Sep 30 – Amazing Woodwork Art

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Guy

My guest this week is good friend Kent Burnett talking about his incredible woodwork and some of the very special works of art he has put together.  Follow Kent on Facebook!

Ken says “Life has proven to be an interesting mix of eclectic emotions and experiences.  First, was my visual expressions via photography.  Three words were re-occurring themes through-out that career:  passion, grace and fire.”

“Photography is still a wonderful experience, but there always seemed to be a missing element.   With few exceptions, my work was not something which would stand the test of time, as it was geared towards advertising and commercial products.”

“I wanted to do something that would last long after my presence is gone and add a degree of beauty to the world around me.  This quest has brought a new passion to my life, the incredible experience of working with woods.  Such feelings pushed me into the grace of curves and flow, not normally found in wood designs.  Hopefully, my passion and grace in design will ignite a fire of emotion in all who take time to “see through my eyes”.

Here are a few of Kent’s pieces of art:

 

 

 

 

 

…

Later in the show we’ll be talking about a new addition to Old Town – Insomnia Cookies. Who doesn’t like cookies?

Insomnia Cookies, the beloved cult brand known for serving warm cookies all day and late into the night, is set to open its first store in Wichita. The new bakery, located just outside of Union Station and within walking distance of the Old Town District, marks the brand’s third store in Kansas and 250th location nationwide.

Here to the rescue when that craving for something sweet hits (even at 3 a.m.!), Insomnia Cookies offers in-store, pickup, and delivery options for customers to experience the company’s signature warm, delicious cookies. From the Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie to favorites like Snickerdoodle and Confetti Deluxe, delicious Cookies IN Ice Cream flavors, decadent brookies, brownies, and blondies, a full slate of vegan options, and a frequently-rotating limited-edition menu, the brand’s offerings satisfy every sweet tooth – warm or cold.   Address: 701 E. Douglas Ave. Unit A, Wichita, KS 67202

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2020 Delille Cellars Métier Cabernet
An inviting, smooth wine with black cherry and plum aromas pouring from the glass. Flavors of bold dark fruits and charming notes of baking spice combine with a juicy midpalate and pleasantly firm, dry finish. Best paired in the company of family and friends, Métier offers a balance of structure and approachability that can accompany a wide variety of foods. ABV14.1%

WE91 – Wine Enthusiast  
Appealing, direct aromas of blueberry, plum, green pepper and cumin lead to plump, accessible blue-fruit flavors. Soft tannins back it all up. It brings a whole lot of undeniable appeal, made in a forward, accessible style.  Editors’ Choice

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Sep 23 – The Whistling Kettle

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Guy

My guest this week is Kevin Borowsky founding owner along with his wife Meahgan of The Whistling Kettle

Troy, NY proprietors Kevin and Meahgan Borowsky debuted the Whistling Kettle luxe loose leaf tea brand twenty years ago, saying farewell to high profile NYC careers. Their entrepreneurial growth story reverses the convention of the bricks and mortar leading to an online store: the duo popularized their distinct tea brand with such success that it supported their first tea focused restaurant in NY’s destination village of Ballston Spa, just south of Saratoga Springs.  Three tea centric cafes located in Ballston Spa, Troy and Schenectady offer a modern interpretation of the traditional afternoon tea with a retail selection including a ‘Great Wall of tea’ with over 100 varieties. 2023 sees the opening of a new tea bar and retail shop located at their headquarters in Albany, NY. The Whistling Kettle Teas are sold nationally, and the in-house team actively sources tea from small farms from all over the world to blend their unique and continually evolving array of flavorful teas to support their mission of creating luxury teas, sustainability and at a fair price.

“Step through our doors and you’ll know we’re just not another tea shop. Our story started in 2004 when we decided to quit our jobs in New York City and follow our entrepreneurial spirits. Drinking tea became our one of our habits, but there weren’t any consumer friendly stores to buy tea locally. The tea businesses at the time were based on a 19th century model. There were plenty of coffee shops – but what about tea?” Follow on Facebook.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2016 Viña Gormaz Crianza from Ribera Del Duero 
100% Tempranillo fermented at a controlled temperature of 83º F for 10 days. After the fermentation process, the wine is macerated for 10 days. After the malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine is transferred to French and American oak barrels (new and previously used) for 14 months. The wine is then aged for 8 months in bottle before release. ABV14%

Tasting Notes: Intense ruby red color. Ripe fruit aromas with hints of cocoa and roasted coffee. A touch of sweet fruit on the palate with a backbone of tannins and a little acidity makes this a complex and balanced crianza.

