Jun 15 – Bourbon Land

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Chef Edward Lee and his new book “BOURBON LAND”
While I am a certified WINO, my spirit of choice is Bourbon and this book is great.

In BOURBON LAND there are plenty of bourbon-infused recipes, but the book also represents the ways that Bourbon is becoming more modern, diverse, and global. It’s both a local flavor AND a global phenomenon.

Edward Lee is the bridge connecting the hipster restaurant world to the beautiful, old-time traditions around making bourbon. He says that as bourbon becomes more global, it’s important to remember where it comes from. It’s on trend with young people in high-end bars, but it’s still made by old guys in dungarees. Get a copy NOW!

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Lee thinks about bourbon as an ingredient, a tool, a luxurious gift that enhances food… showing us that it goes well with fish, Asian Food, salads…and yes, even that beloved Bourbon BBQ Sauce!  Bourbon is time, trapped in a bottle…

In his highly anticipated follow-up to the James Beard Award-winning Buttermilk Graffiti, Edward Lee examines his favorite libation—bourbon—with recipes, essays, history, profiles, distillery tours, and more. Lee gives us his insight into bourbon, telling us everything we should know about the honey-brown treasure that’s put Kentucky on the global map: How bourbon is made. Its history. How to read a label. A look inside the famous distilleries. The influence of oak. Tours of Kentucky’s bourbon regions. The people who made bourbon in the past, and the people shaping the industry today. How to taste bourbon like a professional. And, in the most delicious surprise, how to cook with bourbon, with 50 recipes from Bourbon-Glazed Chicken Wings and Blackened Salmon with Bourbon-Soy Marinade to a Bourbon and Butterscotch Pudding. Plus, the best Old Fashioned you’ll ever mix.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Edward Lee is the author of Bourbon Land, Smoke & Pickles and Buttermilk Graffiti; chef/owner of 610 Magnolia in Louisville, Kentucky; and culinary director of Succotash in National Harbor, Maryland, and Penn Quarter, Washington, DC. Lee is a 6-time finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast He appears frequently in print and on television, including earning an Emmy nomination for his role in the Emmy Award–winning series The Mind of a Chef. Most recently, he wrote and hosted the feature documentary Fermented. He lives in Louisville and Washington, DC, and you can find him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @chefedwardlee.  https://chefedwardlee.com/    Learn about the LEE Initiative 

Good Life Guy’s Wine Bourbon of the Week:
Penelope Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Named after our Founder’s recently born daughter, Penelope Bourbon is our signature four grain straight bourbon whiskey uniquely blended from three bourbon mash bills. Each barrel is hand-selected and blended into a single batch for your enjoyment. Remarkably smooth and flavorful, Penelope is perfect whether sipping neat or using in your favorite cocktail. Tasting Notes: A nose of balanced corn sweetness, caramel, light oak, syrup, dynamic aroma profile with slight savory notes. Forward notes of sweet fruit and grain, slight leather, very slight candied cream and cherry. A body of fruit, syrup, candied sweetness, and a savory vanilla note with slight berry and citrus. Slight buttercream (icing) and corn bread finish with a lingering vanilla spice.  https://penelopebourbon.com/

Wine Enthusiast  WE89
The aroma presents as spiced and sweet, reminiscent of a liqueur. The palate is light, showing allspice, chamomile and ginger, with a fleeting white floral note and hint of cedar. What’s in the bottle is a four-grain Bourbon (corn, rye, wheat, malted barley) distilled in Indiana, aged about two years, bottled in Kentucky, and named for the founder’s daughter.
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Jun 8 – Raybern’s Crafted Sandwiches & City Limits Wine

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Shanisty Ireland representing Raybern’s Crafted Sandwiches.  Available here in Kansas at several outlets, including Walmart, Sam’s and most all Dollar General stores.  Check out some of these frozen sandwiches www.rayberns.com

Over thirty years ago, two guys named Ray & Bernie had a delicious dream: to share their love of New York style deli sandwiches with the world. In his quest to perfect the recipes, Bernie taste-tested sauces, meats and breads on his family and friends until he got all the ingredients just right.

It took years to fully develop our bread recipe that cooks up “Bakery-Soft” right from the microwave–as well as our signature Philly Cheesesteak and Pastrami recipes. Over the decades lots of things have changed, but our love of delicious, authentic deli sandwiches never has. Today, we’re proud to make millions of sandwiches a year, including the best-selling Philly Cheesesteak in America!

Then it’s all about City Limits winery in the Columbia Valley, Washington.

City Limits, the place where dirt and brush turn to concrete & culture, where Farm meets fashion, and high desert meets high rise.

