Decisions, Decisions: Favorite Wine Bars

My Favorite Wine Bars!

Photo Source: 

http://www.janesgourmetdeli.com/Restaurant/TheWineWall.aspx

Dear Enthusiasts! I am shocked to learn that I have not yet shouted out my favorite wine bars! We have covered my favorite places to grab

drinks in NYC

and we have considered what to consider when

choosing a wine bar

for your evening - but - now I will give you all my insider tips!

New York.

  Let's start with the greatest city in the world. NYC! There are so many options here, frankly too many. Below are my top 5 favorites, places that I could go to night after night and always have a good time. I am

sure

 there are tons that I missed, if so, just shout out your favorite place in the comments section.

1. Amelie (Greenwich Village).  

I have probably shouted out this wine bar multiple times. But this place deserves it! The ambiance is great - sleek and modern, yet cozy. But what's even better is the food and drink. All the snacks are delicious, but the wine list is extensive. Added bonus - the servers are super fun! 

2. The Immigrant (East Village).

  I walked by this place most days for almost six months before I actually stopped by, but I was oh so glad when I did! This place exudes simple, rustic charm. The wine list is short, but full of complex choices. Go for drinks and snacks, but don't expect dinner!

3. Terroir (East Village).

  Go for the Riesling selection, stay for the snacks! But an insider tip - one of the best happy hour deals I have seen in Manhattan. 

4. Cork Buzz Wine Studio (Union Square).

  If you want to experience great wine served by a truly knowledgeable staff - this is the place to go! Co-founded by one of my favorite Master Sommeliers (and 1 of only 20 women), the wine list really offers a great selection. Tons of familiar wine styles and even more interesting new glasses to try. Plus the food is delicious!

5. Murray's Cheese Bar (West Village).

  Wine + cheese = happiness. Need I say more?

Photo Source: 

http://www.allposters.com.au/-sp/

L-Instant-Taittinger-posters_i421309_.htm

Boston.

  Now some New Yorkers wouldn't dare admit that there is life outside of the city, but I love exploring new places. One of the first things I do when I visit

a new city is find a great wine store and wine bar within the neighborhood. So this summer when I lived in Boston, I quickly found 

Belly Wine Bar

 in Cambridge. Rustic style wine bar with a very creative wine list. I wouldn't head there for a filling meal, but the snacks were definitely delicious.

Baltimore.

  (No, it's not just like The Wire). I lived in Charm City for over a year and in that time I learned that Baltimore is not really a big wine town. No matter! I still stumbled upon

13.5% Wine Bar

 in Hampden. The wine bar has a extensive list and fun snacks. But just in case you needed another reason, Hampden is a must visit neighborhood all on its own - hon fest, hipsters, great food! (Plus my favorite wine store of

all time

 The Wine Source). 

Annapolis.

  I may love living in the City, but I actually grew up in Maryland (aka the mid-atlantic,

not

 the South for you Northerners). One of my favorite places to visit when I'm back in town is

 Red Red Wine Bar

 on Main Street. It a relatively new addition, but well worth the wait.

Wilmington (Delaware that is).

I recently visited family in the Wilmington area, so true to form, I researched the wine bars. My favorite is 

Pochi,

 a wine bar featuring wines and food from Chile. Delicious!

Cheers!

Boston: The Publick House

hOOH YEAH Boston! It's time for a restaurant review!

The Publick House

No shots, no pitchers...

 the motto of The Publick House in Brooklin, MA. And they mean it!

As for Decor - the ambiance is everything you could want from a classic pub. Dark wood, dim lighting, and gold bar rails. On nice evenings they open all the windows.

The Beer selection here is extensive. Everything that the group ordered tasted great. I ordered a beer called Stillwater Ale, made by Cellar Door in Baltimore, MD. (And no it wasn't because it was made in Baltimore - but Go O's!) I was drawn to this beer because the brewer highlighted the use of sage in the brewing process, which I thought was unique and delicious!

Finally, the food was just as awesome as the beer. We ordered the brussel sprouts and fries (known as the best of boston, and weren't half bad) to start. Then, practically the whole table ordered burgers for dinner. I went the "healthy route" and ordered the veggie burger - which was good, but not my favorite ever. However, the rest of the table ordered the traditional burger, which was excellent.

Basically, if you are looking for a great place to grab a beer and a burger with friends, Publick House is worth the trip. 

Cheers!

I wish I could teleport to NYC to visit... The Fourth.

 I may be a bit late to the game, but this new spot in East Village looks to die for! Open for brunch, lunch and dinner (though I would opt for Brunch right out of the gate), 

Photo Confessions: Street Art

As a New Yorker, you learn to tune things out when commuting - literally. We are trained to walk the sidewalks, headphones in with music blasting, avoiding eye contact with passers-by. Every so often though, I would walk my daily path sans headphones - ya know old school. 

Once your tuned in to what is happening on the streets, you notice so much more. An interesting new store, fresh items at farmer's markets and cool sights. This week's picture is one of those cool sights worth sharing.

Street Sign on my Ride Home

This photo was taken on my ride home last week when I decided to take a random path home and just explore. While the image could stand alone - it is also very representative of my time in Boston. So I challenge you Enthusiasts - take a walk without those headphones, take a left when you would normally go right and capture a cool sight!

