Jul 16 – Napa Wine Project

If you missed it LIVE… Click here to listen or download this show!

For wine information and resources the Napa Wine Project is one of the BEST!  My guest this week is David Thompson.

The GOAL: “To personally visit, taste with, and promote all wineries, collectives, and commercial wine producers in the Napa Valley in order to create an educational resource for both consumers and trade. We have reviewed 836 commercial Napa wine producers to date,  out of more than 1,100 total.”

David Thompson

The Napa Wine Project is researched and maintained by David Thompson. He has been a wine enthusiast for many years (first wine made in high school) and in 2006 created this project. He has personally visited each physical winery (if applicable), met with a representative & tasted with 800+ unique commercial Napa wine producers to date (physical and virtual wineries). He is responsible for all research, winery visits & revisits, winery reviews, tasting notes, photography and updates.

Learn more about the Napa Wine Project, plan your next visit or let Dave plan it for you!

Joining me for the wine(s) of the week is Ca’Momi proprietor and winemaker Dario De Conti. www.camomiwinery.com

dario

Dario De Conti

Ca’ Momi may be built on Napa Valley soil, but it’s rooted in soulful Italian tradition. Founders Valentina Guolo-Migotto, Dario De Conti and Stefano Migotto started the winery together in 2006 to bring that passion and tradition to the Napa Valley. “In Italy, wine is on every dinner table, 365 days a year,” says Dario. “We’re never afraid to open the right or wrong bottle. It is all
about enjoying wine in the company of good friends and a great meal.” Embracing that culture of community and sharing, Ca’ Momi has created 12 (and counting) big-hearted, full-bodied Napa Valley wines with a total lack of pretension. From the award-winning Rosso di Napa to the lightly sparkling Ca’ Secco, Ca’ Momi wines strive simply to bring joy to the table. Winemakers Dario De Conti and Stefano Migotto have 50 years of combined experience and connections to some of Napa Valley’s best fruit, including Ca’ Momi’s own Carneros vineyard properties. By sourcing top quality grapes and heartcrafting each wine with soulful intention, Ca’ Momi honors centuries of Italian winemaking tradition.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week from Napa:
2014 Ca’Momi Chardonnay
wine bottle labelThe 2014 Napa Valley Chardonnay strikes the perfect balance between indulgence and refreshment. After a few minutes in your glass, delicate mandarin orange zest aromas open into plush pineapple and pears. On the palate, this wine is pure pleasure, decadent citrus cream poured over fresh pear crostata with a subtle hint of clove. Restrained oak provides a warm vanilla glow and softness, while the finely tuned acidity lifts and balances the richness all the way through the remarkable lengthy finish.

2013 Ca’Momi Cabernet Sauvignon
Ca' Momi Cabernet Sauvignon 2013This dark magenta Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon carries on the legacy of our spectacular 2012 vintage, uniting rich, dark fruit and incredible softness into a focused, harmonious whole. High-toned aromas of raspberry and fresh plums swirl around a hint of smokeand warm earth on the nose. In the mouth, the wine’s plush smoothness takes over – a warm, soft caress of dark Bing cherries and wild berry bramble, layered with sweet vanilla and milk chocolate notes. Ripe, round tannins provide substance and structure without rough edges, carrying the wine into a lengthy finish of oregano and dried summer savory. The harmoniousbalance and exceptionally smooth texture make our Cabernet an ideal choice for dinner, drinks, or date night.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jul 16 – Napa Wine Project

Jul 9 – Lose Weight by Eating

If you missed it LIVE… Click here to listen or download this show!

You can’t be good at eating and drinking without the need for a good diet!  I get a bunch of diet books along with healthy eating cookbooks.  The new book by Audrey Johns “Lose Weight by Eating – 130 Amazing Clean-Eating recipe makeovers for guilt-free comfort food” might be the best this year.  Get a copy NOW!

Popular blogger Audrey Johns lost 150 pounds in 11 months by eating all the foods she loved. Now she shares her secrets to help you lose weight, too!

At 275 pounds, Audrey Johns was unhealthy and unhappy—until the day she vowed to give up the “fake food”—frozen “diet” meals, low-cal sodas, quick-to-make boxed foods—and taught herself to cook her favorites from scratch. In less than a year, Audrey mastered the kitchen and lost more than 150 pounds (more than half her body weight), going from a size 24 to a size 4—all while pinching pennies. Now Audrey shares her story, insights, and clean-eating recipes to help you slim down. Lose Weight by Eating includes more than 130 mouth-watering recipes for family favorites, including pasta, scones, nachos, meat loaf, and cookies—all bursting with flavor but with fewer than 500 calories per meal. Most recipes use simple and inexpensive Smart Swaps and are full of hidden vegetables that keep you feeling fuller longer, and all are picky-kid-friendly and spouse-approved.

www.loseweightbyeating.com

After losing more than 150 pounds, Audrey Johns started LoseWeightByEating.com, which has helped thousands of people. Her story has been featured on CBS’s The Doctors and on the cover of Woman’s World magazine, and she was a chef contestant on the second season of ABC’s The Taste. She also hosts a clean-eating video series on eHow.com, and writes food, wine, and travel columns for local magazines. She lives with her family in Atascadero, California.

