most classic dishes, such as:

• Arancini – An unforgettable blend of risotto & perfectly-aged mozzarella prepared in the Eastern Sicilian style and delightfully served handheld
  • A unique spin on a classic, this dish harkens back to Santa Lucia’s Day 1646
• Prosciutto & Melone – Refreshing and savory; the lesson learned from centuries of Italian trial and error: Eat melon with prosciutto for a happy and healthy day
• Chicken Parm Bite – Experience the Northern Region of Emilia-Romagna to the city of Parma, said to be the home of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, all served in a perfect bite
• And more

Paired with Italian wines that enhance the tasting notes of the dishes, guests will be transported to one of Rome’s most treasured sites.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at https://charleston.chapelsistine.com.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Vivino, the world’s most downloaded wine app, and SOMM TV, the wine-focused streaming service, have partnered to bring exclusive educational and shoppable wine content to millions of members of both platforms in the United States. Vivino has more than 10 million registered users in the US, and SOMM TV has a large base of subscribers, with content expanding soon to iTunes, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. The partnership was developed to introduce wine drinkers – from the wine curious to the wine enthusiast – to new wines through engaging and exclusive content.

SOMM TV’s films and shows take a story-driven approach to showcase the myriad ways that wine has been and continues to be a part of the human narrative. The partnership between these two brands marks a milestone in the democratization of wine by allowing people to learn, laugh and love wine while also being given an easy and streamlined way to purchase and share their experience with others.

Vivino’s users will get first-look access to upcoming SOMM TV content and trailers. SOMM TV users will have access to purchase wines mentioned in content directly from Vivino, whose marketplace offers over two million wine prices. The partnership kicked off in July, starting with Vivino premiering the trailer of SOMM TV’s new original film on Lafite Rothschild. The partnership integrations are slated to continue with a watch-along series of the famous SOMM films. Hosted by members of the movie series’ cast, wines mentioned in the movies will be available for purchase on Vivino so viewers can enjoy and discuss them during Livestream events.

Vivino and SOMM TV both pride themselves on aiding consumers on the journey of learning about wine and providing intimate access to producers by telling their stories or putting their wines in the hands of consumers. The two companies are incredibly excited about promoting wines from up-and-coming discovery regions and making them more accessible to wine consumers. The ultimate goal of this partnership is to empower wine discovery through learning and tasting.

General Manager of the Americas Region for Vivino, Andrew Perroy, says, “We are excited to offer this new way for users to interact with Vivino while exploring all the rich content SOMM TV has to offer. This new way of getting bottles straight into the hands of our users with shoppable content on both Vivino and the SOMM TV platform is perfectly on target with our goal to make wine more approachable and accessible.”

Chief Creative Officer of SOMM TV Jason Wise stated, “There is no wine buying experience more seamless for users than Vivino and now It has never been easier to learn and be entertained while drinking the actual bottles seen on screen and heard in our podcasts. With this partnership, the full story of wine can finally be experienced by the viewer, the collector, and the adventurous drinker. SOMM TV is thrilled to work with the innovative team at Vivino to change the way people drink, learn, and enjoy the best wine and food content on TV.”

Two projects, in particular, spotlight the new integrated features and content:

1. Verticals: Lafite Rothschild – Newly released this summer, this film is a new installment in SOMM TV’s Verticals series and focuses on giving wine lovers a first-ever behind-the-scenes look at the famed first-growth chateaux. Featuring interviews with Baron Éric de Rothschild, his daughter Saskia de Rothschild, and international wine experts, including Dlynn Proctor of the SOMM movies and the late Steven Spurrier, the film tells the tale of European viticulture through the Rothschild’s wines. To augment the viewing experience, many wines made by the Rothschild family will be available to purchase on Vivino, straight from the SOMM TV platform.

2. Sparklers – This will be SOMM TV’s first cooking and wine pairing competition show featuring some of the greatest sparkling wine producers from around the world. Vivino’s own wine curator Greg Bybee will be a guest judge, and retail offerings for the entire show will be offered and fulfilled through Vivino. Sparklers will be released in fall 2021, and both Vivino and SOMM TV are excited about this brand new cooking competition show that involves pairing sparkling wine from around the world with world-class cuisine. The six wines featured will be available for purchase through Vivino.

The Vivino and SOMM TV teams are also working on co-branded events to further educate and inspire wine beginners and aficionados alike.

-END-

About Vivino: Vivino empowers people to enjoy wine to the fullest. Wine is about so much more than just a great label; it’s about an experience and community and, of course, what’s in the bottle. That’s where Vivino comes in. As the world’s largest online wine marketplace and most downloaded wine app, the Vivino community comprises millions of wine drinkers from around the world, coming together to make buying the right wine simple, straightforward, and fun. Vivino uses crowd-sourced data to personalize wine recommendations so that every community member feels confident about their wine choices. Created for everyone who likes wine—from the wine curious to the wine enthusiast—the Vivino app is available for free on Apple and Android devices.

