Colorado Food & Wine Shopping: Colorado Food & Wine Shopping
by maribeth
Comments Off on Favorite Reasonably-Priced Wines for the Holidays
Favorite Reasonably-Priced Wines for the Holidays
Cupcake Vineyards Prosecco: Love this Label, Love this Wine
‘Tis the season to be festive. And whether you’re buying for yourself or for someone else (a finely-crafted bottle of wine almost always makes a great gift), there’s no need to go overboard. Even bubbly is more delicious and moderately priced than ever these days.
Take Cupcake Vineyard’s Prosecco. This delightfully refreshing, effervescent nectar rings in at less than $15. I love any kind of bubbles for the aperitif, but you can just as easily pair this delicious Italian wine with gorgonzola or lemon pie.
Not surprisingly, I have a soft spot for Cupcake in general. (I’m such a girly-girl.) But to me, wine is like perfume, the name and packaging are almost as important as what’s inside. So how about the newly-released 2010 Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine? Yum. It’s the first blended red wine for Cupcake and as you can imagine, it envelopes your taste buds in aromas of chocolate, mocha and deep, rich, red fruits. How can you not pick up a bottle for your best girl friend, especially with a SRP of less than $15.?
Other Cupcake faves include their Dry Riesling from Colombia Valley and their Riesling from Mosel Valley. Both possess the luscious, full-bodied flavors of the renowned terroirs of Washington state and Germany, respectively. Reach for Cupcake’s Mosel Valley Riesling to kick off your special holiday meals or to accompany grilled fish; their Dry Riesling begs to be served with something more exotic such as a stir fry or a spicy chicken tagine.
Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel: Zinfully Good
Art & Culture Food & Wine French Life French Provinces Girl Talk Paris Podcasts Romance & Relationships Travel: Art & Culture Food & Wine French Life French Provinces Girl Talk Paris Podcasts Romance & Relationships Travel
by maribeth
Comments Off on Elizabeth Bard Talks About Lunch in Paris, Love and Provence
Elizabeth Bard Talks About Lunch in Paris, Love and Provence
Elizabeth Bard
I don’t think there’s a woman out there that hasn’t dreamed about falling in love in Paris. C’mon, admit it to yourself. See, I told you—I’m sure you’ve allowed just a shred of this fantasy to play out in your head at least once in your life. Many women indulge themselves with full-blown visions of strolling hand-in-hand with a lover alongside the Seine or sharing a tête-à-tête in a cozy French bistrot over a savory coq au vin and a good Bordeaux with the man of her dreams. Others just allow a glimmer of a romance flash through their minds. I bet there are some men (those sensitive types!) that have thought wistfully about love in Paris as well. I may be biased but Paris is surely the most romantic city in the world.
What makes it so? Well, it would take a whole book to divulge that—the decor, the mood, the ambiance, the food and wine. Elizabeth Bard does just that in her book “Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes.” I found it to be a terrific read. And I know Paris, love and the whole bonne salade of it all. Elizabeth has done a wonderful job at describing the sights and tastes of the moveablefeast that is Paris. (I haven’t yet tried the recipes she shares, but they seem wonderful and quite easy which is actually what most French cooking is all about.) And of course, Elizabeth meets a love, a Frenchman, and we are swept into their lives like a tourist on a fourteen-day European tour. Fortunately she provides many opportunities for us to savor their moment as well.
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Colorado Food & Wine Telluride The Rockies Travel: Colorado Food & Wine Telluride The Rockies Travel
by maribeth
1 comment
Welcoming Fall with a Feast and a Fine Wine
Scene from a Fall Hike in Telluride
It’s the weekend! And that means it’s time for me to uncork something special. I’m not talking about break-the-bank special—no, I mean something in the $10.-$15./bottle range. My sips during the week typically ring in at under $10./bottle, but I allow myself more of a splurge on the weekends. Hey, what can I say? I’m just a freelance writer. Fortunately I don’t drink a lot or else I’d really be feeling the pinch.
Concannon Crimson & Clover: Our Celebratory Wine
Last weekend my boyfriend and I said goodbye to summer and welcomed fall with a food and wine extravaganza that we’re still talking about. We feasted on heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad, a cornucopia of grilled veggies, hamburgers and the last of Olathe’s corn on the cob. (Yes, it was still sweet and delicious—not at all starchy.) It was all incredibly simple although I did jazz up the burgers by adding fresh ground pork, chopped garlic and Italian herbs and crushed red pepper—perfetto! (Don’t feel you have to cook the burgers to well done with the addition of the pork. You’ll survive just fine with pink and enjoy the juiciness of the flavorful combination of meats.)
