Wiener

Does anyone know if any wine tasting or food and wine pairing groups in North Jersey? I just graduated from FCI - wine program and would like some additional first hand experience to test what I've learned? thanks

Boy do I agree . Have you ever experienced that Acme at Styertowne? What a nightmare.

Just returned from ten days in the area and The Crush is in full swing, probably finished now. I stayed in a beautiful cottage in Glen Ellen and travelled around each day . Weather was quite warm during the day and cool at night. Also took a day trip to see THE Birds Home in Bodega Bay. Visited Schramsberg- tour not worth the cost , Gloria Ferrer- patio worth the trip alone, Mumms- fun and decent sparkling wine. Spencer, Arrowood, Integra, V Sattui, Sterling ( gondola ) a few in the Anderson Valley, Valley of the Moon winery and another one close by high up on a hill. Also got to spend some time in Sonoma town and saw BottleShock there in the old theater where the producer and director stop by and introduce the film. If you want to stay in a quiet , beautiful spot , let me know and I'll send the link. Calistoga mud baths were fun but very hot. Great time of year to go and not as expensive as I thought it would have been . Talk to the wine servers when they are not busy and you most likely will not have to pay the tasting charge.

If this is the same chain I am thinking about, there is one located in downtown Manhattan three blocks from Wall Street near John Street. It is very very popular but be careful. They have a lot of the German and European chocolates, however, they are very old or made outside of the usual coutry where the products are from . For example, Milka chocolate bars usually are made in Germany- pale purple wrapper - but the ones sold in Zeytinia are from Poland. The ones I had were not so great. I guess you can run into this problem anywhere. Curious if it is the same market chain.

Lentinas in Lyndhurst / No Arlington border witll order them for you and will get you butternut squash ravioli as well. I just ordered some yesterday and will have it by Thursday.

There was another large German Festival at the Deutsche Klub in Clark , NJ. Club has been around for over 60 years and hosts 3-4 large events each year. They served great food and served Radeberger beer, which is delicious. I find this to be a tad more authentic than Germania Park but both are quite good.

Have to comment on Legal Seafood, which at on time was my Bergen County guilty pleasure on a Sunday afternoon. Used to be quiet, fresh, pleasant and offered excellent wines at decent prices. Legal Seafood is taking a fast nosedive in my opinion. Sevice and food quality continues to go downhill. The Short Hill's location is actually dirty at times and the restaurant staff has become less and less attentive. Also ate in the LS in Baltimore last weekend and it was awful. I am pretty sure we will be seening Legal Seafood being advertised on tv within a month or two. And I really liked this place!

IKE's crab cakes on the boardwalk .

Wiliam and Sonoma carries it in Montclair. Also , try Julius Meinl Austrian coffee. I actually order it from Austria directly and because they remove the tax , the price is quite reasonable. Check out meinl.com

Holstens is one of the best in the Montclair area but is dirty most of the time. Guess that goes with the turf. Never got sick from it but the place is filthy. Ever since the Sopranos they have added better lighting and cleaned the floor on occasion. Great ice cream, though.

Try the mussels at Lucky Bones. Interesting pasta with gorgonzola sauce. Only thing I don't like is the mess it makes. Not so easy to eat. The Italian beer is light and refreshing. Usually have to wait about 35 minutes but they have a nice porch. Have been there a few times this month. Less crowded because of the chill in the air down there.