About SOMM TV: SOMM TV is the first SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) streaming platform and full podcast network in the wine, food, and travel space with exclusive new shows, films, and educational content created from the ground up by the team that made the award-winning SOMM documentary series. SOMM TV is available on every device and smart TV worldwide through the custom app and website. The full podcast network can be found on all major platforms, including iTunes and Spotify.

Media Contact

Pia Maria Szabo, Colangelo & Partners, 9175107865, pszabo@colangelopr.com

 

SOURCE Vivino

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Brunch at Sweet Life Bakery and Cafe

Featuring omelets and pancakes, to delicious sandwiches and salads, Sweet Life serves breakfast Wednesday-Sunday with breakfast/brunch special additions Friday-Sunday!  Save room for one of their delicious bakery treats! Beer, wine and brunch cocktails are served too!

Take it to go!

El Barrio offers Margarita “juice boxes” to go!  Pairs perfectly with tacos!

Wine + Cheese….sort of

Cheese and wine are the most classic pairing, so it makes sense that quesadillas and wine are the perfect match!  Reserve a spot at Boston Winery’s Quesadilla and Wine Pairing on Friday, August 20th! Tickets are $45.  You can reserve your spot here! 

$5 Mimosas and Bloody Marys 

Lower Mills Tavern offers $5 mimosas and Bloody Marys during brunch on Saturday and Sundays 10am – 3pm.  Comes in flavors like pineapple, pink guava, honey rose, blueberry, cherry, raspberry and cranberry!  How awesome is that? 

Farmers Markets

On Fridays head to the Ashmont Farmers Market from 3pm-7pm featuring a The Food Project bring fresh, Dorchester grown fruits + vegetables and Queen’s Lane beauty products this week! On Saturdays the Codman Square Farmers Market takes place from 11am-2pm.  Stop by for fresh produce, baked goods, entertainment and more! This week at the Codman Square Farmers Market – Culture Market featuring the Suya Joint Food Truck! Bring your flag and celebrate all the cultures of Codman Square!

Summer Fridays

First Parish Dorchester is presenting a free weekly summertime celebration of community + culture on Fridays from 6pm-9pm – June 11 – September 10. Expect picnicking, kids activities and live music!

Workout with Trillfit

TRILLFIT® is an award-winning boutique fitness studio with classes ranging from Cardio Dance to Sculpt. The offer many outdoor classes in addition to plenty of online classes too! You can learn more here! 

Roc-K-eno at The Industry

Test your musical knowledge, have fun and win prizes galore on August 21st from 8pm-12am at The Industry! 

Charity Cocktail at The Bowery Bar

Raise your glass! Order an Island Time – made with Silver rum | blue curaçao | pineapple | lime | coconut | cava float from the Bowery Bar and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Leahy Holloran Community Center!

Register for the Boston Triathlon

After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Boston Triathlon is back!  On August 28-29, the Columbia Threadneedle Investments Boston Triathlon returns to DCR Carson Beach, featuring a weekend of events, open to all! On August 29, the event will feature two main races:  The Olympic Race begins at 6:45 am and is a 1.5K swim, 35K bike, and 10K run. The Sprint Race starts at 9:15 a.m. and features a 750m swim, 17.5K bike, and 3K run.  What if you love to run, but hate to bike and swim? Grab two friends and sign up as a Relay Team!  Or encourage your friends, family or colleagues to join the fun by signing up for the Annual Team Challenge, a great way to experience the Sprint race from start to finish while participating in some friendly competition. You can learn more here! 

Get Vaccinated

Free Public Covid-19 Vaccines Available DotHouse Health – Walk-ins Welcome.  Or you can book an appointment by calling 617-740-2213 or using the QR code here via Instagram.

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A view of the Hollywood Sign from Captain’s Roost. Photo by Christina Champlin.

As Los Angeles finds its way out of the pandemic and restrictions gradually ease, we’re continuing our bi-weekly round-ups of fun to-dos, mixing in the occasional online/virtual event with an ever-growing listen of in-person experiences and food ideas.

This weekend, from August 20 to 22, features an open streets initiative in Santa Monica, a Sound of Music Sing-Along, live music at Mercado La Paloma, Summer SoundWaves at The Music Center and more.

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Friday / All Weekend

1. Hollywood Fringe -> The annual extravaganza of indie theater returns with a huge lineup of community performances at over a dozen small and medium-sized spaces across Los Angeles, all taking place from Aug. 12-29. Get ticketing info and check the full schedule here.

2. Outfest LA -> The 39th Annual Outfest LA film Festival will return for in-person screenings and events August 13-22, 2021. Nearly every film will also be available for streaming for those at-risk or who live outside of the region. Tickets for most in-person screenings are $16 for general admission. Complete film guide here.

3. Los Angeles Magazine Whiskey Festival -> This Friday, LA Mag’s 6th annual Whiskey Festival will take place at The Bloc in DTLA starting at 7 p.m.. The two-hour experience offers guests a chance to meet-and-greet distillers, learn cocktail recipes, and sample new labels. Tickets are $75 plus fees. More info here.

4. Jazz at LACMA Limited Edition -> Free, live jazz is back at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Fridays, but in a new small-capacity and ticketed format. This Friday, Aug. 20, guests will enjoy Phil Ranelin & Friends’ “Forever Bird.” Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance online beginning Tuesday, August 17, at 10 am. More info here.

5. Dance DTLA -> The Music Center’s Dance DTLA is back starting on Aug 13, for five Friday night dance parties on its Jerry Moss Plaza. On-site dance instructors will guide guests on easy-to-learn steps while DJs spin the soundtrack. This Friday’s theme is Disco, and the event is free and open to the public. More info here.

6. Shakespeare in the Park -> The Independent Shakespeare Co. is bringing back free, live theater to Griffith Park starting Aug. 7 with performances of The Tempest. Shows will run Wednesdays to Sundays through Sep. 5. For health and safety reasons, online reservations are required to ensure capacity limits are held. This week’s performances are stand-by only as of now, but tickets for futures shows are released 7 days in advance of each performance, so be sure to check the ISC’s website if you want to reserve a slot for a future show. Get more info and make a reservation here.

7. Daily Harvest on The Hollywood Walk of Fame -> Health focused and time saving delivery service Daily Harvest is taking over the Hollywood Walk of Fame all weekend long. The public will get a chance to “place their very own star” on the iconic walkway for a photo moment, and enjoy new Daily Harvest smoothie flavors not yet released. Free and open to the public Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

8. Levitt Pavilion Concerts -> This Friday, Levitt Pavilion’s summer concert series continues with performances Raashan Ahmad and Mark de Clive-Lowe. The series continues on Saturday with Isaac Torres y Su Alianza, then Sunday with Gustavo Bucardo.  Free. Outdoors. All-ages. More info here.

9. Sing-Along Weekend at Electric Dusk -> Electric Dusk Drive-In has a trio of films. The lineup includes Pitch Perfect on Friday, La La Land on Saturday, and The Little Mermaid on Sunday. Tickets are are $15 per car and first person, and $8 for each passenger. More info here.

10. Grand Performances -> This Friday’ edition of Grand Performances is headlined by Latinx synth-pop artist Katzù Oso, and also features a performance by Mexican signer-songwriter Irene Diaz. Starts at 7 p.m. Free. Outdoors. All-ages. More info here.

11. NHM Extended Hours -> Every Friday now through Aug. 6, Natural History Museum will offer extended Friday hours (from 5 to 8 p.m.) that feature a live DJ in the Nature Gardens along with do-it-yourself family activities and food for purchase from the NHM grill. Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children. More details here.

12. Ultra -> The Torrance Art Museum has collaborated with over 20 artists to create a series of public art installations freely accessible in locations around the City of Torrance, now through Aug. 28. More info here.

13. Cardboard City -> Third Street Promenade is temporarily home to a 10,000 square foot pop-up art center featuring large-scale cardboard sculptures created by local artists and sponsoring architecture and design firms. Cardboard City is free to attend, open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. through Aug. 29. More info here.

14. Salute Your Shorts Film Festival -> This three-day film festival celebrates a curated collection of short films made by talented filmmakers, both local and international, all taking place at the Assitance League Theater in Hollywood. Friday features and opening night party, following by screenings Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $60 for an all-session pass, or $15 for individual blocks of films. More info and tickets here.

15. Proof-of-Vax Bars -> The list of L.A.-area bars now requiring proof of vaccination for entry has no grown to 49 establishments, according to an ongoing list put together by L.A. Taco. If you’re still looking to grab a drink, but would feel safer in a vaccine required environment, you could head out to one of these spots this week.

16. DiscOasis -> Lights, disco, live performances, and food trucks, all presented in a lush, late-afternoon garden setting. That’s the premise behind DiscoOasis, a new timed experience at the South Coast Botanic Garden that runs Tuesday through Sunday through Sep. 6. Tickets start at $39 per person. Get more info and buy tickets here.

17. Sing for Hope Pianos -> As part of the Sing for Hope Pianos recurring public art project, 16 special artist-designed pianos will pop up around Beverly Hills from Aug 5. to Sep. 6, offering public guests the opportunity to play and enjoy for free. More info here.

Saturday

18. Sharing an Open Main Street -> This Saturday and Sunday, Santa Monica is bringing back its second installment of “Sharing an Open Main Street,” which will transform two blocks between Hill and Kinney streets into a pedestrian plaza featuring al fresco dining and family-friendly activities. If you miss it this time around, two more installments of the open streets initiative are scheduled for Sep. 18-19, and Oct. 16-17. More info here.

19. Sound of Music Sing-Along -> Bring your singing voice and wear your lederhosen for this Saturday’s screening of The Sound of Music at The Hollywood Bowl. The special sing-along movie night also includes a pre-show costume contest. Tickets available as low as $16. More info here.

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20. Soulection -> An all-day showcase of DJ-spun tunes courtesy of Grand Performances, with bar service provided by La City. Free to attend. More info here.

21. Summer SoundWaves -> This Saturday, the Music Center’s Summer. SoundWaves series brings East’s L.A.’s own Las Cafeteras to Jerry Moss Plaza for an evening of genre-bending sounds. Kicks off at 8 p.m. Tickets run $20. More info here.

