I have a question, a simple one at that: If you’re a restaurant and the tomatoes at your disposal are pink, lifeless, hard and taste like cardboard…why do you put them in your salads? WHY!?!?!?! I demand an answer! Are there people who actually enjoy these things? Are wedges of tomato such a mandated ingredient that must appear in any salad, regardless of season and geographic location? I know. Not every restaurant can afford or gain access to locally grown tomatoes year round. I’m not a complete food snob and I really do understand that. But, if you can’t get…

I can’t help it. I have a sweet tooth…even if I’m not big into eating dessert (at least not compared to the future Mrs. LENNDEVOURS)..I love dessert…dessert wine that is. Macari Vineyards‘ Block E, a dessert wine made in an ice wine style, is one of my two or three favorite Long Island dessert wines. I picked up a bottle of their newly-released 2003 Block E a few weeks ago, and I have to say, it’s been torture not popping it open and polishing it off myself (mabye letting Nena have some). But, I was able to control myself…until our…

(This column appeared in the 3/18/05 issue of Dan’s Papers) Michael Lynne, owner of Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue and Corey Creek Vineyards in Southold, wants to be the best. But not just the best on the North Fork or even in the U.S. He wants to be the best in the world. In early February, this commitment to making world-class wines led Lynne, whose “day job” is running New Line Cinema as co-Chairman and co-CEO, to hire Pascal Marty, formerly of Chateau Mouton Rothschild, as his consulting oenologist, and John Irving Levenberg, most recently at Paul Hobbs Winery in Napa…

Though I’m only 25% Scotch-Irish by heritage…St. Patrick’s Day remains a favorite holiday. Shepard’s pie, corned beef and cabbage….Guiness! What’s not to love?!? This year, Nena and I won’t be hitting any Irish pubs or the like. Instead, we’re heading to our friend Lisa’s parent’s house for a menu meeting…because we’re catering her engagement party. I do know, however, that her mother picked up six pounds of corned beef…and I’m sure cabbage is on the menu as well. I’ll just have to get the Guiness on the way there. So raise a glass…and enjoy your evening. Just make it to…

Carolyn of The Ultimate CA Wine Blog sent me a link to her latest project (well, this is the 2nd year for it, but you know what I mean) — a blog that gives you a vines-eye view of the vineyard life cycle. Check it out. Should be fun to watch. After all, a lot of winemakers say you really grown wine…not make it. I’ll have to do a comparison picture the next time I’m out at a Long Island vineyard. Let’s just say ours are still covered with snow at present time. Yes, you could say our growing season…