It makes sense that kosher wines are named after famous figures in Jewish history, but I have to admit I never gave much thought to who the men who inspired say, brightly-flavored Abarbanel’s Beaujolais Villages or the bubbly Rashi Asti. So a grand “todah raba” to Algeimeiner’s David Eisdorfer for this primer on three great Jewish teachers whose spirits live in on in, uh, spirits.
Still believe Manischewitz blackberry is the pinnacle of what should be paired with brisket? Sample the best kashrut vinters have to offer via Kosherwine.com’s Wine Club and become a macher sommelier!
And as for serving up your fancy Alfasi Chardonnay, you need to know that stemless wine glasses are all the rage. Sure, wine in a tumbler that doesn’t taste like cough syrup may take some time for your bubbie to get used to, but you’re an iconoclast anyway, arent’tcha?
You can find Abarbanels and other fine kosher wines at
Grille de Paris
On a cold and rainy day, what better place to go and relax than a cozy French restaurant located in one of the most popular neighborhoods of Brooklyn?
A classy, romantic air fills the room of the French kosher restaurant Grille De Paris. The only kosher French place in the Brooklyn borough, the Grille has a reputation as a place of romance and style. Couples and friends sit in the custom-made Italian chairs accompanied by candlelight and soft French music while enjoying a dinner that can’t be beat.
As soon as you enter the establishment, you can’t help but notice the décor. The tables are covered with bright blue tablecloths and sunny yellow runners that make the place vibrant and welcoming. Fiber-optic lighting on the ceiling of the restaurant mimics the clear night sky and paintings that hang from beige walls make the restaurant seem more and more like a place you would come across strolling through the lit streets of Paris.
First opened in 2004, the Grille has always maintained strict kosher supervision, and is now under the hashgacha (attentive watch) of Rabbi Gornish. Chef Sunny, who studied in Paris and Israel and worked in many respected restaurants of Manhattan, offers a large menu of French kosher dishes such as their specialty Tri-Champignons Salad (Wild Portobello, shitake mushrooms sautéed with red pepper seeds, shallots and caraway spices, $12.95), the Filet De Paris (Fourteen ounces of broiled Filet with porcini mushroom demi-glaze sauce, $32.99), and so many more.
I ordered the Salade Nicoise ($11.95), a mixed green vegetable salad consisting of cucumbers, tomatoes, snow peas, red peppers, carrots, egg, and complete with potato and tuna salad on the side, which was sprinkled with just the right amount of lemon. The dish was light, fresh, and very enjoyable, as well as beautifully presented.
The Grilled Chicken Breast Platter ($15.00) left nothing to be desired. The dish was a generous portion of four pieces of grilled chicken breast with rosemary and lemon sauce served with crisp French fries and fresh vegetables sautéed in olive oil. The meat was warm and spicy, and the vegetables light and sautéed to perfection.
To top off the experience was the excellent service. The waiter was very helpful and knowledgeable of the menu. With any question that I asked about the food, there was an answer to accompany it. I was very impressed with the service, decor, and ambiance of the entire place and was happy to find out that it was only a half an hour away from the city.
The perfect spot to relax and share a romantic meal, Grille De Paris is a place of comfort and class. Stepping through those glass doors, you wouldn’t even believe you were in Brooklyn.