Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 <a href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards">James Beard Awards!</a> These talented individuals and establishments have demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed to the culinary world in remarkable ways. Here&#39;s a praise for each winner:

&nbsp;

Outstanding Chef: Rob Rubba of Oyster Oyster in Washington, D.C., showcases a mastery of flavors and a commitment to sustainable and plant-based cuisine.

Outstanding Restaurant: Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia, PA, captivates diners with its impeccable service, innovative dishes, and an inviting atmosphere.

Best New Restaurant: Kann in Portland, OR, brings a fresh and exciting culinary experience to the city, pushing boundaries and delighting taste buds.

Outstanding Restaurateur: Ellen Yin, the driving force behind High Street Hospitality Group, including Fork, a.kitchen + bar, and High Street Philly in Philadelphia, PA, has created a dining empire known for its exceptional quality and diverse offerings.

Outstanding Hospitality: The Quarry in Monson, ME, stands out for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that guests feel truly cared for.

Emerging Chef: Damarr Brown of Virtue in Chicago, IL, has emerged as a rising star, showcasing culinary creativity and a deep passion for his craft.

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Margarita Manzke of R&eacute;publique in Los Angeles, CA, creates stunning desserts that are as visually captivating as they are delicious.

Outstanding Bakery: Yoli Tortilleria in Kansas City, MO, crafts artisanal tortillas that elevate any meal with their authentic taste and texture.

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo in Los Angeles, CA, offers an impeccable selection of wines and other beverages that enhance the dining experience with every sip.

Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, HI, is a haven for cocktail enthusiasts, delivering exceptional libations with skill and flair.

Best Chef: Midwest: Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger of Fairchild in Madison, WI, create a culinary symphony, fusing local ingredients with inventive techniques.

Best Chef: Mountain: Kris Komori of KIN in Boise, ID, showcases the diverse flavors of the region, combining culinary traditions with contemporary flair.

Best Chef: South: Natalia Vallejo of Cocina al Fondo in San Juan, PR, celebrates the vibrant flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine with a modern twist.

Best Chef: Northeast: Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, RI, captivates diners with her creative dishes rooted in indigenous ingredients and traditions.

Best Chef: Southwest: Andrew Black of Grey Sweater in Oklahoma City, OK, dazzles diners with his innovative approach to regional ingredients and bold flavors.

Best Chef: Southeast: Terry Koval of The Deer and the Dove in Decatur, GA, showcases a deep understanding of Southern cuisine, blending tradition with contemporary techniques.

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Chutatip &ldquo;Nok&rdquo; Suntaranon of Kalaya in Philadelphia, PA, takes diners on a culinary journey through the flavors of Thailand, beautifully balancing authenticity and innovation.

Best Chef: New York State: Junghyun Park of Atomix in New York, NY, crafts refined and intricate dishes that pay homage to Korean cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Best Chef: California: Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks, CA, showcases the rich and complex flavors of Thai cuisine, creating a memorable dining experience.

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific: Vince Nguyen of Berlu in Portland, OR, presents a menu that celebrates the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, highlighting local and sustainable ingredients.

Best Chef: Texas: Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Street to Kitchen in Houston, TX, brings the vibrant and diverse flavors of Thai street food to the heart of Texas, creating an unforgettable culinary experience.

Best Chef: Great Lakes: Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama in Chicago, IL, craft innovative Filipino-inspired dishes that celebrate the flavors and traditions of their heritage.

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Special mentions for the wine-related categories:

&nbsp;

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo in Los Angeles, CA, impresses with its curated wine selection, showcasing a diverse range of varietals and regions.

Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, HI, offers an exceptional selection of wines, spirits, and cocktails, ensuring a memorable drinking experience for all.

&quot;At CorkRules we&rsquo;d like to congratulate&nbsp;the winners of the 2023 James Beard Awards! You inspire us with your passion and innovation. The restaurant industry continues to reimagine itself and these winners are leading the inspiration&rdquo;, Robert Tas, CEO/Founder of CorkRules.

Cheers to all the winners.&nbsp;

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 James Beard Awards! These talented individuals and establishments have demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed to the culinary world in remarkable ways. Here's a praise for each winner

2023 James Beard Award Winners Spotlight

1803 is a Cajun restaurant that brings a little of New Orleans’ eclectic culture to the streets of New York. It’s a sexy, sultry space with a penchant for Deep South decadence and jazz. For a memorable culinary experience, this is the place to bring a date.

