The Restaurant Guys

The Whole City Comes Together on New Year's Eve

I know I've been touting the fireworks for a month or so, but I cannot express enough how great I think they are. Mark and I came up with the idea three years ago and we've done the leg-work for it.

We produce the fireworks under the auspices of our radio program: The Restaurant Guys. If you don't listen, you should (www.restaurantguysradio.com). But it's really the whole city of New Brunswick that comes together to make it possible. Look at all the names on the banner above. This IS the Cultural Capital of Central Jersey, and we're proud to be a part of it.

Come out and celebrate with us and all our friends on New Years Eve, in the greatest little city in The Northeast.

All of the restaurants listed will be pouring Moet & Chandon Champagne or sparkling wine by-the-glass on New Year's Eve. We will pour Moet "Nectar Imperial," a slightly sweet cuvee.

We'll also pour another innocent little wine you may have heard of. It's called Dom Perignon and we will pour it by-the-glass at BOTH Stage Left and Catherine Lombardi all night on December 31. We're pouring the excellent 2002 vintage for the quite reasonable price of $75/glass.

Ring in the New Year with style (and a bang).

New Years Reservations:
Stage Left:
http://www.StageLeft.com/reservations/

Catherine Lombardi:
http://www.CatherineLombardi.com/reservations/

Friday Night Cocktail: The Andrea Doria

The Andrea Doria is a cocktail of our own invention. Perhaps it is unwise to name a cocktail after a ship that sank, but we went ahead and did it anyway.

It's a delicious blend of Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Aperol and Orange Juice, and is reminiscent of an old drink called the Man O'War, which used triple sec instead of Aperol. We kept with the nautical theme in naming this drink-- but imagine our dismay, when we learned that the original Man O'War cocktail was named for the famous horse rather than the famous ship.

It's delicious nonetheless.

Friday evening, the Andrea Doria will be served at a discount in The Cocktail Bar at Catherine Lombardi. Hors d'oeuvres will be passed from 6 - 9 and all the greatest cocktail enthusiasts in The Garden State will be in attendance, as is their custom.

The Spirits Project: Mackinlays "Shackleton" Rare Old Highland Whisky

Read more about the Spirits project.

Mackinlays "Shackleton" Rare Old Highland Whisky

Estimated retail price:  $175 per bottle
We're pouring one ounce for $5.00

In February 2007, workers trying to restore a hut, set up by one of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expeditions, accidentally came across three cases of Scotch — "Rare old Highland malt whisky, blended and bottled by Chas. Mackinlay & Co." — frozen in the permafrost. The labels on the whisky say it was intended for what Shackleton was planning to call the Endurance expedition but ended up being known as the Nimrod expedition of 1907, which was the earlier and lesser-known of his two great journeys but the more successful. He actually got to within about 100 miles of the South Pole, farther south than anyone had gone previously.

There was no fresh fruit or vegetables, but in all there were 25 cases of whisky — for warmth and a little perk-up, presumably — along with 12 of brandy and 6 of port. They were a hard-drinking crowd. --excerpted from The New York Times. 

This whisky has been reverse engineered and released in very very very limited quantities. I have not tried it myself but I can assure you that Thursday the first dram will go to yours-truly. Though not nearly the most expensive spirit we've poured in The Spirits Project, this is perhaps the most anticipated new spirit to be released I have ever seen. We were allocated only a couple of bottles of the stuff. To be honest, I see no reason that this whisky will not become more widely available down the road but we are excited to offer it to you now as it first arrives in The Garden State.

As chance would have it, there was a large article on Shackleton this past weekend in The New York Times. I do hope you're able to join us Thursday evening.

Next week in The Spirits Project: Pierre Ferrand "Abel" 45 Year Old Cognac

Randy Clemens

Mark and Francis discuss the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations across the US and specifically, in New Brunswick, NJ. Their guest is Randy Clemens, co-author of The Craft of Stone Brewing Co: Liqud Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance. They discuss Stone Brewing Co, other smaller breweries, and unusual things to do with beer, including how to make something called Beer Nog. 

In the News in Northern Ireland

One of the more interesting things that's happened in our careers is the national and international reach of our radio program, The Restaurant Guys. The show itself has a large following across the United States and Canada, Australia and New Zealand and we do hear from listeners in Ireland, England, Scandinavia, and France as well.

