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FROM CUSTOMERS: Comments from letters, postcards, emails, our sign-up book, Facebook, etc.
Awesome dinner! 5/9/13 We love you guys and "liked" you on Facebook! Wine & soup is amazing. Women who workhere we love!! 5/5/13 Dear Addy, Great to be here.... Great meal. We soo enjoyed the Spaniard and wife. Yummo!.... Thank you Adelaide! You really had me goin' this time... Fabulous foie gras - Merci!!..... Awesome food & wine!....Food was great, so was wine. Addy was the best!.... The food is amazing!!! 5/4/13 You made my night a memorable one!! Thanks much love.... Thank you for the hospitality. God bless!!.... Out of this world! Fabulous food. Second time - we love it! Great food, great staff, great atmosphere.....Absolutely ADORE COMTESSE THERESE . Best of cuisine & hospitality! Merci Beaucoup!.....Great job! Superman....Amazing food.... Chris is the bomb...Awesome wonderful Ale & Theresa! 5/4/13 Love this place! Great food, good people & tasty wine!.... First time - will be back!... Fabulous!! Loved it. ...Amazing - will be back! .. 4/28/13 Addie - You are so delightful and "perky". Thank you for making our luncheon experience so fun & memorable!! See you again soon....We had a wonderful time..... Very good wine here! Merci beaucoup! 4/14/13 Great food- fantastic wine, excellent desserts. We'll be back soon. : ) 2/1/13 You made my night a memorable one!! Thanks much love.... Merry Christmas!!....Thank you for the hospitality! God Bless!! : ).... Out of this world! Fabulous food.... Second time - we love it! Great food, great staff, great atmosphere..... Hell yeezy ma! Neezy dis wine be da sheezy .... Fantastic! Thanks for the delicious food and service! Merry Christmas! By far the best food on L.I.... Love the French onion soup! Yum.... Fab food! 11/25/12 Best wine ever! 11/24/12 Everything was great ... Thanks for taking care of uspre-Sandy : ) Wine was terrific. Enjoy the day off. 10/29/12 Loved the food. THANKS! .... The food was amazing thank you very much. I wish that I could live here! (Aussie) CHEF love the duck very good! And hi Chris good luck on your job! I loved the food!..... Food was amazing! I'll be back soon!... We love Addie and Chris! Great service .... FABULOUS.... Here for my Birthday at the vineyards with my friends...... Great food and fantastic service thanks a lot for unforgettable experience! ...... Great bartender - Great service. The entiere staff was friendly! Had a great time. 10/21/12 Wonderful food - Wonderful atmosphere. Thank you 10/13/12 Love the vino! xoxo . . . . Love the Wine! .... Best winery/bistro experience.... 10/7/12 Great night. Thank you for a beautiful evening..... Had a great time - Beautiful place w/beautiful food!! Excellent experience!! Thank you Chris!! Noticed every detail - even bathrooms were nice!!! WONDERFUL! Came here for Leslie's birthday. What a wonderful dining experience! The staff was also wonderful. Thanks so much! We will be back! XOXO...... Excellent Yummy!... Thanks so much for a fabulous evening! Great time. Food is wonderful....Had a wonderful time here. Your house has character and great characters:) We will be back soon!... Outstanding XO 9/30/12 We love this place! .... We are back a third time. We love you all. 9/21/12 To all our friends @Comtesse Therese, We LOVE your wine and food!! You had us on hello our first visit and we came back for more great wine, food and SERVICE! Adi, Diane and Katie the BEST not enough good things to write about it would take this book, you are all so GREAT! We are so blessed and thankful to have you as neighbors. We love being out here. Adi, Diane, Katie you are the bomb! Just a quick thank you for having us at your place yesterday. We had a wonderful time and everything was delicious! Diana 9/9/12 Just a brief, and overdue, word of thanks for the splendid evening we spent at Comtesse Therese a few weeks ago. Having followed Chef Ari’s highly original and bold cuisine for years (and having enjoyed the extraordinary hospitality of his parents) it was like a reunion in the best of all ways, when the later encounter reminds you so pleasantly of why the old times were so special. It was a brilliant meal and a joy to see the chef again. 9/6/12 Fantastic meal & wine. Service spectacular! P.S. We'll be back! 8/29/12. . .Wonderful place. LOVED IT! . . . Amazing Chef & Service! . . . We love this place. Yummy !!! & Charming . . . Very tasty for our anniversary . . . Hi,Some friends told me about this lovely place on the North Fork where they enjoyed some good food, good wine and were served by some very nice people. Yes...they were describing their experience at your Bistro.This past Saturday my wife Joy and I stopped by and enjoyed the same experience. It was well worth going out of our way.I'm sorry I missed meeting you. Warm regards, Marty 8/27/12 Great food, wine & staff. Thank you. Terry 8/18/12 . . .Very nice!! Ex-owner of this place . . Wonderful - superb food! Jacqueline . . . Thanks for the HUGE feather! Food & wine wonderful . . Enjoyed it! Wonderful - Beautiful place. Rebecca 8/26/12 . . . Loved it!! Anthony & Jill. . .Thank you for a wonderful meal! C & A . . .The soup was bang on. Matt - Sydney . . . Thanks for a great evening & meal, from NY & Ohio . . . Thanks for an awesome meal Everything was superb!!! Lisa & Jay . . .The Best. Can't wait to return.June & Tony! . . Two Brazilians, a Greek and the Italian visited the Consumation Room! . . .It's always good to have new experiences in tasting. To be continued . . . I'll be back, Brazilian #2 . . .Yum! Great house! Lizzie . . . Outrageously delicious - Merci. Paul & Tina . . Awesome! 7/28/12 . . . So delicious and worth everyy bite!! . Great wine & amazing service. Thank you. . . Thank you for letting us "borrow" some apples! . . . Thank you for an amazing meal. . . Love you all . . Amazing meal! . . What an amazing experience - great food, wine and chanrming ambience - FANTABULOUS. . . Awesome group of girls!! Made my Mon's 85th B-day very special. Great food & wine!! Priscilla's daughters. . . I love You all . . Thank you!! Delicious wines!! Merci pour un repas délicieux! Felicitations et á bientôt! Marie-Renee and family 7/7/2012 . . . Thank you! Melissa . . . We loved it all! you made our 11th anniversary extra special! Love, Dawn & Jimmy . . .Excellent service! Loved the wine. Informative and enjoyable. Can't wait to come back. Faith, Elizabeth & Anne. 7/13/12 . . Excellent!! Linda and Chris 7/13/12 . . . Everything was fabulous! Great food, atmosphere, wine - loved it :) . . Wonderful meal! . . I loved all & can't wait to return . . De-lish as usual! Will be back soon. Kathy & Lon, Michele & John . . . Loved it! Even though I don't speak Le French, I loved it! xoxo . . . Wonderful! Thanks Guys. Sharon (the Crucian Girl!) . . . This place is amazing! Been here 3 times - just keeps getting better!! Meredith 6/22/12 . . . Burp! So good! Rick . . . Thank you for welcoming us on our 28th anniversary - Lovely! Best wishes David & Judith . . . Thank you for a beautiful, delicious meal to celebrate my sister's graduation. Our evening was perfect. Lauren P. . . You guys! The food is the bomb! Lots of LOVE from the Malaysian girsl (a.k.a. Crazy Mohan's Bat girls) Shakila & Kaveetha! 