Two Weeks of Great Shows

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Guy

Mar 21 – Let’s talk about mushrooms; growing your own, health benefits, and more.  My guest is Louis Giller The Chief Mushroom Educator from North Spore.

North Spore Says:
“We strive to make the world of mushrooms accessible to all, fostering collaboration and innovation to improve tomorrow.”

North Spore was launched in 2014 by a mycologist, an organic farmer, and a photojournalist — three college friends brought together through their shared love of the mycological world. What began as a simple love for mushroom foraging and cultivation quickly developed into an obsession with all things fungi. From there, an urban mushroom farm was born, as was the desire to spread the spore to the masses.

North Spore is on a mission to disrupt the food system by empowering people to grow and harvest their own healthy edible and medicinal mushrooms. In addition to the positive environmental impacts of mycelium (e.g. soil nutrient cycling, bioremediation) the potential for mushrooms to naturally improve health and wellness and become a key sustainable meat alternative are core drivers of what we do.  Follow on Facebook

We are a company committed to the environment and sustainability and make every effort to provide organic, natural, non-GMO, and locally sourced materials from companies that share our values.

With our vertically-integrated facility, North Spore produces 100% of its spawn, sterile substrates, cultures, and kits. We take our customer’s needs seriously and are fortunate to have multiple staff mycologists leading research and development, plus trained lab technicians overseeing our spawn and substrate production, in-house laboratory, and in-house culture bank.

We’ll also be talking about a new product from North Spore…Mushroom Honey.  More than just a sweetener, this raw wildflower honey is infused with 11,000 mg of organic fruiting body mushroom extracts. Crafted to support your wellness ritual with every spoonful. Whether you stir it into tea, drizzle it over breakfast, or enjoy it straight from the jar, you’ll experience the traditional benefits of five widely respected mushrooms.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2023 Cave du Chateau de Chenas Terres Burgondes Fleurie 

Softly spiced of white pepper, the nose offers intense red fruit aromas. The palate is round with silky tannins, staying harmonious through to the end. Reserved black fruit aromas delight the nose while tight blackberry flavors rub against red currant and rosehip on the palate that also sees dried field grass, black tea and ripe grape stem as component parts. ABV13%
— 93 PointsWine Enthusiast, July 1, 2025

Grab a bottle at jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road…
…or your favorite wine retailer.

 

 

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Mar 28 – My guest this show is Steph Loaiza, she’s one of Six sisters – Proprietors of “SIX SISTERS STUFF” and co-cothor of 30-Minute Meals-100+ Quick and Easy Meals the Whole Family Will Love!

Follow on Facebook & X

Six Sisters’ Stuff bring their signature family-friendly approach to the kitchen with a collection of more than 100 quick, delicious, and stress-free recipes. Whether you’re a busy parent, a working professional, or just someone who craves home-cooked meals without spending hours in the kitchen, this cookbook is your go-to guide.

Start any meal with an irresistible appetizer, from Air Fryer Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms to Buffalo Ranch Deviled Eggs and crowd-pleasing dips like Queso Blanco Dip and Million-Dollar Dip. Whether you’re craving crunchy, cheesy, or creamy, these starters will impress guests and satisfy snack-time cravings.

For main courses, explore a variety of flavors across beef, chicken, pork, seafood, turkey, and vegetarian dishes. Enjoy comfort classics like Creamy Beef and Tomato Pasta, BBQ Sloppy Joes, or Fiesta Ground Beef Enchiladas. Looking for something fresh and vibrant? Try the Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos, Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta, or the rich and creamy Multicooker Butter Chicken. From skillet sensations to slow-cooked delights, this book has something for everyone.

Vegetarian options like Crispy Bean and Cheese Burritos and Seven-Layer Dip Burritos bring hearty and satisfying flavors to the table, while quick and easy turkey recipes such as Tex-Mex Turkey and Rice Skillet and Honey Garlic Glazed Turkey Meatballs make for nutritious, high-protein meals.

No meal is complete without the perfect side, and 30-Minute Meals delivers with buttery Cheesy Garlic Bread, crispy Zucchini Fries, flavorful Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and refreshing Pina Colada Fruit Salad.

