27 July 2022 Kopke Port Wine Tasting in Greece

Kopke Port Wine Tasting in Greece

July 27, 2022 By

A couple months ago, I was contacted by Kopke Port Wine about a tasting kit the Portuguese winery was offering some wine writers, and, as a novice to port tasting, I jumped on the opportunity to secure a samples kit.

When the kit arrived in its handsome wooden box, I wrapped it in bubble wrap and stuck it in my suitcase for a Greece trip I was leaving on the following day. I thought it’d be great to share the samples with my hubby and the friends we were traveling with.

This was the spot on our suite’s patio in Santorini where we did our wine sampling every evening. It was such a great place to enjoy some wines with our friends.

The samples kit offered the following ports and boy did they run the gamut from light and perfect as an apéritif to sweet, caramelly and perfect as after-dinner drinks.

2003 White Colheita: Golden in color. Faint and delicate aromas of dried fig. More dried fruit on the palate with layers of caramel/molasses. Rich mouthfeel and long finish. Serve as an after-dinner drink or with dessert.

20-Year-Old White Port: Golden amber in color. Dried fruit aromas with nutty notes on the nose. Mouth-coating richness with dried fruit flavors. Kopke suggests this be served as an aperitif, but I think it’d be great with dessert or a rich dish like seared foie gras.

2002 Tawny Colheita: Deep ruby in color. Big dried fruit/raisin aromas. Great acidity and long finish and I can understand why the winemaker suggests serving this port chilled with dessert.

10-Year-Old Tawny: Golden in the glass. Fantastic pour with dried fruit and honey on the nose and intense dried fruit flavors. It’d be great to sip out of a snifter in front of a fire.

20-Year-Old Tawny: Orange-amber in the glass. Dried fruit, little pumpkin pie spice on the nose and in the mouth with a rich, smooth, round, silky finish.

About Kopke Port Wine:

Kopke Port Wine (Portugal), est. 1638, is the oldest Port wine house. Located in the upper Douro DOC, a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site since 2001, Kopke benefits from the imposing geography of the Douro Valley: the plunging valleys al low vines to be planted from altitudes of 1,900 feet on the upper ridges, down to 230 feet alongside the river, with immensely diverse terroirs. Kopke wines are sourced and produced in Quinta São Luiz, one of the most important estates in Douro region.

I didn’t realize before this tasting how much I really love and appreciate Port. These were incredible pours, served in the most amazing setting, with dear friends. A great combination.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Portugal, Product Reviews, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
18 December 2019 Get the Negg Now

Get the Negg Now

December 18, 2019 By

With the holiday around the corner, many of us will be making deviled eggs for parties. What the best part of deviled eggs? Eating them. What’s the worst part of deviled eggs, peeling them! The is where Negg comes in handy.

About Negg ®

The Negg hard-boiled egg peeler provides a solution to avoid disastrous egg shell scenarios. Thanks to entrepreneurs Bonnie Tyler and Sheila Torgan, peeling eggs can be fast, easy and fun with the. Like most new concepts, the inspiration came from a moment of frustration. Bonnie agreed to bring a dozen deviled eggs to a party and was growing increasingly frustrated as she fought to remove the shells. She initially thought her invention would be a part-time hobby, but it’s turned into a booming business and her full-time job.

Made of BPA-free materials, and available in 6 vibrant colors, the NEGG is proudly made in America. A little cold water and some shaking is all it takes for this hard-boiled egg peeler to work.

How to Get your Negg

There’s free domestic shipping on orders of $15 or more when buying directly via Negg on its website. For last minute holiday presents, I’ve found it on Amazon with Prime available. Perfect stocking stuffer at a low cost of $15 for folks on keto diets too!

Negg was provided to me as a sample to try and I love it and high recommend it!

Filed Under: Kitchen Tips, Other Neat Things, Product Reviews Tagged With: , ,
30 November 2017 Care for Hunger Cast Iron Skillets Launch

Care for Hunger Cast Iron Skillets Launch

November 30, 2017 By

On December 1, FAIR CookwareTM will be launching a Kickstarter project, utilizing crowdsourcing to help bring cast iron skillets to your local food banks. The Christmas spirit project aims to provide 350,000 high-quality and competitively-priced cast iron skillets to both consumers and people struggling with everyday essentials, based on a ‘buy one, give one’ philosophy.