6/30/12 The food here is amazing!! I loved the atmosphere too! Very lovely. I will definitely come back soon! Tres bien, merci beaucoup! Yuna 6/30/12 . . . Great birthday here. 6/30/12 . . . Amazing people - LOVED IT! Chris with his crazy choco eyes! Best wine EVA! . . . Great we will be back! Another excellent lunch! . . . 6/2/12 The best birthday lunch! Aileen . . . Lunch was spectacular! Thank you! . . .Best lunch ever! Thank you for making our day great! Love, Lauren . . . Lunch was fantastic!! Thank you :) Janet . . .The food was fantastic! Just & Jess. . . Ah-ma-zing ! . . . Awesome food . Luca . . . So great food So much fun . . . Was just great as promised by our friend who recommended . . Merci pour un delicieux repas! En espérant avoir le plaisir de revenir beintôt! Merci beaucoup. . . . . Merci beaucoup pour le vin! c'était toutes délicieux! Beaucoup d'amour de l'englaise! . . 5/26/12 "Moments of magic" happen - at just the right time. Thank you so much! 5/25/12. . . . so excited to be dining here tonight! I'm saving my appetite! . . . Fabulous wines! . . . Reading teacher loves your wines! . . . Wines are by far the best I've tasten all day! Thank you! We'll be back. . . . GREAT . . .5/25/12 Phenominal food. Would love to revisit whenever possible. Loved Chris as well. Best of luck. 5/20/12 Katie, our server, top notch! Her cousin couldn't have been more fabulous! Can't get enough of the rosemary rolls! Thanks, Diane, for the scoop on Greenport's activities. We're coming back. 5/19/12 Thanks to Addie & Diane - we introduced my parents to Bistro for the first time tonight and they loved it as much as we do!!! Chef Arie - dinner was delicious beyond words!!! 4/12/12 Outstanding! 4/5/12 Great chardonnay . . . . WIne was amazing. Waitress amazing. . . . A great new North Fork destination. Love the food & service! . . . Fantastic! Love the atmosphere . . . Delicious! . . . Wonderfull . . . . We were impressed with the food, wines, service and the old building! Thank you. . . . We had the best food & service of any restaurant we've been to. Happy birthday to me!! . . . Great experience . . . . Excellent food, service and ambience. . . . Great XOXO . . . Best Bistro Best service! Thanks! . . . . Great experience XOXO Absolutely fabulous dinner as always! We adore you Katie !! . . . . Great Great . . .Excellent service and food! Wonderful Times! . . . Awesome. Thank you guys. . . .Great food and excellent wine! We will be back! . . . Fantastic meal! Fabulous wine. . . . Amazing! Loved it all. Katie was fantastic. . . . Wonderful . . . Excellent food . . . Excellent wines . . . I want a violinist for our 26th anniversary . . . Great Time! Addie is the best and so is the whole team... 3/25/12 Had the best time! So proud to be members! . . . ******** Delicious lunch - Excellent Russian Oak Chardonnay. . . . Diane Thank you again! Please keep me posted on any future events - . . . Great, amazing meal. . . . Love this place, awesome! . . . Addie was (is) wonderful . . Fabulous! . . . Great !! Bravo . . Wonderful!! . . Delicious food ! Excellent service! Delightful ambiance! fantastic . . . Wonderful! We love this place . . . Loved it! coming back for dinner! . . . Excellent dinner! . . .Katie thank you for a great experience! Best meal ever had. Not even kidding. Delicious! Thank you! . . . Superb experience! Thank you! . . . Now, this is the way onion soup should taste! Chris is so amazing & entertaining. Addie is so wonderful and we had the best service. The food was incredible. The chef is beyond awesome. xoxo Diane was so helpful and pleasant. Our 1st time here & we can't wait to come back!!! xoxo 3/24/12 ******** The best chef around. 3/24/12 . . . My Dad's 65th birthday!!!! xoxox Had such a wonderful time at the Bistro. Addie was an amazing server. The wine bar pourer was so hot, the manager was so delightful and the chef.....OMG to die for!!!!! xoxoxo Def coming back!!!!!! Food was beyond AWESOME!!!!!! 3/24/12 . . . Delicious!!!!!!!!! 3/25/12 . . . Arie is the best! 3/23/12 . . . What a wonderful dinning experience, my husband and I had at the Bistro. I can't say enough about the service and the people.The food was a culinary treat. Dave at the Cedar House B&B suggested this place and it was spot on. I do suggest don't miss desert and have the chocolate truffle ice cream. As I commented to the staff It's the last thing I would want to eat before I close my eyes at night. Thank you to the Bistro for a great dinner. Will be back next time we come to the area. 3/13/12 Arie's duck is like no other. The best west of France. 3/12/12 . . . Wonderful restaurant!!! 3/12/12 . . . Amazing food! Loved our tour of the upstairs....we saved a trapped bird! As usual our waitress was the best! Its hard to drive by without stopping now that we've tried the food! 3/12/12 . . . Best place in the world!!!! 3/12/12 . . . . Absolutely love this place! The wine is spectacular! Chef Pavlou is a master, everything is always perfect! 3/11/12 Just came here for my birthday, the wine was so good and food was exquisite! 3/4/12 . . . This place was amazing! Not only is the wine amazing, the food is fantastic!!!! 3/4/12 Lunch was awesome! The new bar looks great. Thanks... 2/25/12 Wifey and I were in last night. Once again - phenomenal..... Lamb shank & pork shank.....no knife needed ! 2/23/12 place is very nice, good people,good food, good wine. Will be awesome in summer with wine bar and outside deck!! All should make sure to visit 2/21/12 Delicious and prepared just right by the chef. We enjoyed our lunch so much and will be back with friends. Great wine! Friendly staff and informative. Five stars 2/19/12 A very nice place, the staff, food and wine were great. We will be back soon. We had the pleasure to be first the first customers to eat at their new bar. 2/18/12 Came in last night...took advantage of your half priced bottle of wine with appetizer! All I can say is wow! We had the escargot and froi gras for the first time....amazing! We loved our cute little lively waitress....we will be back! 2/17/12 Particpated in the wine & chocolate pairing then stayed for a marvelous dinner!! 2/13/12 Great, great place!!! 1/18/12 . . .
