FEBRUARY 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 55
MAIN DISH
HOT PLATE
DINING SCENE ADDITIONS
BY MAIA VINES
PERI-PERI GUYS
Peri-Peri Guys founder Hafeez Raja
has brought traditional South African
spices to Nassau County. Peri-peri sauce
is made from African bird’s eye chili
peppers and has a history dating back
to the 15th century.
Wings ($7.89-$14.89) can be served
with peri-peri sauce, and burgers and
sandwiches ($9.89-$15.89) with peri-peri
mayo. The choice of spice level is yours.
Choose from plain, lemon and herb,
mango and lime, mild, hot, and lastly,
extra hot. Sides include mac and cheese,
mashed potatoes, peri rice, and peri-peri
fries ($3.99-$4.99).
Peri-Peri Guys is open Monday through
Thursday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and
Friday through Sunday from 12 p.m.
to 11 p.m. The restaurant offers dinein
service, takeout, curbside pickup,
and delivery. A third local location is
coming soon to South Shore Mall in
Bay Shore.
285 South Broadway, Hicksville, 516-470-
0303, periperiguys.com
HOT CHICKEN MAMA
This brand new chicken joint in Blue
Point opened Jan. 15 and serves six levels
of hot wings, from no-heat homestyle to
sign-the-waiver XL. Whether you dine in
or take out, you’ll want to give this hot,
crispy chicken a try.
Hot Chicken Mama’s menu also offers a
Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich; different
types of chicken plates, including
jumbo tenders, nuggets, and dark meat;
chicken salad; and a kids’ box that comes
with a custom toy. Plus, it has two-tone
strawberry and lavender lemonades, several
sides to choose from, and a weekend
brunch of chicken and waffles.
The restaurant accepts drive-thru and
walk-in orders at its shack-like spot
that recalls an old-timey diner or driveup
fast food place. It’s open Tuesday
through Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m.
168 Montauk Highway, Blue Point, 631-
621-8200, hotchickenmama.com
Hot Chicken Mama is spicing up Blue Point.
MAZI
Named after the Greek word for “together,''
Mazi aims to bring people together
with classic Mediterranean dishes.
This Greek kitchen serves steak kebab
platters ($29), souvlaki , New Zealand
lamb chops ($34), chicken or beef and
lamb gyros, and spanakopita, a savory
spinach and cheese pie ($12). Gyros and
souvlaki are offered as both platters ($19)
and pita sandwiches ($12). Look nowhere
else for dessert either. Mazi has many
options: chocolate cake, ice cream, baklava,
fruit salad, Greek yogurt and galaktoboureko,
a pastry made with custard
and honey syrup ($8).
Offering dine-in service as well as takeout,
curbside pickup and delivery, Mazi
is open seven days a week from 3 p.m. to
10 p.m.
326 West Jericho Tpke., Huntington, 631-
425-1196, maziny.com
SPARKLING POINTE LOW-CAL NOFO WINE
BY CJ ARLOTTA
Sometimes a boozy glass of wine isn’t
what you need. Maybe you’re on a new
diet, or you’re looking for something
with low alcohol beverage volume.
If either situation sounds like
yours,Sparkling Pointe’s Brut Nature
may be your best bet.
“We feel it is a perfect addition to
the Sparkling Pointe portfolio and
fills a space unlike any of our other
wines,” says Melissa L. Rockwell,
direct-to-consumer sales manager
at Sparkling Pointe, a North Forth
vineyard known for its vast selection
of sparkling wines.
Released in September 2020, Sparkling
Pointe’s Brut Nature has been in the
works since the 2016 vintage.
“The Brut Nature was originally
conceived by relying heavily on our
reserve wines (those held back and
stored in neutral oak and small steel
casks from past vintages) to supply the
texture and balance that is typically
achieved via the final addition of liquor
dosage,” Rockwell says.
The blend, which has an ABV of 12.5
percent, is composed of three types
of grapes: 33 percent Chardonnay, 56
percent Pinot Noir and 11 percent Pinot
Meunier.
“For me the aromatics are citrus-led
with green apple, some floral, and a bit
of that brioche-crispy croissant that
comes from the neutral oak aged base
wines plus the three years aging on the
lees,” Rockwell says. “There is a bit of
mineral and dried grassiness that I really
enjoy as well. The palate is striking
in its dryness (which is the point!), and
crisp acidity up front, but it also has a
softness to the finish.”
The winery produced 360 cases of Brut
Nature. A bottle is $42.00, unless you’re
a member of one of Sparkling Pointe’s
clubs, then it’s $37.80.
“It has been quite popular and well
received at the tasting house,” she says.
“Although I think there is a trendiness
to the style and even non wine aficionados
are compelled by a no-sugar, low-alcohol,
low-calorie sparkling wine.”
Sparkling Pointe is located at 39750
County Rd. 48 in Southold. It can be
reached at 631-765-0200.
Sparkling Pointe’s 2016 Brut Nature
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