The front man’s identity at that auction is not revealed; the New York City restaurant that shipped empty bottles to his home remains anonymous and several collectors are mentioned but not named. District Court, Southern District of New York. Rudy Kurniawan, aka “Dr. Conti” aka “Mr. in March.

The FBI arrested the man known as Rudy Kurniawan at his home in Arcadia, California yesterday on charges of selling counterfeit wine. District Court, Southern District of New York. Inside the home, the authorities found materials used for making counterfeit wine bottles. They charged him with selling $1.3 The case is U.S.

started off the afternoon dicing up some veggies and cheese bites with a few dips and opening up a NEW YORK Finger Lakes 2010 dry Riesling from the Fox Run Vineyards. Of course, any wine opened on this day will be from New York, after all they are playing against a team from California, which made the wine choice very easy.

So you can imagine how impressed I was to hear the attractive young female sommelier at New York's five-star Le Bernardin restaurant artfully describe the aroma of a few wines we considered ordering. For example, let's pretend I have just poured you a glass of 2006 Smoking Loon Pinot Noir from California. Quick! Wine, of course.

Then I set up a blind tasting of two 2009 pinot noirs, each about $30, one from California and one from Burgundy. poured them side-by-side for people and many were stumped, finding the wines to lack the supposed telltale signs of New World pinot–darker color, primary fruit, and higher alcohol. “Will you wear a wool hat?,”

first met Ken Forrester in New York at a trade event in New York City focusing on wines from South Africa. It is very quaint, very wine-centric and in some ways similar to the restaurant where I was introduced to Robert Mondavi in California’s Napa Valley, a place frequented by local winemakers. 96 Winery Road.

We went to California for wine instead of gold!" said Freixenet CE0 Pedro Ferrer, here with his wife Begonia and other key executives in New York to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine brand from Sonoma. Bob Iantosca, Executive Winemaker. News freixenet pedro ferrer

Unprecedented Coalition of International Wine Regions Joined By Notable Chefs in Effort to Protect Wine Place Names NEW YORK - October 19, 2011 - Leadership from 15 of the world's premier wine regions came together along with renowned chefs from around the globe to call on policymakers to heed growing consumer demand for wine truth-in-labeling.

That's the other 47 wine producing States, excluding California, Washington and Oregon. am one of the lucky few that will be enjoying only wines from the New York Finger Lakes each night during the week. Year after year, this winery is producing some of the most outstanding Rieslings in New York. You Betcha!

The New York Times magazine ran an infographic on Sunday that compiled the picks of 18 wine industry types. But the list raised questions for Ray Isle of Food & Wine, since he tweeted: The lack of California wines is understandable for a couple of reasons. Yes, California makes a lot of wine and much of it is under $12.

So fun to catch up with Bernard Portet today over his new Heritance Wines at Apiary, a fun restaurant in New York. Now he is introducing his new Heritance wines which I experienced last night for the first time. Due to the similarities of several of his favorite wine regions in France, it was California’s.

Phylis Feder of Clinton Vineyards had great sparkling wines and sparkling stories of her early New York adventures. Matt Spaccarelli of Benmarl. Do you live in NYC? and do you know that just an hour away you can enjoy a NY wine experience with Hudson Valley wines? Michael Migliore – Whitecliff Vineyard. John Bruno – Oak Summit.

did pass on a few nice California reds though and stayed with the Finger Lakes and a Salmon Run Meritage 2008 ( $11 ), a blend of 54% Cabernet Franc, 39.5% New York Cheese and New York Wine, two great reasons to love New York and the Finger Lakes. Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Merlot.

In that time, the former philosophy major from Angers who could still pass as an undergrad on a university campus, has assembled an impressive list of over 300 wine selections and become an admired fixture of New York’s world. dining New York CityBut she’s not a dogmatist. Goes with the neighborhood, I guess.

Dr. Frank’s vision, knowledge and determination are credited with elevating the New York wine industry from a state of happy mediocrity to a level that today commands world attention. The talented group includes winemakers from California, Australia, France and Germany. am just interested in the cold wine.

