Jun 3 – The Pho Cookbook

With this comprehensive cookbook, Vietnam’s most beloved, aromatic comfort food–the broth and noodle soup known as pho–is now within your reach.

Image result for the pho cookbookAuthor Andrea Nguyen first tasted pho in Vietnam as a child, sitting at a Saigon street stall with her parents. That experience sparked a lifelong love of the iconic noodle soup, long before it became a cult food item in the United States.

Here Andrea dives deep into pho’s lively past, visiting its birthplace and then teaching you how to successfully make it at home. Options range from quick weeknight cheats to impressive weekend feasts with broth and condiments from scratch, as well as other pho rice noodle favorites. Over fifty versatile recipes, including snacks, salads, companion dishes, and vegetarian and gluten-free options, welcome everyone to the pho table.

With a thoughtful guide on ingredients and techniques, plus evocative location photography and deep historical knowledge, The Pho Cookbook enables you to make this comforting classic your own.  Get a copy NOW!

Andrea Nguyen

Andrea Nguyen

Andrea Nguyen is an author, editor, teacher and consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Born in Vietnam, she came to the United States at the age of six. Her first book publication was “Trip to Freedom,” a short children’s book on how her family came to America. Andrea’s food writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Lucky Peach, Wall Street Journal, Saveur, Rachel Ray Everyday, Sunset, Cooking Light, and Rodale’s Organic Life.

Her first cookbook, “Into the Vietnamese Kitchen” was nominated for three 2007 James Beard and IACP cookbook awards. “Asian Dumplings” was her second cookbook with award-winning publisher Ten Speed Press. In March 2012, Cooking Light magazine selected both books for their Best 100 Cookbooks of the Past 25 Years award. Andrea’s works comprised two of the seven cookbooks in the Asian category.  Learn more about Andrea at www.vietworldkitchen.com Follow on Twitter @aqnguyen and on Facebook 

Later in the show I’ll be talking Diane Gordon President of The Orpheum Performing Arts Centre about the upcoming “Celebrity & Chef Cookoff.”  I have the great pleasure of judging once again…lucky me!  🙂  Twitter @WichitaOrpheum  and Facebook

Presented by Eby Construction, the Celebrity & Chef Cookoff is a night of celebration in support of our historic Orpheum Theatre, held at INTRUST Bank Arena with an Iron Chef-style cooking competition as the main entertainment, featuring six celebrity/chef teams competing for first place.

Surrounding the main event are tasting tables from local restaurants including Douglas Avenue Chop Shop, Reverie Coffee Roasters, Noble House Hawaiian, Tallgrass Country Club, and Bagel Haus, and many more. Get ready to bid in the silent auction, or go big with our live auction, including the teams’ finished dishes up for grabs. Have fun while supporting your Orpheum theatre!  Learn more about The Orpheum.

Admission includes entry to the event, cocktails, a taste of Wichita’s best restaurants, and a bid number for the auctions. Tables for 10 can also be reserved for $850. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 316.263.0884.  Get tickets NOW!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
large-pepiere muscadet sur lie 20152015 Domaine de la Pepière Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Sur Lie
The 2015 vintage maintains its classic lemony, stony and briny quality. The nose-wrinkling piquancy of lime zest and fresh ginger is allied to intimations of the mineral notes that play a dominant role in this performance. A caressing feel is combined with admirable vivacity and refreshing primary citrus juiciness. Alkaline, stony and saline nuances serve for interest and saliva-inducement on a lingering finish.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jun 3 – The Pho Cookbook

May 27 – New York Wine

This show will be FUN!  If you have not traveled to the New York Finger Lakes for a wine trip…you are missing out.  Joining me this Saturday is Jim Trezise, a great guy who has been the head of the New York Wine and Grape Foundations for three decades.  He resigned that position last year and in addition to being the founder of the International Riesling Foundation (IRF) he has now become the president of Wine America as of January 2017.

Image result for Jim Trezise

Jim Trezise

Trezise was the President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation since its creation in 1985, and has been involved with the industry since 1982.  The Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization which sponsors research and conducts promotion programs in support of New York grapes, grape juice and wine.  The Foundation’s research and promotion programs have received international recognition, as has its close and productive partnership with the State of New York.

