The Restaurant Guys

Stage Left Turns 24 (on May 22)

It's hard to believe that it was 24 years ago that Mark and I finally got the doors open after two years of trying. At the ripe old age of 26, we had no idea the ride we would be in for.

We opened with an eye to make a difference. We knew we would succeed or fail spectacularly, but we were young and had little to lose. As it turns out, our ideas had some staying power.

In the beginning, we had the following crazy principles by which we wanted to make our living.

1. Serve local, sustainable, seasonal delicious food from your local food shed
2. Carry exclusively estate-bottled wine from small producers and don't worry about scores
3. Make cocktails from scratch, and with Dale's help, historically accurate and forward thinking
4. Bring people new adventures in food and beverage and teach and share
5. Commit to the revitalization of New Brunswick and be a positive force in the community
6. Be honest
7. Not kill each other

It's a good feeling to know that for almost a quarter century, we've been able to accomplish these things. We came closest to the edge on #7, but with our partner Lou's help, we both survived. It's even nicer to know that these are no longer novel principles.

Did we ride the wave? Certainly. Do we think we helped make the wave? Well, maybe in our own small way out here in The Garden State. I hope so anyway.

What I do know is that we've made a lot of friends along the way and that without you folks reading this right now, none of it would have been possible. Thank you. Come celebrate with us.

Anniversary Events - Celebrate With Us!

Thursday, May 19: McPrice Myers Wine Dinner

We're celebrating with one of the things we do best. We're bringing you a new winemaker you've probably never heard of. And you will love him. McPrice Myers is the most down-to-earth, by the boot straps winemaker in the New World. Come meet him and drink great stuff with the big man himself. We're making this dinner very affordable because it's our anniversary celebration and we really want to introduce you to Mac and his wines. It's $99. [email protected] or 732-828-4444. Full info >

Saturday, May 21, 2 PM: Glenfiddich Seminar: Deconstructing The Blend

Jim Patterson be here with a very special look at Glenfiddich whisky. You see most Scotch whisky is a blend of different years and different barrels. The age statement on a bottle of Scotch refers to the youngest spirit in the blend.

Jim is bringing special bottlings of the components whiskies that go into the Glenfiddich 15 year. These components are not for sale anywhere for any price. Jim will take us through how the 15 year is built as we taste each component, then you will be able to mix and match a little as you follow along and build your own. This is an unprecedented opportunity. $25 per person. [email protected] or 732-828-4444. 

Saturday, May 21, 3 PM: Wine Tasting, Walk-Around Style

We will host our annual Spring Tasting. Mark and I have sampled thousands of wines since our last tasting in the fall and we want to show off a little bit. It's also an ideal time to stock up for the summer.

After the Scotch seminar, walk right next-door, or just come to the wine tasting. We've put together quite a sampling of delicious and sometimes unexpected bottles that will bring a smile to your face. The cost is $25, which is good toward wine purchases if you buy a case. I'll publish the list next week. [email protected] or 732-828-4444. 

I hope you can come to some or all of these events above to join in our celebration of nearly a quarter century at the corner of Livingston Avenue and George Street. We couldn't have made it without you.

And don't forget:

Monday, June 13: Johannes Selbach Dinner

I had always loved German wines. Then I met Johannes Selbach and I understood German wines. Mr. Selbach is one of the most thoughtful producers of Riesling on the planet. His family has been producing wines in the Mosel for more than 400 years. Please come meet Johannes on June 13. [email protected] or 732-828-4444. Full info >

Chimay Beer Dinner: Wednesday, June 1

There is no more iconic Belgian beer than Chimay. It is first among Trappist Breweries, of which there are only eleven in the world. We're going to dig deep into our own cellar for this dinner, and also include some beers that are available nowhere else in NJ, and one rare bird that was only produced in 2012. [email protected] or 732-828-4444. Full info >

McPrice Myers is Not In Jail

We have been very fortunate in recent months in bringing to fruition wine and beer dinners that Mark and I have been trying to make happen for years. Well here is yet another one, and it's a doozy!

We have loved McPrice Myers' wines for more than a decade. McPrice's story is great and his wines are even better.

