Posts under ‘Wine + Cocktails’

I bet you wouldn’t guess by my undying love for donuts and Cheetos that deep down, I’m a champagne kind of girl. But I don’t drink it because it’s fancy. And I definitely don’t drink it in an attempt to harness my inner Olivia Palermo (champy, anyone?).
It’s refreshing. It tastes great. And call me crazy, [...]

I’ve always dreamed of touring the California coast, stopping at wineries to taste the fruits of Napa and Sonoma. Thanks to last night - and in all honesty, a recent episode of The Bachelor (go Team Tenley) - my desire to sip my way through California’s vineyards just got a bit stronger.
The 3,000-mile stretch between [...]

This week’s installment of Wine Essentials, the fourth in a series of six, introduced us to the wines produced in the warmer regions of France and Spain. We began with a light and dry Sherry then slowly made our way to the dark and smoky Rioja Reserva. Our final stop was marked with a sip [...]

I’ve never met a glass of white wine or champagne that I didn’t like. But red wine? We aren’t exactly amigos.
Up until yesterday, I had probably consumed a lifetime total of 1.3 glasses of red wine. My reluctance resulted from the burgundy-colored beverage smelling strange, tasting even worse and adding an awkward element, or what [...]

Two hours. Four kinds of cheese. Eleven types of wine. From Burgundy to Bordeaux, this week’s Wine Essentials class covered the classic wines of France. The timing of the class paired perfectly with my current place in culinary school as I finish up our section on regional French cuisine. I find that as I cook [...]

You’re presented a bottle of wine. You swirl. You sniff. You sip. And if you’re like me, you do a quick glance around the restaurant and pray that the fake show you just put on was actually accepted by your fellow dining patrons.
I love wine. I just don’t know a darn thing about it.

Last night my friend Dan invited me to the first ever Manhattan Cocktail Classic held at the New York Public Library. The event celebrated the “history, contemporary culture, and artful craft of the cocktail” by featuring some of the city’s best mixologists, cocktail historians and libation lovers.
We strolled the halls of one of New [...]

A cool glass of champagne is a perfect way to kick off any summer weekend, and the refreshing bubbly is made even better with seasonal fruit and a splash of vanilla vodka. Feel free to let loose and experiment with pairing up different fruits. My favorites include, mango and pineapple or strawberries and frozen blueberries. [...]

I’m in The Bahamas for a brief vacation and I came across this amazingly refreshing cocktail called The Bahama Mama. Vanilla and coffee flavored liquors mix with fresh pineapple and orange juice. A splash of grenadine adds a final cherry touch to this cool cocktail. Top each drink with an orange wedge and several strawberries.
Shopping [...]