IT COULD HAVE BEEN FUN

By Denise Mattia

The day began at the crack of dawn with a journey from Old San Juan into the center of Puerto Rico, to the Toro Verde Adventure Park in Orocovis.  As we took our seats in the Aventuras Tierra Adentro bus, I was skeptical about the forthcoming escapade when Rosario and Hannibal began their comedy routine, replete with sound effects and the Raider’s of the Lost Ark background music.    

The ride was broken up by a pit…

Door County, WI, a vacation hot-spot for mid-westerners and Europeans alike, is known for its wonderful sweet and tart cherries, which are made into wonderful preserves and sweet wines. Grape growers produce lovely dry whites and reds in addition to the sweet wines. Local cuisine is lighter than I expected (the fish boil is a not-to-be-missed tradition) and the desserts are heavenly.  There's lots to see, including an exemplary Maritime Museum, "haunted" houses…

THE MCKIM, MEAD & WHITE BURIAL GROUND FOR NEW YORK'S RICH AND FAMOUS

Choose any flavor.  The gelati at Balducci’s are imported from Italy and taste like no other ice cream – milky, not fatty, with a light, slightly icy texture (without being teeth-shattering), and with just the right amount of sweetness.

Emil Grosso, VP of the Balducci development at the new 2,150-square-foot Gourmet on the Go Café at 300 West 56^th…

FOOD IS LOVE. . .ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY WINE

by Denise Mattia



"Valentines Day...What better day to open a restaurant and bring the culture and customs of my homeland to New York."…

TURKEY BURGERS TOPPED THE LIST

Give the best ingredients to Yassir Raouli, founder of the Bistro Truck, and he’ll create a masterpiece . . . or, as was the case early in August, five of them.

Raouli left its usual spot in the city one summer afternoon for an uptown corner in New York City to serve his creations to foodies, who thrive on street fare.  “This is…

After discovering Chilean olive oils, piscos, fruits, wines and gourmet products at Puro Chile’s Feria Supermarket in Manhattan’s SoHo district, I was eager to participate in the current wine seminar there.

The event, hosted by Mauricio Banchieri Carter, CEO of Puro Chile, was held on July 7^th and was the beginning of monthly tastings of…

by Denise Mattia

. . . IN CONCRETE

The renovated Grand Hyatt in New York is a welcome change from the ever-so-slightly tacky look it once had.

Innovative, sleek designs by the architectural firm of Bentel & Bentel transformed guestrooms into spacious, welcoming quarters.

Spanning the 42^nd Street…

by Denise Mattia

IN VINO VERITAS

Finally there’s a Spanish wine that suits most palates.  Branded Tapeña, it’s a clever combination of the Spanish word Tapas (TAH-paz), foods to share, and peña, a slang word for a group of close friends.

The grape comes from the Tierra de Castilla region in the heart of Spain, an area that’s highly…

IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT IN NEW YORK

by Denise Mattia

I didn’t need a forecast on the evening of December 26^th to tell me that New York’s first…

A NEW YORK LANDMARK CHURCH REOPENS

By Denise Mattia

If you were in New York in the 80’s you’re likely to remember the Limelight nightclub, on Sixth Avenue and 20th Street. The 19th century Gothic Revival church formerly the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, had undergone several metamorphoses, and now has become the chic Limelight…

How To Whittle Down Your Holiday Gift List

By Denise Mattia…

NEW YORK STEPS TO THE BLUE DANUBE…

PARK AVENUE ARMORY OPENS DOORS TO NEW YORK FAMILIES

By Denise Mattia…