When McPrice was a young troublemaker in east Los Angeles, he says his father -- first a prison guard, then a teacher -- used to tell him he would wind up behind bars.

After graduating from high school, Myers wasn't particularly interested in college, but he did like to play baseball, so he went to Cypress College to play third base. Then he hurt his arm and couldn't play, so he dropped out and got a job at Trader Joe's. And that changed his life. "My boss had all these old wines he bought from Trader Joe's," Myers says. "He used to open them at night and we would taste together. I fell in love with wine right there."

"When I grew up, the last place people would expect me to be would be making wine," he says. "Jail would be more likely."

--The San Francisco Chronicle, 2005

Well that was 2005 and McPrice "Mac" is now making about 3,000 cases a year and to great acclaim. He is one of the most progressive winemakers in Southern California. His fascination is with Rhone varietals and Rhone-style wines, which he crafts into unique expressions that are spicy and assertive, yet soft and round. I just love them. They are remarkable with food and they are great value wines.

We've been trying to get Mac here for no fewer than seven years and finally...he will be here on May 19. So come out for a fun night of rustic and delicious wines with a great menu to boot. We'll start with a tasting of his excellent value brand: Barrel 27 and move on to dinner with some of his higher end bottlings. It's also quite a bargain.

Hors d’Oeuvres
A Walk-Around Tasting
Pound for Pound Zinfandel
High on the Hog Grenache
Right Hand Man Syrah

Lake Trout
Heartnuts and Brown Butter & Sorrel

Terre Blanch
Roussanne-Viognier

Grilled Quail and Roasted Cornish Hen
Porcini Mushrooms & Rosemary

“Beautiful Earth” 2013
Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre

Cheese Steak Sandwich
L’Agne Rouge 2010
Grenache

House Made Ice Cream Sundae
French Chocolate & Caramel

$99 Plus Tax and Service

German Wine Dinner with Johannes Selbach: Monday, June 13

Wine Expresses a Sense of Place. Click Image for Video of This Place

I cannot overstate the impact of Selbach-Oster wines on my own understanding of wine, not just German wine, but wine. I had always loved German wines. Then I met Johannes Selbach and I understood German wines. So many of them operate like a Shakespearean play. That touch of sweetness and friendly fruit makes them pleasant for the novice or casual drinker. The deep minerality and profound expressions of terroir and their ability to age for decades, conspire to reward the serious and thoughtful drinker and collector of German wines.

Johannes and Paul Hobbs. For a long time, the only thing they had in common was Stage Left, but they are now working on a project together in Upstate New York!

One of the most thoughtful producers of Riesling on the planet is Mr. Johannes Selbach. His family has been producing wines in the picturesque Mosel region for more than 400 years. His wines have been on our list for the last two decades. When I teach classes on Riesling, I always use Selbach-Oster wines as a benchmark. They are textbook examples of what they are supposed to be and also some of the most beautiful and nuanced expressions of their type.

I first met Mr. Selbach at a luncheon he invited me to in New York, circa 1994. He had with him some very old Rieslings from his cellar. It was then my own passion for collecting and aging Riesling was born. Did you know that some Rieslings that seem slightly sweet when young, seem to dry as they age? Did you know that Riesling is the most soil conductive white grape? Did you know that Riesling from The Mosel can have a distinctive slate character that reminds one of being on a flagstone patio after a rainstorm, particularly an electrical storm? Did you know that, even though Riesling changes dramatically in the bottle from year to year, it can age for decades?

If you would like put a toe in the water of German Riesling, we probably have one of the best German and Austrian wine lists on the East Coast. Come in any time. They are also exceedingly reasonably priced.

Please come meet our friend Johannes Selbach on June 13. The menu is below. [email protected] or 732-828-4444

Selbach Oster Dinner
June 13, 2016
Hors d'Oeuvres 6:30 Dinner at 7

Hors d’Oeuvres
A Walk-Around Tasting of New Releases

Soft Shell Crab
Riesling Kabinett “Zeltinger Sonnenuhr” 2014
Riesling Kabinett “Wehlener Sonnenuhr” 1992

Chicken and Rabbit Roulade
Pistachio, Vanilla, Carrots and Rabbit Mousse
Riesling “Anrecht” 2014
Riesling “Schmitt” 2014