FAIR Cookware skillets are based on good value for money with four different models – 8.5’’, 10.5’’, 12.5’’ and a grill pan (10.5”) – you can prepare almost anything in these classic and durable pans. The skillets are sampled and tested to ensure the highest standards, pre-seasoned and have a very high heat capacity. They can be used virtually any heat source.

For every skillet purchased, the backer will donate the exact same one to someone in need.

More than 46 million people in the U.S. rely on food banks and food pantries. FAIR Cookware contributes to the fight against hunger with their Care for Hunger project, helping America’s local hungry during the holiday season by providing items that are essential to daily life.

You can support FAIR Cookware on their Kickstarter page on December 1st; starting at $15 for a donation and $59 for the Early Bird adopters. For more information, please visit FAIR CookwareTM on Faircookware.com.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Product Reviews Tagged With:
26 January 2017 SkinnyPop Popcorn and Wine Pairing Guide

SkinnyPop Popcorn and Wine Pairing Guide

January 26, 2017 By

SkinnyPop WineThe fine folks at SkinnyPop have sent me this neat infographics that I think is pretty great. I’ve been a big fan of SkinnyPop ever since a friend recommended the very addictive treats, and at 39 calories/cup, it’s not only tasty, it’s guilt-free!!! I like several of these popcorn/wine pairings depicted, but think my favorite is the Sea Salt & Pepper paired with Zinfandel – yummy! Think this guide will be perfect I try to bear it through another New England Patriots championship game or, as I watch the Academy Awards to root for my favorite movie this year – Manchester By The Sea. What pairing is your favorite? Veronique

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: , ,
13 August 2016 Sugarpova Chocolate Mousse

Sugarpova Chocolate Mousse

August 13, 2016 By

Chocolate Mousse CupA few weeks ago, I was approached by a new chocolate line to create an exclusive recipe using its product. I don’t typically do product reviews, but I was intrigued since the new brand, Sugarpova Premium Chocolates, is by Maria Sharapova, the international tennis sensation, who is the company’s founder.

Sugarpova offers a decadent collection of 100g chocolate bars in Dark, Milk, Dark with Toasted Coconut and Milk with Strawberry. The unique product is non-GMO, Certified Kosher, Halal and made with natural ingredients. The bars have a suggested retail price of $3.99 to $4.99 and are available at www.sugarpova.com.

The samples I received were:

Sugarpova Bars

DARK CHOCOLATE COCONUT – “50% cocoa dark chocolate is made all the richer with the delightful addition of toasted coconut. A match made in heaven, you’re sure to fall in love with this tempting combination”.

MILK CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY – “Is there anything better than chocolate dipped strawberries? Treat yourself to a taste of luxury anytime with the only bar that combines creamy milk chocolate with the flavor of fresh strawberries”.

70% COCOA DARK CHOCOLATE – “Kick back, relax, and indulge in the full-bodied flavor of 70% premium dark chocolate. Not too sweet, it engages all your senses with every perfect bite”.

MILK CHOCOLATE – “Take a break from the hustle and bustle with a smooth, creamy bite of premium milk chocolate. We won’t tell if it ends up being more than just one bite”.

I wanted to use as many of the bars as I could in my recipe, but since I’m not a coconut fan, I skipped using that one. I thought of doing a mousse as soon as I saw the chocolate/strawberry bar – what a great compliment in flavors! I combined the strawberry bar with the milk chocolate one in the mousse and topped each serving with a healthy grating of the dark chocolate. I plated a couple different ways to showcase the mousse in various portion sizes and appearance.

Ingredients:

  • 1 100g Sugarpova Milk Chocolate bar and 1 100g Sugarpova Milk Chocolate Strawberry bar, chopped into small pieces (could also use 200g semisweet chocolate chips)
  • 1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 1-ounce piece of Sugarpova Dark Chocolate, optional

Directions:

  1. Place the chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on medium power for 30 seconds. Stir and continue to cook for another 30 seconds. Allow to cool while proceeding with the following steps.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add the tablespoon of sugar to the cream. Beat for 2-3 minutes or until soft peaks form. Set aside.
  3. In a metal or heat-resistant glass bowl placed over a saucepan of barely simmering water, combine the remaining sugar and the egg yolks. Whisk the mixture for 3 minutes until smooth, fluffy and doubled in volume.
  4. Using a rubber spatula, combine the melted and cooled chocolate with the yolk mixture until no eggy streaks are left.
  5. Gently fold half the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Once fully combined, add the remaining whipped cream and again, gently fold in. Don’t overmix, you want this light and fluffy – a few darker chocolate streaks are okay.
  6. Pipe or spoon the mousse into single-serving size dishes or glasses and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours. The mixture will feel a bit runny but that’s okay, the mousse will stiffen after chilling.
  7. Grate the dark chocolate over the individual mousse cups and serve.

