Joining me is Chef George Geary, he is a cooking teacher, pastry chef, cookbook author, food writer, Award winning culinary tour guide, and spokesperson.
He is the author of ten books: The Golden Age of Hollywood: Restaurants of a Bygone Era, 150 Best Donut Recipes, 350 Best Salads and Dressings, Get Dressed and Sauced: 500 Salad and Sauce Recipes; The Cheesecake Bible; The Complete Baking Cookbook: Over 350 Recipes from Cookies to Cakes to Pies to Muffins; 125 Best Food Processor Recipes; 125 Best Biscuit Mix Recipes; and 125 Best Cheesecake Recipes.
George has taught cooking for more than 30 years throughout the world. He has taught at the Institute of Culinary Education, The Cooks of Crocus Hill, Sur La Table, Cooks Warehouse, Publix’s Aprons, Central Market, and Viking Culinary Centers and everywhere in-between.
He has been guest chef at the Rancho La Puerta spa, Marshall Fields in Chicago, FoodFest, Macy’s, Montana Food and Wine Festival, and Yosemite’s Cher’s Holiday. He has also appeared on the Food Network. Currently, George is aboard the Great Holland America Line Ships conducting classes, book signings, menu development and tours for the World Cruises and Grand Voyages. The past 12 months George has taught on all 7 continents. www.georgegeary.com
In the second half, leading up to the wine of the week segment…I’ll be talking to Tondi Bolkan, winemaker for Francis Ford Coppola and that creative bubbly named after Francis’ daughter; Sofia.
In 1993, after leaving the cold winters of Chicago behind, Tondi Bolkan enrolled at the University of California, Davis, to study neurobiology. Hoping to join her family’s legacy of medical professionals, she studied and received a B.S. degree in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior.
During an internship at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Tondi fainted while watching her first operation. She subsequently attended a career fair at UC Davis and made a fateful inquiry about vinology – this became her passion. From there, she didn’t look back, even though her family was disappointed that she had chosen not to pursue her medical school studies, but a case of her own wine helped turn around the family’s attitude. Tondi has turned her love for science toward winegrowing, a profession that combines art, agriculture, organic chemistry, and biology.
She began her career producing Cabernet Sauvignon at Pine Ridge Winery in Napa Valley. In 2001, she joined Niebaum-Coppola, now Rubicon Estate, also located in the Napa Valley. At Rubicon, she devoted seven vintages to the winery’s portfolio and demonstrated a talent for balancing the technical side of the laboratory with the creative and artistic processes of winegrowing and winemaking.
In January 2008, Tondi started a new chapter with the company and moved to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. As winemaker, Tondi attends to the Sophia brand, special projects, and custom winemaking clients. Learn more here
Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week:
Sofia Blanc de Blanc
When his daughter was a little girl, Francis Coppola made her a promise that he would someday make a sparkling wine and name it after her. Today, this Blanc de Blancs is one of our most popular offerings, a favorite for parties and weddings. Fruity and refreshing, Sofia Blanc de Blancs is a rare blend of Pinot Blanc, Muscat, and Riesling. Mellow flavors of apples and pears are topped by a hint of citrus and honeysuckle. Elegant in character, this wine is lightly textured and vibrant through the finish.
Get some at Jacob Liquor Exchange and join us!