wine

In the Pink 2016

July 12, 2016 By John Tucker Filed Under: Natural Selection (wine) Tagged With: Brooklyn, fermentation, Park Sope, pink wine, red grapes, rose, rosewater, vintage, wine, winemakers, wineries, Winery

Rosé has been a passion and a warm weather standard for us at Rose Water since the day we opened in August of 2000, (and a bit of a namesake, too, really). Its delicious, refreshing, and for a seasonal restaurant like ours, what other wine speaks to it’s season better than rosé? Nothing makes us happier than cold, delicious pink wine on a warm summer night. Now that Summer 2016 is in full swing, it’s time to sample a few of this year’s favorites from the 2015 vintage.

Rosé is made from red grapes (although sometimes by blending white and red to get pink, but purists generally frown upon this practice). Red wine gets its color when the clear juice of red grapes spends weeks or months in contact with the grape skins. Rosé, on the other hand, usually spends only hours on those red grape skins before the juice is pumped off to a fermentation tank. Thus the much lighter hue and lighter body, while retaining some of the savory character and spice we love in red wine, along with the some of the best aspects of white – freshness and a pronounced minerality.

In a recent column we wrote about heirloom grapes and the interesting and diverse wines they produce. One of our favorite heirloom varietals is Pineau d’Aunis, a red grape grown primarily around Anjou and Touraine in the Loire Valley in Western France. It’s a delightful, but thin-skinned and fickle grape that almost became extinct in the last century, primarily due to low crop yields and its susceptibility to mildew and pests. For natural winemakers who, as a rule, try to use little or no herbacides and pestacides, these grapes can be even harder to grow than they are for conventional growers. When a farmer faces hard economic choices, it can be tempting to rip out those unreliable heirloom vines and plant hardy, high-yielding Sauvignon Blanc, for example.

A couple years ago we we fell in love with a Pineau d’Aunis rosé from Domain Courtault-Tardieux in the Touraine, but there was very little produced that vintage and even less exported to the States, and it was gone in a flash (low yields, indeed). Courtualt-Tardieux actually does grow a lot of Sauvignon Blanc, which affords them a relatively consistent income so that they’re able to stick with a risky heirloom varietal that they see as vital part of the history of winemaking in their region. Thankfully, they’re completely committed to Pineau d’Aunis.

In January of 2015 we started working on getting the 2014 bottling, only to find out that a difficult vintage (vinegar flies!) meant there was no wine at all coming stateside last year. Zero. (Unreliable, indeed). But now the delightful 2015 vintage has finally arrived and it was worth the wait; light and rainwater fresh (great minerality from clay and limestone soils) with bright strawberry fruit and a little savory spice. Gorgeous now, but developing and coming into it’s own as each week passes – we’re going to lay aside a case for next summer to see how it matures. As usual, there isn’t much of this wine, but we managed to purchase a fair amount of what came to NYC, and we’re thrilled to be able to have it on our list (and usually by the glass) all summer long.

Courtault-Tardieux Pineau d’Aunis Rosé 2015. Available at Rose Water and Vine Wine, 616 Lorimer St. BK, www.vine-wine.com $15

Every year we offer at least one rosé from out east. In the past we’ve served delicious pinks from Shinn, Wolffer, Paumanok and others, but this year we were struck by the unique character of the Refosco from Channing Daughters Winery in Bridgehampton. Channing Daughters is tirelessly experimental and they are proud champions of lesser known varietals. They’re easily one of the most interesting wineries on Long Island.

In 2007 Channing Daughters acquired a three acre plot on the South Fork called the Home Farm Vineyard and planted two Italian varietals, Lagrein and Refosco. Refosco is native to the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region in Northeastern Italy, and it produces primarily dark reds, most of which are not exported from Italy. Jancis Robinson describes the grape as producing reds that are “dense, lively wines with bite.” The Refosco grown by Channing Daughters has that density and bite, but in their rosé it’s delightfully restrained and the wine is unique and fascinating. With it’s balanced but bigger mouthfeel, brambly, smoky fruit and a little tannic grip, this wine is wonderful with heartier fare. We’re pairing this with grilled fish and fowl this summer and it’s divine.

