Apr 16 – Food Trends, Lebanese Easter, Cheese and more

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Guy

Kalil_picFirst up is Frito Lay Executive Chef Stephen Kalil from a Billboard two stories above Time Square in the heart of New York.  Chef Kalil is cooking up a storm and sharing his thoughts on the latest food trends, the new and creative flavor ideas he has come up with at Frito Lay and what new snack items we’ll be seeing in stores soon.

chef joumanaThen it’s all about “Taste of Beirut” with Chef Joumana Accad.  You can visit www.tasteofbeirut.com to learn more about chef Joumana’s passion for Lebanese food and learn how to add new tastes from the Middle East for a fragrant Easter Meal.  All the recipes and cooking ideas are available on her web site.

 

In the second half I’ll be chatting with “The Cheese Impresario” Barrie Lynn

Cultivating cheese enthusiasts with a passionate hand-to-mouth approach, Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario is a leading educator on all things cheese. Her uninhibited style and engaging personality afford fun and innovative ways to discover and enjoy the complexities of artisanal cheese. A former advertising executive with a love of food and wine, she took a client to a Slow Food fundraiser. It was there her passion for artisanal cheese was born. Meeting these cheesemakers, and tasting the diversity and nuance of their cheeses, Barrie Lynn decided her mission is to educate others about the pleasures of cheese. 

cheese impresario logoBarrie Lynn has produced and taught cheese tasting events around the country, including Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience, the Ministry of Rum San Francisco Rum Festival, the Los Angeles Times Celebration of Food & Wine, Denver International Wine Festival, and Great Tastes Culinary Festival in Baltimore.

Her passion for cheese was brought to the stars of Hollywood via her personally hosted Cheese Tasting Adventure Parties for the Oscars, Emmys and the Golden Globe Awards. She has led cheese tastings for celebrities like Oscar winners Three 6 Mafia, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Jeff Garlin, Actor/Musician Terrence Howard, NFL star Shaun Phillips, musicians Slash, Dee Snyder, and Jason Bonham, as well as the cast & crew of Showtime’s hit TV show WEEDS.

Barrie Lynn photoBarrie Lynn is also the cheese editor for The Beverly Hills Times and the “Cheese + Drink” editor of Mutineer Magazine. Barrie Lynn has been featured in ELLE Magazine, USA Today, Variety, and others. She can be found online at www.thecheeseimpresario.com as well as her new web video series “Cheese Rules” appearing on Small Screen Network at www.smallscreennetwork.com/cheeserules

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Carlo Rossi Chardonnay5LBoxCarlo Rossi Founders Oak Chardonnay 5 Liter Box
A light fruity chard with a touch of oak that is easy to drink and a great  value.  For parties, picnics, tailgating, or most any time…there is no better way to buy, store and enjoy wine than in a box.  This wine taste good, and offers value in excess.  A box in every fridge 😉

The Merlot and Cabernet are also great value, soft, fruit forward and bright

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Apr 9 – Great Menus, MWWF, Franciscan Cabernet

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Guy

My first guest is Patricia Lewis Mote with her new book “Great Menus – Seasonal Recipes for Entertaining.“

Great MenusGreat Menus Seasonal Recipes for Entertaining”s main premise is that entertaining should be fun. The book has menus for brunches, luncheons, picnics and dinners. There are special sections with menus for “Fast Fridays”, dinner parties in an hour after coming home from work, “Frugal Fests”, for times the wallet is thin, and “Diva Dinners” for when you go all out.As the wife of an academic, Mote has had the opportunity to visit, live and cook around the world. She has lived in 5 countries. The results in the book are recipes using ingredients and recipes from everywhere. The book has lively stories about the food and menus. There are beverage pairings for all the menus and most menus have decor suggestions. You will find many vegetarian dishes as well and family friendly menus. Gorgeous food photos to make your mouth water, will make you want to start cooking.

