Virginia's Long Island - Wine Food and Fun

Greenport’s Shellabration – A Wonderful Taste of Long Island

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Virginia

Greenport's Shellabration - A Wonderful Taste of Long Island - wine food and fun Greenport’s First Annual Shellabration was a wonderful taste of Long Island. Local scallops, clams and oysters were expertly paired with local wines. This fine day benefited SPAT – (Southold Project in Aquaculture Training). A friend met us at Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, the start of the Shellabration Walk. For ten dollars we received our wristbands as well as tokens for the raw bar and a small glass of lager. We enjoyed a raw oyster and clam and a cooked scallop. These were provided fresh off the docks for this very occasion. I caught a glimpse of the oyster-man delivering a huge barrel. The whole day was an extravagance of super fresh shellfish and fine wine. At each restaurant that we stopped, we paid five dollars for a tapas plate and three dollars for a wine tasting.

Greenport's Shellabration - A Wonderful Taste of Long Island - wine food and fun

We decided to avoid the lines and do the walk backwards. We ventured to the dockfront Restaurant Scrimshaw and enjoyed a fantastic cup of shellfish chowder perfectly paired with Shinn Estate Vineyard‘s Gewurztraminer. We were able to speak with chef Rosa Ross who was very concerned that we enjoyed the tasting. We certainly did! The chowder had a perfect consistency – not too thick or thin – and the shellfish and local potatoes popped in my mouth. We plan to enjoy a winter Saturday lunch at Scrimshaw in a few weeks….or maybe Christmas Eve.

Greenport's Shellabration - A Wonderful Taste of Long Island - wine food and fun

We strolled over to Front Street and stepped into The Frisky Oyster. I’m so glad we did! Along with a crisp glass of Sparkling Point Cuvee Carnivale, we were treated to a trio of Oyster Friskafella (with garlic scented spinach, chipolte and parmigiano aioli), Peconic Bay Scallop (with spicy eggplant puree, baby bok choy and carrot emulsion) and a local clam fritter. The excellent use of spices set this place apart from the rest. I’ve been thinking about this trio ever since our visit.

Greenport's Shellabration - A Wonderful Taste of Long Island - wine food and fun

Over at noah’s we discovered a huge, fun bar and chatted with some super fun patrons who turned out to be from our town! In between chatting, we tasted their four tapas selections and some fine wine from Castello di Borghese. We enjoyed six Peconic Bay Scallops on the Half Shell (with lemon oil and sea salt), three Pipes Cove Oysters (with lemon grass mignonette), three Baked Littleneck Clams (with pancetta, cocktail sauce and parmesan) and a nice portion of Local Bay Scallop Ceviche (with cucumbers, jalapeno, apples and citrus). All of the offerings were super with a brightness that I will remember for a long time.

Greenport's Shellabration - A Wonderful Taste of Long Island - wine food and fun

I have been wanting to check out The Greenporter Hotel, so it was perfect timing to stop into Cuvee Seafood and Grille for some Shellabrating. We tried the cup of Hallock’s Bay New England-style clam chowder (with local potatoes and garden celery) and the “Shell” steak bruschetta au poivre. The food was tasty and unique. We were impressed. The Raphael Wines (Sauvignon Blanc, Rose of Merlot and Merlot) were generously poured and delicious. We spoke to the owner about staying for a long weekend this winter and now are looking forward to it.

Greenport's Shellabration - A Wonderful Taste of Long Island - wine food and fun

We were running out of time so we strolled to our last stop the North Fork Oyster Company. On this day, we saved the best for last. That is quite a statement for a day full of sublime food and wine. We tried the NFOC Rockin Oysters (stuffed with spinach and blue cheese), NFOC Mussels (with fresh tomato and chiorizo) and Raw Bar tastes of scallop ceviche, raw oyster and a little neck clam. These amazing bites were perfectly paired with Macari Rose, Merlot and Chardonnay. The scallop ceviche was my favorite taste of the day. It was so good it made me want to cry.

