Mar 29 – The Irish Table and more!

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Guy

A great show this week with a cool new Irish cookbook, a wine event not to be missed and some great wine from Boomtown to finish up Washington Wine Week.

My first guest this week is Chef Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve in Washington D.C. and author of “My Irish Table.”

The debut cookbook from Cathal Armstrong featuring 130 recipes showcasing modern Irish fare, along with stories about Armstrong’s journey from Dublin to Washington, DC, and becoming an internationally recognized four-star chef, the owner of seven successful food and drink establishments, and a leader in the sustainable-food movement.

 

With its moderate climate and amazing natural resources, Ireland is a modern-day Eden, boasting lush, bountiful produce, world-renowned dairy, plentiful seafood, and grass-fed meats. In My Irish Table, sustainable food movement leader and four-star chef Cathal Armstrong celebrates the food of his homeland and chronicles his culinary journey from Dublin to Washington DC, where he runs seven beloved and critically lauded restaurants.

Featuring 130 delicious recipes—from Kerrygold Butter-Poached Lobster with Parsnips to Irish Stew, Shepherd’s Pie, and Mam’s Apple Pie—My Irish Table draws on Armstrong’s Irish upbringing as well as his professional experience and French culinary training. In his hands, Irish food is comforting yet elegant, rustic yet skillful, and My Irish Table invites you into his kitchen to explore the vibrant traditions and rich culinary landscape of the Emerald Isle.  Get a copy NOW!

Chef Cathal Armstrong

“Cathal has that rare combination of deep civic mindedness, compassion, and culinary talent. This book is full of wonderful recipes to explore, from a Saint Patrick’s Day roast leg of lamb with herb pesto to simple, classic brown bread. In the fine spirit of Darina Allen, Cathal is preserving Irish foodways, celebrating their rich traditions, and breathing new life into them.” —Alice Waters, proprietor of Chez Panisse and author of The Art of Simple Food

Learn more about Chef Cathal here…

EVENT ALERT!
There’s still time to make reservations for the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Event April 10 – 13, 2014

Joining me to tell you all about it is James Verlarde, Vice President of Brand Relations for this amazing event.  The Good Life will be broadcasting LIVE from the event on Saturday April 12th.  Learn more and come join in the FUN  www.pbfw.com

Pebble Beach Food & Wine is the premier epicurean lifestyle event on the West Coast, matching 250 acclaimed wineries and 75 celebrity chefs to create a hedonistic four-day destination on one of the most picturesque strips of coastline in the world. Throughout the weekend you’ll enjoy intimate access to the pinnacle of culinary and wine talent at wine tastings, cooking demos, and some of the most exclusive, unique dining opportunities available in the world.

 

We’ll finish up chatting to Corey Braunel Co-Owner & Winemaker of Dusted Valley & Boomtown wineries in the Columbia Valley.  I’ll have two of the Boomtown wines in-studio with me to taste and talk about.  Both of these wines will be available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road here in the flat lands for FREE tasting Saturday afternoon between 2:00-6:00 p.m. CDT.  Click here to learn more about Boomtown!

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Two great wines from Washington producer Boom Town…

2012 Boomtown Dusted Valley Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay. this beautifully crisp, clean Chard was fermented in a stainless tank to preserve the bright fruit characters.  Smooth, easy drinking with great Chard character at a great price.

2011 Boomtown Merlot
78% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 5% Malbec, 2% Petite Verdot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from some of the finest vineyards in the Columbia Valley.  The wine was aged in 35% new oak; 85% French, 15% American.  Another example of great Merlot from Washington, the palate is filled with cherries and dusty malted-chocolate.  Mouth coasting tannins make it a great wine for big flavorful foods.

September 30, 2013 –  Wine & Spirits’ panels and critics tasted 12,500 wines to select the 100 Wineries of the Year. They highlighted these producers as the top performers in their respective regions, from legendary names in Napa Valley and Burgundy to newcomers in New Zealand and Spain. Dusted Valley is thrilled to have made the list for 2013 among some truly amazing producers.

You can taste both these wines and more, Saturday Afternoon between 2-6:00 p.m.
at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road where it’s still Washington Wine Month!

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Mar 22 – Vintage Beer & Jed Steele’s Shooting Star Wines

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Guy

A may be a WINO, but I love Beer!
Joining me this week is Patrick Dawson with his new book “Vintage Beer – A Tasters Guide to Brews that Improve Over Time.”

