Mar 25 – Italy on a Plate

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Guy

My guest this week is Susan Gravely with her magnificent new book “Italy on  a Plate – Travel, Memories, Menus.”

In her debut memoir and cookbook, Susan Gravely celebrates 40 years as Founder and Creative Director of VIETRI. Italy on a Plate is an exploration into what makes Italy so magical: its staggering beauty, unparalleled style, artistic legacy, and incredible food. The close friends Gravely has made during her years of Italian travel have graciously shared their homes and their favorite family recipes, and this book gives a culinary tour of Italy’s flavors with recipes you will enjoy with loved ones for years to come.

“This year, VIETRI celebrates forty years. In honor of four incredible decades, and with gratitude for my Italian friends who have welcomed me into their lives, their homes, and to their tables for good food, fine wine, and cherished companionship, I have written this memoir and cookbook. Thanks to their kindness, hospitality, and generosity, my friends have shared the recipes found in this book. I hope these wonderful dishes, and the personal stories of our time together, will bring you the comfort and warmth they have brought me.”  Susan Gravely

Susan Gravely is the Founder and CEO of VIETRI, a lifestyle brand offering handcrafted Italian tabletop and home and garden accessories. Susan grew up in eastern North Carolina, and due to her father’s international business, her family hosted his visiting colleagues from around the world for wonderful dinner parties. From her earliest days, Susan helped set the table for those dinners, appreciating the varied wonders of the world and gathering together.

In 1983, Susan took a trip to Italy with her mother and sister. The three women fell in love with the colorful handpainted dinnerware they discovered on the Amalfi Coast, and they decided to build a wholesale company to share it with their friends and family back home. Since then, VIETRI has grown to become America’s largest importer of Italian ceramics. VIETRI products can be found in more than 2,000 specialty retailers and department stores in all 50 states and internationally. Susan currently oversees product design for VIETRI and lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with her husband, Bill, and dog, Franco.

Get a copy of the book NOW…

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2018 Petra Zingari Toscana
Francesca Moretti’s Petra estate perches on the rolling hills the separate the seaside plains of Tuscany’s Maremma and the taller peaks of the Colline Metallifere – the “metal-bearing hills” mined from Etruscan times through the mid-19th Century.  Originally planted to Cabernet, Merlot and Sangiovese in 1808 by  Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleon’s sister and Grand Duchess of Tuscany, the diverse exposures, iron-rich soils, and blend of Tuscan heat and cooling breezes from the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea make this a perfect site for both French varietals like Syrah, Petit Verdot and Merlot and Tuscany’s own Sangiovese.

A few years ago, then Wine Advocate Italian critic Antonio Galloni wrote that “Petra is one of my favorite properties for intense, flavorful wines from the Suvereto district in Maremma,” and he later added, “I rarely hear Petra mentioned in a discussion of the best wines and wineries from the Tuscan coast, but year after year the wines are reliably outstanding and fairly priced… The house style is one of bold, exuberant wines.”  That’s what you’ll find here – a wine of bold flavors and texture that remains silky smooth and succulent whether paired up with bold foods or simply sipped solo. Enjoy now – 2033.

Zingari was born as an experimental vineyard to test the attitude of its varietals: Syrah, Merlot, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. Highly concentrated ruby color, which introduces the Mediterranean aromatic notes of this wine. Soft and full-bodied in mouth, it has a fresh flavor with good acidity and a structure with balsamic and mineral notes that make Zingari pleasant and interesting.

Critical Acclaim  JS92  James Suckling
A fresh, vivid red with cherries, currants and hints of hazelnuts and chocolate. Medium body. Racy finish. Like the vivid acidity that runs through this. Drink or hold.