Greenport's Shellabration - A Wonderful Taste of Long Island - wine food and fun

We stepped out into the wintery early darkness and were lured into a cute boutique called Taste. I needed a wrap for my high school reunion and this turned out to be the perfect place. I asked for some fashion advice and received more than I expected. I am ready for my close-up!

Greenport, New York is a wonderful maritime town that never fails to make us happy. It was nice to stroll around town taking in the colorful holiday lights and walking off some of our extravagances.

For more pictures, please check out my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VirginiasLI

Posted in blog, North Fork | Tagged blog, Food, Long Island, North Fork, restaurants, Wine, Wine Country | Leave a comment

Sailing On The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Virginia

Sailing On The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun Sailing on the Baltic / Åland Sea and experiencing Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland are some of my favorite memories of all time! Have you ever been on a boat with friends? If you have, you know this is one of the best ways to really get to know each other. Our new friends from Åland had a power-sailboat and graciously invited us to go on a day-trip with them. They told us we were going for lunch on a remote island and that Peter (their neighbor) and his family were also going along. What could be better? The two neighbors owned identical boats which they bought and transported to Finland from Sweden. I love capable sailing people.

Leaving the Marina, it hit me that we were going on a Baltic Sea adventure. I wondered how many Americans have experienced sailing on a small boat in these waters. The day was sunny and gorgeous and not too windy so we would all be comfortable. My husband and I have a sailboat that we enjoy on the Great Peconic Bay (Long Island, NY), but this was different. We were launching into the unknown and I liked it.

Sailing on The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

We arrived at a remote island called Rodhamn, docked and went up the rocky hill to explore the radio signal house and museum. There is a family who lives here year-round to maintain the signal house and harbor. I tried to imagine what it would be like during the long dark winter days. I couldn’t really do it. We were there on a sunny idyllic day and the bright sunshine wooed me.

Sailing on The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

We then enjoyed the best smoked salmon that I’ve ever experienced with a nice bottle of wine and the Island’s special potato salad. We called ahead to order our lunch so that it would be available when we arrived. We were all treated graciously and my husband and I felt extra special when we heard many people speaking of the ‘Americanos’. Another fifteen minutes of fame – which is my kind of positive attention!

Sailing on The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

Sailing On The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

We sat in the sunshine and watched the happy families and the brave girls who dared the plunge into the chilly water. I went in up to my knees and the water reminded me of Autumn swims in Upstate New York as a child (check out the goosebumps, below!). In fact, this island reminded me of the Catskill area of New York (minus the huge mountains).

Sailing on The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland

As usual, time went by in a surreal manner. The bright sunshine lasts almost all night in Summertime and there is no reason to check the time while on vacation. We sailed back to Mariehamn in the bright evening, singing along to the radio and chatting like we’ve always known each other. My husband and J were at peace with the world and you could not wipe the smile off of my face! E and I shared stories of our sailing men as well as some tasty wine and laughs.

When we arrived home we had a late night dinner, of marinated pork with fresh herbs and a tomato, onion and feta salad, out in the sunshine. Not that we needed anymore sun – my new nickname was ‘Lobstergirl’ and E became ‘Pandagirl’. This was followed by some Laphroaig single malt whiskey and some blues performed by our sailing men. I’ve never experienced anything like this day.

Sailing on The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

I started to realize that our time in Finland was almost over. In a day and a half we had to be back on the ferry going back to Sweden. Time started to speed up…until I fell asleep on the couch listening to awesome blues guitar and happy men.

The next day, unbelievably chipper, we did some souvenir shopping at Judy’s Ceramics and Glass Studio. I was like a kid in a candy shop.

Sailing on The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

Sailing On The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland

Then we were off to the Sea Days Festival at the harbor near the marina. We enjoyed a cold beer while listening to traditional Aland music and taking in the cool vibe of ships and sailors. Of course, J knew one of the musicians and we ran into a few of E’s friends. I shopped at SALT, picking up some wooden spoons and some Sea Buckthorn marmalade (see above – bottom right). There was a tall ship coming into harbor preparing for the next days’ racing. The feeling here and everywhere on the Island was being one with the Sea. I find this to be a great example of how to live. People stick together to get through the harsh winters and times without their partners and then relax and enjoy the good, sunny times together.

