A photo preview of the Jura Mountain Region in eastern France and home of the world class Comté cheese. Say cheese! Comté cheese that is. Last month I had the opportunity to tour the Jura Mountain Region in eastern France and home of Comté cheese production. As someone who knows a fair share about wine, but admittedly much…
Food and Recipes
Book Review — Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
“You’ll be surprised that when we started we had absolutely nothing — no resources, no knowledge, no image of what we wanted to become. All I had were my own two hands, a work ethic, a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and a fine lady to help it all come together.” – Aaron Franklin….
Traeger Roasted Whole Chicken and Knudsen Vineyards Chardonnay
“Dad taught me about passion. I want to keep that alive and spread that passion that he had.” Passionate is how Page Knudsen Cowles, Partner and Managing Director of Knudsen Vineyards, describes her late father, Cal Knudsen, founder of Knudsen Vineyards — one of the Willamette Valley’s most known and treasured vineyards. Cal Knudsen was…
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Who’s ready to talk about the difference between smoking and grilling a BBQ Chicken Pizza? Grilling Pizza vs. Smoking Pizza Grilling the pizza is hot and fast, and requires constant attention. Smoking pizza takes longer and at a much lower heat….so you get a very different texture to the crust, but different flavors infused. It’s fun…
Ahi Tuna Ceviche and Wines to Pair
Ahi Tuna Ceviche is perfect for summer nights or a simple party appetizer! This quick and easy recipe for classic Ceviche made with Ahi Tuna will easily become your go-to ceviche recipe! So good! Sometimes I just want to make something that requires no heating up a grill, no starting a fire, no ovens, no…
Smoked Bacon & Tomatillo Guacamole
Smoked Bacon Guacamole with Smoked Tomatillos, is the ultimate guacamole recipe for smoked food lovers! It is going to forever change the way you enjoy your guacamole. This is THE guacamole for smoked and grilled food lovers that you’ll find topping all of your favorite foods with. Is there really anything better than guacamole? Think about…
Smoked Pulled Pork Spring Rolls
Fresh Spring Rolls are an awesome way to use up any leftover Pulled Pork. These Smoked Pulled Pork Spring Rolls are so easy to make, even your kids can help! Fresh Spring Rolls (Summer Rolls) with Leftover Smoked Pulled Pork Spring rolls are a great way to use up leftover meat or vegetables. You can…
Getting to know Chianti with Ruffino
Let’s talk Chianti shall we? And no I’m not talking about the wicker basket looking Chianti bottle you may have had sitting in your college apartment used as a candle holder (please tell me I’m not the only one). No. I’m talking the real deal. Arguably Italy’s most famous wine, Chianti has come a long…
Smoked Cuban Sandwich (aka The Smoking Cubano)
What could be better than a Cuban sandwich – you know, the pressed sandwich made with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, served hot on Cuban bread — A smoked Cuban Sandwich made with smoked pork shoulder. Hubs has a never ending Cuban Sandwich kick, experimenting left and right with various pork recipes to…
Smoked Chicken Verde Soup
Take this smoked chicken, add some smoked chicken stock, and a few other goodies, and you have this amazing Smoked Chicken Verde Soup that comes together in under 30 minutes. I was first introduced to this brilliant Jalapeño Lime Chicken Soup from one of my favorite food blogs, Pinch of Yum. Their version however, calls…
Pairing Wine with Crock-Pot Favorites
Whether you call it the Crock-Pot or the slow cooker, this magical appliance is a favorite among busy families throughout the country. It’s as easy as setting it and forgetting it. By the time you get home from a long day of work the house smells like heaven and your delicious dish is ready to…
Sicilian Arancini di Riso: Sicilian Rice Balls & Wine Pairing
Authentic Sicilian Arancini di Riso (i.e. Sicilian Rice Balls) are easy and absolutely delicious! Find out how easy it is to make this Italian treat on your own. Sicilian Arancini di Riso These little cheesy crispy delicious fried rice balls are a staple of Sicilian street food and bar fare. You’ll see them from street…
Holiday Wine Gift Ideas – Stoller Family Estate
