Nov 27 – Food Styling, Matchbook Wines

Posted on November 21, 2010 by Guy

First up; Delores Custer with her latest book “Food Styling”

9780470080191.pdfFull of ingenious advice on styling in any media and packed with full-color photographs, Food Styling reveals every trick of the trade, from making a beverage appear to sweat to producing those perfect grill marks on meat without a grill. Filled with resources and organized in a simple problem-and-solution format, this is an ideal resource for both experienced foods styling pros and first-timers alike.

  • This is the only book of its kind on the market, shedding light on the art and craft of food styling.  More than 300 full-color photos reveal the process of styling and the spectacular results, teaching and inspiring anyone interested in food and how it is presented in media.  The book features a timeline of 60 years of food styling, a glossary of important terms, and a listing of vital styling resources
  • The only book the aspiring or professional food stylist will ever need, this exceptionally thorough resource covers challenges from flawless fried chicken to fluffy, cloudlike cake frostings-and everything in between.

You may not be a budding food stylist, but if you like food, are amazed at the color and drama of great food photos, you will love this book.  If you are looking for a career in photography, this my be your answer!

In the second half, it’s all about “Matchbook Winery” with John Giguiere.

Matchbook is a disciple of the Giguiere’s devotion to the land where they grew up, 30 miles east of Napa County in the Dunnigan Hills of California.  The Giguiere’s founded R.H. Phillips winery in 1983, growing a small family business in to a giant public held company in a very short time.  In 2005 John and Lane left R.H. Phillips and went back to their roots.  From a childhood fascination with matches, fire and rockets,  this new adventure in wine began and Matchbook seemd like an appropriate name.

The Giguiere’s produce Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Syrah and Tinto Rey, varieties that are destined to greatness in the Dunnigan Hills.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2008 Matchbook Tempranillo

matchbook tempThe Tempranillo and Graciano vines grown in our Matchbook Vineyard in the Dunnigan Hills are from cuttings imported from the Pesquera region of Spain. While the traditional earthy and spicy flavors are evident from the old-world varietals, the Matchbook Tempranillo shows its California upbringing in the layers of dark berry and cherry flavors and hint of vanilla from oak aging. The addition of Petite Sirah adds aromas and flavors of blueberries.

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Nov 20 – Anjum’s New Indian, Quinoa & Grgich Hills

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Guy

A busy show with some great guests…

Anjoums new indianFirst up, Anjum Anand with her book “Anjums New Indian” –  Anjum grew up in London but has also lived and studied in Geneva, Paris and Madrid.  After gaining a European Business degree she decided to develop her interest in Indian cookery and, in particular, making her native food fresher, lighter and simpler to cook.  She has worked across the world in innovative restaurants such as Café Spice in New York, the Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles, and the Park Royal Hotel’s Indian restaurant in New Delhi, but her real love is delicious and stylish food that is simple enough to cook at home.  
Visit Anjum’s web site!

Then it’s “Quinoa 365” with Carolyn Hemming.    www.quinoa365.com

Pronounced ‘keen wah’, Quinoa is a frequently neglected and relatively unknown superfood – containing a perfect balance of all eight essential amino acids. It is gluten-free and a great source of protein. Nothing else packs a punch of nutrition quite like quinoa. Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood shows you how to add quinoa to all your favorite foods!

quinoa365Authors Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming share their best quinoa recipes along with the merits of this deemed “superfood”, one that is quickly gaining popularity and interest in North America.  In Quinoa 365: The Everyday Superfood you will find delicious and easy ways to incorporate quinoa into every meal of the day, 365 days a year!

 

GHE_LOGO_4tradeThen it’s out to Napa and a chat with Violet Grgich; Co-Proprietor,  about the winery, wines and her visit to Wichita for the AIWF Holiday dinner.  Grgich Hills Estate is a family-owned winery dedicated to the art of winemaking. The wines are made completely from grapes that are certified organic and Biodynamic®, grown at our estate vineyards.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of  the Week:
The wines of Grgich Hills

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Nov 13 – This Week’s Show

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Guy

LIVE from Oregon’s Willamette Valley and Van Duzer Vineyards with winemaker Jerry D. Murphy.  In Oregon for 5 days of wine FUN and intense research,  tune in for segments to air in November and December as well as video segments from our trip posted here on the video page.

wines-of-oregon-van-duzerVan Duzer Vineyards was built on a dream to find a cool weather site in Oregon for the fussy Pinot Noir grape that would rival the best wines of Burgundy in balance and finesse. In 1989, Van Duzer Vineyards owners Carl and Marilynn Thoma located a hilltop winery with existing vineyards immediately west of the Eola Hills. The estate site occupies a strategic site in the foothills of the Van Duzer Corridor, the conduit through the Coastal Mountains for maritime breezes that enter the Willamette Valley at the close of summer evenings.

Because Van Duzer Vineyards benefits uniquely from the western wind that flows strongly through the Van Duzer Corridor to the interior Willamette Valley, the winery selected a Zephyr, the gentle west wind of Greek mythology, to grace the wine label. According to Greek legend, Zephyr and other wind gods are commanded by Aeolus, king of the winds. Oregon’s famed Eola Hills wine region lies immediately to the east of Van Duzer Vineyards and is named for Aeolus.

