Aug 20 – Chilies, Grilled Cheese & Colombard

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Guy

It’s Chile Fest at Johnson’s Garden Centers August 19-21

Join Good Life Guy prior to this week’s show at Johnson’s Garden Center East, just off Woodlawn South of East 21 Street across from Britanny Center for a Hatch Green Chile Cooking Demo and tasting.  The FUN starts at 10:00 a.m. with a a brief talk about these special peppers and a demonstration of several recipes including a Crunchy Wheat Grilled Cheese & Green Chili Sandwich.

It’s FREE – Call 316 687-5451 to reserve a seat

My guest this week is the world famous cheese guru and good friend Laura Werlin with her latest book “Grilled Cheese Please – 50 Scrumptiously Cheesy recipes”

www.laurawerlin.com

Laura Werlin is one of the country’s foremost authorities on cheese. She is the award-winning author of five books on the subject, is a sought-after speaker and spokesperson for consumer and trade organizations, and is a frequent television and radio guest.

An expert in cheese and wine pairing and American artisan cheese, Werlin received the James Beard award for her book The All American Cheese and Wine Book, which was the first of its kind in America to focus entirely on cheese and wine pairing. Her newest book centers on America’s favorite sandwich – and hers – grilled cheese. Grilled Cheese, Please! Her previous grilled cheese book, Great Grilled Cheese, was the winner of the World Gourmand award for best cheese book in the world.

Want to see what’s inside? Take a look at this video to see its contents brought to life.
Want to order it? Click here.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2010 Y Rousseau Old Vines Columbard, Russian River Valley

Colombard is a variety originally from the South-West of France where it has been grown for hundreds of years. Yannick made his first Colombard in 1996 in the heart of Gascony. The grapes for Y Rousseau Old Vines Colombard come from the last Colombard vines planted in the Russian River Valley. Yannick chose to make this wine because of its unique character and to bring a slice of Gascony to American wine lovers.

“Yannick decided, after finding a grape variety that he loves, that he simply had to make the wine. His Colombard is one of the finest white wines I have ever tasted.” Dan Berger.

The aromas show an early grapefruit concentration, fresh pears, green apple and hints of jasmine. In your mouth, the wine blossoms like a flower, you get all the aromas plus citrus fruit and the wine opens to a very bright citrus blossom flavor. There is a beautiful balance between the acidity, the texture and the richness.

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Aug 13 – Blender Drinks & Mojitos, killer Syrah

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Guy

My guest this week is Kim Haasarud “The Liquid Architect” and Redbook magazine’s “Mommy Mixologist” with her new book 101 Mojitos and other Muddled drinks.  Since it’s still so hot, we’ll also talk about her last years book; 101 Blender Drinks.

In the last few years, the mojito has become a staple cocktail at summertime parties and bars across the country. This simple mix of rum, fresh muddled mint leaves, and lime juice served over ice with a splash of soda is the perfect drink for cooling down on a hot, sunny day.

101 Mojitos and Other Muddled Drinks provides expert guidance on mixing the perfect mojito, as well as 100 variations and other muddled drink recipes that focus on fresh ingredients and plenty of ripe fruit. In addition to mojitos, you’ll find caipirinhas, caipiroskas, crushes, and margaritas as well. In fact, if you’ve got fresh fruit of any kind on hand, you’ll probably find more than enough delicious and refreshing ways to use it.

  • Includes 101 recipes illustrated with brilliant four-color photographs throughout
  • Features recipes that emphasize fresh fruit and herbs and inventive tweaks on classic summer drinks

With such drinks and variations as Blood Orange Mojito, Pomegranate Mandarin Mojito, Concorde Grape Sage Caipirinha, Watermelon Basil Lemonade, Blackberry Grappa Smash, and the classic Old Fashioned.  Whether you’re hanging out in the backyard, lounging by the pool, or eating at an outdoor restaurant, the mojito and its muddled cousins make the perfect summer drinks.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2008 Stickeybeak Napa Syrah
On the nose, the Syrah offers aromatics of sweet blackberries, tarragon and plum. The balanced palate is elegant and generous, with concentrated dark fruits and silky tannins alongside flavors of boysenberry, dark chocolate and dusty hot rocks. Creamy French oak notes linger on the persistent finish.

