Alor Cafe Social

3 Reasons Why Quinoa is the Superfood of 2016 1. High in Antioxidants 2. Naturally Gluten Free 3. High in Protein and essential Aminos Those are just my top picks. There are of course many other reasons why Quinoa is a fantastic food choice. Lets start with how long its been around. Quinoa dates back 5,000 years referred to by the Incas as the "mother of all grains". Botanically Quinoa is not classified as a grain. It is a pseudo- cereal. Which is to say that it's  not grassy plant that can be milled to a flour like grains and cereals. Nutritionally however Quinoa is considered a whole grain.  Whole grains provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. As a complex carb it will help regulate the digestive system and make you feel fuller, longer, with less ingested. Quinoa provides a high protein to carbohydrate ratio compared to other grains. Naturally gluten free , quinoa is considered a complex carb (good carb) because it supplies a good portion o...

When you own a restaurant sometimes you are in a constant struggle. You struggle with what you want to be happening and what is actually demanded of you. When you are a Chef that is compounded by what you want to cook and what your customer base will tolerate. In the 5 borough area that can also be dictated by the neighborhood the restaurant is located. This is my dilemma of late. I play around with different ideas on my menu alot, however there is only so far I can go. Its not them its me. I want to do extravagant high end service sometimes and my place is located in a kind of blue collar area. So I have a strong base of regulars who expect a good hearty meal that reminds them of home. I get and I am thankful for the 8 years of business I have had there. As a Chef though , you want to grow and change it up.  That's why a new venture is so exciting. I have found a place across the Verrazano Bridge in Brooklyn, where I currently reside. The neighborhood is known for its range...

Beaujolais Wines are grown in a tiny region of France. Located north of Lyon in eastern France, Beaujolais overlaps Burgundy in the north and Rhône in the south. The picturesque Beaujolais vineyards run along the Saône River, where winemakers have crafted deliciously supple and fruity wines since the days of Ancient Rome. Over mainly granite terrain, the Beaujolais Crus form a meandering path. From south to north, Brouilly is followed by Côte de Brouilly, Régnié, Morgon, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Moulin-à-Vent, Chénas, Juliénas and Saint-Amour. The region has ideal growing conditions. It receives lots of sunshine and has granite-based soils that lend excellent structure to the wines. The Gamay grape is used to make all Beaujolais wines with the exception of white Beaujolais, or Beaujolais blanc, which is made of Chardonnay grapes. Only manual harvesting is allowed in the Beaujolais region. Handpicking means that before being vatted, entire bunches are sorted to remove any bad gra...

Coming to the Alor Cafe Stage tomorrow night will be jack Wilkins and Andy Mckee. Below is an excerpt from Jack's website.  Guitarist Jack Wilkins has been on the International jazz scene since the early 1970's. His flawless technique and imaginative chordal approach have inspired collaborations with Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Bob Brookmeyer, and Buddy Rich among many others. A native of Brooklyn, Jack began playing guitar at age thirteen. His mentors included Johnny Smith, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard.  “Windows”, his first album as a leader (Mainstream, 1973,) also available in transcription published by Hal Leonard Publications has been critically acclaimed as a dazzling, seminal guitar trio work.  Later recordings, “Merge”, “Mexico”, “Call Him Reckless”, “Alien Army”, “Keep in Touch”, and “Trioart”, feature the Brecker Brothers, Eddie Gomez, Jack De Johnette, Al Foster, Phil Woo...

Born February 27, 1923 to a Czech family in NYC was Chuck Wayne . He rose to prominence in his 20's as a jazz guitarist in the 1940's. In 1949 Wayne landed himself a spot in the George Shearing Quintet. You can spot Chuck's guitar on the hit "September in the Rain", one of Shearing's most notable tunes. By 1954 Chuck had moved on to be Tony Bennett's music director and accompanist. Throughout the 50's and 60's Chuck peppered his resume with clubs and venue's all over the New York area. Throughout his career Chuck had the opportunity to play with music stars such as  Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Sarah Vaughan, Woody Herman, Joe Bushkin and Hank Jones, among others. Wayne’s own “String Fever” enjoys cult status among jazz guitar fans.  Also producing 5 albums of his own. Wayne was a longtime resident of Staten Island until moving to New Jersey in 1991. Where he pasted in 1997. Survived by his wife,  Mrs. Wayne, who lives in New Jersey...