Sailing On The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

We went home for our final meal of salmon grilled in foil and tried some Skane Aquavit. Splendid. In the morning, we made ‘American breakfast’ for everyone. Eggs, bacon, toast and fried potatoes. It was a hit. Wine, food and fun really does bring people together.

Sailing On The Baltic Sea and Happy Sea Days in Mariehamn, Finland - wine food and fun

There are too many pictures to include here. If you’d like to see more please go to https://www.facebook.com/VirginiasLI Email me at freedom075@aol.com if you have any questions.

Posted in blog, boating, Sailing | Tagged beer, blog, Finland, Food, Fun, Mariehamn, Sailing, salmon, Tall Ships, Wine | 2 Comments

Mariehamn, Finland – Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Virginia

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun Our second day visiting our new friends in Mariehamn, Finland was a sailors dream. We walked down to the Åland Maritime Museum and the Museum-Ship Pommern. What an awesome place to immerse yourself in this way of life! As sailors, my husband and I were completely in awe and listened intently as E and J enlightened us to the great history of this Archipelago. This interactive space was the most comprehensive maritime museum I’ve ever been in. The local knowledge provided by our friends made the whole experience truly memorable. We climbed up to the “ships deck”, down to the “sleeping quarters” and sat in the “captain’s quarters”.

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

We were surprised to find one of J’s retired colleagues about to demonstrate the steam engine. Sometimes I forget to think about how things work and this reminder was amazing. Old technology is still technology.

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

There were amazing displays depicting life on the sea. The coolest display was an actual pirate flag – one of the oldest in existence.

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun Afterwards, we walked down the steps to The Museum-Ship Pommern (part of the Maritime Museum). This four-masted sailing barque was built in 1903 and has been maintained in it’s original condition. It is awe-inspiring in size and authenticity.

We had a lovely, sunny day and we soaked up the summer. The view from deck was fantastic and we started to completely relax.

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

Going below deck was amazing! The size of the decks below and the cold air was a shock!

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

All this made us thirsty, (at least E and I) so we left the boys to their maritime reverie and sat at the outdoor bar at the Nautical Restaurant on the patio of the Museum. Nothing like a glass of Riesling in the sun looking out onto this magnificent Ship.

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

Then back home to have smoked shrimp with aioli as well as tomato salad with feta, olives and onion. Holy Tasty, Batman! In America, I typically go for larger shrimp because I prefer the texture, but in Scandinavia the smaller shrimp have a wonderful texture. Probably the freshness and cold water…..

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

After a wonderful evening of chatting and hanging outside with our new friends and neighbors, I made an appetizer of Italian-style radishes with olive oil and salt. Then later, we had the best beef we’ve ever had. Andrew prepared fresh Åland roast beef with my Mother’s recipe of mushrooms, onions and red wine. We enjoyed a fantastic bottle of Rioja with our meal.

Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

I have to tell you that it is a pleasure to spend time with friends sharing experiences, stories and meals. I have more pictures from the Museum and The Pommern that I will post on https://www.facebook.com/VirginiasLI.

Mariehamn, Finland - Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun Mariehamn, Finland - Åland Maritime Museum and Ship Pommern - wine food and fun

Posted in blog | Tagged blog, Finland, Mariehamn, maritime, museum, Tall Ships | 2 Comments

Mariehamn, Finland – My Social Media Miracle

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Virginia

After a long-term virtual relationship on Twitter with my friend E, my husband and I were invited to Mariehamn, Finland to experience life and become real friends forever. After discussing meeting somewhere in Europe, we were graciously asked to stay at our friend’s home. It was so worth taking a chance to solidify a friendship.

After a night in Stockholm, we took a bus from the Central Station to Kapellskar, Sweden where we embarked on a pleasant two hour Viking Line Ferry trip to the Åland Islands. The views were spectacular and the food was fabulous. We decided to eat at the cafeteria and tasted Swedish and Finnish delicacies like Swedish meatballs, smoked shrimp, hard-boiled eggs, herring, cheese, sausage and potato salad. After lunch we hit the Duty-Free Shop for wine, rum and Toblerone to share with our new friends. We arrived to huge hugs from E and her daughter and were whisked away to our home away from home. E and I stayed up until well past Midnight chatting away and sipping wine and beer. It was hard to tell what time it was because the sun shines for 20 full hours a day during the month of July. Some nights we hung outside and had dinner at 10:30 pm. The Scandinavians really enjoy their summer light!

