The Restaurant Guys

Wine Dinner with George Hendry

 

George Hendry

Wine Dinner

June 9, 2017

 

George Hendry is one of the smartest men making wine anywhere. Not just because he is a nuclear physicist, not just because he's farmed the Hendry Ranch since before the Korean War, not just because he has managed his vineyards and wines as both an artist and a scientist, but because for 20 years, the wines have been extraordinary.  
 

This year, we were unable to get George in March like we usually do. We're touched that he's making a special trip out East just to meet you! Be here onJune 9!

It's an honor and a privilege to host him and his wines once more.  On Tuesday, June 9th, George will be here to host a dinner and tasting. The menu is below and the wines for the tasting will be settled by next week.  This dinner is always extremely well-attended, so please reserve early.
 

 Hors d'Oeuvres

Rose 2016, Albarino 2016, Pinot Gris 2016
Unoaked Chardonnay 2015, Cabernet Sauvignon 2013,

Merlot 'Block 13' 2013, Pinot Noir 2013, Cabernet Sauvignon, 'HRW' 2014,
Red Meritage Blend 2013
 
Crawfish Tart with Melted Leeks and Butter
Chardonnay, 'Barrel Fermented' 2014
 
Fettuccine with Wild Boar Carbonara
Primitivo 'Block 24' 2014

Deconstructed Beef Wellington

Cabernet Franc 2010

Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
 

Cheeses with Truffle Honey
Zinfandel, 'Block 28' 2014
Zinfandel, 'Block 7 & 22' 2014

 

$149 per person

Plus tax and service

Wine Dinner with Byron Kosuge

Wine Dinner with Byron Kosuge

April 27 at 7 PM

$119

 

We first encountered Byron Kosuge's pinot noir a few years back. We were entranced then, and we've been entranced by every vintage since! 

 

Byron grew up in Davis, California. The first fifteen years of his wine making career were spent making his mark, as winemaker at Saintsbury in Carneros. He left Saintsbury in 2001 and has spent the last 16 years making extraordinary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both under his own label and as a consultant for others.

 

"I could never be a “rock star” winemaker. I’m most comfortable knocking around in the vineyard or the cellar, trying to improve my craft, and turning out modest amounts of interesting, expressive, and, hopefully, memorable wine. The kind of wine I want to drink myself." 

 

We disagree. Sorry Byron, you're a Rock Star!

 

Come hear the music.  Byron Kosuge will be at Stage Left Thursday, April 27 at 7pm, to host a dinner with his wines and our great food.  If you love Pinot Noir, you should really be here.

 

 

Hors d’Oeuvres

Americano Cocktails

 

 

Crabcakes (All Crab, Very Little Cake) Remoulade

Chardonnay 'Sonoma Coast' 2014

 

 

House Made Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese

Pinot Noir 'Sonoma Coast' 2014

Pinot Noir 'The Shop' 2013

 

 

Lamb Chop with Lamb Shanks and Cannellini Beans & Mint

Pinot Noir 'Hirsch Vineyard' 2014

A Library Selection Pinot Noir From Byron's Cellar (Secret)

 

 

Frozen Peanut Butter Pie with Valrhona Chocolate

Coffee

 

 

 

March: The Green and Purple Lines

When I was a kid, there were two parades in my town. In October, there would be a purple line painted down Main Street, just to the left of the double yellow. This was for the Columbus Day Parade marchers to follow and for the Italian-American community to leave it's mark on the town.

Just before St. Patrick's Day in March, a green line would appear to the right of the existing three lines. This line served the same dual purposes for the Irish-American community that the purple one did for our Italian-American brothers and sisters.

We were too proud and there was too much rivalry that either camp could have conceived of following the other's line down the road. Neither could we have left the other party's marking of territory unanswered. Any visiting foreign drivers must have been quite befuddled as to what traffic rule was indicated by a quadruple line of yellow, green and a purple.

Three March Events

While we won't be painting a green line down Livingston Avenue, we do have some Irish themed events for you to enjoy in the month of St. Patrick. I will be leading a Whiskey Tasting on Friday, March 3. I'll take you through 8 whiskeys, mostly Irish and a touch of Bourbon (whose roots lie with the Scots-Irish). The craic will be mighty (that means it will be a lot of fun), and you might even learn a thing or two. 

We're also hosting another Live Performance of A Radio Show by Raconteur Radio: The Quiet Man, based on the 1952 film starring John Wayne as a retired American boxer who returns to the Irish village where he was born. It will be performed dinner-theater style on March 19. 

The Italian influence (the purple line) will be a dinner featuring wines from one of the greatest regions of Italy: Piedmont. We're bringing in a real live Italian for this one. Giorgio Conterno will be here with wines from his family's 19th Century estate. The Conterno Barolo Wine Dinner will take place on March 6. 

A Class In Irish Whiskey (March 3)

Do take a look at our "Run-Up to Valentine's Day" special menus for Stage Left and Catherine Lombardi. Great fun and great bargains.

I would also like to point out that March (the month of St. Patrick) is the high holy days of Irish culture in America. We think a great way to start out is with a tasting and class on whiskey. Don't you?

On Friday, March 3rd at 6:30 PM I will conduct a fun and informative class on Irish and American whiskey from two great producers, Tullamore D.E.W. from Ireland and Tuthilltown's Hudson whiskeys from New York!

You will learn about how whiskey is made, how to evaluate different whiskey, its connection with history and culture on both sides of the pond and how to make a proper Irish Coffee (trust me, you're probably doing it wrong).

The Class is $49

Friday, March 3, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

[email protected] or 732-828-4444

Valentine's Day

Stage Left Has Been a Go-To Valentine's Spot for 24 Years

For the Specialist of Special Occasions
Reservations

Catherine Lombardi is Perfect for Valentine's Day

It's Painted Red for Heaven's Sake
Great Italian Food!
Reservations

Billecart-Salmon Champagne
Available by the Glass in Both Restaurants
February 10 - 14

Stage Left Black Truffle Menu

White Truffle Season Has Passed.Black Truffle Season Is Upon Us.

50 Day Dry Aged Beef, Jamon and Truffle Terrine
Shaved Black Truffles

Truffle-Poached Gulf Shrimp
Truffle Seafood Chowder

Truffled Veal Loin
Anson Mills Polenta
Hen's Egg, Roasted Shibumi Farms Mushrooms

Mascarpone Cheesecake
Figs, Truffle Honey, Truffle Powder

$149
plus tax and service

Available in Stage Left Nightly
Reservations here or 732-828-4444

2016 WTF...is anybody keeping an eye on Elton John?

Here we are in the between-time. Christmas has passed, Hanukkah is underway and New Year's Day is less than a week away. Certainly good things have happened in 2016, but it's been a rough road in more ways than one. I pray for the safety and well-being of all the great musicians who are left. Is anybody keeping an eye on Elton John?

Fireworks were invented in ancient China in the 7th century. They were used around the Chinese New Year to scare away evil spirits. So that's what we're going to do at midnight on December 31, with New Brunswick's biggest fireworks display ever. I hope you can join us. Whether you can or can't, we wish you and yours a very happy New Year celebration and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2017!

Would you believe that 2017 will be our 25th year! We're headed into our next quarter century with Stage Left entirely remodeled, the menu enhanced and updated and a striking new bar menu. Keep your eyes on this email for a years worth of our best events ever, and as always, come in any night for a great meal, a great drink and a warm welcome at your local.

The Wine Elves of New Brunswick!

Those are magnums of vintage Belgian beer in Mark's hands. Of course I'm holding Champagne. These and over 700 more labels of carefully selected adult beverage are available to you in our wine shop, which is open right now! Wine, Whisky, Irish Cream, Cheese, Truffles...!

The Wine Shop is Open...Like, Right Now!