********* Wonderful!! I'll be back. Happy New Years!! 12/31/11. . . . I want to thank Therese and the staff for a wonderful dining experience. I so enjoyed the great wine, food and service. Cant wait to go back. Happy Newyear and thankyou all....12/31/11 Outstanding experience! 12/21/11 . . . . c ya on my 30th 5/8/12 . . . . Fucking Amazing !!!! 12/29/11 . . . . One of the top 5 steaks in my life! Frank A. 12/30/11 ********* I enjoyed this food and wine. Thanks.... 12/12/11 Most excellent - Thank you. 12/12/11 Had a fabulous dinner after a day of wine tasting. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day. The food was wonderful, the staff was gracious and the wine superb! Thanks for a wonderful experience..we will be back! 12/4/11 ********* Thank you very much. The food and service was excellent. It was as good if not better than the best restaurants in New York City. 12/3/11 Thank you for making the first night of our honeymoon SO special! We had a wonderful, relaxing time and all the wine we had was wonderful!! Thanks again, y'all! ********* I have been to this restuarant 4 times now and each time it is a winner!! I will even go as far as saying that the French Onion Soup is the best I have had...and that is including in Paris. Service is super friendly, the atmosphere is lovely, cozy and quaint...11/15/11 ********* We arrived for lunch without a reservation during Restaurant Week and had a great meal with attentive service. Arie is a genius when it comes to marrying locally sourced meats & produce. Pumpkin/apple soup was sublime; tender pork ribs were delicious and falling off the bone. Don't miss this very romantic Bistro & vineyard on your next visit to the North Fork! 11/6/11 ********* Just had an absolutely wonderful dinner experience this evening. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Diane, Addie, Jamie and all the staff and experience such fine service and wonderful food! Cannot wait to return. Actually, we will be coming back on Oct. 22!!! . . . Cute young waiter . . . wonderful food, great staff . . . ULALA! . . . excellent service & food . . .YUM YUM Lots of Fun!! . . So great . . . Addie was fabulous!!!! . . . A definate must try for anyone who hasn't . . Delicious!!! . . . Had a wonderful day at your Chocolate/Wine tasting today. Great venue, great tastings, great pairings. Very informative and great fun!@ . . . That pumpkin puree soup is out of this world!!! :) . . . Thank you for helping EOS celebrate their 15 years in business. Sorry I missed the big event but hope to come back with Michio sometime soon. . . . 11/14/11 ********* Stopped in for the first time yesterday....Best Long Island wines that I ever tasted over the past 25 years!!!! Food was great too!!! Will go back soon!!! 10/10/11 ********* Wonderful! We'll be back . . . Wonderful lunch! . . . Yummy desert! . . . Wonderful. You'll see us again. . . great wine! . . . Stellar . . . Amazing!!! . . . phenom ! . . .DELISH! . . OMG!!. . . superb . . . excellent :) . . . . Superb . . . a pleasure! . . . Great! 10/9/11 ********* OMG great food,service!!!!!!!!missed arie's cooking!!!!!! so glad youre back arie!!!!!!
********* The bistro is beautiful inside and out. The food and servive was excellent. The fois grois was so good, I was tempted to order it again as a 2nd dessert! The Blanc Do Noir paired beautifully with it and it's a wine that is fantastic on it's own. Duck confit, and crepe suzette and i had a really happy birthday dinner. Wow. 9/12/11 ********* Just had a late lunch today for my birthday and WOW. The food was phenomenal. And I'll pick up a bottle of the Blanc De Noir at the liquor store, one of the most enjoyable wines I ever had. Terrific everything 9/11/11 ********* "I gave a gift certificate to the Bistro to my sister as an Engagement gift and she and her fiance said your restaurant is the best they have ever been to!" 9/10/11 ********* Fantastic - - - . . . ditto . . . SUPER ! ! ! . . . .Chef de Vin all over again . . . Great . . . Awesome! . . . Fabulous/loved my waitress! . . . We love it! . . . Delicious! . . . Excellent . . . Best mussels ever! . . . Great! . . . 9/9/11 ********* Thank you Chef Arie and Dianne for a wonderful dining experience this evening. 9/1/11 ********* Dinner this evening was absolutely delicious, great restaurant, food and service... Each part of our meal was spectacular, the Fluke and Duck were amazing, even the Salad and the Dessert... yum yum yum.... Crepes & Chocolate... I would so recommend this restaurant. 8/24/11 ********* Tree: Wanted to let you know that we stopped in for dinner - and was very pleased with everything. The service was wonderful, the food and wine were excellent!!! A great experience for everyone - including 3 very picky teen agers (one mine - two my friends'). Hope to talk to you soon. 8/20/11 ********* BRAVO !!!! This North Fork Winery Restaurant is a home run. It was too early for dinner and my wife and I saw a sign for wine tasting, so we decided to check it out. A man named Charles was doing the wine tasting and it was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable and professional. My wife loved the 05 Blan DeNoir and I couldn't make up my mind if the 05 Chateau Reserve Merlot or the 07 Estate Cabernet was my favorite. Two hours later it was time for dinner and decided to stay for dinner as well. We met Dianne the Manager and she was able to seat us even thought the place was filling up fast, especially since it was a Friday night. The wait staff was very friendly and accomodating. I carefully read there menu and the specials were detailed by our waitress. Not being able to pick I asked the waitress to let the Chef pick for us. The Chef "Arie" actually came out to make sure we wre giving him the green light. My wife and I like everything so we told him yes. He prepared three aps,Escargot, Brie with wild mushrooms in puff pastry and mussels in white wine. Simply incredible. He then prepared pan seared Montauk sea scallops w/crab bisque sauce and hickory smoked duck breast. Unbelieveable and perfectly cooked. The homemade tart and poached pear was the icing on the cake. The service was top shelf and I couldn't have planed a more perfect evening or meal. Thanks again and "we will be back". 8/18/11 ********* Wonderful, everything! . . . A lovely way to end a great day with friends! . . . A great meal . . . So much fun! . . . I love your pens! . . . Amazing food & setting & service! . . . Excellent! . . . Excellent!! GREAT!! . . . . Love, we love everything - we'll be back! 8/14/11 ********* This establishment will never disappoint. The chef & staff are first-rate and eager to please. The foie gras is seared to absolute perfection & paired with incredible sauces. The venison medallions & lamb shank are celestial. Go & enjoy. 8/8/11 ********* Always a treat! . . . ditto . . . Fabulous . . . Very good! . . .Excellent! . . . The best! . . . FAB!! . . Excellent . . Yum! . . WONDERFUL! . . . Excellent!! . . .Thannk you!! . . .Awesome . . GREAT! . . delicious ! . . . thanks!! . . . .8/7/11
********* My husband and I loved Comtesse Therese! The food was out of this world. My husband had the fois gras and duck and I had the escargot and fluke and all was fabulous. The staff was engaging and the sommelier provided wonderful pairings with the food and wine. The Contesse Therese wine was also something worth going back for. The decor is charming. We are pleased with this addition to the North Fork and plan to return soon! 7/15/11 ********* Just finished dinner there and spent some time with chief Ari. We had escargot, corn soup in a chardonnay reduction, scallops in a crab reduction, pear tart and home made mint chip ice cream. The food was excellent. The wines are reasonable and good. Probably one of the best values on the north fork. 7/2/11 ********* JUST GREAT!!! . . . . Very Enjoyable! . . . .GREAT!!! Loved the food, wine & ambiance! . . . Amazing! . . FANTASTIC A A A A . . . . VENISON CREPES WOW!!!! . . . (Great Hungarian barrels! . . . .AMAZING! . . . .Superb as always . . . . Fabulous Dahling! . . . 