2022–23 Dining Guide

Belgian Bistro Located In The Heart Of Garden City

poppy’s place

Characteristics of four popular wine varietals Know what to order:

and smooth. The alcohol con tent in Pinot Noirs tends to be lower than that of a typical Cabernet Sauvignon.

Riesling

Small businesses suffered considerable losses when stayat-home measures were imple mented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The food and beverage industry was hit es pecially hard, with one report from the National Restaurant Association estimating that industrywide losses in sales would be as high as $240 bil lion by the end of 2020.

While restaurant owners and their employees bore the brunt of those losses, local bev erage providers, including craft breweries and wineries, suf fered as well. Many consum ers resolved to support local businesses as best they could, placing orders for delivery and curbside pickup. Consumers who are unaccustomed to or dering wine to enjoy at home can benefit from a rundown of the characteristics of these four popular varietals, each of which is no doubt available for

purchase at a local winery.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Widely available and incred ibly popular, Cabernet Sauvi gnons are typically bold wines that are rich in flavor. Cabernet Sauvignons are derived from a full-bodied red grape, which is why they are often described as “full-bodied.” Tannins are a naturally occurring polyphe nol found in plants and seeds that are predominantly in red wines, and those in Cabernet Sauvignons are bold. Some Cabernet Sauvignons elicit tastes similar to baking spices, while others may taste more like black cherry or black cur rant.

Pinot Noir

Another popular, widely available varietal, Pinot Noirs boast a low tannin finish that gives them a fruity taste remi niscent of cherry or cranberry. Pinot Noirs are light-bodied

Rieslings are white wines that are popular thanks in large part to their sweetness and flo ral, citrus taste. Rieslings are a go-to option when pairing wines with certain ethnic cui sine, including Indian, Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Some Rieslings can be dry, so wine enthusiasts looking for Ries lings for their sweetness may want to speak with a represen tative at the winery to ensure they’re getting the wine they want.

Merlot

Another wildly popular red wine, Merlots have an exten sive flavor profile. Some Mer lots may produce a taste remi niscent of black cherries, while others may provide strong hints of cocoa. Merlots are typically made in a dry style, and they are easily mistaken for Cabernet Sauvignons.

Wine tastings are great ways for novices to get a feel for cer tain varietals. While in-person tastings may not be possible in areas where stay-at-home mea sures are still in place, consum ers are urged to contact their local wineries to determine if they provide sample bottles to customers looking to get a feel for wine.

Dining etiquette rules

Proper dining etiquette has a place whether you’re enjoying a meal at a five-star restaurant, a fast-food joint or at home.

While there are some written rules about social etiquette, there also are unwritten rules rooted in courtesy. By following these guide lines, any dining experience can go smoothly.

Put down the phone

When dining out or attending a party, direct your attention to fellow guests or dining part ners and not your devices. Turn off the ringer, resist the urge to check the sports score, wait to text a friend until you’re done, and devote your attention to the meal.

Let the host lead

The host or hostess is responsible for setting the tone of the meal and ensuring everyone is comfortable. Take a backseat to your host and let him or her guide the meal.

Patience is a virtue

Restaurant wait times are not an exact sci ence. Restaurant hostesses can offer an estimate, but it’s impossible to say exactly when you’ll be seated. Do not take frustrations out on the staff. If time is of the essence, dine during off-peak hours or visit a less busy establishment.

Go sparingly on substitutions

Restaurants should be willing to cater to cer tain requests, especially if food allergies are a concern. However, do not act like the establish ment is your personal kitchen. Make reason able requests.

Be punctual

Make and keep reservations, which help keep the flow of the dinner party going smoothly. Arrive at a home on time, as party hosts likely have timed their foods accordingly and you don’t want to delay or spoil the taste and presentation of the food.

Keep children in check

Dining out with children presents an oppor tunity to teach them manners. To avoid melt downs, be sure children are well-rested and have had a snack before arriving. Avoid scenes that disturb other diners; take the child outside to calm down if he or she acts up. Call ahead to make sure a restaurant is child-friendly. For a dinner party at a private residence, the invite usually will indicate if children are invited and is usually addressed as “and family.”

