Jan 7 – “The Wrong Dog”

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Welcome to 2017 – DOGS really are an important part of The Good Life! Not specifically about Food or wine but traveling across country with a dog will surely generate some great food stories along the way.  As some of you know November 2015 I lost my best girl Cleo.  She was the smartest dog, the softest dog, and the most fun of any pooch I have been honored to parent.  She was only 11 but had cancer of the spleen. Then nearly a year later, my little brown shadow Caesar left us, he was almost 16 and was tied with Cleo as the BEST DOG!  This was the first dog-less Christmas in many years.  The kids grown and gone and no dogs to open presents left Beth and I with a whole in our hearts Christmas morning. While I have had David’s book for several weeks, I couldn’t bring myself to read it until this past week.  I laughed, cried and missed my fur babies, but it is a great read.  Read it with a glass of the wine of the week and you’ll feel better.

My guest this week is David Elliot Cohen with his new book “The Wrong Dog”

David Elliot Cohen, the multi-New York Times bestselling author of One Year Off, The Wrong Dog is the heartwarming, often hilarious, story of Simba II, a mischievous white Labrador puppy brought home by accident.

As he grows into an enormous ninety-pound dog with a huge personality, Simba cements the bond between two families and enriches their lives in countless ways.  When the family moves from San Francisco to New York, the author is charged with bringing Simba to the family’s new home, so he and his best friend, Erick, load the old hound into the back of a station wagon and set out on a 3,300-mile once-in-a-lifetime road trip across America.

With stops at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace; the Las Vegas Strip; Meteor Crater; the Painted Desert; Cadillac Ranch; Winslow, Arizona; Gallup, New Mexico; Graceland, and other all-American landmarks, this engaging and poignant volume chronicles an epic journey, the unconditional love between one dog and his family, and the vast and benevolent role dogs play in American family life. But most of all, The Wrong Dog shows us how the end of life can sometimes be the richest part of all.  Get a copy NOW!

About the Author 
David Elliot Cohen's Profile Photo, Image may contain: 1 person, smilingFor three decades, best-selling author and editor David Elliot Cohen has created books that have sold six million copies worldwide. Most were in the immensely popular Day in the Life and America 24/7 photography book series. He has four New York Times bestsellers and two international bestsellers to his credit. Cohen is a graduate of Yale University. He lives in Manhattan with his wife, Laureen Seeger, and the youngest of their five children.  Follow on Face Book and find David on Twitter

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2015 Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling
Image result for willamette valley vineyards riesling 2015This semi-sweet wine opens with luscious aromas of citrus and tropical fruits.The mouthfeel is juicy with bright acidity that activates the palate and displays flavors of peach, pineapple and honeysuckle. The finish is wonderfully persistent with balance of sweetness and refreshing crispness. Peak drinkability 2016-2018.

This wine is SOLD OUT on wine.com for good reason, it’s delicious!  Grab some at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road here in Wichita

Food Pairings: Serve well-chilled and allow to warm in your glass for optimal enjoyment of aroma and flavor. Perfect as an
aperitif or as an ideal pairing to spicy Asian dishes, seafood and rich cheeses. This wine is versatile enough for dessert pairings like fruit tarts or savory options like blue cheese creme brulee.

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Dec 31 – Wheat State Distilling & Distillery 244

Image result for Happy New Year 2017 gif

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Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year filled with great friends, spectacular wine and food and most importantly good health and time to enjoy all those fun things.

Image result for wheat state distillingThis week I’ll be talking to my friend David Bahre, founder/owner and distilling hero of Wheat State Distillery.  In case you haven’t been keeping track, the distillery has moved from 37th St. North to a new, bigger and better venue in Old Town combined with Distillery 244.  246 N Mosley here in Wichita, Kansas.  

David Bahre’s love and knowledge of grains and fine spirits combined into an obsession.  After years of planning, he started building the distillery in January of 2013 and Wheat State Distilling officially opened in December of 2013.  www.wheatstatedistilling.com

David is a Wichita native and self-professed nerd.  Following a family tradition in agriculture, he received his bachelor’s degree in Grain Science and Milling from Kansas State University and is working on his Masters in Agribusiness from KSU as well.  Wheat State Distilling is a family owned and operated business.  David’s wife, Kim, a Wichita native and KSU grad as well, works along with him.  Their daughter, the inspiration for Bella Bahre’s Bourbon, is a frequent sight at the distillery in addition to great friends and family who help out when needed.  On Facebook @wheatstatedistilling

Later in the show I’ll be talking to Aleigh Wells manager and founder of Distillery 244 an upscale event venue.  Aleigh says:

Image may contain: 1 person“Distillery 244 is proud to offer our event space for rental for your special event. Our newly renovated, 7,000 sq. ft. event space provides a unique atmosphere. Located in the heart of Old Town, Distillery 244 is within walking distance to many restaurants, night life, hotels and shopping. Our event space has unique concrete floors, exposed brick walls and garage doors. We can accommodate up to 480 people for a sit down dinner in our venue, with an additional 125 people in our Distillery. We also have the capability to close off part of our venue, for a smaller, more intimate gathering.