6/25/11 ********* Great - Thank you. . . food was excellent! . . . Yummy wine . .. fun, good food & wine, great staff . . . . Excellent everything! Loved it! . . . great food & ambiance great service! . . . we'll be back!!! . . . Perfect!!! . . . .Beautiful . . AMAZING!! (as usual) . . . Amazing reds! . . . . Very quaint & pretty! . . . beautiful! great find! . . . . great food - friendly serivce . . . will be back soon!!! . . . . I'm Belgian, and this was delicious! . . . . excellent !!! . . . Arie - you are the man! . . . .wonderful . . . wonderful winetasting . . .6/10/11 ********* Dear Diane and Ari- Gaylord and I want to thank you so much for helping us have the perfect anniversary date! You make it a special event every time we come ourselves or bring guests. And it is always a pleasure to recommend Comtesse Therese!! We want you both to know how very much we appreciate all the time and effort that goes into preparing those delicious meals. We look forward to seeing you again on the 29th!!!!!! All the best, . . .5/23/11********* Definitely go! I've been twice already, and both times the food and service were excellent. A new gem for the area, indeed! The ambiance is cozy, romantic and "Oh, so French". On our second visit, there was an accordion player, which made it even more special. . . .5/12/2011 ********* Loved the place! Charming rooms, great service and even better food. I highly recommend the escargot. . . . 5/5/2011 ********* So far I've eaten there once and I'm still thinking about it. The food was beyond delicious and the wine was amazing, in fact so good I ask my friend to buy me bottles of them when she comes to visit me ( I live on the south fork, she lives on the north fork.) I had an over all great experience and have been asking my boyfriend to take me back since.. . . 5/5/2011 ********* Delightful! . . . . Came for drinks, but will be back for dinner - loved it! :) . . . Thank you Be back soon . . . . Wonderful wines! . . . GREAT! . . . . excellent ! will be back . . . . Cannot wait to return. . . . Fabulous - . . . .Enjoyed a delightful lunch for 4 of French onion soup and seared scallops! Thank you!! *********
Had a very enjoyable lunch at the Bistro yesterday. Particuarly like the way they highlight local ingredients. All washed down with some Russian Oak Chardonnay. :) ********* Just a great dinner my wife Emelia and I had on Saturday nite. The preparation and taste of the ingredients were outstanding. And the french country decor made our valentine dinner very special. Thank you Chef Ari, the Comterese, and the friendly staff. Your Bistro is now our favorite dining pleasures on the East End. ********* We just had a fabulous dinner at the Bistro. Ari is quite the chef. The food rivaled NYC’s finest in our opinion. Carol and I started with the fois gras and she had the chicken chausseur and I had the lamb shank, both with the Merlot aged in Hungarian Oak. We will pass the word. The restaurant is really quite attractive. ********* Excellent food, Charming setting in an old house. We had the best sweetbreads we have had in a long time, a wonderful duck and excellent French onion soup. Too full for desserts. Well priced and a great value. The owner did a lot of the work on the house herself and it is delightful. ********* Great new discovery. Went with my wife on Saturday evening to this recently opened bistro and had a most enjoyable time. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated - Long Island North Folk farmhouse meets Parisian Bistro chic - with enough space between tables that you are not listening to everyone else's conversations. My wife and I had a wonderful meal tonight. I had the smoked duck and my wife had the lamb shank. I recommend the Hungarian Merlot, I even offered a sip to the guests at the next table who couldn't decide. The chocolate dessert was heavenly. Met the chef who has previously delighted diners at a former North Fork restaurant. Make a reservation. This place is going to take off and give the other 4 on the North Fork a run. Most entrees under $26 so it's a delicious valued meal, and the winery's selection are reasonable as well. I hope they will participate in RW in November. ********* "This past Sunday, along with family and friends, we decided to make our usual wine tasting trip. My brother, on a whim, decided to make our first stop Comtesse Therese and I went along with his decision - a bit reluctantly. ********* I love the use of local products. The meal and server were superb. ********* Visit the newest North Fork bistro - Comtesse Thérèse Bistro in Aquebogue. The specials I had were absolutely delicious - Tomato soup (roasted garlic, fresh sage, Asiago cheese in a puff pastry) and Cherrywood Smoked Duck Breast w/blackberry brandy bacon Savoy local cabbage. Hmm... is it dinner time yet? ********* Dear Dianne, Theresa and Chef Ari, Just wanted to send a note of sincere thanks for putting on a wonderful Holiday soire last Friday for my group. Everything was top notch - the food was delicious, wine pairings were great and the meeting room upstairs was perfect for my presentation. My group really enjoyed the event and I believe many will be back to visit again. With the Holidays quickly approaching, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - all the best to you with your fine establishment! Kind regards,
Dear Chef Arie and Dianne - Gaylord and I wanted to thank you both for your kindness and a sumptuous meal last Saturday. We felt so special and enjoyed every part of our meal. The fact that we could also enjoy a wine tasting in order to select the right wine for dinner was so relaxing and enjoyable. An added plus was that we loved being able to purchase wine to take home. Susan and Kate are an asset to the Bistro and both ladies went out of the way to make our dining experience memorable. Every course was wonderful and should you hear any rumor about me stabbing Gaylord's hand with my fork while tasting his venison chili, please know he is exaggerating and is a big fibber! (It was only a scratch and the chili was to die for, by the way!) Arie, your food brough back wonderful memories of dining at Coeur des Vignes. We are on your mailing list and look forward to returning to Comtesse Therese Bistro. Fondly, ********* Dianne (and staff)- ********* We had a very nice lunch there Thursday. Excellent lamb shank! . . . . I usually order seafood chowder at every restaurant I go to . . . The seafood chowder was the best I ever tasted. . . .Quick Tip: Escargot baby escargot will not be disappointed by this wonderful and tres adorable North Fork find... — at Comtesse Thérèse Bistro. (on Yelp) ********* This place was truly stellar. First I had the tomato soup with a puff pastry crust. Delicious! Then I had the fish special which was something called rascass, which the waitress said was a local fish similar to monkfish. When it first came out, I thought the fish was cut into ovals, but it turned out that the ovals were slices of bread. On top of the bread slices, there was sauce which was this delicious mixure of fish, bits of dark green that might have been spinach or herbs, tomato and I'm not sure I know what else. It tasted almost like a crab cake at the first bite, but as I ate more I realized that it was not like crab at all. It was truly unique and excellent. ********* A wonderful lunch! We'll be back! . . . . we had friends over last night and drank a few of the bottles deb picked up yesterday- truly spectacular- friends loved the reds. we are going to try and come by- need to find someone to watch the kids- ********* Now that was an amazing dinner!!! Thanks Chef!! *********
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********* We stopped by late Sunday afternoon on a whim for a wine tasting and had an amazing time. Wines were fantastic (as was the escargot) and the menu looks terrific- can't wait to come back soon for dinner! The charming antique atmosphere was beyond compare. Will definitely recommend your place to everyone. ********* I have been passing your place for months on my way out to Mattituck to ride horses and finally I stopped in to check it out. I was SO pleasantly surprised!! ********* Fantastic lunch here today. Super food and fabulous waitress Susan ********* Hope to return! ********* Yum! (Brooklyn, NY) . . . wonderful! ********* SEHR GUT! . . . . WOW . . . Wonderful . . . ********* Love my birthday dinner last night at Comtesse Theresa Bistro!!!!
