Was it a Throwdown? Hmmm…If it was, it was a perfect union of FOOD, WINE & BEER challenging any one out there that could come close to what we pulled off last nite! Bring it, Flay! The Perfect Pairing Team of Chef Mike Shannon & Sommelier Leslee Miller strikes again! This time with our friend… Continue
Well here we are, only 6 days into the New Year and I’ve already experienced heavenly wines! In fact, could turn out to be some of my favorite wines of the year, already!! And the best part, shared with some really outstanding peeps to pair. Within the last year I’ve hemmed and hawed about the ‘sleepy’ wine… Continue
A girlfriend sent this my way so I thought I’d pass it on, super cool. If YOU can come up with something better for any one of these…pass it on Please! Would love to hear some of your worst and best! In 2010, What was your favorite? Here are a few of mine… Day? When I… Continue
As many of you know, my year is continually stacked up with events, wine tastings, classes and more for a zillion different styles of wine drinkers. Each event is its own, always different wines, different pairings, cheeses, chocolates, unique foods and more. And the group ‘personality’ always one of a kind! Now, when it comes to… Continue
So I received this AWESOME picture today from one of my dearest girlfriends…funny, right? Drinking Dom right from the bottle? “How dare she?! ” some would say. Yet I say, “Go For It, Sister!” My reasoning and why it should be tied into your New Year’s Resolutions when it comes to Wine! 1. Stop Playing By… Continue
I have a good friend, Jeannine, who has spent the good part of her year pairing to something quite fun and unusual – Cheesecake! Isn’t that fun? Jeannine, a serious foodie, I knew when I met her…as she sat front row in one of my Cooks of Crocus Hill Classes. Brite eyed and wanting to… Continue
I have been singing their praises for months now (almost just as long as they’ve been open!)…so I hope you’ve had a chance to get out and enjoy this super cool new hot spot for Wine and Eats in Minnesota. Who? Nectar Wine Bar Where? 204 Central Ave, Osseo, MN Why? Because they’re one of… Continue
Whether it’s Christmas, New Year’s or the next upcoming holiday to give…might I give a suggestion for a fool-proof way to impress even your finest foodie friends. We gave a few of these out this year and they happened to be a big hit with everyone. Zingerman’s Bacon Club! What the hay is Zingerman’s? The… Continue
Upon a very short to Las Vegas this past weekend, I was reminded of some very fun times I have spent listening and jamming to some unbelievable music through the Vegas scene in years past. Quite a few of my most memorable have to do with Dave Matthews. Of course, if you’ve read any of my… Continue
Courtesy of my pals at the Wine Company, a local Twin Cities distributor, they put out this fun fact bubble blast this week to their wholesale clients. I liked it so much, that I thought I’d pass it on. While most of us in the industry take these terms for granted, I thought it fun to remind… Continue
What better to do than review wines when you’re trapped in by more snow? With the holidays upon us and with so many reaching for those ‘specialty’ wines to pair to the holiday table, I decided to take on a few Ice Wines. With a full 411 on the subject of Ice Wines, and few… Continue
Twas a few nites before Thanksgiving and the Twin Cities were stirring. With family and friends gathering, out for nibbles and drinks, even those in know were not as lucky as I. For I was about to meet one of my sports heros, over six foot – sky high! Ha! Silly rhymes need not describe… Continue