We opened a bottle of 2009 Concannon Conservancy Crimson & Clover to accompany this fine meal, an excellent choice filled with the sort of complexity and depth you find in a much more pricey wine. We appreciated its lush blackberry and mocha notes even more at dessert when I served up my peach pie, a real delight made with our famous Colorado peaches. I’ve been a fan of Concannon vineyards for years, perhaps it’s because this vineyard, founded in 1883, was planted with Bordeaux grapevine cuttings. Maybe it’s the rich tradition of wine-making the Concannon family has been committed to for four generations. But first and foremost I’d say it’s because I consistently find an excellent price/quality relationship with all their wines. Read what I have to say about the Concannon Righteously Rosé at Summer Sipping.
All-in-all it was a memorable way to welcome autumn. We were especially happy that we had done a huge hike before sitting down to such a spread. I can’t wait to see what this weekend will bring, especially since it might be the last farmer’s market of the season for me. Buon Appetito!
Note that the fall foliage should be peaking this weekend throughout much of the Rockies, so get out there and enjoy colorful Colorado.
Colorado Food & Wine Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Telluride The Rockies: Colorado Food & Wine Hotels & Lodging Restaurants Telluride The Rockies
by maribeth
Comments Off on Great Deals for Public Radio: Summer 2011
Great Deals for Public Radio: Summer 2011
It’ll be Dumping Before You Know It!
Here’s how you can land some great travel deals while supporting KOTO community radio in Telluride, one of the few entirely community-sponsored radio stations in the country. More and more people tune in on the Internet as well during T-ride’s famed Bluegrass Festival (when KOTO broadcasts live) or just any ‘ole day of the year. It’s a great way to get the flavor of a happening mountain town along with some fine music and talk.
If you don’t know about my Travel Fun radio show, please tune in live one of these Tuesdays. Or you may listen to some of my past interviews that I’ve posted as podcasts.
Now for the enticing travel deals to Telluride, Aspen and Denver, Colorado. I’ve highlighted below what you can snatch up in exchange for a pledge; just e-mail me through my Contacts Page to lock in your travel premium. (You can also go there to sign up for my RSS feed and/or to receive bi-monthly Travel Fun announcements. Be sure to provide all your contact information including phone and address (e-mail as well as snail mail, please) and your desired prize. Know that I’m accepting pledges on a first come, first serve basis, so act fast. Once your pledge is accepted and you’ve paid KOTO, you will receive your gift certificate for your chosen premium. more »
Colorado Food & Wine Music & Dance The Rockies: Colorado Food & Wine Music & Dance The Rockies
by maribeth
1 comment
BBQ, Blues and Beauty at Gateway Canyons
The Perfect Setting: Gateway’s Outdoor Amphitheater
There’s nothing like great music in a spectacular place.
That’s exactly what we had this past weekend in Telluride during the thirty-fifth annual Telluride Jazz Celebration, a three-day celebration that puts our whole town in a silky mood every year during the first weekend of August. And after this year’s love fest, this eclectic event appears to be stronger than ever.
It’s even more enticing to have good food added to great music and ambiance. You can count on a trifecta of those ingredients to a good time at the third annual BBQ Blues event on Saturday, September 3 at Gateway Canyons Resort. This year’s lineup features Denver-based diva Hazel Miller and her band. Known for infusing her songs with a primal dose of genuine soul, whether she’s singing the blues, jazz, pop or gospel, Ms. Miller has been called a “force of nature.” Miller has opened for Mel Tormé, James Brown, the Temptations, Earl Klugh, Bob James and many more. I’ve seen her in Telluride and I can tell you she puts on a show bursting with heart and soul.
Other notable blues artists will also be appearing at this special Labor Day weekend event that kicks off at noon at one of the most stunning resorts of the West. (Read my story Gateway Canyons: One Big Discovery) A craft and food fair will also be set up on the resort’s resplendent grounds and as the name suggests, there will be heaps of delicious BBQ for all to enjoy.
