Chef Gio is running a very professional operation that is informative, enjoyable, and tasty. My…read morewife and I attended a class offering instruction on American Regional Pizza. More specifically, Detroit vs. New Haven pizza. We've had Detroit style pizza prepared by a handful of different local establishments in the area over the last five years with no two being alike. Some we enjoyed more than others. Neither of us has ever experienced New Haven style pizza, but I'm acquainted with a number of friends who seriously rave about New Haven "apizza" and are willing to do a road trip there in order to compare some well known New Haven businesses. This class with chef Gio seemed like the golden opportunity to experience "apizza" without enduring the approximately six-hour roundtrip drive. There were about twenty-three students in this class seated at three long tables capable of holding eight each. Beer and wine are available for purchase. The wine can be purchased by the bottle or glass using wine cards in a self-service dispenser. We were satisfied with the carafes of water that were provided at each table. While sitting at the tables provides a reasonable view of what chef Gio is doing at the chef's table, a large overhead monitor ensures that there is no bad seat in the house. The printed recipes provided are intended for your note taking. They only list the ingredients and not the techniques needed to make your end result. With chef Gio's tips and explanations of how, when, and why certain ingredients are combined, it would have taken a twenty-five page book if a regular recipe were provided. Some hands-on experience is provided to give you a feel for what can not be explained in any other way. An example in our class was oiling the rectangular pan for the Detroit pizza and properly spreading the dough in the pan. I've never worked with dough that felt like this. When the dough was ready we also provided the toppings of cheese, pepperoni, and sauce. The New Haven pizza took less time to make so, while our Detroit pizza was proofing we were eating the "apizza." While it was very tasty, I now know that it is not a style that I'd be willing to drive 160 miles for. It was too thin and crispy for my liking. As for our Detroit pizza, it definitely was delicious but not up to the standard of what I can enjoy from a couple of the local establishments, even though we used quality ingredients. The amount of time and work it would require making it at home vs. having one in thirty minutes is a no brainer. Chef Gio's classes are fun, entertaining, and culinarily enjoyable. The only recommendation I would offer is to bring a cushion for the stool you will be sitting on.

I recently attended a NYC bakery class where we made three different pastry selections: babka,…read moreblack & white cookies and crumb cake. It was a great class and I loved the snacks he provided while we learned. It was slightly hands on which is just how I like it. It wasn't too crowded and the other people at my table were friendly and had taken other classes so let me know what to expect. I'd definitely return as he is passionate about what he teaches.

Vino di Vino in the Berkshires!…read more What's not to love when you find a hidden winery that has a gorgeous atmosphere and friendly faces. Valentines weekend called for a trip down memory lane and to one of our favorite places, The Berkshires. Upon arrival our room was not ready so we looked for a wine bar/winery on Yelp. We were so thrilled to find Balderdash. They were pretty crowded since it was Valentine's Day, but we were able to grab a table in front of the live music. I ordered a wine flight (mostly from California vineyards) they don't grow any grapes here and my husband had a beer. What I also love about this place is that you can bring in your own food. I did see a bunch of couples sharing crackers and cheese. They had a cannoli cart pop up which was delicious! The live music was also great! I honestly didn't want to leave since we were having so much fun. I wish we lived closer we would be here all the time. If you get a chance, check out this winery and enjoy a glass and some music on me! Cheers

I've been to this winery a few times now and it never disappoints. This is one of my favorite…read morewineries I've ever been to! I love the view here. Last time, we came on a Saturday afternoon and it was crowded inside, but there's plenty of seating outside. There was also live music and it was a great vibe. You can bring your own food, but they also have a food truck outside usually. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The person helping us this time let us try the wine before we bought it which was nice. I have gotten the flight once before, but the amount they give you to try for each wine is very small and for the price, I recommend just getting a glass of wine. My favorite is the truth serum rose blend.

On a scale of 1-100, there isn't a wine below 75 in this shop. If you had a great cabernet last…read morenight at Lucas Confectionary, you'll be able to get a bottle of it here. If you're looking for a bottle of Muscatel or Boone's Farm, may I suggest the liquor store on Ferry St by the homeless shelter? This store sells the best at moderately affordable prices.

Here's the story:…read more Went on a first date: went great. We stopped by a little wine bar. I picked out this super weird wine from the very back of the shelf and the owner couldn't tell us anything about it. Poured some drinks and it was so, so good- surprisingly so! Fast forward and it's that guys birthday a month later. I remembered the name of the wine and the image on the bottle, but that was it. I find it online. It's super hard to order. I get in contact with this beautiful company here, I email with Paula and talk to Shannon on the phone (they work here) and not only did they give me the kindest support and service, but they shipped the bottle of wine to me 9 states away in time for my guy's birthday! And it arrived early! I wish I could leave more stars- they deserve it. I am so grateful for the time, care, and quality they provided me. 8 states away or not, if there is a speciality bottle of wine, hell any wine, I need from now on- I'll be ordering it from here. Cannot recommend this team enough for going out of their way for me.

