Restaurant Consultant/Sommelier Michael A. Cimino

Restaurant Consultant/Sommelier Michael A. Cimino

Michael A. Cimino received a diploma from the Sommelier Society of America in 1993. Since then he has applied his trade for several establishments, including the prestigious Xaviar's Restaurant Group, and the Park Steakhouse of Park Ridge, NJ. EMPLOYERS - SEE RESUME HERE

In February of 2000, the NY Times hailed Mr. Cimino, saying he had "mastered the arts of accommodating guests, and thanks to a stint in sommelier school, of selecting wine."

During his two year stint at the newly re-opened Park Steakhouse (under the ownership of celebrated chef John A. Halligan and Randy Carson) Mr. Cimino received the 2004 Award of Distinction from Wine Enthusiast magazine and the 2005 Award of Excellence from the Wine Spectator.

In February of 2006 he established the Cottage Views School of Wine at the Lighthouse on the Hudson in Piermont, NY, where he instructs the classes personally, and once again was the recipient of Wine Enthusiasts Award of Distinction.

He continues to consult to restaurants in the metropolitan area and teaches wine and service on both a private and professional level. He is currently the Director of Food and Beverage and sommelier at the Arcola Country Club in Paramus, NJ.

For more information and rates contact cottageviews@aol.com.

Read Recent Press

Headline News:

For Immediate Release

November 30, 2006

Rockland County, NY

Wine Enthusiast magazine announced the results of their 2006 Restaurant Awards today, wherein Rockland County's Lighthouse on the Hudson, in Piermont, NY, became the recipient of The Award of Distinction for helping "make wine an important part of the total dining experience" through "commitment and creativity."

The Lighthouse's Operations Manager, and Sommelier, Michael A. Cimino, based the wine list on "worldwide winemaking, with an emphasize on the best New York has to offer." The list includes wines from the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and the Finger Lakes districts of New York as well as wines from Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Spain, and California.

"We even have a dessert wine from Idaho," laughed Cimino. "Not only does it sell because people are curious, but they order a second glass because it is that good!"

Mr. Cimino has designed several wine lists in the greater metropolitan area, including the acclaimed list at the Park Steakhouse (Award of Excellence—Wine Spectator, Award of Distinction—Wine Enthusiast). He is currently working with Anthony Mingone, chef/owner of Romolo’s in Congers, NY, to improve the standards of wine and service.

The Lighthouse on the Hudson is a steak and seafood restaurant, and an historic NY landmark for over 100 years, that seats over one hundred people on it's spacious deck, complete with a Tiki Bar, that overlooks the Hudson River with a direct view of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Inside, the Lighthouse offers two different dining rooms with 3 working fireplaces, a lounge area with a 375 gallon fish tank and flat screen TV. The Lighthouse opened in May of 2002.

The idea behind the Lighthouse's wine list is to feature world class wines from around the globe, touching on the bases of all wine producing countries and styles of winemaking while keeping an emphasis on New York. The wine list, designed by Michael A. Cimino, received the 2006 Award of Distinction from Wine Enthusiast magazine.

click on menus to enlarge

The Lighthouse is located at 701 Piermont Avenue in beautiful downtown Piermont, NY - an historic town where the famed Turning Point music venue is located.

The Lighthouse on the Hudson

701 Piermont Ave., Piermont, NY 10968

(845) 365-1986

Romolo's has been Rockland Counties' preeminent Italian eatery for almost 30 years. Chef/owner Anthony Mingone, who is the president of the Westchester/Rockland chapter of the NY Restaurant Association, contacted Mr. Cimino to create a wine list for his restaurant in the Autumn of 2006. Please click on the menus to see larger images of Romolo's new wine list.

Please visit Romolo's online at www.Romolos.net

77 Route 303, Congers, NY

(845) 268-3770

July 2005

Wine Spectator Magazine has awarded The Park Steakhouse the Award of Excellence for having "one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world."

February 2005

The Park Steakhouse has received the Award of Distinction from Wine Enthusiast Magazine as one of America's Best Wine-Driven Restaurants, one of only five in the entire state of New Jersey to receive the award for 2004.

Consultant Michael A. Cimino is formerly the Wine Director

and General Manager of

The Park Steakhouse in Park Ridge, NJ

The Park Steakhouse is the genius of international award winning Chef John A. Halligan (formerly of 55 Wall at the Regent Wall Street Hotel, the Regency Hotel on Park Avenue, and Halcyon in the RIHGA Royal Hotel) and Randy Carson of Matts Grill