2006 Santenay Bouchard Pere & Fils

2006 Santenay Bouchard Pere & Fils

Pale ruby in the glass but with an earthy, deep ripe cherry nose. The palate of this medium-bodied wine is of cherry/juicy berry flavors and some mineral notes. Smooth, silky texture and an earthy/mushroomy finish. This southern Cote de Beaune wine was uncorked at my father’s home in Quebec and could be difficult to find. […]

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Adieu to The Orange Squirrel Restaurant

Selfishly, I’m sad to write about The Orange Squirrel, a top-rated New Jersey food destination owned by Chef Francesco Palmieri and his wife, Elaine, closing at the end of this month. Knowing the Essex County food scene and what a toll it takes on restaurant staff to try to keep fickle diners happy, I understand […]

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2015 M De Mulonniere Chenin Blanc

2015 M De Mulonniere Chenin Blanc

Nutty, citrus nose on this Chenin Blanc. The palate of this medium-bodied wine offers peach/pear flavors with honey and citrus notes. Just a bit of sweetness on the finish with nice acidity. Pairings: Seafood, grilled fish, spicy Asian food. Style: White Wine Grape Type(s): Chenin Blanc Region: Anjou (Loire Valley), France Price: $17

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Get Hitched at Taco Bell for 600 Bucks

Get Hitched at Taco Bell for 600 Bucks

Taco Bell-themed wedding in Vegas – that’s what some couples will be calling a marriage made in heaven (pun intended). Through a partnership with pop-up wedding planner, Flora Pop, Taco Bell will be offering a whole wedding package couples can order right off the menu at its chapel, Las Vegas Strip Cantina, opening this summer. […]

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The Absolute Best Texas Style Beef Chili

The Absolute Best Texas Style Beef Chili

I’ve been using my “Beef Chili for a Crowd” recipe for as long as I can remember. It’s flavorful, a bit spicy and feeds an army. I never saw a reason to use a different recipe until I judged a chili competition when this elderly gentleman made the absolutely best Texas-style chili I’ve ever had. […]

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Vital Dining in Montclair

Vital Dining in Montclair

Last week, I was invited to come try Chef Kwame Williams’ contemporary Jamaican/Caribbean dishes at Vital Dining in Montclair, NJ. Chef Williams and his sisters/business partners, Nataki and Kanika, provide warm, welcoming hospitality and a menu that’s friendly for carnivore, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free diners.  About Chef Williams and Vital After graduating from the […]

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2013 Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee Saint Vincent

Floral, citrus nose on this French Chardonnay. The palate of this medium-bodied wine is rich with peach, ripe apple and Meyer lemon flavors. Creamy texture with nice minerality. This is the entry-level Chardonnay by this prestigious wine house and at $16, it’s not only a nice example of French white Burgundy, it’s a very good […]

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Linguine with Clams and Confit Garlic Sauce

Linguine with Clams and Confit Garlic Sauce

I was watching an old episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate – SAUCED last weekend where Chef Michael Psilakis talked about the linguine and clam sauce at Don Peppe in Queens, NY (watch the mouth-watering episode here). That’s basically all I could think of this whole past week so I decided to try […]

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Baked Pepperoni Pizza Dip

Baked Pepperoni Pizza Dip

We were just going to order pizza while watching the “big game” since it was just the two of us, but then I decided to make the next best thing – pepperoni pizza dip!! The dip would be great with potato chips but I served it with toasted baguette slices. You’ll want a sturdy vessel […]

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2013 Ken Wright Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

2013 Ken Wright Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Fruity, spiced nose, bright red in the glass. The palate of this medium-bodied wine is rich with cherry/tart berry flavors and some peppery notes. Smooth, silky texture and a slightly-peppery finish. This wine is a blend of grapes from blocks of Ken Wright’s best single vineyard sites. Pairings: Roasted poultry, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto. Style: […]

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