Looking for a cool place in town to enjoy great drinks and food? Take a short voyage to Nouveau Monde Wine Bar and Bistro, 6 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, to embark on a taste bud exploration.A Sample of the Menu:Snacks Cheese & Things - There are seven to ten choices for the cheese plate. It is accompanied with fine crackers, fruit preserves, dried fruits, and nuts.Soup - Some soup options include the housemade New England clam chowder and butternut squash.Salad - A customer favorite is the harvest salad with kale, pomegranate, butternut squash, feta, pepitas, and bourbon maple vinaigrette.Entrée - Wondering what wine will pair well with a certain dish? Each entree listed on the menu suggests different wine choices that go well with the meal. Some of the most popular menu items are the Nouveau Monde half-pound burger made with in-house ground chuck/brisket blend, aged cheddar, and truffle parmesan fries; and the Nouveau Monde fried chicken brined in buttermilk, with confetti corn bread, collard greens, and béchamel.Dessert Brunch - On Saturdays and Sundays till 3 pm, guests can enjoy a specialty menu of brunch options including the Thai Eggs Benedict that comes with buttermilk biscuits, chile grilled shrimp, housemade Thai-styled hollandaise, home fries for $16. Another popular brunch item is the chicken and waffles, which come with bourbon hazelnut maple syrup and mixed fruit for $15.Coffee & Tea - Coffee is from Shearwater Organic Coffee Roasters and is roasted in Trumbull for Nouveau Monde. Loose leaf teas are individually pressed for one or two.Bubbly Drinks - Nouveau Monde offers a variety of bubbly drinks like its Orange Mimosa, Peach Bellini, Cranberry Bubbly Cape Cod, and Pink Bubbly Greyhound, each for $8.Wineé, and red wines, as well as beers that once they are gone, they are gone. - There is wine available for every price point from budget-conscious options to exclusive higher priced bottles. Currently it has Overture by Opus One from Napa Valley, which can not be found anywhere else locally, and is offered by the half glass, glass, and bottle. Nouveau Monde even has "Last Call" options of white, rosNouveau Monde Wine Bar and Bistro, 6 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, is open seven days a week. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 2 to 10 pm; Friday from 2 to 11 pm; Saturday from 11:30 to 11 pm; and Sunday from 11 to 9 pm. Reservations for private parties can be made by calling 203-491-2723. For more information visit nouveaumondewinebar.com or search nmwinebar on social media.

Nouveau Monde is French for "New World." Newtown residents and owners Peter Chang and Bill Towne understand that on the East Coast there is usually emphasis on what is called the old world wines, which are from France, Italy, and Spain. In addition to having traditional wine, they want their restaurant to focus on introducing people to new world wines from places in the United States, South America, Australia, and India.

One of the many fun items purposefully placed about the relaxed chic restaurant is a cork globe with pins showing the origins of the different regions of its wines.

"We really want people to be educated about wine," said Mr Towne. "When you tell a story with something, you get a lot more value out of it. It really enhances people's experience to get a chance to understand."

That is why Nouveau Monde Wine Bar and Bistro also hosts wine seminars and wine pairing dinners every other month, which people can sign up for online.

Whether sitting in the private upstairs dining area, the high energy comfy lounge and bar, or the two patios, knowledgeable servers allow guests to sample a wine before committing to ordering a glass.

There is not just an extensive wine collection available, but also a wide variety of craft spirits, bourbons, scotches, whiskies, micro and craft brews, and one of the largest port selections around.

Nouveau Monde Wine Bar and Bistro is also a full-service restaurant. It has New American-styled food, that is a blend of many influences. There are gluten-free and vegetarian options marked on the menu.

Connecticut Magazine's Readers Choice Award for Best Wine Selections, Best Bistro, and Best Hidden Gem - but hopefully it will not be hidden for long.

Since opening in April 2016, Nouveau Monde Wine Bar and Bistro has already been featured in

- Nouveau Monde Wine Bar and Bistro has a wide variety of half appetizers. The Beef Short Rib Empanadas come baked with a housemade dough using a traditional Argentinian recipe and chimichurri for $7.

- A signature dessert is the Ancho chile chocolate créme brulee. It is spiced (but not spicy), lush, and velvety. Also, there is a large selection of liquid desserts as well, including dessert wine.

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