Rouge Tomate, the Belgium imported restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, had a booth in the tents during Mercedes–Benz Fashion Week where they handed-out delectable fresh and seasonal mocktails prepared by Rouge Tomate’s mixologist, Rainlove Lampariello. Guests were lining-up to try the concoctions — two were served at a time and nearly everyone I saw came back for seconds.
The restaurant is located in the heart of Manhattan at 10 East 60th St. between Madison and Fifth Avenue and features modern American dishes under the direction of Executive Chef Jeremy Bearman. Born in Belgium, Rouge Tomate is the first American restaurant to follow a specific, proprietary nutritional guideline called SPE (Sourcing, Preparing, Enhancing). The restaurant houses a registered dietitian on staff, Natalia Rusin who works hand-in-hand with the culinary team. Learn more on Rouge Tomate’s website!
September 23rd, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in General, News | Comments (0)
Named for the Latin spice blend whose bright orange color heavily inspired the restaurant’s décor, Sofrito is a Puerto Rican restaurant brought to the Upper East Side by a former detective JR Morales. It’s hard to imagine that I unknowingly lived just a few steps from this eatery for so long because it has one of the area’s most uniquely inviting interiors. With near nightly live Latin musical entertainment, the longest bar in the city (measuring up at 100 feet long), a delectable list of cocktails and plenty of lounge and restaurant space the venue has got you covered from the early eve through the late-night hours.
Given that the space was designed by Stephane Dupoux (also of Buddha Bar, the Gansevoort Beach Club, and Cielo), it’s little surprise that it’s swank (it could easily be confused for one of the big meatpacking district eateries). Sofrito evokes the natural beauty of Puerto Rico with its grasscloth wallpaper, neutral color palette, sculptural wood artwork, a sleek and almost futurist bar that has backlit changing lights.
For the food, Morales paired up consulting chef Ricardo Cardona (also of Mama Juana and Hudson River), and with the young and talented Andres Ortega.
We started our meal with a plate of mixed appetizers that included flaky, crunchy Empanadas filled with ground beef, fried savory plantains topped with octopus, and crispy fried shrimp and calamari. The standouts were the plantains which were cooked to perfection. The bread that was served when you first sit down is also worth noting – a garlic, challah-esque delight!
The appetizer was paired with Sofrito’s signature Mojito which is a blend of Rum, Malibu Passion, Passion Fruit Juice, Lime and Mint topped garnished with sugar cane. Though Sofrito’s wine list is comprehensive and affordable, with many bottles under $40, it’s their cocktails that are truely the most noteworthy. Besides their
Mojito, they’ve also got some sangria which Morales claims is the “best you’ve ever tasted,” thanks to some punchy additions, which include brandy, peach schnapps, melon liqueur, rum, and triple sec. It’s listed alongside other drinks including the Cocotini, a Puerto Rican favorite that blends Malibu Rum, Coconut Milk, and Pineapple Juice.
For the main course we had a baked red snapper which was served with rice and beans, along with as flank steak paired with garlic shrimp and rice. The stands out were the rice and beans and the shrimp. The rice had a wonderful nuttiness do it and the beans were perfectly cooked, while the shrimp were delectably large and perfectly seasoned – a must try at Sofrito.
As for desserts they range from tropical to decadent. Empanaditas de Guayaba y Queso de Crema consist of guava paste and cream cheese stuffed inside piping hot crescents of sweet dough. Tres Leches is only mildly sweet but heavenly in its soft, spongy texture, while a Pudin de Pan de Chocolate, or Chocolate Bread Pudding, is rich, gooey, and irresistibly topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream – this delicious option is the one we opted for. At $5 it’s arguably one of the best dessert deals in all of NYC and the hearty portion is more than enough for two.
The bar scene, which carries on late into the night, is accompanied by live Latin music five days a week. The Sofrito House Band, a five-piece group that plays musica sabrosa—merengue, salsa, bachata—plays live every Friday and Saturday, while Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays see a rotating cast of characters. Regulars are known to break into improvisational performance—and sometimes these impromptu performances feature the likes of Jaime Foxx, Marc Anothy, and Jennifer Lopez, who are all known to frequent Sofrito when in town.
Sofrito is located at 400 E 57 St. at First Avenue, and is open for dinner from 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM on weeknights and from 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM on weekends, with late night music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday. For more information on private parties and reservations, please call 212-754-5999 or visit www.sofritony.com.
July 29th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in General, News | Comments (0)
Recently Skyy Vodka unveiled their latested addition to their Skyy Infusions All Natural line — Pineapple. All Natural Pineapple is the first Pineapple infused vodka available nationwide and it joins the Skyy Infusions other flavors that include Citrus, Cherry, Passion Fruit, Raspberry and Grape, all of which are natural infusions made from real fruit that was already ranked #1 in taste by the prestigious Beverage Tasting Institute.
