Fall energy was definitely in the air eventhough the economic situation was somewhat apparent while glancing into stores or neighborhood restaurants. My local market (Jefferson Market) closed down. They were behind on their Con Ed bill. This place was an institution in the West Village. A place to get great veggies, gourmet cheeses and stumble into the neighborhood celebrities like Julianne Moore or Elvis Costello. Once Citarella opened up down the block, they just could not compete. Sad to see them go. We need to support these local shops. Otherwise, the big corporate chain businesses will just gobble them all up.

Had dinner at a cozy, fun, new restaurant  Cafe Select. Located in Soho at 212 Lafayette. Cafe Select, a Swiss cafe is the latest venture of downtown restaurateur Serge Becker. A good variety of small plates and salads. The puff pasty with mushrooms was divine. Entrees range from veal sausage to seared marinated steak over arugula (yummy) and of course Schnitzel. Cute crowd and decent selection of Swiss wines. After we headed to Apotheke in Chinatown. A speakeasy/cocktail bar at 9 Doyers St. The spot’s marked only by the Gold Flower Restaurant sign in an alleyway off Bowery.

Like an apothecary, the bartenders/mixologists mix and concoct all sorts of drinks from glass jars lined up along the bar and on shelves. We tasted a Pisco drink, something with Rose-water and some Scotchy thing. All incredibly satisfying. Suprising since I really don’t drink anything but wine.

Just when I thought I had seen it all, along comes a pedi-cab with a pole dancer.  This rentable stripper rickshaw’s comes equipped with pole, boom box, neon-lit platform, and video camera for capturing the sweet dance moves and onlookers befuddled titillation. Only in New York!

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To choose a wine to pair with something off the grill, consider two things: First, how hearty is the food, and second, what’s the dominant flavor? For lighter foods—white fish, vegetables, chicken breasts—pick a lighter wine. For heartier foods—sausages, burgers, steaks—choose a more robust wine. (Both reds and whites can be light, medium or full-bodied.)

What follows is a selection of great wines, all available for $20 or less, to go with grilled foods of all kinds. But don’t take these wine and food combinations as gospel. They’re really designed more as suggestions or jumping-off points for experimentation. Enjoy!

2006 Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc ($14)
Montes, one of Chile’s best Sauvignon Blanc producers, makes this crisp, citrusy reserve bottling with grapes from the Leyda valley, close to the Pacific Ocean. Great with fish and lighter foods.

2004 Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay ($20)
This elegant and complex Chardonnay has lush citrus fruit aromas, buttery and smoky with toasty vanilla notes from the ten months of aging in French oak. This is a rich, mouth-filling wine balanced by bright natural acidity, crisp with a long, lingering finish.

2006 Susana Balbo Crios Rosé of Malbec ($19)
This stunner hails from the scenic Mendoza valley and was carefully crafted from Malbec grapes by one of the first female wine makers in Argentina. Think ripe strawberries and cherries–fruity without the sweetness. Goes well with both grilled meats and lighter fare like fish and chicken.

2005 2 Up Shiraz ($14)
This twist-off Australian Shiraz has robust flavors of ripe and overripe red raspberry, blackberry and blueberry with hints of earth, spice and vanilla for complexity. Great with burgers, steaks and heavier foods. Also, works with fine cheeses.

Or you can always make a Red Wine Sangria!
Serves: 6 – 8

Ingredients:
1 bottle dry red wine (such as Rioja, Zinfindel, or Merlot)
1 shot of brandy
¼ cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
2 Tbsp sugar
½ orange, sliced
½ lemon, sliced
1 peach, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
Sparkling water
Ice

Preparation:
1. Juice one to two oranges until you have ¼ cup of juice.
2. Add juice to a carafe or pitcher along with brandy and sugar and stir.
3. Add the sliced fruit and cinnamon sticks.
4. Pour in the entire bottle of wine.
5. Cover pitcher or carafe with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to drink (this can be made up to one day ahead). If you want to serve immediately, just move on to step 6.
6. Place ice into a glass and then pour in some sangria. Be sure to add as much fruit as you’d like.
7. Add a splash of sparkling water and serve.

sangria recipe from Denise Santoro Lincoln

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Now scientists have proved that it is – and say the bigger the bowl, the better.

A study has shown that women who eat around half of their daily calories first thing lose more weight in the long term than those who start the day with a small breakfast.

And they are also less likely to pile the pounds back on!

It is thought that eating a meal packed with protein and carbohydrates helps cut cravings for sweet or starchy foods, as well as boosting the metabolism.

Researchers from the Hospital de Clinicas in Caracas, Venezuela, looked at how breakfasting habits affected the weight of almost 100 obese young women.

Halfway through the eight-month study, the women eating small breakfasts had lost an average of 5lbs more than the ‘big breakfast’ dieters.

But their lead did not last. After eight months, the small breakfasters had regained an average of 18lbs.

In contrast, the big breakfasters continued to lose weight, shedding another 16.5lbs on average.

Women on the ‘big breakfast’ diet reported feeling less hungry, especially before lunch, and having fewer cravings for carbohydrates.

Well, there you go. I’ll take the blueberry pancakes please.

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There should be nothing hard about grilling season. Drag the grill out of storage, check the propane tank or buy the charcoal, invite your friends, and open a beer or pour some wine.

This year, ditch the hot dogs and try some of these yummy recipes. ENJOY.

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms Stacked with Fresh Spinach and Shaved Manchego Cheese

Ginger Soy-Lime Marinated Shrimp

Cumin Glazed Grilled Pork Chops

Cuban Style Burgers on the Grill

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The latest limited edition vodka bottle in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the rainbow flag. The rainbow flag has been a symbol of the GLBT community for 30 years and was first popularized as a symbol of GLBT pride by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. The colors of the rainbow have become symbolic of both the unity and diversity of our community.

Absolut Colours will be introduced to in June, with the launch of a limited edition gift pack inspired by the rainbow flag. The classic shape of the Absolut bottle is enlivened with six brightly coloured bands, and complementing the special edition the initiative will also feature a limited edition cocktail book – the Absolut Colours Cocktail Collection. The book is a stylish, lavishly-illustrated cocktail guide, featuring drinks based on the six colors of the rainbow flag, and with a foreword by Gilbert Baker. Funds raised from sales of the cocktail book will be donated to support of LGBT communities and organizations.

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