22. 5th Annual Boleros De Noche -> Guatemalan singer-songwriter and guitarist Gaby Moreno comes to the Ford Theatre this Saturday for an evening paying homage to Mexico’s golden era of Boleros. Moreno’s multi-lingual performance will range in styles from blues and jazz, to soul and R&B. Tickets available starting at $50. More info here.

23. Vibrant Vinyasa Yoga with Blakwatter -> Compound, a newly opened cultural complex in Long Beach, hosts is hosting a free vinyasa yoga session on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. Offered both in-person and online for virtual participation. Free to join, but reservation required and space is limited. More details and signup here.

Sunday

24. Music at the Mercado -> This Sunday, Mercado La Paloma will host  César Castro and Cambalache, a Chicano-Jarocho group who play Son Jarocho, the traditional rural music of Veracruz. Event runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Free and all-ages. More info here.

25. 32nd Annual MARIACHI USA® -> The annual Mariachi extravaganza at the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday, Aug. 22 for an evening of premier Mariachi performers and a vibrant fireworks display. Tickets available as low as $39.50. More info here.

26. Creative Communal Market -> An open-air market featuring 20+ local vendors, plus live music, kids entertainment, and food. Goes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at 2nd & PCH in Long Beach. More info here.

27. Main Street Market -> Every second and fourth Sunday, Main Street Market pops up in Downtown Los Angeles for a full day of shopping from local apparel, crafts and food vendors. The market is held from noon to 5 p.m. Entry is free.

Dining

28. True Italian Taste Dinner Series -> Not technically for this weekend, but it would be a good idea to get tickets early… From Aug. 23-26, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West is curating a three-part dinner series in Los Angeles celebrating “True Italian Taste.” Angelini Osteria, N10, and Rossoblu have been tasked to highlight the rich history, along with the evolution of Italian cuisine and its cultural influences. Each restaurant will serve a custom, one-night-only menu that reflects a distinct time period from Medieval Italy to contemporary Italian dishes to a menu that peers into the future landscape of Italian cuisine. Tickets for each dinner cost $75 per person and include wine pairing, tax and tip. We suggest purchasing tickets as soon as possible. This annual series is extremely popular.

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29. ROCA -> The creators of the original California Pizza Kitchen have a new project called ROCA, a pizza-by-the-cut operation popping up at The Americana in Glendale. Serving Roman style pizzas with California flair, the pies come in a variety of combinations including asparagus and goat cheese, gold potatoes and Italian sausage and Thai chicken. The ROCA pizza pop-up is a preview of two restaurants that will be opening in Palisades Village and Marina del Rey in early 2022, the Glendale pop-up will close at the end of the year. 

30. Bites at Beverly -> This Sunday, the Beverly Center in partnership with culinary agency carvingblock will host Bites at Beverly, an afternoon event highlighting top local indie makers and chefs. The inaugural series kicks off with Crème Fatale, Fly By Jing, Misha Kind Foods, Sweet Laurel and Tia Lupita Foods. Scheduled to pop up every other Sunday now through October, Bites at Beverly will feature different culinary brands, live music, food-inspired crafts, photo moments, games and special offerings from surrounding retailers and restaurants. The event runs 1-4 p.m. and is free to attend.

31. Pizzeria Vittoria x Ronan -> On Sunday, Savannah’s acclaimed Pizzeria Vittoria will take over Ronan for a one night pop-up introducing Angelenos to their naturally-leavened Neapolitan-inspired pizzas, antipasti and handmade cannoli. Reservations are available on Resy from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Pizzeria Vittoria offerings are available for dine-in only, with the Ronan menu available for dine-in and to-go. Guests dining indoors will be asked to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of their reservation time. 

32. White Label Creamery -> Phong Ly Trinh of Pearl’s Finest Teas has added a new ice cream shop right next door to his Fairfax Avenue business. On the menu is vegan ice cream, KAWS shaped waffles, and dairy soft serve. The sweets shop also features streetwear, shoes and art collectibles for sale. Starting August 19, White Label Creamery will host a Tokidoki collaboration of special sweets like a custom Donutella waffle with a variety of fillings, special soft serve and ice cream flavors and a Tokidoki themed out pop-up shop selling exclusive merchandise. The pop-up wraps up on August 29.

Any notes or corrections? Want to suggest an event we should add to an upcoming list? Hit us up at tips@welikela.com.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Wine & Spirits Magazine announces the Top 100 Wineries of 2021, showcased in the 35th Annual Buying Guide to be published Tuesday, October 12, 2021. Every year, Wine & Spirits tastes thousands of wines through an exclusive blind tasting process and, from those tastings, the editors select the Top 100 Wineries of the year. From Burgundy in the center of France to Margaret River in Western Australia, these awards call out remarkable portfolios of wines.

A selection of the Top 100 Wineries will be showcased at the 18th Annual Top 100 Tasting Event on Thursday October 14th at City View at METREON in San Francisco. Along with some of the best wines from around the globe, there will be small bites served by exceptional local restaurants and purveyors.

“Our Top 100 event went virtual last year,” says Publisher Joshua Greene, “and though we loved sharing the work of these great producers with an international audience, we missed the annual celebration with friends in San Francisco. We’re excited to be coming back!”