Wine Enthusiast 92!

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Sep 16 – Chinese Menu

Posted on September 11, 2023 by Guy

Today it’s all about Chinese Menus and a little history and lore about some of the names we see.  My guest is Grace Lin, the author of this interesting new book “Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods.”

Newbery and Caldecott honoree and New York Times bestselling author Grace Lin delivers a groundbreaking, lushly illustrated, and beautifully written full-color book that explores the whimsical myths and stories behind your favorite American Chinese food.  From fried dumplings to fortune cookies, here are the tales behind your favorite foods.

Do you know the stories behind delectable dishes—like the fun connection between scallion pancakes and pizza? Or how dumplings cured a village’s frostbitten ears? Or how wonton soup tells about the creation of the world?

Separated into courses like a Chinese menu, these tales—based in real history and folklore—are filled with squabbling dragons, magical fruits, and hungry monks. This book will bring you to far-off times and marvelous  places, all while making your mouth water. And, along the way, you might just discover a deeper understanding of the resilience and triumph behind this food, and what makes it undeniably American.

Best selling author Grace Lin provides a visual and storytelling feast as she gives insight on the history, legends, and myths behind your favorite American Chinese dishes. Chinese Menu makes the perfect gift book for anyone who loves good food—and an even better story.

Get a copy today!           Follow Grace on Facebook & Twitter

Grace Lin is the award-winning and bestselling author and illustrator of Starry River of the Sky, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, The Year of the Dog, The Year of the Rat, Dumpling Days, and Ling &amp Ting, as well as picture books such as The Ugly Vegetables and Dim Sum for Everyone! Grace is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and lives in Massachusetts. Her website is http://www.gracelin.com.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2022 Sutter Home White Zinfandel
You may laugh, but the alleged original White Zin, created by the Trinchero family is still a fun easy drinking wine for any time of year.  Summer heat or Winter freezes, it’s not as sweet as you remember!

“Sutter Home White Zinfandel Wine looks as good as it tastes with its beautiful pale pink color. Delicate aromas of sun-ripened berries lead to sweet, creamy strawberry and melon flavors that mingle with a hint of vanilla on the palate. The crisp, refreshing finish balances out this lightly sweet wine, making it the perfect partner for a wide variety of foods. Sutter Home Wine has earned Silver from 2023 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition and 93 points – Silver from 2022 California State Fair. Pair this pink wine with spicy Asian cuisine, shrimp cocktail and grilled chicken. Best served chilled, this blush wine features grapes sourced from California vineyards. To create its pale pink color and touch of sweetness, Zinfandel grapes are immediately pressed after harvest to collect the rich, concentrated free-run juice. Then it is cold fermented in stainless steel tanks to enhance the aromas and crisp acidity. This bottled wine has a convenient screw cap with no corkscrew required and has 9.8% alcohol by volume. Sutter Home, family owned since 1948, is the brand generations of wine lovers trust to deliver consistent, award-winning quality and value for every wine.” occasion.

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Sep 9 – Kneaders Bakery Cookbook

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Guy

My guest this week is Colleen Worthington. Colleen and her husband Gary are the founders of Kneaders Bakery and Café, and now have put together the KNEADERS Bakery & Cafe cookbook to Celebrate 25 years in business. I hated to see the Wichita location on North Rock Road close during the start of COVID and was truly saddened it closed permanently shortly afterwards.  Holding out hope for a new locati0n in the future. Learn more about Kneaders – Follow Kneaders on Facebook and Twitter or X.

The story of Kneaders Bakery and Cafe began with Colleen and Gary Worthington baking traditional European bread in their kitchen. After mastering old-world bread-baking techniques and testing countless recipes, Colleen, Gary, and their growing team of bakers moved onto their signature artisan bread.

But bread is just the beginning. Kneaders is well-known for their mouth-watering soups, sandwiches, and breakfast as well as their delectable pies, cakes, and pastries. For the first time, home cooks have access to popular recipes such as Overnight Chunky Cinnamon French Toast, Artichoke Portobello Soup, and Blueberry Sour Cream Pie. Beautiful and appetizing photos accompany each recipe.