Pairing Wine with Cajun Food at 1803

Drops of God, the popular manga series by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto, has been adapted into a television series by AppleTV and has some buzz in the wine world. The AppleTV series tells a story about a competition between Camille's (Fleur Geffrier) estranged daughter and Issei (Tomohisa Yamashita), the protégé after the death of Camille's father, a famous wine collector, to win his world-renowned wine collection valued at $100M+.

Drops of God: The AppleTV Series That Could Save the Wine Industry

Certified sommelier and CorkRules’ resident Somm, Michaela Quinlan shares her expertise on the wine list of il Buco. il Buco’s wine cellar holds a selection of over 400 wines and includes an exciting range of lesser-known, artisan wines from Europe. This restaurant has been called "one of the best and most exciting in America" by Gourmet magazine and the wine list has won Wine Spectator’s "Award of Excellence" several times.

Artisan Wines at Il Buco

Orange wine is made from white grapes, but the skin stays in contact with the juice longer during the maceration period, which increases the tannins and turns the normally white wine a more golden hue. The longer the contact,  the darker the hue, which increases the tannins and a stronger intensity. Pinot gris and malvasia are two common grape varieties used to make orange wine, but if you dig a little deeper, explore a little further, you can find some delightful orange wines along the border between northeastern Italy and Slovenia where orange wines are madefrom indigenous grapes on the region, including sauvignon vert (friulano), ribolla gialla, and pinot grigio.

Pairing Orange Wines at Pasquale Jones

The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what’s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Fine Wines at The Lobster Club

Unless you are born into a vineyard, grow up in wine country, a career in wine is not a go-to profession for most graduates. But for some people, their love of wine and career path are intertwined. This is how it was for Jane Lopes, sommelier, co-founder of Legend Imports, and author of Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles.

Stories of Wine & Life with Jane Lopes, Sommelier, Author and Co-Founder of Legend Imports

CorkRules has been presented with the BMMA ‘Best New Mobile App” Platinum award, the highest award achievement in category.

CorkRules Wins the 2023 BMMA Platinum Award for "Best New Mobile App"

Pairing wine with Asian food is a common dilemma. Just what should you order with the Spicy Yellowtail Yu Sheng or the Mongolian Lamb Chops? How do we make palatable choices that cross cultures and bring out the best in each location’s use of herbs and spices?

Pairing Wine with Asian Food at Buddakan

Ai Fiori

Alexis Rogers

Ai Fiori

Music Intro:

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules! A podcast where (in each episode) we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your

host Robert Tas along with Alexis Rogers, Wine Educator and Restuarant Sommelier. Hello Alexis, Welcome back!

AR: Thanks Robert!. I&rsquo;m really stoked to be combing through the gargantuan wine list at Ai Fiorii with you today!

RT: This list is a perfect example of why we created CorkRules, to demystify the wine lists of your favorite restauranst. Being handed a wine list can be very intimidating - especially if it&rsquo;s 60 pages long!

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines, bottles not to be missed or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

Today we are talking about the illustrious Ai Fiori, located on the 2nd floor of the Langham Hotel on 5th Ave. &ldquo;Award- Winning&rdquo; is an understatement here - Michelin Star, Esquire Magazine&rsquo;s Best New Restaurants in America, Zagat&rsquo;s Best Italian in NYC, Forbes Magazine 4 stars, the list goes on and on. Most pertinent to our discussion though is the Wine Spectator Grand Award. Less than 100 restaurants in the world have earned this super prestigious award which requires at least 1000 listed bottles and vigorous cellar and restaurant inspections.

So Alexis, I guess the question is, where do we start?

AR: With a list like this, it is probably best to employ the services of a sommelier. While this list is impeccably organized, the sheer amount of bottles alone is overwhelming for anyone. Even if you were able to narrow it down to a grape and a region, a sommelier would be able to help guide you to the specific bottle that&rsquo;s best for your budget and particular taste. Say you&rsquo;re looking for a French Chardonnay, they could save you flipping through over 5 pages of White Burgundy to help you differentiate between Puligny Montrachet and Mersault.

RT : I agree 100%! Their assistance is indispensable with a list like this! I do love White Burgundy though! But they sure can get expensive - hundreds of dollars a bottle can be pretty standard and thousands for Grand Crus. Is there anything close in a more affordable range?

