Welcome warm weather… sipping delicious bubbly while dining alfresco on our patio, evenings under the stars celebrating good food and friendship…welcome Spring! Another reason to celebrate… I have new friends at Mionetto that sent me several bottles of their Italian sparkling wines to taste. One of the bottles of bubbly was completely new to me:…
wine
Alinea Experience Chicago
There is a fascinating documentary on Netflix “Chef’s Table” highlighting the life and career of Grant Achatz (Chef’s Table, Season 2, Episode 1). The show features Chef Grant Achatz and his restaurant Alinea. Chef Achatz battled tongue cancer which caused him to loose his sense of taste for a period of time. I was hesitant to watch the…
Happy Champagne Day! Celebrating With Tapas
Happy Champagne Day! We will be celebrating Champagne Day all weekend! Our celebration began last evening as we enjoyed tapas with wine pairing at Rockfish Restaurant in the Grandin Village, Roanoke, Virginia. Every third Thursday of the month they offer a flight of tapas paired with a wine flight. https://www.rockfishfood.com/. The theme last evening was Italy….
Happy 8th Birthday Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar, Roanoke, Virginia
On Saturday, September 8, 2018, Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar in Roanoke, Virginia, celebrated the cellars 8th birthday. Pictured above: Mr. Bill and Rebecca at Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar. I always enjoy the signs that greet guests outside their front door. We celebrated with a tasting of Francois Montand Brut Blanc de Blancs. ($15 range) In…
Put Sunshine In Your Champagne Flute This Weekend! Champagne Snockered Watermelon!
If you LOVE melon, you are going to LOVE this idea! Champagne Snockered Watermelon! The Wall Street Journal July 14/15, 2018 issue: “Drunk on Summer… recommends matching your favorite melon variety with a sympatico spirit.” The article, written by Aleksandra Crapanzano, makes these melon/spirit combinations: Cantaloupe (Sugar Cube, Serenade Cavaillon or Savor melons may be…
Spring Fun With Champagne And Chocolate Lace Cookies!
It’s Spring…time to get out of the house and have some FUN! Oatmeal Lace Cookies are THE BEST COOKIES! Perfect for a Spring picnic. The recipe is compliments of Gloria Smiley, Food Stylist Extraordinaire. She served them for lunch when we visited her in Atlanta, Georgia and I didn’t want to look like a piglet, but I just…
A Visit With Gloria Smiley ~ Food Stylist Extraordinaire
I felt like I won the lottery when my friend Kate asked me to join her on a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to attend a cooking class taught by Gloria Smiley. Gloria is an independent food stylist for print and film. She has taken classes at Cordon Bleu and LaVarenne in Paris and with Lydie…
Enjoy Special Club Champagne With Chili-Lime Crab Salad
One of my favorite Spring recipes by Sue Zemanick, Food and Wine Magazine (with a few little twists that I enjoy with this salad). I chill appetizer bowls and appetizer forks in the freezer for serving this salad. Chile-Lime Crab Salad With Tomato And Avacado 4 servings 5 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil…
Sparkling Wines For Holiday Celebrations ~ $30 Or Less
There are times when only the best will do and that’s the time for special pricey champagnes. Other times, when entertaining large groups of people or mixing bubbly drinks, less expensive sparkling wines are a better choice. It is in that spirit that I present to you sparkling wines under $30 for the holidays… …Best…
Fresh Pear Bellini With Cassis Blueberries + Sparkling Wine For The Holidays!
Fresh Pear Bellini Garnished With Creme de Cassis Blueberries For the Cassis Blueberries: Make the frozen Cassis blueberries the night before so they have time to marinate and freeze. 1/2 cup Creme de Cassis 1/4 cup caster (very fine) sugar plus a little sugar for sprinkling on finished berries 6 ounces fresh blueberries Place blueberries…
