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Cheers,
Veronique
12 March 2012 
Garlic Growing – What You Need to Know
March 12, 2012 By
Dad's Asian Tempest Garlic
Every time I visit my dad in Quebec, he boasts about the garlic he grows. It’s something he’s proud of and the last time I was there, he gave me a whole bag to bring back. The variety he uses is the Asian Tempest – powerful with a long shelf life once harvested. I’ve been researching garlic growing and it’s beyond easy.
Some tips and facts of growing garlic:
- Garlic is grown from the single cloves. Each clove produces one plant with a garlic bulb.
- When planting garlic, pick a sunny spot where the soil isn’t too damp.
- In regions with cold winters, plant garlic in the fall for harvest the following summer. For warm regions, store garlic in a cool place for about 3 weeks before planting to trigger proper sprouting.
- The closer apart garlic is planted, the smaller the bulbs will be at harvest.
- It’s time to harvest when the plant’s leaves begin to turn brown.
- Garlic can be planted with other flowers and vegetables.
- Garlic must be dried properly or it will rot. After harvest, bulbs should be hung up in a cool, dry place for 1-2 weeks.
Happy growing!
Veronique
5 Valentine’s Day Sparkling Wines under $25
February 10, 2012 By
Are you planning a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home or need a sparkling wine to bring to a local BYO? Here are five sparkling wines under $25 to toast Valentine’s Day with:
- 2009 Jagdschloss Spatburgunder Brut Rose (Rheingau, Germany) – beautiful light pink in the glass with tons of tiny bubbles. Aromas and flavors of ripe strawberries with a little Fiji apple ($15).
- La Marca Di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco (Trevisio, Italy) – light, crisp and offers a pleasant dry finish that’s citrusy and fresh ($12).
- 2008 Naveran Dama Cava (Catalunya, Spain) – aromatic wine with pear and apple flavors ($20).
- Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut(Anderson Valley, CA) – flavors of ripe pear with nutty notes ($22).
- Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé NV (Alsace, France) – features rich strawberries-and-cream flavors ($25).
Cheers,
Veronique
4 February 2012 
Easy and Elegant 4-Course Valentine’s Day Dinner
February 4, 2012 By
Need some inspiration for a romantic meal this Valentine’s Day (or any old day)? Here are four, simple-to-make dishes along with wine pairings that are sure to show your loved one(s) how much you care.
- Savory Cheese Tartlets with Blackberries paired with La Marca Di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco ($12)
- Cream of Asparagus and Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese Soup paired with 2007 Hirsch Vineyards San Andreas Pinot Noir ($65)
- Boeuf en Croûte (Beef Wellington) paired with 2006 Stag’s Leap Artemis Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
- Simple Greek Yogurt and Berry Tart paired with 2008 Heron Hill Late Harvest Vidal Blanc ($18)
BONUS – breakfast: Strawberry and Nutella-Stuffed Crepes
Whichever dish you decide to prepare for your loved one(s) this Valentine’s Day, I hope your meal is paired with love.
Cheers,
Veronique
2 February 2012 
National Wear Red Day
February 2, 2012 By
Celebrate National Wear Red Day® on February 3, 2012.
Heart disease is still the #1 killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths each year. This means mothers, sisters, wives, and friends are dying at a rate of one per minute. In fact, in the time it takes you to read this, another woman will die from heart disease.
Each year on the first Friday of February, thousands of hospitals, small businesses, multinational corporations, schools and individuals “Go Red” to help raise crucial awareness in the fight against heart disease in women.
Let’s do our part to show support and raise awareness!
Veronique
3SquareDeals – Fighting Hunger One Deal at a Time
January 30, 2012 By
I’m excited to be able to support this very worthy cause to fight hunger while getting some super deals in the process.
About 3SquareDeals:
3SquareDeals, Where Deals Make a Difference is brought to you by our friends at JerseyBites.com, a website dedicated to delivering the latest news on all the culinary experiences New Jersey is dishing out.
When you take advantage of the great offers on 3SquareDeals, you are helping raise funds that will go directly to fighting hunger in New Jersey. No other deals program can make that claim! In addition to supporting the three major Food Banks, we will also be spotlighting smaller hunger relief organizations for special “Deal Weeks” throughout the year.
It’s obvious that everyone today is looking to save money. So, what better way to raise money than through offering consumers valuable deals redeemable at local restaurants and gourmet specialty stores? Saving while you’re sharing – that’s what we call a perfect equation.
How Much Goes to the FoodBanks?
After we split the total revenue from the deal with the merchant, 3SquareDeals will donate 10% of its revenue to the FoodBanks. The potential to raise tens of thousands of dollars for hunger relief could become a reality once we are serving all of New Jersey.
