National Drink Wine Day

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I don’t know who’s in charge of making up fake holidays, but I’m happy to partake in National Drink Wine Day, which has been celebrated for at least a few years now on February 18. This year, let’s try something a bit different. Today I’m going to focus on a few suggestions from a local South Florida winery. “South Florida Wine? You can’t even grow grapes in South Florida!” Continue Reading…

What to Drink Now: Seasonal & Savory Cocktails

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Mixologists are embracing the chill of fall and creating drinks with the heartiest of this season’s harvest. Fresh veggie cocktails speak of the season with bursts of basil, springs of rosemary and red pepper puree. Although Farm-to-Table concoctions are not a new concept, bars are upping the ante with heirloom vegetables and seasonal fruits to add a healthy zip to your preferred vice. These garden fresh creations are simple additions that incorporate unexpected savory spirits at holiday parties or family brunches.

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Halloween Party Beers

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Halloween time! You’re planning a party and want some dark-side or costume-themed beers to serve? Well, I’ve got just the recommendations for you.

Let’s start with a classic costume, the Super Hero. Who can resist the cape, right? Well Clown Shoes Brewing delivered their Supa Hero IPA for just such an occasion. Captain M, illustrated on the label, has the super power to protect beer! My kind of guy. This IPA is bitter, full of spice and pine and has a really nice bite. A great start for the evening. Continue Reading…

What Bourbon Means to Beer

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September is National Bourbon Heritage Month in the United States, recognizing its contribution to the heritage of this country. And I love me a good bourbon, that’s for sure! But what happens to all those bourbon barrels once they are used? They can’t be used again to make more bourbon as that would break the strict rules that define bourbon. Continue Reading…

Beer Tasting BBQ

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This past Saturday night, my wife and I had some people over for a Beer Tasting BBQ. We invited friends that we thought normally don’t drink beer and might appreciate trying some new styles, seeing exactly what the craft beer world has to offer. Oh, and we had some awesome empanadas,  grilled churrasco and chorizos and a great salad as well. Continue Reading…

Dalliance: Everyone Wants a Taste of this Wine

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Eating dinner with my family at Harwig’s in Steamboat Springs, CO, a restaurant famed for its wine list and multiple Wine Spectator awards, I asked the sommelier to suggest a bottle. “What do you like?” he replied. “We like Syrah, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel,” I answered, “but we love to try new things.”

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Welcome Home to Brooklyn: Local Beers Await

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Welcome home, Gabriele and family. Can’t wait to see the next season of Extra Virgin!

Now that you’re back and living in Brooklyn, I thought I’d make a few local beer suggestions to chill out with. I’d of course start with a beer or three from The Brooklyn Brewery. As an aside, you should try to eventually meet the Brewmaster there, Garrett Oliver, if you haven’t already. He is an expert at pairing beers with food, which of course fits in nicely with you being a professional chef. Anyway, back to the beers. Continue Reading…

A Summer Wine in the Tuscan Twilight

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Though I am an enthusiastic scholar of red wine, and I drink it about 90% of the time (full disclosure: I am drinking Petite Sirah as I write this), I love white wine in summer. This love affair began in college, when I first had the opportunity to taste something beyond the low-quality, oaky California chardonnay that was available to me at the time. Continue Reading…

Red, White and Blue Beers for Independence Day

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Independence Day is coming up (that’s the 4th of July for some of you). I decided to share a quick Red, White and Blue beer primer for those of you that want to drink some awesome beers for the holiday. No foreign suggestions today. I’m proud to be an American. Continue Reading…