Absolutely lucked into this place while visiting our daughter at a nearby college. We were headed…read moreto the donut shop next door and saw the sign for the cheese shop. (Certainly a lucky neighborhood) It looks small from the street but once you walk in, it opens up to a sizable store. We were greeted by a friendly staff member, he took the time to describe their cheese selection and the other things going on in the shop. He then pivoted to giving us tons of help selecting the right cheese. We sampled a couple of things and then he dialed in three choices for us to buy. (With an assist from another customer that insisted that we would love the Delice de Bourgogne) Prices were reasonable enough for the quality. We added some gourmet crackers that were neutral enough to not overpower the cheese. The next day, we made the three cheeses the focus of our lunch. The Delice de Bourgogne was the star of the show, a creamy, earthy, and savory masterpiece. The two year aged Gouda and creamy blue cheese were delightful as well! Truly glad that we walked into The Cheese Traveler!

What a fantastic find -- a small but very well curated collection of cheeses, with an extremely…read moreknowledgeable staff who don't pressure you but provide help where needed. We appreciated the relatively local (Quebec, VT, NY) cheeses they have, and our destination cheese, Wisconsin Brick (which we had never tried before, and which they were quite willing to work with us on getting the appropriate size). The sandwiches looked delicious but we were there at the wrong time of day, alas, but we will 100% be back. If you like cheese, this is a destination location for the region.

I considered this liquor store to be out of my way - compared to some others I frequent - except…read morefor when I occasionally go to the nearby Trader Joe's. Since I was shopping there today, I figured it was time to visit... I won't be using that "out of my way" line any longer. For me, this store compares favorably to one I frequented when I lived in Dutchess County, Viscount. The whiskey selection is extensive, and they let you know that with the running total on the wall. I saw some harder-to-find bottles, but at the same time, two of my regular go-to bottles were absent. There's certainly enough other options. I really like the organization of the liquors as well. Everything was easy to find. Similar to the whiskey, the wine selection is also impressive, including the New York wines in their own area. Though once again they didn't always have specific ones I like but enough other options to satisfy me. The card was easy to get. They scanned my driver's license, I completed and signed a sheet (note that there is an option to select or not whether to receive e-mail notifications), and a minute later, I had my card, plus some unexpected discounts on the bottles I purchased today. This is definitely another liquor store to consider if you are looking for a variety of bottles at one time.

Service was great and the ambiance is solid. This store is massive with every kind of spirit or…read morewine you could want. I came here for the bourbon and barrel picks they are rumored to have. Well, I am here to tell you, the rumors are true! They have a ton of barrel picks. I grabbed the Green River barrel pick and the 1792 full proof barrel pick. I tried the Green River. Woah, it's delicious. It comes in at 132 proof but it drinks much lower and has all the complexities you look for in a great sipper bourbon. Worth the trip! Will return for more barrel picks and that Green River pick!!

For years this used to be my go to wine store. Sadly, the wine inventory has dwindled and there's…read morenot much to choose from. My favorite wines have been out of stock for almost a year. I stop by once in a while, hoping things have turned around for the owners. It's still not looking good.

Really nice spot in Delaware Plaza. We normally visit Empire Wine when we need adult beverages in…read morethe Albany area, but stopped in here since we were already nearby to meet friends for dinner. They have a nice selection of NYS wines and liquors right when you enter the store and they had some selections from my favorite wineries in the Finger Lakes (although, sadly, they don't carry Ravines). They also had some nice selections of Garnacha from Spain. I scored two reasonably priced bottles ($10 and $13). The store is well laid out and the checkout person was super nice. I would most definitely return here next time I am in the area.

I went in and asked for helping picking out an assortment of wines for a gift to someone getting…read moreinto wine. Brendan was incredibly helpful. He was informative and excited to help me, assembling a collection of reds, whites; dry and sweet; basic or adventurous and a range of regions. It was a joy to watch someone knowledgeable who was enjoying what he does.

Ohh now this is a great wine store! My favorite part is the display in the front where you can…read morebuild your own packs of premade drinks. I love being able to take home a variety! Outside of the build your own, there is a great choice of wine and alcohol in this gigantic store. Staff is friendly in helping you find what you need. Everything is very clean, store easy to navigate. Highly recommend!

The exact type of place you want to shop for your wine and liquor needs! They have a great…read moreselection of specialty products, and are always up to date on what is new out there to try. The Friday and Saturday tastings and monthly classes are a great bonus! The owners are so helpful, and knowledgeable.

They're helpful, super friendly, and seem to have good selection. They host classes which are fun,…read moreand have tastings regularly. Prices here haven't been out of the ordinary and there's a rewards program.

Wine 101 is unfortunately an easy store to miss because there's no street parking, but they do have…read morea little stand-up sign out on the sidewalk, which brought me into the store this past weekend. It's so cute and has a lot of character. Furthermore, they have a great selection of wines, including tons you don't find at other local stores. They also have a small but nicely-curated beer selection, including a ton from Kent Falls. You can buy most beers as singles, as well. There's a huge table in the middle of the store for various events. If I lived closer to Wine 101, it would definitely be my local store, but I do look forward to checking it out next time I'm in the area.

Such a great place to buy wine and beer and learn about what you're getting. The owners are…read morefriendly and knowledgeable. Plus it's dog-friendly. Totally 100% reccomend. And the classes are so fun and informative.