Trying Out the America’s Test Kitchen Modern Bistro Cookbook
America’s Test Kitchen “Modern Bistro” CookbookI recently accepted a sample of the new America’s Test Kitchen “Modern Bistro” Cookbook for review purposes. This was an easy “yes” because: There was just one problem: We were soon leaving for an extended trip to France. The PR person got the book in my hands in a few … Continue reading
Deconstructed Tartine & Domaine de L’Astré Pèlroge #Winophiles
French Winophiles Explore Southwest FranceOur French Winophiles love every corner of France from the famous to the under-the-radar regions. This month we are exploring the Southwest of France, known in-country as Sud-Ouest. This region is less well-known in part because it lives in the shadow of Bordeaux. Historically, the city of Bordeaux was an important … Continue reading
Surprising Wines of Oltrepò Pavese #ItalianFWT
Oltrepò Pavese Discovery with Italian Food, Wine and TravelThis month, our Italian Food, Wine and Travel writers were treated to wine samples from a lesser known region of Italy, Oltrepò Pavese. Other wines from Lombardia are well known, but Oltrepò Pavese is unfamiliar to most Americans. I had heard of the area but had never … Continue reading
Party Guaranteed: Pulled Pork and Argentine Wine #WinePW
Smoke a Pork Shoulder for the Family Want a sure-fire crowd pleaser? Learn how to smoke a pork shoulder (pork butt) for pulled pork sandwiches. Your barbecue skills will become legend. And, (shhh….) it’s easy! Details at the bottom of this post. Wine Pairing Weekend “Visits” Argentina January and February 2019 take our Wine Pairing … Continue reading
Book Review: Beth Dooley’s “In Winter’s Kitchen”
Thought Provoking Wolf in Homespun Sheep’s Clothing Beth Dooley’s “In Winter’s Kitchen” If you’re ready to take a first step or your next step to a more thoughtful approach to your food, you’ll love “In Winter’s Kitchen”. It deserves a spot on any food enthusiast’s bookshelf. At first blush, Beth Dooley’s new book, “In Winter’s … Continue reading
A Quick Cookbook, Perfect for Weeknights
A Cookbook for the Time Challenged Do you like to cook, but find it difficult to cook from scratch on a weeknight? So many cookbooks assume a larger pantry and an earlier start-time than I usually have during the week. The Quick Six Fix by Stuart O’Keefe might be just the thing you need to … Continue reading
Trentino-Alto Adige is Different: Goulash and Teroldego #ItalianFWT
If This is March, We Must Be in Trentino-Alto Adige Our #ItalianFWT group is on a month by month, slow virtual tour of Italy. We’re jumping around a bit, so you never know where we’ll be next. March is dedicated to Trentino-Alto Adige. I’ve not visited, so my research is being done from afar. The … Continue reading
Tuscany: Peasant Stew & the King of Tuscan Wines
Peposo Notturno: Peasant Stew It’s the early 1400’s, and you’re a poor worker, firing tiles for the magnificent Duomo inder construction in Florence. The meat you can afford has gone around the bend, and you need to spice it heavily to make it palatable. Also, it’s tough, so you’ll need to cook it for a … Continue reading
Prosciutto Far & Near
The Prosciutto Question On our first trip to Italy, I was impressed by how dedicated Italians are to local culture, foods and wine. Not just Italian, but regional products. We never saw Parmigiano Reggiano cheese while we were visiting the Piedmont, they would only use products from within their region. Even modest wine shops had … Continue reading
A Hot Environment Full of Fire, Knives & Yelling
A Chef’s Calling Chef Craig Sharpe started out in a different profession, wasn’t happy and was exploring new career options. He took a temporary job in a kitchen where he experienced the “hot environment full of fire, knives and yelling”. Funny place to find your calling; he immediately knew he was home. Fast forward a … Continue reading