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige
Image result for mumm napa brut prestige sparkling wineBrut Prestige is Mumm Napa’s signature sparkling wine. A classic blend of 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier. It is a relaxed, yet elegant, wine that earns sparkling accolades from consumers and critics alike.  Brut Prestige features fine bright citrus, red apple, stone fruit and creamy vanilla aromas, with hints of toast, honey and gingerbread spice. Its vibrant flavors are balanced by fine acidity and a rich, lingering finish.

Critical Acclaim

  • WS91
    Wine Spectator“Packs in a lot of complexity for the price, offering aromas of apple, fresh ginger and rubber. The flavors are crisp and layered, with notes of raspberry and spice. “

Yet another great choice for your New Years celebration.
Grab it by the case at Jacob Liquor Exchange East or West!

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Dec 24 – Treveri Cellars

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Happy Ho Ho Ho…

Jurgen & Guy

Jurgen & Guy

I’m a BIG fan of Champagne, Sparkling Wine, Bubbles whatever you prefer…all year round but everyone seems to pay attention to this magical wine this time of year.  My guest today is Jürgen Grieb founding owner and Winemaker at Treveri Cellars.  This fine sparkling wine producer is located in the Yakima Valley, the heart of the Columbia Valley in Washington state.  I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon on the patio at this picture-postcard location with Jürgen this past April.  We now have Treveri Cellars wines here in Kansas including Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Rd.

Treveri Cellars is a family-owned sparkling wine house that produces some of the finest handcrafted sparkling wines in the United States.  Treveri opened its doors on November 23, 2010 with a mission to put Washington sparkling wine on the map. Since its opening, Treveri wine has been served at White House State Department receptions and the James Beard Foundation in New York.  Producing a wide array of sparkling wines, including non-traditional varieties such as Riesling and Mueller-Thurgau, Treveri largely focuses on 100% varietal sparkling wines, and is also launching a reserve tier of sparkling wine.

Perfect wine for your holiday party or dinner.  Learn more at:  www.trevericellars.com

Later in the second half I’ll be talking to my friends at Jacob Liquor Exchange and The Cigar Chateau about last minute gift ideas for Christmas.  If you have been procrastinating or need a last minute gift for those on your list who like adult beverages, fine cigars, pipe tobacco and an array of wine accessories, Jacob Liquor and the Cigar Chateau are open until 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve.  www.jacobliquor.com

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:

NV Treveri Cellars Brut Blan de Blanc
Image result for Treveri Cellars Brut Blanc de Blanc100% Chardonnay from the Yakima Valley AVA made in the traditional method.  Smooth, complex and crisp, showing green apple and a hint of brioche balanced by bright acidity and touch of yeast on the palate for a cool, crisp finish. This Brut forges old world methods together with new world fruit, making this wine one that shouldn’t be missed. Treveri Brut demands indulgence and brings clear perspective to your moment. The fresh and dry finish enhances this bubbly, and brings luxury to any occasion.

Pick up a few bottles at Jacob Liquor on N. Rock Road

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Dec 17 – L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants

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My guest this week is Chef George Geary with his new book L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants – Celebrating the Famous Places Where Hollywood Ate, Drank, and Played.

L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants is an illustrated history of dozens of landmark eateries from throughout the City of Angels. From such classics as Musso & Frank and The Brown Derby in the 1920s to the see-and-be-seen crowds at Chasen’s, Romanoffs, and Ciro’s in the mid-20th century to the dawn of California cuisine at Ma Maison and Spago Sunset in the 1970s and ‘80s, L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants celebrates the famous locations where Hollywood ate, drank, and played.

Author George Geary leads you into the glamorous restaurants inhabited by the stars through a lively narrative filled with colorful anecdotes and illustrated with vintage photographs, historic menus, and timeless ephemera. Over 100 iconic recipes for entrees, appetizers, desserts, and vintage drinks are included, and all are updated for today’s cook and kitchen.

While many people have heard the story of Elizabeth Taylor requesting that Chasen’s famous chili be flown to her on the set of Cleopatra in Rome, L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants will offer facts and trivia that aren’t as well known to the general public, such as Bob Hope’s favorite place to enjoy a hot fudge sundae after the Academy Awards, the restaurant where part of a table was sawed off to accommodate a pregnant Lana Turner, and the pharmacy where composer Harold Arlen wrote “Over the Rainbow” for The Wizard of Oz.

But L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants contains much more than the fancy, high-priced restaurants favored by the Hollywood cognoscenti. The glamour of the golden age of drive-ins, drugstores, nightclubs, and hotels are also honored. What book on L.A. restaurants would be complete without tales of ice cream sundaes at C.C. Brown’s, cafeteria-style meals at Clifton’s, a late-night breakfast at Ben Frank’s, or a mai tai at Don the Beachcomber?