Comtesse Thèrése BistroSeptember 2, 2011 http://www.georgekanakis.com/comtesse-therese-bistro/ My wife and I have been meaning to stop in and try Comtesse Therese French Bistro for sometime since we saw the sign go up in the fall 2010. In the last few months we were driving out to the North Fork, Long Island in the evening and we saw the lights open and that they were open for business. Well today was our day to head on over to the Comtesse Therese after quickly perusing their website for their menu – delectable foods and wines from their vineyard. The restaurant is in a home converted to a restaurant on Main St. in Aquebogue and some folks may even drive past it not realizing its there but you’re missing out if you’re driving on by. You come into an atmosphere of old style French chateau which may be a little stuffy to the average person but look no further than we met Dianne who greeted us with a pleasant, warm smile inviting us inside to sit down. The wait staff immediately came by offering water or a drink of which we tried a glass of the Comtesse Therese’s Sauvignon Blanc and their Russian Oak Chardonnay. For starters we had to try their fresh mussels which were much bigger and tastier than the ones we have had in the past out here in the North Fork. I also had to try their French Onion soup since I am a big fan of the soup which was delicious and not overly done – the soup had the right consistency and wasn’t too salty like you’ll find at some restaurants. Our taste buds were now jumping wanting to move onto the next course which my wife had chosen to go with their scallops special which was pan seared with a local crab bisque sauce, local spinach and saffron basmati rice. I went with the lamb shank confit with a reduction Madeira, roasted garlic, marjoram flowers and some potatoes. These two meals did not disappoint – flavorful and succulent, we didn’t want it to end…I almost went into the kitchen to ask for more even though I was clearly stuffed. This is when Chef Arie came out and was speaking to his patrons whom I find to be a huge plus for a restaurateur – to me it shows that he cares about his patrons and wants to hear some feedback and get to know them by having a pleasant conversation. Some restaurants I’ve been to I would see the owner in the corner just standing there not speaking to anyone or just speaking to certain customers or if they ordered wine. Chef Arie came out and said hello and had conversations with everyone. And when you thought it couldn’t get any better we ordered the mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert to share, I had an espresso and I must say the ice cream explodes with this fresh minty taste when you put that first scoop in your mouth and the chocolate, oh so good!! This is by far the best mint chocolate chip ice cream I’ve ever had. Let me not forget that Chef Arie brought out his chocolate truffles for us to try which were exquisite and went so well with the espresso and I’m sure would also go well with an after dinner wine or drink. Now we’re deciding who we’re bringing with us on our next culinary adventure to Comtesse Therese. Bring your palate ready for flavors, fresh local ingredients, and folks who are down to earth good people running a fantastic establishment. Please make sure you visit their website and when you’re in the North Fork make a reservation and enjoy their food, wine and great company. Thank you Chef Arie and Dianne for a wonderful culinary experience. You can find them on Facebook at Comtesse Therese Vineyard and Bistro and at http://www.comtessetherese/bistrohomepage.html. ********
Published: June 1, 2011 2:20 PM
Photo credit: Randee Daddona Brie en croute, with brie and wild mushrooms in puff pastry, is served with a small mesclun salad at Comtesse Therese Bistro in Aquebogue. (May 13, 2011) 
739 Main Rd. Aquebogue, NY 11931 Galleries
It's a natural, the concept of a restaurant within a winery. But it wasn't until last fall that Long Island's first, Comtesse Thèrése Bistro, was born at its namesake vineyard. A historic restaurant, for sure, fittingly situated within a 19th century manse, along with the vineyard's wine-tasting room. In a dining room furnished with Duncan Phyfe period pieces, constellations are painted onto the ceiling; ornate mirrors line the walls. I'm told diners and crew alike have seen shadowy reflections. Ghosts? Something to ponder as I sip the winery's big, dark reserve merlot. Past and present merge in chef Arie Pavlou's French bistro menu, which optimizes local resources and herbs grown on-site. The $35 prix-fixe on Wednesday and Thursday evenings is quite the buy. A prime starter on that dinner is a lovely cream of asparagus soup, the springtime elixir crowned with a fresh asparagus spear. On the a la carte menu, escargots are plump, redolent of garlic. I'm surprised how light and appealing a combination of Brie and wild mushrooms in puff pastry turns out to be. My favorite prix-fixe entree is a juicy, peppery hanger steak au poivre. Locally caught fluke with capers and olives, while good, can't compete. Nor can the a la carte lamb shank confit, a trifle dry. But the Crescent Farms smoked duck breast -- hauntingly smoky, tender and moist -- is the hit of the evening. Crepes Suzette in a fragrant Grand Marnier sauce crowned with house-made vanilla ice cream are very good. Better yet is an almond-crusted local blueberry tart that epitomizes wine country eating. Upstairs, we check out the library and Versailles Room, used for private wine tastings and dinners. Stuffed foxes and pheasants from vineyard owner Teresa Dilworth's taxidermy collection add to the sense that the past lives on at this very North Fork dining spot.
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DAN'S PAPER review, Issue #44, Feb. 4, 2011 Restaurant Review: Comtesse Therese By Stacy Dermont The North Fork's newest destination restaurant, Comtesse Thérese in Aquebogue, is cute on the outside, with six wine barrels spelling out "BISTRO" at the foot of the driveway and white wrought iron lawn furniture in the back courtyard. But its outward appearance didn't prepare us for what lay within. After we entered the front door of this circa 1835 country rectory, we passed through a narrow hall and boom! We were suddenly on the North Fork of France. Who knew? Owner and winemaker Tree Dilworth has spent several years realizing her rich fantasy in this unique establishment. Opened just four months ago, Comtesse Thérese looks like it's been here, on the North Fork of France, for a good 180 years. One expects to run into novelist George Sand or perhaps Honore de Balzac at the tasting bar.
S. Dermont We passed through The Sky Room and into The Constellation Room for our meal. Aubusson-style carpets, hand-gilded details, crystal chandeliers, lyre-back chairs - the décor is High Romantic French Country but my manly husband was not at all chastened by the fabu atmosphere. In fact, he was very proud of himself for noting the grape motif along the edges of the large mirror near his seat. Bon travail, mon chere! He also quite liked The Versailles Room, which is used for private parties. We took a peek at its red walls, petit point wall hangings and taxidermy residents. Definitely fit for a king. And what pastoral French bistro would be complete without a fast-talking, wise-cracking Bostonian sommelier? Dianne Delaney hails from Bean Town but she trained in Europe and she certainly knows her wines. Delaney is always at hand to offer suggestions for wine choices and apropos wine pairings. Some Comtesse Thérese wines, such as their 2005 Chateau Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (peaking right now), are available exclusively at the bistro. The house's most popular wine is its 2005 Hungarian Oak Merlot. Try it; it's dry and subtly spicy. And then there's the