“One day it came to me as I drove past this sign after 10 years of time. We (the producers) travel far and wide outside of the City Limits to work with farmers and source fruit to make wine. We then take that produce and create something beautiful, and we present it to the people within the City Limits.

We bring the rural land to the urban people in a bottle of wine. Wine was before us. It will be after us. It is not a trend or a fad. Wine is beautiful & it will endure. We bring fruit that is grown beyond the City Limits to people who live within the City Limits to spread the love of WA Wine.” -Morgan Lee, Winemaker

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2021 City Limits Detour Red Wine
95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet from Milbrand and Wahluke Vineyard in the Columbia Valley AVA. The grapes are harvested, crushed, fermented and aged 10 months in French and American oak.  This wine is aromatic and begs for a sip with dark fruit, vanilla and earthiness.  Those aromas are echoed on the palate with cherry cola and spice in the rich lingering finish.  Another fine example of what Merlot can be in the hands of a talented Washington winemaker. ABV13.9%

Wine Enthusiast 91
“Blackberry and graphite aromas rub up against a pronounced roast pork shoulder note. The wine’s rich, round mouthfeel is at home with flavors like cassis, blackberry scones and a trace of iodine. Creamy and dreamy when it comes to texture.” — Michael Alberty

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June 1st – 3rd Annual; DecantICT

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Guy

Today it’s all about the American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF) 3rd Annual DecantICT Sunday June 2nd at the Wichita Marriott. This event is almost sold out…get your tickets today!  Limited number of tickets available at the door.

Reserve your tickets to this great event Now!

 

Up first if my good friend and new father Bryce Lob from One Life Spirits.  Bryce is the co-founder of Una Vida Tequila and has added several other craft spirits to the portfolio.  We will tell you about the products and you can taste them all at DecantICT 🙂

One Life Spirits Mission is to build a culture and community around quality spirits. We are here to help people understand that it is more than just liquid in a glass. We only have One Life, and it is meant to be lived to the fullest, with purpose, surrounded by good people, and most importantly with a good drink.

Then it’s all about the DecantICT raffle packages that you can wine at the event.  Jeananne Houchen will share the details on how attendees can buy raffle tickets  at the suggested donation price (1 for $10, 3 for $20), then place your tickets in the bucket by any one of the many fine packages put together by our partners, sponsors and AIWF board members.

Finally, it’s all about the just released innovative wines from Bogle Family Wines; Element[AL].
Element[AL] Wines was announced today from Bogle Family Wine Collection as the first-of-its-kind wine brand with 750ml aluminum wine bottles that are shockingly lightweight, infinitely recyclable, and are made in the shape of a traditional wine bottle. The new environmentally friendly format will shatter expectations about how and when wine can be enjoyed and answer the call-to-action from the wine industry to rethink glass bottles, the largest contributor to wine’s carbon footprint. Starting January 2024, the Element[AL] portfolio will be available in 100% recyclable aluminum bottles with four varietals, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Rosé and Pinot Noir. Each wine varietal is grown in sustainable vineyards throughout California’s premier growing regions.

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2022 Element[AL] California Chardonnay
From select North Coast Chardonnay Vineyards. Barrel fermenting in a combination of French and American oak barrels imparts an inspired mélange of continental sophistication and new world approachability. Aromas of summer peach, green apple and a hint of toasted oak and vanilla lead to a soft, plush mouth feel that echos the aromas.  The flavors and finish linger on the palate and make a hot summer day inviting.  Pair with nothing or anything, great for picnics, on the boat at the lake, holiday gatherings and more. ABV14.5%  TP92

The Tasting Panel-“This wine shows depth of character on a creamy base of vanilla pudding. Italian herbs enhance its unique profile, balanced by lemon cookie and a smooth, honeysuckle-inspired finish.”

Grab a few of these new innovative bottles from Jacob Liquor on North Rock Road and let the summer fun continue.
You can taste this wine and all the others, Sunday at the 3rd Annual DecantICT event at the Wichita Marriott.

Get more info and tickets through www.aiwfwichita.org NOW!

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May 25 – The Pelican Tide & Bee-Licious Honey

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Guy

My first guest this week is Sharon Wishnow with her new book “The Pelican Tide.” While not specifically about food and wine, the story is set in Southern Louisiana and the difficulties associated with an oil spill and a restaurants struggle to survive afterward.  It also includes some interesting recipes.