About Sugarpova: Sugarpova continues to have double-digit growth year after year since its launch. Currently, the brand has retail penetration in 22 countries all over the world and is sold in a variety of retail partners and online. The founder and international tennis sensation is Maria Sharapova, whose sweet tooth and love for little indulgences, motivated her to create a candy company specializing in gummies and sweets of quality and craftsmanship. For more information, visit http://www.sugarpova.com.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Chocolate, Desserts, French, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
14 May 2016 Product Review – Snack Box by Try the World

Product Review – Snack Box by Try the World

May 14, 2016 By

I don’t typically do product reviews, but when I was recently approached to review the new ‘Snack Box’ by Try The World, I decided to go for it. The main reason? I travel so much for my ‘real’ job that I’m always looking for new snacks to bring onboard my flights that aren’t the usual.  

About Try the World

Try the World is a subscription-based gourmet box service that provides its members shipped boxes filled with hard-to-find gourmet products that its team hand-selects by local experts and celebrity chefs.

Try the World was founded in 2013 by Kat Vorotova, a New York foodie born in Russia, and David Foult, a French globetrotter. The company expanded out of their passion for traveling and discovering great food and new cultures.

Try the World’s commitment to working with small, family-owned companies who follow artisanal methods of production ensures the highest quality and results in a box of items that are not only hard to find in the US, but loved by locals. 

Snack Box by Try the World

As part of my product review, I was sent a Snack Box, the newest offering from Try the World. My box arrive in an attractive package and included a product card providing the story behind each item and whether they are organic, sustainable, and/or support the local community. This month’s items were: Japanese gummy candies from Kasugai (a family business that was started in 1923), Coco & Coco cookies from Argentina, Dos Cafeteras caramels from Spain, organic taro chips from Mindemadame in Thailand, and artisanal French marshmallows made by the famous Arnaud Soubeyran family. These aren’t items readily available and that I’d normally be attracted to and that’s the great/fun part of Try the World – it allows you to try items you’d normally not but are super.

This new monthly subscription allows members to taste five artisanal snacks from five different countries each month starting at just $15 a box. 

Payment options:

  • Pay every month, $19
  • Pay every 3 months, $18 per box
  • Pay every 6 months, $17 per box
  • Pay every 12 months, $15 per box

For more information about Try the World and the Snack Box I had an opportunity to sample, please visit www.trytheworld.com or Try the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: , ,

Sumo Citrus – New Healthy Discovery

February 26, 2016 By

I’m trying to add a variety of fruits to my diet and while I like oranges, I dislike if they’re difficult to peel, are dry and ‘grainy’ or have pits. I like those juicy little mandarins, but there are typically 2-3 seeds per tiny segment – boo! After last weekend’s visit to the grocery store – I found the answer – Sumo Citrus.

What is a Sumo?

It’s a new citrus varietal, developed in Japan and now being grown on family farms in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Sumos are a cross between a mandarin and some orange varietals and, in appearance, look like a giant mandarin with that distinct shape that makes it easy to peel. There are also seedless and incredibly juicy – winning!  

The season for Sumos is limited to between February through May. That’s the only bummer about them.

Healthy Discovery

I mentioned these were a healthy treat and they are. They’re naturally sweet with low levels of acidity which is great for folks with sensitive stomachs, a good source of vitamin C, have no saturated fat or cholesterol and a good source of fiber.

Premium Quality

Sumo trees are hand-pruned and the fruit is hand thinned to allow the ideal number of fruit for the best flavor possible. Each sumo is picked and packed individually by hand, to avoid damage and ensure quality. I got my sumos in a small crate which I understand is environmentally-friendly and made from 100% recyclable materials.

Are Sumo oranges available nationwide? Not yet, but here’s a list of places where Sumo oranges are sold. Note my grocery store isn’t on this list, yet, I was able to find them there.

Let me know what you think if you buy some!