Then the second half begins with Michelle Havercamp from Standard Beverage Inc. to talk about next week’s 16th Annual Midwest Winefest.  We’ll tell you all about the Grand Tasting on Saturday April 16th, highlight some of the wines available for tasting, the Reserve Room wines, and of course the silent and live auction packages that will be available.  Learn more at www.midwestwinefest.com   Grand Tasting tickets are available at www.wichitatix.com

 

winefest-banner 

Then Franciscan winemaker Jay Turnipseed joins us to talk about the winery, vineyards and great wines being produced by Franciscan and some of those wines that will be poured at the AIWF Midwest Winefest dinner at the Airport Hilton on Friday April 15.  Click here to see the menu and learn more about the AIWF winemaker dinners.

franciscan cabGood Life Guy’s wine of the week:
2007 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The fruit-laden 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers a luscious bouquet of dark fruit including blackcurrant, black cherry, and blackberry layered over aromas of sweet vanilla and baking spices. Approachable cherry and cocoa notes lead to a wine of intense concentration, with flavors of dried plums and cola laced with hints of tobacco.

Critical Acclaim: “A terrific wine that proves you don’t have to spend a fortune for a top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet. It’s a deeply flavored, brooding young wine, filled with exciting blackberry, cassis and mineral flavors. Big in tannins, yet with a very refined, classy mouthfeel, it should begin to hit its stride after 2014.” 
94 Points Wine Enthusiast

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Apr 2 – Sriracha Cookbook, NWIWC, Cht Julien Pinot Gris

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Guy

SrirachaMy first guest is chef/author Randy Clemenswith his new cookbook devoted to Sriracha, the underground king of condiments, filled with 50 unique recipes that highlight the bold, savory punch of this addictively spicy chili sauce.

Named Bon Appétit’s Ingredient of the Year in 2010, Sriracha is one of the few ingredients adored by adventurous cooks of all stripes—from star chefs like Jean-Georges Vongerichten to college freshmen—who appreciate its vibrant, versatile balance of ketchup-like sweetness, garlicky pungency, and just the right amount of spice. Sriracha adds depth and an intriguing twist to recipes such as Honey-Sriracha Glazed Buffalo Wings, Bacon-Sriracha Cornbread, and the fiery, but refreshing, Srirachelada. Whether they’re die-hard fans or have recently discovered the revered “rooster sauce,” readers will love learning the backstory to their favorite condiment and incorporating Sriracha into their cooking repertoire as more than just a tableside squeeze.   Get a copy now!  Buy The Sriracha Cookbook on Amazon 

nwiwclogoThen it’s all about The 2011 Jerry Mead
New World International Wine Competition.

Wine maker extraordinare and fellow judge at NWIWC Scott Harvey joins me to talk about this years judging, highlight some of the winners available locally and talk about Jurie judged wine competitions in general. www.nwiwc.com

We’ll finish up with Chateau Julien proprietor Bobby Brower.  Bobby and I will tell you all about his visit to Wichita for the Midwest Winefest, the dinner at the Gas Lamp Grille and the wines from Cht Julien.

cht julien pgrigioGood Life Guy’s Wine of the Week: 
2009 Chateau Julien Barrel Aged Pinot Grigio
A nice crisp acidity complements fresh aromas of honeydew melon, peaches and green apple. This lighter style wine holds a full mouth feel texture and soft lingering finish.

www.chateaujulien.com

Check out this video with Chateau Julien’s Bobby & Robert Brower

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Mar 26 – Terry Theise; The Man, The Myth, The Legend!

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Guy

My guest this week is James Beard award winning importer, and now author Terry Theise.

