An award-winning recipe for Tri Tip Marinade from our very first BBQ competition. Made with tender Tri Tip and smoked slowly to perfection. Serve alone or with a delicious chimichurri sauce. We have learned a lot about smoking Tri Tip over the years. It has evolved from a rather obscure cut of meat for us,…
Pinot Noir
Spring 2020 Wine Finds
Wine recommendations that are fantastic for spring sipping. From light bodied whites, to rosé, to elegant reds, to what to drink while staying home, there’s a wine for all occasion this season. This is what we’ve enjoyed as we’ve been home this season. I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with…
Grilled Salmon – Perfect Every Time!
Grilled Salmon is one of our favorite fish to grill, with a rich flavor and juicy texture. Learn how to cook salmon steaks on the grill perfectly every time with these easy techniques. Selecting Salmon for Grilling There are many salmon species out there. Some are better for grilling because they tend to be larger…
Smoked Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
An easy and elegant recipe for Smoked Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms cooked on your smoker (or oven). Smoked sausage is the secret to the BEST stuffed mushrooms ever! These make a great holiday appetizer or for a family gathering! What could be better than delicious bite sized stuffed mushrooms filled with savory goodness? The answer is…
Thanksgiving Wine Guide
Trying to figure out what wines to serve with Thanksgiving Dinner this year? You’re not alone. Below is a fool-proof guide to finding great wines in all budgets for your holiday meal. I am a traditionalist when it comes to this meal, and my advice has remained the same year after year. The most important…
Easy and Tender Smoked Salmon (recipe and video)
The Best Smoked Salmon ever! Brace yourself for the easiest, freshest, tender-est, and most flavorful smoked salmon fillet. And I’m not talking about lox, we’re talking fresh salmon, cooked on a smoker, and slowly smoked to perfection. We’ve got our secrets to great tender salmon, along with a full smoked salmon recipe and video. Salmon…
Smoked Tomatillo Salsa Verde
Find out how to make this super easy Smoked Tomatillo Salsa Verde using tomatillos roasted in the smoker or grill, and quickly made in the blender. This simple green salsa is fantastic with chips or served over tacos, enchiladas, chicken, sausage, or seafood. This was one of the first recipes we started serving at our…
Rosé Wines (mostly from Oregon) for the Summer of 2019
12 Rosé Recommendations Perfect for Summer. From light to bold, find out about rosé wines and some of our current favorites. I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually…
12 Wines for Spring
12 Wine Recommendations Fantastic for Spring. From light bodied to full, white to red, there’s a wine for all occasions this season. I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we…
Back to Bourgogne: An introduction to Burgundy wines
A beginner lesson on the wines of the Burgundy (Bourgogne) region of France. Good Burgundies can be life changing. They are the kinds of wines that, in the 60’s and 70’s, motivated crazy folks to pack up and plant vineyards in Oregon, because they saw the potential for the kinds of life changing wines they…
15 Awesome Summer Wines
I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of various styles that we think will work, then write about the best pairing. But often…
Grilled Mushroom Crostini
Grilled Mushroom Crostini with Smoked Honey and Aged Balsamic. Your new favorite vegetarian appetizer that you can cook entirely on the grill! We also had the opportunity to cook these delicious bites on live TV on Portland’s AM Northwest. You can check out the video demo here. Our catering events are big in the summertime….
February Wine Favorites
I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of various styles that we think will work, then write about the best pairing. But often…
Maple Chipotle Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon
Cedar Plank Salmon is amazing when coated with a sweet and spicy chipotle dry rub, cooked on the grill giving it that smoked influence, and finished with a sweet maple syrup glaze. Sweet, spicy, and absolutely incredible. And if you don’t have a grill you can easily make this Maple Chipotle Cedar Plank Salmon in…
Winter Reds — January 2018
I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of various styles that we think will work, then write about the best pairing. But often…
Sparkling Wines to Ring in the New Year!
Bubbly is our beverage of choice around here, and (almost) every Friday you can catch my weekly bubbles toast over on Instagram. We love our sparkling wine! And while we drink bubbles weekly, we also realize it’s the time of year where even those who never drink this magical drink will make an exception for…
Smoked Cranberry Meatballs (in a Cranberry Red Wine Sauce)
Smoked meatballs braised in a sweet and savory Cranberry Pinot Noir Red Wine Sauce is one of our all time favorite holiday appetizers. These cranberry meatballs are ALWAY a hit at any party or gathering! The best part is the cranberry wine sauce comes together with 4 simple ingredients! These Smoked Meatballs in Cranberry Pinot…
12 Wines for Fall Sipping
I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of various styles that we think will work, then write about the best pairing. But often…
12 Wines to Keep Summer Alive!
I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of various styles that we think will work, then write about the best pairing. But often…
12 Wines for Spring Sipping
I like to review wines the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see on this site are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of various styles that we think will work, then write about the best pairing. But often…
Smoked Lamb Burgers with Rosemary Aioli and Pickled Onions
Change up your burger routine with a killer Smoked Lamb Burger with Rosemary Aioli! We’ve been talking a lot about Easter lately, and how I’m just not into ham (what I was raised on eating for Easter dinner). We’ve done Prime Rib a few years in a row now. But this year I’ve had mad…
Weekend Wine Love — Winter Comfort
I like to review wines here the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see here are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of different styles that we think will work, then write about the one that was the best…
Weekend Wine Love – A baker’s dozen
I like to review wines here the way most people taste them, with food. Many of the wine reviews you’ll see here are accompanied by a recipe. When we test recipes we usually open a few different wines of different styles that we think will work, then write about the one that was the best…
Smoked Coq au Vin — and wines to pair
Smoked Coq au Vin has to be one of my all time favorite winter comfort foods inspired by the classic French dish. This post will show you how to add smoked flavor to a traditional Coq au Vin. Many years ago we found ourselves with no family for Christmas. It was just the four of…