Recently I met him in New York to discuss the Undurraga family’s new wine label, Koyle, a Chilean Indian name of the beautiful purple native plant that grows next to oak forests and blossoms with a much-demanded fruit. What's interesting about Christobal is that the family sold their original holdings in 1986.

What a surprise to find it was a sparkling wine from California!". New Communications Director Thibaut Le Mailloux. As the new Communications Director for the Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin du Champagne (CIVC) he is responsible for all communications on behalf of the Champagne appellation. Viva la Difference. Champagne office.

am here at the Graffit restaurant in New York, where the incredibly charming Esperanza Castro, and her husband Carlos Moro, are presenting ten wines from their Grupo Matarromera estate with the protected denomination of origin ranging from Ribera del Duero to Cigales, Toro and Rueda. Luis E. So is this a modern style. or traditional?"

The other week, the Wine Media Guild of New York hosted a luncheon to showcase a number of California’s Centenary Wineries. wine events Wine Reviews California's Centenary Wineries Charles Krug Robert Mondavi Simi Reserve Wine Media Guild of New York

little later, I met in person Faith Wells from Hospices Du Rhone in California - I am going there for their April festivities. also enjoyed a great conversation with Eric Texier and his wife, and we discussed reasons he is so popular with wine geeks in New York. The wines this first day are from Cote-Rotie and Condrieu. textier.

Just days before Paul Darcy, of Darcy and Huber Selections, left New York for Southern California, I caught up with him to catch a few words on Gemischter Satz and wines from Vienna. So, what inspired the inception of Darcy & Huber Wines, and how did you come to represent the wines of Vienna? We [.].

Since I now eat red meat only once a month, I have to find other foods to accompany wines I like with my burgers and steaks, but this evening was that one day and Shirley cooked up a broiled New York Strip with a baked potato and broccoli. California red wine Petite Sirahcould not wait to open the 2008 Petite Sirah.

And "rock" is the appropriate word, for even though this is a California Sauvignon Blanc, the minerality is incredible. very intimate lunch with a very talented and passionate woman with delicious wine New York loves. "Have you tasted their Sauvignon Blanc? It rocks!" "Limestone soil?"

Here's the thing - we crammed into several cars and drove from NYC where the snow was in gray and black piles against the parked cars, to the hilly horse farm country of mid-state New York. This past weekend I participated in one of the greatest wine events of my life. This was not a business lunch. The wines were very special.

Hong Kong boomed, with $165 millon in wine auctions, surpassing New York’s $154 million. Samples of wine and spirits can now be poured in California grocery stores. SIPPED: boom times. Wine auctions brought in a total of $408 million, nearly doubling the 2009 take according to Peter Meltzer. Bottoms up! SIPPED: chemicals.

Rather risky, don’t you think, to put a California sparkling wine up for comparison among some of the best houses in Champagne? “Of course, I can detect a California sparkler!&# The two on the extreme right were a deeper, brighter shade of orange-rose and looked suspiciously “New World-ish.&#. Schram and J.

Enthusiastic and passionate about Argentine wines, she is in New York to promote the new book 'Vino, Argentino," written by Laura Catena, Jimena's employeer, one of the most influential women on the Argentine wine scene. "Viva, Argentina!" Laura joins the Team. 2008 Alamos Seleccion Malbec.

One, a small village shop with one of the best selections of Italian, German, Australian and California wines that I have seen locally. Many were labels I have never seen other than the premier shops in New York City. Just enjoyed a fantastic last week of an 11 week summer vacation. Pricing is the lowest I have seen locally.

Tags: white Merlot New York Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes

I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. Tags: meritage New York Cayuga Wine Trail Finger Lakes red blend was also out of bed early enough to tag along, which is unusual. did stop at one and tasted their 2007 Meritage.

Landscaping the front yard, new addition to rear of garage, new front window, total cleansing of the downstairs family room and about 6 million small task that somehow had to be done in seven days. Central Coast California Riesling was, lets say different, but a Washington State Riesling from Chateau Ste. Started out OK.

With May and New York Riesling month coming to close soon, it is safe to say that I tasted more Riesling this month than any one year in my life. Tags: riesling New York Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes The hard part was deciding which ones I would post on the blog. Both were opened with a BBQ chicken dinner.

