Oops!

Make Sure You Have Plenty of OOPS! OK, you spill an expensive bottle of wine, you break glasses.  Those “oops” moments are no fun at all.  The OOPS moments I’m talking about are failures, but they show you are still trying new things, experimenting, learning. FoodBeerClick Chili (original post here) I wanted to modify a … Continue reading

Quick Visit & Lunch in Tain L’Hermitage

If you’re a Northern Rhone fan, a visit to Tain L’Hermitage is well worth your time.  Seeing the land for yourself will show you things you will never learn from a book or an article.  After our morning visit at Jean-Louis Chave, we had a little time to explore before we caught the train back … Continue reading

Paris: Eiffel Tower Food Tour

beautiful macarons

Take Away Message: Go to Paris.  Stay in the 7th Arrondissement. Take the Eiffel Tower Food Tour early in your trip and eat well for the rest of your stay.  Thank us later. Julie and I were planning a long awaited trip to Europe this summer.  Julie had not been to Paris since 1977 (!) … Continue reading

CSA Box + August Garden Panic = Meatless Monday

Meatless Monday is your friend when your garden is producing volumes of tomatoes and your CSA box is full.  Can you pair a meatless meal with an intense, tannic red wine?  Yes! Beet Green “Pesto” First: my sincerest apologies to all speakers of the French and Italian languages. My nickname for this “pesto” is Beet … Continue reading

Piemonte Training

In just a few days, Julie and I will be spending a whole week touring the Langhe, a district within the larger region of the Piedmont (or Piemonte) in Italy!  I had the opportunity to do some on-site “research” earlier this summer during a weekend stop mid-way through a business trip.  Over the last few … Continue reading

Labor Day – Don’t Give Up on Summer, Don’t Give Up on Chardonnay

wind gap james berry chardonnay

We know summer is nearly over because the local sweet corn has lost its magic; big kernels,  and sometimes even mealy. We can’t help ourselves, we still buy it.  Just like the photo below, the sweet corn goes into the background.  Luckily, the veggies in our garden and CSA box are still going strong.  In … Continue reading

Dinner on the Farm

walk out to the farm

Have you attended a farm dinner yet?  There are some pretty fancy ones that are also very expensive.  $200 per person?  Sorry, not here.  However, there are likely some in your area that are reasonable, and you’re sure to have a good time.  Meet your farmers, and learn where your food comes from!  One piece … Continue reading

Basil Tasting

three types of basil

I always go overboard with the basil in our kitchen garden.  We have 5 plants, 3 varieties for two people!  How different do the various types taste?  Tonight, we did a basil tasting. We made little skewers of cherry tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinegar and sunflower oil. Did you know that … Continue reading

A Meal Made for Pinot Noir

Pork Chops Stuffed with Cherries & Mushrooms, Grilled Salad on the Side If there ever was a meal constructed for Pinot Noir, this would be it!  The combination of cherries and mushrooms echo the main aromas and flavors of the wine.  The pork is a nice medium body, not too heavy, not too light, also … Continue reading

“Learn to Love Beets” Pizza

Beets on Pizza?  Why? Growing up, beets were a regular item at our dinner table.  Let’s just say I did not grow to be a fan.  When I left home to go to college I thought: “I never have to eat beets again!”  After 35+ beetless years, I decided I should really give them a … Continue reading