May 1 – This Week’s Show

This week will be FUN!  My guest is Niki Signet, London based author of The Flavor Thesaurus – Pairings, recipes and ideas for the creative cook.”    Get a copy NOW

A complete guide to the 99 most essential ingredients and their numerous flavor combinations, offering inspiration for the cook who has everything.

Whether a flavor is defined by a “grassy” ingredient like dill, cucumber, or peas, or a “floral fruity” food like figs, roses, or blueberries, flavors can be combined in wildly imaginative ways. In this lively and original book, Niki Segnit identifies the 99 fundamental ingredients of food and examines what goes with what―revealing for the first time just how infinite are the possibilities in an everyday kitchen.

Segnit has scoured thousands of recipes in countless recipe books, talked to dozens of food technologists and chefs, and visited hundreds of restaurants―all in her quest to uncover the planet’s essential pairings. Moving from Meaty to Cheesy, Earthy to Mustardy, and more, Segnit celebrates traditional pairings such as pork and apple and cucumber and dill; points us toward contemporary favorites like goat cheese and beet; and introduces us to unlikely but delicious matchings such as blueberry and mushroom. With nearly a thousand entries and 200 recipes, The Flavor Thesaurus is not only a highly useful and covetable reference book, but the sort of book that will keep you reading, laughing, and cooking for years to come.  Learn more about Niki here!

Niki Segnit’s first book, The Flavour Thesaurus, won the André Simon Award for best food book, the Guild of Food Writers Award for best first book, and was shortlisted for the Galaxy National Book Awards. It has been translated into fourteen languages, including French, Russian, Japanese and Korean.

On BBC Radio 4, she has contributed to The Food ProgrammeWoman’s Hour and Word of Mouth, and her columns, features and reviews have appeared in the Guardian, the Observer, the Times, the Times Literary Supplement, the Sunday Times and Prospect magazine. She lives in London with her husband and two children.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week:
2018 Valraven Sonoma Zinfandel 
Valravn Zinfandel is from old, bush-pruned vines averaging 40 years old (some over 100) across the county’s best appellations including Rockpile, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and Russian River Valley AVAs. Hand harvested, hand sorted and gently destemmed before fermentation.  In the cellar, a short cold soak was followed by primary fermentation in small lots using a combination of open and closed top tanks. The berries were kept in tact to capture the buoyant fruit profile. Following fermentation, the wine was barreled down for malolactic and aging for 14 months in French oak, 10% of which was new.

PRESS – 90 POINTS, VINOUS
“The 2018 Zinfandel is racy and exuberant, with tons of varietal character. This stylish, budget-friendly red hits all the right notes. Succulent red fruit, mint, cedar and sweet floral notes flesh out in a delicious, affordable wine that over-delivers big time.“

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on May 1 – This Week’s Show

April 24 – This Week’s Show

My guest this week is Lisa Mattson, communications/marketing director at Jordan Winery in the Alexander Valley.  We will be catching up on all things new at Jordan and tasting the current release Chardonnay.

About Lisa:
With more than 20 years of experience in wine marketing, Lisa Mattson is considered a thought leader in digital marketing of luxury wines. From writing, event planning and public relations to videography and digital media, she continues to diversify her skills with changing trends and technologies. Born in southeast Kansas, she grew up thinking Boone’s Farm was a fine wine reserved for special occasions. A childhood filled with squirrel and coon hunting also prepared Mattson for her first journalism job as the obituary reporter for a daily newspaper. No wonder she drinks for a living.

