Aug 24 – 30 Breads to Bake Before You Die

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Allyson Reedy with her new book “30 Breads to Bake Before You die.”  The World’s Best Sourdough, Croissants, Focaccia, Bagels, Pita, and More from Your Favorite Bakers.

Master the art of breadmaking with this gorgeous baking book featuring 30 delicious bread recipes from famous bakers, including Duff Goldman, Maurizio Leo, Joanne Chang (Flour Bakery), Zingerman’s Bakehouse, and more!

This is a bread book for people who really, really love bread in all its wondrous forms—but who also might be intimidated by the word “starter.” The recipes, tips, and tricks in 30 Breads to Bake Before You Die come from expert dough workers and bread magicians who’ve put in the hours of kneading, proofing, stretching, folding, and baking to perfect these recipes, all in the oh-so-noble name of good bread.

Get ready to bake your way through some of the most mouthwatering bread recipes, including:

  • Beginner’s Sourdough from Maurizio Leo (@theperfectloaf)
  • Foccacia from Joanne Chang (Flour Bakery)
  • Bagels from Call Your Mother Deli
  • Croissants from Dominique Ansel
  • Ultimate Dinner Rolls from Tessa Arias (@Handletheheat)
  • Matzah from Duff Goldman
  • Baguette from Shawn Bergin (Bakery Four)
  • Pita from Alon Shaya
  • And so much more!

Because who has time for the third-best bagel recipe or so-so sourdough? Not you! So bake up these awesome, accessible breads now, Before you die.  Get a copy NOW 🙂

About the Author 
Allyson Reedy is a carb-loving food writer and restaurant critic in Denver, Colorado. When she’s not taste-testing or checking out new restaurants for a story, she’s probably tripping over her pug in her home kitchen while stressing over sourdough. Read more from her and bake up killer desserts in 50 Things to Bake Before You Die: The World’s Best Cakes, Pies, Brownies, Cookies, and More from Your Favorite Bakers, Including Christina Tosi, Joanne Chang, and Dominique Ansel. Learn more about Allyson  Follow Allyson on X and Facebook

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2018 Les Tours de Laroque Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Packed with myriad juicy red fruits, a whisper of ripe plum and pronounced licorice notes dance throughout, while touches of potent mocha powder and roasty toasted hazelnuts provide balance to the liquid smooth and lengthy finish. A well-layered and grippy expression of super-fine tannins extends the finish further in the utmostly delightful way. It’s a true wonder that such a complex and robust wine is going for less than $30 at Jacob Liquor Exchange here in Wichita! ABV14.5%

91 James Suckling 
A firm, fruity red with plum, chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium body. Fine tannins. Drinkable now, but better in 2023.
90 Wine Enthusiast 
The second wine of this estate, this is smoothly textured and rich with dark-plum and licorice flavors. It still has plenty of tannins in the background, so the wine does need more time. Drink from 2023.
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Aug 17 – Build & Manage a Wine Cellar

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Sylvia Ba, a Vinicultural Expert with a master’s degree in Wine Business and much more!
Two topics today, Building a Wine Cellar and then managing your collection with “VinoVoss” AI Sommelier.

Good Life Guy’s Cellar

How to Build Your Wine Cellar on a Budget
For most wine lovers, the journey to appreciating wine isn’t smooth. At first, the wine world may seem complicated and elitist, with all the esoteric words in the tasting notes and the wine jargon mentioned by sommeliers. But once you get started, the world of wine is welcoming and offers so much to explore. If you are on this journey and thinking about getting serious about wine as a hobby but don’t know how to build a wine cellar, this is your guide. Building a wine cellar is not just for wealthy people. Every wine lover can build a wine collection, also when on a budget. Wine cellar on a budget

Tracking Your Inventory and Enjoying Your Wines
As you gradually build your wine cellar, it’s important to keep track of your inventory. For long-term storage, keeping track of your bottles not only informs you of the best time to enjoy them but also the value of the bottles over time. Fortunately, in 2024 we don’t need to do this with a spreadsheet, as there are many digital wine cellar services that you can use to keep records of your wine collection.

