Best Hidden Gems

Ventured out in 20 degrees and wind on Block Island this weekend to get these beauties. Made clams three ways—traditional pasta with clam sauce, a clams in beer and dry sausage sauce appetizer, and steamed the big boys to make our house chowder later this week.

If you love world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay it’s worth hunting down bottles of from California’s prime Santa Rita wine region. I’ll let and reviews do the talking, but these are some of the best-made wines we have ever tasted—with just the right balance of fruit, acid and tannins to enjoy now or lay down, sip on their own or enjoy with great meals. Their wine club may be the only way to get them for a while due to being a high quality, small production winery—unless you’d like to visit , and in NYC.