NYC Quick Bites and Wine and Chocolate

The quintessential hot dog cart in New York City is the easiest way to grab a quick bite to eat.

When you are short on time and are really hungry you can find one of these carts in many bustling Manhattan areas -- the financial district, near the museums, in the middle of midtown -- well almost everywhere.

If you have a chance to visit New York City you should definitely grab a quick bite from one of the many different food carts stationed around the city. Along with seeing all the magnificent sites in the city this is a must for a complete New York "experience".

We recently had tickets to an off-broadway show. We wanted to make the most of our night on the town so we decided to go to a wine bar. We enjoyed the second half of the evening at Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar. The ambiance was just right. It was comfortable with a bit of sophistication.


Ayza is more than a wine and chocolate bar. The manager explained to us that even though wine and chocolate are the soul of Ayza, it is considered one of the better French restaurants in the city. The food is inspired by the foods of the French Rivera.

We stopped in rather late after the show was over so we didn't order a meal. For me, the wine and chocolate pairing was perfect. I wasn't hungry but I always enjoy chocolate. The others wanted something a little more substantial so they ordered a cheese platter. It was a great way to enjoy food and wine pairings without extravagance.

Azya serves fresh made premium chocolates from the finest chocolatiers in New York. I chose the selection of six chocolates with a flight of 2 sweet wines. This was a great way to sample the chocolates with wine.

I chose 2 dark chocolates with cherry, 2 milk chocolates with butterscotch caramel and 2 dark chocolates with gianduja (hazelnut paste). The wines served were Muscat and Port.

Muscat Beaumes de Venise D. Durban -- This had orange and apricot liqueur characteristics. It had a nice bit of acidity that helped balance the sweetness.

Churchill Tawny Port 10 Year Old -- Delicious with a nutty and fruitiness to it. Just perfect with the dark chocolate with the cherries and the gianduja.

Muscat and Tawny Port can be purchased in most any wine shop. If you are planning to have guests during the holiday season you might want to pick up one of these wines to serve with your desserts, and chocolates of course.

Or you may want to have an enjoyable night out with friends. Bundle up and venture out on a dreary cold night and visit one of the wine bars in your area. Of late, many wine bars have expanded their menus giving you the opportunity to try different food and wine pairings without breaking the bank, and have enjoy an evening with friends.


Salute!
Winelady Cooks