The end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020

It is the time of the year to look back on 2019 and to also look forward to 2020. No ten bests here but these are some the memorable places, meals and events for me in 2019.

Maui -Wailea to stay (hotels and condos)and for beaches (Wailea, Keawakapu, Ulua, Mokapu); Monkeypod and Paia FishMarket Kihei https://paiafishmarket.com/southside-kihei/, Upcountry farmers market Saturdays 8- 11AM http://www.upcountryfarmersmarket.com/, Tin Roof for food (lunch)

Paso Robles, California- wineries --- Denner, Torrin, Tablas Creek, McPrice Myers, Daou

Napa Valley , California --Cliff Lede Vineyard for special events and their wine; try their Sauvignon Blanc; Domaine Carneros for their Sparkling wines.

NJ and NY wines- Turdo, Cape May, NJ and Tomasello,( Palmiris) Hammonton, NJ and Anthony Road (upstate NY)

Kensington Quarters https://www.kensingtonquarters.com/  in Fishtown, Philadelphia -great meats and ambiance.

Hudson Yards, NYC- check it out, good place to walk around in the winter, Lots of food - Mercado Little Spain, Fuku, Maison Kayser etc.

Oklahoma, the musical. Broadway. Closes January 19, 2020.
Ain't So Proud, musical on Broadway.
White Noise at the Public Theater, NYC (closed);
 Delacorte Theater, Central Park ,NYC -- Much Ado About Nothing (closed)

Florence, Italy but not in the summer. Michelangelo's David

• Grape Tours  https://www.tuscan-wine-tours.com/for trips to wineries; Tuscan wineries - La Massa, Vecchie Terre di Montefili and Podere Poggio Scalette;
•  La Massa's  2016 La Massa is my wine of the year, about $20 and it is widely available.Typical blend of Sangiovese, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, , and alicante b. The blend changes yearly.
• 
• Cibreo Caffe  http://www.cibreo.com/caffe/in Florence

Farmers markets:
Union Square, NYC, (Vendors -Anthony Road winery)
Summit and Montclair, NJ -(Vendors - Shore Catch for fish, Vacciano Farm https://www.vacchianofarm.com/product for meat (lamb,chicken, beef and pork) and produce.)

Sebastian Brecht (Obsessive Chocolate Disorder) OCD https://www.ocdchocolate.com/shop Chocolates at East 4th St, East Village, Manhattan for distinctive chocolates.
Teuschers Chocolates, Zurich and NYC (truffles)

Crab House at Two Mile Landing https://www.twomilelanding.com/explore in Wildwood Crest, NJ for their crabs and sunsets. It gets busy but the place is huge. Closed in the winter.

Atlantic City-- Borgata food weekend in November, Wolfgang Puck and his restaurant in the
Borgata; Free beaches in AC.

Bakeries --The Bread Stand, Maplewood ,NJ;  https://www.thebreadstandnj.com/  Liv Breads, Millburn, NJ; Maison Kayser, various locations, NYC: Ferrara Bakery NYC (Rainbow cookies). Delicious Orchards, Colts Neck ,NJ--- Pies and apple cider donuts,

Wine Columnist - Lettie Teague (WSJ) Saturdays; Eric Asimov, NY Times (Wednesdays)

Recipes: Salmon Cakes, Chinese beef, Fricassee de coquillages Le Bernadin (Fish Stew/soup); Recipe of the year, Tuscan steak - 2 lb plus porterhouse steak, grilled rare, with rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Have a great New Year.