Jordan Winery Plants Pollinator Sanctuaries to Create Habitat for Native Bees, Western Monarch Butterflies

John Jordan, CEO of Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg, California, one of America’s most prestigious wineries, read about the dwindling western monarch migration and decided to do something about it. He partnered with non-profit Pollinator Partnership to help protect the butterflies, bees, and their ecosystems. The award-winning Jordan Winery is known for its Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and hospitality but not so well known is the fact that the Vineyard & Winery is run almost entirely on solar energy and is certified sustainable. More than three-quarters of the 1,200-acre Jordan Estate remains wild, inhabited by myriad animals and plants.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of The Week:
2018 Jordan Russian River Chardonnay
A highly anticipated vintage since the beginning of the growing season, the 2018 is one of the most delicious Chardonnays our Russian River Valley vineyards have ever produced.  A vintage defined by its crispness, vibrancy and freshness. Pretty aromas of honeysuckle, lemon blossom and Fuji apple spring from the glass. The palate boasts bright, lively layers of citrus with a hint of oak and creaminess from careful barrel aging and batonnage. Flavors of kumquat, lemon and Fuji apple linger in the juicy, mouthwatering finish.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on April 24 – This Week’s Show

Apr 17 – Happiness Power

My guest this week is Robert Gill (aka Ed McCormick) author of “Happiness Power – How to Unleash Your Power and Live a More Joyful Life”

True Happiness Gives You Many Unique Powers. Learn How to Identify Them To Use Them
In Happiness Power, we delve into the questions as to why happiness is so important and the powers it provides through Happiness Science.

“Happiness science” is a new field of social science known as positive psychology. It is not the old-school “positive thinking” or self-help, but rather a new empirical research field. Positive psychology functions constructively to obtain more of what we want to make ourselves better, happier people.

Happiness Power is a unique book that details how happiness’s life-satisfying emotion provides significant benefits to those who experience it. It also offers those who seek happiness the latest methods and techniques to improve their outlook and gain the new joy they are seeking. Happiness gives power to people who have achieved this state compared with those who exude pessimism and unhappiness. Most are unaware of the incredible fifty powers of happiness that this book details.

The Fifty Powers of Happiness consists of physical, health, mental, workplace, and social powers. These are the most important of the identified powers that are gained by those who experience happiness.  Get a copy NOW!

Author
Robert Gill, Jr., is the author of a variety of non-fiction books and articles on subjects ranging from teaching to cooking to personal finance.  There’s no particular “symbolism’’ behind the pen name Robert Gill Jr., McCormick said.  He was looking for something short, and read something that led him to create the name. “Like an actor picking out a stage name,’’ is how he described the process.

FREE Virtual Wine Tasting with Good Life Guy
Saturday April 17. 6:00 p.m. Central – Facebook LIVE

Four Chilean Wines from Viña Tinajas “Viejo Feo
Available at Jacob Liquor Exchange or call your wine merchant!
  • 2020 Viejo Feo Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2017 Viejo Feo Chardonnay
  • 2019 Viejo Feo Carmenere
  • 2019 Viejo Feo Cabernet Sauvignon

Go here to join the party at 6:00 p.m. Central:  Guy’s Facebook Page
Download this:  Viejo Feo Tasting Guide & Info

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Apr 17 – Happiness Power

Apr 10 – HungBloodies – Oleavanti EVO

My first guest is Matt Hazel CEO of TheHungCompanywww.thehungcompany.com

TheHungCompany is the proud parent of All-American brands, HungBeverages and HungEats. Headquartered in Delray Beach Florida, the company fills the need for bold, quality crafted ready-to-serve mixers and snacks. CEO Matt Hazel founded The HungCompany in 2018 with its initial offering, HungBloodies Premium Bloody Mary Mix and expanded in 2020 with the official launch of the company’s HungBeverages and HungEats. Featuring fresh, new products such as HungMargs Craft Margarita Mix and artisanal garlic bread kit, HungToast.

HUNGBLOODIES raises the bar by elevating the experience of enjoying Bloody Marys and fighting hangovers by mixing up All-American excitement in a bottle, to be enjoyed anytime, anywhere, whether a backyard cookout, at the bar or paired with favorite brunch menu items.

I  love a well made Bloody Mary and stuff is good!

