the weekend buzz

“Free Wine, Beer Brunch at Spitzer's, NJ Food & Wine Festival, Swing at SD26”

Free Rosés This Friday

To gear up for the Rosé season, Le Dû’s Wines will pour 10 rosés from France, Spain, New York and Oregon for a free tasting on May 1 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Le Du Wines is located at 600 Washington Street (Morton Street).

All Weekend Long: New Brunch Menu at Sptizer’s Corner

Spitzer’s Corner’s Chef Sung Park is bringing back brunch for beer lovers with a brand new menu and a beer list that includes includes 80 different craft, international and local brews. Spitzer’s Corner is a casual LES spot with lots of communal wood tables, really solid American fare, Stumptown coffee, and a beer list that Their new brunch menu includes a Crispy Eggs & Ricotta Spinach Terrine, Pear and Walnut Stuffed French Toast, a Braised Lamb Sandwich and Pork Belly Eggs Benedict. Brunch is served Friday from 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM.

All Weekend Long: Cross the River for 2nd Annual New Jersey Food & Wine Festival

As New York-centric foodies, we love to boast about our food. And even as much as we may like to poke fun at New Jersey, a lot of our restaurants’ best ingredients are grown and raised across the Hudson River. So rent a car this weekend if you want to immerse yourself in the best food and wine Jersey has to offer with some of the best chefs and winemakers around.
 
The second annual New Jersey Food & Wine Festival takes place at Crystal Springs Resort (3621 State Route 94 in Hamburg, about one hour from Manhattan) with a bevy of events. Some of the chefs include Craig Hopson (Le Cirque), James Laird (Serenade), David Felton (Ninety Acres), Michael Weisshaupt (Restaurant Latour) and Nancy Olson (Gramercy Tavern). The tickets range from $30 to $400, depending on which event you want to attend. The grand dinner and wine auction ($175 per person on Friday at 7:30 p.m.) includes a five-course dinner with entrees such as steamed black sea bass with trumpet mushrooms and rhubarb consommé. If you want to go all out, there’s a Dom Perignon oenotheque vintage dinner ($400 per person) with Corton’s Paul Liebrandt at the helm. That menu includes (besides copious amounts of Champagne to toast) Kuushi oysters, foie gras, Maine Lobster and Elysian Fields Farm lamb.

On Saturday, you can enjoy the outdoors with sessions that include a chef and winemaker golf tournament ($275) or wine-tasting seminars ($35-$135; such as the wines of Austria, chocolate and wine pairings, port tasting and more).

Sunday’s concluding event is a Champagne brunch at Restaurant Latour ($50 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and an afternoon wine seminar. Part of the proceeds will benefit Share our Strength, a national organization that works to end childhood hunger. For more information about the festival and more details on the schedule, check out www.njfoodandwinefestival.com.
 
— Bao Ong
 
Swing into Sunday at SD26
 
San Domenico’s transformation into the more modern, sleek SD26 just got more fun. Lunch and dinner in the wine bar and lounge have now adapted a “Swing into Sundays” jazz theme with international producer and jazz musician Tony Romano, a veteran of the New York music scene. Chef Odette Fada leaves her post in a few days, but you’ll still be able to enjoy Italian and Mediterranean dishes like the famous uovo ravioli while listening to brassy jazz tunes. If you’re Italian, you know the tradition of Sunday dinners is a festive one. In the bar and lounge you’ll be able to take advantage of the high-tech wine dispenser, too. The combination of good music and food sounds like a perfect way to end the weekend. Enjoy!
 
SD26 is located at 19 E. 26th St. (just off Madison Square Park), 212-265-5959, www.sd26ny.com.
 
— Bao Ong

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