Long Point Winery is located on the east side of Cayuga Lake on scenic Route 90 in Aurora, New York. bit spicy meant most of the bottle disappeared at the dinner table, but I did save a glass for later to enjoy while chatting with some new friends on Facebook and Twitter. This past Monday evening was a first for me on-line.

This past weeks edition of the Syracuse New Times, a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York, contained an interesting article on Finger Lakes Riesling. Gary noted four wineries, one of which I vaguely remember from an article written by Evan Dawson for the New York Cork Report.

"It's been decades since I've been to New York," says the youthful and sporty looking Lynne Shri vin gon who has come to the U.S. Though it depends on the vintage, in general the wine is 100% barrel fermented and aged in roughly 14 months of a mix of new and old oak, both American (majority) and French barrels.

To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. Other than ordering on line, it is very difficult to find New York wines other than Finger Lakes and Adirondack wineries in the local shops. Tags: riesling New York Hudson Valley

New York (and California) are now their prime U.S. so last night was a trade tasting (afternoon) and consumer party for Austrian wine. Usually I just go to the trade tastings yet last night was invited to the evening (consumer) soiree as well. And of course one could find many wines to choose from.

This month is Riesling month in New York and this will be the first of many I'll enjoy over the next 30 days. Lot's of New York Rieslings to try and a day touring on the Finger Lakes in a few weeks. Tags: riesling New York Finger Lakes Seneca Lake Finger Lakes Riesling of course. Sound good?

California sparklers, for example, are delicious on their own and, as with Champagne, it is important to appreciate this difference and call them “sparkling wine.&# Guests at the 21 Club. Did you know that the U.S. is the second-largest export market for Champagne, behind the United Kingdom? in 2004 alone. Center for Wines of Origin.

Coopers had tried to bring the wood to California for aging but it was too dry in the summer for Draper’s taste.). With Paul Draper, both live and on the tshirt from Terroir wine bar in New York City. Paul Draper is, without question, one of the world’s great winemakers. The road to Monte Bello. But nothing is as small as 0.9%.

SPIT: California bargains. Mike Steinberger contemplates the puzzle of why so few “superstar&# winemakers in California make wines under $20. We discussed the lack of tasty California values last year in relation to Fred Franzia , and heard from wine importer Bobby Kacher and winemaker Patrick Campbell. LA Times ]. NYT ].

Not intimidated by the Herculean challenge of pairing wine and Korean food , I selected a range of wines for a Korean new year feast last week. We started off with the two bubblies, both from Roederer but one from California’s Anderson Valley and the other from Champagne, as a way to highlight the differences between the two regions.

Even the most jaded journalist can always learn something new, and of course new associations can always be made. Chronicle's Michael Bauer, Bon Appetite's Heather John, and Thomas Ulrich, of the Journalism Department of California State University. This year Tuesday kicked off with optional visits to To Kalon or Cade vineyards.

Something like 35 states allow grocery stores to sell wine, and California is one of them. New York is not one of them, although there is a new proposal that would change that. will tell you, though, that from what I've seen on the shelves in California groceries, well managed wine shops have nothing to worry about.

David Hirsch poured me a sample of his 2008 “The Bohans-Dillon&# pinot noir at the recent trade tasting of his New York distributor. If you like chipotle or a peaty whisky, and you like California pinot, I predict you will love this wine! I had heard about the fires in Sonoma 2008. But I had never tasted them.

The American wine icon Becky Wasserman is in New York City to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Le Serbet , her wine exporting company. He was owed a debt and he asked if I would go to California to get the money from this wine maker. was lucky enough to spend a few hours the other day with Becky and her son Peter. Sorry.

Evan Dawson, who writes about Finger Lakes wines for the New York Cork Report (and who we last saw here ), recently tweeted that he was in Napa. Travers proudly announced that he “uses two percent new oak each year.&# Today we have his thoughts. By Evan Dawson. Whither Napa Cabernet? After all, not much had changed there.

Sometimes when you least expect it, you open what may becomes your new favorite bottle of wine. didn't have any steak, so I diced up some New York extra sharp cheddar and settled down in front of the TV and enjoyed an evening of college hoops and Finger Lakes wine. An Atwater Estate Vineyards , Cabernet-Merlot 2007. Alcohol: 13.0%

Big break in weather today here in Central New York. Tags: riesling New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes Temperatures will reach about 30F. Must be the annual January thaw! To celebrate I figured to open one of my usually reserved for warm weather whites. 2007 Riesling.

New York Wine Expo. Imagine how exciting it will be to discover all the new trends in wine, and sip wine from Italy, Germany, Australia, South America -- even from Oregon and California. Tags: Bon Vivant discount grand tasting february 26-28 new york wine expo wine Javits Convention Center. Salud!

The blog started out in 2008 only as fun thing to do and to give my new wine affiliate web site it's first link. Italian wines only in my rack until I discovered Rioja and Bordeaux and California Cab/Sauvs. That did not come close to changing when I moved to within one hour of the New York Finger Lakes region.

Tags: New York Seneca Wine Trail red wine Finger Lakes syrah

Add one more new discovery for 2009 and a reason to be very optimistic for 2010. Tags: New York Seneca Wine Trail red wine Finger Lakes Dornfelder This has been one fantastic year of enlightenment for me when it comes to all things wine. Believe I may do a year end article on the subject.

In New York, if you’ve survived the 2009 onslaught, then in Frank Sinatra’s words, “You can make it anywhere.” He was young and rich. banker of sorts from Germany, and he was familiar with the wine in my hand, a 2005 Sherwin Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s not expensive,” he said. Really?” I said. How much?” Oh … $50 or $60?”

Herewith, some of the world’s wine regions and their whole or fractional Manhattan equivalents: Manhattan is the smallest of the five boroughs of New York City at 14,478 acres (22.6 Napa (California): 44,000 acres planted, or about three Manhattans. New York, NY: Newspaper Enterprise Association, Inc.,

Wait my home is the home away from their home the chambers street website 148 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007 Phone: 212-227-1434 Since I'm a terribly pill about wine, I want you to know that if you put an assortment of these out, I'll be more than happy to come over and drink. Expect a touch of that old natural VA. Real burgundy.

The Obamas brought in chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit in New York to cook a meatless, Indian-inspired meal for the 320 honored guests. 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa Valley, California. ? 2007 Granache, Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez, California. ? Full menu selections come after the jump. Green Curry Prawns.

Tags: riesling New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes

The only downside is the lack of New York wines on the list and no NY reds. Produced from select grapes grown in the "Classico" region of Chianti between Siena and Florence, this aristocratic Tuscan wine has reached new heights in Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva. Best of all is the fabulous and always changing wine list.

Much of this change or palate expansion, if there is such a term, is directly related to the wines from the Finger Lakes region on New York. Sometime near the end of the year, I would like to post all that I have learned and the wines that I have come to enjoy over the past two years. The downside of this Riesling is the price.

Full disclosure- this wine, along with several other Helfrich wines, was sent to me as a sample by a firm representing Underdog Wine Merchants in California. simple web search reveals that it is available in California, Colorado, and New York state, and it's probably available in other markets too.

remembered commenting on an older post that this was may be the best Sauvignon Blanc I tasted outside of my favorites from New Zealand. find many good Sauvignon Blanc's from New Zealand and Chile between $9 and $12. Tags: New York white wine Sauvignon Blanc Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes That happened this week. Good Buy!

At the time Madame Leroy was a fairly new devotee to biodynamism, and as part of her regimen in this vintage, she refused to spray her vines against mildew, which was potentially a huge problem during this growing season. John Gilman, author of the newsletter The View from the Cellar , joins us again for a Q&A. think not. am not hopeful.

Since opening, I have been trying to get him to put some New York wines on the wine list. Glenora Wine Cellars has been producing award winning wines in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State for more than 32 years. Tags: New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Gewurztraminer Finger Lakes At that price.

Tags: New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Finger Lakes table wine

don't hide the fact that in the past two years I have fallen in love with wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York. It seems that many times I taste a new wine and just have to add it to a long growing list of favorites. Tags: New York Cabernet Franc red wine Keuka Wine Trail Finger Lakes It has! Great Buy!

one of my new favorites) The Fox Run Vineyards has 55 acres of vineyards producing a remarkable range of fine wines and is situated high on Torrey Ridge over looking one of the deepest parts of Seneca Lake. Thickness is a new descriptor I recently learned. Sometimes though, it can be challenging choosing the right wine for the meal.

took my list of New York medal winners to another local wine shop. Oh yeah, for those who don't know, that wine was judged the most outstanding New York wine for 2009. Winner of the New York Wine and Food Classics's 'Governor's Cup.' OK, today I sinned again, at least according to some. I Don't Like Sugar."

Well it's time to try a new wine, at least new to me. Tags: New York white wine Seneca Wine Trail Gewurztraminer Finger Lakes Before now I have never tasted Gewurztraminer. Please, no comments on that issue. It took me over 30 years to appreciate any white wine, and now that I do, I am trying them all. Great Buy!

Because I twisted his arm, I got to taste the new vintage of his vermentino blend, Heart of Gold. 2008 is lower in alcohol, fresh and, is now amongst my favorite white of California. David Bowler, bring it in to New York City, please! In California no less? John) yesterday, (we shared butter beans fritto. Shocking.

Now the New York Times jumps into the pool with the announcement yesterday that they will be starting the New York Times Wine Club. The press release states “The New York Times Wine Club is operated independently of The Times’s critics or other members of the news department.&#

The NYT reports on a new ad campaign from Blackstone, a Constellation wine brand, that is emphasizing “trust.&# “We’re so sure you’ll enjoy the taste of Blackstone wines that if you don’t, we’ll pay you back,” the ads declare and even include a “ money back guarantee “! SIPPED: money back wine. Yes, the wine is $9.99

The NYT summarizes the effect of the recession on the California wine industry: “Brutal.&# proposal to reform New York’s retail and allow wine sales in supermarket failed earlier this year. Owners could operate more than one location in New York, also a change. Random House will defend the lawsuit.

Tags: meritage New York Seneca Wine Trail red wine Finger Lakes

Tags: Rose' New York Cabernet Franc Keuka Wine Trail Finger Lakes

Summer arrived in New York with a splash -- cold and wet -- but the trains are still packed out to Montauk, the Jamaica-stop on the Long Island Railroad has traingoers negotiating the politics of seating arrangements with sweaty seniors and the disabled, and the New Jersey Turnpike is packed from north Jersey to Exit 8.

I have no idea what occurred between the early 1980's and present in the case of New York Finger Lakes red wines. Last year, on the Cayuga Wine Trail, I finally found a few very nice reds and this past year discovered a new Finger Lakes winery that is producing some very excellent reds, the Damiani Wine Cellars.

Last evening my wife and I had dinner at one of the finest restaurants in Central New York, The Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville. We decided on a mid-range priced California wine from Clos Du Bois. Very complex, as every time I took a sniff there was something new. Tags: white wine California Chardonnay Calcaire

know, it's a California wine! It is the antithesis of today's typical high alcohol, overripe, overblown California wine. He grows hot climate grapes like Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne in the Santa Ynez Valley of California, where it is dry and hot, plain and simple. Tags: California Wine of the Week Qupé Then I saw "12.5%

get wines from Washington State, Chile, Australia, New York (a load of them this winter) and more. Or "I'm sending this guy my California Roussanne that I think he'll find interesting, based on the other wines he likes." I have no statement of ethics anywhere on my blog, but I'm going to add one today. What spurred this?

I am sitting here feeling bad because I missed adding a new post last week. Hopefully a new platform and change in template theme will help. use to think all US wine came from California or New York. Had a lot to do, kept busy but did check in on my favorite bloggers. Let's hope, that is my retirement venture.

We previously discussed the “green line&# for wine and how it is more carbon efficient for a New Yorker to raise a glass of Bordeaux rather than a glass of California wine. The efficiencies even stretch to Chicago, assuming the bottle went through the Panama Canal to New Jersey and then had the shorter truck journey.

I understand all 50 states produce wines but I've only had samples from New York, California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Anyone get close to 50? Which one surprised you the most? Map image source: GoogleMap

Yes, it’s cold and dreary in New York. And you’re probably remembering just how nice it is to live in California. Really, they don’t speak for all of New York’s wine lovers, especially those of us patiently waiting for our turn to sample and move on. Welcome Napa Valley Vintners! didn’t even try.