Wine & Spirits will endeavor to make the Top 100 Tasting as safe as possible for everyone involved. All attendees will be required to provide proof of vaccination; there will be temperature checks at check-in, tables distanced in the ample indoor/outdoor event space, attendance limits and safety measures enforced at the event. The production team will closely monitor the local public-health situation in the lead-up to the event.

Tickets to the Top 100 will be available for purchase Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Proceeds benefit SF Baykeeper, an advocate for clean water in the local watershed, including the north coast vinelands. Tickets will be available at wineandspiritsmagazine.com/top100tasting, and include a one-year subscription to the publication.

For more details, images, and interview requests, please contact Event Director, Louise Nightingale, lnightingale@wineandspiritsmagazine.com. A complete list of the Top 100 Wineries of 2021 appears with this release as well as on wineandspiritsmagazine.com.

Wine & Spirits Magazine’s Top 100 Wineries of 2021

ARGENTINA

Catena Zapata

AUSTRALIA

d’Arenberg

Penfolds

Woodlands

AUSTRIA

Frischengruber

Neumeister

Schloss Gobelsburg

Stagard

CHILE

J. Bouchon

Concha y Toro

Undurraga

FRANCE

Domaine des Baumard

Champagne Bollinger

Château du Moulin-à-Vent

Clos Cibonne

Domaine Philippe Colin

Château d’Aussières

Chateau d’Esclans

Domaine Marcel Deiss

Delas Frères

Fournier Père & Fils

E.Guigal

Maison Louis Jadot

Champagne Krug

Lucien Le Moine

Domaine Michel Magnien et Fils

Domaines Ott

Champagne Louis Roederer

Domaine Sipp Mack

Trimbach

Champagne Jean Vesselle

GERMANY

Dönnhoff

Fritz Haag

Kruger-Rumpf

Dr. Loosen

GREECE

Alpha Estate

Estate Argyros

Sclavos

Domaine Sigalas

HUNGARY

Royal Tokaji

ITALY

Fratelli Alessandria

Elvio Cogno

Elena Fucci

Gaja

Feudi di San Gregorio

Le Macchiole

Le Ragnaie

Rocca di Montegrossi

Paolo Scavino

Tasca d’Almerita

Tenuta delle Terre Nere

G.D. Vajra

Vietti

PORTUGAL

Blandy’s

Dow’s

Anselmo Mendes

Quinta do Vallado

SOUTH AFRICA

Mullineux

SPAIN

Buil & Giné

González Byass

R. López de Heredia

Marqués de Murrieta

Muga

Suertes del Marqués

Tempos Vega Sicilia

UNITED STATES

Ambassador Wines of Washington

Ashes & Diamonds

Au Bon Climat

Bergström

Beringer

Big Basin Vineyards

Brooks

Cadence

Calera

Chanin

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Deovlet Wines

Diamond Creek

Donkey & Goat

Duckhorn Vineyards

Gramercy Cellars

Hendry

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Hirsch

Iron Horse

Johan

King Estate

Lingua Franca

Mount Eden

Native9

Ovum

Pepper Bridge Winery

Radio-Coteau

Ravines

Ridge Vineyards

Scar of the Sea

Storybook Mountain

Talley

The Eyrie

Walter Scott

About Wine & Spirits Magazine

Founded in 1982, Wine & Spirits is published seven times a year and read by over 200,000 members of America’s wine community. Consumers and wine professionals read the magazine for information on established and up- and-coming regions and producers, the art and science of viticulture, industry happenings and food and wine pairing. Wine & Spirits, the only wine publication to win the James Beard award five times for excellence in wine writing, evaluates more than 11,500 bottlings every year.

About SF Baykeeper

Since 1989, Baykeeper has been the pollution watchdog for San Francisco Bay, an advocate for clean water, which is critical to the Bay Area as well as to the wine industry. The Top 100 Tasting Event raises money and awareness for SF Baykeeper, helping to protect water resources and support initiatives to fight water pollution. Visit baykeeper.org for more information.

Media Contact

Louise Nightingale, Wine & Spirits Magazine, +1 213 629 0200 Ext: 101, lnightingale@wineandspiritsmagazine.com

Twitter, Facebook

 

SOURCE Wine & Spirits Magazine

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A

fter six years in the works, the chef Sven-Hanson Britt is to finally open his debut restaurant, Oxeye.

Britt will welcome guests to the new venture from October 14, which is opening in New Union Square, by Embassy Gardens. The area has become something of a food and drink hotspot over the past few years, with Robin Gill’s hit Darby’s nearby, as well as the recently opened second outpost of Homeboy. Down the road is Jackson Boxer’s perennially popular Brunswick House.

Ritz-trained Britt, a Masterchef: The Professionals winner, began planning the restaurant in 2015 – though says he first began dreaming of it a decade ago – and crowd-funded for it in 2019, raising more than £36,000 in the process. He was shortlisted as a “chef to watch” at this year’s National Restaurant Awards.