Channing Daughters Winery Home Vineyard Refosco Rosato. At Rose Water and Michael Towne Wines, 73 Clark St. BK,
www.michaeltownewines.com $20

In southeastern Piemonte, Walter Massa produces an array of wonderful wines in the appellation of Colli Tortonesi. He likes to say he has five sons in his family: Barbera, Freisa, Nebbiolo, Croatina and Timorasso, an indigenous white heirloom grape that Walter is famous for having single-handedly revived and elevated. It’s those first two “sons,” Barbera and Freisa, that go into Walter’s rosato, Terra: Sic Est (translated loosely as Earth: what you see is what you get).

Massa’s 2015 rosato looks and drinks more like a light red than a simple pink quaffer, but it’s no less wonderful a drink for the season – we can’t imagine a better foil for a fatty steak or lamb chop hot off the backyard grill. It smells and tastes first and foremost of ripe, juicy cherries, but has a savory quality of subtle herbs and spice (mahleb) and just enough grip. And it’s remarkably fresh. A pink wine this red is not for everyone, but for us it completes the broad spectrum of the wonderful world of rosés we offer.

Vigneti Massa Rosato Terra: Sic Est 2015. At Rose Water and Flatiron Wines, 929 Broadway, NY, www.flatiron-wines.com $18

These are just three of our favorites so far this summer. We generally offer a dozen or so at any given time in the height of the season. We hope you can come by and enjoy one with us while the weather is warm, or stop by one of the fine retailers listed above. There’s no better way to celebrate the season with friends and family than sipping a chilly glass of delicious wine with the foods of summer.

The Finds / Dining in the Hood

April 18, 2016 By Beth Kaiserman Filed Under: Eat Local Tagged With: beef, beef carpaccio, breakfast, burrata, coffee, italian dishes, Live music, Local restaurants, mexican food, Park Slope, prawns, Smorgasbord, steaks, taqueria, Windsor Terrace, wine

Local Restaurants Bring Smorgasbord of Tastes

Stroll through Park Slope on a sunny day, and your eyes will usually find a restaurant you’ve never noticed. There are so many places to eat, it can be impossible to choose one. Here’s a rundown of a few unique spots we’ve found in the past year that tickled our taste buds. Have a spring adventure and check one out for yourself!

Carnem — 318 5th Avenue

Carnem, which opened last May, offers up classic steaks, sauces, and seafood with a side of whimsical delights like pork belly cotton candy lollipops. Yes, it’s a delicious tender pork belly surrounded by a pink cloud of cotton candy, served on a stick. For the more straightforward meat fare, the beef carpaccio is excellent: filet mignon, served with fried capers, parmesan, oyster cream sauce, and crispy potato skins. The menu, curated by owner Jacob Krumgalz, offers a bit of fun with your standard steakhouse staples, perfect for a celebratory night out.

Prawn Shop — 669 Union Street

If you thought the closest thing Gowanus had to the seashore was the Whole Foods patio next to the canal, you’re wong. Prawn Shop has asnwered the call for local, sustainable seafood, including creative seafood boils like the Far East, with sweet potato, green curry and coconut. They source from New York and New England, and Prawn Shop aims to showcase local fish and seafood, even if the options are less widely known. Hang out at a communal picnic table outside and enjoy dollar oysters and prawns for happy hour, or try out the newly launched brunch menu. Also, the chalkboard behind the bar helps you decode the art of crab shucking using Breaking Bad references.