Jim is also widely recognized for his leadership in the broader American wine industry, having received six national awards or other recognition for his many contributions: The “Grand Award” of the Society of Wine Educators in 2014;  one of “The 20 Most Admired People in the American Wine Industry” in 2013 based on a survey by Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine; the Wine Integrity Award in 2006 from the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission; the first-ever “Distinguished Service Award” in 2001 from the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (Eastern Section); the Perpetual Monteith Trophy (Thomas Jefferson Cup) in 1995 from the Vinifera Winegrowers Association; and recognition by “Wines & Vines” magazine as one of the “top 50 movers and shakers” in the United States wine industry.  In addition, in 2014 he received the coveted “Chairman’s Award” of the New York Wine & Culinary Center.

In the second half Jenny Bartels from Breckenridge Distilling joins us to talk about this Colorado producer of fine spirits.  Jenny will be in Wichita for the June 4 “Spirited Spirits” event at the Wichita Boat House.  This event is the first of two VIP events offered during this year Riverfest. For only $85 you can attend this very limited seating Spirits event and then on June 8, at Century-II Exhibition Hall Balconey Level the all new “Old World vs. New World” Wine tasting.

Again, for only $85 you get to attend both VIP events and each event is followed by front row seating at that evenings concert.  After Spirited Spirits Sunday June 4 it’s Carrie Nation and The Speak Easy on the RedGuard Stage.  Then the Thursday night June 8 wine event is followed by the world famous Mavis Stapels on the Kennedy Plaza Stage.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on May 27 – New York Wine

May 20 – Midwest Beerfest

LIVE from the 17th Annual Midwest Beerfest at Century-II Expo Hall

Wichita’s chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food presents the
17th annual Midwest Beerfest Grand Tasting, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
May 20 at Wichita’s Century II EXPO Hall

www.midwestbeerfest.com

Saturday May 20 Doors open at 1 p.m. for the Grand Tasting and Silent Auction. Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $45 (inclusive of convenience fee) and can be purchased at Century II’s WichitaTix box office, by calling (316) 303-8100 or online at ww.wichitatix.com.

Tickets entitle participants to a tasting mug, program guide and a key to the world of beers.

Also look for non-beer drinks, an array of beer-friendly food, a brew-lover’s Silent Auction with the opportunity to win lots of great prizes, and music.

The Silent Auction is a benefit for Prairie Travelers/Andover Augusta Rail Trail Initiative (AARTI.)

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
It’s craft BEER you silly  🙂

Posted in Other | Tagged , | Comments Off on May 20 – Midwest Beerfest

May 13 – Secret Ingredient BBQ & Growler Chill

We begin this week with a topic and cookbook near and dear to my Barbecuing heart.  My first guest is Staci Jett with her new book “Secret Ingredient Smoking and Grilling – Incredible Recipes from a Competitive Chef to Take your BBQ to the Next Level.”  Long title but a cool book!

Image result for Secret Ingredient Smoking and GrillingCreate complex, authentic southern flavors with smoking secrets from American Grilled champion Staci Jett. Bring competition-worthy dishes right to your table with secret ingredients like Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Jim Beam Whisky barrel pieces, which add a rich and delicious caramel oak flavor to smoked meat; use Chop House Seasoning to make your burger taste like premium steak, or try an Old Bay dry rub to add new dimensions of flavor to Slow Smoked Baby Back Ribs. With Staci’s unique ingredients and winning techniques, you can serve next-level dishes like Kentucky Beer-Braised Beef Short Ribs smoked over cherry and oak wood, Sweet Chili Smoked Wings and Ginger Pecan Bourbon Glazed Salmon.

With Staci’s mouth-watering recipes, you will create incredible and distinctive meals from your smoker and grill. Whether you’re in the mood for bison, beef, pork, duck or fish, Secret Ingredient Smoking and Grilling will show you how to take it up a notch.

About the Author
Image result for Staci Jett bbqStaci Jett was a contestant on Food Network’s Chopped Grill Masters, won Travel Channel’s American Grilled and was awarded third place at the International BBQ Festival. In addition to being a competitive chef, Staci also owns a catering business, Hog’s Heaven BBQ. She lives in Kentucky.  Get a copy NOW!   Follow Staci on Face Book and Twitter

In the second half I’ll be talking to Randy Hollister founder and inventor of “Growler Chill.”

