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In Part One of this series, we reported on some of the wineries in and about the Chehalem Mountains AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. In Part Two, we covered some of the best the Dundee Hill’s AVA has to offer. In this third and final part, we highlight two great wineries that don’t fall within [...]
We may not have been posting the last few months, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been actively furthering our imbibing cause. Hell no! The Wine Imbiber and I have been attending a plethora of events (Rich is just busy just tending to his day job right now—write ups will follow eventually). In the meantime, [...]
How does one start the first post they’ve written in nearly three months? I’m not really sure, since we’ve never gone this long with nary a word. But then again, we’ve never experienced what we’ve just gone through during the last few months. Unfortunately, I’ve discovered firsthand that stress and sorrow have a way of [...]
In Part One of this series, we wrote about some of the wineries in and about the Chehalem Mountains AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Moving south, we next visited the Dundee Hills AVA. We have three great wineries to highlight and a great place for dinner in nearby Dayton to recommend. On this tour, we [...]
This past October we returned to Oregon to get a handle on the latest Pinot Noir offerings from the Willamette Valley. We took our previous tour during the summer in June 2009. This time, we decided to make the trek in the fall, when harvest was in full swing in the vineyards. The forecast was [...]
I’m usually all about from–scratch baking (especially this time of year, when most of my baking efforts end up as gifts). The rest of the year, I appreciate the control of ingredients that homemade baking affords since I try to prepare foods in the healthiest way possible given all the consequences that poor diet choices [...]
It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. The days of champagne and sparkling wine are upon us, so we attended Tasting Panel Magazine’s annual sparkling wine trade tasting event at Waterloo & City in Culver City, where we sampled about 30 vintage bubblies. We did this for you, so you don’t have [...]
Argentina is the South American country situated between Chile to its west along the Pacific Coast and Brazil and Uruguay to the east along the Atlantic Coast. It runs further north–south than it does east–west, but is much wider (east–west) than Chile. About halfway down and to the extreme western side of Argentina is the [...]
‘Tis the season, which means it’s time to make cookies, candy and all the other stuff I normally save for special occasions during the year. This year I decided more cheer was in order, so I signed up for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. I also convinced the other food blogger in the family [...]
Two years ago, the weather was cloudy and rainy; last year it was sunny and extremely hot. This year, the weather was pretty much perfect—occasional clouds and moderate temperatures. So, the setting was just right for the 7th annual installment of LA Magazine’s The Food Event 2012 at Saddlerock Ranch (home to Semler and Saddlerock [...]
Bet that title caught you fellow wine imbibers’ attentions! Sorry, it’s pure trickery on my part. But, there is a treat if you hang on with me until the end. I just wanted you to know that we’re fully aware that this is a website devoted to wine (and food—I just tend to sway to [...]
My oh my…how time does fly! It’s been over a month since the last installment of Zukezilla, and in the meantime I’ve managed to bypass apple season and part of pumpkin season. Thankfully, fresh zucchini is available year–round (at least here in Los Angeles), so this final recipe that I was able to make from [...]
This was probably the hands–down favorite recipe I made with Zukezilla. With a name like Squash Puppies (served with Roasted Jalapeño Mayonnaise, no less), what would one expect? Even though I substituted zucchini for the called–for yellow squash, it turned out exactly as Rebecca gushed about over at Ezra Poundcake. And she’s about as southern [...]
Funny how things time out in life. I had originally planned weeks ago that I was going to post this particular recipe this week. (It’s one of five that I was able to make from just one monstrous zucchini—Zukezilla—that was grown in my vegetable garden.) Then we received news of Rich’s Mom’s passing, and the [...]
My sweet Mother passed today just before 1:00 p.m. to rejoin my Father forever. I had talked to her on her 90th birthday this past weekend and we had a great conversation. Lots of happiness and love. I was lucky enough to talk to her again this morning as she was in the hospital. I [...]
Coming up with new ways to use zucchini in recipes isn’t that hard these days thanks to other bloggers that are also avid summer gardeners. It seems everyone has had a Zukezilla at one time or another and has been in need of recipes to use the sucker up. Savory zucchini dishes aren’t usually that [...]
Or maybe I should have entitled this post “The Tale of Five Recipes Made from One Monster of a Zucchini”. Fellow summer vegetable gardeners probably know what I’m talking about when I refer to monster–sized zucchini. You know how it is. You plant your veggies as soon as the weather turns summer–like. You patiently wait [...]