Varrio 408 412 — 5th Avenue

The crew from Rachel’s Taqueria, two doors down, opened this spot last year, slinging fresh tortillas and Mexican fare from Tijuana. Watch them make the nicely blistered tortillas using a comal, and order meats family style for build-your-own tacos. Tacos, burritos, and mulas are also available à la carte. Don’t skip the carne asada al carbÓn, with perfectly juicy medium rare skirt steak. It’s a no-frills spot to eat some quick tacos with a homemade agua fresca, or take food to go. Visit Rachel’s Taqueria for a more sit-down experience.

Hugo and Sons 367 — 7th Avenue

On the first warm night of March, Hugo and Sons was buzzing with hungry, happy people. Andrea Taormina was running the show, seating people into slick, red booths and serving dishes inspired by his childhood in Palermo, Sicily. A delicious burrata is made light and refreshing by celery, apple, pine nuts, and parsley, with a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The pappardelle with sausage, fennel, and chili peppers had just the right amount of spice that sneaks up on you while you bite through perfectly cooked pasta. A fairly simple menu offers mostly Italian dishes with a few French and American foods as well. Find pizzas, pastas, salads, a full kids’ menu, and also gluten-free dough and a gluten-free bun for the burger. A fun spring activity might be working your way through their pasta selections and asking Andrea for wine suggestions, including a few unfiltered orange wines.

Krupa Grocery — 231 Prospect Park West

Settle in for a nice breakfast at this charming spot right by Prospect Park, owned by the folks behind Slope Cellars and Windsor Wines across the street. Breakfast is served from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and brunch is served on the weekends. The energy was sunny as I enjoyed breakfast gnocchi with fried eggs, bacon, kale, squash, and breadcrumbs and large lemon ricotta pancakes, and neither dish was too greasy or heavy for a satisfying morning meal. But the highlight was their serious attention to the beverage program, especially the coffee from Irving Farm Coffee Roasters. Good coffee is crucial to a solid breakfast spot, and Krupa offers both a rotating hot coffee option and a rotating nitro iced coffee. The cafe portion of the restaurant is open daily for grab-and-go coffee and pastries from Ovenly. There’s also a rotating Kombrewcha on tap, and the draft lineup changes regularly. The spot’s name pays homage to the newsstand that was there for twenty years before the restaurant. (The landlords still live upstairs.) The space was then styled in honor of legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa. Enjoy a Tuesday night dinner accompanied by live music at 8 p.m. Though it was too early for me when I visited, the panko-crusted shrimp burger is calling my name for lunch or dinner.

Shrimp Boil with Far East Sauce, Prawn Shop.

Burrata with apple, celery, pine nuts, and parsley, Hugo and Sons.

Breakfast gnocchi, Krupa Grocery.

Beef Carpaccio with oyster cream sauce, crispy capers, potato skins and parmesan, Carnem.

Heirloom Wine / into the esoteric

February 16, 2016 By John Tucker Filed Under: Natural Selection (wine) Tagged With: grape varietals, Heirloom Wine, merlot, Natural Wines, Park Slope, pinot grigio, Rose Water, sauvignon blanc, wine

Most of us know the more common grape varietals such as sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, merlot and cabernet sauvignon. Those with an interest in expanding their horizons might venture into more esoteric territory, parsing the pleasures of grüner veltliner, chenin blanc, petite sirah and tempranillo. But, like the foodie that’s moved on from supermarket tomatoes and now scours greenmarket stalls for varieties they’ve never tasted, the adventurous wine drinker seeks out lesser known regions and grape varietals in pursuit of diversity and new experiences.

According to wine writer and editor Jancis Robinson, there are over ten thousand grape varietals in the world, and in her book Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours, she catalogues most that are used to make wine across the globe. Living in NYC, we’re lucky enough to have access to a wide array of wines made from heirloom grapes. Astor Wines, for example, allows you to search for bottles made from nearly 400 different grapes. For the wine adventurer, there’s a treasure trove of new experiences out there. (You should know that the reason we are so blessed in New York is because we have state laws that encourage the proliferation of wine and spirit importers and distributors, many of whom specialize in representing small producers from off the beaten path. Have you noticed that in other parts of country the selections are much more limited? Our laws in NY, which are constantly under attack by big corporate interests, are the reason why we have such a delightfully wide array of choices.)

