Chianti Classico: Events & Wine Recommendations

So much Chianti Classico wine! And that is far from a complaint.During our stay in Tuscany, we attended a number of events of the Chianti Classico è, a ten day festival celebrating the wines and foods of this beautiful and fascinating region. At each of those events, the wines flowed freely and I tasted many different wines from this region, from Chianti Classico to IGT wines. I want to provide a brief summary of some of these events, to give you...

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Rant: The Solution To Ignorance

Why do some consumers rely on the pronouncements of the Seafood Watch to determine which fish is sustainable? Why do some people rely on wine scores to determine which wines to purchase? Why do some consumers seek out certified organic products? The answer to all three questions is often the same, information asymmetry.First, let us travel back into the past, a little over 40 years ago. In 1970, George Akerlof, an American economist, published an article, The Market for Lemons: Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism, in the Quarterly Journal...

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Sake Lessons at Haru

Kudos to Haru, a Japanese restaurant located beneath the shops of the Prudential Center, for their efforts to  spread Sake knowledge. Besides carrying 8 Sakes by the glass and 14 by the bottle, they also make a number of Sake cocktails, from the One Night in Tokyo to the Ultimate Saketini. In addition, they have been running a series of Sushi & Sake classes, to help educate their customers, and there are plans to make that a monthly series....

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Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.**********************************************************1)  The Beehive is well known for its deliciously eclectic menu where dishes from Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and Latin America rest comfortably next to each other. Now, during the summer months guests of The Beehive can enjoy a new patio menu, which features lighter offerings as well as creative...

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Halter Ranch Vineyard: SIP & Sip

Two years ago, I visited the Paso Robles region and was especially impressed with many of their Rhône-style wines, made from a variety of Rhône grapes, including Syrah, Grenache, Carignane, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and more. Interestingly, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot make up about 50% of all plantings in Paso Robles. Part of the reason is that a number of wine makers indicated that Rhône-style wines are a tough sell with many consumers....

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Vermont Cheesemakers Festival: The Beverages

Smile and say "Cheese." Vermont cheese. This past Sunday, I journeyed to Vermont, just south of Burlington, to attend the 4th Annual Vermont Cheesemakers’ Festival at Shelburne Farms. This was my third time attending this event, and I was invited as a member of the media. Presented by the Vermont Cheese Council, the event showcased over 40 Vermont cheesemakers, presenting more than 200 Vermont cheeses for sampling. If all that cheese doesn't...

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Rant: Cheap Restaurant Wine?

Buying wine at most restaurants can be expensive, and you might pay as much as three or four times the retail price. As those restaurants are not even paying retail, then the actual markup is even higher. Though there are many rationales to try to explain the huge markup, it is clear not all restaurants find this to be a necessity. There are restaurants that maintain far more reasonably priced lists, and those restaurants should be commended for...

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Sake News: Oysters to the Tipsy Sensei

1) "It irks me. When I visit an oyster bar, the menu will usually have numerous wine options to pair with my raw bivalves, from Sauvignon Blanc to Muscadet, from Champagne to Chablis. But many of these restaurants fail to carry one of the best pairing choices, Japanese Sake."More restaurants that serve oysters should also have Sake on their beverage lists. But why does Sake pair so well with oysters? There are a number of reasons and you can learn...

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Zocalo: Celebrating Manila to Acapulco

Where is the Filipino love? I ranted about that question before, curious as to the reasons for the dearth of Filipino restaurants. There appears to be only a single Filipino restaurant close to the Boston area, in Quincy, and there are less than 500 Filipino restaurants in the entire U.S. Compare that to over 43,000 Chinese and over 14,000 Japanese restaurants in our country.So I was pleased when Chef Erwin Ramos of the Olé Restaurant Group announced...

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Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.**********************************************************1)  Back again, Smolak Farms presents “Whim” 2012. Located in North Andover, Smolak Farms has partnered with Northeast Flavor, Cambridge Culinary School, Boston Chefs, Yelp and how2heroes.com to present the best outdoor dining experience New England has to offer.Whim will take place every Wednesday evening...

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Felsina: A Rave For Rancia

"As soon as one sets foot in this countryside, one feels a moral responsibility to the land."--Giuseppe MazzocolinHistory, hunting, wine and olive oil. An intriguing combination that provides character to the Felsina winery located in Chianti Classico. The name "Felsina" derives from the name of an ancient Etruscan city, which is now called Bologna, the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Around 1152, Felsina is first mentioned in documents...

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