Oh, Staten Island

A few confused turns into the heart of an automotive industrial complex in Travis and you will find a winery, Staten Island Winery. A lively passion project for proprietor Bob Rando, the space is a unique place to stumble upon. Punctual teachers with an itinerary, we set up at the bar before the space was set up for their weekly tasting.

And they actually make wine in the space. Peep the barrels.

And these things that do some kind of wine-related task.

4 heavy pours each and the world began to shine.

It was onward to dinner. We headed to Stapleton for The Richmond, a fancy American Bistro with a named vegan option on its menu. Though… brioche is certainly not vegan. 🤔 Since I did not realize that the winery could have made me a marinara pizza by request, I was hopeful that I could increase the count of Staten Island vegan options on my dear blog. The waiter checked with the chef and he would serve it on lettuce to be vegan. Ok…

More drinking because their cocktails were so delicious-sounding. Up front, the Modern Love: Elderflower liquor, lavender liquor and lemon juice and my White Lion: Coconut Water infused Rum, Strega, pineapple, almond syrup, coconut cream, Tiki bitters, lime, and mint. So good.

The arrival of my “burger” was a bit perplexing, as “burger” bring to mind a patty format. Though tasty, it was simply pieces of mushroom and not at all satisfying in form. I very much appreciate the addition of a vegan option, but the same standards and quality control the restaurant holds on its non-vegan dishes should extend to these options. There wasn’t much care in the dish. And the pricepoint of the restaurant makes a promise of that care. So, to be constructive: bind mushroom into a patty–perhaps with some legumes, more veggies, and some chickpea brine–then buy some vegan buns, hon. Or make them. Those things would make all the difference. As a 20+ year vegan I am available for menu consultation. Contact me!

I did eat it all up.

It was time to to take the bus back to Bay Ridge, which itself was an exciting adventure. My borough neighbor has some interesting things going on, but each with a streak of oddity. The Island exists in a sort of sheltered isolation, free from the influence and variety that may improve it. In this way it feels like visiting some place far away, tucked in its own self-satisfied timeline of ignorance. But in this way, also, it is fascinating to me. Oh, Staten Island.

Postscript: I spied on Staten Island. Chuckle.