Learning about wine has become a personal obsession and I am currently studying for my Level Two Sommelier certification, having passed the Level One exam. Here I detail what I have learned from my studies as well as from visiting various wine-producing regions around the world. You will find a plethora of posts containing specific bottle recommendations along with general wine education and plenty of cocktails mixed in, for good measure. Have a wine or cocktail-related question? Reach out to me via the contact tab. I am always ready to discuss my favorite beverage. Cheers!
Champagne has long been a staple for any celebratory occasion, the effervescent nature of this drink of kings virtually impossible to resist. While Champagne is widely regarded as the home of the finest wines made in the world, its sparkling cousins have been paving their own way into our hearts, offering up an often more affordable and unique sipping experience. …
Here’s the thing about me; try as I might, I have a type-A personality. Spontaneity and general risk-taking do not come naturally to me. This penchant for order and structure has certainly served me well throughout my life and I came to accept my place in the world as a rule-follower long ago. I created foodie-girl in 2011 with the …
Halfway to Derby Inspired by the mint julep, this stirred cocktail is a perfect drink for a cold winter evening in the Bluegrass, as we begin the annual downhill slide toward the first Saturday in May. Makes One Cocktail Recipe by Z 4 oz. Mint Lemongrass Tea-Infused Bourbon (see below) .5 oz Simple Syrup 3 dashes peach …
It is impossible to walk into 21c Museum Hotel and not be inspired. I have the distinct privilege of calling this my workplace and on my very best days I am treated to the carefully curated delicacies turned out by Levon Wallace and the team at Proof on Main. Levon’s deft hands craft beautifully creative dishes utilizing the very …
A long time in the making, The Farmer & The Foodie is a collaboration between myself and my dear friend Maggie Keith – aka Farm Girl – who is the Gardner and Co-Owner of Foxhollow Farm. A radio show airing Sunday’s at 1pm on Crescent Hill Radio, The Farmer & The Foodie was born from the extreme love Maggie and I have for …
Z came across The Savoy Cocktail Book while perusing the various titles both old and new in Omnivore Books on Food, a culinary-themed bookshop we discovered during our recent trip to San Francisco. Originally published in London in 1930, The Savoy Cocktail Book is a compilation of classic recipes which have been celebrated with flourish at the American Bar, located …
‘Adventures On The Wine Route: A Wine Buyer’s Tour of France,’ by Kermit Lynch I found myself reading Kermit Lynch’s “Adventures On The Wine Route: A Wine Buyer’s Tour of France” with Anthony Bourdain’s voice in my head. Much like Bourdain, Lynch has been described as a curmudgeon-troubadour who doesn’t mince words. He’s opinionated, witty and pleasantly straightforward. Like …
Egg nog on Christmas Eve was as sure a thing as Santa Claus on Christmas morning. As a child, few things were more challenging to the spirit than the excruciatingly long hours of the night before Christmas. The concept of having to wait even the slightest moment longer for Santa’s arrival was beyond comprehension. One had to dig deep down …
It seems to be an almost universal answer to what should be a challenging question: ‘If you could only drink one type wine for the rest of your life what would it be?’ Champagne is the reply, nine times out of 10. And why is this so? Is it due to the fact that Champagne has become synonymous with …
Nothing cures a ‘case of the Monday’s’ quite like wine class. This month, my Mondays are made far more interesting and most certainly more delicious as I have the pleasure of letting the stresses of the day wear off while sipping wine from various regions of France and soaking up the limitless knowledge of Master Sommelier, Scott Harper. Considering that only …