Like good wine, certain beers can be aged under the right conditions, a process that enhances and changes their flavors in interesting and delicious ways. Good candidates for aging are high-alcohol brews, bottle-conditioned beers with yeast in the bottle, barleywines, lambics, and winter ales. Patrick Dawson explains how to identify a cellar-worthy beer, how to plan and set up a beer cellar, what to look for when tasting vintage beers, and the fascinating science behind the aging process. He also includes a comprehensive buying guide to help you select already-aged beers (from the readily available to the tantalizingly rare) to enjoy as your own collection is aging.

Patrick Dawson

Patrick Dawson is certified as a judge through the Beer Judge Certification Program. He travels the United States and Europe collecting beers worthy of aging. His personal cellar, in Colorado, is an evolving collection of hundreds of vintage treasures. Visit his webiste: www.pdawson.com

 

In the second half I’ll be talking to Dave Lobo from Verizon about there new Application for your cell phone Visual 411.  If you travel it’s a must, but it’s also handy for finding local businesses and more that offer savings coupons.

Learn more here!

Then Washington Wine Month continues with a couple of great wine of the week bottles.

Joining me to talk about these two wines is Steele Wines & Shooting Star Proprietor and world-renowned winemaker Jed Steele.  With 45 years experience in the California wine business, not many can share in the success and impact that Mr. Steele has had.  It was in the mid-eighties after returning from 7 years in Europe, when on a sailboat, watching the sunset I had my first taste of Kendall-Jackson’s Grand Reserve Chardonnay…a bench mark of quality and taste that I still hold in high regard today.

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week:
2012 Shooting Star Aligot 
Our aligoté is barrel fermented, but we use older oak barrels rather than the 30% new oak that we typically use for chardonnay. The wine is crisp and clean, a wine with a nice balance of fruit and acidity. Flinty, mineral elements mix with a light floral hint on the nose, followed with the suggestion of tart/sweet apple on the palette, making it a wonderful, versatile food wine.

 

2011 Shooting Star Blue Franc
The wine is clean, crisp, and unpretentious with tons of fruit, including warm berry pie, complementing the traces of pepper, almond, cherry and cinnamon. Our Shooting Star Blue Franc has soft tannins, medium body, great color and is the perfect red wine to enjoy over the summer with any festive occasion. It is excellent with appetizers, cheeses, BBQ, and picnics. Recently we had the opportunity to try the Blue Franc on the deck with a toasted sandwich of smoked chicken, grilled onion, and avocado – quintessentially quaffable!

You can taste both these Washington Wines and more on Saturday March 22 between 2-5:00 p.m. at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road.  Learn more about Washington Wine Month at www.jacobliquor.com

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Mar 15 – Outdoor Living and more…

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Guy

This show is always FUN…
I’ll be broadcasting LIVE from the 2014 Wichita Outdoor Living and Landscape Show at Century II Convention Center.  I’ll be talking to some of the many vendors that can help you enjoy The Good Life in your own backyard!

Friday, March 14, 11am-9pm
Saturday, March 15, 9am-9pm
Sunday, March 16,11am-6pm

Century II Expo Hall,  225 W Douglas,  Wichita, KS 67202,  Ph: 316.264.9121

Tickets available day of show
Adults $9
Children ages 5-12 $4
Children ages 4 & under admitted free.
Seniors (ages 60+) $7
Get Tickets: WichitaTIX 316.219.4TIX

The Outdoor Living and Landscape Show gives homeowners ideas for landscaping, gardening, yard, and other outdoor projects. Learn how to save water, what trees are drought resistant, how to grow vegetables and more with our seminars, sponsored by K-State Research & Extension – Sedgwick County!

Ellie Krieger will join us in the second half to talk about her new book “Weeknight Wonders.”
Beloved Food Network and Cooking Channel star Ellie Krieger knows the secret to healthy eating: it has to be delicious. You won’t eat right if you feel deprived. WEEKNIGHT WONDERS offers 150 recipes for your favorite foods, as delicious as ever, yet magically reworked without all the fat and cholesterol. Each recipe can be prepared with minimal fuss and simple ingredients, even after a long day at work, in 30 minutes or less. From Parmesan Chicken Breasts and Goat Cheese Frittata (plus no-guilt desserts), you can stay focused on eating well any day of the week.  Learn more about Ellie and get a copy of the book here.