My oh my! Has it been busy around here (just as predicted the last time I posted before the mayhem ensued). Today is my birthday, and it’s the first time in weeks that I actually found a couple of hours to reacquaint myself with the blogging world. I’ve still been cooking/baking and photographing most of [...]
Earlier this month, Leah and I attended the Vibrant Rioja trade tasting at Campanile restaurant. Rioja is Spain’s leading wine region, straddling the river (río) Ebro in the north and extending up into Basque country. The region is named after the río Oja, a tributary of the Ebro, and is divided into three zones along [...]
Our household just survived a very crazy three–day weekend. The month of May seems to get busier every year and this time around was no exception (and it’s only half over!). Between wine and food events, kids’ events and holidays, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight until just after the college spawn [...]
Thanks to early warm weather fronts this year, Mother’s Day and strawberry season are converging quite nicely. The strawberries in California seem to be bigger and redder earlier than usual. To make the most of these early season beauties, I decided to bake something I could ship up to my mom in Oregon. It had [...]
I was on call for jury duty the other week. I had called in each evening for four days (that’s how it’s done in LA) and was told not to report the following day, but on Thursday evening (the final night for calling), the recording ordered me to report downtown on Friday morning. So, I [...]
A couple of weeks ago, we were invited to attend a wine tasting dinner at Valentino’s in Santa Monica. Valentino Proprietor Piero Selvaggio graciously greeted the guests and, after a brief session sipping sparkling wine and tasting the chef’s salumi selection, we found ourselves seated for the evening. The main festivities commenced with a brief [...]
As with wine, a journalist’s notes improve with age. Well, not really, as you’ll see. Last November, Ian Blackburn of Learn About Wine invited me to his press luncheon before the opening of his most recent Stars of Cabernet wine tasting event. It was a great opportunity to spend some time over a very nice [...]
I know the month of March conjures up all sorts of themes for people. For the sports–minded, there’s March Madness (college basketball play-offs). For the Irish (and Irish–wannabes), it’s St. Patrick’s Day. And for the Wine Imbiber and me, it’s a month of anniversaries. Well, actually it’s a day of anniversaries—we officially launched Wine Imbiber [...]
What’s better than experiencing a new eatery/watering hole that actually lives up to expectations? How about experiencing it a quick drive from your home so you can easily frequent it when the mood strikes! Plan Check, located on Westside Los Angeles’ Japanese restaurant strip known as Little Osaka, is the latest entry into the much–embraced [...]
About 25 years ago, around the time Geoff and Alison Rusack first met, they flew over to Santa Catalina Island (one of the Southern Channel Islands) together and conceived of a dream project—to plant a vineyard on the island and produce wine. A romantic notion indeed! But then, as the song goes, “Twenty–six miles across [...]
When Rich and I first began Wine Imbiber almost four years ago, our goal was to provide useful information about wine that would help our readers choose wines that not only complement the food on their plate, but also enhance it. As Chrystal and Steve Clifton of Palmina Wines believe, “Wine is an extension of [...]
Although we haven’t been writing much, January has been very busy for us and we have collected some interesting things to bring to you in the coming weeks. As our regular readers know, we love lemon—just check out our Lemon LoveFest Library for lemon recipes from us and our readers. And we love our Meyer [...]
I’ve never made cinnamon rolls before. How about you? No, I’m not talking about the ones from the chubby little doughboy tube. That’s cheating. I used to make those when I was a mere tot. The skill set required for making them was on par with what was needed to create things out of my [...]
So, are you sick of making Christmas cookies yet? I am. I’m tired of making them, thinking about them and reading about them (particularly when all I seem to get in my inbox these days is The Twelve Days of Holiday Cookies). Uninspired much?! I got so bored with making the usual cookie spread years [...]
It’s the fifth and final day of our holiday appetizer/hors d’oeuvres abbondanza. Today’s recipe is a versatile little number, offering various presentations that will suit all your guests’ needs. It’s very easy to vary the ingredients to create all sorts of savory or sweet nibbles with these little pancakes. But for today’s post, I’m going [...]
Round four of the five days of appies is for the kids (or kids at heart). They’re extremely easy to make and irresistible to anyone who loves the flavors of pizza (but in a fluffy–puffy form!). And lest I forget, dipping is involved. Is there a kid on earth that doesn’t think dipping food into [...]
