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A Pleasant Pinor Noir For Less Than $12!

5/18/2012

 
Last week I went to my new favorite wine store for a good value, Stew Leonard's Wines, and picked up a bottle of their Venue Pinot Noir for just $11.99. 

I must admit that my hopes were not too high for a Pinot Noir that was less than $15, but I was pleasantly surprised once I tried this tasty light to medium bodied red.

Right away I picked up on the notes of cherry and currant, and was impressed by it's quality of flavor.  This is not a watery budget Pinot Noir!

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Pinot Noir is a very versatile wine for pairings...if you are going to be using the grill this weekend you could enjoy this red with grilled chicken, salmon, or steak!

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And if you can't find this wine locally I suggest you check out Stew Leonard's Wines website.  All orders over $100 include free shipping!

Do you know what you will be eating and drinking this weekend?

Beef Bourguignon Worthy Cast Iron Cookware for Less!

4/23/2012

 
This Christmas my husband and I offered to make Beef Bourguignon for my family because 1) it's delicious and 2) we thought my mother deserved a break after years of preparing holiday meals alone!

My parents don't have a cast iron dutch oven so we planned to bring our Le Creuset pot with us to cook the meal...at $305 this is definitely a luxe pot, but it will last you a lifetime.  Here is the "Cadillac of Cast Iron"...

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Well it was a great plan until we got half way to my parents' house and realized that we had a week's supply of diapers for a two day trip, but we had left the Le Creuset pot at home!  We certainly were not going to go out and pick up a $300 Le Creuset pot from the local hardware store which seemed like our only option, until we thought to check out Kohls!  This is where we found the Food Network Cast Iron Dutch Iron for $89.99!  More than a 1/3 less than our beloved Le Creuset...

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I must admit none of us could tell the difference when it came to tasting the Beef Bourguignon.  The flavors were incredibly rich as always, luxe for less pot and all! 

If your kitchen is in need of a dutch oven and you can't stomach spending more than $100 on your cookware, than I say go for the Food Network line of cast iron. 

And if this post has made you hungry for some delicious beef stew, I recommend Ina Garten's recipe for Bourguignon.  We make it with Guigal Cotes du Rhone...and it always comes out fantastic.  And of course we buy two bottles so we have one to drink with our meal!  At $12.99 this is a medium bodied French red that is easy to drink with food or on its own.  Here is an article on the success of Guigal Cotes du Rhone and why it is such a great bargain if you are interested in reading more about this tasty red!

This Evening I'm...

4/20/2012

 
Going to start the night with a glass of this...
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Villa Jaime Prosecco, $9.99

Snack on a few of these in this pretty bowl  that only cost $5!...
Try this crab cake recipe from Whole Foods...or just pick up their shrimp and scallop cakes that are only $4 a piece and so delicious!

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Image via Whole Foods

Splurge with a few Alexa Sweet Potato Fries...
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And catch up on this!
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Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

What I'm Drinking: Colosi Sicilia Rosso

4/12/2012

 
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I discovered this red a few months ago and since then it has become one of my go to Friday night wines to share with my husband.  This Italian red is from Sicily and is made 100% from the Nero D'Avola grape.  In my opinion this is a fruity, smooth, and delicious full to medium bodied red that is an incredible value!  It pairs well with many foods, but I like it with pizza or a tomato based pasta dish.  

I have found this wine for $9.99, but if you can't find this for under $10 near you, than you can buy it online here for $7.99!  Now that is a steal!

What I'm Drinking This Weekend...A Medium Bodied Balanced White for $15!

3/23/2012

 
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I always enjoy a nice cool glass of white wine, but sometimes I feel like Goldilocks in that it is hard for me to find a white that is "just right."  Some Pinot Grigios are too watery for my taste, Sauvignon Blancs too tart, and Chardonnays too heavy.  That is why I was ecstatic when I discovered the Albarino grape many years ago when I became friends with someone from Galicia, the province in Spain where the Albarino grape grows.

Albarinos have more body than a Pinot Grigio, but are not as oaky or heavy as a Chardonnay.  They are fruity and zesty, and pair well with seafood.  And because of their balanced character Albarinos can also stand well on their on as an aperitif when you want to enjoy a glass of wine without food.  (which I do every now and then!)

This past weekend I purchased the 2010 La Cana Albarino from Stew Leonard's Wine Shop for $14.99.  This wine is fruity with lemon and mineral flavors, and has a nice medium body as the wine is partially fermented in barrels and aged sur lie.  If you can't find this wine locally for less than $15 you can purchase it online here for $16.99.  In my opinion this is still a good deal as it is being sold for $19 elsewhere.

For more information on the Albarino varietal, check out this informative article on the Albarino grape from Food and Wine.

What do you plan on drinking this weekend?

What I'm Drinking This Weekend...A Delicious Sauvignon Blanc For $12!

3/9/2012

 
This weekend I plan on picking up a bottle of Otto's Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc.  This is is a crisp and fruity Sauvignon Blanc that is produced by a husband and wife team in Brooklyn.  I discovered this wine two weeks ago at The Vintage Grape on Third Avenue.  This bottle usually retails for $14.99, but you can find it in store or online at The Vintage Grape for $11.99.  If you like the widely sold Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc I think you should give this one a try!  And if you want to read more about this interesting local husband and wife wine producing team, I suggest reading this New York Times article that explains their journey into wine production.

Because Sauvignon Blanc is typically a lighter more acidic white wine it does not go as well with red meats or heavier dishes with butter or cream.  I would suggest trying it with a Greek salad for dinner this weekend as a compliment to the Mediterranean flavors and acidic feta cheese in the salad.  Other good options would be a roasted chicken with fresh herbs or a grilled white fish.

