Mamaia Beach on Romania’s Black Sea coast is one of my favorite places to both work and play. Though I prefer the northern coastal area, the sandy beaches that have been immaculately manicured wind southward for a good 75 miles. The Black Sea lifestyle suits my pace, and Romanians know how to enjoy life. Romania…
Recipe: Spicy Chocolate Tartlets (Makes 8 servings) Crust Filling Directions ¾ Cup spritz cookie crumbs ¼ Cup toasted pecans 1/8 teaspoon salt 2-5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Crush the cookies in food processor. Add nuts sugar and salt – pulse together. Add melted butter to moisten only. Press into tartlet pans. Bake for 15 minutes…
I love the north of Spain and have been visiting the city of Bilbao and the surrounding beaches of San Sebastian for some twenty years. My frequent haunts include Concha Bay, and the golden sands beaches of Zarautz and Fuenterrabia. Today I am joined by long-time friend and fellow sommelier, Naiara Dolagaray. We are enjoying…
When one considers France, what often comes to mind is exceptional wines, fine Champagne, and Cognac, the crème de la crème of brandy. Yet let’s not forget France’s other premier spirit, Armagnac. Today I am in the southwest of France, in the Gascony region. This is the land between the Ardou and Garonne rivers which…
Last month I attended a Mixology and Food Pairing class at Culinary Wonders cooking studio (formerly Kitchen Wizards, still on Cinema Drive in the shopping center behind Karma Indian restaurant.) It was the first time they had hired a mixologist to match cocktails with their dishes, and the guests thoroughly enjoyed watching everything being made…
Admittedly, for me, the wine selection is the most important part of my evening [sometimes lunchtime] meal. With my penchant for BYOB, I’ve usually picked the wine well in advance of my entrée. Fortunately, I am convinced that my beloved Zinfandels and California Rhones go well with any cuisine. The only problem with this approach…
My earliest recollection of Sherry was as a boy reading Edgar Allen Poe’s, “The Cask of Amontillado.” I immediately leaped to my feet and ran into my parents’ bedroom to ask what in fact was Sherry? After my mother’sbrief explanation, I accompanied her to the living room where from behind the bar, she produced a…
Even though my actual career is writing about wine and spirits and consulting for wine based businesses and events, it seems that I’ve been organizing and hosting a lot more charity wine events than usual.And there is always one winery that has supported all of the non-profit events when asked by me, or by others:…
Please join Eve’s Wine 101 – we’ve already reserved our table! Reyes Winery will be hosting a winemaker dinner at the new location of Thelma’s and Luis in Valencia at the Town Center Mall (24250 Town Center Dr. Suite 180, Valencia – in Maru’s former space) on June 1 at 6:30pm. $65 per person. Please…