Food and Wine Blog

Kris Pinot Grigio is one of the finest Pinot Grigios that money can buy.

Submitted by Mr. Michael Vass, a contributing writer

Well here is something that you don’t hear too often. For centuries, the question has been how to get a cork out of a wine bottle without ruining the wine. Various bottle openers have been designed of every type and size imaginable. Yet, whether the answer has been high-tech, with automated machines, or a basic cork remover nothing has come to be the answer. There just are some things that the Internet cannot solve.

But one answer that has started to take a foothold is a screw top bottle top. The screw top cap has gained significant acceptance in the past decade, and can be found on some of the better wines from Napa Valley and across the world. While still not a standard in the industry it has gained enough market share to gain the attention of environmentalists, which is not a good thing. This new focused attention has lead to a cry to return to the traditions of the past. Environmentalists believe that the new easier to open caps are detrimental to the health of the planet. It would seem that the more things change, the more they should’ve stayed the same.

I for one prefer my wine to have a cork. Both because I feel it adds to the presentation and helps the wine reach maturity. While this may not be exactly accurate. It’s my impression. I’m a traditionalist.

So the question seems to be, what do you prefer. Have you become a fan of the screw caps or are you a traditionalist?

Submitted by Mr. Michael Vass, a contributing author.

So you are in Western New York, in Buffalo on business or pleasure. If you are like me you may want to go out and enjoy the restaurants in the area. One of my favorite items to have is Sushi. I first tried sushi back in 1998 and have been a major fan since. But where might a sushi fan go in Buffalo, New York?

Well I noticed this review that answers this question. It covers a new restaurant Sea Bar. The primary sushi chef Mike Andrzejewski is well known, having worked at Oliver’s, Warren’s, Rue Franklin and Tsunami and is quite capable with dishes ranging from classical French, American contemporary to Asian fusion. Sea Bar is located on Main Street in the village of Williamsville.

While some may be interested in the décor, which the article by Marla Baykan covers in depth, I prefer to stick with the selection. I think the description given in this article will leave you ready for a meal immediately.

“Next was the Chef’s Selection of Sashimi. What an impressive plate! More than 10 selections of seafood, two bites of each—perfect for sharing. The colors and shapes with differing heights and sheens were beautiful just to look at. Under the seafood was a bed of seaweed salad and shaved carrots and radishes. The generous offering included blue marlin, which was lightly dusted with sesame, seaweed flakes and red spice, melt-in-your-mouth salmon, sweet crab and shrimp, and firm, muscular octopus. The choice continued with some of my favorites—sweet red and wasabi tobiko (flying fish roe), served on a fresh Maine diver scallop, and three types of tuna: albacore, ahi and yellowtail. Those who love sushi will be pleased with the fresh array of seafood. For those who have yet to try sushi, Sea Bar’s Chef’s Selection is a perfect place to start.”

I’ve left out the comments on the ample wine and sake selections, the maki specialty rolls, or the Volcano Noodles. I believe that between this tease and the article, you may find yourself planning a trip out to the Buffalo area.

You might even see me there too.

Submitted by Mr. Michael Vass, a contributing author.

Here is some exciting news from out in Las Vegas. If you have not made plans for the week of September 2-8 then you may want to try and get out there. The reason for the trip is none other than the Las Vegas Restaurant Week, which is our chance to enjoy the cuisine of top chefs at a fraction of the normal cost.

Imagine a 3 course meal from Chefs Tom Colicchio, Michael Mina, Bradley Ogden, Wolfgang Puck and others at a cost of $50. That is quite tempting. But if that isn’t reason enough, let your altruistic nature supplement your taste buds because proceeds from this will be given to Three Square. Three Square is dedicated to ending hunger in the Southern Nevada area. That makes this an indulgence that gives and all the more reason to enjoy.

If you would like to know more details you can go to the Three Square website

Bon apatite.

Submitted by Mr. Michael Vass, a contributing author.

If you happen to be in South Carolina, in the Columbia area, they you are in luck. Among the many fine eateries you will now also be able to find Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Though this is a chain, it provides service and quality unlike that found at other chains. It’s not an accident as a recent article mentions.

It’s not too often that we hear about the qualifications and attention to detail that steakhouse staff goes through to provide guests with a fine dining experience. Normally it’s an expected item. But I feel that hearing about how they are on top of their game; make me more interested in dining there.

From applicants tested on the 5 grapes used in red wines, to training on how to serve the notable 500 degree plates that food is served on, the training is comprehensive. Not because the goal is speed and efficiency, as in some fast food and other dining chains, but that it provides the guest the most pleasurable experience possible. That includes providing guests with a cleaning of ties that become spattered from the hot butter on the plates. Guest comfort is number one.

I have eaten at several Ruth’s Chris in the New York tri-state area, and elsewhere in the country. Each time I can say that I’ve had an enjoyable meal, and a satisfying experience. Given that consistency I would imagine that if I were to be in Columbia, South Carolina, I have no question of where I might have a meal.

Submitted by Mr. Michael Vass, a contributing author.

For those that are traveling to Toronto, Syracuse, or New York City in the other direction, even those just traveling around and seeing different parts of New York State you might want to stop in the Binghamton area. The reason for the side trip is a relatively new fine dining restaurant called Instinct.

Instinct is a unique concept in the area in that it is an upscale fine dining restaurant during the day, and on Thursday through Saturday evenings it is also a nightclub. While many that live in cities such as New York, Chicago, Cleveland and others may find such a concept to be the norm Instinct is virtually the only option of this nature.

It is obvious that the owners, Romanians by descent, wanted to bring a touch of Manhattan nightlife to the area and they succeeded. Just looking at the style and arrangement within the restaurant and bar areas would lead one to think they might have been transported to SoHo or Midtown Manhattan. There is a comfortable modern feel that is not crowded or impersonal. The lighting, mirrors and color of the walls combine to set the warm tone, which is excellent for eating or dancing.