Finish on a sweet note with indulgent treats like Lemon Brownies with Lemon Frosting, Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Sandwich Cookies, and Puff Pastry Donuts. Whether you’re in the mood for chocolate, citrus, or caramelized perfection, the dessert section has something for every sweet tooth.

With easy-to-follow instructions, everyday ingredients, and a balance of comfort and creativity, 30-Minute Meals with Six Sisters’ Stuff will become your go-to cookbook for making every meal memorable. Get ready to cook, share, and enjoy!  Order a copy NOW!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Lionel Osmin & Cie Les Grappes Authentiques
Comombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Gros Manseng from Southwest France
This is a wonderfully versatile white blend of Colombard, Gros Manseng and Sauvignon Blanc that is refreshingly light in alcohol and super fresh.  Delicate yet with a distinct complexity with hints of citrus and tropical fruits and perky acidity.  Delicious as an aperitif or with a variety of lighter salad dishes. This wonderful white comes from the pioneering Lionel Osmin et Cie group of wineries.  Their mission is to showcase the wines, terroirs and styles of the south-west of France from Jurancon to Cahors.

 

Grab a bottle at jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road…
…or your favorite wine retailer.

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Mar 14 – Passport to Flavor

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Guy

My guest this week is Chef Abby Cheshire with her new book “Passport to Flavor: 100 Global Dishes You Can Make Anywhere.”

Join social media sensation Chef Abby Cheshire on a culinary adventure on the high seas, in this internationally inspired, travel-infused cookbook with over 100 recipes from fourteen incredible locations around the world. No matter your location or kitchen setup, you can create delicious global cuisine right in your home with Passport to Flavor.

Yacht chef Abby welcomes you into her galley, sharing the international dishes that have delighted her passengers and guests for years—with menus imbued with regional flavor and fresh, local ingredients—from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, from Asia to Europe and beyond.  Lern more about “Abby in The Galley” here.

Grab your passport (and spatula!) and get on board for this worldwide tour of flavor, which includes:

  • A full day’s menu, including breakfast, lunch, appetizer, cocktail, soup/salad, dinner, and dessert from fourteen different port cities around the world (locations like Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Cinque Terre, Italy; Mykonos, Greece; Mumbai, India; Phuket, Thailand; and Prince Edward Island, Canada)
  • Inspiring food and travel photography
  • Tips for cooking in small spaces and in minimally stocked kitchens, and how to shop for fresh ingredients in your local markets
  • Your go-to “galley” or pantry list for internationally inspired meals

Some of the delicious recipes that await you on this voyage include:

  • Barbecue Short Rib Vermicelli (Ha Long Bay, Vietnam)
  • Guinness Beef Stew (Dingle, Ireland)
  • Calypso Cracked Lobster (Great Exuma, Bahamas)
  • Beef Bulgogi (Seoul, South Korea)
  • Schnitzel Sliders (Keil, Germany)
  • Crab Cake Eggs Benedict (Charleston, South Carolina)
  • Seared Duck Breast with Poppy Seed Salad (Nice, France)
  • Lomi Lomi Salmon (Na’Pali Coast, Hawaii)

Whether you’re a regular jet-setter or an armchair traveler, you can experience gourmet-level international cuisine and embark on a culinary adventure in Passport to Flavor.

Chef Abby Cheshire is a private yacht chef, culinary arts teacher, and social media influencer. When she’s not teaching her high school students during the school year, Abby spends her summers traveling around the world and cooking global cuisine on a yacht. Her popular social media accounts, @abbyinthegalley, share videos of her unique cooking experience and ability to create fabulous meals in small spaces, on the high seas or anywhere with local and fresh ingredients. Abby has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, and other media, and she has worked with Food Network stars at the Super Bowl. Her social media platforms now have over 2.5 million followers and continue to grow. When she’s not traveling the world by boat, she lives in Central Florida.  Follow Chef Abby on Facebook and Instagram @abbyinthegalley

Creating this cookbook has been quite a journey leading to a product that I hope you LOVE as much as I do. We can cook meals together now! A big shout out to my parents, especially my mom (hi, Mom 💕) who worked in the kitchen with me (thousands of hours!) as well as skillfully writing my recipes and thoughts on the page for you to enjoy.