The pineapple infusion was developed as an alternative to heavy rums and is created through a proprietary process where real fruit is infused into Skyy Vodka.
“As the first Pineapple vodka infused with real fruit, Skyy Infusions Pineapple showcases the sweet, refreshing flavor of one of the most popular and versatile fruits on earth,” said Jason Daniel, Senior Brand Manager for Skyy Vodka. “Our All Natural Skyy Infusions capture the taste of succulent real Pineapple like no ordinary flavored vodka ever could. It is the perfect base for a wide range of tropically inspired cocktails that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.”
Skyy Infusions Pineapple is available nationwide in a 50ml ($1.99), 750ml ($18.49), and 1L ($26.49) size bottle.
July 3rd, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News | Comments (0)
Downtown NYC multi-level sushi and new Japanese food emporium, BondSt, is now offering its most popular menu items and drinks at this special $9 price from 6pm to 8pm daily, 7 days a week.
$9 Food
- Sea Bass Skewers Sweet Miso
- Spicy Crispy Shrimp Yuzu Calamanci Vinaigrette, Chipotle Aioli
- Tuna Crispy Rice Korean Kochujang Sauce
- Kobe Puff Pastry Cilantro Yogurt
- Spicy Tuna Roll Chili Mayonnaise
- Sesame Crusted Shrimp Roll Orange Curry & Balsamic Vinegar
$9 Drinks
- Sweet Saketini lime twist
- Lychee Martini Vodka, Triple Sec, Lyche Juice, Orange Pulp
- Dry Saketini Vodka, Kira Sake
- White Sake Sangria White Wine, Plum Wine, Sake, OJ, Cranberry, Ruby Port
- Pinot Grigio, Blason, Veneto, Italy 2007
- Chardonnay, Estrada Creek Vineyard, California 2007
- Rosé, Domaine de La Réaltière Cuvée Pastel Aix en Provence 2007
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Domaine de la Realtiere “Cuvee Clotilde”, Provence 2005
BondSt is located at 6 Bond Street between Broadway and Lafayette Street.
June 29th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News | Comments (0)
I’m looking forward to trying Purista when the line of cocktail mixes comes to New York in July! I’ve heard so many great things about them and Purista has just come-out with a mix for one of my favorite drinks — the Mojito. The Purista Mojito Premium Cocktail Mix is a 100% natural solution for making Mojitos without having to deal with a time-consuming process. Mojitos present an array of challenges for any cocktail enthusiast — the fragility of fresh mint, the labor and time required to hand-muddle, the scarcity of fresh sugar cane juice and the challenge of creating consistent, quality Mojitos that achieve the desirable tart-sweet balance – which is why you’ll often hear bartenders sigh when a patron orders the popular drink.
Recognizing this, Master Mixologist Michael Hensel, who began making the beloved Cuban cocktail more than 20 years ago as a bartender in Germany, created a fresh-made, hand-crafted non-alcoholic Mojito blend using only the finest ingredients – nothing artificial, no muddling required. Just add rum and club soda.
Each 750-milliliter bottle of Purista Mojito Premium Cocktail Mix is an all-natural blend of fresh key lime juice, organic sugar cane juice, fresh mint leaves and filtered water. No preservatives. No artificial anything. When combined with an equal part white rum and two parts club soda, each bottle creates 17 six-ounce Mojitos. In addition, Hensel presents Purista Mojito Blackberry for a twist on the classic or to create a martini with premium vodka, as well as Purista Margarita and Purista Caipirinha.
Purista is available for at select retail locations in California, Florida and Nevada; beginning in June, Purista will be available in Texas, New Jersey, Colorado and Illinois, and in July, consumers will find the premium cocktail mixes in New York.
May 29th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News, Reviews | Comments (0)
Refinery 29’s “Save Fashion” pop up store at Port Authority is the talk of the city this month. The event, which sells designer merchandise at steep discounts and runs through May 27th, also features a number of cocktails created especially for the event by Alizé liqueur.
Three fashion-themed cocktails were created with Alizé Gold and Red Passion, fresh fruit juice, and bubbly! The only drawback — the cocktails are served only on Thursdays when the pop-up store is closed to the public and hosts private shopping events.
Luckily you can check-out what goes into the cocktails below and make them yourself at home!
Refinery 29 “Save Fashion” Pop-up store
641 8th Avenue (NW Corner of 41st Street)@ The Port Authority Bus Terminal
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10-9pm
Sundays, 11-7pm
Closed Thursdays
May 22nd, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News, Recipes | Comments (0)
A60, the private terrace (for guests and NYC insiders), of the 60 Thompson Hotel, will be open for the first time from 1pm to 1am on Saturdays and Sundays. The rooftop will be in soft opening (weather permitting) from May 15 until the official opening date of June 1. Weekday hours are 5PM to 1AM.
