Category Archives: Restaurants

Jefferson Vindicated: Virginia Wines Wow Wine Media Guild

Posted on November 12, 2019 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Somewhere, Thomas Jefferson is smiling. The Founding Father, third US President and first oenophile-in-chief tried mightily to establish European (vinifera) grape varieties in his gardens and vineyards around Monticello, but encountered only failure, for reasons he mainly … Continue reading →

Posted in NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wine Media Guild Explores Portugal

Posted on November 28, 2018 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews During its long history, especially during the Age of Discovery, Portugal has been known as a nation of explorers, something that allowed the (then) small kingdom to punch far above its weight for centuries as a colonial … Continue reading →

Posted in NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rosé Champagne at the Wine Media Guild

Posted on December 10, 2017 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Cross one of the bucket list…   After years of work conflicts and scheduling bad luck, I finally made it to one of Ed McCarthy’s annual December Champagne tastings for the Wine Media Guild of New York … Continue reading →

Posted in NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gaskins’ Got It Going On

Posted on June 13, 2017 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews In the micro-hamlet of Germantown, in southern Columbia County (NY), Gaskins is a pulsing farm-to-table boîte in the middle of a small, but vibrant, business district.  As its second anniversary approaches, this “tavern” has clearly hit its … Continue reading →

Posted in Hudson Valley, Local Food, NY craft beverages, Restaurants, Wine + Food | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bordeaux Chateaux “Punching Above Their Weight”

Posted on February 1, 2017 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Bordeaux Chateaux that “punch above their weight” was how Wine Media Guild (WMG) member Mark Golodetz framed the WMG’s recent, annual Bordeaux walk-around tasting and lunch, held at Il Gattopardo in Manhattan. As the traditional member-sponsor of … Continue reading →

Posted in NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Italian Elegance: Lugana Wines

Posted on October 31, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews For wine lovers, Italy’s incredible regional diversity and myriad grape varieties – many of them indigenous, and some produced only in certain Italian locales – are the gifts that keep on giving. But that’s what also makes Italian … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer + Cider, New York City, NYC Events, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hopping Up Hudson Valley Cider

Posted on August 3, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews With its tradition of apple-producing excellence — and aided by the New York Farm Cidery license option — the Hudson Valley (HV) has become an epicenter of the burgeoning (hard) craft cider scene, supported by the Hudson Valley Cider Alliance. And as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer + Cider, Hudson Valley, NY craft beverages, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Winning Home-Brewed Cider

Posted on March 21, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews Apples have long been a touchstone here at Upstate-Downtown, whether via our farmhouse, where we “inherited” three productive Empire apple trees — a great window into the growing season — or in the Hudson Valley more broadly, through its apple-growing traditions and excellence. Part … Continue reading →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Beer + Cider, Hudson Valley, NY craft beverages, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bordeaux Braves Yet Another NYC Blizzard

Posted on February 1, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews For the second year in a row, the annual NYC tasting of the Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux was affected by a blizzard — winter storm Jonas — this time the weekend preceding the January 25th … Continue reading →

Posted in New York City, Restaurants, Wine, Wine + Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Culinary Heirloom: The Cricket Tea Room Cook Book

Posted on January 16, 2016 by upstatedowntown

By Christopher Matthews It’s funny sometimes how the mind works, and how certain thoughts can lead to action. The subject of this post — The Cricket Tea Room Cook Book — was co-authored by my Great-Great Aunt, Tona Webb Perry, and served … Continue reading →

Posted in At Our Farmhouse, Bookshelf, Home Baking, Home Cooking, Restaurants | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments