What goes better together than pizza and wine? While in New York, pizza has become a class get-together comfort food, its origins in southern Italy originally had it that pizza would be an artfully-crafted dish intended for the individual. Move aside, dollar pizza: at Kesté Fulton, pizza’s reclaiming its original glory.
With a wide-ranging flavor palette bringing together dough, tomato, mozzarella, and a variety of toppings, pizza’s ultimate companion can be none other than wine, which accents every meal with notes of fruit and spice. Cavit Wines upholds the important role of wine with a spectrum of options to choose from, the most popular being Cavit’s Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Prosecco, and Rosé. Of all these, Pinot Grigio is a classic favorite, while Prosecco is recommended to go with anything.
Diving into the Makings of Cavit Wine
Cavit Wines are grown in northern Italy in a region known as Trentino, where the temperate climate enhances the fruity flavors. 4,500 farming families make up Cavit’s cooperative, ensuring a sense of community is harvested with every bottle. Operations at Cavit bring together sustainable farming practices with advanced research taking place with the Institute of San Michele all’Adige, one of Europe’s leading winemaking schools. Top it all off with the most technologically-advanced winery in all of Europe, and Cavit Wines has consistently been ranked highest among brands internationally. In the U.S. alone, Cavit offers the #1 Pinot Grigio, making it a perfect choice for get-togethers.
Pairing Cavit Wine with Class Pizza
Bringing it all back to the companionship wine and pizza share, a number of pizza topping are recommended withe each wine to bring out each other’s flavors. Pair the Pinot Grigio with any cheesy pizza to balance out the heavy richness of stacked cheeses, while the Pinot Noir paired well with both meat and mushroom pizzas. Cavit’s Moscato wine brings a touch of sweetness to pizzas layered with spicy toppings like jalapeños, and Prosecco, as mentioned, goes well with anything.
To browse Cavit’s wine collection and purchase a selection for your next event, visit their website. To learn more about the ins-and-outs of pizza making, visit the Pizza Academy Foundation. And to simply pick up a pizza on your next night out, visit Kesté Fulton at 77 Fulton Street.
Explore the beautiful landscape of the famous home of Italian prosecco!
In the undulating hills between the cities of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano in Northern Italy, vineyard after vineyard link up to create a patchwork quilt in shades of green that most of all resemble colorful waves rolling down the slopes towards picturesque villages and farms in the valleys or on the hillsides.
Farmers in this particular corner of the planet almost exclusively grow the “glera” grape. And with good reason. We are in Italy’s DOCG the highest classification for italian wine, a area of the delectable prosecco sparkling wine.
In the middle of May each year, the area of Valdobbiadene Conegliano celebrates itself with a festival, Vino in Villa, at the beautiful Castillo di San Salvatore castle, where visitors can sample prosecco from many of the region’s more than 180 producers.
Vineyards surround the castle, creating a stunning backdrop for the tasting of the local produce under big, white parasols spread out below the castle walls during the festival. Apart from prosecco, local specialties like cured ham, dried cheese, mozzarella; and honey are on offer.
For 250 years, the prosecco sparkling wine grape has been grown here, but it wasn’t until the ‘70’s that local farmers became full-time winemakers in their own right. Up until then, they had solely grown the grapes and sold them either to winemakers outside the area or to locals who made their own still or sparkling wine.
Today there are 183 prosecco winemakers in the DOCG area. All the grapes are handpicked, and every year the winemakers produce 75 million bottles of prosecco, which are sold to 80 countries.
The winemakers’ vineyards and fields are spread throughout the landscape along the wine route, Strada del Prosecco. A handful of them offer farm stays, letting you take in the full beautiful, rural charm and warm, food-passionate people that define the Italian countryside.
At vineyards offering “agriturismo” you will stay with the family behind a prosecco brand, and enjoy long, warm afternoons on boulder-paved terraces, snacking on homemade local delights and enjoying a glass of the prosecco made right there on the premises.
One particular treat in Valdobbiadene Conegliano is standing on Ristorante Salis’ beautiful terrace of overlooking the surrounding area. From here, it’s plain to see that this is an area of small-scale wine production.
The restaurant lies in the middle of the most coveted area of fields, called Cartizze. These 107 acres of land with steep slopes of porous, sandy earth are known to produce the region’s most exquisite grapes. The nearby Dolomite mountain range ensures that Conegliano Valdobbiadene doesn’t get too hot in the summer or too cold during the winter, and the salty breeze from the Adriatic Sea adds to the grapes’ character.
Prosecco’s flavor is immediately recognizable in every sip, as is the special tongue-tickling sensation of this very refreshing drink.
The region is only an hour by train or car from the always-romantic Venice and offers the perfect chance to combine rural experiences with a city vacation. So if the three days of Vino in Villa were not enough, you can prolong your stay in Italy by visiting the world famous art biennale in Venice held next in 2017 or simply walk around the historic capital of the Veneto region that is built on stilts.
The Grand Canal snakes through the city made up of 118 small islands crisscrossed by innumerable narrow, maze like alleys and small squares. The best way to explore the narrow canals, which are lit up by small lights hanging on the stone walls of sand-colored houses, is by gondola. Find your ride by the water outside the main square of Piazza San Marco.
When the buzz in beautiful but touristy and crowded Venice gets too much, take the $7 train ride back to rural surroundings in Conegliano Valdobbiadene to enjoy the rest of your spring vacation in Europe.
VINO IN VILLA- The festival is held the third weekend of May. The entrance fee is €20 (around $22), and it will supply you with a glass you can use to try out up to 60 different prosecco’s. The beautiful view is free of charge. www.prosecco.it
WHERE TO STAY –Stay with one of the local winemakers who offer “agriturismo” bed and breakfast. We can recommend the following:
Duca di Dolle- Live in modern rural comfort with swimming pool and breakfast in green surroundings. The house dates back to the 16th century, but the 13 room bed and breakfast underwent an award-winning renovation in 2011. www.ducadidolle.it
Borgoluce- Situated on the grounds of Castel di San Salvatore, which houses the Vino in Villa festival, Borgoluce offers it’s own charcuterie, buffalo meat, mozzarella, honey, extra virgin olive oil and walnuts, which can be enjoyed in their farm shop. www.borgoluce.it
Le Colture- A charming family-driven place, which offers bike and horse rentals for exploring the area. It’s also possible to taste some of the winemaker’s own vintage. www.lecolture.it
Opened last month in the heart of the Theater District, The Green Room 42 is an immersive 130-seat state-of-the-art entertainment venue. It not only offers audiences the chance to see some of their favorite performers up close and personal, but it also offers a food menu designed by Chef Gabriel Israel of the adjacent restaurant Green Fig. Beyond the food and entertainment, cocktails, craft beer and wine are also offered. Yes, all on the fourth floor of the YOTEL.
Since its Mar. 5 opening, plenty of major Broadway performers have taken to the stage of The Green Room 42. This includes Constantine Maroulis, Lillias White and Alice Ripley. A change of pace from the top stars of the stage, The Green Room 42 also offers a “Bottomless Brunch” on Sundays, featuring the undewear-clad singing duo The Skivvies, dishes from the aforementioned Chef Gabriel and 90 minutes of unlimited prosecco drinks.
Daniel Dunlow: The Green Room 42’s owner Gil Rubenstein operates all the food and beverage outlets at the YOTEL NYC, including modern Israeli restaurant Green Fig and rooftop lounge Social Drink & Food, which both opened last year. For the final piece of the project, Gil transformed the hotel’s event space into an entertainment venue where guests could watch performances in an up-close and personal setting. Although New York City has a lot of theaters and music venues, he found that there weren’t many intimate rooms that offer Broadway level performances at a wallet-friendly price.
How would you describe the venue to someone who hasn’t yet been there?
The Green Room 42 is a new, funky, urban take on the classic New York cabaret scene. It’s Frank Sinatra meets Sia, which is exactly the aesthetic of the room. As for the business model, it’s centered around value and hospitality. That means just one show a night, spacious seating and no food or beverage minimum ever. Come as you wish and stay for as long as you like — you’re our guest. We pride ourselves on offering a lower ticket cost than anywhere else in town, and all the while paying the acts fairly. It’s all about the experience: great food, drink and creative entertainment. Broadway stars are coming out of the woodwork to perform at this venue, and they’re also flocking in to see the shows; so you never know who’ll you’ll run into in the crowd.
What does the venue name mean? Is the 42 related to the street?
DD: A “green room” is the space in the theater that is between the dressing rooms and the stage. It’s where actors hang out before they go onstage. It’s a place on Broadway where you get to see Simba from The Lion King in full lion costume and makeup, but playing Candy Crush on his phone. That’s exactly what cabaret is to me: It’s a space where the artist is live in front of you, but being a human being and not playing a part. They are comfortable and personable, telling stories, laughing, joking and kidding around. That’s what you get in the green room and at The Green Room 42. As for the “42,” it was added so people knew where to go: 42nd Street.
Do you have a favorite item on the menu? Is there a full menu offered during all shows?
DD: We offer a full menu during every show at The Green Room 42. We have everything from artisan pizza to an unreal schnitzel burger. My personal favorite are the steamed mussels with garlic and white wine sauce that are served for the table to share. They are absolutely addicting. They’re meant to be shared at the table, but if you’re sitting with me, we will not be sharing them — I will be eating them all by myself. (laughs)
What was the first show you booked there?
DD: The first show I booked here was Lillias White, the Broadway legend from The Life, Dreamgirls, Fela! and Hercules. She sold out her Valentine’s Day show here. She’s already returned for a second show with a packed house. While she was signing her first contract, I got the impulse to have her sign two copies just so I could keep a copy of her autograph.
Russ, for someone who hasn’t seen you live before, what should be expected?
Russ Kaplan: “Theatrical Psychedelic Party Jazz.” For this show we’re ransacking the Broadway canon — from both classics and new shows — to find new exciting twists on familiar tunes. It’s mostly instrumental with the occasional stealth vocalist.
Who’s going to be onstage with you?
RK: My band, the massive and massively-awesome Russ Kaplan +7: me on keyboards, Moppa Elliott on bass, Wayan Zoey on drums, Tom Gavin on guitar, Christoph Knoche on reeds, Kyle Saulnier on more reeds, Eric Biondo on trumpet, and Brian Adler sitting in on percussion. Plus of course special guests Justin Guarini and beatboxer Chesney Snow, both from In Transit.
Do you have a favorite song to perform live?
RK: So far, “Poinciana.” We haven’t played these Broadway songs yet, but I’m pretty psyched to jam out on some Phantom; I don’t want to give away which song.
Where was the first live show you ever performed in New York?
RK: First show with my band was at the Douglass Street Music Collective in Brooklyn, at my 29th birthday. First performance of any kind as a New Yorker, at Arlene’s Grocery, beatboxing to “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” at a Motown tribute show.
Russ Kaplan
Russ Kaplan aside, any upcoming shows you’re especially excited for?
DD: I’m really stoked to get Telly Leung in here. He’s such a genuine guy with a love for the arts. I can’t wait to see what he brings to his solo show. Also, there are some shows in the works right now that I can’t yet speak about, but they’ve got me very excited—you’ll hear about them soon.
The Green Room 42 show aside, Russ, what’s coming up for you career-wise?
RK: Lyricist Sara Wordsworth and I are finishing the latest draft of our new musical Minnesota. Hi, producers!
When not busy with your career, how do you like to spend your free time?
DD: Free time? I go see theater, but I consider that research. I’m a huge fan of Broadway. I love seeing current shows, watching YouTube clips of old shows and collecting Broadway memorabilia. Some of my prized possessions are a signed Ethel MermanGypsy playbill, a signed Mary Martin headshot, Billy Porter’s eyelashes from Kinky Boots, and my hall of Tyne Daly memorabilia — I’m obsessed with Tyne Daly. My apartment is like a museum of Broadway. I recently bought the original grand piano from Don’t Tell Mama, one of New York’s first true cabaret clubs. This is the piano that they had in their club since day one. I played it when I performed my very own first cabaret there five years ago. This piano, which is now in my bedroom, is the piano that all the greats like Liza Minnelli and Bernadette Peters sang on, and shows like RENT and The Last 5 Years were written on this piano late at night in the piano bar. I’m a pianist and composer myself, so I spend some free time tickling the ivories and performing around town. So as for free time, I’d say roughly six hours of my day are spent sleeping, and then the other 18 are for theater stuff.
RK: Hanging with my wife and daughter. Watching BBC nature movies.
DD: I love pianos and I love music, so I obviously love the Piano Man. I went to see Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden again last month. That was my fifth time seeing him. That guy knows how to do it.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
DD: A wise man once told me that there are many different llamas that take you to the top of “Mt. Great Entertainment.”
The festivities took place at the Bridgehampton Historical Museum with over 750 guests in attendance, including Christie Brinkley’s children, Sailor Brinkley-Cook and Jack Brinkley-Cook.
Between her exclusive Hair2Wear line, her Authentic Skincare products, and her soon-to-be launched Organic Prosecco brand, this mother of three exemplifies the strong, independent and hardworking woman worthy of idolization.
I had a chance to chat with this global icon for Downtown, and the first thing I wanted to know was, “What do you wish more people knew about Christie Brinkley?”
She responded by gushing with excitement over her new line of Organic prosecco, titled Bellissima:
“[I want people to know] that I have a great prosecco coming out in August! I’m really excited about this, because if I’m lucky, my prosecco, Bellissima, is going to be apart of people’s happiest moments. They’ll reach for my Bellissima to toast baby’s being born, kids graduating from college, or just ‘hey, it’s Friday night and a friend’s coming over!’ It’s those good times, those happy times, those beautiful moments that we’ll [now] get to share with them in our own way and that’s very exciting to me. And we’re at a great price point too: $19.99! I mean, that’s reason to pop the cork and celebrate!”
This line of prosecco is unparalleled to anything you may have in your liquor cabinet. Why, you ask? The entire line is completely organic and vegan, made from all naturally-grown grapes found in Italy’s Treviso-Veneto region. Not to forget, the blue one is 100% sugar-free!
“I feel very, very proud of that. Because going organic is really good for our bodies and our planet,” Christie added.
Eating healthy has been a booming trend for years now, but finally thanks to Christie Brinkley, we have an outlet to drink healthy as well. This model and actress is not one to just simply stick her name on a product with complete disregard for its quality or affectivity. Rather, she works with sincerity to ensure we receive her promised outcome.
This is evident through the Christie Brinkley Authentic Skincare Line: “I love the fact that my skincare is giving women the results that they’re looking for. And I hear all day long women say to me ‘Christie, thank you so much!’ I was really, really, really strict about it. Until I felt like we were giving women true results, I kept saying, ‘No, no, not good enough. I want more, more, more.’ And women are literally seeing the age fall off their face and they’re feeling better and more confident. That makes me really happy.”
Are you still skeptical? I’ll tell you why I’m not. I approached Christie’s daughter Sailor for a little impromptu Q&A, and from that I was able to glean a little more insight into just how genuine Christie and her products are. Sailor welcomed the unscheduled interview with grace and excitement. She was extremely candid and sincere. We chatted briefly about her moms line of prosecco, and she too thought the organic and zero-sugar ideas were genius, as it allows people to go out and enjoy their night without waking up with dietary guilt the next morning.
However, Sailor’s authenticity fully shined through when I asked the aspiring model: “What is the best advice your mom has given you about the modeling industry?”
To which Sailor answered: “To be you. I’ve been told by photographers [and make-up and hair artists] that they like how I make conversation with them and treat them like people. And that’s what my mom did that got her big in the industry. She treated everyone as a human and as an equal and just made working fun. And that’s what I aspire to do. I aspire to have a personality in the business.”
I asked Christie the same question. As her worldwide fame began to skyrocket in the late 1970s, Christie recalls the first time she started to meet major celebrity figures from the industry. “I remember meeting every celebrity I’ve ever met when I was first coming to New York City. [And] it’s a story that I’ll tell, so I want everybody that I meet to have a nice story. So that’s what I tell my kids. I say always be polite [and] make sure they have a nice story about them.”
After speaking with Sailor, the strong values her mother has instilled in her were clear. And those values have been recapitulated in all of the Brinkley products.