How Can You Help?
Simple, keep an eye out for deals that make sense for you and buy one. Share our website and each deal with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, through email, and so on.
Kudos to the Jersey Bites team for launching such a win-win program. Sign up for the program at http://www.3squaredeals.com
Cheers,
Veronique
29 January 2012 
Watching the Big Game While Feasting on 6 Courses
January 29, 2012 By
This will be the second year that we catch the Big Game at NJ Bar & Grill in Mine Hill, NJ. Not only is it a fun crowd, the staff of the popular Morris County bar feeds us a dish before the game, during halftime AND during each quarter!
$16.99/person – $8 pitchers of Bud or Bud Light
* Platter of chicken chips for the table at the start of the game
* 1st quarter: Choice of either homemade chili or soup of the day
* 2nd quarter: Choice of platter: spinach & artichoke dip, bacon-wrapped chicken with jalapeno and BBQ sauce, nachos (buffalo chicken or chili)
* 3rd quarter: Choice of one per person: penne a la vodka, fish n’ chips, blackened burger with blue cheese topping, pulled pork sliders
* 4th quarter: Assorted dessert platter (one per table)
PLUS – 6′ sub served at halftime
Reserve by February 1st at 973.989.1999 and join us for all the fun.
NJ Bar & Grill – Mine Hill, NJ (100 Randolph Ave., Mine Hill, NJ 07801)
Cheers,
Veronique
22 January 2012 
The Good and Bad of New Jersey’s Wine Reform Bill
January 22, 2012 By
Yesterday, Jersey Bites published an article I wrote about the pros and cons of the new wine reform bill that passed this week in the Garden State.
Here is a link to the article.
What are your thoughts on this topic?
Veronique
18 January 2012 
Out with the New, In with the Old
January 18, 2012 By
Me on my 3rd birthday
Today, I turn 40 years-old. I come to this milestone with satisfaction, both personally and professionally. To keep this post food and wine-focused, I’ll reminisce about some birthday traditions and memorable birthday meals I’ve cherished over the years.
When I was growing up in Quebec, my mom would often make my sister and me crepes for our birthday breakfasts. The first crepe would have our first initial “stamped” into it with her spatula and we thought that was awesome. When I got a little older, my special birthday dinner became a stuffed beef tenderloin with peppery sauce and mashed potatoes. It’s still no doubt a favorite of mine, when fixed by mom. Another birthday tradition when I was little, was to have my grandma make me a birthday chocolate cream pie. Yea, no cake, always this mile-high pie that I often still crave.
Now that I live in the New York metro area with no family around to help celebrate, my guy always plans a special night out in Manhattan. The restaurant is always kept a secret with me getting clues every few days as to the location or perhaps chef, as the big night gets closer. What fun!! Over the years, we’ve dined at Daniel, Bouley, Nobu and others that are foodie favorites.
This year, my girlfriends from Florida flew up to help celebrate the big 4-0 with me and some of my friends. We I say that “we” celebrated, I mean that the two of them celebrated the fact that I’m no longer in my 30s and have FINALLY joined them in the 40s. As we always do when they come visit, we had a foodie weekend with tons of diet-unfriendly grub. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Did you see the chocolate cream pie they made me that I posted a few days ago!??
I look forward to what’s to come in this new decade. Onwards and upwards!
Veronique
Top 10 Wines Under $20 for 2011
December 18, 2011 By
I am fortunate to have sampled wines from many regions, varietals and styles this year. While it is difficult to narrow down the list of affordable wines I have particularly enjoyed this year, here is a list, in no particular order.
Top 10 Wines Under $20 for 2011:
2008 Heron Hill Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir ($20) – Finger Lakes, NY.
2009 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila Haut ($12) – Cotes du Roussillon, France.
2008 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon 815 ($17) – Napa, California.
2009 Segal’s Fusion Dry Red Wine ($16) – Galilee Heights, Israel.
2006 Chateau d’Arcins Haut Médoc ($20) – Bordeaux, France.
2006 Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva ($10) – Rioja, Spain.
2009 Jagdschloss Spatburgunder Brut Rose ($15) – Rheingau, Germany.
2009 Semeli Mountain Sun Rose ($14) – Nemea, Greece.
2009 Red Newt Circle Riesling ($13) – Finger Lakes, NY.
2009 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc ($11) – Marlborough, New Zealand.
Have you tried any of these affordable wines? Please leave a comment with your thoughts about them. Haven’t tried them yet? Please do and let me know how you liked them!
Cheers,
Veronique
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