By the way, the restaurant opens up for dinner at 5pm and there is a dinner rush. But you can easily find yourself one of a few diners if you go just a bit later, say at 7:30 on a Wednesday night. And have no fear of being distracted by the bar crowd. That section is adjoining but separates enough to be of no consequence to having a great meal.

I will be speaking about the nightclub aspect of Instinct separately, but the dining is quite good. The staff is all quite friendly and knowledgeable. Several of the waiter/bartenders come from some of the top upscale restaurants in the area. All of them are friendly and informative, especially about the wine cellar and menu. In my meal there I found the waiter to be around enough to keep up with my needs and yet not even close to hovering.

Starting of with drinks the bar is fully stocked. Take particular notice that several top scotches and multiple popular brands of liquors are available. The variety of selection is one of the best in the entire area. This diversity is also found in the wine list. Wines from Sonoma Valley, local wineries and Romania can all be had here. Take note though that the selections are by the bottle and not the glass, except for the house wine, which is Turning Leaf.

I was looking forward to a Merlot called Vampire, which naturally comes from Romania. Sadly this was not available as they had just sold the last bottle earlier that night, but there was no delay in providing several comparable choices. We settled for a Ronald Strong 2002 Merlot, from Sonoma. This was a full bodied wine that was quite enjoyable.

The salads were a bright display of colors and a tasty combination of lettuce, tomatoes and additional vegetables. Very crisp. Moving on to the main meal I had the Monaco Filet Mignon with roasted potatoes and my guest had the New York Strip with rice pilaf. The presentation was quite good.

While I enjoyed the Filet, I found the roasted potatoes to be slightly underdone. This was my own fault as the potatoes are not done in the traditional manner, though they can be cooked to your preference. My guest equally found the meal satisfying. The merlot complimented the meat quite well. The portion size was easily filling, and my friend could not finish the New York Strip.

Other options that we could have had included Ahi Tuna, Jamaican Pork Chops, Rock Lobster Tail, Riviera Veal Chop (Thursday through Sunday) and Oven Roasted Duck to name a few. Throughout the menu, like the wines, Romania dishes are sprinkled along with other cuisine of a similar exotic nature.

In terms of pricing, Instinct is a bit more expensive than some of the other restaurants in the area. My meal with my guest and 1 bottle of wine worked out to about $35 per person, not including the tip. So it was far from exorbitant for locals, and a huge discount for those familiar with the prices found in say New York City.

Overall I found Instinct to be a lovely departure from the norm of most Binghamton area fare. It has a relaxing atmosphere and upscale look. The food is good, served in a timely manner, without the rush or crowding some posh fine dining restaurants seem to always include. The pricing is reasonable and far less than what could be expected for the quality that is provided. I can easily say that this is a place worth stopping at if you are driving through the area, or desirous of a trip to an out of the way, less fast-paced place.

If you would like to find out more about the hours, menu, specials, wine list, or other activities and events at Instinct you can check www.instinctnightclub.com or call 607-757-9977.

Submitted from Black Entertainment USA

Here is something for those living closer to where I am, or visiting the area. Few things are more enjoyable than a nice meal. One of the better meals I’ve had out in the Binghamton area is an Italian restaurant called Michelangelo’s. This restaurant recently re-opened after having to renovate due to the flooding that swept the area earlier this year.

While there are many Italian restaurants in every city, this is the one that stands out to me for this area. The interior of the restaurant is completely new and quite stylish. There is nothing that would indicate that over 5 feet of water had filled the place. The walls are a pleasant rust color with several paintings in the main dining area. The tables and chairs are a nice dark wood and as attractive as they are comfortable. There is plenty of space to accommodate large groups and couples or individuals, even when the restaurant fills up. The lighting is quite nice as well. Large windows capture the sun during the day and after the sun sets the soft indoor lighting is set at a level that compliments the décor. There is also a small but well stocked bar that can seat about 6 – 8 people while they wait for a table to open.

While the interior is attractive, the draw is the food of course. The menu has a decent selection of favorites and staple dishes. And there are daily specials that are equally appealing. Whether it’s chicken, veal, pasta or a combination of these choices, the portions are more than enough to fill a person. In particular I found the veal to be an excellent choice.

My most recent outing gave me a chance to enjoy a personal favorite. One of the specials was chicken francese, and I requested if veal francese (it’s not on the menu) could be made instead. The chef indulged me and made a fantastic meal. The presentation was topped off with seared lemons. I mention this meal in particular because it’s a hard dish to make and sadly is not very common these days. The lemon sauce is difficult to get right, with many places putting in too much lemon, or using store-bought lemon juice instead of fresh lemons. When it’s done wrong you can tell in the first bite, but when it’s done right as it was in this case it’s a delight.

The wine selection is quite nice and the house reds are a wonderful accent to the meal or just as a drink by itself. If you lean to stronger drinks the top shelf selection is quite large for a small bar. The scotch selections include my favorite; Glenlivet (just the 12 year old) which makes Michelangelo’s only the 3 place in the area to carry it (to my knowledge).

Overall I found the entire experience to be pleasant and enjoyable. I wasn’t the only one to think so, as the restaurant quickly filled between 5 and 6:30. I would strongly suggest reservations if you expect to be going here Wednesday to Sunday in the evening. Don’t plan on late night dining here though as the hours are about 11-9 during the weekday. And at about $25 per person (including 2 glasses of wine) the cost is quite reasonable. So for an enjoyable meal that is perfect for a date, an evening away from the kids, or a family outing I would suggest Michelangelo’s.