Restaurant Reviews
Meigas Wine Tasting Event - April 3rd, Norwalk, CT
Monday, March 23rd, 2009 | Restaurant Reviews, wine events | No Comments
Just a quick note to let you all know that Meigas Restaurant will be hosting a Spanish wine tasting dinner on April 3rd, 2009. The tasting will be done by Pablo de Simon, the winemaker for Valserrano. This is going to be a treat, as I am very much in love with their wines from the Rioja Alavesa region.
Click here to make reservations.
This is going to be a little different as it will be Friday night. Tapas and wine will be served family style and a fresh carving off freshly grilled Rib Eye steak will finish as a finale just before dessert!
I just ate here the other night and every single one of my taste-buds were tantalized. It was phenomenal food and presentation. Chef Miguel, who is from Galicia, Spain, doesn’t’ just cook food; he creates an ‘experience’ that you are NOT going to find anywhere else in the neighborhood. He takes the idea of eating to an all new level with sophisticated pairings / plating of grilled halibut with a port wine reduction, or steamed muscles with a spicy tomato sauce indicative of adobo. Crispy mushroom ravioli with a cream sauce made from 4 different and rich flavored mushrooms. I was doing the happy food dance!
Other events / nights to check out Meigas:
10 Tapas Tasting Menu. FANTASTIC!
See Menu Here.
- Tapas Tasting $64.00 per person. (website says per couple, but I believe that is a typo…. I’m letting them know.)
- This Menu is Available Sunday Thru Thursday only
3-Course Prix Fix Dinner
See Menu Here.
- Available Monday & Tuesday evening.
- for only $24 per person.
Sunday Brunch!
Hope you enjoy your experience as much as I did. I plan on being back regularly. Don’t miss it!
Oh, and while I have you here, check out the NY Times review as well.
Cheers!
Upcoming Wine Tasting Dinners / Events - Fairfield, CT
Thursday, February 19th, 2009 | Restaurant Reviews, wine | No Comments
There seems to be a slew of upcoming wine events in the Fairfield / New Haven CT wine bars and restaurants, so here are a few key dates to mark in those wino calendars! I’m sure you’ll catch me at a few of them myself. 
Strada 18
Strada 18 will be hosting a Belle Pente Vineyards wine dinner that includes a 7-Course tasting menu.
- Includes 3 whites (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonney)
- 4 Reds (ALL Pinot noir)
- $115/pp, tax and gratuity NOT included
- DATE: March 11th, 2009, 7PM
Belle Pente Vineyards is from Oregon, specifically they Yamhill-Carlton district of Willamette Valley, also one of my MOST favorite regions from which I highly recommend picking up a Pinot Noir. These are Burgundy-style Pinots with such amazing balance and flavor that they are world-renown.
I realize this one is a bit pricey, but it’ll be well worth it! This is NOT to be missed!!
Location:
122 Washington St.
South Norwalk, CT 06854
203.853.4546
Email:steven@strada18.com
Website: http://www.strada18.com/index.htm
55 Wine Bar & Restaurant
Location:
55 Miller Street
Fairfield CT 06824
203.256.0099
info@55winebar.com
Website: http://www.55winebar.com/home.php
Barcelona Wine Bar - South Norwalk
FAT TUESDAY!
Barcelona is throwing a Carnivale! party on Tuesday, Febuary 24th at 7PM.
$45/pp plus tax & gratuity. Payment is due upon arrival. Wine food and entertainment are included in the price. Additional drinks will be available at the bar for an additional charge.
Call for reservations.
Location:
63-65 N. Main St.
S. Norwalk, CT 06854
Telephone: 203-899-0088
gretchen@barcelonawinebar.com
Website: http://barcelonawinebar.com/sono.htm
Other Wine Events:
Bin 100 Restaurant - Wednesday, March 11th - Charles Krug Wine Dinner- Call for Details
Bin 100 Restaurant
100 Lansdale Avenue
Milford, CT 06460
203.882.1400
Cava Wine Bar - Tuesday, February 24th, 6:30PM - Spanish Wine Tasting Dinner- Click for menu
2 Forest Street
New Canaan CT 06840
203.966.6946
info@cavawinebar.com
Bistro Basque - Tuesday, March 2nd, 7:00PM - Basque Regional Wine Tasting Dinner - Call for details.
