Have you become bored with wine and beer? Tired of the stress associated with placing the wine order at the wine shop or determining the appropriate artisanal beer for pairing with dinner at a restaurant? Cheer up! There is a new kid on the block, direct from Spain: Apple Cider. History of Cider It is […]
Bringing Charisma to the Wines of Spain: Jose Moro
While the Essex Street stop on the NYC subway is not noted for its gourmet restaurants and not featured on any tourist map of Manhattan, I was motivated to journey to this part of the city to find out how the wines from the Spanish vineyards of Bodegas Emilio Moro linked with the Balvanera Restaurant […]
UNWTO Candidate Mzembi: Engage Global Resources. City by City, State by State
Dr. Walter Mzembi, the current Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Zimbabwe, is considered a prime candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). With his election, he will be the first African to lead this global tourism group. Engage Global Resources. City by City, State by State Mzembi sees tourism […]
Travel as Cargo for Tender Loving Care
The next time I travel by air, I want to fly as a large box or as part of an immense container, and I want to be shipped via Lufthansa Air Cargo. After spending two days with Lufthansa Air Cargo c-suite executives, I am convinced that packages receive better treatment than people. Cargo requests are […]
From Dull to Dramatic: Hotels as Museums
Hotel guests no longer want same-same in their hotel suites. Business and leisure travelers seek a memorable experience and this assertiveness extends to their hotel accommodations. Some boutique hotel suites have started to reflect this trend, while others look at the price of furnishings and fixtures (think mink coats and large diamond rings) and default […]
Enjoy Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris? Try Hungary’s Furmint!
Until I read the Harriet Lembeck article on Furmint (January 2015, Beverage Dynamics), I thought it was a new Swiss chocolate/mint truffle. Lembeck references Bordeaux’s Samuel Tinon a sweet wine maker, who moved to the Tokaji region of Hungary, eager to make wine with botrytis cinera, or noble rot. Unfortunately for Tinon, because of climate […]
Mr. Trump: We Need Mexico. Tequila!
The year was 2000, and bartenders were desperate. The announcements heralded a serious crisis in Mexico: the world supply of tequila was about to disappear. OMG. There was a temporary shortage of blue agave, the pineapple-type plant that gives birth to tequila and many small distilleries closed their doors. The perception of an eminent disaster […]
The Leopard des Artistes proudly resides on Manhattan’s Westside
There is eating (putting food into your mouth, chewing and swallowing) and then there is dining (the art, experience and cultural aspect of eating). If the objective is to eat, head to Burger King; however, if the idea is to dine in an elegant space, with near perfect service and delicious Italian cuisine, I am […]
Kosher Wines: Competitive Advantage
Gone are the days when kosher wine tasted like melted popsicles. Fortunately for oenophiles kosher wines options have expanded beyond sweet Concord grapes of Manischevitz fame. The 1980s heralded the revival of the Israeli wine industry and today kosher wine has moved into a premium category. Kosher wines are produced throughout the world (including Israel, […]
Italian Barolo and Barbaresco Wine: Not for the Timid
Italy recently showcased their wines in New York. Forget about Fashion Week, it is Italian Wine Week and Vinitaly International that should take center stage and receive the media coverage that skirts and dresses attract. Italian Wine Week brings wine growers, wine makers, wine buyers, wine sellers, wine drinkers, wine educators, and journalists to a […]