What I'm Drinking These Days

Recently was introduced to a Tequila that shattered all illusions of the "best". Hear me out, I still adore my Gran Centenario. However Deleon brought me to my knees. The bottle itself is turn on. Handblown glass decanter, silver stopper that's an intricately carved skull designed by biker jewelry designer Bill Wall. But how does it taste?

The Tequila Whisperer calls it a "very exceptional tequila". Deleon won Best in Show Grand Champion at the World Beverage Competitions 2010 and 2011.

Quite frankly for the price ($140 per bottle) I think this tequila is one you save for special sipping. Don't leave it out for Uncle Irving to swill during the football game. This baby is best poured in a snifter and shared with your honey or sipped alone while smoking a Nat Sherman on a cool winter evening.

Belmont's Redemption

Been getting a lot of flak for a post last year in which I dissed the Belmont Tavern. My friends were not happy. How could you they chided? So it was with resignation that I trundled off to Belmonts, the day before Xmas Eve.

The newbies to Belmonts raved about the salad. What IS it about oil, vinegar and simple Italian herbs that makes a salad so intriguing? That's followed by Cavatelli with Pot Cheese and the Beeps. A couple orders of Mad Chicken, Chicken Savoy and the daily special of Pork Francese. All accompanied by the thimble sized cocktails.

The waitress (who's also the owner of the restaurant) takes to shine to my friend AR. She brings extra pepper flakes, extra plates and when it comes Sambuca time, she even brings him a jigger of coffee beans! Whoa, did we enter an alternate universe? You'll know the service here is terse at best.

The evening ends on an even better note. I've been severely chastised for requesting cream with my espresso. Lord knows why this is such a point of contention. Not like they have to trudge out to the field to milk old Bessy. But every time I do this I take a beating. This time I'm prepared. When the espresso arrives I whip out my non dairy creamers and gleefully sip my espresso like the demure lady I am...

From my perspective, Belmonts is redeemed.

5 out of 5 Tasters Say

I think I can take them. The Pot Pie establishments that is. Recent new years day attempts have bolstered my faith in the pie. Spent half the day simmering chickens in homemade broth which rendered the poultry unctuously moist - the perfect conduit to lap up aromatics. Main contenders are Blarney Station in East Rutherford and The Orange Squirrel in Bloomfield. While the Orange Squirrel does an elegant bechamel heightened by a liquor reduction. Cognac perhaps? Blarney's pie on the other hand is pure Irish fare.

I'm not shy about my culinary prowess but I have to say my pot pie does rock. This opinion was echoed by my weekend guests. All 5 of them! As my cousin Amit boldly rumored on Facebook: Best Pot Pie EVER.

All this talk of pies and casseroles reminds me of possibly the funniest cooking blog ever captured in interactive media. Jean Paul Sartre's Cookbook. Offered here for your culinary amusement.