Braised Short Rib and Roasted Maitake Mushroom
Australian Black Truffles and Marrow
Riesling Auslese “Bernkastler Badstubbe” 2014

Pistachio and Local Strawberry Tart
Riesling Auslese “Zeltinger Himmelreich” 2006

$139 per person
plus tax and service

[email protected] or 732-828-4444

Chimay Beer Dinner: Wednesday, June 1

Chimay is Brewed by Trappist Monks
The Profits Support the Abbey and The Rest Go To Charity

There is no more iconic Belgian beer than Chimay. It is first among Trappist Breweries, of which there are only eleven in the world. To be called Trappist, beers must be brewed by Trappist monks on the grounds of their monastery. Chimay has been brewed in the Notre-Dame de Scourmont Abbey in the the town of Chimay since 1862. The beer is just extraordinary.

Many people don't realize that many Belgian Beer age remarkably well. At Stage Left and Catherine Lombardi we have always aged beer and now we have one of the finest aged beer selections in the country. We're going to dig deep into our own cellar for this dinner, and also include some beers that are available nowhere else in NJ, and one rare bird that was only produced in 2012.

• Chimay Première (Red) is a dark brown colour dubbel with a sweet, fruity aroma.
• Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue) is considered "the classic" Chimay ale, it's deeply fruity and peppery with a creamy head.
• Chimay Spéciale Cent Cinquante (White) is an extremely rare bottling of Chimay Triple, brewed only one time, specifically for the 150th anniversary of the monastery. We've had a few cases in our cellar since 2012, resting patiently for three years, waiting for you to drink it at this dinner. It's brewed at 10% alcohol rather than the traditional 8% and has a unique spice profile.
• Chimay Dorée (Gold) is brewed from similar ingredients as the Red, but paler and spiced differently. It is a patersbier, intended only to be drunk at the Abbey. The monks themselves drink this variety rather than the stronger three. It is unusual for bottles of the Chimay Dorée to be available outside the Abbey. It's a rare indeed, but we'll have it there June 1.

Bobo Van Mechelen from Chimay (The man who brought Chimay to The United States) will be in attendance.

Chimay Dinner
June 1, 2016
6:30 Hors d'Oeuvres 7 PM Dinner

Hors d’Oeuvres
Chimay “Doree Single”
Drink like a monk!

Mussels with Garlic and Beer
Chimay Cinq Cents (White) 2016

Griggstown Quail, Stuffed with Foie Gras and Shibumi Farm Mushrooms
Chimay Premiere (Red) 2016
Chimay Premiere (Red) 2012

Stage Left Burger with Frites New Brunswicaine
Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue) 2016
Chimay Grand Reserve (Blue) 2012

Chimay Spéciale 150 Anniversary 2012 (3 oz)

Crème Brulee

$99 per person
plus tax and service

[email protected] or 732-828-4444

Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8) at Catherine Lombardi and Stage Left

Catherine Lombardi

Catherine Lombardi was Mark's mother's mother! What a perfect place to bring Mom.
We're seating for dinner from 1 PM - 9 PM.
Reserve a table here or 732-296-9463

Stage Left

Brunch from 10:30 - 2:30.
Brunch is $39.95 per person and includes our wonderful dessert bar. Kids under 11 pay their age.
We'll post the menu next week.

Dinner from 3:30 - 9.

Reserve a table here or call 732-828-4444

TONIGHT: Cocktails for Millionaires

Usually Thursdays at precisely 6:30, we open a different bottle of a luxury spirit behind the Catherine Lombardi Bar and serve one ounce at cost. Most Spirits Project bottles are entirely consumed by the end of the nights. But of the 52 bottles a year that we open, several have some left over. So every once in a while, we make all of these extraordinary odds and ends (which retail for between $150 and $1,000 per bottle) available in cocktails at cost.

We will make these into whatever cocktail you like at cost. We will have suggestions of course. Have you ever had a Brandy Alexander or a French 125 made with a $600 bottle of Cognac? If you think you can't tell the difference, come in and prove yourself wrong. This is a really fun exercise and the height of decadence. It will be first-come first-served until we run out. This is a rare opportunity!

You can also just order an ounce at cost for a last shot at tasting these!