The most popular grape varietals are popular for good reason: they make very good wine. But there are other reasons that these wines are ubiquitous, having to do with everything from fashion/trends to the heartiness of the grape and its ability to yield a consistent crop, year in and out. Heirloom varietals might be fickle, susceptible to mildew or pests, or may only prosper in specific soils in a specific micro-climate. Sauvignon blanc generally provides a very consistent crop in a variety of conditions and soils. So, if you’re a farmer who grows grapes for a living, you’re probably tempted to rip out those ancient local grape vines that no one’s ever heard of, and plant some sauvignon blanc. If you’re a farmer that honors tradition, however, maybe you keep a few rows and make a smallish amount of wine that a smallish importer wants to bring to NYC.

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Some of these wines are nearly extinct, and some are still robust within their region, but rarely seen outside it. Erbaluce is a great example of a such a grape, with numerous vintners in and around the commune of Caluso in the alpine foothills of Northwest Piedmont making delicious white wine from this ancient varietal that is rarely grown outside the area. Erbaluce can be made into sparkling, dessert, and dry table wines. We love the 2013 “La Torrazza” erbaluce from Ferrando, a crisp, dry wine, with flavors of apples and citrus and a delightfully subtle minerality. It’s really great with most anything, especially seafood and chicken. (Available at Rose Water, and Slope Cellars on Seventh Ave in Park Slope, slopecellars.com, $17.99.)

In Eastern France the altesse grape is grown in the two neighboring wine regions of Savoy and Bugey. Altesse (sometimes known as Roussette) makes lovely white wine with mountain flower and herb aromas, and light to medium weight and body. Altesse is a late ripening grape and has a low crop yield compared to most grapes, but for many winemakers in these two regions it’s a beautiful expression of their land and history. Our friend Franck Peillot makes one of our favorite Altesse wines in the lovely Bugey mountain hamlet of Montagnieu. His Altesse is complex, and in addition to the characteristic minerality and acidity, in most vintages the bones of Franck’s Altesse are filled out with just enough flesh to make it a perfect accompaniment to sauteed or roasted fish, especially of the freshwater variety. Franck’s Altesse starts out fresh and linear, and after a couple years bottle-aging, it starts to turn more golden and rich. It’s a good wine to buy a few bottles to drink now, a year from now, and save one for 5 or more years to experience its development. (At RW, and Astor Wines, astorwines.com, $23.96)

A half hour drive southwest out of the mountains from the Cave Peillot, over the Rhone River and into the department of Isere, is the Domaine Nicolas Gonin. Nicolas has been described as the patron saint of orphaned grapes. He’s done extensive research into the wine history of his region, and works to revive varietals, some of which are nearly extinct. One such varietal is Persan, which was nearly wiped out after the phylloxera epidemic of the late 1800’s, and, unlike other grapes of the region, was barely replanted. Nicolas’ Persan is a joy – a midweight red with a delicious black currant fruitiness, minerality and an enjoyably tannic rusticity that pairs well with poultry and red meats. Like most heirloom grapes it’s reminiscent of other wines, in this case Syrah, but it very much has it’s own unique character. (At RW, and Flatiron Wines, flatiron-wines.com, $23.99.)

It’s that unique character that drives our passion to keep exploring the diverse world of wine, and these are just three of the heirloom varietals we love. There are so many more – far too numerous to cover in one column, but a sampling of other, lesser known varietals that we recommend that you seek out are whites including Assyrtiko from the Greek Island of Santorini, Prié Blanc from the Valle d’Aosta in Northwest Italy, the Hodarribi Zurri that goes Txokolina from Northern Spain, and reds include Frappato from Sicily, Mencia from Bierzo in Northwestern Spain, Freisa and Ruché from Piedmont in Italy, and Pineau d’Aunis from the Loire in France.