The next morning J arrived for his shore leave. My husband and J hit it off like they had always known each other. Most people on Mariehamn work in the shipping business (cruise ships and commercial ships) or have spouses/partners who work on the Sea. It is a real Maritime existence and the Islanders are proud of this.

Our first day was spent touring around Mariehamn. We were happy tourists at the Kastelholm Castle and Prison. “This ancient Swedish Castle was mentioned for the first time in 1388. It’s residents included King Gustav Vasa, …his son Duke John – who kept his brother, Erik XIV, imprisoned in the castle for some time.” It was ancient and imposing and we could imagine how harsh it would be to be imprisoned here – especially during the cold, dark winters. We climbed and explored ever nook of this castle and took in the views of the adjacent golf club and lovely countryside.

We then drove up to Bomarsund Fortress to check out the views and part of the impressive history of the Åland Islands. “The largest structure built in Åland was erected by the Russian Armed Forces during the era of the tsars, and it was destroyed by the British and French Forces during the Crimean War.” Can you see the canon ball hits on the wall by my husband’s head?

Then we made our way to the marina for lunch at Sea Point. Our waiter, Samuli was wonderful as he practiced his English on us. The food was fantastic and authentic. We had char-grilled chicken, grilled tile-fish and a smoked shrimp sandwich with wonderful potato salad.

After our awesome lunch we went back “home” to hang out, meet the neighbors (who we now love) and later that night – my husband grilled up some ribs.

Stay tuned for a few more posts about this idyllic Island as well as wine food and fun with our new friends. We visit the Maritime Museum and Pommern ship, experience Harbor Days and go sailing on the Åland/Baltic Sea.

(The above quoted sentences are from the ‘Aland Guide’ provided by ‘visitaland.com’.)

Posted in blog | Tagged Åland, blog, Finland, Mariehamn, Social Media | 1 Comment

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Virginia

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm - wine food and fun My favorite things: wine, food and fun were abundant in Stockholm, Sweden. We stayed in Stockholm for three fantastic nights. On our first night in Sweden we stayed at the Scandic Norra Bantorget in the center of town. We were traveling to the Aland Islands in Finland and needed a convenient place to rest before heading off. Our room was modern and extremely comfortable.

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm - wine food and fun There is an interesting trend in Europe at ‘Green’ Hotels where you cannot turn the lights on until you plug in a room key. They also have recycling cans to be as green as possible. Very cool.

The beds were very European with extremely comfortable mattresses and down duvet covers.

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm - wine food and fun We walked around central Stockholm checking out the Saturday afternoon vibe and looking for a place for lunch. Many places were only opened for dinner or were closed in July for vacation before the throngs of visitors arrived in August. Believe it or not, we ended up at The American Steakhouse and had a great lunch while people watching. It seemed the street we were on was for walkers only and we saw hundreds of interesting people while we sipped our wine and ate American style burgers and fries.

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm - wine food and fun

We walked around the central market area and saw more interesting sites and people. Happy couples holding hands, growing happy families, Goths, costume wearers (Snow White was my husband’s favorite) and all sorts of gorgeous Scandinavians were arriving in Central Stockholm for Saturday night fun. We even found Waldo – which was difficult since their were thousands of striped sweaters everywhere we went in Sweden and Finland!

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm - wine food and fun

The next morning we peeled ourselves out of the down beds and proceeded to a fantastic European-style breakfast buffet. This is one of my favorite things about traveling in Europe. I was so excited about our trip over to Aland, Finland later that afternoon that I chose not to taste the selection of herring and various fish specialties. My stomach butterflies warned me off. There was the traditional eggs, bacon and sausage, as well as yogurt with super-healthy toppings, coffee and juice including rose-hip soup.