T. 203-878-2092
Meigas - South Norwalk - Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00PM -Meet the Winemakers Dinner / Flamenco Dancing.
Click for Details / Tasting Menu
10 Wall Street
Norwalk, CT 06850
Tel: 203-866-8800
Fax: 203-899-0576
Email:
manager@meigasrestaurant.com
For you BEER lovers:
The Gingerman, South Norwalk - Monday, February 23rd - B. United International importers - Call for time.
$75/pp includes 5 course dinner with beer pairing.
99 Washington Street
South Norwalk
Connecticut 06855
Phone: 203-354-0163
Fax: 203:642-3382
A Wino’s List of Places To Sip (and Eat) in Connecticut
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 | Favorite Wine Destinations, Restaurant Reviews, wine | 2 Comments
I think it’s high time I share with you some of my favorite places to go to indulge myself. I might not give away all my secrets, but I think there are lot of places around the Fairfield County / New Haven County region that most wouldn’t know to go to for wine and great food. I tend towards a lot of South American and European wines and cuisine, in case you couldn’t tell.
Here’s my list for you:
Great Food & Wine:
55 Degrees Wine Bar & Restaurant (Fairfield, CT)
Reservations Recommended Fri / Sat. Bar Tables are open for reservations as well (there are only 2).
55 Miller St.
Fairfield, CT 06824
203.256.0099
See my review for them here.
Website
Map: View Larger Map
Match (South Norwalk, CT) - Ok, Fois Gras fans unite! But if you’re not into that kind of thing, then Seared Tuna Fans unite! If I could only pick 2 things here, those are what I’d pick. But don’t overlook the great entrees and fantastic pizzas they create. MMMMM - always a great atmosphere, stylish crowd and awesome bar scene. Reservations strongly recommended Fri / Sat night.
98 Washington Street
South Norwalk, CT 06854
203.852.1088
Strada 18 (South Norwalk, CT) - Kind of new to me, but the few times I’ve been there I was very impressed. They have some great cheeses to choose from for a sampling plate, amazing wines, and the Chicken Scarpiello is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Oh, they also do wine dinners often, so make sure to ask your waiter about that!! Reservations Recommended Fri / Sat.
122 Washington Street
South Norwalk, CT 06854
203.853.4546
Barcelona Wine Bar (South Norwalk, CT) - A great place to grab Spanish tapas and numerous wines by the glass. Sundays and Mondays offer 50% any bottle! That’s a great deal! They have my favorite Tannat wine. Reservations Recommended Fri / Sat.
63-65 N. Main Street
South Norwalk, CT 06854
203.899.0088
Kazu (South Norwalk, CT) - Sushi, here. Don’t overlook the world of Sake and Fish! I’m reserving my sushi thoughts for a whole other post. Too many places to not talk about! But this is one of my favorites in the area.
64 N. Main Street
South Norwalk, CT 06854
203.866.7492
Bistro Basque (Miilford, CT) - A hidden pearl in the salty waters of the harbor town, Milford. The owner, David Fernandez, is straight from the Basque region and his palette is impeccable. The dishes here are just wonderful for anyone who has taste buds and looking for more. He’s always there to say ‘hello’. And I prefer to sit on the Spain side of the restaurant. (You’ll see when you get there.) Don’t miss the Fois Gras, Sea Bass and Duck Confit! Reservations Recommended.
13 River Street
Milford, CT 06460
203.878.2092
Paci (Southport, CT) - At the Southport train station you’ll find a converted conductor house that now caters to the very fine gastronomes in the area. This can be a ‘pinkies up’ type of joint, but don’t be fooled. There is an underlying sense of down-to-earth feel in the brick and steel that confines this place. The food is fantastic and the wine list can be daunting. Ask your server for their suggestions.
