For a guy not partial to sparkling or sweet wines – I want Villa Donna Moscato di Asti to be my Valentine. Generations of wine makers have developed the grape […]
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Super Bowl spirits
It’s kinda cool to see a classic cold–weather team matchup in Super Bowl XLV. These are bad dudes, guys who work out in the bone–numbing chill of Green Bay and […]
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Asian feeding extravaganza!
I had a big crowd of hungry guys to feed. They wanted a wide selection and mass quantities.Say no more — this calls for a trip to the Asian Buffet. […]
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Kao renaissance
In October, I told you that Chef Wasan Trimas, owner of Kao Thai Cuisine in Thunderbolt, was closing the restaurant to pursue another venture. Wasan did leave – but the […]
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Columbia Valley essence
You wanna light me up? Turn me on to a new vineyard. One of my real joys is “discovering” wines from vineyards I have not sampled before. I sometimes feel […]
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A not so deadly Zin
Pity Zinfandel, woefully Dangerfield–esque: “I don’t get no respect.” Part of that critical disdain lies in Zin’s roots — or definitive lack of rock–solid lineage. It certainly has no genetic […]
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Saigon Bistro
There I go, sneaking into a place barely open two weeks. But I had to: My “field researchers” had good things to say about the chow at Saigon Bistro. And, […]
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Hallacas is your friend
As much as I like the menu at Rancho Alegre, either location, I’ve always been far more intrigued by what Venezuelan–born owner and gourmand Juan Manuel Rodriguez eats when he […]
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Sparkling suggestions for New Year’s Eve
Nothing quite says New Year’s Eve like a tall flute of champagne. Effervescent bubbles are the trademark of champagne, and its non-French speaking step-sib, sparkling wine. Whichever you choose for […]
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Last minute gift ideas for the wine lover
First, the mass market 2009 Bordeaux is arriving on retail shelves. These aren’t the big, bold pricey Bordeaux of legend – but immediately accessible, enjoyable red blends that offer interesting […]
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A snack as big as the moon
A few weeks ago I was honored to present a lecture at the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home. My title, “Grandma’s Kitchen: The Origins of Southern Cuisine,” drew on historic fact […]
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Holiday chards
I received plenty of questions after last month’s Pinot Noir story about choosing Chardonnay for holiday dinners. Most of those questions came from the eastside islanders. So, I decided to […]