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm - wine food and fun

After breakfast we set off walking down the hill to the central bus station to catch a bus to Kapellskar, Sweden where we took a pleasant Viking Line ferry trip to the Aland Islands. That is another story, which I will cover in subsequent blog posts. After an epic week in Finland, we returned to Stockholm and a different hotel. The Elite Hotel Marina Tower was our home for the next two nights until we returned to New York. It was updated from a castle to a Eco-friendly modern oasis in 2010. We both had the feeling that soon this would be an exclusive place to stay and that the rates would reach higher than the $200/night that we paid. Many of the hotels in Stockholm that were inexpensive ($100/night) had down-sides like NO windows. I feel that we made the right choices on this trip.

Wine Food and Fun In Stockholm - wine food and fun

Our first night back in Stockholm was a relaxing local affair. We stayed in the area of our hotel and had a fantastic dinner experience. We decided to order four out of the five appetizers. We skipped the whitefish roe dish, but were happy with our choice of fried herring, charcuterie plate, smoked shrimp and mussels. This was a wonderful meal that had us experiencing true Swedish delicacies.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

The following day we did the tourist thing by taking the Hop-On Hop-Off boats to see as much as we could in our last day. What a whirlwind! The boat launch that was closest to our hotel was an easy stone’s throw across the water but it was on a different island and it actually took a two mile walk to get there. The walk was beautiful but when we arrived in Old Town I wanted a nice cold glass of wine. No problem. Right in front of the dock was a German Pub - Zum Franziskaner where we sat outside in the glorious sun and sipped Riesling while doing more people watching. This time we watched Germans and Japanese tourists.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

Then the shopping ensued. I checked out the shops and the fun and funny people. There were even musicians playing for change and I made a cute duo of guitarists laugh out loud when I cheered for their rendition of “Fat Bottomed Girls”! I ended up buying a perfect black linen jacket at Gerz Inez Boutique – which will be perfect for some of my foodie adventures in the future.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

We wandered up to the Royal Palace area. What an impressive area of Stockholm. We also thoroughly enjoyed the Stockholm Cathedral. I wrote a separate blog post about this, because it was so awe-inspiring.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

The next stop was at the Vasa Museum. This is a must-see when visiting Stockholm. It is an example of an epic fail – The Vasa sunk on it’s maiden voyage in 1628. It was also an example of epic engineering when it was recovered and displayed in all its glory in the Vasa Museet. We also had a nice lunch at the cafeteria inside the museum.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

We then walked to a hip restaurant/club Josephine’s with great views, couches and beautiful people. We met an American couple who we swapped stories with. Good times.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

After realizing that we stayed at the bar too long and the Hop-On Hop-Off boats had stopped running we took a taxi back to our Stockholm digs. We then enjoyed another dinner and a nice hang in the luxe lobby.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

The Elite Hotel Marina Tower had the most fantastic European breakfast ever! In the soft glow of candelabras there was a selection of fantastic breakfast delights, including Swedish delicacies like Kalles Caviar, calves liver pate and herring. Our two breakfast meals were very special.

Wine Food and Fun in Stockholm - wine food and fun

What a scrumptious holiday!

Posted in blog | Tagged blog, Eco-friendly, Food, Fun, Green, Stockholm, Wine | Leave a comment

Storkyrkan – The Stockholm Cathedral Took My Breath Away

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Virginia

Storkyrkan - The Stockholm Cathedral Took My Breath Away - wine food and fun Storkyrkan (The Great Church)also known as The Stockholm Cathedral is a must see when in Sweden’s Capital. I was overwhelmed by the beauty it held. It also brought across the impressiveness of the Swedish People and their Royal History. As an American, I am used to historical places to be only a few hundred years old. Sweden has centuries of history which is apparent all over Stockholm. It was strange to be be walking on people’s tombs, which covered the floors of the Cathedral. I saw dates like 707 on the worn down stones.