Grab a bottle or two at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road in Wichita or your local wine merchant and join us.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mar 25 – Italy on a Plate

Mar 18 – My Vermont Table

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Guy

My guest this week is Gesine Bullock-Prado with her new book “My Vermont Table – Recipes for All Six Seasons.”  Today, March 18 (the third Saturday in March) is Maple Syrup Saturday!    Podcast afterwards here…

Gesine Bullock-Prado is a renowned pastry chef, cookbook author, baking instructor and television personality. She is the author of five distinct and well received baking books, Sugar Baby, Pie It Forward, Bake it Like You Mean It, Let Them Eat Cake, Fantastical Cakes and the perennial favorite baking memoir My Life from Scratch. Her confections have been featured in publications from Better Homes and Gardens to People Magazine and she’s a regular food presenter on the Today Show.

In My Vermont Table, Bullock-Prado takes readers on a sweet and savory journey through each of these special seasons. Recipes like Blackberry Cornmeal Cake, Vermont Cheddar Soup, Shaved Asparagus Toasts, and Maple Pulled Pork Sliders utilize local produce, dairy, wine, and flour. And quintessential Vermont flavors are updated with ingredients and spices from Bullock-Prado’s own backyard. With stunning photography, Vermonters and visitors alike will revel in a seat at this table.

Get a copy NOW!   Learn more about Gesine here!

In her 18-year career, Gesine has run her own pastry shop, become a popular baking instructor at King Arthur Flour’s Baking Education Center, Stonewall Kitchen and online at Craftsy.com, has been the contributing food editor of both Runner’s World and Food + Wine, co-hosted Cooking Channel’s Unique Sweets and is a regular on America’s top-rated morning show, the Today Show and on NPR’s All Things Considered. She hosted Baked in Vermont on the Food Network and was a main judge of Food Network’s Best Baker in America. She also judged America’s Test Kitchen’s Next Generation. She is the owner and baking instructor at Sugar Glider Kitchen where classes sell out within 5 minutes and working towards getting her Vermont Master Gardener Certification in 2023.

Watch Gesine and her sister Sandra Bullock make cherry pie! 🙂

Good Life Guy’s Wine Spirit of the Week:
Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon
On the nose you get maple, brown sugar and a charred molasses, as well as honey and a touch of spice. Take a sip and notice an almost creamy, viscous mouthfeel, with strong maple flavors which are offset a touch by hints of smoke and oak. The finish is short, just a bit sharp and warm, with a soothing honey sweetness as the taste of maple syrup remains on your lips.

 

This is the perfect after dinner beverage or serve it with a cheese board or even a rich chocolate cake.

Check out the Bourbon selection at @jacobliquor and pick up a bottle!

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mar 18 – My Vermont Table

Mar 11 – Paddy Day Parade and more!

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Guy

This is going to be FUN!
I’m broadcasting LIVE from InSite Real Estate Group in Delano near the clock tower as we welcome the return of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, or should I say the Delano Paddy’s Day Parade.

First up is Dan Unruh from InSite to talk about how they were instrumental in bringing back the parade after COVID. Follow InSite on Facebook

Then to help you celebrate the luck of the Irish in a meaningful culinary way, I’ll be talking to Judith McLoughlin about her new book “A Return to Ireland – A Culinary Journey from America to Ireland.”

An exceptional cookbook featuring over 100 recipes celebrating Irish-American heritage.  A Return to Ireland showcases fresh, innovative food and drink recipes which celebrate Irish-American heritage as it weaves the culinary and cultural journey of these two places that the author have come to call home.  From the lush green fields of Gilford in County Armagh now settled in Atlanta, Georgia, author Judith McLoughlin shares her love of whole, fresh Irish ingredients with readers, sending them, one plate at a time, back to a simpler time.  A Return to Ireland also highlights stories and Irish food to celebrate the relationship between Ireland and America.

