Category: <span>SIP</span>
There’s Lots to See at Halter Ranch
In April, Adam the Wine Guy visited the Central Coast to attend the Third Annual Earth Day Food & Wine Festival. We could not let him set foot on the Central Coast without getting his boots out to a SIP Certified Vineyard. Adam was fortunate enough to explore Halter Ranch with Mitch Wyss, Vineyard Manager turned Tour Guide (he actually used to be a river guide back in the day). The two of them looked at insectary gardens, soil types, fish-filled resevoirs, champion oak trees, and of course vines. Mitch even let Adam drive the... [Read more...]
Adam The Wine Guy Visits Halter Ranch
Adam "the wine guy" Leemon, blogger and wine critic, travels the world searching for powerful, exotic, and amazing wines. Last week, he visited Halter Ranch where owner Mitch Wyss gave him a taste of the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc. Halter Ranch is certified sustainable through the SIP Certification Program. Check out his video posted below. It's monkey time! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brphE3OlR_k&feature=channel_page] [Read more...]
Finds From Fancy Foodland
Once again, an entire pavilion at the annual Fancy Food Show in San Francisco was dedicated to “Natural and Organics” … but that’s only part of the good news. The rest is the huge number of natural and organic products that could be found throughout the whole trade show. This segment of the food world has definitely blossomed beyond its roots in obscure health food stores, tie dye, and incense. Read More >> [Read more...]
SIP Wines Are Spot On
The recent 12th Annual Great Wine Escape Weekend presented by the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association offered the chance to taste some of the region’s best, especially when it came to stellar cool climate varietals such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and even Syrah (yes, Syrah, but more about that in a minute). There were several standout wines at Sunday’s “Grand Finale” event, and some of CCVT's SIP Certified vineyards were definitely in the mix! The 2005 Paraiso Vineyards Eagles Peak Chardonnay was probably the best Chard of the weekend, showing spot-on crispness and acidity... [Read more...]
St. Bernardus, please.
My trip to Bel Frites peaked curiousity on the entire subject of food and beer and left me wondering where a Beer novice like myself could find advice on pairings for this well-known, yet mystified beverage. And while I find it way too easy to pass up a Coors Light for a night cap, the Belgian beers at Bel Frites made me feel like a regular beer aficionado. What I didn't know, is that my interest in wine pairings already pointed me into the right direction. On my very own bookshelf lies the 2006 Wine... [Read more...]
Bel Frites makes me happy!
In a recent blog, I recapped my adventurous trip to Slow Food Nation, where guests of San Francisco spent 3 days celebrating "just and sustainable" foods. After my guilty consumption of fast food en route to the event, I redeemed myself with a delectable, slow food, potato treat. Do you know the difference between a good ol' American (french) fry and a traditional Belgian frite? The answer lies in preparation. A visit to San Luis Obispo's locally-owned Bel Frites provided the answer. "Europeans know when they hear the word 'frite,' their expectations are quite high,"... [Read more...]
To the Market and Kitchen – Wish Me Luck
After publicly admitting my food sins, I knew that I couldn't change my course alone (if I could, it would have changed about 20 years ago). To combat my "lonely chore" perception of cooking, I asked for company from my sister and nephew. And to address my "I don't know what the heck to do in the kitchen" barrier, Michelle Ward of Seasonal Custom Cuisine quickly came to my rescue with some recipes and guidance (thanks for the tips on how to cut corn off a cob - that could have been ugly and dangerous left to... [Read more...]