“Set in Grand Isle, Louisiana, in the wake of the massive Deepwater Horizon oil spill, The Pelican Tide is the story of a family in turmoil, a historic café, and a beautiful but fragile ecosystem under threat. A layer of oil sludge coats the local beaches and estuaries, fishing is banned, tourists disappear, and the entire island community faces tough decisions. Against this backdrop, Josie and Brian struggle to hold their marriage together while trying to ensure a future on the island they love. In this assured debut, Sharon Wishnow creates a strong sense of place and deftly brings the natural world of this Gulf barrier island to life. Readers looking for a heartwarming story, memorable characters, and the delights of a wayward pelican named Gumbo will be richly rewarded.” ―Rebecca Hodge, award-winning author of Wildland

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About the Author
Sharon J. Wishnow is a transplanted New Englander who makes her home in Northern Virginia. She writes fiction and nonfiction in the science, technology, and lifestyle categories with a passion for research, seashells, birds, and the ocean. For more information, visit www.sharonwishnow.com.

Later in the show it’s all about BEE-LICIOUS Honey.

Bees are crucial to our food system, they pollinate over 80% of all flowering plants, yet each year we see greater colony loss. In order to save the bees and our food system, we need knowledgeable bee professionals like the experts at Bee-Licious Honey to guide our actions. Jeff Garner and Jennifer Lytle have been beekeeping, educating, advocation, and sourcing from of the best sustainable global honey for over 8 years.  Follow Bee-Licious on Facebook

Jeff and Jennifer are backyard beekeepers and honey bee educators, and they travel the world seeking and sourcing the best and most carefully harvested honey.  They are incredibly knowledgeable about what it takes to source honey sustainably and toso save the bees.

Honey from the Pacific Northwest and worldwide select gourmet honey is all available at their web site: www.beelicious.com. I look forward to sharing their story and tasting the premium Alemany Lavender Honey from Spain.
This Lavender Honey features abundant fragrance from lavender and showcases the aromatic landscape of  Castile and Leon, Guadalajara and Teruel.

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Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2019 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
This Napa Valley Cabernet is an interpretation of a quintessentially classic style. The color is deep garnet and the nose yields aromas of dark chocolate, pomegranate, cedar shavings, blackberry, and leather. The palate exhibits flavors of blueberry compote, black cherry, espresso, and cigar box with bright and juicy fruit forward sensations. The texture is rich and bold with well-structured tannins that make it approachable now and will yield great results in the cellar for decades. ABV14.5%

Learn more here!

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May 18 – Jackson Family Fine Wines

Posted on May 13, 2024 by Guy

My guest this week is Ken Abolins, Region manager for Jackson Family Fine Wines.

Every wine enthusiast knows about Kendall-Jackson wines. The Vintners Reserve line is the most popular series of wines with the widest distribution and restaurant wine list presents, especially the Chardonnay.  But you may not know “The Rest of The Story!”  My first visit to the original Lake County Kendall-Jackson winery was in 1989, Jed Steele was the winemaker and my brother and I had a fine wine country luncheon with Jess Jackson’s daughter Janet. We tasted everything produced at that time, recorded a radio show, and it was memorable.

I also had the opportunity to meet and chat with Jess Jackson and Randy Ollum (winemaker at the time and now he oversees the entire KJ portfolio)  at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic many years ago. Jess Stonestreet Jackson was a force of great magnitude in many aspects of California winemaking prior to his untimely passing. After several years of treatment for melanoma, Jackson died on 21 April 2011.

Kendall-Jackson may be most often associated with the winery’s flagship Vintner’s Reserve line, starring its best-selling Chardonnay, but there is much more to this Sonoma County wine producer. The brand was founded in 1982 by Jess Jackson, who replaced pear and walnut trees with Chardonnay grapevines on an 80-acre orchard he purchased north of Napa Valley.

From there, Kendall-Jackson would go on to launch multiple collections, become a leader in sustainability and conservation, and take home many prestigious honors, including the American Wine Competition’s first-ever Platinum Award for an American Chardonnay.

Jackson Family Wines has been family-owned and run since the planting of the first vines in 1974. Each of the 40+ wineries in the portfolio has its own distinct fingerprint and style driven by the terroir of the vineyards located across the top wine-growing regions of the world.

Ken and I will be sharing the story of the growth of the portfolio, the many vineyard and label acquisitions and talk about many of the premium labels produced today.  The wine of the week is just one of the premium wines produced!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2020 Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Chardonnay
This 2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay is a rich, nuanced and complex wine. The nose opens with aromas of apple cobbler, creme brulee, ripe pineapple, orange marmalade, and fresh peach. The palate is supple, balanced and integrated and exhibits flavors of stone fruit, candied lemon zest, baking spices, ambrosia and vanilla. It is at once vibrant and balanced while being creamy with a long, lingering finish.. ABV14.2%   JS94, WA92, JD92

Learn more here!

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