Oxeye, named for type of daisy, will be a fine-dining affair, comprised of a restaurant and art gallery, with a more casual bar and shop to the side that will also sell what they say is the UK’s broadest choice of English, Irish and Welsh wines. Above the site will be an outdoor terrace.

Initially, the main dining room will open only for three days a week, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, serving both lunch and supper. Dishes are set to include Hen of the Woods glazed in jus gras – a type of chicken stock – and served with wild onion, as well as the like of braised smoked eel, a peppered flat rib steak, and braised wild Cornish turbot with sea kale. The menu starts at £99, with wine pairing also starting at £99.

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The bar, called Bar Rex, will open for four days. It will serve sharing plates and snacks alongside the drink list, which is built around a choice of more than 300 British wines, including London producer Blackbook.

Britt said of the opening: “Any new launch of a business is going to be a massive challenge – there’s so many parts to opening a restaurant that I didn’t know existed until now.

“I’m thrilled to be finally opening after waiting for so long to find the right site for us. We’ve got some amazing staff coming on board and we’re keeping it really small in every way. We want it to be sustainable for staff, which is why we’re only going to be opening three days a week, so we can offer something great for people who come on board. I can’t wait to finally be able to cook some food and have people in the building!”

Oxeye will open at 14 New Union Square, Embassy Garden, SW11. For more information, visit oxeyerestaurant.co.uk

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Michael Bray

Welcome back to this months, “you ask and I’ll answer.” For those of you just tuning in, you can find me at, Michael@passionvines.com. I welcome you to email me with any wine related questions and I will use this monthly column to answer them. While I will not be able to answer all of them, I do promise to always provide an answer via email. This month we talk…

Q: James from Longport asks, “what food pairing tips do you have?”

A: Hey James! Great question and one I get asked a lot. Here are my Top 5 food & wine pairing tips:

1. Match the weight of the wine to the weight of the food.

2. Avoid tannic, high alcohol red wines with spicy foods.

3. Your wine should be sweeter than your dessert.

4. Match regional cuisines to wines.

5. Think Pink (dry rose) with fresh herbs and vegetables.

Hope this helps. Email me if you would like a deeper explanation of any of these tips.

Q: Megan from Sea Isle City ask, “I want to like French Pinot Noir, but It’s always so expensive. Thoughts? What do you recommend?”

A. You’re right, Megan. Red wines from Burgundy (Pinot Noir) are often big-ticket items. The Premier Cru and Grand Cru wines are highly sought after as they showcase various combinations of structure, power, delicacy, terroir and longevity. Parcels of vineyard land located mere yards from one another can lead to vastly different expressions due to changes in soil or aspect to the sun. However, the important thing to remember is that the wines labeled “Bourgogne” are meant for everyday consumption with humble or casual meals. When you find a producer who makes exquisite luxury wines, chances are good that the everyday wines will taste great as well. Domaine Jessiaume ($24/bottle) is a terrific example of such a producer, where its Bourgogne Rouge draws from the unique characteristics of its vineyard holdings throughout the Côte de Beaune!

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OCEANSIDE, CA — Every restaurant owner has stories about the challenges they’ve faced in order to fulfill their dream, but most don’t include a heroic escape to freedom. Yet that’s the incredible real-life story of Chef Ponie of Rim Talay Thai Cuisine in downtown Oceanside. Sam and Ponie Hyman are the husband and wife team that has owned and operated Rim Talay since it opened in 2010.

(Photo of Rim Talay interior by Lisa Frost | Patch)

According to Sam, the real story is what Ponie went through to get here. Phimphone Somchith was born in Laos. Her father was Laotion and her mother was Thai. She learned to cook from her mother and her aunt. Her father was chief of police and worked very closely with the United States during the Vietnam War. When Laos fell to the Communists they arrested her father. At that point, 18-year old Ponie wanted to escape the country.

She had planned to cross the Mekong River with a group of young people and she did not even tell her mother she was going. The group had hired a boat, but it was not there when they arrived and Laotion army trucks were coming down the road. One of the kids said we’ve got to swim across the river. But, Ponie can’t swim. Fortunately, a girl that she had just met offered to help her. They filled a trash bag with air and floated Ponie across the river while the Laotion army was shooting over them.

They get to the other side of the river and were met by the Thai army, who heard the gunshots. So here Ponie was a scared kid and all they see is just silhouettes of soldiers with guns. The soldiers took them to a village and made them all sit in a circle and all the villagers surrounded them. They didn’t know what was going to happen to them at that point. Eventually, they were then taken to a refugee camp where Ponie remained for nine months until she was able to get to this country and meet up with her two sisters and brother who were already in the US. Because of her father, she received political asylum and spent the next 20 years working in restaurants and improving her culinary talent.

Fast forward several years and Sam and Ponie were driving by what used to be Ocean Burrito and saw a ‘For Sale’ sign in the window. At first, Sam was not crazy about the idea but that’s when the light bulb went off, “I flashed on her risking her life to come to this country and I take it for granted because I was born here. It was her courage that inspired me to do it.”