We're quite in demand as public speakers and that's something we enjoy a great deal.

In his column this morning, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, publisher of several Belfast newspapers (www.BelfastMediaGroup.com), wrote about community and the importance of OFFLINE social networks. We're honored that he called The Restaurant Guys TEDx talk compelling and relevant to the issue.

Belfast is a City that's been through a lot of turmoil, pain and violence. It is now making its way in a hard-won and long-awaited peace. Its future depends on its ability to cement and foster community.

Then again, isn't that true everywhere?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

 

Thanks For Everything!

 

The Spirits Project: Pierre Ferrand Cognac Selection des Anges

Read more about the Spirits project.

Pierre Ferrand Cognac Selection des Anges

Estimated retail price:  $149 per bottle
We're pouring one ounce for $4.95

Ferrand is and excellent producer of fine Grand Champagne Cognac.  The Selection des is a blend average 30 years old.  With notes of vanilla and spice, it's rich on the palate with a long long finish.

Next week in The Spirits Project: Shackleton Expedition Scotch, Modeled on the whiskey recently Discovered in Antarctica from the lost Shackelton expedition.

Podcast: Doug Frost, MS, MW

Mark and Francis welcome Doug Frost, MS, MW, to the show to discuss being a sommelier in today's market and the importance of cocktails in general. They talk about wine ratings, selling wine to consumers, differing palates, and the importance of cocktails in today's beverage programs.

MP3 Available: 
Click here to listen, right click to download.

See also: 

www.beveragealcoholresource.com

www.dougfrost.com

 Podcast Date: 12/21/2011

http://www.restaurantguysradio.com/sle/rg/content/shows/index.asp?show_id=546

The Brunello Boys Dinner

Friday, January 13 at 8PM
Gift Certificates Available

The Fornace is a small Tuscan family-owned farm with old traditions. Fabio Giannetti’s parents (Franco and Germania) bought this farm, where they had worked as Mezzadri (share croppers) their whole lives in 1964. Son Fabio and family continue to farm the land traditionally with help from their children. They produce tiny quantities of extraordinary Brunello di Montalcino.

The Collemattoni Vineyard, on the South side of Montalcino, is farmed by Marcello Bucci. It was passed on from his father Aldo. Collemattoni is about 1,200 feet elevation and also produces small quantities of super-high quality Brunello di Montalcino. In 2011, they successfully completed their transition from conventional to organic farming. These wines are not to be missed.

Both of these excellent winemakers are going to be here for an extraordinary dinner we've dubbed The Brunello Boys Dinner. It's an unprecedented opportunity to show you two exciting producers from this exceptional region of Tuscany.

Brunello Boys Menu

Hors d'Oeuvres
Collematoni Adone Rosso 2009

Olive Oil Poached Tuna, Jamon Iberico
La Fornace Rosso di Montalcino 2007
Collematoni Rosso di Montalcino 2008

White Beans with Wild Boar Ragu
La Fornace Brunello di Montalcino 2004
Collematoni Brunello di Montalcino 2005

Wagyu Beef Flatiron Steak Over Brick of Himalayan Mined Salt
La Fornace Brunello di Montalcino 2006
Collematoni Brunello di Montalcino2006

House-Made Chestnut-Honey and Pistachio Canolli

$149 per person
plus tax and service 

Reserve by email [email protected] or 732-828-4444

The Sights, Sounds, and Spirit of the Season

I don't know about you all, but I'm having a great Christmas season. Folks are embracing this particular holiday season with a gusto that I've not seen in years. More than ever, I think we need the holidays and the bonhomie, the comaraderie, the sense of community and the generosity of spirit that the holidays occasion. More than ever, I see it affecting people.

There was a weight that hung over the dining rooms in December 2008 and 2009. In 2010, things were brighter, but there was still a tentative quality in the air.

This year, I'm seeing a lot of hearty handshakes, man-hugs and full-on embraces in the dining room. The aural landscape is different as well. It's brighter with more animated conversations and laughter. And of course, the banging of ice in cocktail shakers, the clinking of glasses and the popping of corks completes the picture.

Of late, it's felt a bit like living in a film about the holidays of yore, but it's not. It's real. It's here, and not a moment too soon.

We've got some more cool stuff planned for you before the year is out so check it out!