It's simply the best retail wine shop in NJ and it's open only a few days a year. In addition to wine, we have some of our special cheeses, the extraordinary Stage Left coffee, great olive oil, Blenheim's ginger ale and much more. Stop in for a complimentary glass of house-made eggnog and to sample some cheese, wine, olive oil...

Members of our email list: Purchase a case of wine at the wine shop in-person during regular wine shop hours receive a $50 gift certificate good towards dinner in Stage Left or Catherine Lombardi. (Gift certificates are valid beginning January 2 and valid for one year. Gift certificate will not combine with any other gift certificate, discount or special promotion. Not good for package wine or any wine dinner or other special event.)

Merry Christmas / Happy New Year.

Paul Hobbs Returns

In 1992, we didn't realize that our new friend, Paul Hobbs, would go on to become one of the most important winemakers in the world, but he did.

If you don't know Paul, you should. His wines from California and Argentina and now New York and France are extraordinary. Paul is one of the most sought-after winemakers on three continents. He's one of the smartest guys in the business and we are proud to say that we have been supporters and friends since he and we started our businesses at roughly the same time. We were the first restaurant on the East Coast to serve Paul's wine and we remain the only venue where Paul hosts a dinner every year. This is the greatest single tasting opportunity of Hobbs wines each year. Part of the reason is that it is supplemented by our own deep collection of Hobbs wine.

January marks the beginning of our 25th year at Stage Left and it's only fitting that our first dinner should be our 26th Paul Hobbs Dinner (we hosted 2 one year).

Friday, January 27th is the date and if you would care to join us, please reserve a spot. This event will sell out.

This Year There Are Two Ways To Participate:

• The Pre-Dinner Tasting - $100, or
• The Tasting-and-Dinner - $325

  Hors d’Oeuvres
  Tasting at George Street Playhouse

  Dinner Menu

  Vanilla and Black Pepper Open Faced Ravioli
  with Burnt Orange and Lobster
  Chardonnay 'Ellen Lane Estate' 2013; Paul Hobbs; Russian River
  Chardonnay 'Marchiori Vineyard' 2015; Bramare; Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza

  Lamb
  Stuffed with Jamon Iberico Braised Mushrooms, Grilled Chestnuts
  Malbec 2014; Bramare; Valle de Uco
  Malbec 'Rebon Vineyard' 2013; Bramare; Valle de Uco, Mendoza

  Jamon Iberico de Bellota and Humboldt Fog Grilled Cheese
  Syrah 'Kick Ranch Vineyard' 2013; Paul Hobbs; Sonoma

  50-Day Dry-Aged Prime Angus Tomahawk Steak, Marrow Spread
  Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Paul Hobbs, Napa
  Cabernet Sauvignon 'Marchiori Vineyard' 2012; Bramare; Mendoza
  Volturno 2012; Vina Cobos; Mendoza (2 oz)

  Lemon Crème and Raspberry
  with Crumbled Graham and Powdered Raspberry

  [email protected] or 732-828-4444
  Tasting: 5:30 - 6:45
  Dinner 7 PM

The Twilight Zone: A Staged Radio Play by Raconteur Radio

Thursday, December 29 at 8 PM

We've had such great success with our friend Alex Dawson's staged radio plays that we've decided to do it again. People have been begging us to do another.

This time, we will take you to another dimension, to which you unlock the door with the key of imagination - to a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You will have just crossed over into the Twilight Zone!

Have dinner at either Stage Left or Catherine Lombardi before, during or after the performance and the show is complimentary. A limited number of seats will be available for $25 and a two-drink minimum. Show runtime is 55 minutes. Make a reservation at 732-828-4444 or [email protected].

Raconteur Radio stages theatrical presentations of vintage radio plays, classic works of literature, and pop culture parodies for live audiences. They've been called "family friendly guerrilla theater" by The New York Times, one of "the 7 best things to do in NJ" by the Newark Star-Ledger, "a radio show on steroids," by The Courier News, and "epic!" by Time Magazine, For more info, visit www.RaconteurRadio.com