COMMITTED PIG OUT Hello my friends and discerning gourmets everywhere. I was a little late from the get go this month , but the thought of leaving you all alone without my words of wisdom was more than I can bear. So here goes. Wanna a knockout lunch in a super cute town less than 30 minutes away ? Of course you do. Well welcome to the “Committed Pig” ( 165 Main Street in Manasquan). Before you ask, the name comes from a parable in which a chicken asks the pig if he wants to be partners in a restaurant that specializes in ham and eggs. ”No” says the pig . “because while you are involved , I am committed “. And committed they are , wowing you with super decadent and scrumptious fair adorning every plate they put in front of you. I tried one of their 6 super rich toasted grilled cheese sandwiches with melted Brie and Homemade Fig Jam while my wife opted for the Avocado, and Melted Muens
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THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ( LOCAL EDITION) Hello my favorite people. Did you notice that your dinner bill now has three digits at the bottom no matter where you seem to go? Of course you have. Since you are paying the price of admission anyway it has become more important than ever to, as my daughter in law says, “ make smart choices”. So , my friends let me ask you this, “ how many times has this happened to you?” You finally decided to bite the bullet and reserve a table at that pricey place that everyone says (possibly even me) is the best in town. You decide to throw all caution to the wind and sacrifice your first born to order that premium entrĂ©e that your server has congratulated you for choosing. You wait patiently in anticipation and taste your first bite and , “EH ”. You look around for the waiter hoping you’ll get the chutzpah to ask him to bring you something else but there's nothing R
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SWANNIE , HOW I LOVE IT , HOW I LOVE IT Hello my fellow food Cosmonauts and bargain seekers. Today I want to speak about a subject that is very dear to my heart. That's right, Happy Hour. Just the name of it brings me unbridled joy. A time specifically designed for your pleasure and enjoyment. Now you're talking. The term was first mentioned in print in the early 1600’s by no other than Willie Shakespeare largely regarded as the greatest dramatist and writer in the English language ( though it is very clear he was no yours truly). The term was later used in the early 1900’s in the US Navy to denote specific periods set aside to amuse the sailors with a variety of entertainment including boxing , wrestling , music and dancing. The specific idea of imbibing prior to dinner gained prominence during prohibition In 1920 with the popularity of the speakeasy secretly serving drinks on the down low. Unbelievably there are still many
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Food and Wine Corner WINE LIST SAVVY It has happened to all of us, you are out to dinner with friends and they hand you the wine list and you gasp. Nothing under 3 figures! What to do? Order a bottle of just OK house wine ? Nope! Go “Primitive”, young man (or ladies). Ask if they have “Primitivo”. So what the heck is it? Well, you’ve come to the right place. “Primitivo” is Zinfandel's long lost very attractive identical twin. Originally from Croatia, Primitivo hails from southern Italy , specifically Puglia , where the very dry climate , fertile soil, and Mediterranean breezes from 3 sides , makes these grapes very happy indeed. The name refers to the fact that these grapes ripen very early but none of that really matters to you. What does matter is that it is very inexpensive , I am talking less than $25/bottle. On the palate this wine is quite satisfying, smooth and refreshing with a n
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Joie De Vivre , Magic in Philly Ah “Paree” , to be dining al fresco overlooking le gorgeous parc to be spoiled silly with super decadent fare , its richness only superseded by the commotion in the street and the warm sunshine in your face. But ze airfare, it is prohibitive, no? What to do , mon faire? Hop in ze car and drive my friend over the bridge of Benjamin Franklin to Filadelphia ze city of “Amour Fraternite”. Enter restaurant Parc ( 227 S 18th St. Philadelphia, PA) one of Insiders 100 most scenic Restaurants, where top restaurateur Stephen Starr pays homage to the authentic French Bistro. Starr in case you don’t know is huge deal with over 40 innovative restaurants to his credit In New York , Pennsylvania and Florida including Buddakan, Barclay Prime and Morrimoto. Starr , the ex rock promoter hits it out of ze Parc here with Je Ne Se Quoi (whatever that means) to spare, chic
Almost Famous
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ALMOST FAMOUS (GOING BACK FOR SECONDS) ( Sampling the world’s best at a fraction of the cost) Hello fellow Oenophiles and bargain seekers.Wanna know a little secret known only to the wine cognoscenti that saves you a boatload of dough while drinking like the rich and famous? Da? Of course you do. Well my friend, welcome to the world of “second labels”. “What is that, you ask?” Good question. Quickly, these are wines that have been deemed by the producer to be unworthy of the Chateau’s Grand Vin (top tier) designation.This could be for one of many reasons including unanticipated variations in weather , soil , pests and the like. Ah, “second”, not a place that one would aspire to. Afterall, it's the first loser, not good enough to win, defective or flawed. Who would want seconds when you can have firsts? Well, you do my friend and of course I am going to tell you why. See, in the world of wine, the concept of