With digital wine cellar and virtual sommelier apps like VinoVoss, for example, you can simply add the wines to your account under “My Wine Cellar.” These apps allow you to catalog your collection, track the aging process, and even get recommendations on when to drink each bottle. Many of these platforms also offer community features, letting you connect with other wine enthusiasts, share tasting notes, and discover new wines based on your preferences.  Learn more about VinoVoss

Wine consultant Sylvia Ba is a vinicultural expert.  With a master’s degree in wine business from Burgundy School of Business, as well as diverse background and experiences in Europe and Asia, she currently offers expertise in marketing, research, purchasing, and copywriting for clients in the wine industry all over the world. Sylvia’s experience includes working as a junior editor for a leading Chinese wine media outlet and as a fine wine salesperson for ASC Fine Wines, the largest fine wine importer in China. She also served as Export Manager for Vinum Hadrianum, an artisanal winery in Abruzzo, Italy.

…

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2021 Sanford & Benedict, Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay
Chardonnay from Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
The wine has aromas of Meyer lemon peel and pith with hints of raw ginger, honey, and green apple all under a cloak of crushed white rock. The texture offers a restrained fleshiness on the mid-palate with a focused and bright saline finish. ABV12.8% 

  • 95 points Decanter Tasted at the beginning of 2023, a reductive quality was still obscuring bright, penetrating green apple and kiwi flavors with a smoky, earthen veil. It’s a gorgeously sleek, richly textured wine with a pulsating core of acidity and salty mineral intensity.
  • 94James Suckling
    Lovely texture and density, showing dried apple, fresh ginger and pastry dough. Layered, with phenolic tension.
  • 93Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
    The 2021 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills has alluring aromas of white peach, freshly baked bread, panna cotta and matchstick with savory undertones. The medium-bodied palate has dynamic flavors that range from ripe fruit to matchstick and saline. It has a focused spine of acidity, a pleasing touch of textural grip and a very long, layered finish.
  • 92Wine Spectator Complex and seamless, there’s plenty to admire in this white wine. Shows spiced, poached pear, dried apple, grilled lemon and fresh tangerine flavors that are juicy and generous, with details of sage, white pepper and toasted sesame seed on the finish.
  • 91Wine Enthusiast here’s a strong streak of tarry minerality to the nose of this bottling, which shows brisk lemon peel and even petrol on the tightly wound nose. The palate is stony as well, with a potent acidity slicing through lemon-peel flavors.

 

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Aug 10 – The Sultan of Garbage

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Guy

This is a bit of a stretch but if you’re like me, like to cook, drink wine etc… You probably make a lot of garbage.  I am an avid recycler but I feel guilty at times about all the trash we generate.  You’ve probably also heard to the floating mass of plastic and assorted garbage floating in the middle of the Pacific ocean.  My guest this week Brian Belefant with his interesting new novella “The Sultan of Garbage.“

lex Jamieson, a disillusioned product photographer, seeks an escape from his unfulfilling life. After learning about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an island of discarded debris in the ocean, Alex charters a yacht to explore it, accompanied by his indifferent girlfriend Candice and her shallow friends, Evan and Nadine.  Determined to confront the true clutter in his life, Alex endures judgment and betrayal from his traveling companions and the physical challenges of the garbage island.

This poignant tale delves into the profound connection between our wasteful habits and our struggles to find purpose and meaning in a cluttered world.  The Sultan of Garbage is a captivating exploration of self-discovery and a reflection on the immense garbage we generate both externally and internally, and urges readers to contemplate their own paths amidst the chaos of modern life.

And no, the irony isn’t lost: how many trees were destroyed in order to print this book? Maybe you should buy the digital version.

About the author – Author + Writer + Director + Photographer + Producer + Editor + Realtor + Father. Not in that order.
Who’s responsible for all the crap swirling around in the middle of the ocean? Brian Belefant deserves at least part of the blame. For decades he worked in advertising and marketing, doing his best to manipulate people like you into craving things you truly don’t need––Pepsi, Nissan, Taco Bell, Visa, Toyota, Pizza Hut, US Bank, Frito-Lay, and others.  He made enough money to buy a lot of stuff, but the fuller his closets got, the emptier he felt.

