Luxury Wine Meets America’s Pastime at NYY Steak’s New York City Restaurants
by Melissa McAvoy
Experiencing Yankee Stadium By The Glass
As the pennant race is on the horizon, and America’s pastime bids farewell to Derek Jeter, many baseball fans are tipping their cap by selecting a glass of wine instead of the standard beer at Yankee Stadium. Baseball with wine brings a whole new experience to the game and the exclusive audience that dines at NYY Steak restaurant in Yankee Stadium. In creating a sought after wine experience, the wine offerings are a prime focus of the steakhouse and of its key leaders Henry Gordon, General Manager and Vernon J. Cozier, Operations Manager.
NYY Steak brings world-class dining to the world-famous Yankee Stadium. Around every upscale corner, you’ll find Yankee touches from a striking wall that is backlit to illuminate former players’ autographs to oversize photography of great historic moments to baseball diamond-shaped dishes marked with retired Yankees’ jersey numbers and 27 wines by the glass commemorating the team’s 27 World Championship wins. The Yankees even launched their own wine label, New York Yankees™ Reserve, which is offered in the steakhouse. Operations Manager Vernon J. Cozier, who maintains the wine list, declares, “we’re always looking to create and build on our wine list as well as on the two hours we have with our patrons from when Gate 6 opens until the first pitch is thrown. This is our part, which becomes part of the Yankees’ game day tradition.” NYY Steak has set high marks, much like the Yankees themselves (the team co-owns the restaurant with Hard Rock International). The restaurant boasts an open kitchen allowing guests to view preparation of the finest dry-aged USDA Prime steaks, five-star seafood and desserts. All are presented by the restaurant’s premier wait staff, donning pinstriped Oxford shirts and smart Yankee blue vests emblazoned with the NYY Steak baseball diamond logo. It’s Yankee Stadium dining at its finest, as GM Henry Gordon says, “I’ve been with this company for many years, and the sense of pride that comes over me every day as I walk into the stadium never gets old.” After spending the afternoon watching the team come together and strategize like a well-oiled machine, it hit me that we often dine out at five star restaurants or local, boutique, family-owned café’s, we can forget what really goes into creating a true food and wine experience. The crisp attention to detail, generous portions of high quality food and perfection by servers are all key elements in the NYY Steak experience.
Here are my picks from the NYY Steak wine list that are sure to enhance your pregame experience.
27 World Championship Wines by the Glass 2012 Chardonnay, New York Yankees™ Reserve, Russian River Valley, California 2011 Sauvingnon Blanc, Brancott Estate, Marlboroguh, New Zealand 2011 Pinot Noir, Etude “Lyric” Santa Barbara 2010 Syrah, Dunham Cellars, Columbia Valley, Washington 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, New York Yankees™ Reserve, Paso Robles, California
Wines by the Bottle Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, “Ace of Spades” Reims NV 2010 Chardonnay, Domaine Faiveley, Bienvenues Batard Montrachet, Grand Cru, Cotes du Beaune 2010 Merlot, Charles Krug, Napa 2009 Syrah, Favia “Quarzo” Amador County, Ca 2008 Tignanello,Tenuta Antinori, Tuscany
After baseball season is over, or whenever the team is away, fans can still get the NYY Steak experience at their Manhattan outpost. Located in the heart of Midtown, NYY Steak Manhattan boasts an expanded space, menu and wine list, making it New York’s premier steakhouse for lunch, dinner, special events, and private dining. Just one block from Rockefeller Center, guests can enjoy fine dining with the class and quality that only this world-class franchise can provide – right in their home city. Headed by General Manager Raul Adorno and Mike Khorosh, Beverage Director of NYY Steak Manhattan, the wine list is taken to a whole new level, building on what was first created at the original stadium location. Sommeliers are notorious for adding esoteric wines that they discovered and fell in love with to their lists. Khorosh has combined boutique finds with big bottle names to create a story that pairs with the restaurant’s signature dishes. I’m impressed with the list created by NYY Steak and the balance that gives all levels of a wine a chance in the lineup. There’s something for everyone, which makes for an approachable menu.
Photo credit: Lori Berkowitz.
Enticing Eats – NYY STEAK