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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Dec 7 – Southern Fried

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Guy

Joining us this week is James Villas with his latest book “Southern Fried – More than 150 recipes for crab cakes, fried chicken, hush puppies, and more!”   This Southern Gentleman has been on the show in the past with his other books, PIG: King of the Southern Table and From the Ground Up.  A great guest that you don’t want to miss!

Hush puppies, fried chicken, crab cakes—fried food is the soul of Southern cooking and has only grown in popularity in recent years. Like every one of James Villas’s cookbooks, this one is impeccably researched, with flawless recipes, history, and culture. It is filled with gorgeous color photos sure to tempt even health food fanatics, with crispy, crunchy delights in chapters featuring eggs and cheese, seafood, breads, and Southern staples like grits, rice, and potatoes. Today’s deep fryers make frying easier and healthier than ever; it’s as easy as pushing a button, with no risk of splattering oil, and Villas’s expertly written recipes like Sassy Shrimp Puffs, Georgia Bacon and Eggs with Hominy, Country Fried Steak, Turkey Hash Cakes, and Rosemary Pork Chops will ensure perfect results. This isn’t diet food, to be sure, but these are dishes that people love, and it’s safer and healthier than ever to fry without any sacrifice in flavor.

James Villas

About Jim in his own words:
“I was born and bred in the South, have 3 university degrees in language and literature (Fulbright scholar), and taught in 3 universities before changing careers and becoming Food and Wine Editor of TOWN and COUNTRY (1972-1999). I’ve published 15 cookbooks and 4 literary books on gastronomy. My first novel, DANCING IN THE LOW COUNTRY, was published in 2008; my second, HUNGRY FOR HAPPINESS, in 2010; and I’m currently working on a dog novel titled THE BEAGLE PLAYS BRAHMS. My cookbook, PIG: KING OF THE SOUTHERN TABLE, won the James Beard Award for 2010, and my newest one, SOUTHERN FRIED, will be published in 2013. I live in East Hampton, Long Island, where I devote my time to writing cookbooks and fiction and pursuing my love of great music. ”

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Something that goes great with Fried Chickien 🙂

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Nov 30 – Perfect Pies & More, Stephanie Honig

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Guy

This week I’ll be talking to Michele Stuart about latest book “Perfect Pies & More.”

After the success of Perfect Pies, National Pie Baking Champion (27 times!) Michele Stuart went back into the kitchen—the same kitchen in Vermont where she first dreamed up the award-winning creations that inspired her to open the popular Michele’s Pies shops. Returning there also meant returning to the cherished pies she learned to bake under her grandmother’s and mother’s watchful eyes, as well as the wonderful cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats that became their family tradition.

In her newest cookbook, Perfect Pies & More, Stuart delves deeper into her roots while creating delicious new memories made with love and care. Inside, you’ll find tantalizing recipes—some easy-to-bake, some requiring a bit more finesse—for dozens of her favorite fruit, nut, and cream pies, and so much more.  Learn more about Michele and Michele’s Pies at: www.michelespies.com

Stephanie Honig

In the second half, Stephanie Honig, Sales & Marketing manager at Honig Family winery will join us.

Always a fan of this premium Napa producer, we’ll tell you all about the winery, products produced and the great track record for all their wines, especially the Honig Napa Valley Cabernet.  From 2007 through 2010 this wine has garnered 91-93 points from the Wine Spectator.  I look forward to trying the 2011 vintage on the show this week and talking to Stephanie.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2011 Honig Napa Valley Cabernet
This Cabernet is medium-bodied, with aromas and flavors of red cherry, and plum, alongside anise, black tea, vanilla, white pepper and dried herbs. The finish has the perfect balance of bright fruit, elegantly proportioned tannins, and a hint of cocoa powder.

95.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.6% Petit Verdot, Aged for 18 months in American oak barrels (1/3 new barrels)

Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and join me this Saturday!

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