This book is a form of penance. And it’s not a one-off. So much of what Brian writes deals with themes of consumption, waste, and American cultural imperialism.  https://belefant.com/

To end on a happier note, I’ll tell you all about some of the latest things that winemakers are working on and employing to cut down on waste. From innovative packaging that is lighter and easier/cheaper to ship, but more importantly easier to recycle and not add to the waste dump.

Then it’s all about Cava, the basics of what it is, where it comes from and why you should be drinking this relatively inexpensive form of bubbles!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Segura Viadas Brut Reserva Heredad
Hints of honey, fruit, white flower petals and a hint of smokey aromas make this cava the most iconic wine of Segura Viudas. Here’s your sparkling wine for the summer (and year round)! Terrific value in this well-made, toasty and refreshing bubbly from Spain that’s a third of the price of Champagne. Segura is one of the most respected producers of Cava, the Spanish name for sparkling wine. Terrific earthy aromas mingle with toasted almond and some green apple. Great aperitif or try it with roast turkey, fried chicken, or yes, even potato chips. Elegant, layered, refreshing.  Enjoy its delicate flavor with pasta, white fish, meat, Iberian ham or cheeses (especially Manchego).

  • 94Tasting Panel – 92Wine & Spirits – 92Wilfred Wong – 90Wine Spectator

Produced by the Ferrer family, the makers of Freixenet and other Cava.  Reserva Heredad was created to express style, in the world of top of the range sparkling wines. We make it with the objective of offering an elegant, versatile Cava. To do this, we select only the very best wines from each vintage, which will then age in bottle, in contact with the lees, for more than 24 months. This ageing ends when the winery expert gives every bottle the magic touch with the last “poignettage” or shake of the wrist, which intensifies the contact of the lees with the wine, and creates a more complex bouquet.

Learn more about the Ferrer family of wines here.

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Aug 3 – Favorite Culinary Quotations

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Susi Gott Seguret with her new book A Chef’s Book of Favorite Culinary Quotations.
How she found time to put this fun book together is beyond me!  A muscian, Writer, Photographer and Chef,

A Chef’s Book of Favorite Culinary Quotations features over 200 fun and inspirational quotes for anyone who loves to cook, eat, and entertain, or simply loves to dream about all of the above.

Food is a major part of our lives. We all have to eat and most of us have to cook. But even though Julia Child and Irma Rombauer and other visionaries inspired us to think of cooking as a joy, most of us still need to be reminded that cooking and eating can be fun and inspirational as well as essential!

A Chef’s Book of Favorite Culinary Quotations highlights words of wisdom from a wide variety of people, including those in the food world and beyond. This scrumptious collection is a perfect gift for the food lover in all of us.  Get your copy NOW

About the Author
Susi Gott Séguret, CCP, CSW, hails from the depths of Appalachia in Madison County, North Carolina, but honed her culinary skills in France, where she resided for over 20 years, earning a diploma in Gastronomy and Taste from the Cordon Bleu and the Université de Reims. Author of several cookbooks including Appalachian Appetite, and Cooking with Truffles, Susi orchestrates multiple sensory experiences including the Seasonal School of Culinary Arts, the Asheville Truffle Experience, and the Appalachian Culinary Experience. Passionate about elements of taste and style, and how they extend from our palate into our daily lives, Susi strives to blend food, music, words and images into a tapestry for the senses.  you must visit her site  susigott.com and learn more about this talented lady!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2022 Catena Alta “Historic Rows” Chardonnay
Catena Chardonnay combines the unique expressions of three high altitude vineyard sites. The wine shows an intense greenish color with yellow notes. The extraordinary combination of these vineyards offer honey and tropical fruit flavors while lending notes of citrus, pears, peaches, and white flowers with a strong minerality and a delicated note of vanilla. The mouthfeel is clean, with a fresh, clean acidity. ABV13.7%

This wine would be a fantastic companion a variety of poultry dishes, dishes finished with a Nantua sauce, or to a rich seafood dish like shrimp and herb risotto.