Storkyrkan - The Stockholm Cathedral Took My Breath Away - wine food and fun When I walked in, I remembered that my parents had visited this Cathedral back in the 1960′s and I knew that they would be happy that I had finally made it here. I lit a candle for them and felt the peace that resided inside this space. Actually, there was a mixture of peace and turmoil in the artwork and tombs. The feeling of spirituality was there as well as a healthy respect for Sweden’s sometimes violent history. This grand space is now used to bring spectacular classical concerts to the people. There is a Bach concert coming up that had me imagining how the huge organ would shake the pews.

Storkyrkan - The Stockholm Cathedral Took My Breath Away - wine food and fun

Walking around in the cool and quiet Cathedral was a great way to see a glimpse of Swedish Royal History. I’m not sure why, but I was expecting a much simpler Church and was astonished by the splendor. It really was a Royal space.

Storkyrkan - The Stockholm Cathedral Took My Breath Away - wine food and fun

Posted in blog | Tagged blog, Cathedral, Stockholm | Leave a comment

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter

Posted on June 30, 2012 by Virginia

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun The Riverhead Blues Festival is a yearly tradition for me. This year being able to see Johnny Winter was a special treat. Part of the appeal is the fantastic blues and party music and the other part is the people watching. Every year, I see familiar faces and sometimes there are newbies who are interesting to watch. This year, it was the parrots who caught my attention. They were very friendly with everyone who visited them and smiles widened on every face that walked by.

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

There were the regulars, too. I made up names for my favorites. Cigar Guy, Bikini Lady, Rockin’ Grandma, Cute Dancing Couple and my favorite Amarillo Slim are always fun to watch.

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

The music was awesome on the day we chose to go. Usually we go for the whole weekend but this year we went on Sunday. When we arrived Joplin’s Pearl was rocking the stage and wow could that girl sing! I was lucky enough to run into her later for a good photo opportunity.

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun We walked up the riverfront checking out the powerboats, families and dogs that hang out by the water. There is a great Turkish restaurant – Turkuaz – right on the river ( next to Atlantis Marine World) and we sat outside enjoying our fantastic gyros and blessedly cold water.

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

Walking back to the festival we passed the children’s carnival rides and the vendors selling their ware under tents and in food trucks. This part of the festival is free to the public. To get into the stage area and the (lovely air conditioned) Vail-Leavitt Music Hall there was a $15 entrance fee.

We visited the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s Beer Garden to try some of their ales. The summer ale was pleasant, thirst-quenching and very good, although, I absolutely fell in love with the Harbor Ale, which was a bit heavier and satisfying. Now, I need to get out to Greenport again for a growler or two. The pouring ladies were knowledgeable and friendly and spoke to me about the Brewery.

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

We enjoyed our beer and bopped along to Frank Latorre and the King Bees on the main stage. We’ve been fortunate to have seen this band a few times before and they are a real crowd pleaser. The harmonica riffs are awesome! We also went inside the Vail-Leavitt to check out Ari Eisinger who picked away with perfection!

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

The Who Dat Loungers were up next and they were fantastic and fun. The lead singers together were something special. I was fascinated by Dawnette Darden (a Long Islander). Her range and speed were truly impressive and the whole band was super.

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

Then it was time for Johnny Winter to grace the stage. This was an exciting moment for the Riverhead Blues Festival. If you don’t know Johnny Winter, I really think you should look him up. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards once wrote a song for him.

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

Johnny Winter and his band put on an incredible show. His voice cut through the crowd and I was in awe! Bluesmen make me happy! Now Riverhead has the Mojo Boogie, too!

Riverhead Blues Festival and Johnny Winter - wine food and fun

Look for me next year!

Posted in blog | Tagged beer, blog, event, Long Island, North Fork, Riverhead | Leave a comment

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport – Extra Pictures

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Virginia

Here are my favorite shots of the Tall Ships in the Greenport Harbor. The fog made it eerie and memorable.

Tall Ships Arriving in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun Andrew and Myself

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun The Unicorn and The HMS Bounty

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun HMS Bounty

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun Pride of Baltimore II – Brave Sailors!

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun

Pride of Baltimore II

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun The LYNX

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun Mitchell Park

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun Picton Castle

Picton Castle

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun A ship from Sweden!