Though lodging at Gateway Canyons is sold out, camping is still available in the nearby meadows for festival attendees. Or if you’re lucky enough to be in and around western Colorado at that time, you can just plan an excursion to this fun event that promises to be well worth the trip. Barbecue and blues amidst the red rocks—summer fun doesn’t get much more sultry than that!
Click to see the full program of activities for Gateway’s BBQ Blues Festival and to reserve. You may also call 970-931-2458 for more information.
Aspen Food & Wine Mountain Living Music & Dance Restaurants The Rockies: Aspen Food & Wine Mountain Living Music & Dance Restaurants The Rockies
by maribeth
1 comment
Snowmass Slated for Another Culinary Crescendo
Serving Up a Summertime Salad in Snowmass
I love our mountain towns, especially in the summer when the village squares open themselves to all sorts of food and wine and art and music festivals. I kicked off the summer early June at the Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest and was dazzled by the number of foodies and chili aficionados I met at that event. Boy, there’s some serious competition going on among those cookoff chefs, many of whom travel the country to serve up their prized dishes to fans like me. I’ll be reporting on that in more detail next spring in time for next year’s Chili Fest.
Snowmass is going off again this weekend with even more delectable eats and libations and most likely a more high-stepping crowd (especially now that all the second homeowners are in residence). The village of Aspen’s neighboring town provides an ideal setting for the Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival that’s taking place Friday, July 22 through Saturday, July 23. Be sure to arrive by Thursday night in order to take in the free evening concert on Fanny Hill, a perfect outdoor venue created by the slope of the mountain on one of Snowmass’s renowned cruiser runs. Otis Taylor, an American blues musician legend, is playing at this year’s concert, so you’ll not want to miss it.
Drink flipflop Wines for Fun and a Good Cause
flipflop Pinot Grigio: A Real Winner for Me
Now that’s my idea of totally guiltless summer sipping. With every bottle of flipflop wine you purchase, Soles4Soles will distribute a pair of flip flop sandals to someone in need. This unprecedented partnership between Underdog Wine Merchants, makers of flipflop wines, and this international shoe charity gives new meaning to delighting in a glass of wine on your backyard porch. Best of all, these expressive, well-balanced wines offer exceptional value at only about $7. a bottle. I love their sunny labels, too. So far I’ve tried their Riesling, their Pinot Grigio and their Pinot Noir. I found them all to be surprisingly delicious although I recommend the Riesling more for the apéritif or as a dessert wine, since it is rather sweet. And if you’re still not convinced, know that Wine Enthusiast magazine awarded four of the flipflop wines a “Best Buy” in their June issue. The San Francisco International Wine Competition, the nation’s largest and most prestigious wine competition, awarded the flipflop Moscato a Double gold! No matter which one you choose, it’s a win-win situation because the more flipflop wines you buy, the more flipflops you provide. Like flipflop wines on facebook right now to help them gain momentum with their endeavors.
Food & Wine French Life Girl Talk Shopping: Food & Wine French Life Girl Talk Shopping
by maribeth
Comments Off on Duking It Out with the Dukan Diet and Then Opting for Octavin
Duking It Out with the Dukan Diet and Then Opting for Octavin
Octavin: My Knight in Shining Armor
For some people one of the hardest things about dieting is giving up favorite foods such as chocolate, cheese and wine. Deprivation depresses me, but I was also feeling pretty bummed out about my tight pants and an emerging muffin top this past April. It seems totally unjust that by the end of each ski season my jeans can barely make it over my thighs and my butt feels like a little trailer albeit a more solidly-built one. But still.
No, you don’t see many skinny ski instructors. We feed on a steady supply of chili, pizza, French fries, hot chocolate and après-ski beers. You need that kind of fuel when you spend extended hours out in the cold. This year though I could tell the extra poundage was creeping up faster than ever before (must be that age thing!). My ski pants were so tight by early March that I began to feel like the Michelin man.
So around the time of the royal wedding—after having heard about Kate Middleton’s dieting success and after having consumed umpteenth celebratory scones—I decided to go on a diet. I, of course, opted for the Dukan Diet since that’s the one that allowed Kate to go down a whole dress size. Plus this much-talked about regime was created by Pierre Dukan, a Frenchman. I had tried the Montignac, another diet designed by a Frenchman, years ago when I lived in France. So I figured I owed it to my all-around French experience to attempt this one as well.