Professional Ratings

  • 94James Suckling
    A light gold hue here with a creaminess to the nose and palate. Dried lemon and a hint of brioche. A rounder, medium- to full-bodied chardonnay with excellent balance and poise. Some botrytis here with around 30% malolactic fermentation.
  • 94Vinous
    The 2021 Chardonnay Catena Alta from Villa Bastías, Uco Valley was made with slightly botyric grapes aged for 12 months in a third new 500-liter barrels. Golden in color. The Sauterne-like aromas include ripe fruit, stewed apple and pleasant oaky notes. Sugary on the palate with freshness wrapped in a refined texture, the refined oaky flavors return at the back of the mouth.
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July 27 – Roasted Hatch Green Chiles

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Marshall Berg from Best in the West Brands; Santa Fe Ole and Los Roast. Located in Deming, NM, the focus is producing shelf-stable New Mexico grown “Hatch” chile products. Previously separate companies Los Roast and Santa Fe Ole came together under the Best in the West banner to increase the production capabilities and overall quality of both brands.

Chiles have become the hottest new ingredient in everything from the usual sauces and salsa to spicy ice creams and beverages. According to 2024 market research, consumers are increasingly seeking products that add overall flavor, cultural experience, and a little bit of heat to their meals. The New Mexico grown Hatch chile is the ideal product to meet this need. Until now, fresh Hatch chiles have been hard to ship, but Best in the West has found a way for everyone to enjoy these southwest flavors through a proprietary process, new production facility, and decades of experience.  Santa Fe Ole and Los Roast are on Facebook

About Best in the West Brands
Best in the West is bringing the authentic flavors of New Mexico from family farm to table. Their authentic New Mexico Hatch chiles are sourced from fifth and sixth-generation family farms in and around the famous Mesilla Valley. Their proprietary roasting and peeling techniques preserve the authentic flavor and heat of the chile before it’s diced and packaged. Best in the West is the first company to supply farm-fresh, shelf-stable Hatch chiles of superior quality to restaurants and manufacturers, who can use them to add an authentic, versatile, smoky flavor to a wide variety of dishes. Best in the West’s farm-fresh, packaged Hatch chiles are shelf stable for 18 months. Santa Fe Ole products not yet available here in Kansas but can be ordered here:  www.santafeole.com   www.losroast.com

Hatch chiles are versatile and can be used in many dishes, including stews, sauces, dips, and as a topping for pizza or burgers. They can range in Scoville Heat Units from 1,000–8,000, which is generally between the mildness of an Anaheim or poblano chili pepper and the heat of a jalapeño or habanero. They also have a slightly sweet flavor and an earthy, complex taste. A medium-sized Hatch chile can contain as much vitamin C as six oranges, which can help boost immunity and repair cells.

About Marshall Berg formed Best in the West to create this opportunity for the brands and began construction in Deming in 2020. After the first roasting season was completed in 2022, the previous owner of Santa Fe Olé, Jim Wrench passed away suddenly. At this point, Best in the West acquired Santa Fe Olé from Jim’s family.  Best in the West had proven its abilities and became the parent company for both Santa Fe Olé and Los Roast brands in late 2023. Santa Fe Olé, a brand established in 1984 that pioneered roasted green chile in a glass jar. Santa Fe Olé remains at the forefront of innovative and quality New Mexico chile products and boasts a loyal fan base.

If you haven’t incorporated Hatch Chiles in your recipes, you are missing out!  These are some of the best packaged examples of what Hatch brings to the party. Far superior than the small cans on the grocery store shelf, the only way to get close is to find fresh peppers and roast them yourself.

If you want to try fresh roasted Hatch peppers they will be available at Johnson’s Garden Centers in early August and can preordered at www.johnsonsgardern.com 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Something to pair with dishes featuring Roasted Green Chile!
2022 Quady Electra Moscato

Winemaker Notes

This light and refreshing Moscato d’Asti style wine features delicate bubbles that dance flavors of sweet citrus, peach and melon across the palate. Pair it with fresh fruit, salads, spicy Asian and Indian foods, burgers with sweet sauce, and light desserts. ABV 4-5%

Professional Ratings

  • 90Wine Enthusiast

    . This wine is fresh, lively and supple. Aromas suggest canned peach and pear, candied apple and orange blossom water. Other notes waft through, including crystalized ginger, white tea, lemon honey, dried fennel and maple syrup. Layers of rock and minerality throughout the palate help create a balanced, long and dry finish. Great alternative to dessert wine with lower ABV.

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