food. Fantastique! For all you Francophiles: OUI! The foie gras and creme brulee are all that they should be. And my apologies - with all the specials at hand we failed to sample the escargot. I trust that Le Cordon Bleu grad Chef Aristodemos Pavlou does that just right as well. It's on the regular menu, so you can try it any time. We started with soups - lentil for moi, French onion for him. Both were perfumed with rosemary from Comtesse Thérese's herb garden. I didn't know how very rich duck broth was until I tried this soup. Chef sent out an amuse bouche of sliced Crescent Farms duck leg. I'm a little standoffish with duck - but when in Aquebogue...the duck was not gamy but very flavorful and moist. Daily specials included Smoked Duck Breast, a Veal Chop and the Catch of the Day was Pan-seared Shinnecock Scallops served with jasmine rice. My husband went for the scallops, I chose the classic Chicken Chasseur from the regular menu. The scallops, bejeweled with pomegranate seeds were obviously very good - I didn't even get a taste! My braised chicken was a tender perfection, in a well-balanced sauce of wine and olives. Most of the ingredients are local, of those that aren't local - most are American grown. In fact, the apples and cider come from Woodside Farms, immediately next door. When I asked Chef Pavlou if he had any special equipment in his kitchen he quipped, "The chef is the equipment!" I took an opportunity to watch him in action as he cut the ties from long rolls of braised rabbit, prepared for that evening's Slow Food dinner party. He will forever be Arie "The Blur in the Toque" Pavlou to me. One of the few true French bistros on the East End, Comtesse Thérese is filled with delights. Make your Valentine's Day reservations now - it's sure to be popular with lovers. My dessert recommendation for valentines: share a piece of the puddlingly chocolatey Gateau de Chateau from the same plate and then buy a bottle of red wine and some house-made Belgian chocolate truffles to go - enjoy them at home denude.... Comtesse Thérese, 739 Main Road, Aquebogue. 631-779-2800, comtessetherese.com
S. Dermont ******** Food Reviews: COMTESSE THÉRÈSE BISTROLONG ISLAND PULSE Author: Richard Jay Scholem | Published: Friday, July 22, 2011http://www.lipulse.com/dining-nightlife/article/food-reviews-comtesse-therese-bistro/ 2.5 stars 0 stars = poor 1 star = satisfactory 2 stars = good 3 stars = very good 4 stars = excellent 5 stars - extraordinary Long Island Pulse photo by stephen lang When he’s not in the kitchen, Aristodemos Pavlou, the chef at Comtesse Thérèse Bistro in Aquebogue, hunts for game and forages for mushrooms, ramps and wild fiddlehead ferns. He gets duck from his neighbor, the Crescent Duck Farm, and fish from Phil Karlin, a Mattituck commercial fisherman. The twenty types of herbs he uses come from the Bistro’s own garden. Apples and cider are just a lot away at the Woodside Farms. Other ingredients come from nearby farm stands and the eleven wines available originate at Comtesse Thérèse from its own vines, for it is the Island’s only vineyard with a restaurant. The restaurant is in an 1835 house that once served as a church rectory. It has been brought back to life by the keen eye of its owner Thérèsa (Tree) Dilworth, a tax attorney by day and a winemaker away from her lawyer duties. She spent four years converting the 180-year-old building (doing much of the construction herself) into a quaint, charming, country-style restaurant with rooms that make diners feel as though they are eating in the home of a bygone era. All of this would be unremarkable in France where lovely old homes, local ingredients, antique furnishings and very distinctive, individualistic restaurants are the rule rather than the exception. But on Long Island, Comtesse Thérèse is one of a kind. Although the restaurant’s signs, wine barrels (six of which spell out the word “bistro” in flashing neon), etc. are a bit over the top, its tasteful interior is a place of hand-gilded detail, old breakfronts holding silver and glassware, bare polished wood tables, carpeting, chandeliers, oversized framed mirrors and traditional art. Comtesse Thérèse’s French-skewed food is traditional as well. Dishes like escargots, onion soup, brie en croute, foie gras, chicken chasseur, tarte tatin and crême brulée dot the menu. Most of them are rewarding successes. And why not? Mr. Pavlou is a classically-trained French chef educated at Le Cordon Bleu L’Art Academe in Paris.
Long Island Pulse photo by stephen lang After receiving some exceptional, warm, house-made rolls and soft butter, we sampled a dense French onion soup ($16) for the ages, bursting with the flavor of a local duck stock. Had it been any thicker, it could be cut with a knife. A cream of asparagus soup of the day ($7.50) offered delicate taste and consistency, but needed a hefty dose of salt. Six good, garlicky escargots ($11.75) and brie en croute, ($12) or warm brie and wild mushrooms in puff pastry paired with cool greens, are other recommended starters. Among the entrées, the fish of the day ($24), rascas, a firm white-fleshed bay fish popular in France paired stew-like with fava beans and tomatoes was light and fine. A huge take home-sized lamb shank confit ($25) was tasty but hard rather than fall-away tender. Well-done, smoked local duck breast retained its taste and most of its moisture, but would’ve been better medium rare (our competent waiter didn’t ask how we wanted it). Sautéed chicken ($23), in a rich cream sauce, more than passed muster. The house-made desserts here are an especially strong course. The large tarte of the day (blueberry one day) accompanied by almond cream is a steal at $7.50. The tiny tarte tatin ($9) boasts a scoop of house-made ice cream, three chocolate truffles ($10) made with wonderful Belgium chocolate are delicious and best of all is the gâteau de château ($8.50), a powerful chocolate cake drenched in warm chocolate, blackberry brandy sauce that provides chocoholics with an almost orgasmic high. *********
(excerpt from a longer article) for full article see the NEWS page http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/nyregion/at-wine-tastings-going-beyond-a-simple-cheese-plate.html?_r=4 September 9, 2011 In the Tasting Room, the Cheese Plate Evolves By SUSAN M. NOVICK CUTCHOGUE, N.Y. Last fall, Comtesse Thérèse in Aquebogue opened a bistro on a half-acre with a small vineyard and an herb garden. It offers wines from the 10-year-old Comtesse Thérèse winery as a complement to the French-inspired menu of the chef, Arie Pavlou, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris; the manager and sommelier is Dianne Delaney. The restaurant is allowed because the property is zoned for commercial use, according to Theresa Dilworth, the owner of Comtesse Thérèse; the main vineyard is about a half-mile away. The emphasis is on fresh, local ingredients like smoked duck breast from Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue and pan-seared Montauk sea scallops. Wine tastings are offered in the bar or in the garden, with nibbles that include house-brined herbed olives and house-smoked bacon. (Although a small amount of wine is made on the premises, the Comtesse Thérèse wines are made primarily by Premium Wine Group in Mattituck.) During lunch and dinner hours, customers can order from the bistro menu and sample wines in the 28-seat restaurant. On a recent afternoon, a rich onion soup was paired with the 2008 Comtesse Thérèse Russian Oak Chardonnay; the escargots with a 2008 rosé; and the smoked duck breast with the 2006 Hungarian Oak Merlot. Ms. Dilworth recalled her early days as a vineyard owner when none of the vineyards offered any food. “I never really liked the idea of standing up and drinking wine,” she said. “I prefer the food and the wine to be on equal footing.”
