CELEBRATE SPRING IN NYC WITH VISITS TO HOTEL ELYSEE, IL GATTOPARDO RESTAURANT

IL GATTOPARDO AND HOTEL ELYSEE MAKE FOR A PERFECT WEEKEND ON EAST 54TH


BY DWIGHT CASIMERE

 The famed Rockefeller townhouses at 13-15 East 54th Street

 The impressive entrance of Hotel Elysee, 60 East 54th Street

 Springtime blossoms along a New York Boulevard

 The exquisite table service at Il Gattopardo

 Below: Dover Sole and sautéed Broccoli Rabe in garlic and virgin olive oil

 Pasta Carbonara is a house specialty

by Dwight Casimere

Spring is finally here! Its a terrific time to take a spontaneous weekend trip to the Big Apple to stroll its brownstone lined streets, enjoy a cup of cappuccino at a sidewalk cafe, spend a weekend at a lovely boutique hotel and dine in a fine continental restaurant. There are just as many blossoming trees to be viewed while meandering through many of the city's charming neighborhoods as there are in Georgetown. Contrary to stereotype, there are a number of quiet, cozy areas of the city ticked away along the side streets, where you can find a lovely English-styled hotel with complimentary buffet breakfast and a delightful complimentary evening cocktail with an intimate library and expansive views of the charming surroundings.

Once such place is the Hotel Elysee, on 60 East 54th Street, part of t he Library Hotel Collection. The hotel is as charming as any you'd find on Grosvenor Square, London, complete with elegant vintage-styled furniture of both English and French Provincial design, with exquisite chandeliers and lighting fixtures, fireplaces, baby grand pianos and terraces with stunning  views in select rooms and suites. There are no "cookie cutter" rooms. Each has its own distinctive character. A full complimentary breakfast buffet with a selection of fresh pastries, cereals, croissant and various juices, gourmet coffees and teas is a must to start the day. Be prepared to enjoy a short walk to Times Square, Rockefeller Center and all of the other great sights and sounds of midtown that are literally at the Elysee's doorstep. Just a block and a half up the street is the Museum of Modern Art and its exciting collections and exhibits. See the concierge for the latest offerings. Right across the street is one of the most elegant dining settings for a weekend brunch or elegant dinner, Il Gattopardo restaurant in the historic Rockefeller townhouses at 13-15 East  54th. The rerestaurant is located a few steps below street level in the English basement. the sleek dining room extends back to a stunning atrium. The menu and the cuisine are equal to the exquisite decor. Each dish is a masterpiece, with attention to presentation. The food is decidedly Italian with a modern twist on many traditional classics. Start with the Crudo di Branzino, a scrumptious variation on raw, marinated fish with fresh herbs and crunchy garden vegetables for a refreshing start to the meal. Enjoy a crisp Prosecco or one of the delightful white wines from Umbria or the Lombardy region. If you tend toward something a little heavier, the Beef and Veal meatballs wrapped in savory cabbage leaves is a nice, flavorful twist on an old favorite. "Nonna's" meatballs never tasted better! The main event at Il Gattopardo is a real show-stopper; whole pan-roasted Dover Sole, deboned and served table side. The presentation is dramatic and the delicate aromatics of the fish are beyond parallel. Enjoy a selection of contrasting white and red wine blends from Sagrantino or Sicily for a real taste treat. You can't leave Il Gattopardo without saving room for yet another house specialty,the Artisinal Ravioli with wild pheasant, partridge and rebiller cheese in its own sauce. You will not find a more ravishing and soul-satisfying dish anywhere! There's a;ways room for dessert. Have a demi-glass of house made Limoncello with a generous slice of Cossata Siciliana, a delightful traditional custard pie from the Mediterranean coast filled with candied fruit and a mouth-watering caramelized sauce. You'll be glad that you stayed at the Elysee, just a short, much needed walk to dampen down the copious meal or just a few minutes Uber ride away.

For more information visit elyseehotel.com or ilgattopardonyc.com.

VOLCANIC WINES TAKE U.S. BY STORM WITH NEW SPRING RELEASES

VOLCANIC WINES COME FROM ASH-RICH SOILS IN ITALY, GREECE, SPAIN AND U.S.

 Dwight Casimere and Colangelo Partners CEO Gino Colangelo at Volcanic Wines tasting

International Volcanic Wine Conference Metropolitan Pavilion NYC

 Dwight Casimere in Pantelleria, Sicily and (below) Zibbibo vineyards at the base of a volcanic slope

