CRYSTAL CRUISES TO LAUNCH EVENING BISTRO

With almost a dozen dining choices on each ship, Crystal Cruises’ most popular daytime gathering spot, The Bistro, is expanding to evening hours.  Reflecting the space’s European-style sidewalk café ambiance, the complimentary menu will offer “small bites,” desserts, and “midnight” snacks, along with premium wines and flavored coffees.  The new nightly café debuts in April on Crystal Symphony and June on Crystal Serenity, shortly after the ships go all-inclusive.

The Bistro has long been a meeting place for cruisers due to its central location and quick, easy access to continental breakfast, fresh fruits, afternoon snacks, and wide selection of teas and coffee drinks, from morning to late afternoon.  Signature Guy Buffet china and Six-Star service remains at night, but gastronomic offerings greatly expand:

· 6-8 pm: Charcuterie of cured meats, prosciuttos, and pâtés, plus international cheeses paired with premium wines and champagne.

· 8-11 pm: Artisanal cheeses, with complementary accompaniments such as truffle honey and fig chutney, plus an assortment of fresh fruits and desserts, including a chocolate fountain and petit fours handmade by onboard pastry chefs, with fine wines, digestifs, and hot drinks.

· 11 pm-12 am: Late-night munchies such as mini-sandwiches, freshly-baked pizzas, quiche, tandoori chicken, and trendy beef “sliders.”

“In traditional Crystal luxury fashion, our evening Bistro brings aboard the elegance and international panache of a European café experience—a central place to meet, people-watch, and enjoy a glass of wine or espresso and a snack,” says Vice President Food and Beverage Operations Toni Neumeister.  “In addition, this expansion really enhances the culinary and social options for guests who spend a full day sightseeing and/or like to mix up their evening dining.”

Casual dining on deck is also offered most evenings with a new Chinese “Comfort Food” menu augmenting choices on Crystal Serenity.

Extraordinary culinary experiences are a hallmark of every Crystal vacation.  The ultra-luxury line’s extensive, innovative choices for gourmandizing include coveted cheese and wine cellars, overseen by on-board, certified cheese and wine sommeliers (Court of Master Sommeliers-certified); fresh, chef-like cocktails served by certified mixologists; gourmet dining options at every meal, whether in the Crystal Dining Room, at afternoon tea, or in Nobu Matsuhisa and Piero Selvaggio’s specialty restaurants; and, starting this spring, all-inclusive premium spirits, fine wines, and champagnes throughout the ship.

 

Copyright 2012 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.

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Robert Biale 2009 Petite Sirah Steals The Show.

 

Dare we say this is the best P.S. we have ever tasted? Well, let’s leave it at a love affair that is truly unforgettable. The near-black color will blow you away and the room fills with the haunting bouquet (we used the “b” word instead of “nose”, God forgive us) of what is it? The winemaker notes say blueberries, but we got a house of violets.

This is not a wine for quaffing. It craves food and was superb with osso buco, heady cheese, and proved to be a perfect steak wine.

We adored it. A Major on our Wine On Line Rating scale.

http://www.robertbialevineyards.com

Copyright 2012 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.

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Morso Brings Bite Size Portions Of Great Italian Food To Sutton Place

:Morso

ADDRESS:420 East 59th Street

(Between First Avenue and York Avenue)

New York, NY 10022

WEB SITE:www.morso-nyc.com

TELEPHONE:(212) 759-2706

FAX:(212) 759-2709

HOURS:Dinner: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Mon.-Sat.

5:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Sun.

Lunch: 12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM, Mon.-Fri.

Lunch/Brunch: 12:00 Noon – 3:00 PM, Sat.

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Sun.

CUISINE:Modern Italian with Mediterranean influences

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Taking little bites of inspiration from all over Italy and the mediterranean, Morso represents authentic, contemporary cooking under the masterful direction of acclaimed restaurateur/celebrity-chef  Pino Luongo.Executive chef Tim Ryan, has crafted a menu featuring a unique combination of classic Italian and mediterranean dishes,with a modern flair at Morso, which means morsels or  small bites in Italian

. The design of the restaurant evokes a mid-century modern feel, featuring vibrant poster art, contrasting wood and steel elements, and a light, airy ambiance for an elegantly informal setting in which to eat and entertain. The restaurant also features 16-foot high ceilings, custom-made tables, Italian leather chairs, Chilewich fabric banquettes, slate floors, soft and flattering modern lighting, and colorful wall graphics, all creating a welcoming environment much like a hybrid of a modern trattoria and a more formal ristorante.