In my last post about the Governor's proposal to allow grocery stores to sell wine, I didn't discuss New York wine producers. There are about 21,500 grocery stores in New York State and about 2,500 liquor stores, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Tags: Wine economics New York Wine

Buying crudite and rosé at the same time might help New York solve its budgetary woes. The Governor’s office estimates that it will bring in an additional $150 million over three years, presumably from new store license fees and excise taxes rather than an increase in overall purchases. Or so Governor Paterson thinks.

So buckle up and get ready to hear his thoughts on what’s wrong with Riesling from Austria and Australia, screwcaps and their problems, the Loire, California cab then and now, indigenous yeasts, roto-fermenters, small oak barrels, wines over 14% alcohol and why he uses scores! California cabs from the 70s. new, small oak barrels.

Steve Heimoff recently linked to my California Cult Wine Release Schedule post, and I need to take the time and space to clear up a couple of his readers' comments. It costs about $34 as a future. Second - and this is really the most important thing - the list is for informational purposes. Well, google "SLAKED Cult Wine" and there you go.

But did we have to do anything to the On the New York Times a commenter named Emilio questioned the legality of this practice in the United States. lice and Kevin: Adding water is illegal in California as well though it is never enforced. Section 17010(a) of the California Administrative Code states:” ….and

Some people brought in bottles from trips to wineries in New York and California, and others were looking to try something out on us before pouring it at Thanksgiving. The most recent session of my six-week introductory wine class at NYU wrapped up last week. It is an assignment! Good times! Any vegetarians in the house?

Finally, and prosaically, Illinois was the number two state (behind much larger California) for Champagne and sparkling wine. California. New York. New Jersey. Obama beat McCain by 53 - 46 percent in the popular vote. The logic of the electoral college broadened this to a 68 - 32 percent victory. Florida. Texas.

But did we have to do anything to the On the New York Times a commenter named Emilio questioned the legality of this practice in the United States. lice and Kevin: Adding water is illegal in California as well though it is never enforced. Section 17010(a) of the California Administrative Code states:” ….and

The Sagrantino Adventure in Pictorial Thanks to the new FLIP, (sorry, I have not mastered the art of the edit) I was able to quasi document the adventure --traveling to California to help winemaker Kevin Hamel birth of what might be the only Sagrantino in America, belonging to olive oil meister, Ridgely Evers in Sonoma. The 3.5 The 3.5

California? They reflected tradition while embracing new winemaking techniques and never giving up balance. The history, the geography, climate; its all very new. It was familiar and new at the same time. felt as if I had just discovered new land and wanted to claim it as my own. France? Italy? What about Greece?

home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « David Lett | Main | Guest Blogging for the New York Times » The 13.6 Alcohol Zin October 15, 2008 The New York Times wine panel liked the 2004 Gravity Hills Zinfandel. Asimov wrote, "This wine came in at 13.6 Water? Spinning Cone?

Being far enough north that he wants all the sunlight he can get (as opposed to California which needs protection), he removes leaves on the vine to expose the grape, getting the added benefit of circulation which helps prevent disease. Soft and lean, almost like a Pinot Noir, not like California style Cabernet.

Do you realize that in New York City in just over a week from now, about 400,000 kids, literally, are going to write short essays with almost the exact same title as this post? love summer in New York City. enjoyed the complexity of aromas - smoky, fruity, earthy.excellent wine, and completely new to me. 2005 A.

home : wine recommendations : wine girl for hire : bio : articles : contact « Monte Walden On Brunello | Main | New Biodynamic Regulations Coming » Demeter Europe/USA: A friend asks why August 11, 2008 I was preparing a petit djeuner for my friends Stephen et Bruno. He sat down to be served. The phone rang. Out of Area. Stunned.

And people in Japan feel as strongly about ramen as we in New York feel about bagels or a slice of pizza. And if you put 10 New Yorkers in a room you'll have at least 5 opinions on what makes a bagel "right." That said, Wednesday's lunch special is a bowl of ramen, a California Roll, 4 gyoza, and a salad for $12.