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - Extra Pictures - wine food and fun Greenport does Memorial Day right! I am proud of our troops and our maritime traditions.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Tall Ships Arrive In Greenport

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Virginia

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun Greenport, NY is again proud to sponsor the Tall Ships Challenge. I was happy to see the arrival and preparations for the big weekend. Greenport is one of my favorite towns and when they decide to have a party they do it up right.

The ships that were docked when we arrived were impressive and the tops of the masts could be seen from blocks away. The Tall Ships already settled in were the HMS Bounty (Greenport, NY), The Lynx (Portsmith, NH), The Pride of Baltimore II (Baltimore, MD) and The Unicorn (Clinton, NJ). The Picton Castle (Scotland) -picture on the right -was due to arrive at 2 o’clock as well as The Roseway (Boston, MA).

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun It was a foggy morning, which added a cool spooky vibe to the day. My husband and I have been sailors for over 15 years and, we eat this stuff up. Add weather to the mix and we are gleeful. The shroud of fog reminded me of many mornings on the boat before the sun burned off the haze. We climbed the ramp of the Greenport Observation Deck and surveyed the beautiful harbor.

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun The first ship we observed was The Unicorn. This ship is entirely manned by women and offers the opportunity for women and girls to sail with them and have the experience of a lifetime.

Their website says the following: “Sailing as the only all-female crewed tall ship in the world, Unicorn sails the sea with proven on-board leadership programs for teenage girls and women. Holland-built in 1947 from German U-boat metals, Unicorn partners with Sisters Under Sail to deliver her mission of building confidence, enhancing self-esteem, developing social conscience and teaching the value of sisters working together towards a common goal.”

“In 2011, Unicorn and Sisters Under Sail set a course for New England and offers several leadership sailing opportunities for girls and women.” I am proud of strong women who live their dreams!

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun The next stop was at The HMS Bounty – which calls Greenport, NY its home. What an impressive ship! The crew was going through the ropes and checking that the rigging was in good shape for when they will raise their sails.The captain and crew were all young and eager and had a maritime vibe that just pulsed from the deck.

The Bounty’s website starts with these words: “HMS Bounty…at one with the sea…global voyager…movie star…dedicated to preserving the fine art of square-rigged sailing.”

“The HMS Bounty is one of the most famous ships in the world. Known for the storied mutiny that took place in Tahiti in 1789 on board the British transport vessel, the current Bounty, a replica, has survived to tell the tale. Built for the 1962 movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” with Marlon Brando, HMS Bounty sails the country offering dockside tours in which one can learn about the history and details of sailing vessels from a lost and romanticized time in maritime history. Since her debut in “Mutiny on the Bounty”, HMS Bounty has appeared in many documentaries and featured films such as the Edinburgh Trader in Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest with Johnny Depp.”

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun We walked over to the dock near the Shelter Island Ferry to check out The Lynx. This ship is gorgeous and, to me, felt like it would be the most fun to sail on. This ship is a beautiful example of an American Privateer. Their brochure says “LYNX is guided by the Maxim: ‘Be Excellent To Each Other And To Your Ship’”.

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun Finally, we checked out The Pride Of Baltimore II. I understand the name. I’d be proud, too. Their website explains the ship:

“The world’s most renowned American War of 1812 Privateer Schooner Sailing in the 21st Century”

“Pride of Baltimore II is a reproduction of an 1812-era topsail schooner privateer. She is Maryland’s working symbol of the great natural resources and spectacular beauty of the Chesapeake Bay region, and a reminder of America’s rich maritime heritage.” As a sailor, I’m also proud of America’s maritime heritage.

We wandered over to Claudio’s Restaurant, a long-time favorite which is rich with history and flavorsome food. “In 1854 the Portuguese Whaler “Neva”, from Fayal in the Azores, docked in Greenport with a whaler on board named Manuel Claudio. For the next 16 years the “Neva” set sail from Greenport on even longer and more arduous journeys, sometimes sailing for “two years before the mast.” In 1870, Manuel garnered enough to set foot ashore, never to sail again, and open “Claudio’s Tavern” It has been in the family with a Claudio at the helm ever since.”