Good Llife Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2024 Babich Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough NZ
Perfumed and lifted. Notes of mandarin and spice with blackcurrant, honeydew melon  and apple. Mineral notes. Soft lime entry soon joined by riper citrus and florals. Apple & green kiwifruit and sweet spice lingers. Lively and expressive with a medium light weight and a fine texture. Layers of fruit distributed across the entire palate. ABV13%
F O O D REC OMMEND A T I O N: Seafood – especially oysters!
Learn more about his fine wine!

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Feb 21,28, & Mar 7 – Three Week’s of upcoming shows

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Guy

Feb 21 – My good friend, wine lover & importer of Basque Wines from Spain Kerri Lesh (@DrTxakolina) is mjy guest this week.  We will tell you all about Basque Country in the NW of Spain, the grapes, winemaking and more.

The Basque Country is a land of contrasts: it combines rural with urban areas, preserves the beauty of its natural environment and an impeccable architectural heritage, brings together unique ancestral traditions and cultures and avant-garde, and combines craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. All these make this land infinite.  Basque wine offers an array of textures, flavors  and food afinity.  We will taste severl wines, and talk about the grapes that are used.  “Topa…Basque frppor Cheers”

Kerri Lesh, PhD, founder of Basque Wine Imports and a cultural anthropologist dedicated to sharing the rich history, language, and flavors of the Basque Country. Her lifelong connection to this unique region has shaped both her academic career and  work in the wine world. Follow Kerri on Facebook

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Feb 28 – My guest this week is Helen Goh and her latest book “Baking & the Meaning of Life.”

Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes by Helen Goh is a cookbook that blends 100 multicultural recipes (sweet and savory) with personal reflections on how baking fosters joy, connection, and meaning. Drawing on her Malaysian heritage, Australian upbringing, and work with Yotam Ottolenghi, Goh shares inventive yet accessible bakes like Chocolate Tahini Cake and Pandan Chiffon Cake, exploring themes of memory, community, and nurturing through baking. The book combines her expertise as a pastry chef and psychologist to offer both delicious recipes and a deeper look into the “why” of baking. Watch Helen describing her book!

Helen Goh, a renowned pastry chef and recipe developer for Yotam Ottolenghi, known for her precision and warmth. Follow Helen. She was born in Malaysia and migrated to Australia at age ten. After studying psychology, she combined psychotherapy practice with a cooking career, becoming head pastry chef at a landmark Melbourne restaurant before moving to London and joining Yotam Ottolenghi’s team. Co-author with Ottolenghi of Sweet and Comfort, she has developed recipes with him for more than 10 years, drawing on Asian, Western and Middle Eastern influences. Helen is a food columnist whose recipes appear in the The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, and The Observer. She lives in London. @helen_goh_bakes  Get your woon copy of Baking & the Meaning of Life.

Helen is multi-talented pastry chef and has a most interesting background and story.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week: Korbel Sweet Cuvee
Korbel Sweet Cuvée is a medium-sweet, fruit-forward California champagne produced via the méthode champenoise. Blended with Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, French Colombard, and Muscat Canelli, it offers notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and baked apple. With a 4.5% dosage, it provides a balanced, approachable taste ideal for desserts or spicy dishes.

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Mar 7 – This week I’ll be chatting with Chef Tara Punzone, restauranteur and owner of Pur vita in Los Angles.  Her new book is Vegana Italians – Traditional Italian the Plant-Based Way.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Discover the delicious flavors of plant-based Italian cooking with more than 100 vegan recipes inspired by classic Italian dishes, from the owner and chef of Pura Vita

“Part love letter to Italy, part encyclopedia of plant-based technique, Vegana Italiana is a joyous celebration of food, family, and heart. I want to make everything in this book!”—Joanne Molinaro, New York Times bestselling author of The Korean Vegan

Ever wish you could whip up vegan versions of fresh cheese ravioli or meatballs? As the owner and chef behind the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant in the United States, Tara Punzone knows how to transform classic Italian staples into delicious vegan dishes without sacrificing any flavor. Growing up in a big Italian family in New York, food was always at the heart of Punzone’s community and gatherings. Her debut cookbook, Vegana Italiana, offers more than 100 vegan Italian recipes inspired by her family’s meals and fan-favorites from her Los Angeles-based restaurant Pura Vita.