Just as we support small regional farms in the Northeast that provide us with everything from heirloom pig to heirloom corn that we grind for our polenta, it follows that at Rose Water we seek out and support small farmers of heirloom grapes (but we can and do look further afield for wine). We love to offer our customers unique wine experiences – for us, wine isn’t just a joyously diverse agricultural product, it’s a fascinating and complex expression of earth, sun and craft that we have the pleasure of sampling from across the globe, and sharing with you.

Autumn = Cider (And Wine, of Course!)

November 30, 2015 By John Tucker Filed Under: Eat Local Tagged With: autumn, cider, fall, rosewater, wine

One of the joys of owning a seasonal restaurant is the pleasure we get from shaping the drinks list to reflect the contents of the Chef’s market basket as it changes through the year—it never gets old! With autumn now in full swing, let’s consider a few delicious wine and cider bottles that can be everyday pairings with the greenmarket foods of autumn and early winter, and be great for the holiday table, too.

At Rose Water, summer’s icy plum ginger agua fresca is just a memory, and we’re now warming our hands around a cup of hot, spiced apple cider.

Around the time that the first local apples of the season appeared, the pink wines started to retire from the wine list, and by the time the hard squashes arrived, the number of white wines started to thin from summer’s peak. The selections have moved a wee bit to the weightier side. We’ve expanded the array of natural red wines from Europe, South America, and the U.S. to pair with sturdy bitter greens, root vegetables, and the roasted game and braised beef that came in with the chillier weather. And the artisanal ciders, both apple and pear, flat and fizzy, have resumed their seasonal berth on the list.

We have a longstanding tradition of pairing cider with our tasting menus at the first real chill of fall. In recent years, every autumn we learn of a couple new and exciting producers of artisanal cider, many from New York, and we list at least half a dozen or more, both from the northeastern U.S. as well as France and Spain. The best ciders are great with food. They just feel like the most perfect drink for autumn, and in the same way that summer without rosé is unimaginable for us, autumn equals cider. If you haven’t discovered the pleasures of a good cider yet, do yourself a solid and beat a path to your local natural wine store. They’ll have several selections, at a minimum, and can guide you through them; from light to heavy, squeaky clean to funky and unfiltered, and from austerely dry to candy sweet. Like wine, they range across a large spectrum of characteristics. And, like wine, they can range from to cheap to expensive (though the most complex ciders are still cheaper than fine wine).

One of our alltime faves, year in and out, is Eric Bordelet’s Poiré Authentique from Normandy. Bordelet produces pear and apple ciders of extraordinary quality, complexity, and value. At about 4 percent alcohol, they are wonderful as an aperitif when cooking Thanksgiving dinner. At home, we sip the Poiré Authentique instead of wine or beer because it’s dry and light on it’s feet, with soft, happy bubbles—and the low alcohol keeps us awake and on task in the kitchen. Eric Bordelet works with more than twenty varieties of organic/biodynamic cider apples and fourteen types of pears, chosen to provide not just sweet flavors, but bitter and sour as well. The fruits that we all use for baking and eating out of hand generally don’t make the best cider. The heirloom varietals that Eric and other great producers use are often inedible, but when blended in cider they make for a complex and beguiling drink. We love all the Bordelet apple and pear ciders, but the Poiré Authentique is a favorite for it’s incredible pear perfume, hint of sweetness, bracing minerality, and freshness. It’s on the list at RW from autumn to late winter, often by the glass and as a pairing with our Market Menu and Chef’s Tasting Menu. Bordelet makes more expensive bottlings, but the Authentique is a great value, and a wonderful entry to cider for those beginning to explore them. You can find it at Slope Cellars here in Park Slope. ($17.99, www.slopecellars.com)