by Dwight Casimere

Volcanic Wines are heating up around the globe! This exciting new category of wines began storming American shores last year, and the wine drinking public has been clamoring for more. Sales went up a whopping 40% in the first year alone. And for good reason, the ash-rich soils that create volcanic wines bring forth wines of unique flavor and distinction. The white wines are salty, tangy and bursting with fleshy fruit flavors and hints of almond, cashew and lychee, making them the ideal companion for all of the flavors of spring and summer; seafood, crisp garden salads and soft and semi-soft cheeses and a raft of salamis and cured meats. The reds are not your typical blackberry, oak and cinnamon "usual suspects," but vivid with exotic flavors of cardamom, sandalwood , fennel, pomegranate, lingonberry and wild blackberries and raspberries, which are quite distinct from your grocery story berries of the same type. These wines go more with the flavors of the Mediterranean, India and Thailand, all of which have increasingly become more commonplace on the American table. If you have an adventurous palate, Volcanic wines are for you. First of all, what are Volcanic Wines? They're grown in the volcanic soils on  the slopes of volcanic mountains that can be found virtually everywhere in the world. Some are still active of semi-active, like the ones in Italy on Sicily's Mount Etna or on the Isle of Pantelleria, or on Spain's Canary Islands, where the volcanic landscapes look like something from outer space. The salty, tangy white wines of Greece burst onto the wine scene last summer to wild acclaim. They can now be found on the wine lists of many of your favorite restaurants and wine bars. The West Coast is rife with volcanic mountain slopes that yield some incredible wines from the Geyer Peak region of Sonoma County to the Volcanic Hill of Napa Valley's Dry Creek vineyards and Napa's Mount St. Helena up to Oregon's famous Willamette Valley, the distinctive Cabs and Pinot Noirs of those areas set them apart from the other wines typical  of those regions. 

Some of the Volcanic Wines tasted by this reviewer recently, include Dhont-Grellet "Le Bateau" (the little boat) Cremant Grand Cru from France-$60. Made with 100% Chardonnay, this is the ultimate in the rich, creamy flavors that you would expect from a superbly made Champagne from one of the region's most respected "old line" producers. Flavors of crisp green apples and salted almonds and a subtle note of dried apricot and a hint of French sage make for an interesting and complex melange of flavors. This is a great one to serve as an aperitif or throughout a long, delicious al fresco meal. Get adventurous with lobster or crab Eggs Benedict or a seafood mix of shrimp, calamari rings and tiny Bay Scallops in their own juice served over warm angel hair pasta and sprinkled with fresh oregano, Sicilian chives and pecorino cheese shavings. You can't go wrong with this one.

Participants at the Volcanic Wines International Conference

 Silvia Gardina of Quota 101

 Elisa Dilaranzo-Maeli Vineyards

Carla Benini of Sassotondo


Volcanic Wines now available in the U.S.

Donnafugata CEO Jose Rallo in the volcanic vineyards of Pantelleria, Sicily

 Harvesting Zibbibo grapes with Jose Rallo, CEO Donnafugata in the volcanic soil of Pantellaria

SLOW WINE GUIDE 2018 RELEASED IN US TOUR DEBUTS CALIF WINE GUIDE

SLOW WINE 2018 MAKES DRAMATIC STATEMENT IN TASTING AT 4 WORLD TRADE CENTER

By Dwight Casimere

NEW YORK--Eataly Downtown in 4 World Trade Center was the scene of the dramatic release of SLOW WINE GUIDE 2018. Besides presenting more than 2000 wines that are produced with consideration to wine quality, terroir, value for money and recognition of the importance of the estate's production methods. For the first time, the Slow Wine Guide is also includes a guide to California wine. The wineries are reflective of the incredible biodiversity of grape varieties and for their work with respect for the environment and traditional techniques.

TRE BICCHIERI 2018 GAMBERO ROSSO US TOUR CELEBRATES THE ACADEMY AWARDS OF ITALIAN WINES

200 0F  ITALY'S FINEST WINERIES DESCEND ON FOUR US CITIES

Gambero Rosso Senior Editor Marco Sabellico at the Tre Bicchieri event at the Metropolitan Pavilion New York City


BY DWIGHT CASIMERE

The 200 best Italian winemakers from Italy made their way to four American cities, New York's Metropolitan Pavilion , Chicago's Bridgeport Arts Center, Los Angeles's Magic Bar at the Reef and San Francisco's Fort Mason Center, for the Italian Academy Awards of Wines, Tre Bicchieri (three glasses) 2018. The wines were a robust selection from both legendary and new wineries in all of the major Italian wine growing regions; Tuscany, Sicily, the Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont and some lesser known, such as Marche, Basilicata, Lazio and Molise. Each of the wines had its individualistic stamp, yet proved its worthiness to receive the designation of either two (due) or three (tre) bicchieri.

Presiding over it all was Gambrel Rosso Senior Editor Marco Sabellico. Masi of the Veneto was named Winery of the Year, presenting its Amazon della Valpolicella Cl. Campolongo di Torbe 2011, Amazon Valpolicella Cl. Val Armaron Serego Aligheri 2011, both awarded Tre  Bicchieri, and its Trento Brut Conte Federico Riserva 2012 from Bossi Fedrigotti, which was also awarded Tre Bicchieri.

Among the favorites was Casa Di Mirafiore Barolo Palagalla Casa E. di Mirafiore 2013 (Tre Bicchieri), Nino Negri Valtelina Sfursat Carlo Negri 2015 (Tre Bicchieri) from Lombardy and Nortolomiol Valdobbiadene Brut Rive San Pietro di Barbozza Motus Vitae 2015 (Tre Bicchieri) from the Veneto.

 Dwight Cashmere with Gambero Rosso Sr. Editor Marco Sabellico

 Robert Shay-Market Manager Allegrini Azienda Agricola Verona. Italy

 Robert V. Allegrini-Vice President Corporate Communications The Americas- Hilton

 

Angela Fronti-Istine

Maria Elisabetta Fagiuoli of Montenidoli (below)