There is an impressive 8 foot by 12-foot long custom-made L-shaped bronze bar, located at the front of the restaurant, features a specially curated, predominantly Italian wine list. A variety of wines are available by the glass. In addition, a premier selection of spirits, liquors, after-dinner drinks, dessert wines, imported and draft beers, and specialty cocktails such as Morso (Prosecco, Salerno, April, Blood Orange Juice, and a Splash of Gin) are also available. (The Dinner and Lunch/Brunch Menus are available at the bar, too).

The menu offers dishes available as morso (smaller servings), or tutto (full size). It is cleverly organized by ingredients, so pastas, for example, may be found under salads, eggs, beef and other unexpected areas of the menu. The result is incredible food, cooked with care and precisely seasoned. Start with sensational gorgonzola fritters that literally float right off the plate (below) or the “egg of the day,” in our case, soft boiled with a runny center, breaded in Panko and deep fried, served on a bed of frisse and parchment-crisp bacon.

While spaghetti carbonara that will blow you away and Penne farro flour pasta is lovely, two other pastas are noteworthy for their originality:: Bucatini Pasta with pecorino cheese and black pepper sauce, which may be the best pasta we’ve had in years and a terrific version of Pappardelle, homemade pasta with brisket pot roast, and porcini sauce.

A crackling-skin. moist roast suckling pig, which is a Thursday special, was singularly superb and worth a visit to Morso on its own merits.

Osso buco (above)  that is classically prepared and vies for the best rendition of this Italian masterpiece in town, Don’t miss heavenly spinach dumplings in rabbit and chicken sauce, grilled lamb chops, with eggplant and lamb roll, fresh whole roasted fish of the day and homemade meat lasagna that will make your Italian grandmother swoon. Steak lovers will adore the huge, succulent Bistecca Fiorentina grilled sliced rib eye steak, creamed spinach and mashed potatoes: Absolutely as good as any NY Steak House.

The wine list is short, well select and priced and interesting. A standout is the Super Tuscan Sondraia, 2007 Poggio al Tesoro ($80). Service is warm and professional and don’t miss desserts, which change daily. I can vouch for an incredible flourless chocolate nut cake and the most creamy, delicious Neapolitan cheesecake imaginable.

The vibrant, relaxed space features a semi-private dining area for events and parties as well as an inviting communal table . Morso 420 east 59th street [between first avenue and york avenue] is destined to become one of NY’s hottest restaurant tickets.

 

Acclaimed Restaurateur/Chef Pino Luongo  collaborates with Executive Chef Tim Ryan, formerly at Picholine and Bouley, to craft a menu featuring a unique combination of classic Italian and Mediterranean dishes, including Pino’s finest signature dishes with a modern flair.

Book your table online. Here is a pace you are going to want to return to again and again. Fortunately we live nearby and could happily dine here on a regular basis. But if you don’t live in the Sutton Place Area, Morso is a worthy destination. Affordable, excellent and run with style and panache by a hands on Pino Luongo, who after all, is a legend in his own right.

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.Acclaimed Restaurateur/Chef Pino Luongo  (Below)

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Click Here To Make A Reservation Now:

Copyright 2012 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.

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EXPERIENCE CLASSICAL MUSIC STARS ONBOARD MS EUROPA’S MUSIC VOYAGES IN 2012

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to Offer Guests Established Talent and Young Stars During the Ocean Sun and Stella Maris Classical Music Festivals at Sea 

The highest ranked cruise ship in the world, according to the 2012 Berlitz Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships[1] Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ MS EUROPA is offering guests two world-class music festivals in 2012. The “Ocean Sun Festival,” the only classical music festival on the High Seas, will feature internationally acclaimed classical music stars performing on board, as well as exclusive concerts at historical sites ashore. Additionally, the “Stella Maris“ International Vocal Competition will bring together up-and-coming young singers from the most renowned opera houses in the world to perform and compete on board a Middle East and Africa itinerary. These two music cruises are the highlights of a total of nine music cruises aboard the EUROPA in 2012.

Now in its sixth year, the “Ocean Sun Festival” has been compared to the prestigious Festival del Sole in Napa Valley, California and the Tuscan Sun Festival in Italy. For an added dimension to this musical experience, international music critics will offer lectures along the route. On board, “Ocean Sun Festival” guests will experience the breathtaking violinist Janine Jansen, the aspiring pianist Igor Levit and renowned soprano vocalist Marlis Petersen. This musical voyage continues ashore with the soloists joining the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Bergen, Norway. While the classical music concerts are the highlights of this itinerary, the EUROPA will glide through the picturesque Norway fjords, with stops in the charming and multifaceted cities of Bergen and Oslo. This 12-day itinerary from August 12-24, 2012, starts at $6,670 per person/based on double occupancy for a suite.