What began in Colleen Worthington’s kitchen a little more than twenty-five years ago has grown into a successful family-owned bakery and cafe business with time-tested, delicious recipes gathered in this one-of-a-kind cookbook. Get a copy NOW!

After retiring as franchisees of nine successful Subway restaurants, Gary and Colleen Worthington began thinking about their next endeavor; scratch-made artisanal breads. Their interest in traditional bakeries led them to research and develop a restaurant concept featuring the highest-quality ingredients for delicious, authentic European hearth breads.

Later  I’ll be talking to Eli Faraggi, founder and CEO of InnoBev, producer of BioLift

Looking for a refreshing, tasty energy drink?  You need to try BioLift!

A clinically proven caffeine alternative tried and tested to improve brain function, focus, and work productivity. Backed by research in circadian rhythms, BioLift’s ingredients consist of elderberry, ginkgo biloba, guarana, and low glycemic carob extract, giving you hours of focus without the jitters or interfering with sleep. drinkbiolift.com

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2021 Salmon Run Chardonnay by Dr. Konstantin Frank
100% Chardonnay from the New York Finger Lakes
WINEMAKING
Immediately after harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed and pressed. The juice is
fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel to preserve the more delicate
flavors. The wine is aged in stainless steel until the following Spring and
bottled without oak aging.
TASTING NOTE
Fruity, unoaked style of Chardonnay. Dry, crisp, and fresh with notes of
ripe apple, apricot, peach and tropical fruits. Refreshing, yet rich, flavors are
rounded out by a pleasing citrus acidity with bold fruit flavors.
FOOD PAIRING
Shrimp (Grilled), Salmon (Grilled, Roasted), Trout, Chicken (Baked, Grilled),
Curries, Garlic (Roasted), Avocados, Lemon Sauces.

Learn more: www.drfrankwines.com

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Sept 2 – Wisconsin Cheese

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Guy

My guest this week is Rachel Kerr, Sr. Director – Experiential and Brand Marketing for the Wisconsin Dairy Farmers organization, www.wisconsindairy.org

Who doesn’t like cheese?  It is one of my favorite diary products and the varieties of cheese available is astounding.  Old world cheese from Europe is amazing and it’s always a pleasure to discover new flavors and regions.  BUT, if you haven’t been trying cheese from Wisconsin you are missing out!  The “Cheese State” is producing some of the finest cheese in the world!

Ms. Kerr and I will talk about the history of cheese making in Wisconsin, the dairy industry in general and some of the top producers of gourmet and specialty cheese.

Then we’ll tell you all about the Art of Cheese Festival, September 29 – October 1, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin

The events and seminars; from Cheese Crawl to Cheese Ball, Art of Cheese Festival Has It All. This event is an exclusive, artisan cheese festival created for the world’s biggest cheese lovers with events in and around Madison, Wisconsin. Tickets on sale now!
                                                                                                       Check out this SALE ⇓

Check out some of these informative videos with great tips, recipes and pairing ideas.  Follow the Cheese Festival and Diary Farmers on Facebook.

Good Life Guy’s wine of the week:
2020 Marco Bonfante Moscato D’Asti
In the glass this Moscato shows an intense straw yellow. The perlage (an oenological term used to describe the bubbles inside a glass of sparkling wine that, rising to the surface in subtle paths, resemble precisely pearl necklaces.) is fine and elegant. On the nose it is fruity, intense and very persistent. The sweet and aromatic taste and the balance between the low alcohol content and acidity, never too high, give this wine a pleasant freshness. ABV 5%

Learn more about Marco Bonfante

Moscato is a type of sweet wine that is made from the muscat grape. The muscat grape is one of the oldest grape varieties in the world and is known for its floral and fruity aromas. Moscato is typically light-bodied and low in alcohol, with a sweet taste that is often described as having notes of peaches, apricots, and orange blossoms. Moscato is produced in various regions around the world, including Italy, France, Spain, and Australia, among others. It is often consumed as an accompaniment to light meals such as salads, seafood, and spicy dishes. In recent years, moscato has become increasingly popular due to its sweet taste and light, refreshing character.

This low alcohol wine goes great with cheese like domestic parmasen or imported Grana Padano. For other Wisconsin cheese; a firm aged cheddar, pepper jack, smoked gouda, Maytag Blue or domestic Brie will tickle your fancy! 😉

Learn about pairing cheese with Moscato D’ Asti

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