May 8 – Seasonal Fruit Desserts & Sokol Blosser wines

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Guy

seasonal fruit desertsSeasonal Fruit Desserts from Orchard, Farm and Market With author Deborah Madison.

Have you ever bitten into a ripe, fragrant strawberry? Or a luscious peach, its juice dripping down your chin? Or a pear that explodes with flavor? Sometimes fruit, all by itself, just seems like the perfect end to a meal. Now, In Seasonal Fruit Desserts: From Orchard, Farm, and Market, Deborah Madison manages to improve on perfection, turning all of your favorite seasonal fruits into a cornucopia of decadent tarts, pies, puddings, and cakes.
 
Most of us find it difficult to incorporate enough fruit into our diets but with more than 175 recipes in this book, you’ll find plenty of new, healthy and totally pleasurable ideas. Dessert doesn’t need to be a complicated and time-consuming task after you have prepared a whole meal. These simple and flavorful recipes are easy to master and will delight your family and guests.

 

In the second half I’ll be chatting with Jeff Knapp from Sokol Blosser about the winery, the vineyards and some of the wines availble from this great Oregon producer.  Jeff will be in Wichita next week and hosting an AIWF tasting at Larkspur on Thursday May 13, 6-7:30 p.m., it’s open to the public and will feature 4 wines and some fun Larkspur food.  Learn more at www.aiwfwichita.org

Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week:  2008 Sokol Blosser Pinot Grigio & the perfect for Spring…Evolution!  

Evolution’s off-dry, somewhat tropical wine with a crisp finish is like no other blend or single varietal wine. We carefully merge Pinot Gris, Müller-Thurgau, White Riesling, Semillon, Muscat Canelli, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sylvaner. For those keeping score, that’s nine different varietals which add up to a flavor greater than the sum of its parts.
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May 1 – Bill Kurtis-Tallgrass Beef & Dish Diva

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Guy

bill kurtis rancherMy first guest is Journalist, producer, author and Cattle rancher Bill Kurtis.  You’ve seen him on TV with his shows Investigative Reports, Cold Case files and most recently as spokesperson for AT&T discovering the internet.  Today we will focus on Bill’s Sedan Kansas Cattle ranch where Flint Hills Beef is produced.

In his home state of Kansas, Kurtis is a rancher, radio station owner, art gallery owner, small businessman, supporter of small-town America, and an active conservationist. His 10,000-acre Red Buffalo Ranch is a working cattle ranch, raising and marketing organic grass-fed beef. The ranch is located in the last section of North America to enjoy untouched tall grass prairie, a personal point of pride for Mr. Kurtis.

Grass-fed beef
tallgrass logo“I’m trying to lead the wave in terms of healthy beef. I think this is the answer to obesity,” says Kurtis, whose Tallgrass Beef Co. raises grass-fed cows on his ranch. He has returned to the way that cattle historically were raised on open range and grass only, without the use of hormones, antibiotics and fattening in feedlots on corn and corn products. At any given time, there are some 2,500 to 3, 500 cows ranging over the Kurtis ranch.

Leading Chicago restaurants Harry Caray’s and Charlie Trotter’s serve Kurtis Tallgrass Beef, which also is sold online. www.tallgrassbeef.com

The_dish_divaIn the second half I’ll be talking to Nancy Bell Ringer, a local Wichita cook, about her “Dish Diva Cookbook”  – and her Cookie Diva business that produces exceptional custom decorated sugar cookies.  Nancy’s Dish diva Cookbook is availble at Watermark books at Douglas and Oliver, for those her get there early this week there are signed copies available. 

Note to self…
Saturday, May 1 is the 15th Annual Herb Day at the Sedgwick County Extension Education Center, 7001 W. 21st & Ridge Road.  7:00-2:00 p.m. The 2010 Herb of the year is Dill!  Learn more at: www.sedgwick.ksu.edu

The Good Life Guy Wine of the Week…
From France, an Eric Solomon European Cellars Selection
2008 côté EST – 50%Grenache, 30%Chardonnay, 20% Marsanne

lafage cote est labelLafage’s 2008 Cote Est (note the slightly different spelling of the name from previous years) comes from Chardonnay, Marsanne, and old Grenache Blanc vines on cobbled soils near the coast, blended with the fruit of centenarian Grenache Gris vines on Pyrenean schist. The wine is aged in tank on its fine lees and the result is not only irresistibly delicious but truly complex. Orange and lime zest, white pepper, narcissus, fennel, and mint in the nose lead to a juicy, bright palate with musky floral perfume and a shimmering interchange of citrus with wet stone, salt, iodine, and other ineffable mineral elements.
Wine Advocate 90 Points

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Apr 24 – Midwest Winefest

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Guy

This week it’s all about the 15th Annual Midwest Winefest!  www.midwestwinefest.com

mwwf poster 2010

It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since the first Midwest Winefest at the Airport Hilton.  It was a great event and a first for Wichita.  So many wines, so little time indeed.  And it just keeps getting better.  Now, an evening event and still featuring a great selection of wines and local restaurants to entertain your taste buds.  Come and be a part of this fun event, I’ll be there with mic in hand as your Master of Ceremonies and also helping with the cooking demo.

