Neat Thoughts About Food, Wine, Travel & More
I love grilled cheeses and I enjoy experimenting with various cheeses, breads and condiments to create new versions of the old stand-by. One variation I adore is made with sharp Vermont cheddar and Boucheron, a goat’s milk cheese from the Loire Valley of France. For those not familiar with Boucheron, it is a goat cheese that has been aged so […]
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I had this wine in Quebec at an outdoor party where it was paired with Dad’s Quebec Smoked Meat Sandwiches. In the glass, this nicely-balanced wine is a medium red. The ripe cherry nose is fruity and bright. In the mouth, there is a nice level of acidity and cherries mix with strawberries on this […]
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I had this wine in Quebec at an outdoor party and it was an ideal setting for it. Great as an aperitif on a warm summer day. In the glass, it is a deep salmon color. The strawberry nose is light and mildly floral. In the mouth, the strawberry carries through with some raspberry and […]
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A special Quebec treat I enjoy is a perfectly steamed smoked meat sandwich. Dad has had a restaurant-grade food steamer since I was a little girl that his brother from Montreal found for him. Fabulous hot dogs and smoked meats have come out of that steamer over the years, and this past weekend, while I […]
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Could it be that the 45-seat restaurant in bustling downtown Montclair serves up the best food in New Jersey? It is quite possible. At his award-winning restaurant, chef and owner, Zod Arifai, masters modern cuisine with French, Italian and Asian influences. Born in Kosovo to parents who were both good cooks, chef Arifai is self-taught […]
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I sampled this wine with rare duck breast a few weeks back and really enjoyed it. The 2010 Hahn Winery Pinot Noir Monterey offers a big noseful of ripe raspberries and cherries that I enjoy, a lot. In the mouth, it is rich with raspberry preserves jammy with undertones of pumpkin pie spice. The finish […]
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This North Coast Pinot Noir is ruby in the glass with intense floral and strawberry aromas with earthy/mushroomy notes. Reminds me of grandma’s homemade wild strawberry jam on freshly toasted bread. On the palette, the 2010 Garnet Carneros Pinot Noir offers bright cherry flavors with slightly woodsy undertones. I love this wine’s silkiness, great balance […]
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Brining is easy to do and a simple way to add moisture to meats, typically poultry and pork. There are no complicated guidelines to learn when brining, just a basic formula: ¾ cup kosher salt to a gallon of water. Enhancements can be made to the original formula if you would like, but not needed […]
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We all know what a comforting dish bread pudding is, and in this recipe, croissant and high-quality chocolate put a luxurious twist on the modest original. I urge you to splurge on good chocolate for this recipe – it is well worth it. Ingredients: 6 egg yolks 1 1/2 cups whole milk 1 1/2 cups […]
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I served this delicious dessert wine at a recent party and thoroughly enjoyed it. On the nose, this German Eiswein is lively with floral and tropical notes. In the mouth, it is not too heavy and offers honeyed peach and pear flavors. The finish on the 2008 Dr Loosen Riesling Eiswein sees a little acidity […]
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