Boston: American Craft Beer Festival

Dear Enthusiasts! I think it goes without that I enjoy a good glass of wine. Ok, Ok - I may be a bit obsessed! But realizing that wine is not the only fermented beverage out there - this blog will finally cover a beverage that America's drink 20.8 gallons per person last year... you guessed it - Beer! 

History of Beer in America:

Dare I even try to address the history of this important beverage? Since there are some very high odds that I would not fully encompass the history of beer in this introductory post - I will just throw out a few fun facts:

• In 1587, Virginia colonists brew ale using corn.
• In 1643, Samuel Cole is the first to be licensed in Boston to operate a tavern.
• In 1754, George Washington enters a beer recipe into his notebook.
• In 1820, Brewers report business off due to increased consumption of whiskey.
• In 1935, Canned beer introduced by American Can Company and Krueger Brewing Co. of Newark, New Jersey.

Picture from ACBF - can you

 spot the awesome yellow pants?

American Craft Beer Fest:

With my first weekend in Boston, I decided visit the American Craft Beer Fest. Per the event handout, the ACBR is the "largest and most diverse celebration of American craft beer on the east coast." And they weren't lying - there were over 140 brewers there, serving 4-6 beers. So I grabbed my glass and started tasting as many beers as I could in the three hours I had.

Ranking System:

As I started ranking beers, it became quickly obvious that I needed to create a ranking system. So with the help of a few friends, we used the following (not-so-scientific) system:

1. Beers that drink like One Direction sounds (lowest)
2. Meh 
3. I'd have another but...
4. Beers that are awesome like a black skirt - goes with every occasion!
5. "Dance on the ceiling" good! (highest)

My Tasting Card:

In three short hours, I was able to taste beer from 22 different breweries. The results below are listed by brewery, beer type and score:

Relic Brewing Co.

 (Plainville, CT), Madeline Belgian Blonde - 4

Mayflower Brewing Co.

 (Plymouth, MA), Pale Ale - 2

The People's Pint

 (Greenfield, MA), Wheelman's Wheat - 3

*Night Shift Brewing

 (Everett, MA), Snow American Stout - 4.5

      White Coffee Stout with great texture and I really enjoyed the coffee taste.

Moat Maintain Smoke House & Brewing Co.

 (North Conway, NH) Matilda's Red Ale - 2

Idle Hands Craft Ales

 (Ipswich, MA), Triplication - 3.5

*Enlightenment Ales

 (Lowell, MA), Enlightenment Brut (Biere De Champagne) - 3.5 

      Definitely a floral scent and complex beer.

Kennebec River Brewery

 (The Forks Pit, ME), Summer Ale - 2

                                                                    Whitewater Wheat - 4

Port Jeff Brewing Co.

 (Port Jefferson, NY), White's Beach Wit - 1

                                                                 Party Boat IPA - 2

Mystic Brewery

 (Chelsea, MA), Welkin Ringer (E.S.B.) - 3.5

Long Trail Brewing Co.

 (Bridgewaters Corners, VT), Maple Maibock - 4

Otter Creek Brewing

 (Middleberry, VT), Copper Ale - 4

*Clown Shoes

 (Ipswich, MA), Barley Wine - 5

Redhook Brewery

 (Portsmouth, NH), Wise-cracker - 3

Anderson Valley Brewing Co

 (Boonville, CA), Wild Turkey Burbon Barrel Stout - 4

Somerville Brewing Co. (Slumbrew)

(Somerville, MA), Happy Sol Hefeweizen - 3.5

Wachusett Brewing Co.

 (Westminster, MA), Blueberry - 2.5

Smuttynose Brewing Co.

 (Portsmouth, NH), Short Batch #11 - 2.5

Green Flash Brewing Co.

(Denver, CO), San Diego Saison - 4

Sixpoint Brewery

 (Brooklyn, NY), Apollo Kristalweizen - 2

*Maine Beer Co.

 (Portland, ME), Mo Ale - 5  This beer was great, definitely worth finding and trying again!

If the brewery is starred above - its definitely worth seeking out at your local store! Happy tasting!

Cheers!

Photo Confessions: Shippin' Up to Boston!

Finals - Check! J.D. - Check! Update the blog - uhhh, oooops.

As anyone who reads blogs, writes blogs, or ever attempted to write a blog will likely known -- a blog can be fun

and

 time consuming. Its just a given that updating the blog will sometimes takes a back-seat to real life. For me, real life has included finals, graduation, and ... (drumroll please!) ... a temporary move to Boston! That's right Enthusiasts! Contrary to the blog's title, this blogger is taking some time off from the Big Apple to cover the best restaurants, local haunts and secret sites in Beantown! 

Which brings me back to Photo Confessions! This weeks photo...

Random Historical Sign in Harvard Square

After three short days, I already know how I would describe Boston in a word (if I had to) - CHAMELEON.   That's right - this town is like a uniquely adaptable, color-changing lizard because each neighborhood is seriously different from the last and it morphs around  the people that live there. I have seen neighborhoods that are colonial, modern, collegiate, retro, traditional and artsy - all within 30 minutes of each other.

Thus - this photo confession series will feature a photo from a different Boston neighborhood. This photo was taken in Harvard Square and reminded me how much American history is tied to Boston. It caught my eye mostly due to the contrast between the brick and ivy - but I appreciated it more for its historical value. Until next time!

Cheers!