Up first is Leeann Lavin with her new book; The Hamptons and Long Island Homegrown Cookbook: Local Food, Local Restaurants, Local Recipes.
As the movement to eat what is grown locally gains momentum, there is an increasing awareness of how best to incorporate this philosophy into our everyday lives. We can grow our own food and buy food grown locally at food cooperatives and markets, but what happens when we eat out? There are a number of chefs around the country dedicated to using only the freshest, locally grown ingredients in all the dishes they prepare and serve. This book takes the reader on a private tour of outstanding chefs of the Long Island area and their gardens. Each profile reflects the chef’s personal style, cultural background, desire for healthy, just-picked ingredients, and gardening philosophy. Recipes, plant lists, garden layouts, and color photos are included.
Local – Seasonal – Sustainable – Farm fresh
Restaurants all over Long Island try to boast at least one of these adjectives, but to the farmers and chefs profiled here, these are more than just buzzwords. They are a way of life. These farmers rise before the roosters to bring fresh produce, meats, and cheeses to area farmers’ markets. These chefs kick off the day with an early trip to the market and wrap it up in the wee hours of the night after feeding hundreds of appreciative diners.
In the second half I’ll introduce you to Chris Radomski. In 1999, Radomski partnered with fellow Canadian Jayson Woodbridge to create a winery in Napa . Their goal was to produce a great Cabernet Sauvignon. Hundred Acre Winery has enjoyed great success and high ratings…a cult wine that most of us can’t get even if we could afford it. But the story gets better…
According to Chris, the success of Hundred Acre led the pair to consider other opportunities in the wine world. They felt that, while it was great to make a wine for the elite, they would also like to try their hand at making global wines that would be affordable enough for everyday drinking.
If you’ve been enjoying wine for a few years, you surely remember when Layer Cake Shiraz showed up in the Midwest. A killer red from Australia with all the bells and whistles for a great price.The first vintage sold out in a very short time! Chris and Jayson wanted to do more…
Off to the Puglia region of Italy where they found Primitivo grapes from 100-year-old vines to produce the Layer Cake Primitivo. This is the Italian grape genetically the same as Zinfandel – another great new world wine takes the upper 48 by storm. Not content to sit back and relax, the dynamic duo sourced Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina and set out to make a high quality Layer Cake Cabernet from Napa. Their success continues with high ratings, and lots of happy wine drinkers.
Chris, Kay and Guy
We’ll tell you about Chris, his journey in wine and taste some of his wine available here in the Midwest. I had the pleasure of meeting Chris and his wife Kay in Aspen this year. By the way, the fun continues. Chris has yet another label to offer you a splendid Italian IGT Red blend with a label inspired by Kay. The catchy name….”If You See Kay” 🙂 This wine is a full throttle red, from Lazio, the blend is primarily Cabernet with some primitivo and petite verdot. Not yet available in Kansas but it can be found on line.
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Fun stuff from Layer Cake
Many of these are available at Jacob Liquor Exchange!