photo by Gordon M. Grant for The New York Times POUR IT ON Dianne Delaney is the manager and sommelier at Comtesse Thérèse bistro in Aquebogue
photo by Gordon M. Grant for The New York Times Duck confit is on the menu at Comtesse Thérèse bistro, which opened last fall *********
Comtesse Thérèse Bistro, www.exploreli.com (Newsday) Type: Bistros- Brasseries, French, Winery Special features: Lunch, Outdoor Seating Price range: (no rating) Description: Surrounded by regal mirrors, bits of vintage art and tables placed closely together, one could imagine this more a Gold Coast mansion than the bistro extension of the Comtesse Thérèse Vineyards. However, this space is absolutely an open place to come and dine, with a friendly atmosphere and attention to detail the norm. The food is born of French inspiration (and much of it is grown on the premises), with local duck, seafood and vegetables the staple ingredients. Salads and desserts are also part of the menu, and being that wines are really the original impetus of the grounds, be sure and take on some tastings while on the premises. http://long-island.newsday.com/restaurants/comtesse-therese-bistro-1.2000410 ********* ZAGAT Member Review: Comtesse Theresa Bistro Small restaurant in several intimate rooms, part of a winery.The food is delicious, beautifully prepared -- foie gras, duck confit, venison, chocolate truffles are some of the (caloric) highlights. The wine is only that of the vineyard, and there is no hard liquour -- but on the other hand, the wine prices are those of the vineyard (no restaurant markup). NOTE: The middle name is Therese, not Theresa; the restaurant is in Aquebogue, not Riverhead Published December 13, 2010 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:91K4Qpbd6qcJ:www.zagat.com/r/comtesse-theresa-bistro-riverhead+comtesse+therese+zagat&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox&source=www.google.com Dan's Papers, May 27, 2011, Sommelier Stress by Dianne Delaney After the server has introduced herself to the table, and shared the many seasonal specials of the day, the Sommelier approaches the table to assist in a wine selection. What follows is an actual verbal exchange that I engaged in one evening: “Good evening, may I assist you in a wine selection?” says the Sommelier. “Yes, I would like a French Prosecco,” says the well-dressed female diner. “I’m sorry we do not have Prosecco, we do have our own local Sparkling Wine we label as Isle,” explains the Sommelier. “No, I don’t want Sparkling Wine, I will have a glass of French Champagne instead,” says the diner. Sommelier then explains, “We offer only award-winning North Fork of Long Island, Comtesse Thérese wine.” The diner then spat, “Fine, I will have a glass of Pinot Grigio!” Sommelier replies, “I’m sorry we do not have Pinot Grigio.” “Then WHAT do you have?!” says the diner clearly annoyed. “Please take a look at our Comtesse Thérese wine list,” Sommelier politely suggests. Diner looks at page 2 of our menu, “If you are sooo local why do you have wine from Hungary and Russia?” Sommelier then stifles a laugh and explains, “We use Hungarian, Russian in addition to French, oak barrels to ferment and age our wines.” “Hmmm, you have many Merlots, I don’t like dry wine, is this Russian Merlot dry?” Diner is now visibly frustrated with the Sommelier. Mind you this exchange is during the height of service on a busy Saturday night! Sommelier offers, “Let me help you complement your dinner with the perfect wine, what are you going to enjoy for an entrée?” With a visible roll of her eyes, diner says, “fine, I will have the scallop special.” Sommelier replies, “Wonderful, we have the perfect wine to complement that dish.” Pan-seared scallops made in a curry and sauternes reduction infused with saffron served with herbed basmati rice and sprinkled with fresh pomegranates. A seasoned Sommelier can almost predict a person’s palate. “Here you go, try this, a taste of our ’08 Blanc de Noir, off-dry 1.5% residual sugar, salmon in color and has a nose of full ripe peaches.” After the diner took her first sample sip she replied, “WOW, this is really good, why didn’t you just tell me about this wine in the first place?!!” Sommelier at this point wanted to use the corkscrew in her pocket to drill a hole in her head to release the sheer frustration of dealing with these fabulous diners. Lesson being: your Sommelier is there to assist you in your wine selection, we want you to enjoy a fine dining experience, complementing your food choice with the perfect wine. “Trust your Sommelier, we are there to insure you will enjoy a ‘fine DINING experience,’ not to have a wine DUELING experience.” Dianne Delaney is the Sommelier at Comtesse Thérese Bistro, 739 Main Road, Aquebogue. 631-779-2800. reservations@comtessetherese.com She has made her “passion her profession” since living in Spain as a teenage foreign exchange student. Prior to that her food experiences were Hamburger Helper, Hi-C, frozen veggies in a bag and Pop Tarts. Wine experiences were stolen sips of Riuniti “on ice, that’s nice” during adult gatherings. ********* Dan's Papers, June 2, 2011, Local Wine Pairings by Tree Dilworth Local Food and Wine Pairings from East End Vineyard Owner & Restaurateur, Tree Dilworth Comtesse Thérèse is the only Long Island vineyard that also owns a restaurant, Comtesse Thérèse Bistro in Aquebogue. Vineyard owner/winemaker/restaurateur Tree Dilworth shares thoughts on which wines she’d pair with her food and why. Bowl of Olives
Escargots with Garlic and Parsley Butter
Pan-Seared Montauk Sea Scallops
Local Duck Leg Confit
House-Smoked Local Duck Breast
********* Dan's Papers, Hamptons Epicure, Drinking in Wine Pairings, March 11, 2011, by Stacy Dermont I'm a big fan of Lenn Thompson's "Over the Barrel" column in this paper. I pay close attention to his local wine picks. He's a serious oenophile; I am merely a wine lover. Thompson wrote in his column last November that he 'hates seeing people get so unnecessarily stressed out over wine pairing.' I agree that no one should get stressed about which wine goes with what, especially when entertaining at one's home. He goes on to state "wine pairing is often much more about avoiding bad pairings than it is about finding the singular 'perfect' one." This may be true for the your family's resident sommelier but let me tell you about wine pairings, from an epicurean standpoint: They are serious FUN and can be full of adventure! When it's someone's job to taste wines from all over the globe and figure out, with their expert palates, which is THE wine to accompany your square of tuna belly - go for it! There are classic pairings that the average host can master such as lamb and Bordeaux, foie gras and Sauternes, port and dark chocolate. They work every time, as long as you consider the series of courses, not just each course individually. But the genius of wine pairings is revealed when true experts guide you. I'd like to share some recent wine pairing experiences I've enjoyed. . . . (section omitted) I also thoroughly enjoyed some wine pairings on "The North Fork of France" at Comtesse Therese in Aquebogue. This new eatery has such flair. And the wine pairings are all "ultra local," matching classic French dishes with wines from the Comtesse Therese Vineyard. Guided by sommelier Dianne Delaney, we didn't want for anything. Plus some of the Comtesse's estate wines are ONLY available from this bistro - yet another good reason to dine there. *********
Photo credit: Doug Young Newsday | Comtesse Therese in Aquebogue suggests wine and cheese pairings for Holiday entertaining such as a Sauvignon Blanc with Catapano goat cheese. (Dec. 10, 2010) Pairing wine and cheeseOriginally published: December 15, 2010 2:38 PM http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/food-and-recipes/pairing-wine-and-cheese-1.2544909 Pairing wine and cheese creates another layer of entertainment for guests who may debate which combinations work best, says Dianne Delaney, sommelier and bistro manager at Comtesse Thérèse Winery & Bistro in Aquebogue. Not all wines work with all cheeses. "The white wines tend to complement the creamier cheeses and, for the red wines, the complex, full-bodied bold wines, need an equally complex, hard, firm cheese," Delaney says. WHAT TO BUY
HOW TO SERVE
WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING
WHY THEY WORK "They brought out both of the best characteristics of the wine and the cheese," Delaney says. "Beautiful, upfront blackberry notes followed by the cheese: big, bold, salty and sweet."
WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING
WHY THEY WORK "The mildness of the cheese and sharpness of the acidity of the sauvignon blanc complement each other," Delaney says. WINE AND CHEESE PAIRING Comtesse Thérèse's 2005 Hungarian Oak Merlot and Comté (France)
WHY THEY WORK "The merlot brought out the flavors of the nuttiness of this particular cheese. The cheese became almost sweet in its finish," says Delaney. "It was a beautiful combination."
INFO Comtesse Thérèse Winery & Bistro, 739 Main Rd., Aquebogue, 631-779-2800, comtessetherese.com ********* Playing With Fire radio show
Listen to the Jan. 22, 2011 radio show
DJ Malibu Sue McCann, Sommelier Dianne Delaney, Chef Arie Pavlou, Chef Tom Schaudel, and Winemaker Tree Dilworth in the studio at WHLI 1100 AM To listen to the radio show, "Playing With Fire", which aired on January 22, 2011, click here *********
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Owner Theresa Dilworth (from left), manager and sommelier Dianne Delaney, executive chef Arie Pavlou and sous chef Lijo Chacko in the 'Cloud' dining room. DINING GUIDE: Suffolk Times and Riverhead News-Review Owners: Theresa Dilworth and Sammy Shimura Comtesse Therese Bistro is the first Long Island winery and restaurant situated in a single location. Owned by Comtesse Therese, which has 20 acres of vineyard planted on Union Avenue in Aquebogue, the restaurant features dishes by Chef Arie Pavlou and wines from their vineyard.