Over the last handful of vintages we’ve come to love the Dashe Cellars “Les Enfants Terribles” Zinfandels from Northern California. Mike Dashe makes a number of different Zinfandels, but for the two Enfants Terribles (Wild Children) bottlings he sources grapes from two organic farms in Mendocino: Heart Arrow Ranch and the high-elevation McFadden Farm. Mike makes the Enfants wines in the natural style, with wild yeast fermentations, aged in used, large oak barrels, and he adds very little sulphur. Be forewarned: These are not your dad’s overblown, high alcohol, impossible-to-pair-with-food Zinfandels. They’re much more restrained, with alcohol levels usually under 14 percent, and they pair just beautifully with food. The new vintage is usually released in early fall, and we love to serve them through the colder months and with the main course for Thanksgiving dinner at the restaurant. With spicy, fresh fruit and just enough backbone and zingy acidity, they complement roasted bird and all of the classic dishes of autumn and the holiday table. Because European wines are frequently more restrained and therefore often better with food, we frequently go with French or Italian when choosing wine for a meal. But especially on the most American of holidays, Thanksgiving, we like to serve an American wine, and the Dashe Enfants Zins are light and restrained enough to not overwhelm dinner—just fruity enough to please those that like a more modern style. The Heart Arrow has slightly more pronounced fruit and the McFadden is a little less ripe due to the higher elevation of the vineyard where the air is cooler. Also available at Slope Cellars (around $27, www.slopecellars.com )

We wish you a happy autumn season with bountiful family meals, good food, and delicious cider and wine!

In The Pink

August 10, 2015 By John Tucker Filed Under: Eat Local Tagged With: local business, rose, rosewater, wine

When the days grow longer, and the mercury moves steadily north on the thermometer, excitement grows at Rose Water as we anticipate the arrival of summer’s vibrant greens, beans, and berries. And our thoughts about wine (we’re always thinking about wine!) start gravitating away from big, burly Cab Francs to the whites of Long Island and the cooler, lighter Jura mountain reds—preferably straight from the fridge! But, what really catches our wine fancy when the weather warms is rosé—in the whole, wide, wonderful world of wine, nothing says summer like pink wine!

Right around the time that spring ramps and fiddleheads arrive in our kitchen we introduce the first rosé wines of the season, starting with a couple of the better bottles from last year that we held in the cellar over the winter. By late June and early July, just as the early summer fruit and veg come in, we offer at least a baker’s dozen: From lean, zingy Austrians at one end of the spectrum, to ripe, juicy Californians at the other. In between, there’s fresh, fruity Beaujolais and a deliciously smoky rosé from the Canary Islands (of all places!).

Red wine gathers it’s deep color when the juice of the pressed grapes spends days or even weeks on the skins, which impart not only those incredible ruby hues, but the tannins and the depth that we associate with red wine. Rosé, on the other hand, is usually made from the juice of red wine grapes that spends only hours in contact with the skins. The relatively short time that the juice macerates on the skins provides the pinkish color and a lighter body. Rosé lives in a place between white and red not just in color—in the best examples it marries both the fresh, mineral crispness of white with the lighter side of red wine’s savory and spicy character. And it compliments the food of summer—grilled vegetables and fish, as well as roast lamb and even beef.

John Tucker with his summer 2015 selection. — John Tucker with his summer selections.

Here are three of our favorites for Summer 2015…
We offer a changing selection of rosé every year, but there’s a few wines we return to again and again. One of our faves every vintage comes from one of our most loved Sancerre producers, Lucien Crochet. In addition to their white wine, we cherish their Pinot Noir Rosé. It’s always stunning, year in and year out, and 2014 is no exception. It smells of fresh strawberries, and tastes it, too, but there’s bracing minerality and perfect balance—complex and elegant. You can quaff this wine on a summer evening or at an afternoon picnic, but it aslo complements food beautifully—especially shellfish, crustaceans, and poultry. Available at RW, fairly widely online, and as of press time, at our great South Slope retailer specializing in natural wine, Slope Cellars (www.slopecellars.com, $29.99).

