This is a post that I should call This, That and The Other because it is different topics that are unrelated to each other but are all themes of my blog, eating out – this week at Barsa; creating food- a simple Unrecipe appetizer; and drinking and sharing wine – New Summer Sips. Hopefully, that means that there is something in this post for everyone. But before I go there, I have to tell you that last week was insane as I pulled off a hugely successful invitation-only tasting with Gratus Vineyards. Typically, I would not host a tasting when…
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If you missed Part One of our baking day, you would want to go back. In part one, I posted about making Kouign Amann. A Breton flaky, buttery sweet pastry that I first saw on The Great British Bake Off. Since then, I found a local bakery that makes them, but I rarely can get there before they are gone for the day. So if you missed it, take a look back. But today I will share the savory German roll that Craig made and the sweet, gluten-free breakfast roll that my sister made. Lastly, I will share the shortbreads…
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As I have said before, I am a huge, huge fan of the TV show The Great British Bake Off (Netflix changed the name to The Great British Baking Show for the US market). I am not sure why I love this show so much because I am a crappy baker. But the thrill is there, and I can’t wait for more seasons to show up on Netflix starting in August. My youngest sister is also a huge fan and last Christmas, unaware of the other, we each got the other a cookbook from the show. So when she suggested…
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Edison James Island Klinker Brick Wine Dinner You all know by now that I am a huge fan of wine dinners. The ones I attend tend to cost in the $90 to $125 range including tax and gratuity, although I have seen some advertised for as much as $200 to $300 per person. This occasion was my first wine dinner at Edison James Island. In my experience, wine dinners always sell out, and that makes me very happy. What made this wine dinner so interesting to me is the quality to price ratio (QPR) of the Klinker Brick wines and…
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With the thermometer topping 100 degrees already this Spring, I am sure this is going to be a long and super hot summer. Days like these require quenching, quaffable, and affordable summer sips to help me make it through the next several months. These wine are sold at big box stores, Total Wine, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. That said they may not be in your area due to lack of distribution in your state. Summer Sips – Sparkler Gruet Brut Rosé NV Who knew that such fantastic and affordable sparkling wines come from New Mexico? They have an…
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I am not sure what occurred over the last six weeks, but time has flown by so quickly. Today our dear friends head north for the summer, and that just makes me sad. My liver is quite happy and looks forward to some recuperation. So in honor of their departure, I am sharing our hats and fascinator images from the Cinco de Derby brunch they hosted three weeks ago. Additionally, in this post, I share my venture back to school. Well, kind of, I took a class. Ok, fine, it was a wine class, but it was for the WSET…
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Before we get to the “Frequently Asked” I wanted to share that my favorite wine book Wine Folly Magnum Edition, just won a James Beard Award in the “Best Beverage Book” category. It would make a great Mother’s Day gift for your wine curious mom. You Ask, and I Answer Frequently Asked Question: What are Sulfites in wine? Answer: Sulfur dioxide (or Sulfites) is a natural compound and is actually a by-product of fermentation. Thus all wine has sulfites to some degree. That said, sulfites are added to many conventionally produced wines and acts as a preservative. Wine labeled…
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I promised you that I would post the remaining six wines that were part of the Croatian & Portuguese Wine Tasting. If you missed that post, you could check it out by clicking on the link. I still think about how much fun we had that evening. Going to wine tastings is the best way to broaden your palate and find new wines to add to your cellar or wine rack. These wines are amazingly affordable and were a big hit at the tasting. Portuguese Wine: Avicella Rosé 2017, Vinho Verde This classic Portuguese wine from Vinho Verde has slight…
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Much like the Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato Spread from a couple of weeks ago, today’s post features unrecipes. These preparations are so simple that it really cannot be called anything more. I needed both of these for my dinner party last Friday. There will be a post about that as well, but it is a much bigger post, and I need more time to pull it together. So in the meantime, here are the two unrecipes. One is an appetizer, and one is a jam. Unrecipe #1: Mediterranean Olive Tapenade with Lemon and Rosemary Ok, this tapenade is the…
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A few weeks ago, I had the honor of attending the Laherte Frères Champagne Dinner at Edmund’s Oast. All of the wine dinners I have gone to at Edmund’s Oast have been a lot of fun as well as great learning experiences. But I was super excited about this one because I have a significant knowledge deficit when it comes to the art of champagne. Since this is one of Sarah O’Kelley’s (the sommelier at Edmund’s Oast), favorite producers, I knew I was in for a treat. Side note: All Champagne is sparkling wine. But all sparkling wine is NOT…
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