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Chef Tara Punzone is an Italian American from New York who has thrived on a vegan diet for over thirty years. In 2018, Tara opened Pura Vita West Hollywood, the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant and wine bar in the United States. She is also the winner of the National Award for “Chef of the Year” by VegOut Magazine.

 

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Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2022 Cellier des Dauphins – Reserve Cotes Du Rhone
This wine displays a deep red hue with ruby tints and notes of sun-ripened black fruit on the nose. The palate offers a velvety texture and spicy notes underpinned by ripe black fruit, blackcurrants and black cherries. A more modern take on the traditional Côtes du Rhône style, this wine combines structure, freshness and smooth tannins. It has a seductively elegant, intense and long-lingering finish.  ABV13.5% Blend: 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah

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Feb 14 – Hidden Vegatables Cookbook

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Guy

My guest this week is Heidi Herman with her new book “The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook: 90 Tasty Recipes for Veggie-Averse Adults”

Hate vegetables but still want to eat healthy? Tired of feeling guilty every time you skip the greens? What if you could enjoy your favorite meals with all the nutrition and none of the veggie taste? If you’ve ever wished you could eat healthier without choking down another forkful of kale or pretending to like Brussels sprouts, The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook is for you.

This isn’t your typical nutrition cookbook. It doesn’t try to convince you to fall in love with spinach or develop a taste for zucchini. Instead, it gives you a creative, practical way to get the benefits of vegetables without tasting them at all.
These recipes are smart, satisfying, and designed for real adults who know they should eat their veggies… but just don’t like them. Author Heidi Herman brings together 90 flavorful dishes that cleverly incorporate fresh vegetables in ways that blend, mask, and even overpower their taste so you get the nutrients without the struggle.
From hearty dinners to indulgent treats, you’ll find vegetable-packed recipes that actually taste amazing. And no, they don’t look green or “healthy” in that bland, boring way. They just taste like good food.

Whether you’re trying to eat cleaner, sneak more nutrition into your meals, or finally stop feeling bad about your veggie aversion, The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook is here to make it easy—and actually enjoyable. You’ll no longer have to avoid recipes just because they call for squash or feel left out of the healthy-eating conversation. These recipes are designed to fit into your lifestyle, not the other way around. And the best part? You’ll enjoy every bite without second-guessing what’s hidden inside. With practical, no-fuss instructions and real ingredients, you can finally eat better without sacrificing flavor or forcing down foods you dislike. Follow Heidi Herman on Facebook & X

Stop forcing down vegetables and start hiding them like a pro. Grab your copy today and eat better—on your own terms.  Get a copy NOW!

Heidi Herman was born and raised in Central Illinois, but her passion and a common theme in her writing is her Icelandic heritage. She spent more than thirty years in the telecommunications industry in a variety of roles that gave her a broad understanding of business, which she later applied to entrepreneurship, first in a small restaurant and later in a boutique publishing company.

Her writing career started with the inspiration of her mother’s example. In the winter of 2012, her mother, Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman, published a childhood memoir, which featured some of Iceland’s folklore. Heidi was immersed in childhood memories of the Scandinavian legends, lore, and imaginative stories. The myth of Iceland’s troll-like Christmas characters – Jólasveinar – sparked the imagination of many readers and led to Heidi writing her first book, “The Legend of the Icelandic Yule Lads.” It was followed by two more books on Icelandic folklore: “The Guardians of Iceland and Other Icelandic Folk Tales” and “The Icelandic Yule Lads Mayhem at the North Pole.”