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
3 Italian Wines to taste and talk about today, click on each to learn more…


2015 Squadra Extra-Dry Prosecco

2014 Squadra Bianco
2014 Squadra Rosso

squadra winesIt’s easy to find a bottle of wine to drink. The world is full of perfectly good juice. The hard part comes when you are looking
for real wine from some place… that’s how Squadra was born.  There is no better way to discover the heart and soul of Italy than to pedal your way through the countryside – experiencing the authenticity of its many regions through crisp breezes, remarkable landscapes and the road shared with warm-hearted locals. The Squadra, composed of Master Sommelier, Bobby Stuckey, an award-winning Chef, Lachlan Patterson and an celebrated industry veteran, Tony McClung. They have been crisscrossing the winding roads of Italy for the past twenty years and, every now and then we getting off their bikes to discover something magical…

You can taste these wines for FREE Saturday July 9th between 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road!

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jul 9 – Lose Weight by Eating

Jul 2 – The Exes in My Glass & Chardonnay

flag bottles

If you missed it LIVE… Click here to listen or download this show!

Happy July 4th weekend…hope you have some splendid food, wine and fun on this great long weekend and you do that with family and friends.  I’m lucky to have my brother Brian in the studio this week. Brian and I started The Good Life in Miami Florida in 1988 on WKAT 1360AM. Lots of water under the bridge since then.  He and wife Gina are in town to help me celebrate my birthday today.  Yes, another trip around the Sun and a year closer to the last chapter, but hey…life is good.

Lisa Mattson

Lisa Mattson

Up first is Lisa Mattson, long time friend and a true woman of the world.  Lisa Says; “I’m a Kansas girl living my dreams in wine country. Wine marketing expert, blogger, videographer, traveler, foodie, drinker and author of  The Exes in My Glass.” She is currently the Director of Communications for Jordan Vineyard and Winery in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley.  That title doesn’t do her justice!  With her social media skills, video expertise and charming personality she worked with proprietor John Jordan to make this one of the most forward thinking, tech savvy wineries in California.  You must visit Jordan Winery and spend some time looking at the blog she oversees and some of the amazing and humorous video’s they have produced.

exes in my glassLisa is on the road, not unusual for this gal, and back visiting Kansas.  She has quite the journey in life and wine and shares it in her new book The Exes in My Glass…How I Refined My Taste in Men & Alcohol.  The witty story of one country girl’s raucous journey from lust to love and cheap beer to fine wine will leave you thirsty to uncork your potential, too. Get a copy of Exes in My Glass NOW!

 

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:

A couple of fine Examples of Chardonnay

2013 Jordan Chardonnay 
Intense aromas of passion fruit, persimmon and Granny Smith apple leap from the glass, woven with notes of Meyer Lemon, Asian pear and wet stone minerality. A juicy mid-palate of honeydew melon, fresh guava and a touch of baking spice is balanced by firm acidity and a creamy mouthfeel that carries through the lingering finish. Enjoy this wine now for its fresh, youthful flavors or cellar through 2018 to enjoy the crème brûlée and preserved lemon characteristics that will develop with age.  WW92 WE91

2014 Jax Reserve Chardonnay, Duton Ranch
This wine begins with a vibrant, golden hue that rolls out notes of butterscotch, light caramel and delicate barrel vanillin. Crisp lemon drop and meringue flavors run rampant around the palate. Medium bodied and dry by nature, there is a slight perceived sweetness of fruit on the finish.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Jul 2 – The Exes in My Glass & Chardonnay

Jun 25 – Sauce Goddess & Bacon Kit :-)

If you missed it LIVE… Click here to listen or download this show!

First up is Jennifer Reynolds AKA “The Sauce Goddess”

Sauce Goddess the cook

Jennifer Reynolds

Jennifer says:
“What is a Sauce Goddess? Not everyone is familiar with gastronomy deities, so many posers abound.  If we were so inclined to add it to the Urban Dictionary for the general public’s edification the definition would read something like: Female deity adored for her tantalizingly piquant seasonings.You wouldn’t know it by enjoying our products, but Sauce Goddess is a small female owned company that turned a passion for cooking into a successful business.  The woman behind the Goddess curtain is a lover of food, spice and bringing people together.  Jennifer Reynolds started the business with two sauces in 2000 out of her kitchen and has grown it into the national gourmet food company it is today.”