Knowing the right people helps in this game, and Stickybeak was fortunate to work with an admired Napa Valley vineyard owned by Jan Krupp next to his Stagecoach holdings atop Atlas Peak. It’s a rugged, rocky vineyard that receives a lot of summer warmth, producing wildly concentrated fruit. A small parcel of cooler Edna Valley fruit imparted the spicy lift to balance the finished wine.

They certainly gave the fruit a nudge in the winery and threw out the budget when it came to French oak! A three day cold soak and ten day ferment with regular pump overs gave the juice plenty of skin contact to extract color and tannin. Following ferment, it was transferred to barrels, half of which were new, for 18 months of maturation with limited racking.

 

Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange and join us!

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Aug 6 – Food Trucks, Vendr.TV, Unoaked Chard!

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Guy

My first guest is Heather Shouse with her new book “Food Trucks – Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels.”

With food-truck fever sweeping the nation, intrepid journalist Heather Shouse launched a coast-to-coast exploration of street food. In Food Trucks, she gives readers a page-by-page compass for finding the best movable feasts in America.

From decades-old pushcarts manned by tradition-towing immigrants to massive, gleaming mobile kitchens run by culinary prodigies, she identifies more than 100 chowhound pit-stops that are the very best of the best. Serving up everything from slow-smoked barbecue ribs to escargot puffs, with virtually every corner of the globe represented in brilliant detail for authentic eats, Food Trucks presents portable and affordable detour-worthy dishes and puts to rest the notion that memorable meals can only be experienced in lofty towers of haute cuisine.

Organized geographically, Food Trucks doubles as a road trip must-have, a travel companion for discovering memorable meals on minimal budgets and a snapshot of a culinary craze just waiting to be devoured.  Learn more about Heather and order a book!

In the second half I’ll be talking to Dan Delaney.
Daniel Delaney is a food media producer and entrepreneur, who, after finishing a street food thesis at The University of the Arts, launched VendrTV, a weekly web video series about street food. “On a mission to find the best street food around,” Dan and his crew set out to discover mobile eats from Maine to Santa Monica, and everywhere in between. As VendrTV’s audience grew and America’s hunger for street food increased, the show made its way into mainstream media, being featured on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and The Sunday Morning News, as well as in USA Today, The LA Times, and The NY Daily News. In addition to profiling the best street carts across America, the show has also featured web celebrities including Gary Vaynerchuk, Veronica Belmont, and Jake & Amir. 2011 marks VendrTV’s 2nd anniversary and its 90th episode and counting. Dan is currently developing a television show, and working on his first book, both about street food. Check out Daniel’s web site at www.danieldelaney.com

Then, it’s a brief chat with Chamisal Vineyards winemaker Fintan du Fresne.  Fin, has managed seven crushes in his homeland New Zealand before coming to California and working for several well-respected wineries.  He has been at the helm for Chamisal since 2006.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2010 Chamisal Unoaked Central Coast Chardonnay www.chamisalvineyards.com
Exploding with fresh, crisp fruit, the nose combines tropical pineapple, mango and banana with citrus notes of lemon, lime and grapefruit–a testament to the diversity of vineyard sources. The palate bursts with a medly of fruit, driven by the crisp Fuji apple character and underlying minerality of the estate grapes. Fresh and vivacious, this wine exhibits a dense mid-palate, proving that with the right grapes and winemaking, Chardonnay does not need oak or malolactic fermentation to shine.

Critical acclaim: “So rich in flavor, you won’t miss the absence of oak. The fruit carries the wine all by itself, offering waves of pineapples, limes, peaches, pears, apricots and vanilla bean. Zesty Central Coast acidity makes the mouthfeel crisp and brilliant.”
90 Points Wine Enthusiast

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July 30 – Paletas frozen treats

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Guy

My first geust is Fany Gerson with her new book “Paletas – Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice & aguas Frescas.”  I knew it would no doubt still be HOT, but never thought it would be this hot!  This book has some great recipes for frozen treats to beat the heat, join us and get a copy this Saturday.