Order some today and “Fight the Hang with the Hung”
Follow HungBloodies on Facebook

Later in the program Tony Gualtieri Co-Founder of OLEAVANTI Olive Oil from Lebanon joins us to talk about the ancient Lebanese olive trees that he and the company are dedicated to saving and the premium oils they produce.  Lebanese olive oil is often called “Lebanese Gold” for good reason!  www.oleavanti.com

Tony says; “I love the taste of Lebanese extra-virgin olive oil, which is why I co-founded Oleavanti.”

“I grew up with olive oil at home in Southern California. My father came from a family of winemakers and he loved to cook the Calabrian foods that he remembered from his youth. At the time, Italian foods were not a staple in supermarkets and we had to drive across town to get our supplies. He used olive oil on everything and even insisted my sister and I take a tablespoon every day “for health.”

Olive oil imbibes the Lebanese culture and constitutes an integral element in sustaining the livelihood of the Lebanese people for generations. It is an essential ingredient added to virtually every dish. For Lebanese people, there’s no such a thing as too much olive oil. We use it profusely in our meals, savor it and enjoy its health benefits.

Next Virtual Wine Tasting is Saturday April 17. 6:00 p.m. Central Facebook LIVE
4 Chilean Wines from Viña Tinajas “Viejo Feo” Sav Blanc-Chardonnay-Carmenérè-Cabernet

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2019 Telmo & Ruth Reserva Cabernet & Merlot, D.O. Maule Valley Chile  (
Also from Viña Tinajas)
“Beautifully ripe Cabernet/Merlot blend, with a ruby deep color, showing blueberry and dark plum notes mixed with spice and roasted nut complexity. The palate delivers lovely fruit, medium bodied with silky texture and fine tannins. Pairs well with pasta, pizza, fish dishes or on its own.” Winemaker’s Notes

Find this wine at Jacob Liquor Exchange East & West
Outside of Kansas?  Call your wine merchant and check availability

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Apr 10 – HungBloodies – Oleavanti EVO

Apr 3 – Pancakes Make People Happy

Who doesn’t a stack of warm pancakes with butter and syrup?  Well then you’ll love this book; “Pancakes Make People Happy” by Sharon Collins,. Charlotte Collins and my guest, Courtney Wade.

Pancakes Make People Happy is a cookbook for everyone who loves pancakes. Gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free recipes are included.

The pancake is the classic comfort food! Just imagining a short-stack of flapjacks drizzled with maple syrup will bring a smile to anybody’s face. But did you know that pancakes can be so much more?

From savory, satisfying brunchtime fare to light, sweet desserts, pancakes are the perfect food to nourish body and soul.

Pancakes Make People Happy features over 75 unique pancake recipes that are as easy to prepare as they are to love, including:
• Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes
• Jalapeño Corn Fritter Pancakes
• Crispy Risotto Pancake
• Monte Cristo Pancakes
• Citrus Mimosa Pancakes
• Pancake Muffins
• Eggnog Pancakes
• Indian Chai Spice Pancakes
• Christmas Tree Stack
• Black Forest Pancakes

With authors hailing from the Catskills area of upstate New York, the recipes are farm-fresh and wholesome. Pancakes Make People Happy has everything you need to start enjoying this delicious food in no time. Put a little happy on your plate!  Get a copy NOW!

COURTNEY WADE is a chef, photographer, influencer and graphic designer who lives on a farm in the Catskills in upstate New York. She is also the author of The Catskills Farm to Table CookbookLearn more about Courtney.

Each one of the 75 thoroughly ‘kitchen cook friendly’ recipes will produce farm-fresh and wholesome fare for any and all dining occasions. ” —Midwest Book Review

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
How about a fine sparkling wine to go with your brunch pancakes?
Ocaso Rosé Extra Brut Sparkling Wine from Mendoza Argentina
A fun, affordable sparkling rosy from Ocaso. Pours a pale beautiful salmon color, with aromas of apple and pear skin up front. More apple skin on the palate, with delightful notes of red fruits and watermelon candy to balance the refreshingly dry finish.  Looking forward to trying this wine with you LIVE in-studio, this wine is available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and comes highly recommended.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Apr 3 – Pancakes Make People Happy