Scotch	Retail Bottle	1 oz	Cocktail
40 Year Old Glenglassaugh - Scotch	$1,200	$33.00	$50.00
Blackadder Clynelish Raw Cask - Scotch	$264	$7.00	$12.00
Blackadder Glen Moray Raw Cask - Scotch	$174	$5.00	$10.00
Blackadder Glenlossie Raw Cask - Scotch	$204	$6.00	$11.00
Blackadder Tobermory 13 - Scotch	$173	$5.00	$10.00
Blackadder Locharanza Arran Malt Raw Cask - Scotch	$189	$5.00	$10.00
Deanston 18 Yr Cognac Finish - Scotch	$195	$6.00	$11.00
Glencadam 21 Yr - Scotch	$224	$6.00	$11.00
Bunnahabhain 25 - Scotch	$450	$12.00	$20.00
Milton Duff Distillery 20 Year (1995) Scotch Whisky, Speyside (Samaroli)	$325	$9.00	$16.00
Blackadder Auchroisk 23yr Raw Cask Scotch	$270	$7.50	$13.00
Duncan Taylor 20 year Caperdonich 1992 Scotch	$282	$8.00	$14.00
Usquaebach 15 and Usqaebach "Old Rare" Scotch
Brandy	Retail Bottle	1 oz	Cocktail
Montanaro Brandy di Altri Tempi 1972	$160	$5.00	$10.00
Dudognon Heritage Cognac (40 Year)	$278	$8.00	$14.00
Lhéraud Petit Champagne Cognac 20	$200	$6.00	$11.00
Lhéraud Petit Champagne Cognac "Charles VII" XO	$600	$16.00	$26.00
Guillon-Painturaud Grand Champagne Cognac "Renaissance"	$524	$14.00	$23.00
Normandin Mercier Christmas Cognac; Petite Champagne	$170	$5.00	$10.00
Jean Grosperrin Fins Bois 1975 39 Year Old Cognac	$450	$11.83	$19.00
Castarède 1980 Armagnac	$154	$5.00	$10.00
Castarède 1982 Armagnac	$150	$4.00	$8.00
Castarède 1975 Armagnac	$181	$7.00	$10.00
Castarede 1968 Amagnac	$249	$12.00	$14.00
Castarède 1965 Armagnac	$181	$15.00	$20.00
Chateau de Leberon 1986 Armagnac	$300	$8.00	$14.00
Chateau de Leberon 1964 Armagnac	$720	$19.00	$30.00

George Hendry Rides Again

Wednesday, March 9. Tasting at 6:30. Dinner at 7:15
$139 per person

George Hendry is one of the smartest men making wine anywhere. I'm not saying that just because he is a nuclear physicist. I'm not saying it because he's lived on and farmed The Hendry Ranch his entire life. I'm not saying it because for that entire time, he has approached the management of his vineyards and wines as both an artist and a scientist. My comment is born of personal experience in his phenomenal wines year after year.

I've learned more about wine by just drinking Hendry and paying attention for the last 20 years than in any single book I've read. George is not a world-wide consultant. He's been farming The Hendry Ranch since before The Korean War. The man has forgotten more about growing wine in the Napa Valley than most flying wine makers will ever know.

It's an honor and a privilige to host him and his wines once more. On Wednesday, March 9th, George will be here to host a dinner. 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.

Our email server is being upgraded today, so your safest bet is to call 732-828-4444 for a reservation.

Hors d’Oeuvres
Albariño 2014
Pinot Gris 2014
Chardonnay, 'Un-oaked' 2014
Pinot Noir 2013
Merlot, 'Block 13' 2013
Petit Verdot, 'Block 15' 2011/2011
Primitivo, 'Block 24' 2011
Red Wine, Meritage Blend 2011

Invasive Asian Carp Cake with Ginger Romseco
Chardonnay, 'Barrel Fermented' 2012

Tenderloin of Tuna with Bacon and Cipollini Onions
Pinot Noir, Hendry Vineyards 2012

Duck Terrine with Foie Gras Bread
Zinfandel, 'Block 28' 2012
Zinfandel, 'Block 7 & 22' 2012

Lamb Shanks with Minted Ricotta Gnocchi
Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Suzie-Q Inspired Devil’s Food Cake