What do you plan on drinking this weekend?

Getting Ready for the Oscars!

2/24/2012

 
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It's that time of year again...the red carpet, the stars, and of course the movies! 

How are you gearing up to get ready for the Academy Awards this weekend?  We will be cozying up at home with our baby, but if there are any films you want to see before the big show on Sunday, you should check out AMC Theater's Best Picture Showcase!  I read about this Oscar movie marathon over at one of my favorite blogs: Kelly Market.  For $30 you can buy a 4 film movie pass for Saturday, and for $40 a five day film pass for Sunday.  This also includes a $5 voucher for concessions.  Given how much it costs to go to the movies, I think this is a great deal! 

And if the show inspires you to pick up a copy of The Help and read the book that the film was based on, you can find a hard copy of this best seller at Overstock for $9.60.

Now on to the important thing...the snacks! 

We plan on indulging in a few luxe for less treats this weekend...

Freshly popped popcorn, seasoned with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.  So simple and so good.

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Trader Joe's Wild Mushroom and Black Truffle Flatbread. 
Black Truffle pizza for less than $5 is definitely eating luxe for less!
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Six Point Bengali Tiger.  It's a locally brewed IPA that is not too bitter, and has nice citrus notes to balance out it's flavor.  And who doesn't love a fancy beer in a can?! 
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Twizzlers.  Well I eat these every night...so what else is new?!
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What will you be snacking on this Sunday evening?

Happy eating, drinking, and red carpet watching!

Game Day Weekend...Libations for Less than $10 and New Year's Resolution Worthy Snacks!

1/20/2012

 
As long as I can remember I have lived in a family of (mostly) Giants fans.  So when the Giants make it to the play-offs it is a big deal in my household!

Whether you are a fan of Big Blue, or any of the other teams playing this weekend, my guess is that many of you will still be cozying up to watch the NFL play-off games. 

And what's a football game without some good drinks and tasty snacks?

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_I have written about my love of Prosecco in this blog before, and recently I tasted a new variety, Pasqua Prosecco, that is super affordable at $9.99, and also delicious.  So if you are tired of the more common Zardetto or Mionetto varieties that you may have tried before, this is definitely worth giving a try!  It is light and crispy, and slightly dry, but also has some fruity undertones.

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_And for all you beer drinkers, which I will probably be this weekend, I recommend Dale's Pale Ale.  It's the most upscale beer in a can I have ever tasted (sorry PBR), and at $8.99 for a case, it is less expensive than many microbrew 6 packs.  But just as tasty in my opinion!

Now bring on the food!
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(Image from Stacey's Snacks)
I know many of you probably are still fresh from your New Year's Resolutions to eat healthy in 2012, but that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a few lower calorie snacks while you veg out on the couch this weekend.  Here are some healthy snack ideas that will probably be on my coffee table this weekend!

Sabra Hummus with Pinenuts or Greek Spinach Dip (courtesy of Stacey's Snacks) and Stacy's Pita Chips (my favorite hummus and chip combo)

Salted and Roasted Almonds (super salty and crunchy, but such a healthy snack)

Guacamole and Tostitos Natural Blue Corn Chips (check out this recipe for guacamole from Dos Caminos!)

Will you be watching the games this weekend?  If so, what will you be eating and drinking???

Go G-Men!

Great Weekend Deals from BR Guest...$1.50 Oysters and $5 Cocktails!

8/5/2011

 
For those of you in NYC this weekend, the restaurant group BR Guest is offering two great deals today and Sunday at many of their restaurants including Atlantic Grill, Blue Water Grill, Ocean Grill, and Blue Fin...

In honor of today being National Oyster Day they are offering $1.50 oysters, $5 glasses of Muscadet, and a special $10 oyster appetizer that features Deep Cove Oysters with melon, summer radish, and lemon ice...yum!
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And in honor of Sunday being National Brunch Day they will be offering your first cocktail free, and then all subsequent Bloody Marys, Bellinis, Screwdrivers, and Mimosas will only be $5!

Cheers and have a wonderful weekend!

Reunion Surf Bar in Hell's Kitchen: A Little Bit of the Beach in NYC!

8/5/2011

 
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Almost every year my whole family packs up and heads to  Cape Cod for a week in August.  It's one of my favorite summer rituals, and something I look forward to all year long.  Well this year because of my August due date, we are staying put in NYC and have not been able to go away for our annual summer vacation.

If you are in a similar position and are just not able to get away to the beach this year and you live in NYC, you should head over to Reunion Surf Bar and you may just feel like you have been transported to the sunny west coast, or even better the island of Reunion...a small island off the coast of Madagascar, known for it's premier surfing and laid back lifestyle.

About Reunion from Réunion Surf Bar on Vimeo.


Reunion Surf Bar is located on the NE corner of 44th Street and 9th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen.  If you have any trouble finding it, it says on their website to "look for the big yellow surf board..."

The bar was created by Thomas Wilson and Eugene Ashe, who also happen to be the creators of one of my absolute favorite restaurants in NYC: Mas (farmhouse).

Reunion has fun and original cocktails like a Frozen Corona, as well as some old standbys like my favorite summer cocktail the Dark and Stormy!

According to Daily Candy they also are now offering Snow Cone Cocktails like Lime with kaffir lime infused vodka, and Raspberry with infused raspberry vodka.


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These icy cocktails look delicious and are a great deal at $4 for one or $10 for 3!

Reunion seems like the perfect place to hang out and relax on a hot summer weekend in NYC...I will definitely be checking it out soon!

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