We had an amazing dinner at SAMBA Montclair owned by Chef Ilson Gonçalves and located in Montclair, New Jersey where he took our palates on a fabulous "journey to Brazil" without the need for a passport! Chef Ilson Gonçalves deftly captures the flavors of his native Brazil at his gorgeous gluten-free restaurant, SAMBA Montclair, so If a trip to Brazil is not on the immediate horizon, you can still take your palate there by having lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch …
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Summer is on its way and our thoughts turn to farmers markets and organic food and wine. Vento Di Mare Pinot Grigio made with organic grapes in Sicily and produced and bottled by Cantine Ermes is perfect to drink on its own, pair with food, or use in cocktail and culinary recipes. The wine has a crisp minerality with pear and citrus notes on the palate, and is only 12.5% alcohol, making it a perfect lighter wine choice for summer. …
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Fifth State Gin is an American premium gin "made with pride in the great state of Connecticut." Owned by Master Distiller Robert Schultenand his wifeBridget Schulten, Fifth State Distillery has been handcrafting their line of award-winning spirits since 2016. Gin is a very diverse and unique spirit as the taste is based on the blend of botanicals and spices used. While juniper is always an ingredient, some gins have a stronger juniper flavor profile, while others are softer on the …
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Chef Stephen Murphy is the creative culinary talent at the attractive and charming West Street Grill in historic Litchfield, Connecticut. Owned by James O’Shea since 1990, the restaurant continues its fine tradition of "Setting the Standard for Modern American Cuisine" with Chef Stephen’s culinary flair in creating lunch and dinner menus that will appeal to diverse palates and includes a nice variety of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free items on the menu as well.
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Westford Gin is a delectable London-Dry Gin created by Master Distiller Louis Chatey at Westford Hill Distillers, his distillery in Ashford, Connecticut. Licensed to distill in 1998, Louis and his wife Margaret, are known for their award-winning spirits including eau-de-vies and apple brandy and have broadened their spirit line with an organic vodka, gin, and other tasty spirits at Westford Hill Distillers.
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Singer-songwriter guitarist Randy Lee Riviere has a new 13-track release entitled Wyoming that is Country accented Blues. Together with Kenneth Blevins, David Santos, Kevin McKendree, James Pennebaker, and Yates McKendree, Randy Lee Riviere: Wyoming is a release that will have you sitting up, taking notice, and giving it many a listen to Randy’s engaging, storytelling lyrics complemented by some exceptionally fine instrumental work. The album hit the street on February 26, 2021 on the Wilderness Records label.
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Love maple syrup? Have you thanked a tree today? Maple sugaring in Connecticut is a time-honored and very tasty tradition that depending on the weather runs from early February through late March. We visited two maple sugarhouses, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, and River’s Edge Sugarhouse to learn about the art and science of making maple syrup.
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Searching for something fun to do? The Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Stamford, Connecticut has it all! We spent a fantastic morning visiting the 118-acre museum and nature center, exploring the hiking trails, experiencing the grandeur of the Bendel Mansion once the home of fashion icon Henri Willis Bendel, and of course, spending time with the animal residents at the Heckscher Farm. The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is a perfect experience for all age groups.
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The Dave Weckl Band Live in St. Louis at the Chesterfield Jazz Festival 2019 takes the listener on a musical journey of Jazz and Funk. Featuring the amazing team of Dave Weckl, Gary Meek, Jay Oliver, Tom Kennedy, and Buzz Feiten, the 11-track instrumental Jazz release is an all-round standout of a release. The album hits the streets on April 9, 2021 on the Autumn Hill Records label.
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When Luxury Experience wants to learn about something, we believe in going to the source. We visited Woodbury Brewing Company located in Woodbury, Connecticut to learn more as our craft beer knowledge was limited, and the craft beer movement has been rapidly growing in Connecticut (there are over 100 breweries in the state). Lagers, IPAs, Märzens, Sours, Stouts, Flanders Red, Porters, Belgian Quadrupels, and more, who knew there were so many interesting and tasty brews out there?