Wednesday, February 10: Dinner with Diego Cusumano

When Mark and I started in this business, almost 30 years ago now, we did not look for fine wine from Sicily. If it existed, it certainly was not available in the U.S. market. Now, it's a very exciting wine region indeed. The Cusumano winery was established in 2001, when brothers Alberto and Diego, took over the management of the company from their father, Francesco. The Cusumanos had sold grapes but had not made their own wine. With their intimate knowledge of the Sicilian terrain and the help of their very talented winemaker consultant Mario Ronco, the Cusumano brothers today own over 400 hectares (nearly 1,000 acres) of vineyards. What's striking is that they hold this vineyard across 7 sites throughout Sicily.

With one foot in the present and another in the past, Alberto and Diego Cusumano have created a beautiful modern winery (two actually) with a respect to Sicily's colorful history and terroir. They farm in the western part of Sicily and source grapes from various parts of the island. They work primarily with the traditional grapes of Sicily (Insolia, Nero D'avola, Grillo...) in the context of the different and dramatic terroir of various parts of this wildly diverse volcanic island. It's exciting to see the diverse range of their wines from their various holdings.

Today, Cusumano grapes come from these vineyards:

• Ficuzza: 189 hectares, in Piana degli Albanesi in the province of Palermo
• Presti e Pegni: 70 hectares, on the hills of Monreale
• San Giacomo: 140 hectares, in Butera in the province of Caltanissetta
• Milioto: 3 hectares, in Partinico in the procince of Palermo
• Monte Pietroso: 30 hectares, in the territory of Monreale
• Marchesa: 50 hectares in the territory of Monreale
• Buonivini: 20 hectares, in the territory of Pachino

On Wednesday, February 10th, Diego Cusumano will be here and we'll be pouring his wines at dinner. These wines represent an incredible value and we want to bring them to you at an extrememly affordable price. Dinner with wine will be $99 per person plus tax and service.

Pre-Dinner Wine Tasting
6:30-7:15 PM

Etna Bianco “Alta Mora” 2014
Angimbe 2012 (Insola, Chardonnay)
Jale Chardonnay 2011
Etna Rosso “Alta Mora” 2013
Benuara 2013 (Nero di Avola, Syrah)

Cubia Insola 2011

Dinner
7:15 PM

A Selection of Crudo
Grillo “Shamaris” 2013

Venison Pate American, Sous Vide Egg, Parmgianno-Reggiano Crisp, Bone Marrow Brioche
aka: Venison Egg and Cheese Sandwich
Sagana 2011
Nero di Avola

Roasted Duck Breast with Blackberry Ginger
Noa 2012
Nero di Avola, Cabernet, Merlot

Biscotti
Moscato dello Zucco 2009

Cashew Financier
With Rosemary and Honey Ice Cream

(Menu Substitutions Available with Advance Notice)

Coffee

$99 per person
plus tax and service

[email protected] or 732-828-4444

White and Black Truffle Menu: The Final Chapter

Hello all and welcome to 2016.

We did get one last surprise shipment of white truffles so we will resurrect the Black and White Truffle menu in Stage Left through Thursday January 7th.

The Wine Shop Will Be Open

Sunday, December 20, Through Wednesday December 23: Noon - 8 PM and
Thursday, December 24: Noon - 5 PM

We once ran Old Vines Wine Shop out of what is now the Wine Library Dining Room. Every year, just before Christmas, we open it again.

Almost our entire wine collection is available for retail sale. That's an extremely well curated collection of close to 900 bottles. We also make available a selection of spirits and proprietary cocktail ingredients. If you are looking for some really special and uncommon wines for your holiday enjoyment or to give as gifts, we would love to help you.

We've also got some other pretty special items, like olive oil, our house blend coffee, Austrian roasted pumpkinseed oil, rare apple balsamic from Modena, salt brick and stand, cheeses, coravins and a whole host of other items for your perusal and enjoyment.

We'll be making some of my grandmother's eggnog, the old fashioned kind you cook on the stove almost to a custard and then chill. Come have a glass of eggnog with our compliments. I'll also have the recipe if you care for it.

Gift Certificates to Both Restaurants Will Also be Available