This Man Makes Wine....In Tunisia!

Surprised? Don't be. Tunisians have been making wine since...the beginning of time. Practically.

So if you're wondering, "where is the most exotic wine-making destination in the world?", could the answer be Tunisia?

YES!

Chit-chatting with the owners of Reunion surf bar one evening (the only cool bar near Times Square, really), I noted that Le Poisson wines were appearing on wine lists city-wide. 'Natch, it is made by a French-Tunisian family. Bien sur.

I explored the trend for Wine Enthusiast, and sat down with the winemaker's son, and importer, Phillippe, for an interview session.

Read the full interview here.

The Superman of Sommeliers?

Anyone been to GILT lately in the New York Palace Hotel? I love this super-swanky spot (so do the producers of Gossip Girl...and TRUST there are a lot of Chuck Bass lookalikes).

I must admit part of the draw is the resto's somm, Patrick Cappiello. Is it just me, or does he resemble Clark Kent? No really, take a closer look.

A self-confessed wine "geek," Cappiello kills the wine list. Practically murders it.

Read the full Q&A session here.

Organic Cocktails, Biodynamic Wine in NYC

Today may be 4/20, but 4/22 is the greenest of holidays. amNY had me take a look at bars that are serving organic, biodynamic or sustainable tipples in honor of Earth Day. Click on the image for more info!

Thursday Night Magazine Story: Craig Hopson (Le Cirque) Interview

Wondering what Craig Hopson is up to in Le Cirque's esteemed kitchen? Thursday Night Magazine had me get the skinny.

Thursday Night Magazine Story: Scotch

Click on the image for my interview with David Robertson, the trailblazer behind revamped Scotch brand, The Dalmore, or on Thursday Night Magazine's website, here.

Cheers!

Interview with Craig Hopson of Le Cirque for Thursday Night Magazine

Le Cirque is one of those iconic New York restaurants that never ceases to amaze us. Recently, Craig Hopson took the helm at this venerable eatery.

We sat down with Chef Hopson for an interview for the recently-launched online publication, Thursday Night Magazine.

Click here http://www.thursdaynightmagazine.com/Korman to read the full interview.

The tasty tidbits include Hopson's must-have meal, the "moral responsibility of chefs", and the state of power dining in New York today.

Le Cirque (151 E. 58th St, New York, NY 10022; 212-644-0202)

Ask a Bartender: Entwine's Mixologist Makes Us a Drink

Image from Eater.com

We were blown away by the herbal cocktails at Entwine, the antiquey yet brand-spanking-new, bi-level boite in the Village (765 Washington Street, near W 12th; 212.727.8765), and wondered how we might try to mix those drinks at home. (Though it was awfully nice to sip drinks in their quaint, backyard garden).

Enter Duane Fernandez Jr, the bar's bubbly mixologist (below).

You may recognize Duane from the 5th annual 42Below Cocktail World Cup (at the Bowery Hotel last July), where he represented the Soho Grand, competing against NYC cocktail giants, like Sammy Ross and Lisa Hare.

This guy really knows how to mix it up!

So we asked him to score us one of Entwine's secret, herbalicious recipes, the Rosemary Fresca. Here's how to make it:

Rosemary Fresca:

2 oz silver tequila

1oz elderflower

Rosemary syrup

Fresh lime juice

Topped with proseco

Garnished with an rosemary stem

Not sure how to concoct a rosemary syrup in your own kitchen? Here's a simple recipe from Food & Wine: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/rosemary-syrup.

If you're looking for a few good drinks, contact DFJ at Duaneandcocktails@yahoo.com.

A better morning

The zest of little africa

The fruity taste of summer

Everybody loves ramen

Handmade Pasta-bilities

Sample wine that warms

Composing a Canvas

Grilled and Marinated

Italian Style on the Grill

Italian Style on the Grill