96 Station St.
Southport, CT 06490
203.259.9600
Cucina Modo Mio (Westport, CT) - Not a well-known place. Sits right on the Saugatuck River in the Bridge Market plaza. Small, quaint, amazing Italian cuisine, nice size bar, cozy and kind of romantic. You can bring your own wine too! Check it out! They do take out and are closed Monday.
5 Bridge Square
Westport, CT 06880
203.557.4826
Zest (Westport, CT) - For those of you who are familiar with Da Pietro’s, this is a more trendy spin-off of the classic cuisine that you might be used to. They have the Stag’s Leap Petit Syrah that I love. A fantastically cozy basement location under the old bank building in Westport near the YMCA. Excellent service and very classy.
8 Church Lane
Westport, CT 06880
203.226.9378
Map:View Larger Map
Tutti’s (Westport, CT) - BYOB; Excellent family-owned Italian eatery with remarkable Chicken Scarpiello (are you noticing a theme?) and Veal dishes.
Map:View Larger Map
599 Riverside Ave
Westport, CT 06880
203.221.0262
Wine Bars:
Wine Knot (Southport, CT) - Right near the Southport train station and next to I-95, this wine bar with sailing theme is a great stop for a glass or a bottle, even a night-cap. The wine list has a good selection of Old World and New World wines alike. They don’t serve food here, BUT one can order take-out. Southport Pizza is right down the road and they will deliver to this spot. The bartenders also have a stash of menus to get food delivered to you and if you ask, they will also plate it for you to eat like a normal human being. Fantastic!
Old Post Road
Southport, CT 06880
203.254.5668
Map:View Larger Map
Note that Google maps does NOT have the correct address for this bar. (Maybe that was on purpose….) But this map I’ve linked you to will give you the most approximate area you can find this place. It’s on the opposite side of the road between John st and Elmwood Drive.
Wine Shops:
Wines Unlimited (Milford, CT & Stratford, CT) - Pricing is almost always a few bucks less than most other shops I know of. However, selection is hit or miss sometimes. Call ahead if you’re looking for something really specific.
Stew Leonard’s Wine Shop (Norwalk, CT) - the Back room……that’s all I have to say.
Wine Emporium (Shelton, CT) - If Bob is working, ask him what he’s sipping on. Great recommendations will await you here. And they have a phenomenal selection of Spanish wines which i thoroughly enjoy.
Harry’s (Fairfield, CT) - Wine tastings on Saturday afternoons (12-4pm, usually). These guys can find you almost anything.
Turnpike Liquors (Fairfield, CT) - Ask to see their ‘cellar’.
The Twisted Vine (Fairfield, CT) - Great for weekend wine tastings and fantastic selection of Italian wines, along with a small, but focused ‘cellar’ room full of collectibles!
Random Goodness (wine, of course):
Cafe L’Atlantique (Miford, CT) - Very casual cafe in downtown Milford. But the great thing here is you can sit down to some house-made crepes, paninis, salads and….. wine. (oh, they have beer too.)
Jonathan Edwards Winery (North Stonington, CT) - Don’t leave without a bottle of the Syrah or the Syrah Port.
Hopkins Vineyard (Warren, CT) - My favorites are the Cabernet Franc and the Westwind. Although, I will say I am very much enjoying the current Chardonnay vintage. Nice and delicate; not too oaky as in past years. Do NOT leave without trying the ice wine. It’s worth the extra $2.50.
McLaughlin Vineyards (Sandy Hook, CT) - Great in the summer for picnicing and listening to jazz on the lawn.
Sunset Meadows (Goshen, CT) - Ask for Judy. Tell her Natalie sent you and that you must try the Twisted Red with the chocolate pairing.
I essentially enjoy all of the Connecticut Wineries. For a full list, click here.
I’m always looking for a few good wine spots to add to my list. Send me one of yours!
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