OR vineyard-sunset

The Good Life Guy Wine of the Week:

The 2007 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir 
A fine balance of tannins, fruit and acid foretell incredible ageability and a wine that unfolds in complexity. Clear fruit notes of ripe Bing cherry, raspberry, cranberry and currents are matched by refined loamy earth and spice cabinet characters, filling the mouth with richness.
vanduzer wine2009 Van Duzer Estate Pinot Gris
Honey poached pear, Asian apple and lemongrass dance on the senses in this tangy crisp Pinot Gris. Two Pinot Gris clones complement each other, Clone 146 with its minerality and steely backbone, Clone 152 with its fruit and complexity. The near dry wine awakens the palate and proves a versatile pairing with spicy appetizers to lighter meats.

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Nov 6 – Chocolate Wars & Tea Enthusiast’s Handbook

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Guy

Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers [Hardcover]I’ll be starting this show Saturday with a live phone interview with Deborah Cadbury from London.

We’ll be talking about her new book “Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World’s Greatest Chocolate Makers.”

With a cast of characters that wouldn’t be out of place in a Victorian novel, Chocolate Wars tells the story of the great chocolatier dynasties, through the prism of the Cadburys. Chocolate was consumed unrefined and unprocessed as a rather bitter, fatty drink for the wealthy elite until the late 19th century, when the Swiss discovered a way to blend it with milk and unleashed a product that would conquer every market in the world.

Thereafter, one of the great global business rivalries unfolded as each chocolate maker attempted to dominate its domestic market and innovate new recipes for chocolate that would set it apart from its rivals. The contest was full of dramatic contradictions: The Cadburys were austere Quakers who found themselves making millions from an indulgent product; Kitty Hershey could hardly have been more flamboyant yet her husband was moved by the Cadburys tradition of philanthropy. Each was a product of their unique time and place yet they shared one thing: they want to make the best chocolate in the world.

The Tea Enthusiast's Handbook: A Guide to the World's Best TeasIn the second half, it’s all about tea with Robert & Mary Lou Heiss.  There latest book “The Tea Enthusiasts Handbook – A guide to the Worlds Best Teas.”

Making the perfect cuppa is not as easy as it may sound. How hot should the water be? How long should the tea steep? What kind of tea should be used in the first place? All pertinent tea-making questions are answered in knowlegeable, bouyant prose in this handy guide. The authors take readers along as they “explore the world of premium tea”; premium tea, once unknown in the West, is now very popular in the U.S. (“Tea,” by the way, is “the most widely consumed beverage on the planet after water” and “still proudly maintains its title as the world’s oldest beverage.”) Guidance is extended to purchasing and steeping tea, but the in-depth discussions of the properties and particular pleasures of the six classes of tea dominate most of the book’s pleasurable pages. Information on tea storage and a glossary round out this excellent introduction to a special world. –Brad Hooper Booklist

aroma kettleJust got a  new kitchen toy that is the answer for brewing the perfect cup of tea, and so much more…my new Aroma stainless steel electric kettle.  4.5 minutes from COLD water to a roiling boil, this is a great addition to any kitchen.   While living in England we had an electric kettle, it was slow but functional and used often to make the perfect cup of tea.  My stainless steel Aroma 270  Electric Kettle looks good and works even better.  Great for more than tea and hot chocolate…think instant noodles, soups or anything that starts with boiling water.  They come in several colors and Aroma has other styles too.  Check it out and order one today! 

The Good Life Guy Wine of The Week…
bernardus chard2008 Bernardus Monterey Chardonnay
Bold, rich and layered, with a medley of smoky fig, toasty oak, hazelnut and roasted marshmallow flavors that are pure, focused, intense and concentrated, ending with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2015. 22,380 cases made. Best Buy”

92 Points

Wine Spectator

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Oct 30 – “Nahima’s Hands, Nut Nation and more!

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Guy

andrea cassell picI’m looking forward to talking to Andrea Cassell about her new book “Nahima’s Hands – Unique Mediterranean Cuisine.   

Andrea Cassell, wife, mother, and accomplished artisan, is releasing her first cookbook entitled Nahima’s Hands: Unique Mediterranean Cuisine. Bursting with delicious, authentic recipes inspired by her grandmother, Nahima, the cookbook promises to transport you to the Mediterranean.  Featured sections include: appetizers, salads, dressings, and marinades, soups and stews, rice grains and legumes, vegetables, chicken, beef and pork, deserts and breads, and slow-cooker recipes. Cassell even has some recipes paired with wine. For those vegetarians, there are recipes offered in a meatless version.

Andrea will be doing a LIVE cooking demonstration to introduce her new book at Watermark Books & Cafe this Saturday October 30 at  2:00 p.m.  4701 E. Douglas Wichita, Kansas.  I hope to be doing this show live from Watermark but won’t know until Saturday morning 😉

olive branchlearn more at www.nahimashands.com   

  
In the second half I’ll be talking to Kathryn Prather, owner/creator of “Nut Nation”  about some of her interesting creations.  You will want to try all of the unique Smoked “Pistachioz” from Nut Nation.  I am especailly fond of the Curry and Zesty Garlic pistachios from Nut Nation.  Visit their web site and learn all about these and other products, why the “z” in “Pistachioz” and this interesting family run business.  www.nutnation.net

pigs fly logoSpeaking of family run business, I’ll also be talking to Brian Choy about Wichita’s newest BBQ restaurant “When Pigs Fly” – 7011 W. Central Ste. 116 – Wichita.
Recently opened and featured at this years Midwest Beerfest, Brian and his dad Ronnie Choy are making smokey waves in the local BBQ scene.  Check out the menu and learn about cateering from this new “Q-joint” here in Wichita. www.whenpigsflywichita.com

Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week:
Something fun with BBQ!

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