Over the past several years, Judith McLoughlin has become one of the most recognized Irish faces and brands in Atlanta, throughout the American South and abroad. Coming from County Armagh in the heart of rural Ireland, she learned the techniques of the Irish culinary tradition from her family who had generations of experience in the Irish hospitality & restaurant business before deciding on a move to the United States with her husband Gary. Judith and Gary started The Shamrock and Peach to share their Irish heritage through a food and culture blog, recipes and offer Luxury VIP tours to Ireland and Scotland.  Learn more about Judith and The Shamrock and Peach

Later in the second half I’ll have some local guest to talk about the many great things happening in Delano.  The growth and excitement continues to grow with numerous new business ventures, great food and entertainment.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
No Green Wine, No Green Beer…How about a “Boozy Shamrock Shake” recipe from Judith

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mar 11 – Paddy Day Parade and more!

March 4 – Let’s Celebrate

Posted on February 26, 2023 by Guy

This program was initially scheduled for February 4th but studio technical issues precluded that show…but here it is 🙂

My guest this week is Natasha Newton with her new book “Let’s Celebrate – A Low-Carb Cookbook for Year-Round Entertaining“

Bestselling author of Southern Keto and Southern Keto: Beyond the Basics, Natasha Newton, levels up entertaining with 115 carb-conscious recipes for every occasion. If you’re living a low-carb or keto lifestyle, you may be intimidated by the idea of hosting a mix of carb lovers and carb avoiders, but fear no more. Natasha Newton brings you the ultimate guide to healthy entertaining with her easy and delicious crowd-pleasing recipes.

In Let’s Celebrate, Natasha delivers low-carb, keto-friendly appetizers, salads, main dishes, desserts, and beverages that feature her distinct Southern style. She makes any gathering fit your lifestyle without forgoing flavor and familiarity. Let’s Celebrate is packed with everything you need to host a memorable gathering, including:

  • Tips and checklists to help you prepare for entertaining
  • Table setting ideas for casual and formal celebrations
  • Themed menu ideas with shopping lists
  • Easy-to-follow recipes that use accessible ingredients
  • And more!

Along with full-color photos for each of this book’s 115+ recipes, you’ll find make ahead tips, allergen information, and nutrition breakdowns. Natasha also walks you through planning a party, shopping for ingredients, stocking a bar, and setting a beautiful table. Let’s Celebrate is carb-conscious entertaining made easy!

Sample recipes:

  • Hot Pimento Cheese Dip
  • Slow Cooker Party Meatballs
  • Bacon Ranch Fauxtato Salad
  • Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
  • Better Than Anything Cake
  • Bloody Mary Bar

Natasha Newton, Keto expert, recipe creator, and bestselling author, brings you a low-carb version of hospitality. Aimed at bringing healthy meals to your guests, Let’s Celebrate demonstrates just how possible it is to accommodate everyone with food sensitivities, allergies, special diets, or medical conditions. Natasha is on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter

Natasha Newton brings an approachable model to the ketogenic lifestyle. She’s the voice and personality behind the popular Instagram account @ketoislife, which publishes recipes and other keto related content to more than 350,000 followers. Natasha began her ketogenic journey in 2014 to lose weight and battle her food and sugar addictions. In addition to shedding pounds and maintaining, she discovered that a keto lifestyle came with a whole host of other benefits: she had a new lease on life. Being a native of Kentucky and longtime resident of Tennessee, Natasha offers low-carb recipes that have a distinctive southern flair. She truly delivers the sought-after pleasures of down-home southern cooking. Natasha is the author of bestselling books Southern Keto and Southern Keto: Beyond the Basics. Her newest book, Let’s Celebrate: A Low-Carb Cookbook for year-Round Entertaining will be released January 2023.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2020 Two Vintners O.G. Gewürztraminer from Yakima Washington
Have you ever wanted to venture off the beaten path and try something new and unheard of? This is that wine, uncontrollable floral and citrus aromatics practically jump out of a glass of this wine. While the nose screams sugar, the palate will pleasantly surprise you with a dry finish, rounded off by a beautiful orange color. This wine is sure to turn heads wherever it is served. aBV13.2% 100% Gewürztraminer

“Started in 2012 this wine gets better (and wilder) with each vintage. We started making this wine in neutral oak barrels but in the 2019 vintage were able to get some Spanish clay tinajas (giant clay pots) to use in the winemaking process for this wine. This is the traditional way Orange wines are made and it adds just another layer of texture and flavor to the wine that was missing with the oak. This wine ages on the skins for 8 weeks before we press it off and continue to age it out before bottling. That 8 weeks on the skins gives that awesome orange color to the wine and the geek factor that blows customers away.”