Sauce Goddess helps you create smiles with great meals – EVERY DAY!

We’ll share Jennifer’s story and taste some of her products, you can get some now at: www.saucegoddess.com

 

In the second half I’ll be talking to Bacon Kit founders Todd Heckel and Russ Morgan, originators, and head Bacon makers at The Baconkit! Follow the easy instructions and you are 7 days away from being a bacon maker.

“Until you’ve tried baconkit you’ve never tasted bacon as nature intended it. Making homemade bacon has never been easier.”

Make your own bacon with The Original BaconkitThe Original Baconkit includes:

  • Curing Bag
  • Pink Curing Salt
  • Premium Maple Sugar
  • Thermometer
  • Instruction Kit
  • (Does not include pork belly)

The kit contains everything you need to make 5 lbs of delicious homemade bacon. The only fresh ingredient you need to purchase is pork belly. It’s that easy!  An easy to read instruction sheet guides you through every step in making bacon in seven days. A great project for full time foodies or the novice cook. Unlike commercial bacon your bacon won’t shrivel, shrink, or release water when you cook it.  Learn more here!

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2015 Chateau Real D’Or Côtes De Provence

wow-bay-ridge-annapolisWith vineyards at Maures in the heart of Côtes de Provence, this château has produced a rich, sunny style of wine. With ripe strawberry flavors and a soft texture gently cut by acidity, the wine is made for a hot weather apéritif.  The flavors of this wine follow the same light character as its pale, almost-white color. It does have some fresh juiciness, light acidity and a cut of lemon at the end. Crisp and clean, it’s ready to drink.

Pick up a case at Jacob Liquor Exchange on North Rock Road and thumb your nose at HOT weather!

 

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Jun 25 – Sauce Goddess & Bacon Kit :-)

Jun 18 – Cooking for Two

If you missed it LIVE… Click here to listen or download this show!

First up is Howard Rosenthal the BIG Cheese at MrFood.com with the latest book from the test kitchen: The Ultimate Cooking for Two Cookbook.

Mr. Food Test Kitchen: The Ultimate Cooking For Two Cookbook: More Than 130 Mouthwatering RecipesFor more than 30 years, folks have enjoyed feeding their families and friends with the Mr. Food Test Kitchen’s quick and easy recipes. While everyone has raved about how much they love cooking for the whole gang, they’ve also asked us for more recipes meant to feed just a few. That’s why we’ve assembled a cookbook with more than 130 mouthwatering recipes designed especially for smaller households. It may seem like all you have to do is cut a recipe in half, but it’s not that simple!

Everyone loves great food, but sometimes you don’t want to cook for an army or eat leftovers for what seems like forever. This cookbook is meant for everyone from the newlywed to the empty nester, the college student to the active senior, or anyone in between! Not only is this cookbook packed with triple-tested recipes that will make you feel like a pro, but it’s brimming with all sorts of tips and tricks to help you make sure every recipe comes out perfect. And if you thought it couldn’t get any better, you’ll find that every recipe features a full page photo to tempt and inspire you.

So, whether you’re looking for weeknight favorites, fill-ya-up breakfasts, or smile-worthy desserts, this book is a must-have!

You can order a copy at MrFood.com and use the promo code “TheGoodLife” and get a copy for $15 instead of the list price of $21.95

Denise Neil

Denise Neil

In the second half I’ll be talking to the Wichita Eagles Denise Neil about the super handy Wichita dinning guide featuring the 50 “Not to be Missed” restaurants here in the flat lands of Wichita.  We’ll probably chat about other fun food related topics too. Learn more about Denise and follow her Dinning with Denise blog at Kansas.com

Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
Sullivan Family Vineyards 
2015 Sauvignon Blanc & 2014 Chardonnay

2015 Sauvignon BlancBright tropical pineapple, honey citrus with undertones of white peach and vanilla aromas. This wine is very inviting with its fresh fruitful core and a nuance of mineral and wet stone. The palate is bright with hints of green citrus and acidity that drives and provides backbone. There is fruit that gives the wine a broad, dense, juicy quality. A sense of sweetness from time in oak underlines the fruit giving depth and character to this wine.

 

SU_ChardonnayGolden hues swirl in the glass releasing tropical aromas of pineapple, guava and banana that intertwine with spicy, vanilla characteristics. On the palate, flavors of apple and lemon add to the undertone and complexity while a hint of honey gives the wine a viscosity that is lush and lasting. Fresh, clean and inviting, this wine is sure to make you ask for a second glass.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Jun 18 – Cooking for Two