If you are looking to impress with a special bottle for the wine enthusiast on your holiday list, look no further than Stoller Family Estate. Wines to Impress for Holiday Wine Gift Ideas When I gift a wine to someone special — whether a loved one, a client, a teammate, a boss, whomever — I…
Valley of the Temples – A must do day trip in Sicily
When visiting Sicily if there’s one place you absolutely can’t miss (besides the wine, the food, the beaches, and, well, more wine), it’s the Valley of the Temples. The Valley of the Temples The Valley of the Temples is an archaeological park that consists of eight temples (and their remains) built somewhere around 540 BC…
Celebrating Four Years of Parenthood with Berlucchi Cuvée 61 Rosé Brut
Something special happened over the weekend. The twins turned four! How did that happen?!? I know I sound like a cliché parent, but just yesterday (seriously, yesterday!) they were just infants. Now they’re little boys who like to remind me that they’re not babies. Let’s get one thing straight kids; even when you’re towering over…
Sicily Photo Preview and Sicilian Wine Primer
My first article on my trip to Sicily was published over on Palate Press today. I must admit, it was difficult to write! There was so much I wanted to say about this incredible region, and to have to compile a weeks worth of information, people, wine, food, scenery, into one article was a challenging task!…
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Extra Virgin Olive Oil Chocolate Chip cookies are made with olive oil instead of butter, and taste rich and incredible. You won’t even know they’re butter-free! Chewy, chocolaty, indulgent, delicious, and entirely butter free. Oregon Olive Mill cookies (left), My version (right) These came out exactly how I remembered them the first (and second) time…
Learning about Olive Oil at the Oregon Olive Mill…
… and discovering the many uses for Extra Virgin Olive Oil! A few years ago a good friend gave me a gift pack of fancy artisan olive oils and vinegars for Christmas. When she presented it to me she mentioned that she gave the same pack to several friends and predicted we’d probably be the…
Smoked Tomato Bisque
Smoked Tomato Bisque is a creamy, indulgent, comforting, vegetarian, smoky tomato soup. What could be better on a fall day? *UPDATE* — You can watch us cooking up this combo of Smoked Tomato Bisque and Smoked Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwiches over on AM Northwest. After creating the ridiculously out of this world Smoked Bloody Mary’s…
Ecliptic Brewing – come for the beer, stay for the food
Ecliptic Brewing, located in NE Portland, is the kind of brewery where you come for the delicious beer, and stay for the incredible food. As a gal who’s all about my food and wine pairings I was intrigued to be invited to a beer and food pairing lunch at Ecliptic Brewing last week. Beer and Food…
Albariño Wine, and 6 Delicious Wines to try out
All about Albariño wines, and why you should be drinking this white Spanish wine year-round. One of my favorite white wines to drink with a variety of foods is Albariño. I’m constantly writing about it and hailing it as a versatile food wine, explaining to folks that it can pair with anything from salads, to…
Smoked Tri-Tip Sandwich with Chimichurri Sauce
An easy smoked tri-tip sandwich recipe topped with our awesome Chimichurri Sauce, onions, and a ciabatta roll. Don’t have a smoker? That’s fine, you can grill or roast it in the oven. Tri-tip, where have you been all my life. We serve this cut at catering events and in our house. And when we have…
Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce
Pinot Noir BBQ Sauce is what happens when the combination of the delicate flavors of Pinot Noir wine and the bold flavors of BBQ sauce collide. Shortly after we got The Beast (aka our commercial smoker) we started a catering company. At the time, my husband/partner was still working his day job, and he had never worked…
Cocktail Week — Adults Only Blueberry Lemonade with Gin
Cocktail Week continues today with… GIN I love the signature juniper berry flavor of gin. I love gin martinis. I love a refreshing gin and tonic. What’s not to love about gin?! And this bottle of gin makes me wonder why I don’t drink it more often. Produced in Scotland, Hendrick’s Gin is infused with…