Following dining etiquette rules can make meals more enjoyable for everyone.

Throw a successful restaurant party

People who love to entertain but don’t have the space to do so at home often take their love of hosting to nearby restaurants. While much of the work on the day of the party is likely to be performed by restaurant staff, hosting a gathering at a local es tablishment has its challenges, particularly in regard to plan ning.

It’s easy to focus solely on the cost of hosting a restaurant par ty, as that’s likely to be the fore most consideration for hosts. And it’s wise for hosts to develop a budget for their parties while also considering other ways to make their get-togethers suc cessful.

On-site expenses

When shopping restaurants and other venues, ask the es tablishment managers to give a thorough rundown of proposed expenses. Get all estimates in writing so they can be easily compared. The financial man agement resource The Balance says that common venue ex penses can include room rental, food and beverages, security deposit, insurance needs, valet parking, taxes/gratuities, and other add-ons. These add-ons can include plating fees for cakes made off-premises or corkage fees for host-supplied wine.

Explore entertainment

Mingling and conversation are part of restaurant parties, but hosts can facilitate even more guest interaction by plan

ning entertainment for the party. Discuss with the venue whether hired musicians or other entertainers are permis sible. Something as low-key as a table-side sleight-of-hand magician or a tarot card reader who can offer psychic intrigue may be fun.

Personalize the menu and space

Decorate the venue within reason, and abide by the rules of the house. Decorations may in clude festive balloons, ribbons or chair covers or colorful flow ers or centerpieces, and takeaways for guests.

Discover if you can work with the chef to curate a special menu. This helps the kitchen staff immensely because they’ll only have a set number of dish es to prepare rather than hav ing to make foods off the larger menu all at once, says the food, home and wellness site MyDo maine. Family-style appetizers also are effective. Print out cus

tom menus with the event title on top, or ask if the restaurant can make them.

Decide on bar service

Alcoholic refreshments can quickly consume a budget, so frugal hosts might need to reign in expenses in the this depart ment. Wine and spirits can be expensive if they’re not includ ed in the restaurants price-fixed party package. It’s perfectly ac ceptable to offer some carafes of wine or pitchers of beer on the table and ask guests to pay for their own specialized drinks.

If you do not opt for a full open bars, ask the wait staff ex plain to guests what is and isn’t included before they order.

Make parking accessible

Selecting a venue with onsite parking or valet service can make things more convenient for guests.

A few simple strategies like these can help hosts the navi gate the process of hosting par ties at restaurants.

Festive app to satisfy guests

Thanksgiving is a food lover’s paradise. Even though the turkey and side dishes are the crowning achievements on Thanksgiving, hungry guests will need something to tide them over until the pièce de résistance is ready. In such situations, bite-sized appetizers that are tasty yet not too filling can fit the bill.

Charcuterie boards and tasting menus continue to be all the rage. In addition to a platter of fruit slices, figs, aged cheeses and crostini, treat guests to “Mini Cheese Ball Bites,” which offer various textures and flavors in bite-sized morsels. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of “Spectacular Spreads: 50 Amazing Food Spreads for Any Occasion” (Rock Point) by Meagan Brown.

Mini Cheese Ball Bites

Makes 12

8 ounces light cream cheese, softened

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

3 tablespoons drained, chopped pimentos

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 pinch kosher salt

1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

1⁄2 cup crushed pecans

1⁄4 cup chopped chives

12 pretzel sticks

1. In a large bowl, stir together the cream cheese, cheddar, pimentos, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until well combined.

2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 min utes.

3. Place the crushed pecans and chives in a small bowl. Set aside.

4. Roll the cheese mixture into twelve 1-inch balls. Evenly coat each ball with the pe can-chive mixture.

5. Press a pretzel stick into the top of each cheese ball just before serving. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

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