Wines By Nature

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Though I love to throw dinner parties, it is rare that someone does me the same honor. However, two months ago my friends Liz and Joel did just that—using the visit of my boyfriend and me as an excuse to host an eight-person dinner party around their lovely black wood table. It was the best kind of night in, good company, raucous laughter, and simple, satisfying food prepared with fresh, flavorful ingredients. Continue Reading…

Skip the Mint Julep! Great Beer Alternatives for the Kentucky Derby

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Like Horse Racing? Yeah, me too. And this Saturday is the Kentucky Derby (I know it’s also Cinco de Mayo, but that’s just a stupid, made-up, get-drunk, American-media-marketing holiday in the US). Now, as much as I enjoy the actual racing event, I’m not all about the hoity-toity mint julep drinking atmosphere. Instead, since I know you guys are wicked cool, I’m going to offer a few beer alternatives. Continue Reading…

Italian Coffee Roasters

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Italian coffee history  begins at the Salerno medical school when texts written between the 10^th and 13^th centuries mentioned the dark brew. Probably due to the high cost, coffee disappeared from Europe completely thereafter. Only in 1615 did Venetian merchants again bring coffee beans to the European continent. Continue Reading…

After Dinner Beers, Anyone?

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Sometimes it’s not about what you’re drinking with the food but rather what what you’re drinking when relaxing after the meal. Yes, you can have Scotch or Cognac and probably be satisfied, but I’m here to show you how diverse beer can be. It really is quite the enjoyable after-dinner drink! Continue Reading…

Campari: The True Kiss of La Dolce Vita

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Has love ever turned a bad eye on you? Your mate took and took until the last thing left to take was your heart. Tossing it aside like one would a peach pit when there is nothing sweet left to taste. The emotional drain guides you through a bevy of feelings until one day there is nothing left but bitterness. But is Bitter something that should be shunned and pushed away? Continue Reading…

Easter Beer Hunt

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My church is having an enormous Easter Egg Hunt this Sunday. In fact, they are having two. After each service, they will have an egg hunt with an iPod Touch as the grand prize in each one. If you live in or are visiting the Miramar, FL area, consider this your invitation from me.

That got me thinking about a different kind of Easter hunt for Sunday afternoon. Forget the eggs! For this hunt, you’ll be trying to find the hidden beers! I picked a few that I feel are appropriate for the day. Continue Reading…

Ides of March: Shakespeare’s Beer

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Beware the Ides of March! Can’t say the soothsayer didn’t try to warn JC. (No, not that JC! I’m talking about Julius Caesar, though the Romans did actually crucify Jesus too.) I wonder if the soothsayer was thinking “told ya so” later on in that play. I bet Shakespeare probably had that in one of his earlier drafts, but it just missed the final cut. Continue Reading…

President’s Day: US and Italian Presidents Share a Beer

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You didn’t know it’s President’s Day? Come on, it’s only the 50th most important holiday on the federal calendar! Wikipedia says at the federal level, this holiday celebrates George Washington‘s birthday. However, some states have changed the name or meaning to include Abraham Lincoln too. And that’s what I’m going to do, as I want to work with two loved Presidents. Continue Reading…

Valentine’s Day Beer Surprise

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When I told my wife I was going to give her flowers, chocolate and jewelry for Valentine’s Day this year, she was really surprised how creative I was with my gift ideas. Not! What she didn’t know is that I actually was being ultra-thoughtful and spending a lot of time designing a cool gift. And I tricked her! Continue Reading…