In March 2010, Rim Talay opened its doors with a menu of healthy authentic Thai cuisine in a casual and comfortable setting with a view of the ocean from the patio. Rim Talay means “by the sea” and represents the location and freshness of the locally sourced food prepared exquisitely by Chef Ponie. The restaurant is a favorite with locals, who Sam credits for helping keep the doors open during the worst of times.

Like most of the restaurant industry, Rim Talay had to adapt fast when COVID happened, but Sam said that’s just what you do. “COVID was not the first time we had to adapt quickly. When the city decided to turn Mission avenue into a one-way street, we had a wall in front of the restaurant for ten months and you had to enter from the corner of Coast Highway or the street. You couldn’t even see the restaurant. It was our local regulars that supported us and that’s when we realized, this community is awesome and that’s who we’re here to serve. “

“Yes. The tourists are great and we do our best for them. But the Oceanside community, showed itself again during COVID when we were scrambling for what to do throughout that time. How to do the take-out, how to keep the crew safe, how to keep the doors open. As time progressed many people told us they were sick of their own cooking and were grateful we were open.”

(Photo of Black Pepper Beef and Drunken Noodles with Chicken by Rim Talay Thai Cuisine. – Lisa Frost | Patch)

Now that there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel, the biggest challenge is finding employees. Rim Talay has experienced the same problem many other businesses are facing of not being able to find enough employees. Sam said, “We had to close one day last week because we did not have enough staff, which is heartbreaking after having been through so much else. Some restaurant owners are having to shut down for lunch and only doing dinner, that kind of stuff. But I’m confident, if we can get one more person, we can stay open seven days a week.”

Looking forward, Sam and Ponie are hoping to get back to some of the special dining events they were doing pre-COVID, like Wine pairing dinners. “We’d like to get back into fun occasions where people enjoy themselves while discovering that many wines complement Thai food. Ponie usually does things that aren’t on the menu combined with the right wines that just nuance the flavors.”

Rim Talay Thai Cuisine is located at 508 Mission Ave. Their hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 11:00 am – 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. Drop by and say hello to Sam and Ponie and ask about the daily specials.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how we can improve Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch? Interested in advertising your business in Oceanside? Email any inquiries to me at lisa.frost@patch.com.

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A wine tasting and tour at Crossing Vineyards in Washington Crossing is a vibe. 

Sipping wine in an old pants factory boiler room is a whole mood.

The Boiler Room by Crossing Vineyards at The Square in Dublin is the new wine bar that the Carroll family, who started its popular vineyard in 2003 in Upper Makefield, hopes will welcome patrons with its “come in, sit down, listen to music” style.

It’s the family’s second wine bar where they highlight wines produced on their 20-acre Crossing Vineyards and offer specialty drinks and small bites. The first opened in Scranton in 2018.

The Carroll family eventually hopes to open similar spaces in Doylestown and Quakertown, but for now, they are focused on their new venture in Dublin, which opened this summer. 

The wine bar sits in The Square, an old pants factory turned into a community hub. The bar is one of many local vendors, makers and small businesses to set up shop in the square-shaped building on Main Street.

Tom Carroll was introduced to The Square on the site of the former Dublin TEC Center and pants factory — previously serving as a factory and small business incubator — by Rob Loughery, former Bucks County commissioner chairmen and partner with Steve Gilmore on the Dublin Town Center project, which is a large development plan for the town.

During the initial tour of the building, Loughery took Carroll to the old boiler room of the factory. As they surveyed the pipes, gauges and valves, Loughery suggested the space could be a wine bar called the boiler room.

Carroll agreed and decided to go for it.

“It’s got so many different meanings because The Boiler Room was a real boiler room but it’s kind of like the whole connotation with alcohol in the boiler,” Carroll said. “We chose that, to call it The Boiler Room by Crossing Vineyards, of course.”

Carroll knows a good idea when he hears one. That’s how he and his wife, Christine, got into the wine business.

When their son Tom Jr., then just 10, got a look at the family’s new farm, he told his parents the property could be a vineyard and winery. 

“I laughed and looked at him and said, ‘Eat your Cheerios, I gotta go to work,’” Carroll said. “I ignored him — like any good parent would, right?”

Years went by and Tom Jr. went on to become a professional actor and eventually relocated to California. After a few years, he was ready to come home and called his parents at 3 a.m., saying he wanted to “’plant these vines – I want to establish these roots and at the same time establish my roots.’”

“Well, I started bawling,” Carroll said. “My wife — she’s crying. He’s (his son) bawling. I said, ‘Move back and let’s figure out how to do this.’ He moved back, we hired a consultant, and that was almost 20 years ago. Then in 2003, we opened the winery.”

Now they are ready to give their wine bar concept roots. 

A modern look with a bit of history

Retaining elements of the old factory, the Boiler Room has a chic, contemporary restored look. The ceiling has the old pipes, and the floor has the original concrete to give “the sense and feel that you are kind of in that space of the boiler room,” said Carroll Sr.

Walking in, guests are greeted by a row of stylish booths and tables. Then taking two steps up through the sliding barn door, the main bar and dining area welcome guests to sit at the high-top tables in plush, leather chairs.