AR: Absolutely! The 2019 Arbois Chardonnay Vielles Vignes from Vin Sans Nom. This Chardonnay hails from the lesser-known region of Jura, France, sandwiched between Burgundy and the Swiss border. The climate and soils are very similar to Burgundy so it&rsquo;s no surprise that the wines of this region are starting to gain a cult following - especially the Chardonnays! You can usually find these bottles on wine lists for less than $100 - that is when you CAN find them on wine lists.

RT: I love trying familiar grapes from unfamiliar regions, it really shows how important location is in wine!

RT: So now I&rsquo;m starting to get hungry, and I know we can&#39;t eat at Ai Fiori and NOT order the Astice entree! This butter-poached Nova Scotia lobster has been called &ldquo;The Greatest Dish in the World&rdquo; by a NY Post food critic. What are we pairing with this?

AR : With this dish in mind, I&rsquo;ve selected the 2011 Karthouserhoff GG Riesling. This is actually a half bottle so it&rsquo;s perfect to dedicate to just one course. People sometimes balk when I suggest a Riesling and definitively proclaim that they &ldquo;don&#39;t like sweet wine&rdquo;. But Riesling isn&#39;t always sweet, especially these days and especially from its ancestral home of Germany.&ldquo; G.G.&rdquo; is a classification that exists outside of German Wine Law that indicates that the grapes come from a top vineyard site agreed upon by the best producers in the country and that the wine will always be very dry. These bottlings are real stunners! Super juicy, incredibly bright and bursting with notes of fresh lime juice, lemon curd, cold pineapple, green apple, hints of tropical mango, delicate blooming white flowers and beautiful wet rock minerality. The bright acidity will cut right through all that rich butteriness and the apple notes will mirror the apple in the dish.

RT: Wow! My mouth is watering just listening to those tasting notes!&nbsp;With over 1000 bottles, what would you say is one not to be missed?

AR: It&rsquo;s hard to pick just one, with 8 pages of Barolo, 3 pages of Champagne, and 3 pages of California Cabernet but this list&#39;s most impressive offerings are definitely in its Burgundy selections.&nbsp; The 2015 Domaine Faively Chambolle-Musigny caught my eye in particular. 2015 was a beautiful vintage - not only in Burgundy - but across most of Europe and it&rsquo;s usually a good bet when it comes to selecting a bottle. While vintage is very important here, producers are just as important here and Domaine Faively is one of the best. Established in 1825, it is now in its&rsquo;s 7th generation of family ownership. The sub-region of Chambolle-Musigny is famous for the intensity and femininity of both its reds and whites and this Pinot Noir will envelop you in fragrant strawberry, raspberry and violets while a few years in the bottle are going to give it gorgeous earthy truffle, mushroom, and forest floor notes. This wine would be absolutely killer with the veal breast ravioli w/ royal trumpet mushrooms - or nearly anything on the menu really.

RT: That really sounds magical! Alexis, thank you so much for coming through this expansive list and finding us some gems! To our audience, Thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to:Info@corkrules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our

best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible. We are looking forward to being with you on

another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists. And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

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END

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Meson

Dear Annie

Rossoblu

Lago

Le Farfalle

Petit Trois

The Red Dory

Audrey

Cowboy Star

Simple restaurant with outdoor seating & an American menu of steak, seafood, burgers & pasta.

A Multi-Sensory Evening in New York

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Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

Cuzzy's Victoria House

La Borgata

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo NV

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy

Bodegas Artero

Tempranillo NV

La Mancha, Spain

McManis

Chardonnay NV

California, USA

A to Z Wineworks

Riesling NV

Oregon, USA

Scagliola

Mati Barbera NV

Piemonte, Italy

Angeline

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Paso Robles, USA

Marietta

Angeli Cuvee NV

Sonoma County, USA

Orin Swift

Abstract NV

California, USA

Orin Swift

Abstract NV

California, USA

Rombauer Vineyards

Chardonnay NV

Los Carneros, USA

Red Schooner

Voyage 9 NV

Mendoza, Argentina

Chappellet

Mountain Cuvee NV

California, USA

Pine Ridge

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon NV

California, USA

Pine Ridge

Malbec NV

USA

V Sauvignon Blanc NV

Marlborough, New Zealand