Jan 18 – BBQ and Island Getaways

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Guy

First up is World Renowned Pit Master Andy Groneman to talk about BBQ and his February cooking classes at All Things BBQ.

Learn more about the February Class and sign up today!

Smoke on Wheels Competition BBQ Andy Groneman has been part of the Competition BBQ world for 20 years. A second generation pitmaster,  Smoke on Wheels has earned hundreds of BBQ awards, including the Empire State championship, 20 Grand Championships, and 2 ‘Chest to Chest’ Brisket Invitational awards – including 2012. In 2009, Smoke on Wheels closed the season ranked 5th in the nation out of 4700+ teams. For 2010, Andy decided to dip his toe into the BBQ products arena with the launch of his two marinades. Smoke on Wheels BBQ Marinade, and Smoke on Wheels Pork injection and marinade. Both products have helped teams take their competitive BBQ to the next level! Andy has made BBQ a family affair, cooking 20-30 weekends each year in competition, along with his wife, Kim, and two girls Kaylin and Lauren.  www.smokeonwheels.com

Then it’s chillin in the islands…

LIVE from the Turks & Caicos and “Bajacu” a luxury villa on the island of Providenciales.  My brother Brian; co-founder of The Good Life back in 1988 will be with me along with Charlotte Hackett from Above and Beyond Travel.  We will be telling you all about not only this great vacation getaway, but discussing the top-10 Caribbean Island destinations to add to your bucket list for 2014.

Bajacu (rising sun in the language of Caribbean natives) is located on the beautiful island of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. The home was designed by Marco Aldaco, the world famous Mexican architect, who has been featured on numerous occasions in Architectural Digest as well as other publications and art books. Bajacu itself has also been features in many books and publications around the world. It is situated on a south shore hilltop with a breathtaking 270 degree view of the sea and surrounded by lush tropical gardens. A natural stone path provides direct access from the villa to a beautiful and romtantic platform by the sea.

Bajacu is for the privileged few who demand only the best. This unique retreat offers uncompromising romance, luxury, beauty and serenity.  www.bajacu.com

The beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands are situated 575 miles southeast of Miami and 90 miles north of the Dominican Republic. Covering 193 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean, the Turks and Caicos Islands are today one of the most sought after Caribbean destination.

The Turks and Caicos are a small archipelago of eight major islands and more than 40 inhabited keys. They are surrounded by 230 miles of pristine white sandy beaches and have the third largest coral reef system in the world, making it a premier beach, diving and snorkeling destination.

Divers were the first to explore these islands as the long barrier reef protecting the islands is home to a colorful wildlife and magnificent coral formation. The Turks and Caicos host some of the best dive sites one can find, making these islands among the world’s top 10 diving spots.  The islands are relatively flat and covered by dense vegetation and sandy dunes.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week:
Something fun from the islands…OK, probably not wine 🙂

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Jan 11 – Jordan Wines and more…

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Guy

This week’s show starts with John Jordan, CEO of Jordan Vineyards to talk about no only the current release wines but also the new Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Then Spike Anderson joins us to talk about this year’s Cards for the Cure event.

EVENT SCHEDULE

High-Roller Poker Tournament – January 24, 2014,  6pm, Beech Activity Center

VIP Party – January 24, 2014, 6:30pm, Wichita Boathouse

TYhe Kansas Poker Championship – January 25, 2014, 10am,  Beech Activity Center

Ladies-Only Poker Palooza – January 25, 2014, 4pm, Beech Activity Center

 

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Jan 4 – Bubbles, Bubbles & Bubbles

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Guy

Happy New Year to you and yours!

It’s never too late to talk about Bubbles…first up this week is Maria Hunt AKA The Bubble Girl and author of “The Bubble Bar.”

The Bubbly Bar: Champagne & Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion (Clarkson Potter) is a practical and pretty gift for people who love sparkling wine, cocktails or entertaining – or if you’re buying a random Secret Santa gift and you have no idea what to get! And it’s even better with a personalized inscription from the author!