Lately we’ve been fascinated with red wines from the Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago just sixty-two miles west of Morocco. The volcanic, porous soils on almost every island produce wines with intense minerality. One of our favorite wineries is Fronton de Oro on Gran Canaria Island. Their 2014 Rosado is made primarily from the ancient Spanish varietal Listan Negro, and it’s fabulously unique and delicious. Like many Canary Island wines, the light, fresh berry fruit and minerality are complemented with a slightly smoky, savory quality, and a touch of salinity. We’ve been happily pairing this with grilled quail! Available at RW, and at Chambers Street Wines (www.chambersstwines.com, $17.99).

Heirloom varietal grapes fit in beautifully with our approach to food and bring an endless fascination. We’re always trying to look a little beyond the everyday—whether we’re talking tomatoes or grapes—and we try to support small farmers and agricultural traditions. Buying heirloom varietals often does both. An heirloom grape that we come back to nearly every summer is Ciliegiolo (chee-lee’ah-JOH-loh). The word for cherry in Italian is ciliegia, and when you see the 2014 Ciliegiolo from Bisson in Portofino, Liguria, it’s easy to understand how the grape got its name—the bottle glows an intense cherry red, and the wine inside is a mouth-filling ode to its juicy namesake. Bisson’s Ciliegiolo is actually a very light red wine made and marketed as a richer style of rosé. It’s a rare grape, and like many heirloom varietals, it can be difficult to grow. Anyone can plant sauvignon blanc vines and expect to get a marketable crop. Heirloom varietals are often persnickety and fickle, but they reward the grower, willing to take the economic risk of a disastrous vintage, with what are often fascinating and beguiling wines. We support winemakers willing to risk hardship in pursuit of carrying on an agricultural tradition in their region by forgoing the easy way. 2014 Bisson Ciliegiolo is available at RW and at Slope Cellars (www.slopecellars.com, $17.99)

These are not mass market wines, so their availability can dry up quickly, but there’s great stuff out there if you ask around at your favorite restaurant or bottle shop. Take a chance on something you haven’t tried before!

Here’s hoping you share our summer passion—pink wine from around the globe—cheers!

Park Slope’s New Businesses – Week of July 24th

July 24, 2015 By Jacqueline Sheppard Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: new business, new wave, pasta, pizza, wine

These two businesses live right next door to each other. Go visit one and then pop over to the other!

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Hugo & Sons

367 7th Avenue | (718) 499 – 0020 | hugoandsons.com

The perfect word to describe this restaurant is quaint. From the bright red booths to the old-fashioned tile, the overall aesthetic is straight from the 1950’s. The food, however, is fresh and delicious. The menu is mostly Italian classics, but there are a few French-inspired items as well. The gnocchi is a delight — and not too heavy! For those with a sweet tooth, be sure to try their desserts as well. Their strawberry shortcake is a favorite. If you’re not the type who has time to enjoy a sit-down restaurant but loves pizza, then it would be good for you to know that anything from the pizzeria is available when you place an order on Postmates. In conclusion, a cute, sweet, and vintage-feeling restaurant to take the family to dinner (or brunch, if you’re come on Saturdays and Sundays.)

Big Nose Full Body

389 7th Avenue | bignosefullbody.com | (718) 369 – 4030 | wine@bignosefullbody.com

This isn’t necessarily a new business, but it’s in a new location, so we’ll count it. Big Nose Full Body has moved to Seventh Avenue (and are across the street from Hugo & Sons). BNFB is a wine shop that is run by genuine wine enthusiasts who are eager to help their customers. The wine selection is extremely organized. There’s even the option to purchase wine chilled or at room temperature if you desire. If you follow their website, you can get updates on wine tastings held at the store, find out the favorites in selection each month, and order wine online.