I’ll be talking to Michelle Havercamp from Standard Beverage about all the festivities that go on at the Grand Tasting, some of the silent and live auctions packages and what this great event has meant to the Guadalupe Clinic and Health Foundation.

I’ll be talking to John Edgerly, one of our VIP wine guests from Trinchero Family Estates, about the wines that he will be pouring at the Grand Tasting.  John is one of many visiting guests representing their wines at the festival

Also talking to Chef Adam Courtney from the Seafood Shop about the cooking demo he’ll be doing.  I get to help…OK – watch, and offer wine suggestions to go with his creations.

We’ll finish up with a brief chat with David Merfeld, winemaker at Northstar winery in Walla Walla WA.  “Merf” will be in town May 11 for a spectacular wine dinner at the Hereford House at Terradyne Country Club.   For reservations or more info, call 316 733-7800

The Good Life Guy Wine of the Week…

2007 Trinchero Napa Meritage
Double Gold at the 2010 San Fran Chronicle wine competition!
Trinchero-Napa-Valley-Meritage-Lo-Res-Label-Shot“This is my favorite wine to make because, like having all the crayons in the box, it lets me paint the prettiest picture. Having an incredible arsenal of vineyards at my disposal enables me to make a wine with layers and layers of aromas and flavors. Cabernet is the backbone, Merlot contributes to the mid-palate and the aromatics, Petit Verdot adds color and floral aromatics, and Cabernet Franc elongates the finish.” —Mario Monticelli (Trinchero Napa Winemaker)

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Apr 17 – Randall Grahm – “Been Doon So Long”

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Guy

randall_grahmMy guest this week is Randall Grahm, winemaker extradinaire Rhone Ranger, 2010 Vintners Hall of Fame inductee, visionary California winemaker and founder of Bonny Doon Vineyards.   We’ll be chatting about his journey in wine, the wineries great success and growth, some of his wines, and his new book!  😉

Been doon so longThis eclectic collection at last brings to a wide audience the irreverent, zany voice of Randall Grahm.   An iconoclastic send-up of the wine industry and a celebration of unsung grape varieties, the book features, among other things, Grahm’s hilarious literary parodies–Joyce, Kafka, Pynchon, Salinger, and others–together with song lyrics, other snarky satires, poems, lectures, and more. Subtle undertones of gravitas with faint suggestions of earnestness lie beneath the humor, however, as Grahm passionately addresses the state of wine today: Where in wine does “greatness” truly repose? How might true originality in New World wines be found? Do New World winemakers have the integrity and courage to unreservedly embrace terroir? This trove includes a very personal take on Dante’s Inferno (Grahm’s own vision of Wine Hell) and a collection of tunes from the rock opera “Born to Rhône.” Other pieces offer a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Rhône Ranger wine movement and of Bonny Doon itself, told through the story of its adventurous wine labels. Been Doon So Long is a highly entertaining journey to find the “truth of all things that may be found in the unlikely medium of a wineglass.”

BDV logo colorGood Life Guy’s Wine of the Week…
The Wines of Bonny Doon!  www.bonnydoonvineyard.com

Stop by Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and get your Doon On

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April 10 – Joel Gott & Mario Andretti – Great Guys-Great Wines!

Posted on April 6, 2010 by Guy

joel gottI could use three hours this week, it’s all about exceptional wine with two great guests to talk to today; first up is Winemaker Joel Gott.  Joel is one of the busiest guys in the wine business!  He is one of the notorius “Three Thieves” along with Roger Scomenga and Charles Bieler.  The Thieves producer six different labels that showcase innovative packaging and great juice and reasonable price points.  The focus this morning will be on Joel’s own label; Joel Gott Wines – www.gottwines.com

joelgottwines

Gott produces a Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Cabernet – all of which are available locally and come highly reccomended by those who rate wines.  For me, I like them all but the Riesling is probably my favorite white wine of 2009.  Look for the 2008 vintage!

In the second half I’ll be speaking to racing legend and winery owner Mario Andretti.   

Not many have driven a race car better than Mario Andretti. He could make a bad car competitive and a competitive car victorious. He won the Indianapolis 500, the Daytona 500, the Formula One World Championship and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. He won the Champ Car National Championship four times and was a three-time winner at Sebring. He won races in sports cars, sprint cars and stock cars – on ovals, road courses, drag strips, on dirt and on pavement. He won at virtually every level of racing since he arrived in America from his native Italy at age 15. He is a racing icon, considered by many to be the greatest race car driver in the history of the sport.

marioandrettiToday Mario is a successful businessman off the track and serves as spokesman, associate and friend to top executives around the world. His legacy continues with the Andretti Winery in Napa Valley, a petroleum business in California, several car dealerships, the Mario Andretti Racing School in Las Vegas, and the Andretti Indoor Karting and Games facility near Atlanta. Two coffee table books have been written about his life. And a documentary in the IMAX movie format plays worldwide.

Andretti banner

We’ll focus on Andretti Winery and the award winning Napa wines produced by the Andretti winemaking team!  www.andrettiwinery.com

The Good Life Guy “Wines of The Week”…

The wines of both my guests; Joel Gott & Mario Andretti

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