For you guys in CO-
City of Lakewood "Down to Earth" Expo
4/22/2009 10:00 AM
Learn how to incorporate sustainable practices into your daily activities! Join the City of Lakewood for live music, informational lectures, demonstrations, and exhibitors from local green businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM
Location:Lakewood Civic Center Plaza, 480 South Allison Parkway
Contact:Customer Service (303) 932-0600
Cost: Free
Registration Required? No.
http://www.lakewood.org/green
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wine & Food Pairing
Our newsletter goes out today and we always have a few questions regarding how we come up with our wacky food and wine pairings. I found this online a few weeks ago. Its a handy guide. Shrink down, make a condensed version and keep in your wallet!
Food and Wine Magazine’s - Food Pairing Information
• Match the texture of the food with the texture of the wine. A light wine, whether white or red, will be overpowered by a rich dish like steak. A rich wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, will balance it perfectly.
• Match aromas and flavors. “If you have a highly spiced dish, you need a wine that’s not going to get trampled by that,” says Sbrocco. Riesling is a complex, spicy wine, so it works well with cuisines like Chinese and Thai. An earthy pinot noir with cherry notes pairs beautifully with a duck dish containing mushrooms and dried cherries. (Though pairings certainly don’t have to be that literal.)
• Use acidity in the wine to balance the dish. With a high-acid dish―say, a salad with vinaigrette or something tomato based―you want to complement that acidity with a high-acid wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc. In the same way that a spritz of lemon balances and brightens fried seafood, so too does a Sauvignon Blanc.
• Pair with the sauce, not the meat. As Sbrocco explains, chicken in cream sauce demands the same wine as pork in cream sauce.
• Follow your personal preferences. For most rules there’s always an exception, so experiment with different food and wine combinations to see what your particular taste buds respond to.
Food and Wine Magazine’s - Food Pairing Information
• Match the texture of the food with the texture of the wine. A light wine, whether white or red, will be overpowered by a rich dish like steak. A rich wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, will balance it perfectly.
• Match aromas and flavors. “If you have a highly spiced dish, you need a wine that’s not going to get trampled by that,” says Sbrocco. Riesling is a complex, spicy wine, so it works well with cuisines like Chinese and Thai. An earthy pinot noir with cherry notes pairs beautifully with a duck dish containing mushrooms and dried cherries. (Though pairings certainly don’t have to be that literal.)
• Use acidity in the wine to balance the dish. With a high-acid dish―say, a salad with vinaigrette or something tomato based―you want to complement that acidity with a high-acid wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc. In the same way that a spritz of lemon balances and brightens fried seafood, so too does a Sauvignon Blanc.
• Pair with the sauce, not the meat. As Sbrocco explains, chicken in cream sauce demands the same wine as pork in cream sauce.
• Follow your personal preferences. For most rules there’s always an exception, so experiment with different food and wine combinations to see what your particular taste buds respond to.
Friday, March 27, 2009
The three girls and four wines evening.
Just because I own a wine importing company doesn't mean I don't drink other wines. I like to refer to it as broadening the horizons.
Here's what we tried:
1. Piping Shrike 2006 Shiraz Barossa Valley Australia
2. The Climber 2005 Red Wine Blend Oakville California
3. Insatiable Red Wine Blend Graton California
4. Parker Station 2007 Pinot Noir Santa Maria California
What we liked:
#1 Piping Shrike- An awesome, full-bodied, rich red. Your mouth and body feel good drinking it. Does anything else matter? This was the best Ausie Shiraz we have had in a while.
#2 Parker Station- Cherry fruit bomb and we were in the mood for it. IF you are not in the mood then I’d suggest…
#3 Insatiable Red- easy drinking, not much to it and by the time we got there we weren’t too concerned with the tasting anymore (It was the last bottle we “tasted”)
#4 The Climber- way too overpriced but we realize they have a niche market. I assumed the cork and foil were the major costs behind the $17 price.
CIA
Last week I went to the Culinary Institute of America. I got a
Robert Parker scholarship so I was able to spend my class money on wine. (If you get a bottle from me, please know that you are very special ☺
It was perfect weather in St. Helena. I couldn’t believe how awesome the staff at the Hotel St. Helena were. This hotel has awesome rates and is waling distance to the CIA. Tell them you are taking classes at the school and you get a discount.
By the way, when you take a CIA course, you get to eat as much lunch as you can possibly stuff yourself with. This isn’t an ordinary lunch- it’s cooked by all the student chefs!
I gained 6 pounds in 4 days.
Enough said-
Thursday, March 26, 2009
I'm BACK!
This recession out me in a little slump. It is hard being a start-up with a big heart while the planet goes bankrupt. Finding capital is a nightmare! But despite a slower growth plan, we are still growing! Are sales are up, new markets are opening and Fair Traders are seeking us out.
Stay tuned for more...
It feels great to be back!!!
Stay tuned for more...
It feels great to be back!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The SKY IS FALLING!
Or at least it feels that way. We are doomed, we are ok, doomed, ok … ok?
Regardless of our nation’s economic future, we are all feeling the pinch, and many of us are wondering how to cope. How on earth can I keep supporting my local businesses, my culinary habits and stay green?
I for one have a hard time giving up eating out at my favorite places. And I especially refuse to give up my weekly wine explorations.
So in my, ‘we are all in this together’ mentality, I asked several of my favorite eateries and wine shops what changes they have made to help ease the pain.
Denver:
Z Cuisine - If you haven’t been then you are really missing out. Happy hour is a great time to visit with specials offered from 5 pm - 7 pm and 10 pm to midnight.
- Check out the Z Plate of Paté, cheese, dessert for $12. Glasses of wine for $ 5.
- 2239 West 30th Ave. in LoHi.
Lola - Another LoHi staple and now a great place to watch Monday night football. Appetizer, mini-keg and sangria specials compliment the big screen TV.
- Normal Happy Hour is Mon-Friday 4-6pm and weekends 2-5pm. Beer starting at $2 and glasses of wine at $5. The cilantro-lime tilapia taco for $3 is amazing.
- 1575 Boulder St.
Sunflower Markets - These grocery stores are where to get the best produce at the best prices. As farmers markets come to a close, this is a great place to shop. There are online coupons and weekly special. If you love Whole Foods you will love these stores.
Regardless of our nation’s economic future, we are all feeling the pinch, and many of us are wondering how to cope. How on earth can I keep supporting my local businesses, my culinary habits and stay green?
I for one have a hard time giving up eating out at my favorite places. And I especially refuse to give up my weekly wine explorations.
So in my, ‘we are all in this together’ mentality, I asked several of my favorite eateries and wine shops what changes they have made to help ease the pain.
Denver:
Z Cuisine - If you haven’t been then you are really missing out. Happy hour is a great time to visit with specials offered from 5 pm - 7 pm and 10 pm to midnight.
- Check out the Z Plate of Paté, cheese, dessert for $12. Glasses of wine for $ 5.
- 2239 West 30th Ave. in LoHi.
Lola - Another LoHi staple and now a great place to watch Monday night football. Appetizer, mini-keg and sangria specials compliment the big screen TV.
- Normal Happy Hour is Mon-Friday 4-6pm and weekends 2-5pm. Beer starting at $2 and glasses of wine at $5. The cilantro-lime tilapia taco for $3 is amazing.
- 1575 Boulder St.
Sunflower Markets - These grocery stores are where to get the best produce at the best prices. As farmers markets come to a close, this is a great place to shop. There are online coupons and weekly special. If you love Whole Foods you will love these stores.
Monday, October 13, 2008
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