Posts Written OnJune 2011

By Evan Dawson, Managing Editor This list is a kind of public to-do list for me. It is not perfect or complete. This is not the list of the five best places to eat, or anything like that. But anyone who lives anywhere (which accounts for most people) has a restaurant or two that they've always been meaning to visit, but haven't yet, or haven't in a while. Here's my list. What's yours? Pumpkin Hill Bistro, Aurora, Cayuga Lake I'm pretty sure that everyone who's eaten there blows a gasket when they find out I haven't. This is not intentional.…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor Here's a sampling of what our editors and contributors are drinking: David Flaherty: De la Senne Wadesda #1 (a series of barrel experiments)In the slightly sketchy outskirts of Brussels, Yvan de Baets and Bernard Leboucq have finally opened their brewery. With the space and rent required for one to realize this dream, you'll often find urban breweries in neighborhoods you don't want to let mom wander around in at night.  Inside, however, pure gold is happening. Riding a wave of beer geek love (they've been brewing at friend's breweries for years and honing their craft),…

By Mark Grimaldi, Director, Marketing and Events On Monday, July 4, Luce & Hawkins Restaurant at the Jedediah Hawkins Inn in Jamesport will host an event that is sure to be talked about for quite some time: a 90-person ticketed event featuring local food, beverages and  music.  Events similar to this have been done on the North Fork for years, but this event is different than anything else done. Having been a professional musician in between being a James Beard and Food & Wine award-winning chef, Chef Keith Luce has always thought that music and food  go hand in hand,…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor JUne's Times Union New York Wine Club selections are on their way to members today and tomorrow, so it's once again time to announce the selections and share a bit about them. For our Basic-Level Members this month, we have two whites that represent tremendous value — and hot weather deliciousness. Hermann J. Vineyard 2009 Frost Cuvee is a unique, off-dry blend of riesling, gewurztrainer, chardonnay, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc.  Though off-dry with 1.5% residual sugar, there is a citrus drenched bold of electric acidity that runs through this flora, citrusy wine. It teaches…

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor One more reminder and then we're done talking about this for a while. Today is your last chance to go vote for us — if you think us worthy of course — along with your other favorite blogs. There are some truly inspired blogs in each of the categories that are worthy of your vote: >> Go Vote Now  

By Julia Burke, Beer Editor Residents of the City of Buffalo may have noticed a strange phenomenon last week: all beer-loving residents suddenly became completely unavailable at work, at home and in their social lives. Every craft beer enthusiast in town went off the societal radar for seven days of the beer extravaganza known as Buffalo Beer Week. When I described Buffalo Beer Week to a friend he replied,

By Lenn Thompson, Executive Editor The NYCR team doesn't necessarily need a special occasion or invitation to eat or drink local, but Eat Drink Local Week starts today — and we're absolutely behind it and hope it encourages more New Yorkers to check out their local bounty. Organized by Edible Manhattan, Edible Brooklyn and Edible East End, this is a great week-long festival with some great participating restaurants offering Eat Drink Local prix fixe menus. The event will also celebrate seven special ingredients and include the Eat Local Challenge  Get out there and bask in the glory of your local…