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun We settled in for a long lunch with a nice bottle of 2010 Wild Ferment Chardonnay made by Roanoke Vineyards for Claudio’s. It was perfect with stuffed shrimp and southwest shrimp salad. Usually, we can’t resist their award-winning baked clams, but since I went with the stuffed shrimp we skipped them. The shrimp on both plates had wonderful seasoning that the restaurant is known for.

The salad was balanced and healthy with perfectly ripened avocados and snappy yellow grape tomatoes.The shrimp was seasoned with a spicy rub and popped with flavor!

Tall Ships Arrived in Greenport - wine food and fun The stuffed shrimp was fantastic. Within their special stuffing it had clams, scallops and lobster. Delish! The wild rice salad had Israeli couscous, orzo and peas and was a great companion. The coleslaw was extra special with the addition of red peppers and their special spices. Remember the movie “Mystic Pizza”? The owners wouldn’t divulge their special Portuguese spice mix. That always reminds me of Claudio’s.

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun

We waited in anticipation for The Picton Castle and we set ourselves up at Crabby Jerry’s to spy for the masts. I am convinced that Andrew was the first person to see the masts emerge from the fog. I ran in to tell the bar patrons and called my new friend to get her to return to the dock! Hyper sailing enthusiasts are a sight to behold! Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun

She came into harbor and gave us quite a show! As soon as she was ready to dock the sun shone through to much applause from the docks!

Tall Ships Arrive in Greenport - wine food and fun

Greenport is a destination that is so worth the trip. Drive East from NY or come across from Connecticut on the New London Ferry and enjoy an afternoon or weekend. Maybe I’ll see you there, as I try to drive out as much as I can. We talk about possibly retiring there.

I will post more pictures. Look for them on my blog or on my Facebook page.

Posted in blog, North Fork | Tagged blog, Fun, Greenport, Long Island, North Fork, restaurants, Tall Ships, Wine | Leave a comment

Andrew’s Family Farm Stand and Our Long Island Garden

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Virginia

Andrew's Family Farm Stand and Our Long Island Garden - wine food and fun Andrew’s Family Farm Stand in Wading River, NY has been a staple of our gardening needs for over ten years. When I need flowering plants, veggies or herbs this is a solid go-to. If I am having guests, I like to pick up a bouquet of their local flowers. Sometimes I just stop in to pick up one or two things and walk around and watch the shoppers. In my opinion, a farm stand makes people happy and I love to see smiling people.

Mother’s Day Weekend is usually the time we pick up our plants for the vegetable and herb gardens. This year the garden will have 6 heirloom tomato plants, 4 cherry tomatoes, 2 early girl tomatoes, 4 eggplants, 4 jalapenos, 4 Portuguese hot peppers, 4 broccoli, 4 cucumbers and 2 zucchinis. The herb garden has lemon verbena, basil, lemon thyme, marjoram, rosemary, dill, parsley, sage and cilantro.

Andrew's Family Farm Stand and Our Long Island Garden - wine food and fun

I feel strongly about eating and drinking locally as much as possible to support my neighbors. I am fortunate to live in a fantastic area of America. The area of Long Island where I am privileged to reside has an award-winning wine country, rural farms including horse farms, beaches and fantastic small businesses and restaurants.

Andrew's Family Farm Stand and Our Long Island Garden - wine food and fun

Have you ever driven on Sound Avenue? You should consider it! There are farms, vineyards, shops, restaurants and fantastic people to hang out with. My advice is to take exit 69 from the LIE to avoid the traffic on the William Floyd Parkway.

Andrew's Family Farm Stand and Our Long Island Garden - wine food and fun

Our garden starts out small and then bursts into a huge producer of fresh produce. There is something about the soil where we live that cultivates plants with ease. We live on an old orchard and with a little bit of organic compost the plants, flowers and veggies thrive.

Andrew's Family Farm Stand and Our Long Island Garden - wine food and fun

These pictures show the main garden, some of the containers and the herb garden (with a visiting deer). Later on in the summer we have the bounty of our plants and eat like Kings!

Andrew's Family Farm Stand and Our Long Island Garden - wine food and fun