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
12 September 2015 SweeTango Apple Season is Here

SweeTango Apple Season is Here

September 12, 2015 By

A couple weeks ago, I was approached by Next Big Thing, the growers’ cooperative that produces SweeTango apples, about sampling some of the company’s product. While I don’t do a lot of product reviews, I was curious about an apple that could be better than my favorite – the Honeycrisp, so I agreed.

About SweeTango

SweeTango is the apple love child of mom – Honeycrisp, and dad – Zestar! This happened when University of Minnesota expert apple breeders “married” the Honeycrisp and Zestar varieties using time-honored horticultural techniques.  Brilliant!

SweeTango apples are one of the first seasonal varieties to hit retailers and to appear in produce aisles around the country starting in September for a short season. My two beautifully-packaged apples arrived in pristine condition and seemed to glow in the box – kudos on packaging! The apples were medium in size with a pinkish/red exterior. A first bite revealed a white creamy flesh, a very crisp texture and extreme juiciness. The flavor was unbelievable – bright citrus flavors with a sweet honey finish.

SweeTango fans are urged to share the location of where they’re enjoying SweeTango apples via an interactive map accessible at www.SweeTango.com. Once there, fans can upload their favorite spot, share the location using hashtag #SpotSweeTango on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. The real-time map will show SweeTango fans where they can find their favorite apple in the U.S. and Canada throughout the season. SweeTango fans can find more information about where to buy the tasty apples at www.SweeTango.com.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Product Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Bracco Farms CSA 2015

April 23, 2015 By

Bracco Farms Field

Bracco Farms Field

Once again, Bracco Farms will be offering its popular CSA Program this season. The basic idea of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is that a farmer grows for a group of members who have purchased “shares” in the harvest. Members pay at the beginning of the season, when the farmer most needs the money. When the crops start coming in June, the farmer delivers a weekly (or bi-weekly as is the case with Bracco Farms) assortment of vegetables, herbs and some fruit. This is not a co-op, there are no wholesalers or distributors. All of your food dollars – 100% – goes to the person who is growing it.

I joined the Bracco CSA in 2014 and loved it on so many levels:

  1. Healthy products I know are good for me.
  2. Variety of products that pushed me to try new recipes and new preparations.
  3. Surprises in my box every time I picked up – new things as the seasoned progressed.
  4. Restaurant-cool things like edible flowers and micro greens.

Anthony Bracco

Anthony Bracco

New this year – customers have their choice of seven pick-up locations in northern New Jersey and also directly from the farm in Pine Island, NY. 

A few facts about the Bracco Farms CSA Program:

  • Bracco Farms only sells what it grows.
  • Bracco Farms only uses Non-GMO seed from safe-seed pledge sources.
  • Bracco Farms never uses herbicides (weed killer) or pesticides.
  • Bracco Farms does not use any type of fungicide, insecticide or any other type of chemical.
  • Bracco Farms does not use any type of fertilizer, nor any type of artificial irrigation, nor any type of tomato hormone.
  • Bracco Farms hand-cultivates its wonderful weeds!
  • Bracco Farms never supplements its CSA with outside produce.

You support sustainable local agriculture and get freshly-picked organic produce at reasonable prices. In addition, you know the farmer growing your vegetables and can visit the farm (I highly recommend doing this) -establishing a personal connection with your food supply.

If you want to experience the organically-grown, beautiful produce grown at Bracco at your homes, sign up TODAY.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things, Product Reviews, Vegetarian Tagged With: , ,
8 April 2015 AVA Wine Maps by City Prints

AVA Wine Maps by City Prints

April 8, 2015 By

France AVA MapCity Prints is a family-run company that turns maps into fine art. They have over 800 art pieces that range from maps of college campuses, to cities around the world, to aerial views of sports stadiums.

Their newest series includes 13 map prints of the world’s most well-known wine regions. Each print contains a subtle map showing all the streets and the primary AVA and each sub-appellation highlighted and labeled.

The end result is an art piece that is informative, but also classy enough to decorate high-end kitchens and social spaces. Prints are available unframed, framed or on gallery-wrapped canvas.

For more information on their wine region prints, visit: https://cityprintsmapart.com/wine-regions

SPECIAL OFFER – friends of Food & Wine Chickie receive $5 off any print via the City Prints website. Simply enter code: BC1.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Product Reviews Tagged With: , ,
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