Growler Chill is the revolutionary household countertap that’s taking the craft beer industry by storm. Created to solve the perishability problem in both 64 and 32 oz. standard glass growlers, this innovative home appliance keeps a variety of craft beer cold, fresh for weeks and on-tap right at home. As a smart home appliance, Growler Chill will even alert you when your beer is low and you need a refill!

growlerchillWhen you bring the full growler home from the brewer, bar, or fill station, remove and replace the cap with our patent-pending quick connect “Magic Top Cap”. Insert into the Virginator, and in seconds any oxygen present in the headspace of the bottle is displaced by CO2. This prevents oxygen from causing off-flavors in your beer. Invert your growler and place in one of the three chill chambers. Once inserted, a regulated pressure of CO2 dispenses your beer through the tap faucet.

This is a first class piece of equipment that anyone who enjoys craft beer and supporting our local brewers must have.  Learn more at www.growlerchill.com   Follow Growler Chill on Face Book and twitter.

I’ll finish up with an overview of next weeks Midwest Beerfest and all the new and exciting events and the biggest list of craft beers for you to sample this side of the Rockies and the Great American Beerfest!

I’ll be broadcasting live from this years Beerfest next week…hope you already have reservations for one of the dinners on Friday May 19 and I hope to see you at Century-II Saturday May 20.  🙂

Image result for 2014 airlie dry gewurztraminerGood Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2014 airlie Dry Gewürztraminer

Dry in style with notes of honey and pineapple. Mouth filling texture and well balanced acidity brings the literal translation of Gewürztraminer – “spice grape” to life. Known as a natural companion to spicy foods like Thai, it is also a great choice for holiday fare from Oktoberfest through Christmas.  Wine Enthusiast 90

Learn more about airlie here.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on May 13 – Secret Ingredient BBQ & Growler Chill

May 6 – Riverfest & French Wine

Mary Beth Jarvis

Mary Beth Jarvis

First up is Mary Beth Jarvis of Wichita Festivals to talk about some of the new and exciting things happening at this years Wichita River Festival.  I helped with the planning of a VIP wine, spirits and music two day event called “Vino & Vibes.”  For only $85 you get to attend both events on two separate nights, taste some great spirits, some great wine and then have VIP front row seating at two of the best concerts at Riverfest 2017.

Only 100 VIP tickets to Vino & Vibes will be available so get yours quick!  Learn more about Wichita’s Party on the River…The 2017 Wichita Riverfest is right around the corner

Madness, Music & Libations

SUNDAY, JUNE 4 – SPIRITED SPIRITS at The Wichita Boast House – A Tasting of Outstanding Spirits from Around the World.  Then it’s off to the Redguard Stage for “Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy”

THURSDAY, JUNE 8 – OLD WORLD WINE VS. NEW WORLD WINES at Century II Exhibition Hall Balcony Level – A Tasting of Fine Wines from France and The New World.  Then it’s off to the Kennedy Plaza stage for “Mavis Staples & JD Mcpherson

Then my friend Dr. Theo Mellion proprietor of Roche-Mère Wine Selections joins me to talk about his journey in wine and more importantly some of the great wines his company brings to the USA.  It’s some of the fine French wines from the Roche-Mère portfolio that you’l have the opportunity to taste at the June 8th Vino & Vibes event as well as New World wines from Southern Glazers distributors.

Guy & Theo

Guy & Theo

Dr. Theo Mellion is a man of exacting standards, whether operating at Kansas Spine and Specialty Hospital or traveling the vineyards of France. Theo started Roche-Mère in 2011. The name means “mother rock” or “bedrock.” Roche-Mère imports wine from small, independent operations of 10 to 50 acres. The company is currently importing about 100 wines – reds, whites and sparkling wines – from a total of nearly 40 producers located throughout some of the finest vineyards in France.  Check out the Roche-Mère portfolio here.  Better yet, go to Jacob Liquor Exchange and get some to try tonight.  Prices range from $15 to over $100 but most are in the wine sweet spot of $18-$30.  Theo says “My mantra has always been you should be able to drink high quality wine at a reasonable price” – I couldn’t agree more!

Good Life Guy’s Wines of the Week:
You guessed it…a couple of fine wines from Roche-Mère

rochemere

 

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on May 6 – Riverfest & French Wine