Recently featured in the The Washington Post and on ABC News.com, The Bubbly Bar is a gorgeous book filled with classic and original cocktail recipes that mix international bubbly like cava, prosecco and sparkling sake with spirits, seasonal fruit and homemade infusions. The Bubbly Bar offers recipes for everything from standards like the French 75 and Kir Royale to original ones such as the Ginger Snap (ginger root and sparkling sake), The Sour Cherry (maraschino, brandy, marasca cherry and brut) and the Lava Lamp (pomegranate liqueur and brut). There’s also a guide to making your own drink mixers, finding organic bubbly, and scoring the best sparklers in any price range – even under $15.  Learn more about “The Bubbly Girl” here.

In the second half; Roederer Estate winemaker Arnaud Weyrich will be joining us to talk about the Estate and all the award winning sparklers produced.  I’ll be telling you all about the blind tasting I did with 7 friends New Years Eve that included some of the best bubbles from the USA and France…you’ll never guess which one was the overall winner out of these 4 stellar wines.  Here is the lineup:

Roederer Estate Brut is the first California sparkling wine to be produced by Champagne Louis Roederer, further building upon a 200-year tradition of fine winemaking from this family owned company. Roederer’s unique winemaking style is based on two elements: complete ownership of its vineyards and the addition of oak-aged reserve wines to each year’s blend or cuvée.

The Roederer winemaking philosophy has guided the development of Roederer Estate, located 125 miles north of San Francisco near the Mendocino Coast. Since 1982, Roederer Estate winery has been quietly developing its own vineyards and crafting fine wines from the Anderson Valley. Roederer Estate’s Anderson Valley Brut debuted in October 1988 followed by the winery’s first vintage cuvée, L’Ermitage, in 1993.   www.roedererestate.com

97 points Wine Enthusiast

“Wine of the Year, 2013” This is an exquisite sparkling wine made from 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir, concocted into a special blend and aged for almost six years in oak cask. After disgorgement it was given another five months to sit in bottle before release. It has such freshness on the palate, such enviable acidity, that it’s hard to believe the grapes were picked so long ago. Crisp apple dominates, with just a trace of yeastiness on the nose and palate. This is a delicious wine. (12/ 2013)

 

 


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Dec 28 – Holiday Entertaining

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Guy

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!

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Dec 21 – Craft Cocktails, Eric Christensen and The Culprit

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Guy

Ready for some holiday entertaining tips?  Jeremy Leblanc joins us with his new book “The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending with Flair.”

Hand-Crafted, Delicious Cocktail Recipes From One of the Best Bartenders in the World!

Jeremy LeBlanc, lead bartender at a bar praised by Conde Nast as one of the top 10 roof top bars in the world, is sharing his signature techniques and one-of a kind recipes that define exceptional bartending. Now, with this bartending guide, experts and beginners alike will keep their friends and customers entertained, satisfied and always coming back for more of these meticulously created cocktails.

The Best Craft Cocktails & Bartending With Flair features hand-crafted cocktail recipes like the Whiskey Pig, which features bacon-washed whiskey, the twist on a classic, the Rhubarb Mojito, and the refreshing berry cocktail, Smithey’s Smash. With chapters dedicated to aperitifs, classics with a twist, exotic cocktails, refreshers and punches, there is truly a drink for every person and every occasion that features fresh ingredients and homemade, wholefood mixes and syrups.

Whether you are looking to become head bartender, break into the business, or simply impress a few friends at home, this one-stop guide is all you’ll need to master the craft with style and ease.

About the Author:  Jeremy LeBlanc is the president of Tin Play Precision Pour Flair Tins, LLC. He has more than 15 years of experience as a bartender and helped Altitude Sky Lounge become one of the top bars in the world. He currently serves as Altitude’s master mixologist.

In the second half I’ll be talking Eric Christensen, the incredibly talented artist who specializes in water color wine art.  Just in time for the holidays, Eric has put together a calendar featuring some of his wine art, and if you hurry you can get it before Christmas.  The perfect gift for any wine lover on your list!
www.ericchristensenart.com

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2011 The Culprit North Coast Red Wine
The “The Culprit” is blended from a whole bunch of different grape varieties. These “kitchen sink” blends are all the rage in California wine these days. The great news is that “The Culprit” is a blend predominantly of Syrah, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah, with six other varietals thrown into the mix to give it plenty of complexity. This is a big, bold, and intense wine!

 

The December 14 show was pre-empted for WSU basketball…
…and they won, again!  Go Shocks 

 

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