In 2017, she co-authored an Icelandic cookbook, “Homestyle Icelandic Cooking for American Kitchens” with her mother, Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman, which won a US category in The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards that year. Heidi published her debut novel, “Her Viking Heart”, in 2018, and it was named the 2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner – Romance Category. Her motivational work, “On with The Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life” was inspired when Heidi worked to complete her mother’s final work, “Never Too Late.” Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman (1925-2019) was 94 years old and had completed a year of new experiences to prove a person is never too old to enjoy life. That message, along with her mother’s example, led Heidi to write this new motivational book with ideas and encouragement on how anyone can find those activities and experiences.

She had authored seven books in five genres, including two cookbooks and a new series of Women’s Fiction. Today, she continues to write between time spent traveling, sharing Icelandic culture plus a number of hobbies and interests. When she’s not on the go, she is usually found cooking something up in the kitchen.  Learn more about Heidi

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2023 Franciscan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Deep garnet color. A luscious cascade of dark fruit, including black currant, black cherry, plum, and blackberry complemented by sweet vanilla and baking spices. Flavor is rich, round, and full-bodied; layered with blackberry, cherry, dried plums, and a hint of cocoa; generous weight on the palate and smooth, mouth-filling tannins; the finish lingers with flavors of rich cassis and black cherry. 14.2% TP92

On Sale at Jacob Liquor Exchange for $13.99 (Save $4)

Perfect gift or dinner compliment for Valentines Day

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Feb 7th – Barefoot NFL Super Bowl Wine

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Guy

My guest this week is Jennifer Wall, winemaker for Barefoot Wines.  Jen was on the show in December, we talked about her journey in wine, the building of the brand and tasted several white wines.  Great to have a repeat performance and this show is all about The Official Wine of the NFL and several red wines crafted by Jennifer and the barefoot team.

Jennifer Wall is the Head Winemaker for Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, a role she has held since 1995. As of late 2025, she is celebrating her 30th anniversary with the brand. Under her leadership, Barefoot has grown from producing just four wines to a diverse portfolio of more than 30 labels, becoming the world’s most-awarded wine brand with over 10,000 medals!

Jen focuses on creating wines that are “varietally correct, fruit-forward, and food-friendly”. That philosphy is what draws so many younger wine enthusiasts to the brand and to enjoy wine. She has been instrumental in the brand’s massive expansion since it was acquired by E. & J. Gallo Winery in 2005. In late 2024, Barefoot was named the 2025 American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast.

Barefoot Wine is the official wine sponsor of the NFL, a partnership established to make wine more accessible and fun for football fans, often featuring activities with NFL teams and personalities. As part of the E. & J. Gallo Winery family, Barefoot promotes a wide range of still and sparkling wines for game-day events, including tailgate parties.
  • Availability: Barefoot offers a wide variety of wines, including popular options like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, and bubbly, available for fans throughout the season.
  • Presence: The brand has a presence at major NFL events, including the Super Bowl, and supports local teams with sponsorships.

Jennifer says: “As the Official Wine Sponsor of the NFL, our goal is to make wine more friendly and fun. So we’ve teamed up with America’s favorite sport to show that enjoying wine can—and should—be as easy as enjoying the game!”

As America tunes in to this year’s Seahawks vs Patriots Super Bowl, it’s time to upgrade your hosting game with NFL’s favorite wine brand—Barefoot. These expert wine pairings for your Super Bowl watch party will impress. When Super Bowl spending on food, wine, and fun hits historic highs, why not raise a glass to creative, budget-friendly pairings that make every play more memorable?

This year, don’t just settle for beer and chips. Bake brownies, order crab cakes, and grab Barefoot wines for every palate. If your team wins or loses, either way great wine makes every Super Bowl Sunday just a little bit sweeter. Cheers to Super Bowl food and wine pairings, cheers to Barefoot’s winemaker Jennifer Wall, and cheers to a NFL Super Bowl packed with flavor, spending, and unforgettable memories.

Good Life Guy’s Wines of the Week:
Barefoot Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot and Sweet Red
Grab any or all for your Super Bowl Party. Any size, any style…
…there is something for everyone at Jacob Liquor Exchange
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