Okay…so it’s Wednesday, which could only mean one thing—day three of Wine Imbiber’s little appie–fest! Today I’m revealing the third hors d’oeuvre recipe I make every single year for our Christmas Eve grazing. Did you know that the informal definition of grazing by the Free Online Dictionary is “to eat a variety of appetizers as [...]
It’s day two of the five days of appies I promised. I’ve been making this one for over 35 years. How do I know this? Well, when I was a mere babe (age–wise) back in high school, I worked once as a server at a friend’s neighbor’s small yet elegant in–home wedding. And this past [...]
This time of year it’s all about cookies. Don’t get me wrong, I love making cookies (and candy) for gift–giving purposes. But, after being an avid food blog subscriber for the past four years, I haven’t been seeing anything too novel coming across the wire. And yes, I will be throwing my hat into the [...]
As promised, here’s the second part of our endless endeavor to find the absolute perfect gifts for all the winos and oenophiles on your holiday gift list this year. This selection leans more towards the winos than the aficionados (if you get my haughty drift), but even connoisseurs of the grape should enjoy these picks. [...]
It’s that time of year again, when everyone scrambles to find the perfect gifts for friends and family. What if some of them are lovers of the grape and you still have nary a clue as to what to get them? Don’t bust a sugar plum about it! Go pour yourself a glass of wine, [...]
We were invited to attend a recent wine tasting hosted by Ian Blackburn, founder of Learn About Wine, a premier source for wine education and events in Southern California, hosting unique classes, events and tours. Unlike most wine tasting events, this one was to celebrate the inaugural release of a new winery label, Beekeeper Cellars, [...]
Let’s face it—what’s more constant than good wine and our canine companions? It’s not every day that you can enjoy wine and, by doing so, support man’s best friend. And this is the season to sit by the crackling fire in your most comfy chair, sipping the good stuff and petting your trusted Fido. That’s [...]
We had attended Los Angeles Magazine‘s annual The Food Event for the past two years, so we eagerly anticipated the sixth annual installment of this culinary extravaganza at the stunning Saddlerock Ranch (home to Semler and Saddlerock wines) in Malibu’s Santa Monica Mountains on Sunday, October 23rd. As usual, we were running a bit late, [...]
On October 15th, we joined in the fun at the first annual Los Angeles Food & Wine event (Oct 13–16), which grew out of Wolfgang Puck’s American Wine & Food Festival. As we caught a quick breakfast before attending the blind tasting program entitled “Secrets of a Sommelier”, we observed one celebrity chef after another [...]
I know…what a mouthful of a title! But, these babies really live up to their name. Here we are, quickly approaching November, and I’m still making ice cream goodies. The weather in Los Angeles has been all over the place. When I made these last week, the temperature was in the nineties. Today, it’s cold, [...]
We were graciously invited to attend this year’s Savor the Season event on October 9th benefitting Break the Cycle, the leading, national nonprofit organization addressing teen dating violence with a mission to engage, educate and empower youth to build lives and communities free from domestic violence. As parents of teens, this event is close to [...]
I know, I know. You’re probably wondering how I can even remember the details of the events that took place over Labor Day weekend at this point (especially with the copious amounts of wine and other spirits that were available for tasting those days). Well, the obvious answer is: I take lots of photos and [...]
On Day 1 of The Taste, presented by Los Angeles Times and Food & Wine Magazine, we enjoyed burgers & beer. Day 2, a Saturday, began with a seminar entitled “Paso Robles Pioneers”, led by wine educator Ian Blackburn of Learn About Wine. The Paso Robles AVA, established in 1983, is incredibly diverse (there are [...]
Wednesday last week, we were invited to a trade tasting of the wines of Domodimonti, a boutique producer of natural wines in the countryside of Montefiore dell’Aso in the southern part of the Marche region on the east coast of central Italy. (Some time ago, we adopted an olive tree in the Marche, but never [...]
This past Labor Day weekend, the Wine Imbiber and I tackled a mighty assignment. The Taste (a four–day foodie/imbiber extravaganza presented by Los Angeles Times and Food & Wine Magazine) was back and offered nine events at four different venues. We attended last year’s event and appreciated many of the changes made for this year [...]
We’ve added a new feature to detail our wine and food adventures around our home base, Los Angeles. To kick off this series, we have a report on an event we attended just before the Summer started. This event reminds me of a business principle that recommends you crawl before you walk and walk before [...]