Most of the locations in L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants no longer exist, but thanks to George Geary, the memories are still with us. And with Geary’s updated recipes, we can still enjoy many of the same iconic dishes that kept customers coming back to their favorite haunts week after week. L.A.’s Legendary Restaurants will have you longing for the days when going out for a meal was truly a special event.  Get your copy NOW!

George Geary

George Geary CCP teaches in over 120 schools world wide. A regular contributing editor to several magazines and newsletters, he has also been the pastry chef and production manager for the Walt Disney Corporation and the Marriott Corporation.  Besides writing, George owns a culinary tour company where he takes students on culinary adventures of France and major cities of the country. George can be seen on local and national morning news programs. Currently George is the Resident Chef on San Diego Living on the CW Network.  Learn more about George at www.georgegeary.com

Then it’s all about Party Planning with Crystal McDonald from Xclusive Events.   Xclusive Events is a widely recognized and leading organization that provides professional event services to all segments of an event. We specialize in delivering compelling event solutions for our clients. We are passionate about providing our customers with engaging and memorable experiences for their events. Xclusive Events gives a touch of class to every event and gathering.

Focusing on wedding receptions to large corporate functions, Xclusive’s unique business model helps event planners and one-time party managers to keep their event smooth and flawless.      www.xclusiveeventservices.com

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2013 Viña Requingua Potro De Piedra Family Reserve

potroThe Family Reserve 85%-Cabernet Sauvignon – 15%-Cabernet Franc aged for 18-24 months in new French Oak. It has a dark red-purple color with a complex nose featuring intense notes of plums, cherries, licorice, vanilla and cocoa. Full bodied structure with firm, rounded tannins as well as hints of cherry and toffee on the finish.  This is a BIG bold Bordeaux style blend that would be great with grilled steak or your holiday rib roast.

Comes in attractive 6 bottle wood cases, a great gift idea!  Available at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road.

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Dec 10 – Tom Gore Wines

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Times flying and there is only a few days left until Christmas.  So let’s get busy and gather some unique gifts for your friends and family.  How about some fine wine from Tom Gore Vineyards or some handcrafted candles, soaps and more from Nectar Republic at Clifton Square.

My first guest is Tom Gore…

Tom Gore and the Dogs

Tom Gore and the Dogs

Tom Gore is a second-generation grape farmer from Sonoma County and from the time he learned to walk, he was stomping alongside his dad, getting dirty and taking care of the grapes. For Tom Gore, farming isn’t a profession, it’s a way of life. His family helped develop the vineyards of Northern California into a world-class winemaking region, and Tom’s childhood was spent among the vines. He has worked every harvest since he was seven years old, and has always known farming grapes would be his life’s work. www.tomgorevineyards.com

Good wines start long before the harvest. They start in the vineyards with a farmer. With Tom Gore Vineyards, Tom is stepping out from behind the scenes to tell the story of the farmer’s role and to create wines that prove what insiders have long known—great wines start with the work of a farmer.

As Tom puts it, “Much like a chef needs outstanding ingredients to let a dish shine, a winemaker needs high-quality grapes to make a very good wine.” Tom sees his wines as time capsules, or expressions of the growing season, and is most proud of explaining what he does as a farmer—connecting people to the earth and telling the story of where the wine comes from. The work of a farmer.

In the second half I’ll be chatting with Lisa Williams.  Lisa recently opened a new store front in Clifton Square to showcase here had crafted gifts and more.  Along with a new laocation comes a new name; Nectar Republic is the new name for Milk + Honey Candles.  www.nectarrepublic.com

nector-repub

“My passion for candles goes back to childhood. I always wanted all the candles lit in the house because I loved the soft glow and warm ambience they created. For years now, candle making has been a hobby.  With much enthusiasm, Milk + Honey Candles was officially launched in January of 2013.  Something that I have always envisioned but never had the time to pursue until now.  It brings me great joy to share my craft and love for aromatherapy and candle making.”

3700 E. Douglas Ave. Ste. 40
Wichita, Kansas   (316) 730-4597
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Good life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
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TGV Chardonnay 750ml Front Label2014 Tom Gore Vineyards Chardonnay
This Chardonnay has intense aromas of ripe apple and pear, complemented by notes of brown spice and toasted oak. The wine has ripe fruit flavors with a smooth, creamy texture and a long, full finish.
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2013 Tom Gore Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
TGV Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml Front LabelOur Cabernet Sauvignon is dark red in color with aromas of cherry and currant and notes of leather and tobacco leaf along with hints of dark chocolate and mocha from oak aging. This wine is fruit forward on the entry with a rich, round mouthfeel and fine, supple tannins leading to a long finish.
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