Brimming with floral notes, herbaceous aromas, and mellow fruit flavors, Chenin Blanc has a well-earned reputation as an elegant white wine that pairs well with a variety of foods. This grape, which traces its origins to the Loire Valley in France, usually makes dry wines, but some vintners use create off-dry and sweet wines (even…
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Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Guide
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely-planted wine grape on Earth, and can be found on six out of seven continents. Known for its power, full body, and dark fruit flavors, find out what makes this the most popular red wine on the planet. When we think about popular “crowdpleaser” wines, it’s tough…
Sangiovese Wine Guide
If you’re a fan of red wines from Italy, then you’ve almost certainly experienced Sangiovese. This dark-skinned red grape is the most widely-planted varietal in the nation, and the major wine region of Tuscany relies on Sangiovese to create its exceptional, world-famous wines. Bursting with dark fruit flavors, woodsy notes, and herbaceous aromas, Sangiovese wines…
Pinot Gris (Pinot Grigio) Wine Guide
Pinot Gris (also called Pinot Grigio) is a white wine grape variety with origins in France, and is a mutation of Pinot Noir. Known for its citrus and tree fruit flavors, sometimes richness and spicy flavors, and bright acidity, this is one of the most popular white wines in the country. Find out what makes…
Sauvignon Blanc Wine Guide
Beloved for its crisp flavor, bright acidity, and easy-to-drink nature, Sauvignon Blanc amply earns its massive popularity in the international wine market. Although this grape (and this wine varietal) originated in France, Sauvignon Blanc now grows in several continents, providing wine shoppers with plenty of opportunities to pick up these delicate and refreshing bottles. If…
Syrah Wine Guide
A dark-skinned red grape that can thrive in a wide range of climates, Syrah (also known as Shiraz) famously produces bold and rich wines with medium or full bodies, plenty of dark berry flavors, and an undercurrent of spice, that makes these bottles excellent pairing options for roasted, grilled, and braised meats and vegetables. Find…
Cabernet Franc Wine Guide
Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties and is the parent grape of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carmenère. Commonly used in red blends, where it adds herbaceous and dark spice notes, it is increasingly making its own way as a single varietal wine. The Creator of Bordeaux and the Chilean Wine Industry History…
Barbecue Techniques and Recipes to Master
Barbecuing takes ordinary meat and makes it extraordinarily delicious. What’s even better is you can do it in your own backyard! In this post we give you all the barbecue techniques and recipes necessary to create a great outdoor cooking experience. We strongly believe in the magic of outdoor cooking. In its ability to bring…
Pellet Grill Whole Chicken Roast
Chicken is one of the most popular cuts of meat for live-fire cooking and this recipe will show you how to roast a whole chicken right in your pellet grill. This pellet grill whole chicken is easy to prepare, full of flavor, and a great one to use as meal prep for the rest of…
Riesling Wine Guide
Riesling is a wine grape of German origin, often known for being a sweet wine, but is so much more complex than that. It’s a food friendly, refreshing and aromatic white wine, grown all over the world, in a variety of styles. Learn the basics of Riesling wine in this introduction, and understand why it…
Chardonnay Wine Guide
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular wines, and one of the most widely planted grapes, and for good reason. It’s also one of the most versatile, made in a wide range of styles. Find out why this is grape is the queen of wine in this introduction to Chardonnay. A winemaker I used…
Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce Recipe
This Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce Recipe is what happens when the combination of the delicate flavors of Pinot Noir wine and the bold flavors of BBQ sauce collide. This savory and slightly sweet sauce can be made with any fruity red wine. There are many styles of BBQ sauce from around the US, and what…
Bourbon Brined Smoked Turkey Recipe
This Smoked Turkey Recipe is jam packed with incredible flavor, from a bourbon citrus brine, to an herbed butter, to a flavorful turkey dry rub, This is the juiciest and most flavorful turkey that will have your guests going back for seconds… and maybe even thirds. Looking for another creative way to smoke your turkey?…
Choice vs Prime – Which Quality is Best for Grilling and Smoking
Which cut of beef is best? It’s more than Choice vs Prime. Cuts of Beef range from grass fed, to corn and grain feeds. But just because there is a grade does not mean that all beef is created equal. Choice vs Prime is a good start to define quality ratings, but let’s also talk…
Puglia inspired Tuna Toasts with Tomatoes and Arugula
Tuna Toast with Tomatoes and Arugula is a simple Italy-inspired appetizer made with tuna, tomatoes, arugula, and extra virgin olive oil, using the most quality ingredients you can find. This can be made as a crostini based appetizer, or with your favorite toasted bread. The secret to this recipe is to find the freshest and…
Smoked Strawberry Shortcake on Biscuits
Smoked Strawberry Shortcake on Biscuits is an over-the-top delicious dessert that you and your friends are going to go crazy for! Smoked strawberries make for a great twist on this summer classic. Strawberry season has to be one of my favorite times of the year. Living in the country we are surrounded by U-pick berry…
The Wine Pairing Guide to Grilling and Barbecue
Confused about how to pair wine with BBQ? Don’t be! Here’s your guide to pairing wine with barbecued and grilled foods. All year long we’re spending more and more time outside, cooking on the grill, surrounded by family and friends. Those intoxicating aromas from the grill begin to fill the air and the neighborhood streets, and…
Smoked Pork Shoulder (Pork Butt)
A complete guide to making incredible Smoked Pork Shoulder (Pork Butt) and crowd-loving Pulled Pork. Learn the tips and steps for tender pulled pork on your smoker. Plus a full video tutorial on how to smoke pork shoulder. We’ve cooked A LOT of pork shoulders, hundreds for our own personal consumption, as well as through…
How To Use A Charcoal Chimney Starter
Find out how to safely and quickly light up a charcoal chimney starter without the use of lighter fluid. We get this question a lot. It seems simple, but many people fear the charcoal grill because of tasks like lighting it. This step by step approach to using a charcoal chimney starter makes lighting a…
Learn the Basics of Two-Zone Grilling
Two-Zone Grilling is our number one method to achieve a perfect crust, and juicy meat every time. No matter what type of grill you are using, this method of indirect grilling will be the most versatile technique to master. You can see more basic techniques at our How to Grill resource page. Have you ever…
Surf and Turf on the Grill with Herb Compound Butter
Our grilled Surf and Turf marries the best of the earth and the best of the sea with a Petite Filet Mignon and Lobster Tails, both grilled, and then finished with an herb compound butter. Looking for other variations for steak or seafood? Check out our grilled hanger steak, grilled tuna, or one of our…
Grilled Oysters with White Wine Butter Sauce
Grilled Oysters make for an awesome appetizer and decadent treat for your favorite friends. This grilled oyster recipe highlights what oysters are best for, grilling, and a simple butter sauce with a secret ingredient, white wine. Grilled Oysters We all know raw oysters can be absolutely incredible, and need very little to jazz them up….
Sea and Kosher Salt – A Guide
Kosher Salt is the glue to many great culinary dishes, and a great way to add a finishing touch of flavor to a dish. We’ll explain what sea versus kosher salt is, and why you may want to consider these versus standard table salt. Is All Salt Sea Salt? Virtually all salt is sea salt,…
How To Grill A Steak To Perfection Every Time
This guide will walk through how to grill a perfect steak every time. One of the most common questions we get as caterers is How to Grill a Steak to perfection. The answer is, it’s easy! Learn how. As an event caterer, we often set up an interactive grill station so people can see how…