On the drink front, A60 is re-introducing the Plum Sake Sangria, a cocktail created exclusively for A60. Two other new seasonal cocktails on the menu are the Strawberry Limoncello Martini (4 muddled strawberries, 3 oz citus vodka, 1.5 oz limoncello, splash of simple syrup) and Cucumber Kiwi (2 spoons of chopped cucumber, 1/2 a kiwi (both muddled), 2 oz vodka, .5 oz simple syrup, 2 oz apple puree).
A60’s food menu starts Memorial Day Weekend, but it is set to include spicy Thai hors d’oeuvres (Thai beef salad and tuna tartare) from 60 Thompson’s Kittichai, bar bites (spring rolls and duck wraps) from 60 Thompson’s Thom Bar and some new additions (spicy tuna roll, edamame, pulled pork bruschetta and steamed wontons). For more information check-out the website!
May 15th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News, Recipes, Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Tanteo Tequila launched a search for the top three Rising Star Mexican Artists in New York City on May 5th. Jonathan Rojewski, CEO and founder of Tanteo Tequila, created the brand of hand-crafted, naturally infused premium Blanco tequilas as both a celebration of Mexico and a reflection of his New York style. With this contest, Tanteo aims to showcase how these two worlds inspire each other and, thereby, result in extraordinary art.
The Tanteo Tequila NYC-Mexican Artists Contest invites artists across all media whose work is inspired by both Mexico and New York to submit samples of their art and describe how the two cultures inspire them. A panel of influential New Yorkers who have dedicated their lives to Mexican culture in New York City will identify the top three artists. Each of the winners will receive a $500 honorarium at a special event in June.
For full submission guidelines, go to www.tanteotequila.com/contest. There is no entry fee and full submissions must arrive no later than Friday, June 5, 2009.
Sharon Feiereisen
Photo Credit: Tanteo
May 6th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News | Comments (0)
To celebrate the launch of Belvedere’s latest maceration, Belvedere Black Raspberry, Belvedere is unveiling a new collaboration with British luxury accessories designer Jonathan Kelsey. The two have teamed-up to create a limited-edition overnight bag: The Belvie. Inspired by Grammy Award-winning Brit songstress Estelle, the bag is crafted from white leather and is hand-dipped in a dark raspberry magenta color (a signature technique of Jonathan Kelsey), and as an added fun touch, The Belvie features a secret compartment for a bottle of Belvedere Black Raspberry.
“I wanted to take some of the luxurious details and materials from my Spring/Summer 2009 collection and translate them into this bag for Belvedere,” says Jonathan Kelsey. “It’s the perfect slouchy summer bag into which you throw everything you need, daytime or night time.”
The Belvie will be available beginning in May 2009 and will retail for $1,400 at locations nationwide including Jeffrey New York.
April 28th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News | Comments (0)
Cooley Distillery has won a record six awards including “World’s Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey“ and “World’s Best Single Grain Whisky” at the World Whiskies Awards in London.
Ireland’s only independent whiskey distiller, Cooley Distillery named World Distiller of the Year last November at the International Wine and Spirit Competition has now added a further six top accolades to its growing collection of International awards.
Cooley’s Tyrconnell Single Malt won the “World’s Best Irish Single Malt” award for its Single Cask offering and its Greenore Single Grain 15 Year Old Irish whiskey picked up the “World’s Best Single Grain Whisky” award. The World Whiskies Awards are adjudicated by an illustrious panel of whisky experts brought together by the The Whisky Magazine.
More than 150 whiskies from around the world were entered into the awards and all entries have to survive three rounds of tasting to win the coveted title of “Best in the World”.
Cooley also won four sub categories including –
· “Best Irish Blended Whiskey Age 13-20 Yrs” – Kilbeggan 15 Yr Old
· “Best Irish Single Malt Non-Aged” – Connemara Peated Single Malt
· “Best Irish Single Malt 12 Yrs & Under” – Tyrconnell 10 Yr Old Sherry Finish
· “Best Irish Single Malt 13 -20 Yrs Old” – Tyrconnell Single Cask
The judging process started with the independent panel receiving samples and judging blind. This enabled the panel to whittle down the large number of entries to a select few that were then tasted by a specially invited panel from the International Whisky Industry on the eve of Whisky Live London in February. The winners went back to the editorial team of The Whisky Magazine to do battle for the overall title.
Sharon Feiereisen
Photos courtesy of Cooley.
April 23rd, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News | Comments (0)
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