Desperately Seeking Syrah
Hello, you may not know me, but I’m the one encouraging you to quaff Sauvignon Blanc poolside. I wish I could heed my own words — they don’t take too…
Read moreYou win some, you lose some.
Yesterday, I threw caution to the wind. I exuberantly unsheathed my fish-grilling pan, bought last weekend on Kappabashi-Dori, Tokyo’s half-mile-long mecca to kitchenware geeks and chefs. Searching for a sharkskin wasabi grater…
Read moreMy Eight-Armed Obsession
My introduction to Sancerre parallels my viewing of Whit Stillman films. I had my first Sancerre right about the time I discovered Metropolitan. The film follows tuxedoed and ball gowned…
Read moreRainy Day Picnic
Just the thought of drinking Sauvignon Blanc makes me want to be outside. Its signature notes of citrus fruits and minerals give it a supreme sense of place, whether the…
Read moreLamb Neck is the New Oxtail
Finally, the days of wine and hearty braises are over! As I scanned what was available to try for this week’s posting, my eyes alit on the Musella Valpolicella Trio. I’ve…
Read moreSalvation in a Salmon
It was bound to happen. After training myself to craft a meal based on tasting the wine first, it follows that any meal made the “opposite” way – prepare dinner,…
Read moreMerlot Diplomacy
In Buenos Aires, I met a brasserie owner who had lived in New York while working for the United Nations. Seemed he preferred his new job and city to his…
Read moreGot Acidity? Bring on the Funk.
Like many cooks with pantries full of spices, condiments, fancy oils and a dozen vinegars, I can’t stop myself from adding a pinch of this or a splash of that…
Read moreWin-Win-Wintertime
While others may loathe the heavy coats and gnarled root vegetables that signify the season, I have always adored everything about winter. Perhaps this is because I grew up in…
Read moreSmoke and Sparkle
“Our household has acquired a smoker!” proclaimed a friend over email. No, neither she nor her husband had taken up a new vice – they had just received the Smokin-It™…
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