Terry Theise photoThe Man, the Myth, the Legend! If it is true that the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom, Terry Theise has been there and back. A brief perusal of his writing makes it quickly apparent that the man has no reservations about conveying his thoughts and feelings on wine, life, sex, philosophy and general cosmology. In Terry’s world, it’s all inter-related.

reading betwn winesTerry is responsible for bringing some of the finest wines available from; Germany, Austria and the Champage region of France – to wine drinkers in America.  And now with his new book “Reading Between the Wines” he is bringing his wit and wine views to wine consumers everywhere.  Long known for his top-notch portfolio and his illustrious writing, Terry now offers this opinionated, idiosyncratic, and beautifully written testament to wine. What constitutes beauty in wine, and how do we appreciate it? What role does wine play in a soulful, sensual life? Can wines of place survive in a world of globalized styles and 100-point scoring systems? In his highly approachable style, Theise describes how wine can be a portal to aesthetic, emotional, even mystical experience–and he frankly asserts that these experiences are most likely to be inspired by wines from artisan producers. Along the way, Theise tells us a little about how he got where he is today, explores the meaning of wine in the lives of vintners he has known, and praises particular grape varieties. Reading between the Wines is a passionate tribute to wine–and to what it can say to us once we learn to listen!

The Theise Manifesto:
Beauty is more important than impact.
Harmony is more important than intensity.
The whole of any wine must always be more than the sum of its parts.
Distinctiveness is more important than conventional prettiness.
Soul is more important than anything, and soul is expressed as a trinity of family, soil, and artisanality.

The entire show is devoted to Terry, the book and WINE…an hour wasn’t enough. 

Good Life Guy’s Wines of the Week:
Three great products imported by Michael Skurnik wines from the portfolio of Terry Thiese

  • NV Pierre Peters Grower Champagne-Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
  • 2008 Hirsch #1 Gruner Veltliner
  • 2007 Selbach-Oster Zeltlinger Sonnenuhr, Riesling Kabinett

Learn more about Terry, checkout his blog and many articles, and discover the above wines and more.

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Mar 19 – Home Design & Justin Vineyards

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Guy

My first guest is renowned designer Stephen Saint-Onge.  Stephen has a very real sense of what everyday families want and need from their homes. As a father, husband, and homeowner, he knows that a home needs to do more than look nice to function for a family.

noplacelikehomeMixing traditional American style with modern comfort and convenience, No Place Like Home walks you through Stephen’s tried-and-true process for finding design inspiration in unconventional places—like films that may spark an idea or conversation about a style that you’re drawn to—and guiding you to build a personal “Look Book” that helps you define your unique wants and needs. Drawn from his varied experiences from the many room makeovers he’s done on television and in magazines, as well as the work he’s done with private clients in their real-life homes, his hands-on design knowledge and time-saving tips empower anyone to live by his credo that “good home design has the power to change lives.”

More than just beautiful photographs, No Place Like Home is a useful tool for anyone looking for creative direction on making a home truly livable and inviting. The first section helps you approach design by defining your style and determining your goals and budget; introduces creative tools and tricks that can have a big impact on a room; and educates you on various materials, furnishings, and accessories. The second section walks you through each room of the home, revealing secrets that Stephen has discovered in working with hundreds of families through the years. It includes not just living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, but also home offices, kids’ rooms, and multipurpose spaces.

Full of creative advice, design tips, and renovation ideas, No Place Like Home shows real families how to create beautiful spaces that work in the real world.

Then it’s Master Somielier Joe Spellman representing Justin Vineyards and Winery.  Justin is one of the wineries that will be featured at this years Midwest Winefest AIWF winemaker dinners.  See the menu and learn more at; www.midwestwinefest.com

justin bottles

JUSTIN Winery is a family owned and operated winery making estate grown and produced wines. The property was founded in 1981 by Justin and Deborah Baldwin when they planted their 160 acre property to the major Bordeaux varietals and created their Estate vineyard.

The winery is located in the Paso Robles appellation of California’s Central Coast. The region’s first grapes were planted in 1779 by Franciscan missionaries and today are home to the third highest concentration of wineries in the United States.

Their desire is to make world class wines that reflect the unique soils and climate of their California Central Coast property. Emphasis is placed on making Bordeaux-style blends and single varietals, combining Old World tradition with New World techniques.

Justin Mission Statement: “To belong in the company of the finest wines in the world.”

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:  The Wines of Justin

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