Wine Enthusiast 90
Winemaker Morgan Lee says he wants this wine to be “weird,” and it is—in a good way. Fermented in a clay pot, the aromas offer expressive notes of ginger, orange peel, lychee and flower. The palate brings a textured feel while remaining light on its feel. Mineral notes are threaded throughout. It’s part intellectual pleasure and part hedonism.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on March 4 – Let’s Celebrate

Feb 25 – Andrew Jefford “Drinking with with Valkyries”

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Guy

This show won’t be long enough!
My guest is world renowned wine writer Andrew Jefford with his new book “Drinking with the Valkyries – Writings on Wine.”

Andrew Jefford is widely regarded as one of the world’s most thoughtful and eloquent wine writers. His ideas on wine have been captured in a new book, Drinking with the Valkyries, published by the Academie du Vin Library. The book consists of a series of essays which originally appeared in Decanter magazine, Waitrose Food Illustrated and The World of Fine Wine. Henry Jeffries, of the Critic, wrote, “Jefford is that rare thing in the wine world, a genuine intellectual…There are more ideas in each of these short essays than in most books,” while Tamlyn Currin of Jancisrobinson.com wrote, “A tumble of short stories, it reveals the kaleidoscope landscape of a staggeringly beautiful complex mind, reflecting a staggering beautiful complex world.”

Andrew Jefford is, in the words of winemaker Randall Grahm, ‘the most thoughtful person we have writing about wine’. Discover why in this selection from Jefford’s work, celebrating the limitless beauty of wine difference. This book anatomizes the pleasure that awaits every drinker while simultaneously furnishing a philosophy of wine – one founded on astonishment, and drawing on personal discovery rather than hierarchy and mastery. There is no other wine writing like this.

Poet, philosopher, author, radio presenter and journalist, Andrew lives in France; but buried deep in one wine country what does he miss most about the rest? The answer: ‘Drinking young port. It’s the wine drinker’s equivalent of zorbing, wing-walking, base-jumping … you won’t fully understand it unless you have tasted it young, in its “Ride of the Valkyries” stage, when it comes hurtling out of the glass and puts the screamers on you…’

Andrew Jefford is the ideal companion for anyone wine-curious. In this collection of his essays, opinions and articles he shares his fascinating observations from half a century of discovery. For Andrew, wine should be listened to and admired, wherever it comes from; old-school pretentions turned on their head; style-points disdained; stellar prices dismissed; questions asked…

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2018 L’Esprit de Chevalier Grand Vin De Graves
Checking in as 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot brought up mostly in used barrels, the 2018 Domaine De Chevalier L’Esprit De Chevalier has a rich, dense, medium to full-bodied style with slightly reserved darker currant and cherry fruits, notes of cedary herbs and earth, firm tannin’s, and a good finish. While most second wines are up-front and geared for early drinking, this is going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age. ABV14%

www.domainedechevalier.com

95 points James Suckling
Outer quote mark This is an extremely polished and refined young wine with gorgeous blackberry, blackcurrant, licorice, dark-chocolate and bark character. It’s full-bodied with ever so fine tannins and a long, long finish. Fantastic second wine of Domaine de Chevalier. Inner quote mark

92 points Vinous
Outer quote mark The 2018 L’Esprit de Chevalier is a gorgeous second wine from Domaine de Chevalier. Soft, pliant and so expressive, the 2018 is simply impeccable. The purity of the flavors is striking. Cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, mint and dried herbs add striking perfume to a core of supple red berry fruit. In a word: fabulous. (AG) Inner quote mark

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Feb 25 – Andrew Jefford “Drinking with with Valkyries”