Cabin Chores, Pizza and a Great Bottle of Wine

Spring = Cabin ChoresWe co-own a cabin a couple hours north of Minneapolis. Spring and fall are our seasons for doing chores, making improvements, fixing whatever is broken; there might be some fun had along the way. I particularly love the early spring as our section of the lake is often deserted, so much peace … Continue reading

Nathan Myhrvold’s Showstopper: “Food & Drink”

Most food photography enthusiasts are familiar with the Modernist Cuisine series of books and Nathan Myhrvold. Nathan worked at Microsoft for 14 years earlier in his career, rising to the position of Chief Technology Officer. He is also fascinated with food and the process of cooking. This fascination lead to one of his “retirement” projects, … Continue reading

Caves Jean Bourdy and Comté Cheese: Jura Classics #Winophiles

February Takes the Winophiles to the JuraIn February, our Winophiles are virtually visiting the Jura region, located east of Bourgogne in the foothills of the Jura mountains. Take a look further down in this post for a list of links to fellow Winophiles’ discoveries. Unique Wines of the JuraNearly half of the vignerons in the … Continue reading

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”

Beth Dooley's "In Winter's Garden"

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