The Dining Guide is not a review column. It appears as a courtesy to Times/Review Newspapers advertisers. *********
********** Comtesse Thérèse Bistro Opening Only Days Away http://northfork.patch.com/articles/coming-soon-comtesse-therese-bistro 739 Main Rd, Aquebogue, NY Sept. 20, 2010 After six years of wading through red tape, Aquebogue vintner says very soon the North Fork will have its first winery-owned restaurant. Vintner Theresa Dilworth's dream of pairing her own wine with locally-grown food in a bistro setting will soon become a reality within the next few weeks, she hopes. Comtesse Thérèse Bistro, the first vineyard-owned restaurant on the North Fork, was supposed to open this summer on Route 25 just east of Church Lane in Aquebogue. But the bistro's debut was, once again, delayed by various permitting issues — par for the course for Dilworth, who bought the property in 2004. "I've been renovating ever since," said Dilworth, a tax attorney by trade who also owns Le Clos Thérèse Vineyard on Union Avenue in Aquebogue. "We've been doing a lot of work here." With help from executive chef Ari Pavlou, Dilworth has spent the last six years turning a former saddlery, originally built in the 1830s as a church rectory, into a unique and intimate restaurant with a European flare. Chef Pavlou, a native of Greece who has worked in kitchens all over the world, has created a French Mediterranean-style menu relying on only local ingredients from farmstands, fishermen, neighboring Crescent Duck Farm, and from the bistro's own extensive herb garden. Pavlou, who teamed with Dilworth about three years ago, said he's ready for the restaurant to roll. "We've been telling everyone three weeks for the past two years," Pavlou said. "We didn't expect it to take this long." Stay tuned for coverage of Comtesse Thérèse Bistro's opening and a review of the restaurant. ********** Coming up: Comtesse Therese Bistro http://exploreli.com/restaurants/feed-me-1.812004/coming-up-comtesse-therese-bistro-1.2238522 Thursday August 26, 2010 12:30 PM By Peter Gianotti
Photo credit: Randee Daddona Expect the wine to be flowing and the French-Mediterranean cuisine to be ready next month at the long-awaited Comtesse Therese Bistro in Aquebogue. The bistro was slated to be one of the major openings on the North Fork this summer. But delays mounted. The 19th century Main Road farmhouse where the eatery will be located has been going through the approval process and extensive renovation since late 2004. New timetable: mid-September. Owner Theresa Dilworth produces wine from her Le Clos Therese vineyard, also in Aquebogue. The bistro, which will seat 28, plans to specialize in pairing food and wine. The chef is Arie Pavlou, whose Long Island resume includes the departed Coeur des Vignes in Southold. ************Thursday, August 26, 2010 Aquebogue vineyard adds Jamesport bistro: Comtesse Thérèse to open in mid-Sept. http://www.suffolktimes.com/news-articles/1709/1709-Aquebogue-vineyard-adds-Jamesport-bistro.htmlBY VERA CHINESE |STAFF WRITER
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO Arie Pavlou, a graduate of the Cordon Bleu culinary and hospitality school in Paris, shows off a giant chicken of the woods mushroom he found in Wading River recently. He said the mushroom weighed 30 pounds before he cut it up and sauteed it for risotto. Last spring, a "coming soon" sign appeared outside the Comtesse Thérèse Bistro in Aquebogue promising that the restaurant, which has been in the works for five years, would be opening shortly. But since then, the doors to the North Fork's first restaurant to be operated by a local vineyard owner have remained closed and the kitchen empty. The operators now say opening day, held up for years by red tape, really is right around the corner. And if all goes according to plan, the 28-seat restaurant and tasting room will open by mid-September. "I kept having to say, 'No, it's not open," said the restaurant's owner and namesake, Theresa Dilworth. She is also proprietor of Le Clos Thérèse vineyard on Union Avenue in Aquebogue, a few miles down Main Road from the bistro, which occupies an 1830's farmhouse Ms. Dilworth has spent years renovating. "It's going to be so great to tell people, yes, the bistro is open," she said. 'We want it to be a charming place.' Comtesse Thérèse Bistro owner Theresa Dilworth Ms. Dilworth and her husband, Mineo Shimura, first proposed the restaurant in 2005 and nearly gave up on the project several times, she said. Ms. Dilworth said they are now working on the finishing touches while they await approval from the board of health. Inside the restaurant, cherrywood tables, made by Ms. Dilworth and chef Arie Pavlou themselves, lie unassembled among stacks of paintings and antique-style chairs still wrapped in plastic. The walls are painted, molding has been put in place and gold-trimmed mirrors adorn the interior. Mr. Pavlou, a graduate of the Cordon Bleu in Paris, described the menu as French Mediterranean, with entrées made mostly with local ingredients. He said it will be moderately priced. Among the menu offerings will be locally caught fish and game and herbs grown at Ms. Dilworth's Mattituck home and outside the restaurant, he said. "We're truly a local establishment," Mr. Pavlou added. The restaurant's decor is European inspired, Ms. Dilworth said. "We want it to be a charming place. We have to make up for being small by being good." The owner said there will be an emphasis on pairing food with her locally grown and produced wines. "It's definitely a place where wine and food are equally important," Ms. Dilworth said. Mr. Pavlou said it was sipping Ms. Dilworth's wine that inspired him to go into business with her. "The quality of her wines, I can still remember," he said. The restaurant will offer wines made from grapes grown at Ms. Dilworth's vineyard, Le Clos Thérèse. Mr. Pavlou said they are looking into securing a permit to brew and sell their own beers as well. Before dining, patrons will be able to enjoy a glass of Ms. Dilworth's Hungarian Oak merlot or chardonnay on an upstairs deck or in the garden, which will be illuminated with solar powered lights, Mr. Pavlou said. Though they have missed summer and the height of North Fork tourist season, Mr. Pavlou said he doesn't mind because he aims to make the restaurant a year-round destination. "We might have missed the summer," he said, "but we're going to get the harvest." vchinese@timesreview.com ********* A similar article appeared in the Riverhead News-Review Thursday, August 26, 2010 Bistro all set to open -- for real this time: Comtesse Therese Bistro owners eye mid-September for launch date BY VERA CHINESE STAFF WRITER ********** Newsday.com, May 25, 2010 The Hamptons: New eats out east link to articleOriginally published: May 25, 2010 4:31 PM ************ Foodies On The Search Will Find What's Cooking In New Jamesport NorthForkvue.com, May 14, 2010 by Joseph Pinciaro |
Comtesse Thérèse
Union Avenue and Route 105
P.O. Box 2799, Aquebogue, NY 11931
Katie Golder, Sales. Cell 516-455-8116
Comtesse Thérèse BISTRO
739 Main Road, Aquebogue, NY 11931
For Bistro Reservations
Phone:
631-779-2800
Email: reservations@comtessetherese.com
© Comtesse Thérèse
For reservations, email Bistro Manager & Sommelier Dianne Delaney at reservations@comtessetherese.com.