Don’t forget, MARCH is Washington Wine Month.  Jacob Liquor Exchange is celebrating with some great sales and in-store tasting of many of the finest Washington Wines available in Kansas, including this weeks Wine of the Week from Bernard Griffin.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2012 Barnard Griffin Columbia Valley Riesling
Gorgeous aromas of peach, pear, flower and spice highlight this wine right from the start. There is an exotic, floral flavor running alongside the tree fruits, and suggestions of mint and rosewater. Excellent length and balance, with just a hint of sweetness.  Best Buy – 91 Points Wine Enthusiast

 

2011 Barnard Griffin Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 
INCREDIBLE, mouthwatering orange, cherry and plum flavors mingle with alluring spicy notes and a pleasant touch of earthiness. Offers excellent depth and structure. Serve this racy, youthful Cab with your favorite grilled beef cut at your next dinner party.

 Stop by Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road to taste both these wines
Saturday March 15th, between 2-5:00 p.m.  It’s all about Washington Wine Month!

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Mar 8 – Fresh from the Farm, Taste Washington and more!

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Guy

First up is  Susie Middleton with her new book “Fresh From the Farm”

Part cookbook, part memoir, Fresh from the Farm chronicles a year of Susie Middleton’s life on her farm as she nurtures both her seedlings and her soul, weathers life as a farmer, and creates 125 simple recipes that celebrate cooking with the seasons.  The fresh, accessible recipes developed by Susie, former editor in chief of Fine Cooking magazine and author of the best-selling Fast, Fresh & Green, pay homage to the vegetables and fruit she harvests on her rural farm and sells at her farm stand. Woven throughout the tantalizing recipes and luscious photos of food and farm life is Susie’s witty, engaging story of trading in her corporate life for something more meaningful, simple, and satisfying.

Valuable tips for both cooks and aspiring market gardeners are peppered throughout the book, and design ideas for four projects will inspire would-be backyard farmers. Fresh from the Farm is for anyone who enjoys cooking with fresh ingredients and eating seasonally—or anyone who wants to indulge their inner farmer.

I’ll also be talking to Steve Warner, President of the Washington State Wine Commission.  March is Washington Wine Month and culminates with one of the biggest wine events in the Pacific Northwest; “Taste Washington”  March 29-30, 2014.  Well tell you all about this event and the latest and greatest from Washington Wine Country.  www.tastewashington.org

I will be broadcasting LIVE from Taste Washington on Saturday March 30th with interviews from some of the top wine producers in the Columbia Valley!

 

 

Joining me for the wine of the week is Deborah Culverhouse from Hedges Family winery to talk about this weeks Red Mountain Syrah and the winery that made Red Mountain famous!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2010 Hedges Red Mountain Syrah, Cuvee Marcel Dupont

An homage to the French side of the Hedges clan, co-owner of the famed Red Mountain winery Anne-Marie Hedges, nee Liegeois, named this Syrah for her grandfather Marcel Dupont, a Chevalier du Tastevin. The fruit comes mostly from the Les Gosses Vineyard on Red Mountain again this vintage. Aged in a combination of new and used French, Hungarian and American oak, the 2010 has an intense perfume of savory herbs, bacon fat, cigar box and anise all of which carry over to the palate, which has textured black fruit and accents of smoke and white pepper. Finishes long and balanced, the cool 2010 vintage provided the fruit with wonderful strucutre. This should age nicely in the near term.

Wichita’s Jacob Liqour Exchange on North Rock Road and 29th Street will be featuring my weekly wine picks as well as many other labels from Washington to celebrate Washington Wine Month.  www.jacobliquor.com  These wines will be available for FREE in-store tasting!

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Mar 1 – Geyser Peak Meritage

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Guy

Well DANG!  This week’s show has been pre-empted for Shocker Basketball.

Since I already found this great buy at Jacob’s I just had to have the wine of the week.  From one of my favorite producers, this is their Flag Ship wine and while not rated as high as some other vintages, this wine is a great buy and probably only available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road here in Wichita.  Most on-line sources and the winery are sold out of this one.

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2006 Geyser Peak Reserve Alexandre Meritage, Alexander Valley California 

A multifaceted, noteworthy wine Reserve Alexandre strikes a balance between intensity and refinement. The core of the palate is reminiscent of black currant and pomegranate fruit complimented by floral aromas of rose petal and petunia. These fruit and floral notes are interwoven with lovely fresh earth aromas of warm stone and bittersweet chocolate. The graceful structure of this wine yields supple tannins with a silky mouth feel and the interplay of the five varietals results in a noble and luxurious wine.  70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Malbec 7% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.  IWC 89 of 100

Ratings Pedigree:
2007 WE94, ST91, W&S90
2005 W&S93
2004 W&S91
2003 WN90

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