Mid-century modern chairs line the bar where manager Ben Krauss mixes drinks and serves them on a marble countertop. There’s a designed tile backsplash behind Krauss and vintage-looking exposed blub lights that hang from the ceiling.

And for those Instagramers looking for a cute mirror selfie, a large arched gold-rimmed floor mirror leans on one wall.

The back door leads to a comfortable patio with picnic Adirondack chairs and firepits.

“You can’t just create character — either a building has character, or it doesn’t,” Carroll said. “I think that The Boiler Room has an awful lot of character.”

What’s on the menu?

In the clean, vibrant space, guests can sip on specialty cocktails, wine and beer flights, wine slushies complete with vodka and munch on small bites.

The drink menu is a staff collaboration with employees and Krauss brainstorming cocktail ideas and names.

Cocktails include the Kirsche Royale (a Crossing Vineyards Blanc de Blancs and sour cherry liqueur), Lavender Lemonade (blended whiskey, fresh lemon juice, lavender simple syrup from Peace Valley Lavender Farm in Doylestown), Cucumber Gimlet (vodka from Faber Distilling Co. in Trumbauersville, muddled cucumbers, fresh lime juice), Crossing75 (Faber Distilling Co. gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, Crossing Vineyards Blanc de Blancs), Pennsylvania Paloma (Keystone tequila, fresh grapefruit juice, lime, club soda) and Black Coffee (Faber Distilling Co. vanilla vodka, espresso, simple syrup).

Carroll said they are still developing their small bites menu and currently offer charcuterie boards and pretzel bites. The food is made by Alexis DeLuca, who owns and runs The Novel Baker at The Square.

“We’re just trying to do all the key stuff and all the charcuterie,” Carroll said. “We’re basically trying to start slow and crawl before we walk, and jog before we run and so forth. We’re in an evolutionary stage right now — what are we going to do food-wise, how we’re going to do it.”

They plan to expand with a full kitchen in the space behind The Boiler Room, hire a chef and add menu items like flatbreads and salads.

The goal is to do light bites, says Carroll. Not to have a restaurant but a menu that offers “meaningful foods, especially food for wine and wine pairing.”

Expanding the Crossing Vineyards brand

The decision to open in Dublin was due to the growing Crossing Vineyards customer base in the town and neighboring areas of Central Bucks. They also wanted to be a part of the development of the town with new establishments like The Square.

The Carrolls have sold their wines at retail outlets in New Hope, Wrightstown and Scranton for six years. Now, they are trying to convert these outlets into wine bars like The Boiler Room because they like the concept of offering their products to guests on a personal level.

“The thing that’s really cool about it is that when we first had these outlets, they were just retail stores where all you can really do is go in and buy our wine, and then take our wine home,” Carroll said. “Now, with the law change, which allows us to create this wine bar type thing, that’s why we’re trying to convert all these over to wine bars and make it more of a destination where you go and hang out and have a good time.”

The family business plans to recreate the experience in Doylestown and then later in Quakertown.

Carroll, who’s lived in Washington Crossing for 38 years, has seen a “tremendous population expansion” and development in Dublin over the years — citing the traffic on Routes 313 and 413, the flow of people going further north due to expensive properties in places like Upper Makefield and changing demographics in what he calls the “Doylestown, Dublin, Quakertown corridor.”

A clear example of the town’s progress is The Square, says Carroll. What appealed to him was The Square’s restoration into a “community center” where people can shop, eat, drink and hang out.

The Square houses cake boutique The Novel Baker, home goods market Makers: Vintage + Handmade, home and children store Pineapple on Main, apparel and lifestyle store Wildflower Valley, toast eatery Farm to Toast, food items store Wheat & Vine Provisions Co. and salon and spa Manes on Main.

Plus, with the development of new houses and apartments, eateries and brewpubs nearby, he said, “It’s kind of this oasis in the middle of what once was this old named street of a town that’s now coming to life and really, it’s exciting.”

And there’s more to come. 

Loughery and Gilmore are reconstructing the old Dublin service station that dates back to the 1920s as a part of their town development project.

The Station, as it will be called, will house Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co., Itri Wood Fired Pizza and Nina’s Waffles and Ice Cream. Goldie’s Grill and Juicy Burrito are two other prospects that will be open. 

The food venue is under construction. Loughery said they are aiming to open Labor Day but believes it will be fully open later in September. 

“You can see it’s coming to life; it’s revitalization,” Carroll said.

Hira Qureshi covers food and drink for the Courier Post, Burlington County Times, Daily Journal, Bucks County Times andIntelligencer. She can be reached at HQureshi@gannettnj.com or 856-287-8106. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.

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CORNING, NY (WETM) – The Market Street Social in Corning is hosting a wine pairing dinner in collaboration with a local vineyard on August 18th at 6:00 p.m.

The event is called Summer Night’s Dream wine dinner in collaboration with Weis vineyards. They will be serving a four-course meal, where each course is paired with a wine that was handpicked to best suit the dish. 

The courses include scallops, filet mignon, panko-crusted chevre, and a chocolate molten tart. Tickets are 70 dollars per person and there are some spots still available! You can call Grill 1-2-5 to make your reservation. 

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