In cooperation with the prestigious international opera houses, the EUROPA will also be hosting their fourth annual classical music competition at sea, “Stella Maris.”
Under the direction of Canadian tenor Michael Schade, a jury of famous personalities in the classical music field will judge the top talent represented by international opera houses. The distinguishing feature of “Stella Maris” is that the audience determines the winner of the cash prize worth €15,000. This prize, generous compared to others in the world of classical music, is provided by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The jury will decide on the recipients of the additional prizes, which include: a guest engagement at an international opera house, a concert, and a test recording with Deutsche Grammophon. The competition will occur on board an 18-day Middle Eastern and Africa cruise through the Indian Ocean from November 7-25, 2012, making stops in Dubai, Oman, the Seychelles and Madagascar this November. The itinerary starts at $9,150 per person/based on double occupancy for a suite.

For information on these itineraries visit www.hl-cruises.com or call one of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ sales agencies below.

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Robert Biale Vineyards Sets The Standard For California Zinfandels

The Most Significant Planting of Zinfandel in Our Modern Era.

Napa Vineyard Preservationists Take Zinfandel to “the Next Stage”

Back to the Future.

According to Dave Pramuk, Robert Biale’s co-founder and marketing strategist, “Robert Biale Vineyards is delighted with this project – the most significant planting of Zinfandel in Napa Valley in our modern era. In the pioneering days of California viticulture, Zinfandel was the grape of choice across the state. In Napa Valley, Zinfandel once comprised over 25 percent of the vineyards in the county. Since the Robert Mondavi era and Napa’s marketing switch to French wine grapes in the 1970s, it’s dwindled to a scant two percent of the valley’s vineyards.”

In the story that follows our review, you’ll learn the important facts of this most significant planting:

• Why Biale approached Jan Krupp, Stagecoach Vineyards’ managing partner, about a new and exciting project overlooking the Oakville District of Napa Valley, and just south of prestigious Pritchard Hill.

• “Renegade” Zinfandel planted unabashedly among Napa Valley Cabs, priced into the high hundreds of dollars per bottle, has no such pedigree, a cultish following, and is making history.

• History of the Zinfandel grape on which you may not have yet had a focus, including its Croatian beginnings.

• Stagecoach is a re-creation of a Zinfandel from the pioneer era. Learn its classic vine selection.

• A huge calculating gamble pays off, with two important factors.

• Viticultural terroir, above Napa Valley versus Sonoma.

• What the 2002 and 2004 harvests delivered.

• By 2007, potential was becoming reality.

• New winemaker Steve Hall, takes on the 2008 harvest and gets into a selective picking regime that spells more success.

• And 2009 delivers an uncommon Zinfandel that combines finesse, power, and identity in the same package. For Biale, the ideal wine is the ultimate expression of where it’s from.

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We had be impressed with the 2009 Royal Punishers Napa Valley Petite Sirah, which is an outstanding example of what a great winemaker can do with this often misunderstood grape, which managed to keep its intensity, while exuding a definitive Rhone structure. So we were exited to taste a vertical selection of Stagecoach Zinfandel: 07, 08, 09 vintages so that we could get a fairly complete picture of the progress of the vineyard, how it has performed in different  seasons, and ageing characteristics.

Working from youngest to oldest vintage, we were impressed with the remarkable aging potential. While the 2009 was fruity and balanced, it only hinted at what it might evolve into. The 2007 was mature, yet fresh and inviting. A surprising elegance and finesse combined with a generous nose and glorious, lingering finish. The 2008 was a tad closed, but after several hours opened up to display flavors of cherry, black current  and hidden mint.

Food friendly, theses wines are the stuff that California admirers can flaunt with pride. Lovely with steaks, roasts, game, assertive cheeses and grilled salmon.

Inquire at the vineyard for pricing and availability. If you are fortunate enough to fine one on a restaurant wine list, grab it!

Mountain-raised, and making the torturous struggle to slowly ripen grapes, the vines at Stagecoach are producing Zinfandels that would make the Zinfandel forefathers proud, and delight the avid fans of this legacy to America’s viticultural origins.

For more information on Robert Biale, visit www.robertbialevineyards.com.

Copyright 2012 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.

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Citymeals at Daniel

 

DANIEL | 60 East 65th Street | New York, NY 10065
Tel 212.288.0033 | Fax 212.396.9014
www.danielnyc.com

Copyright 2012 By Punchin International. All Rights Reserved.

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