From the pure, radiant flavors of classic Blackberry and Spicy Pineapple to unexpectedly enchanting combinations such as Sour Cream, Cherry and Tequila, or Strawberry-Horchata, Paletas is an engaging and delicious guide to Mexico’s traditional—and some not-so-traditional—frozen treats.  Collected and developed by celebrated pastry chef Fany Gerson, this sweet little cookbook showcases her favorite recipes for paletas, those flavor-packed ice pops made from an enormous variety of fruits, nuts, flowers, and even spices; plus shaved ice (raspados) and aguas frescas—the delightful Mexican drinks featuring whole fruit and exotic ingredients like tamarind and hibiscus flowers.

Whether you’re drawn to a simple burst of fresh fruit—as in the Coconut, Watermelon, or Cantaloupe pops—or prefer adventurous flavors like Mezcal-Orange, Mexican Chocolate, Hibiscus-Raspberry, or Lime Pie, Paletas is an inviting, refreshing guide guaranteed to help you beat the heat.  Learn more about Fany and order your copy today!

In the second half I’ll be talking to Kevin Egan, Brand Manager for Blue Ice Vodka about this stellar product and what you can do with it to beat the heat of summer!  www.blueicevodka.com

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2010 First Drop “The White One” – A fun wine for summer!

84% Arneis, 16% Chardonnay
The 2010, just released, is fruit salad in a bottle with a pale yellow color and a soft pretty bouquet. The winemakers at First Drop are passionate about their wine and strive to make every sip memorable from the first drop to the last.

“First Drop is about passion….for life, fun and flavor!…a lifelong commitment to making kick arse booze….wines with flavor and texture, and a splash of funk….eclectic varieties from unique vineyards in the great regions of the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale….wines to drink, not just appreciate.”

Getchasum at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road  🙂

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July 23 – Leopold Brothers Distillery

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Guy

This week it’s all about Whiskey from Denver Colorado with Scott Leopold from Leopold Brothers Distillery – www.leopoldbros.com

Leopold Bros. is a family owned and operated small batch distillery located in Denver, Colorado.

Todd Leopold got his start in distilling after he received his Diploma in Malting and Brewing from the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago in 1996. After graduation, he trained at the Doemens School in Munich, focusing on the production of lager beers. He then apprenticed at several breweries and distilleries throughout Germany.

Scott Leopold began his career in manufacturing after receiving a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and a Masters in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. He spent the early part of his career engineering environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes for Fortune 500 companies, as well as designing wastewater treatment systems for both industry and municipalities.

Together, the Leopold Brothers designed and developed a unique distillery in which environmental sustainability is a daily practice, and the art and science of fermentation and distillation is practiced at the highest possible level.

These guys are making some great products; Small Batch Gin, Silver Tree Vodka, Fruit Whiskey, all kinds of super quality cordials with the finest fruit and a new American Absinthe Verte.  The products are new here in Kansas and if you don’t find them on the shelf ask your retailer to stock them!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2009 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
The 2009 vintage of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with an intriguing interplay of lively citrus and subtle toasted oak, laced with just a kiss of butterscotch. The palate is round and nutty, with flavors of yellow apple and orange adding lushness, while well-balanced acidity creates a lovely vibrancy. Hints of vanilla and caramel add richness and texture to a long, fresh finish.  www.lacrema.com

“Rich and unctuous, with a viscous, glyceriney texture holding deep, opulent flavors of pineapples, lime custard, clover, honey, Mandarin orange and cinnamon spice. Lees treatment brings a creamy, slightly sourdough tang. Good price for a Chardonnay of this quality.”  93 Points Wine Enthusiast

Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange today and beat the heat with this killer chardonnay!  🙂

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